Comedy in Couponing

Well...I've just started using coupons and already I've had my fair share of HORRIBLE experiences.  I actually try not to post too many bad experiences because I am an optimist at heart and don't want to discourage anyone from couponing because I love it.  It is super fun and helps my family (the best of both worlds).  My friends all make fun of me for being the crazy coupon lady who takes her binder of coupons in the store with her.  (But they don't seem to mind to much when I whip out a coupon for what they are about to buy or bring them free goodies!)  

Anyway, this week I actually had a lot of fun shopping at CVS.  Not only did my favorite cashier help me score some awesome deals (see it here), but I found a new cashier who I love.  This is great news because my cashier is leaving for college shortly! :(  

Well this story starts by me going in and looking at the candy isle (for my B1G1 Lifesavers).  I am quietly shopping, when out of no where this head pops up over the top of the shelves and says can I help you find anything?  She scared me half to death!!  She was really tall and really peppy, so something about her popping up suddenly just startled me so bad (and I honestly don't scare that easily).  We were both laughing so hard at how high I jumped.  I was so embarrassed for jumping and she was so embarrassed for scaring me!

So we finally stopped laughing and I got busy shopping.  When I got ready to check-out, I couldn't find my favorite cashier. Boo-hoo!  I go to my new friend, but I definitely have the "new check-out girl" jitters.  I start out with my "I am sorry, I have a couple of transactions and a lot of coupons" story.  And believe it or not, she was actually extremely excited that I had coupons! She goes into this spill of how she just started using coupons and how much she loves it!  Yeah!! I had a coupon for a One Touch that made it free and she could not get it to go through.  She tried and tried every way she could. I told her it was ok, I didn't have to have it.  I was just getting a back up for my grandfather.  Long story short, she took my coupon and the meter and told me she would have the manager make it work and I could just come by and pick it up later. How sweet is that?  

So I came back later to get it and of course had to do more deals.  While I was making my DVD (which my favorite cashier gave me a $5 off coupon for!) my new cashier comes up to do some deals herself.  After everything rings up, she digs in her pocket and pulls out this huge wad (and I do mean wad, like sweaty, crumbled up mess) of coupons.  I almost died!  (I mean seriously, how dare you disrespect those coupons!  Ha! Ha!)  I just had to help her!  I went to my car to get my binder that I just put together (yes, I actually left it in the car this time)!  I was so proud to show off my new baby! (Oh my gosh, I am such a dork!)  Anyway, I hope she got some good ideas to get herself organized and give those coupons the good home they deserve!

Before I left, she decided that I needed to start a local club and teach people how to do this.  I am no where good enough for that, but I thought it was funny!

(I got home and was telling my husband all of this and he knocked some stuff off of the table including a dime.  He just shrugged like "oops!"  I picked up the dime and said, "Are you just going to leave this here, I mean, this is highly valuable!  Do you know what all I can get at CVS with this dime?  At least 2 shampoos & conditioners, 3 sure deo, makeup, facewipes, toilet paper, soap, and some toothpaste!!) 

Want to read more fun couponing stories?  Check out the Tuesday Tee-hee at Moms Need to Know.  Add your own funny story for a chance to win a Coupon Companion.  

Hidden CVS Deal! Small Money Maker!

I have personally confirmed that this deal!  The ad states you must buy mascara and expensive eye roller and earn $10 ECB.  I heard the rumor that you could buy two mascaras (5.99 each) and the $10 ECB's would print.  Use 2 $2/1 coupons and it's a money maker!  Well, I was really nervous about this deal and didn't want to do it if it wouldn't work because I would be wasting my ECB's to pay for it and I still have mascaras from a couple weeks ago.  As I was debating if I was going to try, in walks my favorite cashier, who loves me and my couponing self.  I asked her if she thought it would work and she said let's try it and if it doesn't I'll refund you your money!  Yeah! I love her!  So I did it, and out pops my $10 ECB!!  So excited!  

Not only did she do this, she also gave me a huge handful of $5 off Kodak DVD coupons!!! Enough for me and everyone in my family!  I wish I would have gotten them earlier in the week because I could have shared them with all of you, but there is no way they would get there in time now!  Sorry!  Isn't it great to have a cashier who loves when we do this?  Too bad she's leaving for college soon!  I take her treats every once in a while and I told her she definitely earned some treats!!  

I'll list all of the deals she helped me do in a bit!

DIY Wednesday

I have decided to start doing a DIY Wednesday post weekly (I hope!).  I definitely believe in making anything you can instead of buying it.  A lot of things you see in the store can be made at home and usually pretty simply.  I love buying things at thrift stores and repainting them to make them new again.  I hope to show you some ideas of things you can create on your own at very cheap prices.  I would also love for you to share any DIY ideas you have or anything that you would like to create and are not sure how.  I will try to help you figure out how to do it.  I would also love any suggestions of what to write about each week.  Here are some things I have made myself and plan to share:  headboard, furniture, pergola, artwork, mosaic table, etc.  

CVS July 20-26

I had a great week!  I went on Sunday to take advantage of the $3/$15 coupons I had.  I ended up there several times (took my sister and cousin) and then went back on Thursday (when truck comes) to get some items they've been out of!  Here's the quick run-down of the other trips.  (You can see my first visit this week where I got $240 stuff for $7 and increased my ECB's here.)

Veet Bladeless Razor 8.79 (-$2 coupon)

Veet Gel 4.99 (-$2 coupon)  (ECB's earned $5)

4 All B1G1 6.49 (4  $1/1coupon)

2 Sure 2.89 each (2 $1/1 coupon)

2 CVS Baby Powder 2.00 (2  $2 CVS skincare coupon)

CVS Baby Lotion 2.00 (-$2 CVS skincare coupon)

CVS Bedtime Baby Wash 2.00 (-$2 CVS skincare coupon)

CVS Hair Detangler 2.00 (-$2 CVS skincare coupon) (ECB's $5 after $15 baby)

Bic Razor 6.99 (-$4 coupon) (ECB's $5 since had bought one before) 

2 Bic Cartridges (2 $4/1 coupons) (ECB's earned $5)

Mike & Ike's .99 (filler)

This is a few transactions combined with a few $3/$15 I used Sunday totaling:

$4.22  OOP

Went with $17 ECB's left with $16 ECB's

My sister did not care for the Pepsi deal or Clean & Clear deal, so I built both of those in her transactions and got to keep that stuff (she got baby stuff in return)!  I will not be buying any face wash for a long time!  And I should definitely be pimple free!!

My weekly totals are:

$326.94 stuff (+ tax) (not including stuff my sister gave me)

$11.52 oop (including 9.99 MIR)

Started this week w/$14 ECB's and finished w/$16!!

Want to see more people do this and learn how to do it??  Check out The Centsible Sawyer.  She will teach you how to do this and save you tons of $$$!!!

Plastic bags!

I just read this email and it really got me thinking.  It is about all of the plastic bags we use.  Since I've been doing so much shopping (uhhh...freeing!) I've brought home a  lot of bags.  I usually keep and reuse them for other stuff, but eventually they do end up somewhere, right???  I've seen on the news about taking your own bag, but never seriously thought about doing it myself.  After seeing this, I think I'm going to.  You should see the slideshow here.  It says that if 1 in 5 people in our country did this we would save 1,330,560,000,000 bags in our lifetime.  And that's only counting if we saved 6 bags a week.  I know I come home with way more than six bags a week!  In my search about this I've found several sites that show you how to make your own out of stuff you already have.  Here and here are examples.  I'm gonna give it a go!  I'll post pics later!

If you already do this, or have a question or tip, please leave a comment!  Thanks!

More CVS Scores!

So I took my dad to CVS with me to show him how cool it is (I've also taken my sister and cousin, it's going to be a family thing!), but when I got there to make my photobooks I realized I had forgotten my camera!!  URG!!!  I was so mad at myself!  I did some other deals and had my old camera so I made one photobook with some older cake pictures.  It turned out so cute!  Here 's what I got:

More freebies!

Here is a great coupon booklet that you can have mailed to you.  It's got some great brands in it. Find it here.  It includes $27 in savings on brands like Swiffer, Dawn, Cascade, Febreze, and Mr. Clean!

Free Sample Pond's Clean Sweep towelettes!

Get your free sample here from Costco.  You don't have to be a member to get one.  Just leave it blank where it asks for a membership number.  I'm addicted to face cleansing towelettes, so I can't wait to get these!  Thanks to dealseekingmom for sharing this on her site!

Guess What?????

I am so excited!  My husband said the sweetest words I've ever heard:

We are getting a new CVS in town!!!

  

That's right!!!!  I am so excited because right now the only CVS anywhere close to me is about 35 minutes away!  (It's ok though because my sister lives there and it's a good excuse to see those beautiful babies you see to the left!)  Now it will only be about 10 minutes away!!  I'm so excited I want to go volunteer to help them build it just so it will be finished faster!  I can't wait!!!  Oh, the deals that are just waiting to be made!!

While I was at CVS tonight, I mentioned to the cashier (who is my new BFF) that I was so excited about the new CVS closer to home.  She said "Why?"  I said, "because it's so much closer", and she said "you can't go there."  I was wondering why, and she said, "you have to keep coming here to see us so we can see all the deals you make!"  She was also shocked that I wasn't buying that much (just did the Excedrin deal and still waiting on my coupons to do my other deals).  She said, that's all your getting today?  Then when no ECB's printed on my first transaction, she kept looking at the receipt like something was wrong and looked at me puzzled and said "you didn't earn any ECB's???"  I told her to just wait!

Here's my deals (I had to rework my scenarios again when I got there due to lack of items):

#1:

Excedrin migrane ($2/1) printable here

Maloox chewables ($2/1)

CVS soap ($2/1 skincare) 

2 Johnson's Buddies soap  ($2/2) $1/1printable here

-$3/$15 coupon

ECB's used:  $5.50

OOP:  $0.72

#2:

Excedrin migrane ($2/1) printable above

Maloox chewables ($2/1)

Speed Stick ($1/1) printable here

-$3/$15 coupon

ECB's used:$4.00

OOP:$3.88

ECB's earned:  12

I realized afterward that I might should have done these transactions the other way around.  I think I would have ended up with a smaller OOP, but also less ECB's.  I had to rework the deals while in the store and I got so confused!!  Oh well, now I have more to play with next time!!

 

More deals this week

My loot from combined trips to Walgreens, Walmart, and Rite Aid!!

Here are some other deals I got this week:

Walgreens:

2 Colgate (used (2) 1.99 in ad coupon & (2) 1.50 coupon) .50 each 

Loreal Vive Shampoo & Conditioner  (sale B1G1 & B1G1 coupon) free!

Schick Quattro Razors (on sale 5.99 used B1G1 & $2 easy saver) 3.99

Schick Xtreme Razors (free from above)

2 Nature Valley Granola Bars (sale 2/$4 & (2) .60 coupon) 1.40 each

Total: 7.52 (with tax)

Walmart:

Honey Bunches Oats Just Clusters (used $2/1)     $0.62

Blue Bell Bomb Pop (used $1)   $1.33

(2)  Vlassic pickles (used 2 $1/1)  $0.78 each

Bertolli Pasta Sauce (used $1/1) $0.84

Total:  $5.15 (with tax)

Rite Aid:

(2) 4 lb Beneful Dog Food (sale $3.49 & (2) $4/1 coupons) Free + overage

(2) Right Guard Deo (B1G1 sale used (2) $1/1 coupons) $1.35 each

(4) Airwick Spray (Clearance 0.75 each & (2) $1/2 coupons) $0.25 each

(2) Neuta-air (B1G1 & used B1G1 coupon) Free!

Total: $4.26 (with tax)

My Plan for tomorrow (or as soon as my coupons get here!)

This is what I'm planning to do with the $9.50 ECB's I earned earlier this week!  I'm going as soon as my photobook and razor coupons get here from ebay.  I spent $4 on them, but am splitting them with my cousin.  So $2, not bad for all of this stuff! (Plus enough to do the razor deal again 3 more times!)

Transaction #3

Bic Razor (6.99)           (will earn ECB's after next transaction)

6x8 Photobook (7.99)  (ECB's 7.99)

Towelette (2.99)          (ECB's 1.00)

Bayer Asprin (5.00)      (ECB's 2.50)

3 Nail Polish (2.97)

2 Colgate (B1G1 2.79)

Coupons:

$3/$15 CVS

$4/1 Razor

$3/1 Photobook

$2/1 CVS Skincare

$2.50 Bayer Asprin

$3/2 Nail Polish

(2) $1.50 Colgate

Total:  $8.50 (+ tax)

Use: $9.50 ECB's from previous

Earn 11 ECB's!!

Transaction #4:                    

Bic Razor Cartridge (6.99)   (ECB's 5 with above)

6x8 Photobook (7.99)          (ECB's 7.99)

2 Sure (5.68)                        (ECB's 3)

2 Johnson's Buddies Soap(2.00)

CVS Soap (1.99)

Coupons:

$3/$15 CVS

$4/1 Razor Cartridge

$3/1 Photobook

(2) $1/1 Sure

(2) $1 Johnson's Buddies

$2/1 CVS Skincare

Total:  $8.68 (+ tax)

Use 11 ECB's from above 

Earn:  16 ECB's!!!!

So my totals for the whole week (7-13-08) should look something like:

$150 products for around $6 (depending on tax) and $16 ECB's for next week!!

I'm really hoping this works out right!!  I'm new, so I could totally have messed up! I'll let you know how it goes!!  If you see anything to make it better, please let me know!

CVS is the Best!

This is my second CVS trip and I can say that I am for sure addicted.  I was so excited about the deals I was getting and then I got there and they didn't have all of the stuff I wanted.  I had to rework all of my deals in the store.  They weren't as sweet as I originally planned, but I still pretty good!  Here's what I did!

Transaction #1                    ECB's Earned

Gain (4.99)                                2.00

Airwick (4.99)

Airwick (4.99)

Neut Mascara (5.99)                   4.00

3 Sally Nail Polishes (2.97)

CVS Pantyliner (.89)                    0.99

CVS Pantyliner (.89)                   0.99

CVS Tampon (1.49)                       1.49

CVS Face Towelettes (2.99)          1.00

Orbit Gum (1.19) filler

Coupons:

$5/$30 CVS

(2) $4/1 Airwick printable

$3/2 Sally

$2/1 CVS skincare

Used 10.00 ECB

OOP:  $4.42

ECB's Earned:  10.50

Transaction #2:                                    ECB's Earned

Herbal Essences Shampoo(2.50)

Herbal Essences Conditioner (2.50)

4x6 Photobook (3.99)                                 3.99

3 Nail Polish (2.97)

2 Colgate (B1G1 2.79)

2 Cheerios (B1G1 4.29)

CVS Tampons (1.49)                                    1.49

CVS Face Towelettes (2.99)                         1.00

Snickers (1.49) (Filler for hungry belly)

Coupons:

$4/20 CVS

$3/2 Herbal Essences

$3/2 Sally Nail

(2) $1.50 Colgate

(2) $1/1 Cheerios

$2/1 CVS skincare

Used $7.50 ECB's

OOP $1.36

ECB's Earned:  $6.50 (+ 3 ECB's left over)

THAT'S $97.77 PRODUCTS FOR $5.78 OOP!!!!!  +9.50 ECB's for next time!!!  

WOW!!!  I'm lovin' this!!!

I have some more deals that I'm doing this week once my razor and photobook coupons I bought on ebay get here.  I'll post them so you can see what I plan to do, if they get the stuff in that I want!!  

 

Walgreens: Planters Nuts Free!!

I found this deal online and was really wondering if it worked.  So I had to try it.  Apparently, if you buy 6 of the planters peanuts they count themselves as the other 3 products needed to get the $3 off deal.  They are 2/$5 at Walgreens.  Use 5 $3/1 coupon and they are free + a $5 rebate, so that's $5 profit!

I also happened to go to a brand new Walgreens and they had a $3/$10 coupon for Grand Opening!  So, I let my husband get Mt. Dew and candy as a treat for being so patient!

I love free stuff!

My First CVS Trip!

(Notes to self:  First, don't take your husband with you when you are trying to take your time and find the best deals.  Plus he adds lots of stuff to the basket that are not deals!  Secondly, don't go late in the week because they don't have anything left!)

First of all, I just discovered this whole thing this week and I owned zero coupons!  I was so saddened that I had missed this past Sunday paper with the P & G coupons!  Luckily, a sweetheart on the local freecycle gave me her coupons (a few already cut out, but it's better than none)!  I am so wishing that I had several copies like the experts that already do this!  But, I guess it's good to start out small since I'm still learning the ropes.  Here's how I did:

1st transaction:

Olay face wash: 7.99

-$2 P & G

Olay bodywash:  5.99

-$1 P & G

Olay moisturizer:  6.99 

(no coupon but I was out and really needed this)

-$4/$20 coupon

Total:  $15.16

ECB's earned:  $10

2nd transaction:

2 Dawn 2/$2  

(no coupon, but still good deal)

(earned $1 ECB)

2 Febreeze @ 3.99 each

1 Febreeze Air Effects

-1 B1G1 

(earned $5 ECB)

CVS Towelette  2.99

-$2 CVS skincare

(earned $1 ECB 

Playtex Sport $4.99

-$1 printable

(earned $3 ECB)

Orbit gum

(added at the end to bring total to $10)

-$3/$15 coupon

Total:  $10.00

Used $10.00 ECB

$0 OOP + earned $10.00 ECB for next time!!

Total:  $15.16 OOP & 10 ECB

That's $44.24 in products for $15.16 OOP & $10 ECB!

I know some of you experts out there could have done way better, but I'm excited about what I did!  Thanks to everyone out there who posted their finds!  I couldn't have gotten these deals without them!  I can't wait for next week!

My first shopping trip!

So I've been reading all about couponing, CVS, Rite Aid, etc.  I finally got my coupons together and headed out to see what I could do.  I visited three stores and think I did pretty good for my first try.  Hopefully it will get better and better!  

Kroger: (not pictured)

   10 pizza rolls:  10 for $10

-$3 if you buy all 10 

- 10/.35 off (doubled to .70)

=FREE!!

Rite Aid:

Venus Razor on sale 7.99

-$2 coupon 

-$5 SCR

= .99

Tag Body Spray on sale $2.99

-$1 coupon

-$1 SCR

=$1

Infusium Shampoo on sale $4.99

-$3 coupon

-$2 SCR

=FREE!!

2 Bic Pens on sale 2/$1

-$1/2 coupon

=FREE!!

Crest on sale $2.49

-.50 coupon

-$1.75 SCR

=.24

TOTAL=$2.25

Target: 

Colgate on sale $2.50

-$1 Target coupon

-$1.50 P & G coupon

= FREE!

2 Lysol toilet cleaners on sale 2/$3.54

-.50 coupon

= $1.52 each

These both had coupon books for other Lysol products that used next and still have 

                    some left, making this an even better deal.

2 Lysol all-purpose cleaners on sale 2/$4

-2 $1/1 (from toilet cleaner)

=$1 each

2 Lysol wipes

-2 $1/1 (from toilet cleaner)

=$1 each

TOTAL:  $7 + tax

YEAH!!  I had fun and feel like I did pretty good for the first try!  I'm going to CVS tomorrow!  

     

My Favorite Hobby

My favorite hobby is making cakes.  It is definitely my creative outlet.  I keep super busy doing this, and hope that someday I will have my own bakery.  I am by no means an expert, but hope that if I keep practicing I will get better and better.  Sometimes, no most of the time, I am so busy with cakes that I don't have time for my other crafty projects.  But it does supply me with a little extra cash to spend on my ideas when I have time!  If you've ever thought about making your kids birthday cakes (or any cake) and need any help, ideas, tips, etc., just ask!  Again, I'm no expert, but would love to help if I can.  This picture is the wedding cake I made for one of my best friends last month.  I was also in the wedding, so this was a huge undertaking.  You can see all of my cakes on my website:  www.freewebs.com/bellsnbows

Here we go!

Ok...so I've heard all about this blogging thing and finally decided to give it a try.  I have no idea what about or if it will be anything anyone will be interested in reading, but here goes!  I'm sure that it will reflect on my many hobbies and crazy project ideas that I get.  I love doing anything crafty.  If I don't have a project (or two or three or four...) going on, then you can bet I'm racking my brain to think of something to create.  Some turn out fantastic, some crash and burn, and some turn out embarrassingly funny.  The thing about "my projects" is that I insist on spending as little money as possible making it.  If there is something I see in the store that I want, I don't buy it.  I go home and figure out how to make it.  I'm famous for saying, "I can make that!"  I love finding deals on anything!  This love of deals has led to my newest adventure, couponing!  I've just started reading about it (which actually helped me decided to start my own blog!) I'm sure I'll have more to share about that later.  Anyway, I hope this new project (blogging) will be a lot of fun and help me make some new friends around the world!