Thursday, March 10, 2011

Drug Store Trips

Today was CVS, Rite Aid & Walgreens day. Each place had such great deals and I was able to walk away with rewards to spend next time at all 3 places! I've never done that before, I usually spend all the rewards in one trip. I needed toiletries, pledge and I've also had my eye on the hands free soap dispenser, I've just been waiting for a good deal. So glad I waited!!

CVS Shopping Trip


Items Purchased:
3-Pledge Furniture Spray - $18.37 paid $4.50
2-Glade Candles - $8.38 paid $4.50
2-John Freida Hair Products - $13.78 paid $4

Total Value: $41.73
Total Paid AFTER Coupons/Sales/ECBs: $5.91
SAVED: $35.82
ECB's earned for next shopping trip: $3.00

Rite Aid Shopping Trip


Items Purchased:
1-ThermaCare Heat Wrap - $3.99 paid FREE
1-Colgate Toothpaste - $2.99 paid $1.99
2-Garnier Make Up Remover Cloths - $12.58 paid $5.42
1-Lysol Hands Free Soap Dispenser - $14.99 paid $1.49

Total Value: $36.24
Total Paid AFTER Coupons/Sales/Up Rewards: $7.89
SAVED: $28.35
Up Rewards earned for next shopping trip: $2.00

Walgreens Shopping Trip


Items Purchased:
1-Always Pads (22 ct) - $4.39 paid $1.99
1-Always Pantiliners (34 ct) - $4.49 paid $1.49
1-Head & Shoulders - $7.79 paid $2.99

Total Value: $16.97
Total Paid AFTER Coupons/Sales/Register Rewards: $6.77
SAVED: $10.20
Register Rewards earned for next shopping trip: $2.00

All Three Trips
Total Value: $94.94
Total Paid AFTER Coupons/Sales/Rewards: $20.57
SAVED: $74.37
Rewards earned for next shopping trip: $7.00

Any couponers out there? How have you done this week?

Catching up

I'm a little behind on posting my shopping trips. I've had the bahama's on my mind but now that its over I need to get back into gear. Since we've been back though I have not felt too well and Ronin's schedule is way out of wack. I have this "rocking" feeling like I'm still on the boat and it makes me feel a little queasy. Ronin has been a little clingy to me since we've been back and not sleeping very well which means I'm not sleeping well. So hopefully he'll get back on track here soon. The month of February I kinda went a little over budget. I still did pretty well but I try to stay under $500.

February Grocery Spending
Total Shelf Cost: $1,045.41
Amount Paid: $510.18
Total Savings: $535.23
Savings Rate: 51%

My goal for March is to have a 75% Savings Rate. I use a savings tracker that my sister Raquel found from The Coupon Project it helps me keep track of my shopping trips and how much I save. It has all the formulas in it already so no math on my part lol! Here are some shopping trips I did before I left for the Bahamas.

Farm Fresh Shopping Trip


Items Purchased:
2-Poptarts - $3.76 paid $1.76
2-Frosted Flakes - $3.76 paid $1.76
2-Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing - $6.98 paid $2.98
1-Butterball Turkey Meat - $4.39 paid $2.29
1-Bacon - $2.99
3-Sirloin Porkchops - $9.15 paid $6.15
1-Chicken Thighs - $5.33 paid $3.33
3-Blade Pork Chops - $11.59 paid $7.59
1-Ground Beef - $6.99 paid FREE (rang up wrong so they gave it to me for FREE!!)
3-Kiwi - $1.74
1-Kale - $0.25
1-5lb bag Potatoes - $1.99
1-6pack Tomatoes - $3.42
1-Sour Cream - $1.49
2-Colgate Toothbrushes - $1.98 paid FREE
1-Loreal Kids Shampoo - $1.80 paid $0.30

Total Value: $71.82
Total Paid AFTER Coupons/Sales: $41.25
SAVED: $30.57

Harris Teeter Shopping Trip


Items Purchased:
2-Cinnamon Toast Crunch - $3.94 paid $1.74
2-Lucky Charms - $5.00 paid $2.80
2-Ocean Spray Cranberry Raspberry - $7.78 paid $3.89
2-Huggies Jumbo Pack - $11.98 paid $4.98 (CRAZYYYY!)
2-Marie Callender's Bakes - $13.98 paid $11.98
2-Frozen Cauliflower $3.34 paid FREE
2-5 Cheese Garlic Bread - $3.34 paid FREE
2-Nutty Buddy Ice Cream - $5.98 paid FREE

Total Value: $72.73
Total Paid AFTER Coupons/Sales: $28.31
SAVED: $43.42

Target Shopping Trip


Items Purchased:
1-Pampers box $24.49 paid $18.99
1-Pampers Wipes (3pk) - $5.99 paid $1.99
2-Up Ibuprofen - $2.04 paid $0.04
1-Exccedrin - $3.74 paid $0.74
1-Puppy Pads - $13.99
1-Charmin (24 ct) - $9.99 paid $8.24
1-Charmin wipes - $2.99 paid $1.74

Total Value: $74.51
Total Paid AFTER Coupons/Sales: $44.36
SAVED: $30.15

Bahama Mama

My amazing wonderful thoughtful husband took me on a cruise to celebrate my 30th birthday. Yes I said 30..sigh...it's finally caught up to me! We went to the Bahamas and it was wonderful! I have pictures but will have to post them later, Danny uploaded them to the ipad and he has it with him at work. Ronin spent the weekend with my parents and playing with his cousins. It was my first time being away from him and I will admit that I was a little anxious about it but once we got on the cruise ship I didn't allow myself to worry but just to enjoy the weekend. It was a 3 day cruise. The first port was an island called CoCo Cay. It was nice but unfortnuately the weather wasn't. We were sitting on the beach and it was so windy/chilly the sand was blasting us in the face. We were going to go back on the boat after lunch but we decided to walk around the other side of the beach and it was like we were in a totally different place. The sun was shining and no wind! So we stayed there. It was nice to chill and soak up some sun. The second port was Naussau. We went to Atlantis and checked out the aquarium they had there. Did some shopping in downtown and then back on the boat. It was great to be able to just relax and spend time with Danny. Lately, those days are rare for us so we definitely took advantage of what we could! We danced, ate, drank, shopped, SLEPT. Definitely one of the best birthdays ever! :)

Thursday, March 3, 2011

More Shopping Trips

I've been shopping like a mad woman this week. Bloom had their super doubles on Tuesday (they only did it on 1 day), then I was at Harris Teeter, Farm Fresh & CVS on Wednesday. Luckily I managed to do all that shopping before Ronin's nap (he did pass out at Harris Teeter though) and he was a trooper all day.

Bloom Trip

Items Purchased:
1-Classico Four Cheese Pasta Sauce - $2.99 paid .99
2-Poptarts - $4 paid $2
2-Propel Flavored Water - $2 paid FREE!
3-Hunts Tomato Paste - $2.67 paid .67
2-Perdue Boneless Chicken Breasts - $9 paid $6
1-Perdue Chicken Strips - $1.20 paid FREE!
1-Jose Mini Tacos - $4.99 paid $2.99
1-Tyson Chicken Patties - $4.49 paid $2.49
1-Tyson Chicken Nuggets - $4.49 paid $2.49
3-Danimals Yogurt Smoothies - $6 paid FREE!
10-Yoplait Yogurt - $5 paid $3
1-Simply Orange - $3.69 paid $1.69
2-Ziplock Bags - $3.98 paid $1.98
2-Slow Cooker Liners - $5.58 paid $1.58
1-Marcal Toilet Paper - $5.99 paid $3.99
2-Applesauce - $3.00 (didn't have a coupon)

Total Value: $101.04
Total Paid AFTER Coupons/Sales: $39.43
SAVED: $61.61

I'll have to post the other trips later. Ronin wants to go play outside!

Monday, February 21, 2011

Harris Teeter Super Doubles!

This is my 3rd trip to Harris Teeter. I know I have issues but there is a 20 coupon limit PER DAY and I max it out every time! I am stocking up on some really great deals.


Items purchased:
1-Reynolds Slow Cooker liners - $2.99 paid .99
1-Purex Softener - $2.99 paid .99
1-Krustz Buttermilk Pancake Mix - $2 paid $1
1-Olive Oil Spray - $2.99 paid .99
1-Maxwell Coffee - $2.50 paid .50
1-7th Generation Tissue Box - $1.75 paid FREE
2-Pilsbury Cresent Rolls - $3.34 paid $1.34
1-Bestlife Butter Spread - $2.59 paid .59
2-Hillshire Tubs Turkey - $7.00 paid $3
2-Perdue Chicken Nuggets - $5.98 paid $1.98

Total Value: $47.07
Total Paid AFTER Coupons/Sales: $12.08
SAVED: $34.99

WAHOO! As soon as Ronin wakes up we're gonna go back for one last trip. I want to snag more coffee, laundry softner and tissues. With the upcoming pollen season we will definitely put those tissues to good use! Hopefully the shelves aren't bare, I wanted to go this morning but that just didn't work out. I was in super cleaning mode and couldn't break away from my vacuum and then it was lunch time and nap time. So we'll see what I can get! :)

Friday, February 18, 2011

It's a beautiful day out today and I'm patiently waiting for Ronin to wake up so we can get out and enjoy this weather! It's in the 70's today. I sure hope this weather sticks!


Ronin is obsessed with my macs photo booth application. Whenever he sees the laptop he says "mommy cheese!! mommy cheese....peaseeee!!!" I have a billion pictures of Ronin on here lol. Here's him cheesing!

Danny is working late tonight so its a wild friday night for me & Ronin. I think after he goes to bed I will pour myself a glass of wine and catch up on my Desperate Housewives. Seasons 1-6 is on Netflix. I never watched the show before now and I watched a few episodes and now I'm hooked. I'm on season 2 now...Bree is about to bury Rex for the 2nd time. Crazy ladies..but I can't help but watch!!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

February Already?!

So it's pretty lame that the last time I blogged was in AUGUST! One of my many new years resolutions is to blog more often. Too bad it's the middle of February and this is my first post of the year! We had a great holiday with some unfortunate events happen. We had Christmas here at home and we had the absolute pleasure of having my sister Toni's kids here. All 3, Caleb, Layla and Joely Poley. My bro-in-law's father passed away and they had to leave for Indiana. I was happy to have the extra company here at home! And Ronin had a blast having his cousins here.

It's been a busy year so far. Between housework, Ronin, photography, husband and life in general I feel like I've been on the go non-stop. I've also been going in and out of town up to Manassas to visit Toni. She's having some health problems and with her 3 little ones she needs all the help she can get. I went up there for a week last week and I so wished I could have stayed longer. It breaks my heart to see the pain she's in and that there's not more I can do for her. I wish they lived closer so I could help out more. Thankfully my parents are close by to her so they help out when they can. I'm also in birthday party planning mode. My Ronin will be 2 on Feb. 27th. 2 years old!!! Where did my baby go?

I'm still couponing and I'm proud to say I've gotten alot better! I'm still learning but I've definitely improved in the savings department.

January Grocery Spending:

Total Shelf Cost: $936.40

Amount Paid: $470.47

Total Savings: $465.93

WAHOO!!! That's practically 50% savings. And I'm also excited that my sisters and my friend Rose have started couponing as well! It's nice having others excited about couponing and we all encourage each other to keep going and find that great deal :)

Well gotta get started on dinner...just wanted to write before I put it off yet AGAIN!