Lot #7

So I kind of took a little break. I had some freelance projects to deal with and some relaxing to deal with!

BUT I did manage to do ONE small little trip to my local Bloom Grocery store.

2 Wisk Detergents = $2 a piece
1 Box of bowtie pasta = FREE/MADE 10 cents
4 Suddenly Salads = 75 cents a piece
Saved 17.39
Paid 7.15
BUT BUT BUT
I had a gift card for 5 from my last trip (when they messed up my toothbrush order)
So total out of pocket was $2.15

I am not taking a picture of these items this week. Sorry. haha!

the ONE i have been waiting for!

I have been waiting to go to BLOOM grocery store for a week now! This is the shop in my town I knew I should get some serious deals! Because the coupon policy there is they double up to 1.99! Meaning you could potentially get $3.98 off! I had Lillian double check because after I messed up the coupon policy at Weis I didn't want to go through that again!

I had this all very planned out this trip. In theory I would make 2 dollars on the toothpaste etc etc.. Of course other things went down..AND i'm still not exactly sure went down but here goes!

Lot #5


2 A1 Sauces = $1 a piece
4 Dixie Paper Plates = $1 a piece
4 Colgate Toothpastes = MADE 2 DOLLARS
6 Colgate Toothbrushes = $1.79 a piece (TOTALLY MESSED THIS UP..should have been 50 cents a piece)
1 Lipton Ice Tea = FREE

Total Saved = $33.50
Paid out of Pocket= 13.88 (but once I go back to Bloom to argue my case I should have only spent $3.14)

SOOOOO I have to get the courage to go back to BLOOM and tell them I was rang up wrong! And then they should owe me 10 bucks or so! by my calculations..

Story about Colgate coupons... So I get there and I realize my coupons is for Colgate ADVANCED not for the normal Colgate! So I was so upset.. thinking "omg this isn't going to work!!!" .. So i'm like ummm ummm ummmm walking around with the toothpaste.. and then i see this wonderful lady.. shopping with her toddler.. and her THREE inch ring binder of coupons! hahahaha! I say to clarke "oh god i'm going to ask her" and he looks at me and kinda goes and hides...I go up to the lady.. and I said "can i ask you a couponing question?" .. and she is like uhhhh sure.. I'm like do you think this colgate coupon will work...and she she looks at the numbers on the coupon and the numbers on the box.. and she said it should work.. the first 4 numbers have to match!!! (I had no idea on this one) but then she said BUT they are suppose to go by the text on the coupon! So she said .. I wouldn't try it but you can... SO I'm like ... I'm gonna try... and it worked kids... it worked..

Separate Trip to safeway the same day...So after my bloom trip... I realized ohhh i don't have a single thing to make for clarke for dinner... So I stop at the safeway.. and i go through my binder and pick a few coupons that I HOPE there are sales on... And I was lucky! The newmans salad dressing was on sale!

2 Newmans Salad dressing = 1.50 a piece (i think)

Visit my little list of things I have learned so far...List

Couponing whilst abroad

Ok...so not really abroad...but because I was away this past weekend for fathers day.. I brought my couponing (addiction) with me.

I wanted to show my family my cool new hobby. I had some mixed reviews.

Lot #4...


4 Suddenly Salads = 50 cents a piece
2 nesquick = 25 cents a piece
2 crystal lights = 1.50 a piece (not so good)
3 dishwasher soap = $1.99 a piece (not so good)
2 olive oils = $2 a piece (not so good)
2 grey poupon = 75 cents a piece

Total Savings= 26.36
Paid Out of Pocket=22.14

So the ones that I didn't do that well on...I was confused on the coupon policy at weis! What happened was... they told me when i got there they double up to a dollar! So i'm thinking all my dollar coupons would double to 2 dollars, right? Well, apparently NO... it means lets say your coupon is 75 cents off.. well it means they will give you another 25 cents off to make it one dollar. totally screwed me! i would have gotten better deals..

In the end it was rewarding because I left my family with lots of goodies. The lemonade I bought was used for the picnic the next day and the pasta salad was made right away for dinner! Also, I left them the 3 boxes of dishwasher soap...I wanted them to feel what it was like to have tons of dishwasher soap handy.

Oh and while googling how to spell grey poupon I came across this little memory

Cute Coupon Organizer

Cute organizer I found today...




On one of my favorite online shops Modcloth...

This one is pretty similar to the one I bought at target.

These coupons SU*K!

So after a pretty good week last week.. I was all ready to go again this past weekend. I even had Clarke buy two papers for me while I was out of town!

I came home to some very uninspiring coupons! snoreeeeeeee.. I picked out a couple of deals and I was just so disappointed that I didn't even bother! I just decided to wait till next week.

To keep the energy up though.. I decided to make a coupon binder too! I NEVER NEVER thought I would be doing this! I thought the binder thing was super NUTS. And hey i'm not super nuts.. well apparently I am!



BUT BUT BUT.. it isnt' crazy...Seriously its been so hard to organize all these freaking coupons.. I have seen the light. For those of you who are wondering what these sleeves are...they are plastic baseball sleeves! I bought them for about 5 bucks at Target.

Here is a little video of my binder...


So anyway...I'm very lucky because Clarke has been collecting any coupons for me that come in the mail AND my father has been mailing me his coupons! How lucky am I???

My goal is to wait for TUESDAY because at BLOOM (grocery) on Tuesdays they double coupons up to $1.99... So I am going to see what I can make happen! Fingers crossed.

This time lets get some food!

So this one I am feeling really good about. In my head I am going to get things for free and i'm going to make money. I'm so excited.. and I can't wait to show everyone how awesome I am at this. I have no patience to figure out the exact math before I go the store. AND I'm never really sure what is going to go down really. Its too hard!!!

And please keep in mind some of my math isn't exact. I'm not perfect.

OK, so safeway again. Second safeway attempt! They are still having their mix and match 8 sale.

Step 1
On sunday I went to the safeway website and added a bunch of coupons onto my safeway card (i had no idea stores did that...but they do...you can pick loads and loads of coupons off of their website and they will put them on your card)

Step 2
I picked out coupons that were all under 75 cents savings because I wanted to see them double coupon at my store

Step 3
Tried to find as many coupons that were on the mix 8 deal and were on the safeway website coupons

Step 4
GO TO THE FREAKING STORE

So this is when I was like "oh man Clarke we are going to make money here". Oh and "clarke if we make money please grab some candy bars that are buy one get two free in the line."

So we went through the aisles inspecting my coupons.. trying to figure out what was mix and match 8... etc..

This is what we pulled



The toothpaste wasn't a planned purchase..Clarke spotted it with a coupon attached to the box!!!

- each item i had a manufacture coupon for (except for the rice sides)
- all items were on the mix and match 8 safeway sale
- the 3 cereals, the mustard, gillete soaps i also had coupons for ON my safeway card

So as you can see.. i'm doing pretty well.. in my head this stuff is going to be FREE FREE FREE

...it wasn't. haha

Quick breakdown
Cinnamon Toast Crunch = 50 cents
Honey Nut Cheerios = 1.50
Regular Cheerios = 1.94
Rice sides = 89 cents
Dijon Mustard = 1.24
Toothpaste = 49 cents
Gillete Body shower = 99 cents a piece

Safeway card savings =10.81
Paper coupons =6.49
Safeway online coupons =2.55
Multiplied coupons =.50
Total of $20.35 savings
Percentage saved 70 Percent
ONLY PAID 8.37 for 8 items!


Here is my detailed breakdown
1)Cinnamon Toast Crunch = Originally 4.19 -1.70(mix8) -.50(safeway online)-.50(manufacture coupon) -.50(doubled coupon) = .99
2)Honey Nut Cheerios= Originally 3.99 -2.00(mix8) =1.99
3)Regular Cheerios= Originally 3.69 -1.20(mix8) -.55(safeway online) =1.94
4)Rice Sides= Originally 1.50 -.61(mix8) =.89
5)Dijon Mustard= Originally 3.79 -1.80(mix8) -.75 = 1.24
6)Toothpaste= Originally 2.99 -1.50(mix8) -1.00 = .49
7)2 Gillete Body Showers= Originally 7.98 -2.00(mix8) -3.99(manufacture coupon) =1.99 (99 cents piece)

Fun Story...
So after I finished checking out.. I was upset because some 17 year old cashier told me I couldn't use my one coupon. I didn't understand why.. So i went to speak to the manager (who will know me by name soon...and is amused by my coupon thing..i think)I explained the situation and he did his manager magic and gave me a dollar cash back! hahahaha!!!!! yaaaaaaa!!!

I will work on getting a photo of my local safeway manager. I'm not kidding he knows me at this point. I just explain to him I'm watching this show.. and its like a game for me. He just gives me these blank stares like...seriously? I don't care.. but i'm determined to make him enjoy this more..

It was a great help to have clarke come for this trip. i have only done one trip without clarke (at the cvs) and was panicy and sweaty the entire time.

Poor clarke.. he says its fun.. and he says he doesn't think i'm crazy.. i don't believe him though. haha.

Here is the lot!
Lot #3


Next week goal... more food...

Courtney: Now this was a real fun one!

Dunkin Donuts baby!

So as you remember I bought two papers so I had 2 coupons for one free Frozen hot chocolate and two coupons for a free Dunkin donuts travel cup (with purchase of a iced tea).



So Clarke and I didn't feel like having 4 drinks today so we only used two coupons. I got the frozen hot chocolate and I bought Clarke an ice tea for 1.14 So we could get the free glass.



So if you do the math I got these 3 things for 38 cents a piece! Pretty cool!

And we have two more coupons to use! So we will go again before they expire!

yummers! slurppppp

Second Attempt

So here we go again! CVS.

I had some manufacture coupons once again...and went in trying to use them on CVS specials I found in their Sunday advertisement!

Once again I'm not sure I got the deals I was suppose to get according to the advertisement. Its really hard to keep track..and I don't think I care enough to stop the cashier to question what is going on. Its really not until I stare at the receipt for a half hour that I see what happened.

So these breakdowns aren't exact exact because

Quick Breakdown
2 Dishwasher soaps = 5.98 (2.99 a piece)
1 Paper Towel Package = 6.99 -3.00 coupon = $3.99
2 Toilet Papers = 6.98 (3.49 a piece)
Taxes 1.10
Paid =18.05

Super Breakdown
2 Cascade Dishwasher soaps 14.98(original) 7.98(with cvs sale) -1.00 coupon -1.00 coupon = $5.98
1 Paper towel 7.99(with cvs sale) -1.00 coupon = 6.99
2 Toilet Paper $15.78(original) -6.80 (cvs sale)=8.98 -1.00 -1.00 (coupons) =6.98
AND Lillian hooked me up with a special 3 dollar off cvs coupon
So the grand total would have been $38.75 and with all my coupons and cvs sales I saved $20.70 I only payed 18.05

Lot #2


So this one I did good. But I could have done better. Its frustrating because I want to see super small totals like the laides and gents on the show. What can I say! I'm working on it!

My next goal is to get food. Because so far.. no food!

Oh, and to be funny I made a shelf of my "stockpile" as they call them on the show.

My First Attempt!

Man I am pumped!

Last night...I went through my Sunday coupons and cut them all out. I had coupons all in two's! (Because I had bought 2 Sunday papers)

And I finally figured out what "SS" stands for in the coupon world



After staring at my coupons for a while. I was feeling very overwhelmed. Looking at all my store ads and coupons... WHAT I AM GOING TO DO??? and OMG look at all these great deals. But are they really deals? I dont know?! I was very panicy!



I had to get to the store right away. So I find out my store is open till midnight. I wanna see what is going to happen! I made a few frantic phone calls to Lillian.

Clarke and I get to the safeway and the doors are locked! Made no sense to me! The website they are open! So we enter through the exit that is kinda propped open!

So I shop for my 8 things.
Lot #1


So turns out they close at midnight and have been closing at midnight for 10 years the manager informs me. He said he has tried to get them to change it on the website for years but for some reason they won't update it! So...good to know!

So here is the break down of my order!
Safeway was having a special where if you bought 8 items from a special mix and match product list you got 50 cents off. I picked:
4xOral B Toothbrush (my coupon is a buy one get one)
2xSnuggle
2xAll detergent
2xColgate Toothpaste

Quick Break Down
2 Laundry Soaps = 1.99 a piece
2 Fabric Softners = 2.49 a piece
1 Toothpaste =2.99 a piece (i messed this one up i guess)
1 Toothpaste =.99 a piece
2 Toothbrushes =0.75 a piece
2 Toothbrushes =0.50 a piece
Grand total Paid = 16.74
Saved=$25.48 62%

Detailed Break Down
2 ALL Laundry Soap 11.98(regular) -5.00 (safeway card savings) -1.50 -1.50 (manufacture coupons) = $3.98 for 2 ALL Detergents (1.99 a piece)

2 Snuggle Softners 9.98(regular) -3.00 (safeway card savings) -1.00 -1.00 (manufacture coupons) =4.98 for 2 Snuggle Softners (2.49 a piece)

1 Colgate Total Advantage 3.99(regular) -1.00(manufacture coupon) =2.99 (didn't receive card savings for some reason)

1 Colgate Max Clean Foam 2.99(regular) -1.00(card savings) -1.00(manufacture coupon) = 99 cents

2 Oral B Special Tounge cleaner kind 5.98(regular) -2.00(safeway card savings) -2.49(manufacture coupon) = 1.49 (75 cents a piece)

2 Oral B Normal Brush 5.98(regular) -2.00(safeway card savings) -2.99(manufacture coupon) =0.99 = (50 cents a piece)

Safeway Card Savings total =13.00
Paper Coupons =10.98
Multiplied Coupons =1.50
Total Savings =25.48
Total Percentage Saved =62%
Grand Total PAID= 16.74



So, all in all I feel pretty good. BUT after watching the show I totally understand why they say stare at the register. Looks like the only thing that I messed up is that one toothpaste. That one didn't seem to be on safeway discount (not sure if that is me error or their error) AND i'm not sure I got the 50 cents off for each item (the safeway promo) because that one toothpaste didn't count??? I don't know. And i'm not sure I want to figure it out. Very confusing!

The final stock of the first attempt! Paid only $16.74
Lot #1

Very excited to start my couponing adventure! I was completely amazed at all these ladies and gents who do this extreme couponing! I wanted a piece of the action too! You have to have alot of patience it seems! I am not a very patient lady!

Friday June 3rd I received 3 grocery store ads in my mailbox and this is where my adventure starts!



I'm freaking out! I don't know what I'm doing really! But I know these ads are key in saving...according to the show. I have also been going to a few sites that Lillian has found and I still feel like I don't know what I'm doing. There is really just so much data!

So, today...I was planning on going over to my local safeway because I heard from Lillian that there was an awesome coupon book there and it was tricky to get...



Well customer service and no idea what I was talking about...BUT I was very excited to find this!



I was very excited to find the EARLY Sunday paper! That included $142 dollars in coupons! You see I was planning on going over sometime on Sunday. I certainly didn't want to get up super early and go over or anything! So I bought two papers!

I also talked to customer service a little bit about my couponing adventure. I explained that I saw this show and I wanted a piece of the action. They recommended going to the safeway site to get coupons? And I found out they do double coupons everyday up to 50 cents. So that sounds good???



OK, so at this point I was thrilled to find a Sunday paper on a Saturday... I then rush over to Target to see if I can find a good deal on a printer! So I can print internet coupons! I was able to get a printer for 30 bucks! Not bad! I also got a ream of paper and little coupon book organizer thing.



SO FAR I am in the hole with this couponing adventure!
-30 Printer
-5 Coupon organizer
-4 Ream of paper
-4.20 2 Sunday Papers
GRAND TOTAL OF -43.20

I wonder how long it will take to be in the positive?

Oh! And here was my two minute brain storming of names for the blog



But big thanks to my boyfriend Clarke who gave us the idea of "cheap ass ladies" or "frugal fun". haha! Lillian and I liked those both but we stole the Frugal and kept camp... to form Camp Frugal