How To- short version

The basic lesson behind the maddness is this: Buy what is on sale and use coupons for those items. Stock up when there are GREAT deals. You'll spend the same with double the groceries.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Grocery deals for tomorrow

It has been a crazy couple of weeks, and thank goodness for the stocked up cupboards because I haven't been to the store in 2 weeks. I've only had to send the hubby for milk and bread once.

But, tonight I'm back and here are the deals that I've found for this coming week.

Albertson's: Buy 10 save $5.
There are a lot of products that fall under this category. It is mix and match so it doesn't matter what items you buy as long as you get multiples of 10. The products of my choice are as follows (remember these prices are only if you buy groups of ten, but not neccessarily the same products):

Kellogs Cereal (check the variety, not all are on sale) $1.49
coupons: Raisin bran-$1.00 off total price= .50
apple Jacks- $1.50 total price = +.01
rice krispies- $1.00 total price = .50
Pop Tarts - 1.49
coupons - .55 total price 1.00
Dannon light & fit yogurt 1.49
coupon- 1.00 off 2. total price on two = 2.00
Kraft mayo 24 oz 3.49
coupon- .75 total price = 2.75
Mountain high yougurt 1.99
coupon- .50 total price = 1.50

Also check out the free milk deal.
Buy 3 General Mills cereal recieve a coupon for free milk. Make sure you use your buy 3 get 1.00 off.

1.00 off M&M's in this Sunday's paper to bribe the little ones with.

There is also 2 double your manufactures coupons at the bottom of the ad.

Don't forget to check the Kraft website for more coupons.

Happy Shopping!

Friday, June 19, 2009

Father day deals


Here's a father's day deal I came across. Sears is offering this deal:

Spend $50 Get $50 in Sears Reward Cash via mail with any combination of Men's Pants or Jeans.

What did I do? I hit the clearance racks and the sale table. I got a nice pair and jeans and some much needed dress slacks for $52.00 and am now waiting for my $50.00 gift card to come in the mail.

I plan on using the gift card on some needed appliance or new weed wacker. So exciting.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Disney deals

I am a huge sucker for Disney everything. Right now is their semi-annual sale. It's a great time to buy that Halloween princess costume, mark down to 29.99 from 44.99. Beach towels are buy 1 get one free. Girls swim suits are 9.99, originaly 22.00, boys 7.99 from 16.99. Even mom sizes start at 19.99 (I've got a Tinker Bell one. They run a little big, but give great coverage). While you're looking around the sale, in the search box, type in "outlet" There is always great deals in there. I love the PJ pals. 5.99 for the set, gotta love it. Does your little girl need a coat for next year? 19.99. T-shirts start at 3.99.

$5.00 shipping if you spend $89.99. Enter "shiptoday" when you check out. That seems like a lot when you were trying to save money right? Call up a friend or nieghbor and order together, or I like to take these sales and buy b-day gifts for the 30 birthday party the kids get invited too, or even Christmas gifts.

Click on header for a link to website. Have fun!!

Thursday, June 11, 2009

This weeks deals

I've been browsing through todays ads and I'm not too impressed. No killer deals are screaming out at me. But that's they way it goes sometimes. For myself, I'm going to save my coupons and wait until next week. But if you're needing somethings here's the best I could find.

Sunflower Market:
strawberry $0.88
letuuce .88
tomatoes/avocados .88
apples .88/lb
reuseable bags are 25% off

Albertson's:
buy 3 pepsi 12 packs get 1 diet free = 2.99 each
G mills cereal 2.00 (coupons on betty crocker website/ads)
Ragu sauce 1.50 each
20 0z bisquik 1.50

Look for items including the bottom 3 listed above, spend 25.00 worth get a 10.00 off next shopping trip.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

order the Sunday paper!!!!

The first and last thing I tell any one who wants to save money shopping is this: ORDER THE SUNDAY PAPER!

I can't say it enough. I personally would order at least 2, more if they'll let you. Coupons only come in the Sunday paper, the more editions you get, the more coupons you'll have. The paper cost about 1.25 each. You'll make your money back with one coupon, trust me.

So, I say again, ORDER THE SUNDAY PAPER, and do it NOW!

Monday, June 8, 2009

Shout out to Sunflower market

For the longest time I purchased my produce at Costco. Pound for pound it was a better deal than the adverage grocier store and a little better quality. The problem was that there was soooo much of one thing, half usually went bad.

Then the grocery fairy granted me my own special wish... Ta Da!

A market was built not 2 block from my house!!!!

My produce bill has dropped 75%. No kidding. I told my sister that I could buy a weeks worth of produce and fresh meat for $20.00. She didn't believe me. She gave me $20.00. Guess what I spent $21.54. $1 of it was for a reusable bag, because I like to be environmentally kind :) I had a total of 3 bags FULL of produce and a family pack of chicken breast. I have repeated this 3 weeks straight, just mixing up the type of meat.

Here's how:

My market of choice is the Sunflower Market. www.sfmarkets.com There are stores all over the SW. Locally for me is Murray and Orem. They try to sell items that are locally grown or as close to it as possible.

Their ads overlap on Wedensday. What that means is week 1's add ends Wed night, week 2 starts Wed morning. That equals twice the sales.

Buy only what you'll eat in 7 days. I try to underestimate. I'd rather wish I had more, than throw rotten apples away. If you are throwing rotten food away it's like throwing $$ in the garbage.

Mix it up. You may not know that your child loves aisan pears until you buy some. Start with 2. If they're on sale it will cost you about $.30. Better for them than fruit snacks and if they don't like it you're only out less than a dollar.

Sock up on meat when it's on sale. When hamburger is $1.50/lb buy a months worth. Take it home divided into your families portions, stick in a freezer bag, label it with the date, and freeze it. And the DON"T FORGET about it. This store always has at least one meat item for a killer price. I got pork ribs for $.97/lb one time, they're usually $4.00/lb.

Don't forget about it. I leave my produce on the counter in a bowl. If it's tucked away in a crisper it doesn't get eaten. When the kids see it on the counter, they ask for it. And because you've only purchased a few things they're not going to go bad if it's not refridgerated. Cut up things that take awhile right when you get home from the store, ie, watermelon, cantaloupe, even throw your salad together and put it in a ziploc bag. You're more likely to eat it if is ready to go.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Taming the Beasts

I have to do my shopping with up to 3 kids under the age of 6 sometimes. How do I accomplish such a task you ask. I'm not to proud to admit, BRIBERY. Works almost everytime. Also, play them off of each other. Here's what I do, and this will take a few trips, some tears, and even some on the floor screaming before it's perfected.

Let the kids know BEFORE you start shopping that they may have a treat at the checkout stand IF they are good in the store. They can only get it at the end. We're a baseball family so they get 3 strikes then they're out. If they've kept up their bargain they get to pick out a treat, if not they don't. And it's an individual thing.

So, a child starts to take off down the aisle. I say, get back here, and I count down from 5. If by 1, they're not standing next to me. Strike 1. And so on and so forth.

Here's the important part. If they get to strike 3 NO TREAT. You simply say, I would have loved to buy you that candy/gum/sucker but you chose to be naughty so now I can't. Maybe next time you'll behave.

For the older children you can let them pick it out first and when they misbahve, PUT it BACK.

The most important part. Don't threaten, follow through. It maybe rough the first couple of times, but they will get it. Trust me.

Also, let them help pick things off the shelf. Alot of sales you have to buy so many items. Let them help count them. I like to keep my cart organized by 10 for 10's and what's free, etc. Let them be apart of that. My little guy loves to hold the list. He pretends he's reading it off to me.

Good luck mom's. Let me know how it goes.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Have a Coke and a smile :)

Last summer when the price of gas went up, so did the price of my own personal fuel. COKE!!! It went from a $3.00 for a 12 pack to $5.00. It's so bad that I've even been seen drink Pepsi because it was on sale. Gasp! But today until next Tuesday you may pick up a 3- 6 pack of 16.9 oz bottles of Coke products for $7.00. These are the bottles you pay $1.50 a piece at the check out stand. You know what I'm talking about. The ones is the cooler that call to you while your checking out and are thirsty and exhausted after chasing your 3 kids through the cereal aisle.

To sum it up: buy three 6 packs of 16.9 oz bottles of coke for $7.00
that's $0.38 per bottle.

So Have a Coke and a Smile :)

Thursday, June 4, 2009

My Favorite deals for June 4th

Do you like Crystal Light? Here's the great deal I found. First go to http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/kraftcoupons.aspx?cm_sp=CRM-_-MemorialDay_Coupon-_-Homepage and sign up for their online coupons. Once you have done that you can pick and choose which coupons you want to print. There are 3 different Crystal light coupons. Print all 3. Now, get your Albertson's add. They are on sell for 3 for $7 ($2.33 each, but you must by 3 for the deal) At the bottom of the add there is "double your manufacturer coupon" coupons. You'll need 2 for this.

You'll present the following with your coupons:

$1 off one crystal light

$2 off two crystal lights

Buy two crystal light get crystal light skin essentials free

2-Double your manufacturers coupon, coupons…..

Your total:

    3 for $10

    -$3 for buying 3

    -$1 coupon

    -$2 coupon

    -$1 for double

    -$1 for double

    -$3.50 for free coupon

Grand total= $2.00 for 3 cans crystal light and one crystal light skin essentials.

Another deal that's too good to pass up. Which means stock up! Get your coupon off of the same sight for Kraft BBQ sauce (original). It's on sale at Albertson's for $.70 if you buy 10 things out of that group.

Your total:

    One for .70

    -$1 coupon

    -$1 for double

Grand total= You make $1.30

Word of advice. You can only use 3 double coupons and they only double up to $1, so choose wisely. Make sure if it says Save $3 when you buy $10 worth, that you buy $10 worth.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Mom’s Tip Jar

Mom's Tip Jar


 


 



 

For the 12 loads of laundry done each week,

For the all the lost socks that you help seek.

For the dishes that won't do themselves,

For stacking the games back on the shelves.

For making the beds and scrubbing the floor,

For driving to practices and running to the store.

For every meal planned and prepared,

For all the wiped noses with nary a care.

For the coupons you cut and the pennies you pinch,

For the chart that measure each child's every inch.

For the kisses and band aid's on every skinned knee,

For chasing away ghost that only a child can see.


 

Here is a jar to keep the coins that you find,

Under cushions, in washers, even under the blinds.

For dollars crumpled and laundered,

Forgotten and never again pondered.


 

Here you can keep all these little treasures,

When you think your deeds go without measure.

By the end of the week you'll have enough for a treat,

By the end of the month you can pamper your feet.

We've kept it simple, even discreet,

So little hands will not be tempted to peek.

Mom's tip jar will keep all dues that are owed her,

From the people whom forget to say "thank you, mother."