Smith's trip 5/27

* 4 Arrowhead 24 pack water - $3.33 each
(used 2 $1/2 coupons and recieved a $5 catalina = $1.58 each)
* 2 juicy juice boxes - $2.89 each
(used 2 free coupons up to $2.12 each for buying little swimmers = $0.77/each)
* 2 Huggies little swimmers - $6.99 each * 1 Huggies wipes = $1.99
(tried to use 2 $2/1 coupons for the swimmers but they wouldn't allow me because of the juice coupons... dumb. Used $0.50/1 for wipes and recieved $3 catalina so = $12.97 for all 3 items)
* 2 Wheat thins stix = $1.67 each
(used 2 $1/1 coupons = $0.67 each)
* Hersheys bars = $3, Nabisco Grahams = $3.29, Kraft marshmallows = $1 = $7.29 for all 3
(used free marshmallow coupon and recieved $2 instant savings for buying all 3 = $4.29 for all 3)
= $45.70 worth of groceries for $ 26.46 (not including store discounts) = 42% savings... would have been better if I could have used the huggies coupons, that's why I'm still learning store policies =)

Winco shopping trip 5/26

* 2 lunchables w/fruit - $1.48/each
(used 2 $1/1 coupons = $0.48/each)
* 4 Jolly time popcorns - $.98/each
(used 2 $1/2 coupons = $0.48/each)
* 10 kool-aids - $0.10/each
(used 2 $0.50/5 coupons = FREE)
* 6 Kikkoman teriyaki sauce = $1.28/each
(used 6 $1/1 coupons = $0.28/each)
* 2 Deans dips = $1.28 each
( used 2 $1/1 coupons = $0.28/each)

= $18.12 worth of groceries for only $5.12 = 71% savings!

Albertson's sizzlin' summer giveaway!

Don't forget when you go to albertsons next to pick up the game board and get your tickets after each transaction! Today I got 10!

This is very similar to McDonalds' monopoly... you purchase certain items to get the tickets with your transactions, then you paste them to the game board and try to win awesome prizes like cash, cars, Albertsons gift cards, etc.!

For more information visit: http://www.albertsons.com/savings/seasons/sizzlinsummer.jsp

Albies Doubler trip

**prices for items listed are AFTER preferred card savings**

Transaction #1:
* 4 Airwick air freshners - $0.99/each
(used 2 $1/2 coupons and 2 doublers = FREE)
* 3 Baby Ray BBQ sauces - $1/each
(used $1/3 coupon and 1 doubler = $1/3)

* Nabisco cookies (snack for my son) - $1
Total before taxes - $1.96 (86% savings)

Transaction #2:
* 4 "5" gum packs - $1/each

(used 2 $1/2 coupons and 2 doublers = FREE)
* 1 Stoffers frozen entree - $2.27

(used $1/1 coupon and doubler = $.27)
Total before taxes - $0.27 (95% savings)

Transaction #3:
* 1 Stoffers frozen entree - $2.27

(used $1/1 coupon and doubler = $.27)
* 2 Sabra hummus - $2.99/each
(used 2 $1/1 coupons and 2 doublers = $.99/each)
Total before taxes = $2.25 (75% savings)

Transaction #4:
* 3 Emerald breakfast to go - $1.99/each

(used 3 $1/1 coupons and 3 doublers = FREE)
Total before taxes = CREDIT of $.03 (99% savings after taxes)

Transaction #5:
* 1 Kikkoman soy sauce - $1.29

(used $1/1 coupon and doubler = FREE)
* 2 Duncan Hines frostings - $2.49/each

(used 2 $1/1 coupons and 2 doublers = $.49/each)
Total before taxes = $.98 (72% savings because she only gave me $.29 on the doubler)

Transaction #6:
* 1 Kikkoman soy sauce - $1.29

(used $1/1 coupon and doubler = FREE)
* 1 Hidden Valley salad kit - $2.99

(used $1/1 coupon and doubler = $.99)
* 1 Palamolive dish soap - $1.99
(used $.75/1 coupon and doubler = $.49)
Total before taxes = $1.24 (82% savings, again she only gave me $.29 on the doubler, but $.99 on the .75 doubler...)

By using my preferred card, coupons, and store doublers I brought home $63.41 worth of groceries for a total of all 5 transactions before taxes: $4.42 after taxes: $8.23. Which is a savings of 87%!

The only mess up I made this time (thankfully) was with the soy sauce, I should have purchased larger bottles to max the savings.

Shopping Trip ~ Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Sorry I totally forgot to take pictures! Guess it will take me a while to get back into the grove of things.
I checked out Smith's today, it is very similar to Albertsons. I did pretty well even though a lot of the good deals were already gone. I saved 60%! Then I went to albertsons and everything went smooth there as well... I saved 73%! That was with combining manufacture & store coupons. Finally I went to Target, and by using 2 manufacture coupons, and an in store card I got 2 boxes of diapers (they were on sale for $19.79 retail is $24.99 I believe) after the coupons I paid about $12 each!
Next time I will take pics & list everything out like I use to... this was more of a trial run to get back into it. But it was definitely exciting watching all the savings! =)

Going Green = Saving Green!

Recently in my Biology class we figured out our family carbon footprint... I was MORTIFIED! So another goal I've set for myself and my family is to become more green while saving $$!

Here are a few of the changes we are making:

I will be cloth diapering our new baby! This will be very new to us but I am excited to save a lot of money from our monthly expenses. (And of course I got these awesome BG 4.0's on sale!)

Reuseable bags! I'm sure everyone knows about these, but I like most others always seem to forget them when I go shopping. I want to get myself in the habit of always bringing them! Not only is it better for the enviroment, you can carry so much more, and some stores even give you a discount for using them! *Make sure you wash them consistently!!!*

Also, as I said before we are planting a vegetable/fruit garden, not only eating healthy but saving $$ on produce!

Have any other ideas, please share them here!

Almost 2 years later!!!

Wow, I can't believe its been about 18 months since I used this blog. A lot has changed but I am happy to announce I am getting back into couponing!! I am so excited since it has been so long. So I hope to start blogging more frequently since I really enjoyed sharing my shopping trips. I do have my first "real couponing" shopping trip planned for tomorrow morning after my last final.

As for a little update on me: I finally have enough time to get back into doing this because I am taking a break from school (summer semester) for the first time in 2 years. I am so excited to spend the summer with my son before our 2nd little boy arrives in August!
Back in November we moved across the state to the Idaho Falls area from the Boise area. So I am in a whole new market... and tomorrow I am checking out a store I've never been to, Smiths.... I will also update how that goes.
I have so many goals for this summer, I'm just so excited for the time off! I plan to potty train my 2 1/2 y.o., work with him on numbers, letters, colors, and shapes, explore our new area for fun stuff to do, have a fruit/veg. garden, and of course couponing! Oh and getting ready for baby #2 and our 5 year anniversary trip to California! =)

Valpack

Check out Valpack.com for some great coupons in your area!
Also watch for them in your mail box... I found $1 off paper plates in mine today!

Coupons!

Click here to get 15% off at the Children's place! Pile this on their 50% off items and save BIG!

Click here to get a FREE sample of bronzer or lipstick! At JCP Sephora only!

I'm back!

I am so sorry for the long absence! My life has been so crazy with school, babysitting and my son's 1st birthday.. I haven't had much time. But my Mom asked about the blog a few days ago, and I really want to get it back up and running.
I am still couponing, but not as much as I use to because lack of time. I am still finding new ways to save money. So this is my attempt to get back into it. It is so important to me to save money. I also want to still use this blog as an update for family. So it's a little bit of everything!