Shop. Eat. Live.

My Albertsons Plan

2009-07-08T23:08:00.000-07:00

4x Yoplait Kids Yogurts, $2 each

-2x .80 cent coupons (Smart Source)

-2x .80 cent doublers

=$4.80, plus I get a free Redbox code

Same!

10 Dannon Yogurts, $3.90

1 Starbucks Double Shot, $2

-$1 Dannon (paper)

-#1 Starbucks (paper)

-$2 doublers

=$1.90

#4, 5, 6

Same!

(if they come out with 3 more doublers this Sunday, I can combine some of these trips. Just not the Dannon ones because it's limit 12 per transaction).

Mix & Match Deals:

2x Reeser's Baja Salsa, $1.49 each

1x Spray n Wash, $1.49

2 x Challenge Butter, $1.99 each

5 x Kraft BBQ Sauce, .49 each

-2x $1 Reesers coupons

-.50 Spray n'Wash coupon (paper)

-2x .50 Challenge coupons

-5x .50 Kraft BBQ Sauce coupons (paper)

-$2 doublers

=$2.90

(if 3 extra doublers, $1.40!!)

4x Kraft BBQ Sauce

4x Tillamook Shredded Cheese @ $1.19 each

2x Reeser's Salsa

-$2 Reesers

-4x .50 Kraft BBQ

=$3.70

(if 3 extra doublers, $2.30)

2x Reesers

4x Cheese

1x Spray n Wash

3x Capri Suns

-.50 Spray n Wash

-$2 Reesers

-$2 doublers

=$9.23

(The Capri Suns make it add up, but $1.50 is good & we have camping trips coming up! :)

Easy Bakeware is a SCAM

2009-07-08T16:47:00.001-07:00

I have seen Easy Bakeware listed on so many freebie/frugal sites lately. In May, I purchased a cheese grater through them for $1 (including shipping). I still keep seeing the ads, and I keep wondering "how do they do this consistently?" Well, here's how:

They sign you up for a club called HomeSavings, and then CHARGE your card $14.95 per month. I have read horror stories of people needing to cancel the credit cards because they wouldn't stop charging! I have been charged twice and couldn't figure out what the heck this fee was!

Karry and I both just talked to them on the phone, and supposedly, that membership is being cancelled and I'm getting a refund....I hope.

If you ever see this on your statement: HOMESVINGSMLL 888-743-4421 CT, you know it's a scam!!!

Ok, I ask, and so does Karry, who would work for a company like this?? Really?! Unbelievable!

My Albertsons Deals~

2009-07-07T16:28:00.000-07:00

You can still copy these deals up 'til tonight. I don't know specific sources of my coupons, so make sure to search Coupon Tom or Hot Coupon World (coupon database) for these coupons!

I spend Tuesdays driving around to different Albertsons to rack up the deals! My husband gets a couple for me, too! We were pleased to run into our "science friends" (who we do science co-op with), Katya & her 3 boys & girl! We saw them at 2 Albertsons! What fun!! :)

So, the scoop:

Trip #1

3x Wishbone Bountifuls (these are great for making pasta salad!) at 3 for $5

-3 coupons (paper) for $1 off

-doublers

total = .50

Trip #2

1x French's Mustard @ $1.50

1 Colgate Total Toothpaste @ $1.79

-.75 off French's (paper)

-.75 off Colgate (paper)

-doublers

total should have been $0, but for some reason, they accidently scanned the .75 off coupon again & gave him back .46!! Ooops!!

Trip #3

3x Kraft Salad Dressings at $1.99 each

4x Refried Beans at $1 each

1x Capri Sun at $1.88 each

1x Wishbone Spritzer at $1.67

2x Challenge Butter at $2.49 each

-$5 Epic Savings promo (for buying 10 of certain items)

-.50 Challenge Butter (x2) (came in the last box of Challenge butter I got!)

-$1 off of Wishbone Spritzers (paper)

-$1 off of Kraft Salad Dressings (x3) (paper)

-$3 in doublers

=$5.50

Trip #4

6x Nestle Milk Chocolates at $1 each

-3 $1 off of 2 coupons (paper)

-3 $1 doublers

=free!

Trip #5

4x Refried Beans @ $1 each (ends up being .50 each at the end)

3x Capri Suns @ $1.88 each

3x Snapple 12 packs of tea at $4.99 each

-$5 Epic Savings Promo

-$3 in Snapple Coupons (online--Albertsons.com and other sites)

-$3 in doublers

=$13.61

Trip #6

4x Refried Beans @ $1 each

1 Wishbone Bountifuls @ $1.67

3x Star Kist Tuna @ $1.25

1 Special K Cereal Bar @ $2.99 (oh bummer!!! this wasn't the cheap kind that was in the ad! I just realized this....)

2x Kraft Naturals Cheeses at $2.99 each

-$5 epic promo

-$1 off of 2 Kraft Naturals (online-kraft.com? a while back)

-$1 off of Wishbne (paper)

-$1 off of 3 packs of tuna (printed out last time I bought tuna)

-$3 in doublers

=$6.89

Trip #7

6x Cream Cheese (8 oz--Philadelphia) at $1.25 each

-$1 off of 2 coupons (3x) (online)

-$3 in doublers

=$1.50

Trip #8

6x Bologna @ $1 each

2x Hormel Lunchmeat at $4.99, buy 1 get 1 free

-$1 off of 2 bologna (3x--paper)

-.55 off of Hormel (2x--blinkies I found at Fred Meyer right in front of the Hormel meats)

-$3 doublers

=$3.89

total I might have spent today if I didn't do all this driving around & coupon FUN: $175.93

total amount actually spent: $31.43

total savings =$144.50!!!!! :) :) :)

BIG oops!

2009-07-01T18:11:00.000-07:00

I got 8 free milks at Albertsons yesterday--2 half gallon 2% milks, and 6 of the littler milks (3 chocolate, 3 strawberry--or so I thought). My kids all picked out the flavors they wanted to drink yesterday--3 strawberry, and 1 boy (Isaac) had chocolate, but he didn't drink much of it. Karry went to pull out a chocolate milk today for himself to drink and said (I thought joking), "you know these are called coffee mocha, don't you?" Nooo! I opened up Isaac's (which he was just about to drink more of) and it totally smelled like coffee! OOOPS!!! So I guess Karry has some mocha drinks and the boys are out of chocolate milk!!

Marcal Small Steps?

2009-06-30T06:59:00.001-07:00

There is a coupon for a free roll of toilet paper and also a $1 off coupon, and they expire today. Has anyone been able to get these products?

Upcoming Albertsons Deals

2009-06-23T17:06:00.000-07:00

Starting tomorrow, here's what I see:

Peaches, .99/lb

Salmon, $2.99/lb

Dannon Yogrts, 10 cups for $5, -$1 from 6/21 S, and -$1 doubler =$3, or .30 per cup

Spray n Wash Bright White, $3.99 -$1.50 (from paper--date?), -$1 doubler =$1.49

Star Olive Oil, $6.99, -$1 coupon (Smart Source online), -$1 doubler =$4.99

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, $2.50 each, buy 2, $5, -$1 off of 2 (online), -$1 doubler, =$3 for 2 Ben & Jerry's pints

*The Best Deal*--Lindsay Olives, $1.25 each, -$1 on 2 (Lindsay site), -$1 doubler =2 cans for .50 (*note, this coupon is based on your e-mail address, not your ip address--if you have multiple e-mail addresses, you can print 2 per address and stock up on olives!!!).

Albertsons Doubles!!!

2009-06-23T15:49:00.000-07:00

Just got the ad that starts tomorrow, and there are 2 double coupons in it!

Canby Thriftway Deals

2009-06-11T22:52:00.001-07:00

First, I was very disappointed to find out that Thriftway does not take internet coupons. I was going to get 2 containers of Cool Whip for .25 and 2 packages of hot dogs for free. Darn it! Well, here's what I got:

Bananas at .50 per lb, $2.84
Bar S Franks, .50 each, in ad coupon (not bad--just wish my $1 off of 2 coupon worked)
Pirate's Booty, Caramel Flavored (OH SO GOOD!!!), $2.59 each (not cheap) -$1 off 2 coupon, -$1 doubler (she did $1--I thought Thriftway only did up to .50??) So $3.18 for 2
Cool Whip, .50, in ad coupon (I had a $1 off 2 coupon that didn't work!!)
Milk, .50, in ad coupon (for Karry to bring to work with his free Life Cereal I got last week :)
Honey Nut Chex, $2 (I needed to pick up GF Cereal for the kids--I was not so excited about getting this at Thriftway because I thought it would be like $5 and only $3.50 if I just drove to Freddy's...But I didn't want to drive to Freddy's! These ones were gluten free and on sale for $2!! I can't eat them, but the kids will love them!!)

Total = $9.02

Total would have been $18.56

Walgreens Deals

2009-06-11T22:32:00.001-07:00

Trip 1~~

Charmin $6.49 (in ad coupon)

1 All, $4.49 each

2 Snuggles, $4.49 each

-2 .50 off Snuggle coupons

1 Nature Made supplement @ $8.99

1 Nature Made supplement free (buy 1 get 1)

-2 $1 off Nature Made coupons

Total would have been $44.64

I spent $25.95 and got a $5 register reward back on the Snuggle/All deal

I FORGOT to use my register rewards from last time!!! Ooops! I put the stuff in the car and went back in...

Trip #2

2 packs of Charmin (well, they were out of the 12 pack, so they let me get 2 6 packs for 1) at $6.49 each

-2 .25 off coupons

-5.00 register reward from transaction #1

Total would have been $14.28

Total out of pocket =$7.48

Trip #3 (transaction #3--I did 2 in a row)

3 x All, $4.49 each (plus a $5 register reward back)

I used my $12 in register rewards last week

Total would have ben $21.87

Total out of pocket = $1.47

3 pks of Charmin for $13.97 = .38 per roll

4 bottles of All for $5.96 =$1.49 each (wish I had coupons still, this would be even better!!!)

2 bottles of Snuggle for $3.99 each (not amazing, but worth the rr's)

2 bottles of Nature Made Supplements for $6.99 total

Total = $34.90

$5 in register rewards to spend next time! :)

Rite Aid Deals

2009-06-11T22:13:00.000-07:00

1 Complete Contact Lens Solution, $7.99, -$2 mfg coupon, ($7.99 rebate coming! $2 profit!)
1 Opti Free Contact Lens Solution $9.99 -$3 in ad coupon, -$1 mfg coupon ($5.99 total--a decent price)
1 Colgate Kids' Toothpaste, $1.99 -$1 in ad coupon, -.75 mfg coupon = 24 cents!!
1 Bic Soleil Razors, $4.99 -$2 coupon=$2.99 ($1 rebate coming! =$1.99)
6 Dove Candy Bars, all free (Buy 1 get 1, at .88 each--so $2.64 for 6--then 2 buy 1 get 1 free coupons, so they subtracted .88 twice, plus 2 "free" coupons from the Hersheys giveaway (online every Friday), so -.88 twice again. I realized I could've picked up 1 extra candy bar, and should have--because my total, after all of these subtractions, =negative 88 cents for 6 candy bars. OOPS!). :)

Total Before Coupons = $28.89

-$5 off of $25 purchase

Total Out of Pocket = $9.37

Rebates coming = $8.99

Total I would have spent, then = 38 cents

Site Highlight

2009-06-07T21:41:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! I just wanted to mention a site that I check out every weekend before I buy the paper. This helps me determine how many papers I will purchase. I add up how many dollars worth of coupons (that we will actually use!) are in each paper by scanning through this site. It's called Talor Town Preview. Check it out!

It pays to be thankful!

2009-06-05T15:45:00.000-07:00

Just 4 days ago I did some searching online for companies we purchase products from regularly. I was hoping to find coupons on sites, or a mailing list with promos, or something like that! We buy only gluten free foods, which limits us in the snack arena. When y’all are stocking up on Pringles, we’re avoiding them because of the wheat. :) I only looked up a couple of companies online. The first one that came to mind was Lundberg. We buy their rice cakes often and use them with Babybel cheese wedges and lunch meat as a “sandwich,” and we use their basmati rice a couple of times a week. I decided to write a letter to the company. This is what I wrote:

~~~~~~~~

Hello,

I just wanted to thank your company for making some gluten free foods that my family can eat! We purchase your rice and rice cakes at our local Fred Meyer store and they are a staple in our diet! Picnics are hard for gluten-free folks, but I just bring your rice cakes and spreadable cheese, and some gf lunch meat. Thanks for making great products!

If you have a mailing list, I would love to be on it. I am interested in any recipes or meal suggestions, new product announcements, and coupons.

You can send me e-mails at:

My address is:

Thank you!

Brenda Scott

~~~~~~

Right away I got an e-mail from the company, thanking me for the compliments. And that might have been all I received--and that would be ok. Really, our society as a whole is so good at writing complaint letters (haven’t we all been guilty of that? :), but what about thank you letters to the companies who are doing great? But, the e-mail wasn’t all I received--4 days later--today, I got a letter (hand signed) in the mail, with 2 recipe books, and NINE coupons for .75 off any Lundberg product, with NO EXPIRATION DATE! Isn’t that awesome??? Wow! I am so impressed!! Big thanks to the Lundberg company for the great products and the great coupons!! :) :)

More Deals!

2009-06-05T15:16:00.000-07:00

I did some more shopping today. It took about an hour and a half to drive around town and go to 3 stores. It took maybe 20-30 minutes to plan out all of these deals. I forgot to mention that everyone should make use of CouponTom, it’s an awesome site and you can search for coupons (either online or in the paper) and it will tell you where coupons are. ALL of the coupons aren’t on there (e.g. a couple of weeks ago I did an internet search for “yoplait kids” and found $1 off coupons that Coupon Tom didn’t list).

The first store I went to today was Safeway. I used the coupons from the Tuesday Oregonian to get these deals.

Safeway Large AA Eggs, 1 dozen, .69
6.5 lbs of Safeway Bacon, $9.99 ($1.53/lb) This is a HUGE pack of bacon!! (I came home and Noah said it was a whole pig :)
48 oz of Fresh Express Salad, $1.99 (they were out of the 48 oz bags, so they let me get 2 24 oz bags--this is a lot of salad for only $1.99!!)
10 packs of Brown & Serve Sausage Links, .49 each!! (This was the Mix & Match deal, no coupon required--just get 10 at .99 each and $5 drops off the price of your total bill!!)

Totals

Before sales= $38.87

Before sales & Coupons combined= $40.66

My out of pocket = $17.57

Next I went to Fred Meyer:

I got 5 packs of Bar S Hot Dogs, marked at $1 each, but I had a coupon to make them .88 each. Then I had a $2 off any $5 meat purchase coupon (Fred Meyer Rewards), plus 2 $1 off 2 Bar S products coupons) Total, .40 for 5 packs!!!!
1 container of blackberries, $2
1 of blueberries, $2
1 of raspberries, $2
1 pk of a dozen eggs, $1 (coupon in ad--I would have bought more but they were out!)
2 Snuggle Fabric Softeners at $3.99 each, -a $2 FM Catalina for $2/2, and -2 $1 off coupons, so I got them for $1.99 each

Before coupons, my total would have been= $17.98

My out of pocket = $11.38

Then I went to Thriftway. I couldn’t justify spending up to $50 to get that $10 off, I couldn’t find enough sales to make that kind of expense worthwhile. :)

2 Newman’s Lemonades, $1.88, -2 .50 coupons and 2 .50 doublers, they ended up being .88 each
1 W/F Butter for .99
1 W/F Bacon for .99
10 W/F Yogurts @ .30 each
Corn on the Cob, 5, $2
2.78 lbs of peaches at $1.99/lb, $5.53

Total before sales would have been $23.09

Total before sales & coupons would have been $27.61

Total out of pocket = $14.27

The peaches would have been cheaper per lb at Safeway, but I have had horrible luck with the produce at our Safeway. Lots of brown or bruised up items, especially after we cut into them at home (so we couldn't tell at the store). I'd rather pay a little more and know we're getting good fruit. :)

Note: I wouldn't ideally feed my kids these kinds of hot dogs or sausages (nitrates, corn syrup, etc.)--but they are SO cheap. My kids love these sausages, and at .49 per box, I can justify them. And at .40 for 5 packs of hot dogs, I can justify that, too. It's all about compromise! :)

Total I didn't spend today & would have if I wasn't watching the sales and clipping coupons =

$43.03

If this is a game, I think I'm winning...

2009-06-04T16:28:00.000-07:00

Just joking, of course, I know many others are playing just as well or better! But it certainly is FUN!

Today was a BUSY day! I dropped off some of our homeschool materials at a used curriculum sale (tagged them this morning for the sale, too!) at about 10 am. Then it was off to the grocery stores! I mapped out the 9 closest Albertsons to our house (but only ended up going to 5). I had all of my deals written out, as well as what each purchase would end up totaling. I had the coupons in a little expandable divided thingy, set up for each trip. Why did I do separate trips? The double coupons--you can only use 3 per trip. At each store I asked for more double coupons, also--and then used them at the next store.

FYI~~People keep telling me I can just do multiple transactions at 1 store. So maybe the different Albertsons runs weren't necessary. :)

I print most of my coupons online, and I get some from the paper. YOU CAN DO THIS TOO!!!!

How much do you think I spent on all of this???

Well, the total WOULD HAVE BEEN $197.46, had I paid full price for everything. And had I just purchased sale items, with no coupons, I would have paid: $82.40. Still a decent savings, but

I only spent $21.60!!

Here are the details:

4 Country Time Lemonades, .50 each! Plus every 2 lemonade purchases prints out a $1 catalina for your next purchase!

4 x Juicy Juice, $1 per box
2 Jello Ready-Made Snacks, .75 each
Seattle’s Best Coffee, $1
3 Kraft Mayonnaise, .33 each
3 boxes of Jello Pudding Mix & 3 boxes of Jello Mix, .03 each!!!
8 bags Kraft Natural Shredded Cheese, .40 each!!
5 boxes of Bayer Asprin Quick Crystals (to donate), all free!
11 bags of Jet Puffed Marshmallows, .70 each, and 1 for $1 (this was an “oops!” I grabbed 1 too many and didn’t get the deal--but $1 is still decent)
2 Kraft BBQ Sauce, Free!
2 Grey Poupon jars of mustard, free!
1 pack Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs, FREE!
1 pack M&Ms, FREE!
5 Sobe Life Waters, $2 (vs. $1 each!)
1 Tazo Herbal Tea, FREE!
2 International Coffee Blends, .33 each!!
1 Edge Shave Gel, FREE!

You can do this too! I check out what others are saying about the deals at least 1x per day here on Shop.Eat.Live. (look on the left). I try to go to Albertsons Weds or Thurs so that everything isn’t out of stock. I keep a running list going of what I’m going to get. I print coupons whenever I see they’re available (you never know, they may reach their print limit!).

Today it took me a lot of the day. I was back in town to pick up my books and the $2.50 I made at the sale (woo hoo! :) by 2:30, and then went home to put the kids down for nap. So 4 1/2 hours of driving around and grocery shopping. My husband met me (he even did 2 of the transactions today!!) in Lake Oswego during his lunch break. :)

It wasn’t as hard as I thought with the kids. They’re especially excited when they see me getting things like Jell-O and Juicy Juice for our upcoming camping trips. :) They acted up in 1 Albertsons, and I could tell the lady was a bit frazzled. I have found though, that in general, female cashiers are kinder about the coupon thing than the male cashiers. Not to be sexist, but they just (in general) seem to get more frustrated by a stack of coupons. Test my theory and tell me what you think! :)

We listened to “Subtraction Songs” in the car and I paused it to teach them often, so I feel good that we were getting some homeschooling done, too. :) And, when we would leave a store, I’d say “did you see how much I got? I only spent $2!!” They’re learning--for sure!

Was the gas $$ worth it? I think so--I need to calculate that out. But I certainly didn’t spend $60 some dollars in gas. Will I do this every week? Probably not. But it is really great to stock up on things that we know we’ll use. This way I don’t have to pay full price, ever--because I’ll always have items stocked up in my house. And cheese freezes, by the way! A lot of foods freeze!

Thriftway Deals

2009-06-03T16:41:00.000-07:00

coupons in ad that look good, all week (Weds-Tues)

-Western Family Yogurt, 10 for $3, limit 10, min $10 purchase

-Angel Soft Bath Tissue, $4.99 12 double rolls 24 single, first 1 (coupon on angel soft site for $1 off, too!)

-Western Family Oats & More Cereal, $2 each, limit 2

-WF Tater Tots, 2 for $3, limit 2

-WF Orange Juice, $2, 64 oz, limit 2

Friday, Sat & Sun only deals:
-Pork Baby Back Spare Ribs, $2.99/lb
-WF Bacon, .99, limit 1
-WF Butter, .99, limit 1

Other deals:

-BS Chicken Breasts, $1.99

-Yellow Corn, 5 for $2

-Fresh Express Salad, $1.98

-NW Shrimp Meat, $2.99

-Pork Shoulder Steak or Roast, .99/lb

-Hot House Vine Tomatoes, .99/lb

-WF Beef Patties, $6.99 (3 lbs)

-Newman's Own Lemonade, 64 oz, $1.88 (-.50 off in 5/31 RP, -.50 doubler = .88)

-WF Ice Cream Sandwiches or Ice Cream $1.98

-Buy 3 Breakfast Cereals, get 3 free (final price, $2 each--Apple Jacks, Pops, Fruit Loops, etc.)

-Seneca Applesauce cups 6 for $1.99

-Mike & Ike or Hot Tamales, 3 for $1

-Deli Coleslaw, $1.99/lb

-coupon for $5 off a 1/4 sheet cake or larger (the canby bakery is being rennovated)

-Annie's Pasta & Cheese, $1.99

-Cantaloupe, .49/lb

-Seedless Watermelon, $2.99 each

-Organic Mini Carrots, 1 lb, $1.50

-Yellow Onions .39/lb

-Zucchini, .89/lb

-White Peaches, $1.79/lb

-Red or White Potatoes, .69/lb

-Snapple Tea 12 packs, $4.99 (save $1 coupon online from Smart Source)

What I might get (on Friday)

10 Yogurts, $3

Angel Soft, $4.99

Bacon, .99

Butter, .99

Yellow Corn, $2

Fresh Express Salad, $1.98

Annie's Rice Macaroni, $1.99

Snapple Tea, 2 @ $4.99 =$9.98

1 Tatertots, $1.50

1 Orange Juice, $2

1 Lemonade, $1.88

1 Seneca Applesauce, $1.99

3 lbs Peaches $5.37

4 lbs Yellow Onions, $1.56

1 Watermelon, $2.99

2 Mini Carrots, $3

2 WF Ice Cream, $3.96

Total = $50.17

-$10 off of $50

-$1 off Angel Soft

-.50 doubler

-$2 in snapple coupons

-$1 in doublers on Snapple

-.50 on lemonade

-.50 doubler

= $34.67

Deal Parade! Albertsons, 6/3-6/9

2009-06-03T09:38:00.000-07:00

Here are the links I have found with Albertsons deals so far:

Budget Bailout

A Thrifty Mom

Krazy Coupon Lady

Krazy Coupon Lady's Albertsons Preview

Couponing 101

Saving 4 My Family

Do you have Albertsons deals posted on your site too? Put your link below! Make sure to link to the actual post about this ad, not to your entire blog. Thank you! :)

Free Tea Sample

2009-05-28T14:19:00.001-07:00

I decided to post something here. :) A free tea sample for y'all: http://www.yogiproducts.com/sample/. And really, I just liked the looks of the site--it's very pretty. And I like free tea...nothing wrong with that, right? :)

Coupon Giveaway! :)

2009-05-15T11:33:00.000-07:00

Go to A Thrifty Mom and enter the coupon giveaway!!! :)

2009-05-15T11:28:00.001-07:00