Couponing with Jack

Early Saturday morning (usually between 6:00 & 6:30am) is my shopping time to prepare for each week.  I spend Friday night scouring coupons, sale papers and making out my list of needed items.  This past Friday I was too tired to do it and a storm early Saturday kept me in.  To top everything, Tedder was sick and needed to see the doctor, Jack needed some where to go, and I had a hair appointment.  My husband went to the doctor and dropped off Jack at the in-laws. I made it right on time for my appointment.

Needless to say, I didn't get to shop early in the morning and was forced to wait till later in the day.  To make it easier on my husband who was staying at home with the sick baby, I took Jack with me to shop.  I had my envelopes, grocery list and baby in tow.

First stop, Babies R Us.  They've had a sale on store brand fruit and veggie pouches $8 for 10 (usually $1.09 each) which equaled .80 cents each...way cheaper than even Walmart.  The pouches are great for traveling and since we'll be traveling to MS in June, I dropped 20 pouches into the cart.  Jack wasn't too happy he didn't get to eat one but he was soon distracted by something else and we continued through the store.  The store had Koala Baby swim suits on sail for $7.49 each (usually $12.99) and since the boys don't have swim suits yet - I snagged two.  BRU also had their rompers on sale for $5 (usually $9.99).  If I had bought everything at full price = $87.74.  I had $5 in store bucks and thanks to my sale watching Jack and I walked out of the store with everything for $49.23.
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Next stop - Walgreens.  I've gotten better at watching sales, organizing my coupons, and understanding store rewards bucks.  Below is my list with store prices, coupons, and rewards.  * = filler items

1st Purchase: Witch hazel first, paid $4.33 and received $4 store bucks.

2nd Purchase: Two boxes of Special K Snack Bars and Nestle candy bars.  Store price $5/2.  Used $1/2 snack bar coupon and .60/3 candy coup and planned on using the $4 store bucks but the cashier rang everything up before she knew I was paying with it (Not that big a deal because I knew I could use it on my next order.) so I ended up paying $4.47 and received $2 in store bucks. 

3rd Purchase: Two boxes Kellogg's Cereal.  Store price $5/2. Used $1/2 coupon and $4 store bucks.  Paid zero and received $2 store bucks!!

 4th Purchase: Two tubes Aquafresh Kids Toothpaste. Store price BOGO 1/2 price. Used two $1/1 coupons and $2 store bucks.  Paid $1.72.

Items Original Cost: $24.96
OOP: $10.52 + $2.00 store bucks (The store bucks were a total surprise to me and I was happy to take them!)
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Last stop - Kroger.  Let me say, how awesome of a shopper Jack is.  He waves at everyone, holds things for me and points at everything and says "Ooooo" - especially the many helium balloons around.

I won't bore you by listing all items purchased just by telling you about the coupons I used and money saved.  First and foremost, if you shop at Kroger you MUST sign up for their rewards card.  You get additional discounts and every few weeks I get store coupons in the mail with free items listed.  On my last shopping trip I used the store coupons and received a free pack of Hebrew National hotdogs, bag of store brand shredded cheese, and dozen eggs and received a $4 store bucks off my next meat purchase.  On this trip I received a free box of Cheerios and purchased items such as pork chops, chicken breast, fresh veggies & fruit, 5 jumbo packs of diapers, and four gallons of milk (we really like milk).

Total Original Cost: $186.08
Kroger Discounts: $28.87
Manufacture Coups: $17.65
OOP: $139.56

Walgreens Mini-Couponing

Saw the sale ads, had the coupons and on a rare cold Texas Saturday morning went "stockpiling" Walgreens.

They were running a sale on store brand Allegra with a $4 catalina, $2.00 off store brand cough syrup, and Dove products 4/$15 with $5 catalina (didn't know at the time).  If I had known about the catalina from the dove products, I would of made 3 separate purchases instead of two. I'll get better next time.

I purchased the allergy medicine and cough syrup together for a total of $23.48 and received $4.00 in store bucks.  Next I purchased 1 of each Dove products: shampoo, conditioner, women's deodorant, and men's deodorant.  Each rang up for $3.75 each and I had the following coupons: $1/1shampoo or conditioner; $2/1 shampoo or conditioner; $1/1 deodorant; $1/1 deodorant.  In order to use my store bucks I had to have a 5th item and snagged an on-sale bag of peanut M&Ms.  The final total was $7.11.  Not too shabby for Dove products that normally would of cost me $4.50 each.  Plus I was surprised with five dollars in store bucks for my next stock piling adventure.

This week, my goal is to create my binder and try to plan my menu around what's on sale and I have coupons for.  The hardest thing about that is having two babies...they are pretty picky and I can't really alter what I buy to feed them.

First attempt...

So here's my first attempt at couponing and going to the drug stores when they have sales.  I spent the entire two hours of Dancing With the Stars cutting out coupons, scouring sale papers and organizing everything into neat little piles.  I had three destinations: CVS, Walgreen's and Target. My trip to Target had to be canceled.

I was so excited to try my hand that I left during my off period at school for CVS.  I had coupons for Dawn soap, floss, toothbrushes, Allegra, lotion and mouthwash.  CVS had a promotion for buy 2 get 1 free on all Oral-B products and get $5 store bucks for the Allegra.  Here is a break down of everything:

• Crest Pro-Health Mouthwash = $3.99
• 2 Oral-B toothbrushes = $9.98 ($4.99 each)
• 1  Oral-B floss = free ($3.99)
• 1 Lubriderm lotion = $6.99
• Dawn Ultra = .99
• Allegra 24HR - 70CT = $39.99

COST = $54.95

Coupons:

• .50 off tooth brush
• .50 off tooth brush
• .25 off floss
• .25 off Dawn
• $7.00 off Allegra
• $2.00 off lotion
• $5.00 store bucks
• $1.00 off mouth wash

COUPONS = 16.50

SPENT = $38.45
* and received .50 in CVS cash

Not to shabby for my first time.  I hope to become better at this over the summer and next school year.  Since I decided to be a stay at home mom I need to save money how ever necessary and am starting to stock pile pantry, bathroom, and cleaning products.

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This trip made me even more excited to try out everything at Walgreen's. They were having Buy One get One 1/2 off sale on Pantene, Head and Shoulders, John Freida, Revlon, Olay, and Venus Razors and I had coupons for all the same stuff.  As soon as supper was finished and my husband home, I headed out the door.

• Prices reflect the buy one get one 1/2 off sale or in-store promotional
• 1 bottle Pantene Shampoo = $2.49
• 1 bottle Pantene Conditioner = $2.49
• 2 bottles Head & Shoulders Apple Shampoo = $9.73
• 1 bottle Head & Shoulders Conditioner = $6.49
• 2 bottles Olay Body wash = $7.18
• 2 packs Venus Malibu disposal razors = $16.48
• 2 bottles Sally Hanson nail polish = $4.00 ($2.99 each or 2 for $4)
• 1 bottle Revlon nail polish = $2.49
• 1 tube Revlon extreme wear lipstick = $9.99
• 1 bottle John Freida Brilliant Brunette shampoo = $6.99
• 1 bottle Brilliant Brunette Shine Shock = $3.49

COST =  $71.82

Coupons:

• $1.00 off two bottles Pantene
• $1.00 off one bottle Sally Hanson polish
• $1.00 off two bottles Olay Body wash
• Head & Shoulders BOGO free ($6.49 off)
• $2.00 off Revlon face product
• $1.00 off Revlon color product

COUPONS =  $12.49

 SPENT = $59.33

Almost 365 days later...

It's hard to imagine that this time last year I was on day 54 of bed rest and counting down the days till March 31st. We were stock pilling last minute food, drinks, and medication. Packing and repacking my clothes and baby clothes. Organizing the baby room, play pens, and bottles.

We only assumed to know what life was going to be like in a few short days but nothing could fully prepare us for Jack and Tedder.

More to come as we count down to the greatest event of our lives (so far).

Veggie Sticks and Apple Sticks

Our latest food discovery has been veggie straws and apple straws.  A guy at Sam's Club was handing out samples of dip (which I bought too) and used the veggie straws instead of a chip or cracker.  The boys really like them and are crunching away right now on the apple straws.  I use them either as a pre-meal snack so I can finish getting the meal ready or an after meal crunch.  I also saw yesterday that Babies R Us sells them in much smaller bags.

We will soon be switching from formula to milk (my wallet can't wait) and we've been experimenting with different fruit juice to ensure they are getting the vitamins and nutrients they need when not drinking milk.  I have come across Simply Nutritious Morning Blend juice.  It is an all natural blend of pineapple, orange, peach, papaya and pear juices.  All natural no sugar added.  The boys love it.  They only drink it once every other day and even then it's 50/50 water and juice.

This upcoming Saturday we will be traveling to Mississippi to celebrate the boys first birthday and I already have my food pouches ready for the trip.  They are separated into zip lock bags and labeled for either breakfast or lunch.  Hopefully we'll be at my parents by supper.  I will have to pick up a few more for the return trip.  I also invested in disposable bibs...can you truly invest in something that is disposable?  Any way, Babies R Us had them buy one get one 1/2 off and I thought they would be great for traveling.

Later I'll be talking about my Amazon Subscribe and Save purchases.

To work or not to work...that is the question

Stressed about work.  Really not enjoying it and live for the nights and weekends I'm home with my family.  Trying to decide if I will keep working or quit.  Money would be tight and I would have to curtail my spending habits.  But I wouldn't have to buy work clothes, lunches for me, supplies for school, or have so many of everything for the boys.  I could buy fresh food and make homemade meals and cut back on take-out.  I could sell Scentsy or Thirty-one...something that would be easy and not very time consuming.  Can't wait till that opportunity falls in my lap.

I'm ready for Spring Break and hope I sleep a little late in the morning.

Not again...

I had every intention of blogging the other night after we tried the new fruit pouch flavor but sick babies and husband kept me away.  Plus I was writing a grant for an incredible professional development experience this summer - a literary tour of London and Edinburgh.  I submitted everything Thursday and now will have to wait till mid or late March before I hear anything.

On to baby news.  The boys have three new favorite foods well not really new foods but rather foods they like to pick up and eat: butter beans, pears, and cheese tortellini.  Tedder is like a vacuum when there's butter beans around while Jack prefers pears, and they both enjoyed the tortellini.

* Store bought frozen butter beans.  Heated to a bowl in enough salted water to cover. Bring to a boil Reduce and simmer 30-35 minutes.  Served warm or cold - my boys love them.

* Canned pears in light syrup. Sliced into bit size pieces.

* Store bought frozen cheese tortellini (no sauce).  Brought salted water to a boil and dropped in the pasta.  Cooked will they floated.  Strained, cooled, and cut into quarters.  Easy to pick up.  Plus I saved money because the frozen pasta (16 oz.) cost as much as one pre-packaged baby pasta meal.  Cha-ching for me!