Website of the week Wednesday: Cozi.com!

Our family seems to always be “on the go” and even though we have a family calendar where I try to keep track of things, it’s not always easy, especially if we are not AT home to keep track of things!  I recently discovered Cozi.com and it has helped me to solve this problem.  I love it!

You create one account for your family and my favorite feature is the family calendar.  Each family member gets assigned a color and you can appointments and events for different family members to the calendar.  If your school participates, you can also import the school calendar to your family calendar.  My daughter’s school participates, so this made things even easier for us!  Every family member who has an e-mail address can log in to access the calendar.  You can also send yourself reminders as events come up!  Now, my husband can’t say he doesn’t know what we have “going on” as a family, either. 

Some other features include a shopping list, a to do list, and a journal.  You can send things from your shopping list or your to-do list to your e-mail or to your phone!  Again, these are great features if you’re on the go a lot!

They also have a “live simply” section that has great ideas for meal planning, home organization, and family friendly activities/tradition ideas.

If you feel like you’re having trouble keeping all of the “pieces” of your busy life together, check out Cozi.com!

Disclaimer:  I did not receive any incentives from Cozi.com for publishing this article.  I just think it’s a great site that has really helped to simplify things for my family and wanted to share!

Kroger deals for the week of 4/14


Don’t forget to load your coupons to your Kroger card:
Cellfire
Kroger
Shortcuts
Upromise

**For more information about loadable coupons and how they work check out this post!

This ad is based on the Texas/Louisiana market. My Kroger stores double three “like” coupons with a face value up to $.50 and triple three “like” coupons with a face value up to $.39. Your market may be different. Check with your store for details!

The “Digital Choice Rewards” promotion continues this week!  The end date on the catalinas I got last week said 4/21.  Kroger is currently offering a “Digital Choice Rewards” promotion – buy 10 participating products, get 15 free music downloads, 15 free ringtones, or a free movie ticket! (you will receive a catalina coupon with a redemption code at check-outDownload the full list of participating items here.

I did this deal three times last week and I’m glad I have another week to figure out some more scenarios. Here are some scenarios I did last week

Here are some of the participating items from this week’s ad:

*Arm & Hammer laundry detergent – 2/$7

*Breyer’s ice cream – $2.88

*Buitoni pasta – 2/$6 – $2/each after coupon
$1/1 Buitoni printable

*Colgate Total toothpaste – 2/$5 – $1.75/each after coupon
$.75/1 Colgate Total, Max White, Max Fresh or Sensitive toothpaste – 3-28 SS2
$.75/1 Colgate Total toothpaste printable

*Cottonelle Bath tissue – $5.99 – $4.99 after coupon
$.50/1 Cottonelle toilet paper (12 pk) – 3-14 SS (should double)

*Eckrich smoked sausage – 2/$5

*Florida’s Natural Orange Juice – 2/$5

*Frito corn chips – $1.99

*Gatorade sports drink – $1.99 (4 pk, 12 oz)

*Keebler Deluxe Cookies or Fudge Shoppe – $1.99 – $.99 to $1.72 each when you buy 2
$.55/2 Keebler cookies – 3-7 RP
$1/1 Keebler Fudge Shoppe printable

*Kellogg’s Nutri-grain bars – $1.99

*Kraft macaroni and cheese – $3.49 (5 ct boxes or 4 ct)

*Kraft singles, shreds, or bar cheese – $1.99/each

*Kroger potatoes – $1.79

*Lipton iced team/Starbucks Frappucino – $4.99 – $3.99 after coupon
$1/1 Starbucks Frappucino printable

*Nabisco snack crackers – $2.49 – $1.49/each after coupon
$1/1 Nabisco Wheat thins printable

*Nestle Pure Life water – 3/$10 – 2/$5.66 after coupon
$1/2 Nestle Pure Life water printable

*Pillsbury Savorings – $2.99 – $1.99 after coupons when you buy 2
$1/2 Pillsbury Savorings printable
$1/2 Pillsbury Savorings loadable on shortcuts.com

*Purina ONE dog food – $16.99

*Quaker Life or Cap’n Crunch cereal or instant oatmeal – 2/$5 – $1.50 after coupon
$1/1 Quaker Instant oatmeal printable

*Red  Bull Energy drinks – 2/$3

*Sargento shreds or singles – $1.99 – $1.59/each after coupons (when you buy 2)
$.40/2 Sargento natural shredded cheeses – 2-7 SS (should double)

*Smart Balance spread or butter blend – $1.99 – $.99 after coupon
$1/1 Smart Balance butter blend sticks – 3-21 RP

*Smart Ones Entrees (or Claim Jumper Entrees) – 5/$10 – 5/$7 after coupon
$3/10 Smart Ones entrees – 1-10 SS

*Snuggle fabric softener – 2/$7
$3/1 Snuggle fabric softener – 3-28 RP

*Sobe Lifewater or Fuze – 10/$10 – $.50/each when you buy 2!
BOGO free printable

*Splenda No Calorie Sweetener or PureVia – $3.99 – $2.99 after coupon
$1/1 Splenda sweetener – 3-21 SS, 2-28 SS

*Starbucks coffee – $6.99 – $5.49 after coupon
$1.50/1 Starbucks Coffee (12 oz bag) – 3-21 SS

*Tombstone pizza – $2.99/each

*Totino’s pizza rolls – $2.99

*Uncle Ben’s rice – $1.69 (selected varieties) – $.69 after coupon if whole grain rice is included
$1/1 Uncle Ben’s whole grain brown rice – 2-21 RP
$1/2 Uncle Ben’s rice products printable

*Viva paper towels – $5.99 – $4.99 after coupons
$.50/1 Viva paper towels printable (should double)

Here are the rest of the weekly deals from the ad:

*Blue Bell Ice cream – 3/$10 – $2.33 after coupon
$1/1 Blue Bell ice cream printable on bluebell.com (you must register, you can print 2 per account)
*Hot dog or sandwich buns – 10/$10
*Iceberg lettuce – $.99/each
*Buy 3 12 pk, 12 oz cans of Pepsi products, get the 4th free – get 4/$12
*Pork spare ribs – $.97/lb (my “stock up” price is $.77/lb, but that was last summer – this is still a great deal!)
*Red Delicious apples – $.99/lb
*Yellow or zucchini squash – $.99/lb

CRAZY MEAL DEAL:  Buy Kroger marinated fajitas (Beef or chicken) – 2 lb package, get FREE Dole Shredded lettuce, Pepsi Cola 2 liter bottle, Calidad tortilla chips, Mi Casa flour tortillas (10 ct), Potato salad (1 lb package) – save $6.68 total!

Hot printable coupons!

There are some great new printable coupons available!   Print them quick before they’re gone!

$1/1 Scotch Brite brand product – This coupon is in PDF format, but it is “legit” because it comes directly from the 3M website and there are no exclusions!  You should be able to get the single sponges for free at Walmart!
(Thanks Money Saving Madness!)

There is a new Jamba Juice Buy One, Get One Free printable coupon that is valid through 4/25.  We love Jamba Juice, but I can only “justify” buying it when the BOGO free coupons come out!

(Thanks Hip2Save!)

COUPONS.COM

$1.50/1 TGIF snacks (you can use these on the “chips” which are priced at $1.39 at Walgreens and get them for free!)

$1/1 GE Energy Smart lighting (get these for free at Target!)

$2/1 Nivea Body Wash for women

$.40/1 Betty Crocker potatoes (if your grocery stores double, you can get these for super cheap!)

$.75/1 Jell-O gelatin snacks

$1/1 Windex Multi-surface cleaner

$1.50/2 Dial for Men body washes

$1/2 Stove Top Stuffing mixes

$3/1 Huggies diapers

$1/1 Del Monte fruit chillers

BOGO free Glade Fragrance collection candles (2 oz)

$1/2 Nestle Pure Life water

$3/1 Claritin Non-Drowsy (20 ct+)

$1/1 Sausages or Swasomes! dog snacks

$1/1 Welch’s juice

RED PLUM
$1/1 Kellogg’s frosted mini wheats

$1/2 Kellogg’s Smart Start/Raisin Bran/Crispix/All Bran

$.50/1 Mahatma rice (if your grocery stores double, you should be able to get relatively cheap rice!)

More Target deals

There are a few more Target deals that have popped up this week.  You can check out the rest of the deals for the week in my weekly Target deals post.

Target now has free samples on their site!  You can get a free sample of L’Oreal EverStrong shampoo, conditioner, and treatment.  (Thanks Andrea!)

Crystal Light On the Go (10 ct) is on price cut for $1.99 through 4/24
$1/1 Crystal Light Drink Mix Product, any except trial – 3-21 SS (expires 4/18/10)
Final Price = $.99 after coupon
(Thanks Totally Target!)

Del Monte canned vegetables are on price cut through 5/8
$1/8 Del Monte canned fruits/vegetables – 3-21 RP (expires 5/16/10)
$1/4 Del Monte brand products printable
Final Price = $.25-.37/each
(Thanks Totally Target!)

Ziploc slider bags are on price cut for $2.27 through 5/8
BOGO free Ziploc slider bags – 4-11 SS (expires 6/5/10)
$.55/1 Ziploc bags – 3-21 SS (expires 5/15/10)
Final Price = $.90 each after coupons when you buy 2!
(Thanks Totally Target!)

More Scrubbing Bubbles Deals:

The Scrubbing Bubbles Daily Shower Power Sprayer is $7.99 and the refills are $3.94.  There is a Buy Scrubbing Bubbles Power Sprayer, Get a refill Free printable coupon.  There were also $5/1 Scrubbing Bubbles Power Sprayer starter coupons in the 4-11 SS.  Plus, there was a FREE $5 Target gift card when you buy 3 Scrubbing Bubbles products in the 4-11 SS.

Here’s a scenario to work this deal:

Buy 3 Scrubbing Bubbles Daily Shower Power Sprayer – $7.99/each
Buy 3 Scrubbing Bubbles power sprayer refills – $3.94

Use 3 $5/1 Power Sprayer coupons
Use 3 Buy Power Sprayer, get free refills coupons (will deduct $3.94/item)
Use 2 $5 Target gift card coupons

Spend $8.97 OOP, get 2 $5 Target gift cards
Final Price = $1.03 moneymaker after coupons and gift cards!

Here’s another Scrubbing Bubbles scenario:
Buy 1 Scrubbing Bubbles toilet gel – $3.99
Buy 1 Scrubbing Bubbles Fresh Brush 2-in-1 starter kit – $6.29
Buy 2 Scrubbing Bubbles bahtroom cleaners – $2.24/each (YMMV on pricing)

Use $1/1 Scrubbing Bubbles toilet cleaning gel coupon (3-21 SS)
Use Free Fresh Brush starter kit WYB toilet gel coupon (4-11 RP)
Use 2 $.75/1 Scrubbing Bubbles coupons (3-21 SS)
Use $5 Target gift card WYB 3 Scrubbing Bubbles products (4-11 SS)

Spend $5.97 OOP, get a $5 Target gift card
Final Price = $.97 after coupons/gift card

(Thanks Hip2Save!)

Tip of the Day Tuesday: It "pays" to be friends with your cashiers!

Over the past few years, I have learned that a little kindness goes a long way with cashiers at some of my favorite stores.  If you’ve had a string of “misadventures” in couponing, then you know that having a cashier who is your ally really does make a difference.

Here are a few things that I have done to build rapport with my cashiers:

Share your tips ~ If your cashier comments on your savings in a positive way (“Wow!  You did great!” or “I wish I could save money like that when I shop”) or seems like they are interested in learning more about coupons (“How did you do that?” or “I need to learn how to use coupons like that), share some of your tips with them!  I have been surprised to find out that many cashiers do not understand coupons and/or do not always know what the “hot deals” at their store are or how to take advantage of them.  I have given cashiers tips on coupon usage and links to websites if they seem interested in learning more about how to save.

Share your coupons ~ If your cashier comments on a particular deal, share your coupons if you have extras!  I remember once I was at CVS buying Adidas deodorant that was free after Extra Care bucks.  My cashier, who had been really friendly and helpful on several visits, commented that he had really been wanting to try the new deodorant.  I gave him one of my “free” coupons so he could get some to try.

Pick up a “manager’s special” item every now and then ~ Most stores have a “target” item that cashiers are supposed to upsell.  These items are usually up near the registers and are typically things such as crackers, gum, or candybars, but I have also seen toothbrushes, pocket kleenex, and other items.  The cashier will typically point out the item during your transaction and ask if you want to purchase it.  They usually get some sort of incentive for upselling these items.  If you need a filler item anyway, why not help out your favorite cashier?

How it “pays off”

I love helping others save, so I honestly haven’t had any “motives” in donig some of the things I mentioend above, but here are some ways that it has paid off for me:

*Cashiers that I have built relationships have been willing to “hold” hot items for me until I can come pick them up

*Cashiers that I have built relationships with have given me copies of ads before they are released so I get a “heads up” on upcoming deals

*Cashiers/managers will sometimes allow you to special order items when hot deals are coming up so you can make sure that they are not out of stock

Plus, there’s the added benefit of not getting “the evil eye” every time you pull out coupons to use!