{savings last week}

Last week was a bit unusual shopping for me, since we were leaving for vacation on Tuesday. I decided to do all of my shopping on Sunday, and this might become a new habit for me – we’ll see. I like having a few days to mull over the grocery ads from Wednesday. Then I can see what the drug store ads are like Sunday morning and if any good, new coupons are available (this was key this week!). Anyway, I didn’t buy many of the normal grocery items, knowing we wouldn’t be home. But, I did have to buy a lot of stuff once we got down to the beach, which didn’t allow for many savings in that area.

I seriously doubt anyone reads these annoyingly long posts, but I like to write them because it helps me understand my savings more. Weird, I know!

First Stop: Rite Aid
This was my first time doing this savings shopping at Rite Aid, but I felt there were enough deals to justify making the stop. I had to read up on how “single check rebates” work. More info on that here.

One of the *big deals* here was basically free contact solution. Complete was on sale for $7.99 and offering a scr of $7.99. Unfortunately, they were out. I asked if they did rainchecks – yes. It took a while but I finally got one. Upon looking at it in the car, I realized it seemed like the raincheck was only for the sale price (about $1.50 off), not necessarily for the rebate. So, not sure how that is going to work and might have to investigate later.

- Electrasol dishwasher tabs: on sale from $6.19 to $3.49 + $1 scr + coupon. I ended up purchasing two of these once I realized how good of a deal it was.
- Edge shaving cream: on sale from $3.29 to $1.99 + 50 cent scr + coupon
- Axe body spray & deodorant: on sale from $4.99 and $5.99 to $4.00 each + $1 scr on 2
- Benadryl: on sale from $7.49 to $4.99 + $2 coupon (from Rite Aid ad)

I had a $5 for $25 coupon, so I was hoping to get to that $25 mark on good deals. When the $7.99 contact solution fell through, and the Colgate deal wasn’t what I wanted, I shopped around to see if there were any deals I missed, that I could justify. The main thing – keeping in mind that if I save money on something I don’t need, it’s not saving money.

- Johnson & Johnson wash clothes (these are the ones with soap already in them). They were clearanced – regular price of $4.29. The sticker said 50% off, but they actually rang up at only $1.07. And I had a $1 coupon for any J&J baby item, so I got the box for only 7 cents!!

- Soft Scrub. I bought two items for $3.99 and $4.49 (not on sale). Because this wasn’t in my original shopping trip, I don’t remember if there was an src. But I had a BOGO coupon, so I saved $3.99.

Summary
Total @ Full Retail = $46.91
Total after sales = $31.51
Coupon savings = $13.49
Amount paid (with tax) = $20.23
SCR’s that will be received = $2.50
Total Savings = $29.18 (62%)

Second Stop: Harris Teeter

These first two items made my week – both GREAT bargains….
- 18 packs of Miller Lite (and a few other beers) for $8.88!!!
- Cottonelle 12pk double rolls for $5.99 each (regular price = $10.99); purchased two packs and had two coupons (one was for $1, one was 50 cents, doubled to $1). I also grabbed another feeder coupon while I was there (for 75 cents, I think)

Other savings:
- Hefty Easy Grip Cups – BOGO (stocking up on these, for summer cookout season)
- Tazo Tea (needed tea, had coupon)
- Michelangelo’s Lasanga (which we eat a lot) on sale for $6.97. Not a huge deal but it’s not on sale much, so better than nothing
- Buitonii pasta – BOGO + coupon
- Kraft Singles – BOGO + coupon
- Philly Cream Cheese – on sale + coupon

Summary:
Total @ Full Retail = $87.21
Total VIC Savings = $18.03
Total Coupon Savings = $25.03
Total Paid = $44.15
Total Saved = $43.06 (50%)

Third Stop: CVS

There was a “hidden” deal on Pampers on their website, but it wasn’t printing at the register – here are the details. I went with a copy of the internet deal in hand.

First Transaction:
I asked them to ring up just the Pampers first because I wanted to see if the ECBs printed (they did not). The diapers were marked down to $8.99 (from $12.49). I used 3 Pampers coupons and then all of my remaining ECBs from last week, plus a $5 off $25. It took a while but I eventually got my $15 in ECBs for the diapers.

Total @ Full Retail = $37.47
Total @ Sale Price = $26.97
Coupons = $4.00
ECBs = $18.00 ($13 ECBs + one $5 off $25)
Total Paid (after taxes) = $6.60
Total Savings* = $34.50 (92%)
*savings based on new ECBs for this transaction, no last week’s used

Second Transaction:
- Dawn dish soap: on sale for 2/$2 (savings of 99 cents each) + coupon + $1 ECB
- Always pantyliners: on sale for 2/$6 (savings of 99 cents each) + coupon + $2 ECB
- Hefty trash bags: on sale for $6.99 (savings of $2.50) + coupon
- Swiffer refills (sale $1.79 off) + Febreze ($0.29 off) + $5 ECB on 2
- Gillette Fusion Razor $7.99 ($4 off) + $4 coupon + $4 ECB
- Banana Boat Sunscreen (2) @ $10.49 each + 2 coupons ($4 total) + $7 ECB
- Waterproof disposable camera @ $14.99 (full price, no coupon, so depressing!)

Total @ Full Retail = $81.49
Total @ Sale Price = $68.95
Coupons = $10.75
ECBs from 1st transaction = $15.00
$10 off $30 from first transaction = $10.00 (got lucky on this one!!)
Total Paid (after taxes) = $36.28
Total Savings* = $52.29 (48%)
*savings based on new ECBs for this transaction, no the ones used

Third Stop: Bi-Lo

I usually don’t like complicated deals, but I went for this one:
- 2 DiGiorno Pizzas @ $13.24 + coupon for 2
Free items: 6pk Pepsi ($3.29), Pepperidge Farm garlic bread ($2.57), Pepperidge Farm cake ($3.99), Kraft Italian Dressing ($1.99)

Other Purchases:
Kraft Mayo – sale + coupon
Mueller’s Pasta – sale + coupon (on 3)
Crisco Olive Oil – sale + coupon
Cards – Buy 2, Get 1 free coupon

Summary:
Total @ Full Retail = $56.33
Bonuscard Savings = $16.40
Coupons = $10.99
Total Paid (after taxes) = $30.02
Total Savings = $27.39 (49%)

I had grand plans for Walgreen’s as well, but simply ran out of time. They had some good coupons in their flyer for items where I had manufacturer’s coupons as well. Oh well!

Upon arriving at the beach, I had to shop at Bi-Lo for the week’s items. I couldn’t be as picky so there wasn’t much in the way of savings. I paid $100.22, with a savings of only $19.21.

WEEKLY SUMMARY

Total @ Full Retail = $428.84
Total Paid = $237.50
Total Savings of 38% (not bad considering the vacation…)

{cvs.com - formula deal}

this is the second time i've taken advantage of this and gotten a great deal on formula from cvs.com...
every so often, they do 20% off the entire site for two days. it is currently going on for today (monday) and tomorrow. coupon code = sale20. there is also a deal if you spend $60, then you automatically get $10 off and free shipping. you can save an additional $5 by paying with a mastercard. the latter two deals do not require any type of promo code. though i've used this for formula, it could be equally beneficial to other items.

so, here is what my formula purchase looks like...
3 - 24oz cans of Enfamil Gentlease
Original Retail of $28.29 x 3 = $84.87
Less 20% = $67.90
Less $10 (order is above $60) = $57.90
Less $5 (paying w/ Mastercard) = $53. 58
total savings = $37.46
Price per ounce = 74 cents (significantly less than the cheapest retail prices I've found, which is at warehouse clubs)

thankful thursday {6.4}

on this thursday, i am thankful for...

this family - today, sherry (my sister) & chip have been married for 21 years

salad finishers by sargento - i love goodies like this on my salad but i never keep all of the stuff on hand. this is perfect!! i have tried two of them and loved 'em!




shrinky dinks!!! - today spencer pulled out his shrinky dink sheets and we made all kinds of cool stuff (including the bookmark pictured below - sorry it's so blurry)

good reads - love this website. i used to keep track of books i've read or wanted to read in an excel spreadsheet (shocking, i know). now, i use this website. it's awesome.

coffee - i've always liked coffee. been addicted for awhile. however, since going back to work after maternity leave, i think i have hit a new (unhealthy) level of addiction. luckily we have a mcdonald's (the best coffee!!), dunkin donuts, and starbucks all within a mile of our office. the coffee on the left in the photo is from a nearby gas station that i recently discovered also has some tasty joe!

wordy wednesday {6.3}

again, sticking with the "end of school theme"...song lyrics....

school's out by alice cooper
"school's out for summer - school's out forever - school's been blown to pieces - no more pencils - no more books - no more teacher's dirty looks"
Of course, this is a CLASSIC for the end of the school year!!!

we go together from the Grease soundtrack
"we go together like rama, lama, lama, kadingy, kading-a-dong...remember forever, as shoowop, shoowally, wally, yippity, boom-de-boom..." (bet you've never seen those lyrics written out before!!!)
even though the lyrics aren't actually about being out of school, when i think of the end of the school year, the first thing that pops into my head is the final scene of Grease when all of the students coming running out of the school and start singing this song."

summer nights by rascall flatts
"come on ladies - it's time to pop that top - and fellas, i know you're ready to rock - we went crazy cooped up all winter long - and school is out, so let's get it on - flip flop tans and some white sand - i know the perfect spot"
this is their brand new song. i just heard it on the radio for the first time a few days ago and i thought to myself "oh, how perfect for this week's wordy wednesday!"

I know I was going to use the magic *5* number, but this is all I felt inspired to do this time :)

two peas tuesday {6.2}

five nifty things i found at two peas (keeping with the "end of school" theme)

teacher's gift by alexysusy
what a great gift idea! it could get expensive but if a class was going in together, this would be awesome. love it!!!

end of school party by tonyaboo
most schools have some type of celebration at the end of the year. this layout a cute and fun record of that.

last day of school by tracy miller
i love how this photo captures the excitement of school being over!

grade 2 by anne langpap
this layout (and the little girl on it) are gorgeous. if you don't have the luxury of having any photos from a child's actual class/school, this is a great way to summarize the year with a photo you can take at home.

school's out by dana*paina
cute summer layout. love the patterned paper and texture.

layout {s & s}

i completed this layout a couple of weekends ago for a LOM assignment - to use photos from our "people we love" drawer. it is about the relationship between my stepson and the daughter of a friend of ours. i had never really thought about doing a page about the two of them, but when i found the photo that included them many years ago (ages 2 &3, they are now 10 & 11), i was immediately inspired. the two more recent photos were digital files on my computer that i printed, but thanks to tagging & my digital "category drawers", they were a breeze to find and print. lovin' it!!!

layout {missing you} - lom

i created this layout a couple of weekends ago as part of a LOM assignment. we were supposed to make a photo connection from our "people we love" drawer. i chose a few photographs of my uncle and some items from his funeral. then i handwrote about my experience with his passing. this is something i've wanted to scrap for a while. glad LOM inspired me to complete it.

photos {old school matt}

A while back I borrowed some of Matt's mom's photo albums so I could scan older photos of Spencer, Matt, their side of the family, etc. I've made very slow progress on this. Tonight, I scanned in some of Matt and thought it'd be fun to share a few here :)

isn't he just precious? i think this is black-and-white, not by artistic choice, but because color wasn't available yet :)

i just thought this one was really cute.taken in 1972, so he was about 4 years old.

third grade - 8 years old...look at that shirt!

and then there was high school. i've always told him that he looked like a creepy, child molester...but i guess that look was "in" back then.

money-saving monday {6.1}

again, couldn't resist the alliteration. anyway... i wasn't planning on going to walgreen's this week. but i read a post about a deal on a hair dryer, which i desperately need, so i stopped on my lunch hour.
deal was found here: common sense with money

first transaction:
original price of hair dryer = $19.99
sale price = $12.99
rewards coupon = $10

second transaction:
gripe water = $10.99
after coupon = 99 cents + tax

summary:
total @ full price = $30.98
total paid = $13.98
total savings = $17.00

mosaic monday {6.1}

This is Spencer's last week of school. So, in honor of that, this week's theme is end of the school year.

1. Thank you card, 2. school's out, 3. Please sit at the back of the bus..., 4. June 2009 Computer Desktop Calendar