New Publix Ad!

     The new Publix ad started today.  There is nothing amazing this week.  However, there are a few decent deals.  BOGO Pepperidge Farm Chunk Cookies - YUMMMMM!  Who can resist cookies?

     Ken's Salad Dressing is also BOGO.  This is one that our family looks forward to. 

     Some of the large size Hershey's and Nestle Halloween candy is BOGO.

     Campbell's Chunky Soup is $1.29.  This is a great deal and an easy meal on cool nights.  Pick a great soup.  Pair it with a salad and a french baguette.  Voila!

     Let us know if you find any great bargains.  We would love to hear from you.

Love, Love, Love Winn Dixe Fuel Perks!!!

     If you have not signed up for a Winn Dixie savings card and Fuel Perks, run, do not walk, to your local Winn Dixie and sign up!

     I know that we have mentioned this program before, but until you save twenty plus dollars on a tank of gas, you have no idea how valuable it is.  This week they have Tresemme shampoo and conditioner as well as select Suave products that are Bonus Fuel Perks.  For every two bottles of Suave purchased you receive $0.05 in Fuel Perks.  For every bottle of Tresemme, you receive $0.05!
Wait, it gets even better.  Check your coupon binders.  I had BOGO coupons for Suave styling products, Sauve shampoo and conditioner, and Tresemme shampoo and conditioner.

     Here is what we got:

2 - 20 ct variety packs of Frito Lay chips 
6 - boxes Betty Crocker Loaded Scalloped potatoes BOGO
6 - bottles Tresemme shampoo and conditioner
3 - containers of olive bar items
1 - container of bakery pastries
1 - container Muscle Milk protein mix
4 - containers Tic Tacs
2 - London Broil Roasts BOGO
12 - Suave products (styling products, shampoo, conditioner)
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Grand total $143.81  Total after savings card and coupons - drum roll please - $59.69!!!

We saved $90.25

We earned $0.95 in fuel perks.  That brought our total to $1.15 per gallon.

Walmart Coupon Deals

     If you have any of the Fusion razor coupons in your binder, you can get these razors for less than $1.  They were $5.97 in the travel-size section at my Wal-Mart. 

     Also, if you have the Hydro razor coupons, you should be able to purchase these razors for less than $2.

Gotta Love Target Clearance!!!

     Be sure to check the clearance at your local Target.  I found several great deals today:

  Reach toothbrush 3 packs are on sale for just over $4. 
  Multipacks of men's deodorants (Old Spice, Degree, and maybe one other brand.)
  Outdoor solar lights (the kind you use to line walkways) starting at $1
  Several items, including printers, in electronics
 
Many other items store wide.  Go take a leisurely stroll through your Target.  You might find some great bargains!

Publix BOGO Is Awesome!!!!

Just got back from Publix.  I got:

12  2liter drinks
6    Dove deodorants
1    Twinings Peppermint Tea
1    Swiss Miss Mocha Cappuccino
1    Bag Peppermints
2    Cans Crushed Tomatoes
1    Box Panko
1    Coffee mug
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Grand total  $22.75

Saved $22.15!!!!!!

80% off at Restaurant.com

  Use the code  TOUCHDOWN at checkout to receive your discount.  This is a great deal if there are participating restaurants in your area.  Don't forget to read the fine print.  Some of the certificates require a minimum purchase or gratuity.

Publix BOGO Deals

     Two of the better BOGO deals for Publix this week appear to be A-1 steak sauce at $3.31 and Pompeian Olive oil 32 oz. $12.09.  Other than that there will be a few BOGO candy deals for Halloween.

Target Time

     Our son had a band competition yesterday and the batteries in my camera were dead (forgot to recharge).  We made a quick run to Target to get some replacement batteries.  On the regular (not clearance) battery isle, I found Rayovac rechargeable batteries with a charger marked down to $4.98!!!! The pack came with the charger, two AA batteries, and two AAA batteries. A phenomenal deal!

     Things got even better.  We decided the check the end caps for clearance.  They had the Targus bendable tripod for $9.98!!!!!  I have been holding out for months for one of these to go on sale.  Perfect timing too.

     Be sure to check your Target electronic department for clearance!

Winn Dixie Fuel Perks ROCK!

If you do not have a Winn Dixie Fuel Perks Reward card....GET ONE NOW! Everytime you swipe your card each purchase goes toward a $50 threshold. You will receive $.05 cents off per gallon each time you reach $50 spent. Also, each week Winn Dixie advertises certain items that give you BONUS perks for purchasing them. You must go to a participating gas station (check the website) and there is a 20 gallon limit for the discount. Your discount will also expire and restart in 30 days.
So long story short....it is 10/08 and I have $1.10 off each gallon! My husband has an Expedition, so we need this deal.

I had already earned $.75 last week, then I received a coupon in the mail for $.25 reward per gallon, I hit another $50 threshold (and spent $20.80 towards the next $.05) and bought 2 bags of Chex Mix at 2 for $6 ( used 2 $.50 off coupons) to earn $.05 more cents. Also the Totino's Pizza deals came with 2 free Redbox rentals.

This was just a quick trip because my Hubby & kids were hungry for things that I did not have coupons for at that moment. However, I bought $57.91 worth of necessary items (24 total), paid $36.31, filled up my Husband's SUV for $22 less than the price at the pump, and made $20.80 toward my next Fuel Perk. So I only saved around 37% in ads & coupons but but I think the $22 off gas & the 2 free Redbox rentals make this a great deal.

Woo hoo Winn Dixie!!!

     Have I mentioned how much I love Winn Dixie bakery clearance?  Well, let me just say it one more time.  I love, love, love it! 
   
     We made a quick run to WD for mayo tonight.  Of course we had to check all clearance possibilities.  Lucky us, the bakery was loaded.  We got:

     1 dozen sugar cookies
     1/2 dozen oatmeal raisin cookies
     1/2 dozen premium chocolate chunk cookies
     1 box lemon cake slices
     1 Boston cream pie
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Grand total - $5.95     That is $2.50 less than the original price of the Boston Cream Pie!!!!!

     These items are great for special treats for a class, lunchboxes, teacher gifts, etc.

Realistic Couponing 101 (Part 3)

     Now that you have your coupons in some type of order, it is time to learn how to put them to use.  Let the fun begin! 

     Before we get into the technicalities of using your coupons, I would like to reiterate a few things.  First of all, you should know that the couponing shows you see on television are not realistic.  Although the bargains shown seem amazing, they are not the norm. Seriously, who has room in their house for stockpiles that large?  Don't misunderstand, couponing will allow you to keep your kitchen fully stocked for a lot less money.   However, acquiring a stockpile large enough that you must use your bathtub for storage may be out of the question.  Again, at Simple Savvy Savers we are about realistic couponing, not extreme.
     
     Alright, let's get started.  Personally, I prefer to look at couponing as a game or challenge.  I like to see just how much money I can save each shopping trip.  It makes me so happy to see that I have saved more than I spent!

     Your first step toward saving money is to shop the sales ads.  Sales ads for retail stores (Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target, CVS, Walgreens, etc.) are released on Sunday.  These sales run Sunday through Saturday each week.  Make sure to have your coupons nearby as you look through the ads to make your shopping list.  This allows you to see if you have a coupon for the items on sale.  Retail stores, especially CVS and Walgreens, will often put their own store coupons in their ads.  You may combine one of their store coupons with a manufacturer's coupon for extra savings! 

    In case you are not already aware, CVS has a savings card.  Be sure to obtain one of these cards.  They are a great way to save.  When your card is entered at checkout many of you purchases earn "extra bucks".  They are similar to an instant rebate.  These bucks can be applied to your next purchase!  If you frequently shop at CVS, rolling your "extra bucks" can add up to substantial savings.

     Since I really do not want to completely bombard you, we will stop here.  In our next lesson we will cover grocery stores!

     Check out the CVS ad for the week (newspaper or online) and compare to your coupons.  Let us know what kind of bargains you find!
    

      

Target

Keep an eye on things in the party department of Target.  During a quick trip to pick up something for my husband's class today, I noticed that there seemed to be quite a few items on clearance.  Gift bags, napkins, etc.  These items have many uses other than just for parties.  Many of the products can be used in classrooms!

Great Winn Dixie Trip

We ran to Winn Dixie this afternoon to pick up some of the Pure Protein bars for my husband.  While we were there we noticed that Propel Zero was marked down.  We got a fantastic deal:

34 protein bars most were $1 each some  $0.75 - we had BOGO coupons for these
10 Propel zero 24 oz were on sale 2/ $1 - we had two $1 off of five coupons
2 Tic Tacs - these were on sale 10 / $10 - we had $1 off of two coupons
2  4 packs of Myoplex protein shakes on sale for $6 (almost half off)
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Grand total $27.00  we saved $58.00!!!!!!!!

Walgreens / Contonelle

     If you get a chance to stop by Walgreens, they have a great deal on a twelve pack of Cottonelle toilet tissue.  Normally this item costs $5.  There is a $1 off coupon in the little savings booklet (sorry don't remember the name) that is located on the sales ad rack at entrance.   There was also a $0.50 off coupon in the Smart Source insert from Sunday's paper.  This brings the total to $3.50.  Not a bad deal.

     Also, for those of you with younger daughters, Walgreens has the clip-in hair feathers on sale.  The sale price is 2/$3.  This is a good deal when you compare the price to other stores.

Couponing 101 (Part 2)

     Alright, now that you know where to find coupons you must have an organizational system for them.  Here, at Simple Savvy Savers, our preference is to use the binder system.  We have tried many different methods of coupon storage and this has proven to be the most efficient.

     First, you must purchase a binder (preferably on sale!).  It is best to get at least a 1 1/2 inch binder.  Coupons amass much quicker than you would think. 
   
     Your next step will be to locate baseball card pages.  These are fantastic for being able to see your coupons in a quick glance.  Baseball card pages can often be found at Target, Wal-Mart, and collectibles shops.  Purchase at least fifty.  Believe it or not, they will fill up quickly.  We recommend using these pages because they are clear and allow you to see your coupons in one quick glance.

     Now that you have your basic storage, you need to put your coupons in some sort of order. This is easy to do with binder dividers.  Label the dividers according to the organizational system you choose.   If you have only one store where you do all of your shopping, putting them in an order that coincides with the order you shop the store would be most logical.  If you shop at several different stores, dividing your coupons into product categories is best. 

     Once you have you binder in order, you have one last step.  Putting your coupons in their new home!  Make sure you place coupons (some may have to be folded) into the pages with vital information facing up.  This way you have a clear view of the products for which you are shopping.  Be sure to pay close attention to expiration dates.  Putting coupons that expire soonest in the front allows you to work more efficiently.

     Alright, your coupons are organized.  You have a system.  Next time we will learn how to put that system to use.

Target Printables

New printable coupons available on the Target website.  Have fun!

Non-coupon Bargains

     In all of my shopping ventures today I discovered a few non-coupon bargains. 

Winn Dixie

10 cans of the Winn Dixie brand of  select canned vegetables for $6.  That is a good deal.  However, it becomes even better when you add $0.10 fuel perks per 10 cans!!!


Sam's Club

24 pack of 20 oz. Powerade sports drinks $12.78.   That is $0.53 per bottle!


Grocery Outlet

SoBe Life Water $0.45 per 20 oz. bottle!!!


Although I did not use coupons on these deals, I still felt they were great bargains.

Printable Coupons

Most printable coupon sites update their inventory the first day of every month.  Don't forget to print the new ones for October!

Realistic Couponing 101 (Part 1)

   
 Over the next couple of weeks will be doing a series of posts on realistic couponing.  At Simple Savvy Savers we loooove saving money.  Who doesn't?  However, we do not believe that using coupons should consume all of your spare time.  As a working mom, I know what a precious commodity time is.  That being said, let's get started!

     The first thing that every couponer must know is where to locate coupons.  The Sunday edition of your local newspaper is a great source for savings.  Most weeks your local paper has special inserts containing manufacturer as well as store coupons.  These inserts are usually found mixed among the store sales ads. 

     There are three major insert names to look for.  These are:

Red Plum
Smart Source
Proctor and Gamble

     These inserts are where you will find manufacturer coupons that are accepted at most major retailers (Walmart, Target, and grocery stores).  Don't leave out the sales ads though.  You will often find store specific coupons in them.  This is where the savings can really stack up!  (We will get into that in another post)

     Another great source for coupons is the internet.  There are a lot of different ways to obtain coupons via the internet.  First and foremost, you have the printable coupon sites.  Coupons.com, Red Plum, Smart Source, and Coupon Surfer are just a few of the places you can literally point and click to obtain coupons.

     If you are a fan of Facebook, there are lots of great coupons and bargains to be found.  Most of the time, it is as simple as "liking" a company's Facebook page.

     Don't forget to sign up for product newsletters!  Companies will often send coupons to your inbox or by snail mail just for letting them send you information about their products or services.

     Some other great sources for coupons are the places where you shop.  Grocery stores often have extra flyers (other than the basic weekly sale ad) that contain extra savings.  You can often find "blinkies" in the grocery store also.  These are little black machines attached directly to the store shelves.  The machines have a red blinking light (thus the name "blinkies") and release coupons one at a time.  Be sure to check your grocery store, drugstore, and even convenience store for coupons on tear pads too!

     In our next post we will discuss how to organize the coupons you are accumulating.  Until then, happy saving!

Possible High Value Cover Girl Coupon 10/2

Coupons are distributed regionally.  The Southeast may get one coupon in their Smart Source insert that the Northwest does not.  Therefore, couponing is not just a skill; sometimes it is luck of the draw.  Hopefully tomorrow we will be the lucky ones.  There are reports of a high value Cover Girl coupon.  $8 off of 2 Cover Girl face products!  This will be a fantastic deal.  Both CVS and Walgreens will have Cover Girl products at BOGO 1/2 off.  Time to buy some new Fall colors ladies!

Sunday Savings

Rumor has it that there will be 4, that's right, 4 inserts in tomorrow's newspaper!!!

If you are one of the lucky people who get all of the inserts, here is what you have to look forward to:

Proctor and Gamble
Red Plum
Smart Source
Pepsi

Hopefully we will get all four of these!