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Simply Clean Saturday: A time saving organization tip

January 17, 2010 by


A few years ago, The Company Store clearanced closet organizers like this one (they were super cheap, but I can’t even remember how much I paid for them), and I bought two – a pink one for my daughter’s closet and a red one for my son’s closet.

Each week, usually on Sunday nights, I spend 15-20 minutes gathering up outfits for each of my kids for the upcoming week (including underwear and socks) as well as pajamas. Sometimes, throughout the week, as I’m folding laundry, I will just add it to one of the slots. An outfit goes in each section of the organizer (conveniently, ours has seven slots!). Mornings are rough for me and I’m usually running around trying to make sure I don’t forget anything. This has been a HUGE help for me! Plus, my kids can easily get their clothes for the day on their own.

Do you have a time saving or organizational tip to share? Feel free to link up below!

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Make bath time fun: Super cheap body paint from Avon!

January 16, 2010 by

Fortunately, my kids love bath time, but I’m always looking for new ways to make bath time fun and these look perfect!

Avon has their Kids Bath Time Body Paints on sale for $.99 here. There are four colors to choose from. Each paint colored soap rolls on and rinses off! When you spend $5 or more, you can use the code CONFETTI and get free shipping!

Shop through Ebates and get 5% cash back.

(Thanks Hip2Save!)

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Kroger deals (through 1/19)

January 16, 2010 by

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!

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

Here are the Kroger deals for the week:

There is a coupon in this week’s ad where you can receive a $25 gift card with any transferred prescription (learn more about how you can get gift cards for transferring prescriptions here)

FREEBIES (There are lots of items that will be free after coupons this week!):

Birds Eye vegetables – 10/$10 (you don’t need to buy 10) – free after coupon!
.50/1 Birds Eye Steamfresh vegetables, rice, or pasta – 12-6 SS (expires 1-17) and 1-10 SS – this coupon will double making these free!

*Colgate toothpaste, toothbrush, or Wisp (2 ct) – 10/$10 – Wisp is free after coupons!
.50/1 Colgate Wisp printable here (will double making them free!)

Gatorade Sports drink – 10/$10 – free after coupons if you buy G2!
.50/1 Gatorade G2 – 1-3 RP

Healthy Choice frozen entrees – These are priced between $1.88 and $2.25 at my stores. Load the $5/5 coupon to your Kroger card here and if you have the $5/5 printable, which is no longer available, you can get 5 meals for free (with possible overage if you buy the $1.88 meals) or $.25/each (if you buy the $2.25 meals)

Hormel pepperoni or salami – 10/$10 – free after coupon!
.35/1 printable here (must register) – this will triple making these free!

Pillsbury Grands biscuits, crescents, or cinnamon rolls – 10/$10 – free or very cheap with coupons!
.25/1 Pillsbury crescent rolls – 11-15 GM, , 11-22 SS, 12-13 GM (will triple)
.40/2 Pillsbury crescent rolls – 12-6 SS (will double)
$1/1 Pillsbury crescent rolls printable here (makes them free after coupon!)
$1/2 Pillsbury Grands Sweet Rolls printable here
.50/2 Pillsbury crescent rolls printable here (will double)
.30/2 Pillsbury Grands refrigerated biscuits printable here (will triple)
.35/3 Pillsbury Grands Jr biscuits printable here (will triple)
$1/2 Pillsbury Grands Sweet rolls loadable on shortcuts.com
$1/2 Pillsbury crescent rolls loadable on shortcuts.com
.30/2 Pillsbury Grands refrigerated biscuits loadable on shortcuts.com

SCENARIO:
Buy 2 Pillsbury crescent rolls – $1/each
Buy 2 Pillsbury Grands sweet rolls – $1/each
Buy 2 Pillsbury Grands refrigerated biscuits – $1/each

Use 2 $1 crescent rolls printables
Use $1/2 sweet rolls printable
Use .30/2 refrigerated Grands printable (will triple to $.90)
$1/2 Crescent rolls loadable
$1/2 sweet rolls loadable
.30/2 refrigerated biscuits loadable

This ends up being a $.20 moneymaker after coupons!

Starkist tuna pouches – 10/$10 – free after coupon!
$1/1 printable here

OTHER DEALS: (grocery)

*Armour lunch makers – 10/$10

*Aunt Jemima and Banquet breakfast items – 10/$10 – $.75/each after coupons when you buy 3!
.75/3 Banquet loadable on shortcuts.com

*Campbell’s soup – 10/$10 (selected varieties) – $.75/each after coupons when you buy 3!
$.25/3 Campbell’s “Great for Cooking” soups – 1-10 SS (should triple)

*Chef Boyardee pasta – 10/$10 – $.65/each after coupons when you buy 3!
$.35/3 Chef Boyardee cans or microwaveable cups – 1-10 SS (should triple)

*DelMonte fruit – 10/$10 – $.75/each after coupons when you buy 4!
$1/$4 printable here

*Driscoll’s blackberries (1/2 pint) – 2/$3 – $.50/each after coupons!
.50/1 Driscoll berries printable here (should double)

*Driscoll’s blueberries – 2/$4 – $1/each after coupons!
.50/1 Driscoll berries printable here (should double)

*Driscoll’s strawberries (16 oz) – $2.77 – $1.77/each after coupons!
.50/1 Driscoll berries printable here (should double)

*Fresh Selections or Dole salad mixes – 2/$4

*Hillshire Farms Deli Select lunchmeat – 2/$5 – $1.45/each after coupon!
.35/1 Hillshire Farms Deli Select lunchmeat – 1-10 inserts – should triple

*Hunt’s Manwich – 10/$10 – $.50/each after coupons when you buy 3!
.50/3 Manwich loadable at shortcuts.com
$1/3 printable here (must play game)

*Hunt’s Snack Pack pudding – 10/$10 – $.67/each after coupons when you buy 3!
.50/3 printable here (pg. 5 for me) – should double!
$.30/2 Hunts Snack Pack Pudding or Gel – 1-10 SS

*Jennie-O ground turkey – BOGO free ($3.19) – $2.19 for two rolls!
$1/2 Jennie-O turkey store products – 1-3 SS 2

*Kroger boneless, skinless chicken breasts – $5.99 (3 lb bag)

*Kroger cheese (bars, shreds, or slices) – 2/$3

*Kroger cottage cheese, sour cream, or dip – 10/$10

*Kroger drinking water (24 pk, 16.9 oz bottles) – 2/$5

*Pillsbury brownie mix – 10/$10 – $.20/each after coupons!
$.40/1 Pillsbury brownie mix – 11-8 RP (says “do not double” but it starts with a “5” so it should double automatically)

*Quaker instant oatmeal – $1.88 – $.88/each after coupon!
$1/1 Quaker instant oatmeal printable here

*Rice a Roni, Pasta Roni, or Knorr side dishes – 10/$10 – $.75/each after coupons when you buy 3!
$1/3 Rice a Roni or Pasta Roni – 1-3 RP2

*Sunny Delight – 10/$10 – $.45/each after coupons!
.55/1 printable here
.55/1 printable here (click on coupons)

*Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa mix – 10/$10 – $.50/each after coupons when you buy 2!
.50/2 Swiss Miss hot cocoa – 1-10 SS (will double)

*Texas grapefruit – $2.99/bag

*Tony’s pizza – 2/$4

*Totino’s pizza rolls – 10/$10

*Tyson boxed chicken – 2/$5 – $1.95/box after coupons!
.55/1 Tyson frozen breaded chicken (box) – 10-11 SS

CRAZY MEAL DEAL: Buy Eddy Smoked Beef Brisket (24 oz pkg), get free Kroger sandwich buns, Ranch style beans, Sunkist orange soda, and Kroger 1 lb potato salad for FREE (save $4.04 with card)

OTHER DEALS: (home/health & beauty)

*Cottonelle bath tissue – $5.99/each – $4.99 after coupon!
$.50/1 Cottonelle printable here (should double)

*Nature’s Bounty vitamins – BOGO free
$2/1 printable coupon here when you register for Healthy Rewards – use 2 and get vitamins for free or very cheap!

*Theraflu – $4.99 – $2.99 after coupons!
$2/1 printable here

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CVS deals for the week of 1/17

January 16, 2010 by


If you are new to shopping at CVS and would like some tips, check out this article here.

Starting on Sunday (1/17), you can double your quarterly ECB earnings! The way this works is that you earn 4% instead of 2% on any CVS brand items that you purchase and $2 instead of $1 for every two prescriptions you get filled (valid through 3/15/10). Enter your Extra Care card number here or print this coupon here and use it at the register on your next visit.

Tag your reusable bag: Buy a Greenbag tag for $.99 at the register, get $1 ECB every 4th visit – limit 1 use per day, per household

If you haven’t already, register your CVS Extra Care card here and you should receive a $4 off a $20 purchase coupon in your e-mail. This also registers you to receive other e-mail coupons!

There is a $5 off $20 purchase printable coupon here (I would print it quickly because they pulled the one that was available mid-week last week).

THREE DAY SALE: Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday

*Buy Valentine M&Ms – 2/$5, get a $2 ECB (limit 1 per household)
$1/2 M&Ms chocolate candies, 9.4 oz or larger – 1-10 RP

SCENARIO:
Buy 2 Valentine M&Ms

Use $1/2 coupon

Spend $4 OOP, get a $2 ECB

*GPS Navigation for Dummies – $79.99 (with card)

*Executive Chair – $29.99 (with card)

FREEBIES:

*Glade or Oust sanitizer – $3.99, get a $3 ECB (limit 3 per household, reportedly the limit is actually 6, but you can’t buy more than 4 per transaction) – this is a monthly deal
Buy One, Get One Free Oust – 1-3-10 SS

SCENARIO:
Buy 2 Oust sanitizer – $3.99/each

Use BOGO free coupon

Spend $3.99 OOP, get a $6 ECB
Final price = Better than free after coupons/ECBs!

*Buy SoyJoy fruit and soy bar 6 pk – $6, get a $6 ECB (limit 1 per household listed in ad, reportedly it is actually 6 per household) – this is a “bonus pack” deal that should be valid through 2/14

ECB DEALS:

*Buy 3 Boost nutrition drinks (priced at $7.99/each), get a $6 ECB (limit 1 per household)
$2/1 Boost Glucose Control drink multipack – 1-3 SS
$3/2 Boost Glucose Control multipacks – 1-3 SS
$2/1 Boost Nutritional drink multi-pack – 1-3 SS
$2/1 Boost Kid Essentials drink multi-pack – 1-3 SS

SCENARIO:
Buy 3 Boost Nutrition drinks – $7.99

Use 3 $2 coupons

Spend $17.97 OOP, get a $6 ECB
Final Price = $11.97 after coupons/ECBs ($3.99 per multi-pack)

*Buy Bausch & Lomb Re-Nu multi-purpose solution twin pack – $7.99, get a $2 ECB (limit 1 per household)
$2/1 ReNu multipurpose solution printable coupon here

SCENARIO:
Buy Bausch & Lomb Re-Nu Multi-purpose solution Twin Pack – $7.99

Use $2 coupon

Spend $5.99 OOP, get a $2 ECB
Final price = $3.99 after coupons and ECBs (or $1.99/bottle!)

*Buy Charmin 20 pk – $12.99, get a $4 ECB (limit 1 per household)
.25/1 Charmin – 12-27 PG
Final Price = $8.74 after coupons and ECBs (.43/roll)

*Buy Clairol Natural Instincts – $5.99, get a $2 ECB (limit 1 per household)

*Clorox Disinfectant wipes – $4.99, get a $1 ECB (limit 1 per household) – this is a monthly bonus pack, valid through 2/14

*Buy Crest, Fixodent, Glide, or Oral B Multi-pack (PSA $4.99), get a $3 ECB (limit 1 per household)

*Buy CVS Pharmacy Cotton Swabs – $6.98, get a $2 ECB (limit 1 per household) – this is a monthly bonus pack, valid through 2/14

*Buy CVS Pharmacy Moisturizing lotion twin pack, get a $3 ECB (limit 3 per household) – this is a monthly bonus pack, valid through 2/14

*Buy CVS Pharmacy Oral Electrolyte twin pack – $8.98, get a $3 ECB (limit 1 per household) – this is a monthly bonus pack, valid through 2/14

*Buy CVS Pharmacy Pro Vitamin shampoo and conditioner – $11.98, get a $2 ECB (limit 1 per household) – this is a monthly bonus pack, valid through 2/14

*Buy CVS Pharmacy Sensitive toothpaste – $9.98, get a $3 ECB (limit 1 per household)

*Buy CVS Pharmacy Soft Cloths value pack – $5.98, get a $2 ECB (limit 1 per household) – this is a monthly bonus pack, valid through 2/14

*Buy CVS Pharmacy X3 Men or Women’s 3 blade sensitive skin disposable razors, get a $2 ECB (limit 1 per household)

*Spend $15 on Dove body wash, lotion, invisible solid deodorant, get a $5 ECB: Dove deodorant is priced 2/$5, Dove lotions and body wash are priced at $6.99 (limit 1 per household)
$1.50/2 Dove Anti-Perspirants/Deodorants printable here
$2/1 Dove Visibly Smooth anti-perspirant/deodorant printable here

*Gold Emblem Almonds twin pk – $7.99, get a $1 ECB (limit 1 per household) – this is a monthly bonus pack, valid through 2/14

*Spend $15 on Hallmark cards, get a $3 ECB (limit 1 per household)

*Spend $35 on Healthy Skin Care Products, get a $10 ECB (limit 5 per household)

*Buy 2 Jergens or Curel, get a $5 ECB (limit 1 per household)
$3/2 Jergens moisturizers – 12-6 SS
$1/1 Curel moisturizer – 12-6 SS

*Buy Kotex bundle pk or overnight pack, Total Security tampons, Lightdays pantiliners, or Ultra thin maxipads – $10.99, get a $3 ECB (limit 1 per household) – this is a monthly bonus pack valid through 2/14
$1/1 Kotex Feminine Hygiene product – 1-3 SS
Final price = $6.99 after coupons and ECBs

*Spend $20 on L’Oreal Healthy Look haircolor, EverStrong Shampoo, conditioner, masque, or overnight treatment, get a $5 ECB (limit 1 per household)
$2/1 L’Oreal Hair color printable here
$2/1 L’Oreal Hair Color – 1-3 RP
$2/1 L’Oreal EverStrong shampoo – 2-13 RP

*Spend $15 on Maybelline XXL, Pro Mascara, or Eye Studio, get a $5 ECB (limit 1 per household)
$1/1 Maybelline mascara – 1-10 RP

*Buy Pantene or Head & Shoulders – $4.99, get a $2 ECB (limit 1 per household)
$3/2 Pantene products – 12-27 PG
$2/2 Head & Shoulders shampoo or conditioner – 12-27 PG

*Spend $20 on Pepsi products, get a $10 ECB (limit 2 per household)
-Pepsi 12 pk, 12 oz cans are priced 6/$20
-Gatorade, Sobe, or Pepsi 2 liters are 4/$5
$1/2 Gatorade G2 – 1-10 RP
-Starbucks Frappucino, Amp, or Izze 4 pks are $5
-Tostitos or Lays chips (excludes baked) are 2/$7
-True North nuts or Stacy’s pita chips are 2/$6
$1/1 Stacy’s Pita printable here

*Buy Prilosec OTC – $19.99, get a $2 ECB (limit 1 per household)
$3/1 Prilosec OTC – 12-27 PG

*Buy Puffs 3 pk – $4.99, get a $1 ECB (limit 1 per household)

*Buy Rogaine – $24.99, get a $5 ECB (limit 1 per household)

*Scope Outlast – $6.79, get a $1 ECB (limit 1 per household)
.75/1 Scope – 12-27 PG

*Buy Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Gel twin pack or Windex twin pack – $6.99, get a $2 ECB (limit 3 per household)
$1/1 Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Cleaning Gel – 1-10 SS
$1/2 Windex – 1-10 SS

*Special K cereal 2 pk – 24 oz total – $7.99, get a $2 ECB (limit 1 per household)
$1/2 Special K cereal – 1-3 RP
Final price = $4.99 after coupons and ECBs

BOGO FREE DEALS:
*Altoids
*Bioluxe
*CVS Pharmacy vitamins, minerals, or herbals
*Kellogg’s Raisin Bran Crunch, Frosted Flakes, Mini Wheats, Special K, or Nutri-Grain bars
*Maxwell House coffee
*Revlon cosmetics or beauty tools
$1/1 cosmetics and beauty tool coupons in the 1-17 inserts

OTHER DEALS:
*Dawn dish detergent – $.96
.25/1 Dawn dish detergent – 12-27 PG

The following scenarios are for people who are new to shopping at CVS and have few (or no) ECBs to start with. (These are just ideas….you do not have to follow this exact order and you can skip some items if you do not want/need them): $21.97 in merchandise for $3.99 OOP, $2 ECBs left to spend!

Transaction #1:
Buy 2 Oust sanitizer – $3.99/each

Use BOGO free coupon

Spend $3.99 OOP, get a $6 ECB

Transaction #2:
Buy Soy Joy 6 pk – $6

Use $6 Oust ECB

Spend $0 OOP, get a $6 ECB

Transaction #3:
Buy Bausch & Lomb Re-Nu Multi-purpose solution Twin Pack – $7.99

Use $2 coupon
Use $6 ECB (they will have to adjust it down to $5.99)

Spend $0 OOP, get a $2 ECB

If you have a $3 off $15 CVS coupon: (these were sent by e-mail to some card holders)

Scenario #1:
Buy 1 Bausch & Lomb ReNu Multipurpose solution twin pack -$7.99
Buy 2 Oust sanitizers – $3.99/each

Use $3/15 coupon
Use $2 Bausch & Lomb coupon
Use BOGO free Oust coupon

Spend $6.98 OOP, get a $2 ECB (ReNu) and a $6 ECB (Oust)

Scenario #2: (valid through Tuesday only)
Buy 1 Bausch & Lomb ReNu Multipurpose solution – $7.99
Buy 2 M&Ms – 2/$5
Buy 1 Pantene – $4.99

Use $3/15 CVS coupon (give this first)
Use $2 Bausch & Lomb printable
Use $1/2 M&Ms coupon

Spend $11.98 OOP, get a $2 ECB (ReNu), $2 ECB (M&Ms), and a $2 ECB (Pantene)

If you have a $4/20 CVS coupon: (these were sent by e-mail to some card holders)

Scenario #1:
Buy Charmin toilet paper – $12.99
Buy 2 Oust sanitizers – $3.99/each

Use $4/20 CVS coupon (give this first!)
Use $.25 Charmin coupon
Use BOGO free Oust coupon

Spend $12.73 OOP (or pay with ECBs), earn a $4 ECB (Charmin) and a $6 ECB (Oust)

Scenario #2:
Buy 2 Soy Joy 6 pk bars – $6/each
Buy 2 Oust sanitizers – $3.99/each
Buy 1 small “filler” item

Use $4/20 CVS coupon (give this first!)
Use BOGO free Oust coupon

Spend about $12 OOP (depends on the cost of the filler), earn a $12 ECB (Soy Joy) and a $6 ECB (Oust)

Scenario #3:
Buy 6 Pepsi 12 packs – 6/$20

Use $4/20 coupon

Spend $16 OOP, get a $10 ECB

If you have a $5/30 CVS coupon: (these were e-mailed out to some card holders…these are really only a “good deal” in my opinion if you have ECBs to “roll”)

Scenario #1:
Buy 6 Pepsi 12 packs – 6/$20
Buy 1 Soy Joy 6 pk – $6
Buy 2 Oust – $3.99/each

Use $5/30
Use BOGO free Oust coupon

Spend $24.99, get a $10 ECB (Pepsi), $6 ECB (Soy Joy), $6 ECB (Oust)

Scenario #2:
Buy 2 Soy Joy 6 packs – $12
Buy 4 Oust – $3.99/each
Buy Bausch & Lomb ReNu – $7.99
Buy 1 Pantene – $4.99

Use $5/30 CVS
Use 2 BOGO free Oust coupons
Use $2 Bausch & Lomb printable

Spend $17.98 OOP, get a $12 ECB (Soy Joy), a $12 ECB (Oust), a $2 ECB (Bausch & Lomb), and a $2 ECB (Pantene)

Scenario #3:
Buy 1 Cottonelle 20 pk – $12.88 (this is a bonus pack through 2/14)
Buy 1 Charmin 20 pk – $12.99
Buy 1 Soy Joy 6 pk

Use $5/30 CVS
Use $1 Cottonelle printable
Use $.25 Charmin coupon

Spend $25.62, get a $4 ECB (Cottonelle), $4 ECB (Charmin), $6 ECB (Soy Joy)

Scenario #4:
Buy 1 Charmin 20 pk – $12.99
Buy 1 Cottonelle 20 pk – $12.88
Buy 2 Oust sanitizers – $3.99/each

Use $5/30 CVS coupon
Use $.25 Charmin coupon
Use $1 Cottonelle printable
Use BOGO free Oust coupon

Spend $23.61 OOP, get a $4 ECB (Cottonelle), $4 ECB (Charmin), and a $6 ECB (Oust)

Frequently asked questions:

Do you really do multiple transactions at your stores?

In the past, I usually had $20-30 ECB on hand, so I didn’t have to break up my transactions as much as I did when I first started, but now that I am starting over, yes, I am doing multiple transactions. If you are doing multiple transactions, I recommend that you let the cashier know up front that is what you are planning to do. If there are several people in line, let them go in between your transactions. This gives you time to clip your ECBs and get prepared for your next transaction.

My store was out of all the freebie items first thing this morning. Can I get a raincheck?

This all depends on your store. I have contacted corporate about this before because some stores in my area give rainchecks and others won’t. According to corporate, this is up to the individual stores.

I bought the wrong item or I bought the RIGHT item and my ECB didn’t print. What can I do?

If you bought the right item, show the store clerk your ad and your receipt. They should be able to manually print your ECB at the store. If they don’t know how, you can call customer service and they can add one to your account that will print within 48 hours (you have to wait 48 hours from your purchase time to do this so they can “see” your transaction in their computer).

If you bought the wrong item and didn’t receive ECBs, you can do a return and purchase the correct item. If you paid using ECBs, they will have to give you money on a gift card.

Filed Under: Scenario Sunday Tagged With:

Stock up on your coupons from Sunday’s inserts NOW!

January 15, 2010 by

My Coupon Hunter has the coupons that will be in Sunday’s paper NOW! Here are some of the “hot” coupons I saw: (you can view the full listing here)

BABY:
$1/1 Huggies diapers – expires 2/13
.50/1 Huggies baby wipes – expires 2/13
$1.50/1 Huggies Overnites – expires 2/13

GROCERY:
$1.50/1 Birds Eye Steamfresh Meals – expires 2/27
$.35/1 Eggland’s Best eggs – expires 6/30
$.55/1 Tostitos chips and one jar of Tostitos dip – expires 2/14
BOGO free Weight Watchers yogurt – expires 2/28

HEALTH & BEAUTY:
$1/1 Colgate Total – expires 2/6
$1/1 CoverGirl product – expires 2/28
$.75/1 Crest toothpaste or liquid gel – expires 2/28
.50/1 Dawn Plus Hand Renewal with Olay Beauty – expires 2/28
$1/1 Duracell Coppertop 4 pk – expires 2/28
BOGO free Febreze Fabric Refresher – expires 2/28
.50/1 Febreze Air Effects – expires 2/28
$4/1 Febreze Noticeables Starter Kit – expires 2/28
$3/1 Gillette Fusion 6 ct cartridges – expires 2/28
$1/1 Oral B Floss Pick, Satin Floss, or Glide product – expires 2/28
$1/1 Revlon Color Cosmetic product – expires 2/21
$.75/1 Scope mouthwash – expires 2/28
$2/1 Vicks Nyquil or Dayquil – expires 2/28

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