Freebie Hunting Mom

Check this Out!!

2011-08-23T10:44:00.000-07:00

Just entered an awesome contest my son is drooling over!

Over at Definately Deals, they're giving away a Hot Wheels Nitro Speeder! This is something on my guy's christmas list and I was glad to be able to read a firsthand experience from someone who had one!

Want to try for it?

Head over and check it out!!!

http://www.definitelydeals.com/2011/08/hot-wheels-nitro-speeders-giveaway_23.html#comment-form

Like them while you're there!!!

Have I Mentioned.....

2010-11-29T09:51:00.000-08:00

how busy life has been? I keep saying I'm going to get back here more and more, and I just keep drifting! No more! I will be updating on the deals, the shopping and sharing pictures more and more as Christmas gets closer!

SO, let's just into it headfirst!

Since we last spoke, I've gotten older(BOO!!!) and black friday has come and gone. I have to say even though there were some awesome deals to be had, I only shopped on Thanksgiving Morning at CVS and Rite Aid.

One sentence sums it up:

IT WAS AWESOME!

I took a friend with me who's never done that kind of shopping and I have to say I think it was a total success, we stopped to pick up her children breakfast at our local Bojangles and she looked at me as we were told the total and said,
"Oh my god! That's almost as much as I spent at Rite Aid!!!!"
Can we say addicted?

So now the fun part, sharing what I got!!!!

CVS:

~2 packs 20 Count AA Duracell Batteries(with the $20 P&G coupon books)
~the Sarah Peyton Spa Gift Set
~2 Renpure Hair Care
~2 Herbal Essences Hair Care
~5 King Size Hershey's Candy Bars
~a Philips Universal Remote
~1 Eucerin Lotion
~1 Gillette Deo(I realize the limit was increased to 2, but I didn't feel like going back)
~2 Colgate Toothpastes
~2 Listerine Pocketpacks
~1 LA Looks Hair Gel
~5 Reese Singles Candy Bars
~1 Carmex Lip Balm

Total OOP: 8.01
ECB: 17.99 to start, 15.57 at the end

Rite Aid:

~7 Fleece Blankets
~1 box Hershey Pot of Gold Candy
~12 Hershey's Single Size Candy Bars
~1 Carmex Lip Balm
~2 Colgate Toothpastes
~1 pack Duracell AAA Batteries
~3 packs Cottonelle Toilet Paper
~1 tub Cottonelle Moist Wipes
~11 pairs of soft socks(some were 2/$1 and some were originally $2 each and he price modified since they were out of the others!)

Total OOP: 7.62 On a GC, WOO!
Up+ Rewards: $14 to start and about $4 or $5 left, but I am happily finished with lots of christmas gifts thanks to the blankets!

Food Lion:

~20 various Wesson Cooking Oils (bogo at 3.79-3.99)

OOP: Less than $20, but again the receipt is in the car.

CVS: A week in adventure!

2010-11-17T09:46:00.000-08:00

So I've been to CVS about three times this week already and wanted to share my finds with you!

All in all I've spent around(I am lacking a couple of receipts, so NOT exact)$25.00, and received back $17.99 in ECB that I am saving for BF sales!

I'm Backkkkk!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-11-17T09:01:00.000-08:00

So yep, I went away again, from a lot, from couponing more than necessary and from posting on here. But I am BACK! I jumped in with both feet running this morning with an early morning trip to Harris Teeter, check out what I got for $12.30:

Twenty packs of Sister Schubert's Rolls and 6 cartons of Smart Balance milk, which is the same as 3 gallons of milk, not half bad I'd say! According to my receipts I saved:
~Coupons: 45.00
~Vic Saving: 43.87

I also stopped at Rite Aid and cashed in on the band-aid deal(we have two kids, there are NEVER enough bandaids...)

~4 travel packs of bandaids
~2 packs of J&J Gauze

Total OOP: 2.82
Wellness Savings: 2.75
Coupon Savings: 6.00
$6 in Up+ Rewards back! I hope to go by another Rite Aid later today and pick a few more packs up!

2010-11-08T18:51:00.001-08:00

Emergency Room Fun

2010-10-15T12:59:00.001-07:00

So when is the emergency room fun? When you take a friend and get asked if your friend is also your daughter!!!! LOL We had QUITE a laugh over that since she's only THREE years younger!!! I know I've not been around, so I thought I'd share that and let ya know I'll be updating my deals and shopping again soon!

Incoming!!! 9/21/2010

2010-09-21T09:43:00.000-07:00

So I wanted to share both my New BzzAgent campaign and the pack I received today for it and my DMC Mentor pack! I am passing out the DMC Mentor kit via Christmas to several ladies in my family who I think would enjoy it that I am also close enough to help out if they should need it. I love cross stitch and DMC is the best!

Thanks DMC!

My BzzAgent campaign is courtesy of X-acto Crafts and Elmer Craftbond Supples, and I am THRILLED to be involved. I love to scrapbook and the products we've been allowed to test(thanks BzzAgent!) will really make scrapbooking a lot more fun! Our Kit included:

~2 Special Scissors for fun edges
~Glue dots
~Glue Stick
~Glue Pen
~Tape Runner
~Corner Round Punch
~Idea book with LOTS of great suggestions

I am VERY excited to use these tools with what I already have to start work on my scrapbook for my son's pre-k year. I will keep you guys updated as I go, I'm starting on it this weekend!

Interested in becoming a BzzAgent and letting your opinion be known?

Join now by following the link above!

Oh Dollar General You Are So Good To Me!!! 9/21

2010-09-21T07:18:00.000-07:00

I raided both local Dollar Generals today after a friend(thanks Megan!!!) told me about their take an additional 50% select summer clearance sale. I scored easily $150 for under $50! These will go towards gifts for Christmas, my mom's pool next year, some things for my house and just toys for my kids!

I picked up:

~2 Bubble Swords 1.50/1
~2 Large Bubble Wands 0.50/1
~3 Squirter Sets 0.25/1
~2 Swimmer Kick Boards 1.25/1
~4 Toy Story Kids Sunglasses 1.00/1
~1 Cars Kids Sunglasses 1.00/1
~5 Sports Container Bubbles 0.25/1
~8 "Square" Container Bubbles 0.25/1
~1 pair Mask Goggles 1.25/1
~6 Beach Balls 0.25/5, 0.37/1(OOPS!)
~2 Swim Rings 0.37/1
~1 Bigger Swim Tube 1.00/1
~DD a pair of cute Pleather Shoes 2.00/1
~HUGE Inflatable Star 2.50/1
~Inflatable Raft 2.50/1
~2 3-Piece Mixing Bowl Sets 2.25/1
~5 Assorted Bird Feeders 0.37/1, 0.43/1
~2 Seat Cushions 1.12/1
~1 Sink Dish Drainer 0.75/1
~1 LED Candle 1.25/1
~2 Sets Sand Tools 0.25/1
~4 Large Platters 0.75/1
~3 Medium Platters 0.25/1
~1 Small Platter 0.25/1
~2 Serving Dishes 0.25/1
~1 T-Shirt 1.50/1
~1 "floating" Witch 1.00/1
~1 Window Cling Set 1.00/1

All in all I'm VERY happy with our haul!

A Brittany for $1.53! Thank you Rite Aid!

2010-09-17T11:04:00.000-07:00

So my daughter has become quite fond of an animal I got her on a whim to use overage at Rite Aid a few weeks back. This little chipmunk goes EVERYWHERE with her, sleeps with her and is generally her favorite thing next to her big brother. So my husband and I were discussing buying another to store away for the inevitable "Brittany's gone!!!!!!!!!" wail or when she finally falls apart.
I know beanie babies change with the season and replacing one later might be VERY costly. While $6.99 may not seem like a great ton of money to have a replacement, I of course was looking for a way to drop that cost and Rite Aid's awesome deals and $5/$25 coupon helped me do it!

I got:

~1 box of JollyTime popcorn(thank you Jen for the freebie q!!!)
~4 Febreze Luminarie starter kits-3.99, down from 15.99!!!
~2 Febreze Large Jar Soy Candles-2.74, down from 10.99!!!
~and one lovable Brittany Chipmunk Doll

Total Out of Pocket: 3.28(tax was 1.75 of that) I could have lowered my OOP by using some of my up+ rewards but I didn't have them with me, but that is still alright with me.

Food Lion, Deer Park Buy 3, get $3 OYNO!

2010-09-17T06:33:00.000-07:00

So I don't even begin to have a count on how many I have bought thusfar, but I have pictures! I'll have a count when I finish putting them away.
The deal on these is there is a catalina deal that prints a $3.00 OYNO coupon when you buy three, these are $1.00 each at Food Lion this week, so I am rolling! With tax the second order and each thereafter is costing me 0.06 for three packs, you cannot beat that price!

*thanks to mtnmamamj at weusecoupons!*

I also have an order coming for 25 cases(3 per case), so I am VERY excited!

Finally updating!

2010-09-17T06:24:00.000-07:00

I know I've been absent a LONG TIME guys, but life has been pretty busy. So I feel to start I have to share a few things that have been going on in our lives.

~So Tuesday our oven caught fire! How fun is that? Thankfully I live in apartment complex and they were quick to replace it. Thanks PPM!!! They were very quick about it, we had the fire department in even though I had already put the fire out before they were here. It was still VERY stressful but I am happy to have it behind us.

~Our oldest has just started Pre-K, I volunteer in the class and of course have a very clingy little one at home right now missing big brother, so that's been time consuming in and of itself.

~The last two weeks we've all had one kind of cold or another, the kind where the kids sound like they have croup. My little one is still hacking, though my bigger one is most of the way to being better. I am not hacking yet, but my nose is training for a marathon!

Beyond that it's just been normal stuff, yardsales, housework, doctor's appointments. No excuse but it is what it is. Now to update the deals and shopping!

2010-09-10T14:47:00.001-07:00

2010-06-15T08:46:00.000-07:00

Shop Til You Drop Week Long Extravaganza!

2010-06-12T21:47:00.000-07:00

So I have to say, I have shopped WAY too much this week and I am now exhausted...but I do have tons of great goodies for free-close to free!

Rite Aid:

~14 Physician's Formula Makeups
~14 Old Spice Body Washes
~12 Old Spice Deodorants
~1 Old Spice Body Spray
~1 20-oz Cherry Coke
~2 "fun bands" or "silly bands"(for my babies)
~4 Jelly beans(markdown filler)
~2 Lubriderm Lotions
~3 Aveeno Sun Care 70 SPF
~1 Neutrogena Sun Care 45 SPF
~1 Coppertone SunScreen Stick
~2 Banana Boat SunScreen Stick
~1 Neutrogena SunScreen Stick
~1 Banana Boat After Sun Aloe Lotion
~1 Quilted Northern 4-count Double Roll Toilet Paper
~1 pack of Peanut Butter M&Ms
~2 pairs of StyleScience Kids Sunglasses

Total OOP(including tax of: 17.65) 19.87
NO UP+ Rewards printed, even though I should have gotten 7 $4 UP+ Rewards printed(which would have dropped my OOP by $8 more at least today) and silly me keeps forgetting to use the about $4 left on my Rite Aid Gift Card to pay on my balances. DUH! By doing this today I qualified for a $10 SCR back on the kids sunglasses, the $25+ $5 bonus Rite Aid Giftcards(Skin Care Rebate) and maybe the Men's Neutrogena rebate(I believe the sunscreen I bought qualifies also)....so essentially I made:
20.13!!!! And if they fix the UP+ Rewards like they're supposed to, that's $28 more and I will have two of my transactions adjusted for less OOP this week

Harris Teeter:

(no picture, just great savings!)

~1 Celentanos Cheese Ravioli
~1 Gina Lina's Meatballs(BIG bag!)
~1 Diet Mtn Dew 2-liter
~1 NY Texas Toast Garlic Bread
~1 Newman's Own Pasta Sauce
~2 Edy's Ice Cream
~1 Cottonelle Kids Wipes Tub
~2 boxes Nabisco Crackerfuls
~4 bags of Simply Potatoes Hashbrowns
~1 bag Shoestring Fries
~2 bags King Size M&Ms

Total OOP: 19.00 EVEN
VIC Savings: 27.39
Coupon Savings: 9.25

Walgreens:

~9 various Bic Razors(@0.49 each)

Total OOP:
6.08(2.16 in tax)

CVS:(my last $3/$15!)

~2 Glade Sense and Sprays(rainchecked @ 2/$10)
~1 Gallon Milk
~2 Skinny Cow Ice Cream Cups
~1 Got2B Smooth Operator Product(WOOT!)

Total OOP: 4.01(1.02 in tax)
No ECBs Spent, $3 back

I can't even begin to tell you what all was spent and made in this pic, but I got all this on Friday, I'll try to get all the receipts together for a total cost later on:

Rite Aid, the Addiction Trip 6/10/2010

2010-06-10T19:08:00.000-07:00

How can one resist the lure of free makeup and free diapers? I can't, I know that for sure! I went last night and today(had to have last night's receipt adjusted for coupons forgotten). I got a couple more packs of diapers for us today and some diapers for my brother's and his kind of GF's new baby and some baby wash/lotion also.

The kids and I got:

~6 packs of Huggies(three marked down, three not)
~15 bottles of various Johnson and Johnson baby products
~2 Johnson's and Johnson's Adult Lotions
~1 gallon Milk
~1 Dove candy bar(on clearance)
~8 Physician's Formula makeups
~1 Aveeno Lotion
~2 large diecast metal cars(my kids were perfect angels, this is where the 11.99 UP+ reward went basically)

Total Out Of Pocket: 7.33(TAX: 7.61)
UP+ Rewards Earned: 23.98
UP+ Rewards Used: 15.99(a 4UP+ from Old Spice and 1 11.99 from the huggies last night)
Total Savings: 305.50(diaper savings ROCK!)

My Rite Aid Trips 6/8

2010-06-09T12:01:00.000-07:00

I had quite a bad experience with a Rite Aid Shift Manager/Customer Service Manager(either way not the store manager, but someone who had the power to do an override, whatever the title may be at Rite Aid), but I spoke with the store manager this morning and I feel a lot better about it today! I still had great trips and am too tired to break it all down into what coupon I used where, so here's the big list and a picture!

~8 Gillette Body Washes
~8 Gillette Deodorants
~1 pack of Little Swimmers
~6 Old Spice Body Washes
~10 Old Spice Deodorants(4 Deodorants Sticks @ 1.39 each on the clearance shelf)
~2 Old Spice Body Sprays
~11 Gillette Shampoos(marked down from 5.99 to 2.99!)
~2 Colgate Toothpastes
~1 Got2B Hair Care Product
~1 Seabreeze Product
~19 Physician's Formula Makeups
~1 Baby Ruth
~1 pack of Huggies Wipes
~2 Rite Aid Sunscreens on Keychains
~1 Johnson's Body Lotion

Total OOP: 28.07(tax being 23.80 of that)
**I just noticed on my second receipt that some of my makeup didn't ring up on sale, so they're gonna fix it when I'm in there again, which is really very nice of them considering how little I paid for all of it)

According to my receipts I saved:
182.57(thanks to the wellness savings, yay Rite aid!) and 325.92 in coupons

CVS Clearance Splurge! 6/8/2010

2010-06-09T11:31:00.000-07:00

So I ran in to get another ProGlide Razor and some more detangler and found a ton of great clearance! So of course, I splurged my extracare bucks and picked it up!

I got:

~6 transfomers Promo Snickers @ 0.09 each
~3 Single Pair L'Eggs Knee Highs@ 0.09 each
~1 box of L'Eggs Ankle Highs @0.64
~17 boxes of Bayer Crystals(4 Count) @ 0.29 each
~2 boxes of L'Oreal Hairdye @0.99 each
~1 ProGlide Fusion Razor @9.97
~2 bottles John Freida Detangler @5.00 each
~1 Wii Steering Wheel Accessory @ 0.50
~4 bags of Penny Candy(in the gold and clear bags, cute stuff!) @0.20 each

Total Out Of Pocket: 2.57(tax was 2.34 of that)
ECBs spent: 17.00
ECBS earned: 8.00

The Knee Highs and Ankle Highs are for my mom, she wears these EVERYDAY and they are $ when you wear holes and runs in them almost weekly. She's active and hardworking and I am most happy to be able to take her something to help! I *thought* the Bayer was something my uncle could take since his surgery but I guess I remembered it backwards, but that's okay, I know I can find others to help by giving them away or donating them to the ministries.

Target BooBoo 6/7/2010

2010-06-07T20:13:00.001-07:00

Well I bought swimmers...and now I regret it, apparently they would have been MUCH cheaper at Rite Aid....*sigh* guess I am going back tomorrow! I am debating whether it's worth returning these...

~1 bonus pack Huggies Swimmers
~2 Nivea Men's Shave Gels
~2 Eggos(in my freezer, not in my picture)
~1 pack of Ruffies Trash Bags
~10 Arm and Hammer Travel toothpastes
~2 Kotex Liners

Total out of pocket: 11.74
Coupons Saved: 22.90

Oh Holy Up+ Rewards!!!!

2010-06-07T19:22:00.000-07:00

I went to Rite Aid tonight and made out like a bandit, thank you Up+ rewards!!!

~8 Old Spice Body Washes
~8 Full Size Old Spice Deodorants
~1 Trial Size Old Spice Deodorant(attached to a full size one, woo!)
~4 Old Size Body Sprays
~4 Gillette Body Washes
~4 Double pack Gillette Deodorant Deodorants
~3 Keychain Rite Aid Sunscreens
~1 20oz Diet Dew
~1 pack Extra Gum
~2 Got2B Smooth Operator Products

Total OOP before all coupons and sales: 169.02
After coupons and sales: 4.92!!!!!
AND I have a $4.00 UP+ reward to use, so it's actually like spending a whopping 0.92!

**$20 of the savings was them adjusting down the double packs of deodorant, apparently they are not part of the 2/8.00 sale BUT they had a tag and it was correctly labeled, so they adjusted them for me, I have a GREAT Rite Aid that cares very much about their customers!**

Our I Love Harris Teeter Trip! 6/7

2010-06-07T16:25:00.000-07:00

My kids and I took a trip today with our best friend and her boys to do a little shopping(can you tell that's a hobby of mine?) and we went to Harris Teeter to take advantage of some awesome deals! They had an great meal deal that was buy 2 Digiorno Pizzas and get a thing of ice cream, garlic bread, coke 2 liter, and TGI Friday's appetizer for FREE! We did this and the buy $20 of lysol products and get $5 off deal as well. So in total we got(all prices in () are BEFORE sales or coupons!):

~2 Digiorno Pizzas(13.58)
~2 Lysol Kitchen Cleaners(6.78)
~2 Lysol Toilet Cleaners(5.78)
~1 Lysol Toilet Cling(3.29)
~4 cans of Lysol Wipes(13.96)
~9 boxes of Frosted Flakes(28.71)
~1 Coke 2-liter(1.79)
~2 bottles of L'Oreal Everpure Shampoo(Markdown @ 3.00 from 6.99! so 6.00/2)
~1 pack OB Mixed Pack of Tampons(Markdown to 1.53 from 4.49!)
~1 box Eggo Waffles(2.45)
~1 TGI Friday Onion Rings(3.79)
~1 loaf Harris Teeter Garlic Bread(2.49)
~1 Gifford Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Ice Cream(4.25--also not pictured because it was dessert!)
~3 Danimals 6-packs of smoothies
~1 Carton of Tropicana Orange Juice(3.39)*not in picure, apparently this bag which also had the filters got left at the register, so I have to pick these up tonight!*
~1 pack of Pur Pitcher Water Filters(Markdown to 3.00 from ?.??..these are about $14 at wal-mart)*see above*

Total out of pocket BEFORE coupons and sales: 137.21 + 2.54 in tax=139.75
Total After Harris Teeter sales price and before coupons: 63.17(cut the bill OVER HALF!)
After Coupons: 32.67, which WITH tax equals out to about 0.99 an item!

Shopping with the Whole Family! 6/5/2010

2010-06-06T05:28:00.000-07:00

So normally when I go to several places in one trip, my husband keeps our little ones at home and I go, just because of the stress of getting them in and out at so many places. Last night my kids wanted to go so badly that I caved and said "come on!", but to my surprise they were WONDERFUL! Because they were so awesome, they got a treat out of the Target snackbar, which is a splurge!

So we got:

FOOD LION:

~7 Vitamin Waters
~1 Steakhouse Bread(Son loves this!)
~1 gallon milk

Total Out of Pocket: 8.84
Coupons Saved: 1.00
MVP Savings: 7.41
*I actually spent 1.00 more than the above as we bought another Children's Miracle Network donation balloon, I think their organization is wonderful and I purchase one of every fund raiser item they have at our local Food Lion*

TARGET:

~2 Lean Cuisine Meals(1.97*2=3.94)
~26 Arm and Hammer Travel TPs(0.97*26=25.22)
~2 Kleenex Handtowels(2.99*2=5.98)
~1 Crayola 8CT Crayons(0.79)
~2 John Freida Detanglers(5.04*2=10.08)
~2 Armor All products(2.49*2=5.98)
~2 packs BIC pens(0.99*2=1.98)
~1 Black Ink Cartridge(13.09 BEFORE taxes alone)
~3 Scotch Fur Fighters(markdown to 2.48!)
~1 Finish Quantum Starter Kit(5.00 TPC)

Total BEFORE Coupons: 83.66
Tax: 5.16(of the 83.66)
Total After Coupons: 13.37

CVS:

Transactions 1:
~2 johnson's baby oils(1.32 each)

Total Out Of Pocket: 0.84
Coupons Savings: 2.00
CVS Savings: 7.94!!
No ECB back

Transaction 2:
~1 ban deo

Total Out Of Pocket: 0.23
Coupon Savings: 1.00
CVS savings: cannot read that line, blurred...but I think's it's 0.50 off this week
$2 ECB in, $2 ECB back

Transaction 3: (using the 5/15 that printed the first time!)
~2 packs Huggies
~2 packs Reese Cups
~3 Caramels

Total Out of Pocket: 1.29(BUT 1.21 on a money card from a VERY botched transaction earlier this week, it was basically I think $2 ECBs on there to say sorry?) so 0.08 out of pocket!!!
Coupons saved: 6.00
CVS Savings: 31.98
No ECB in, no ECB out

*this was a beautiful transaction because I mentioned to the manager on duty that those were 75% off everywhere else and asked why they weren't there and he said if I wanted them for 75% off to grab them and he'd be most happy to mark them down for me....YYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY for awesome managers!!!!!!!!!!!!*

RITE AID:

~1 20oz Mtn Dew(had overage to eat up, 1.59)
~1 Clearasil Daily Face Wash(5.29)
~2 Colgate Toothpastes(markdown to 0.99 each)
~1 Ben Gay(5.49)
~1 Veet Shave Gel(6.49)
~1 Got2B Smoothing Lotion(6.49)
~2 Physician's Formula Makeups(11.00/2)

Total Out of Pocket: 1.09(paid on a previously earned RA giftcard)
Tax: 2.52(got overage, YAY!)

Rite Aid Savings: 4.75
Coupon Savings: 39.00-WOO!

DOLLAR GENERAL:

~1 pack Kiss Artificial Nails

Total Out of Pocket: 0.16
Coupon Savings: 2.00

Freebies for Today! 6/3/2010

2010-06-03T18:22:00.000-07:00

Click each link and follow the instruction on those pages to grab one of each of these freebies for yourself today!

Starbucks VIA read brew

Purina One SmartBlend *You can choose dog or cat sample here*

Cottonelle Ultra Toilet Paper and Cottonelle Moist Wipes
*They've offered this before and an entire roll of toilet paper came along with a travel size pack of the moist wipes*

Playtex Gentle Glide
*these almost always come with $1.00/1 coupons!*

Zantac

Sharklove is offering an awesome free sticker to anyone who requests one. I love their message, I am a big fan of sharks and I fully believe this site is on the right track with the respect we should give these animals. If you'd like more information on their cause or to request a free sticker, check them out HERE

How Do You Do It? Couponing-Part 2

2010-06-03T17:45:00.000-07:00

Now how I started seriously couponing at home.....I decided to go whole hog into this and bought about 8 papers for the first 3-4 months I couponed, which I have to say was WAY too much at once! I wanted in on the deals and I wanted in on them fast and I got it and it was almost so much to handle that I turned away. Thanks to many kind cashiers and new found friends at the above sites I was able to pear it down to 1-3 papers a week until I got the hang of it.

One of my first decisions was to move from an accordion coupon sorted(which has several pockets in one plastic holder with tabs at the top of each and usually has a bungee type string to close it off). It was very convenient in that it fit in my purse very easily but when I got to the store, if I needed a coupon I didn't have out already it took tons of time finding it in all my coupons.

From there I went to the binder method. At first I couldn't see the point in paying money for one of those binders with zippers. I simply used an old hardback one I had from way back in high school. I added some 9-count Baseball Collector's Card holders, a few index pages to separate them and went about my business. After having my coupons fall out again and again and again, I finally saw the light and bought my first Mead 5-Star Case-It Binder. My first binder was a fluke and fell apart within two weeks causing me to return it and search for a better option.

I finally settled on:

I bought it from Amazon.com HERE and splurged about $25 on it, shipping and all.
It was WELL WORTH IT! I've had this binder for months now with no problems from it whatsoever! I've added another pack of 9-Count Baseball Card holders into it to accommodate my growing coupon amounts and this binder has been tossed, jumped on(remember my kids? LOL) and just generally beat on and it looks just as good as it did when I got it! The two pencil pouch type separators(red and gray in the above pictures) came with the binder, as did the carrying strap(VERY useful!), I added the blue pouch for pre-planned trips(0.10 at CVS on clearance).

Just remember what works for each person is incredibly different. There are lots of ways to tote your coupons around and this is just what happens to work best for me.

~Part 3 Tomorrow~

Couponing, how do you do it?--Part 1!

2010-06-03T17:26:00.000-07:00

So, if you've read through any of the posts I had over the last week, you see the word coupon come up over and over again. That's because 90% of my shopping is done with coupons. I've had neighbors and friends ask, how I do that, so I'm going to share!

I have always used a few coupons here and there, but really got into this about a year or so ago when things were VERY difficult for us. My husband works VERY hard and I am SAHM with two children in the toddler/preschool range, but making ends meet was beyond difficult. I started by browsing lots and lots of sites claiming to help you save money. I have a list of favorites that even after a year I still visit almost daily for a peek at what they have listed in their good deals.

We Use Coupons.com
I actually help out in the Harris Teeter forum there and there are lots of great people that are VERY coupon knowledgable and friendly to boot, they are where I finally got the shove into the kind of couponing I do now and have been featured on local stations in the site owner's home state and nationwide on ABC.

SouthernSavers
She ALWAYS has a great deal or freebie and an awesome coupon resource. The insert previews there are the best! For those who don't know what an insert it, it's what most couponers call the papers that come each sunday that are just strictly coupons, like the P&G Insert, the Smartsource Insert, and the Redplum Insert.

Free Stuff Times
Chris has one of the best lists of freebies on the web by far and his site is constantly updating with new deals!

Until I was ready to post and put myself out there(and possibly embarass myself) I simply lurked on these sites copying the deals that other people posted. And this worked! It worked for quite a while until I started noticing I was still not saving enough on what I needed to and I had some serious questions I needed answers for. I finally caved and started posting on the Forum boards for these places and commenting on the feeds for the deals on the blogs. I had been so wrong about being embarassed!! People went out of their way to help me understand and get better deals on what I needed. If I didn't have a coupon, there was always someone willing to send me one to help, if I was confused, there was always a reassuring word as they helped spell out the deal for me.

It took a LONG time, but now I consider myself to be a pretty proficient couponer and I have those folks above to thank for it. I only hope to be as much help to others as they were to me.

~Part 2 to come tomorrow!~

Target Run, Forgot the Giftcards GASP 6/2/2010

2010-06-03T17:19:00.000-07:00

So while my friend and I were out yesterday we stopped at Target to do a quick run, by then our kiddos were basically shopped out, so we hustled and I only picked a few things up.

~6 Arm and Hammer Travel Toothpaste
~2 Shout Sprays
~2 Scrubbing Bubbles Extend Sprays
~2 Oil of Olay Toners
~1 Bonus Pack SatinCare Shave Gels

Total OOP: 7.77 with a 5.00 GC back

I only gave the girl two of my three Arm and Hammer TP coupons, so I'm returning two of those and then I realized as I walked to pay all my GCs were at home, so I couldn't roll the deal, but I was already there, so I went ahead and forked out the cash.

CVS Markdown, Tiny Run, Big Savings! 6/3/2010

2010-06-03T17:16:00.000-07:00

So I ran to my local CVS this morning in the hopes of finding some more diapers(apparently the coupons I printed for the ones I got yesterday had reset!) and ended up just getting a couple of things that were also clearanced, but still great finds!

I got:

~1 Johnson and Johnson's Bedtime Baby Bath marked to 1.74
~1 Aveeno Baby Shampoo marked to 1.42

Total OOP: 1.64 and I have to go back and have a 1.00/1 q adjusted, so it will be just 0.64 OOP for both!

CVS and Diapers Diapers Diapers OH MY! 6/2/2010

2010-06-03T17:05:00.000-07:00

A friend and I got wind of the 75% off Huggies at CVS and we met up to shop and were off and running!! Here's what I got, what I spent and what I made!

I got:

~2 Mega packs Huggies, size 5
~2 Mega packs Huggies, size 6
~3 CVS Thin Diapers, size 5
~1 20oz Diet Pepsi(CVS hopping is thirsty work!)

Total OOP: 8.33(2.55 on a CVS Money Card, so 5.78 actual OOP)
ECBs Spent: 6.97
ECBs Made: 6.00
Coupons Saved: 13.00
CVS Savings: 75.36

I am just in AWE at all the great diaper deals lately!! I was buying these when they were 50% off last week thinking to myself "WOW 8.99 minus my $3/1 Huggies coupons and some ECBs, what a deal!!" and just look at that above....7 packs for the price of one!

In case you're wondering, the CVS Thin Diapers are 75% off this week as well and putting out a $2.00 ECB!(Limit 1) SO the deal looks like this:

1 pack CVS Thin Diapers-2.37 + NC tax= 2.55
Get back a $2.00 ECB(which you could roll into the Ban Deodorant in this week's ad and get a stick of deodorant for 0.99 with $2.00 ECBs back from that...or make it better, use a $1.00/1 Insert coupon for the Ban and get it better than free!)

Incoming!! 6/2/2010

2010-06-03T17:00:00.001-07:00

Also I didn't get to share yesterday's mail with you!! I got my campaign packet for the BzzAgent Got2B Campaign! It included: 4 double pack samples with 1.00/1 coupons, 1 completely free product coupon, 4 2.50/1 coupons, and a letter and booklet with instructions on how to pass out information and what to do afterwards.

I also received the newest issue of Savour, a few credit card offers(hahaha, getting out of debt by getting more...I don't think so!), the local store papers, a Lane Bryant home mailer and an insurance ad. My kids got the latest PawSox Home mailer, which tickled them pink!

Incoming!! Email 6/3/2010

2010-06-03T16:39:00.000-07:00

So apparently I got NO mail at all today, but I did get some great email!!! I am on the CVS Advisor Survey Panel and from time to time they offer you ECBs(different amounts for each survey and sometimes it varies person to person) for doing surveys they send out. I got one today, got rejected after entering my zip code(no clue why?) but was still given $2 in ECBs!!! This helps me completely recoup from the 75% off Huggies they had this week that I could not resist!

Buy 1 OFF! PowerPad Lamp, Get 1 Free High Value Coupon!

2010-06-02T08:10:00.000-07:00

SC Johnson has a great high value coupon available right now for BOGO OFF! PowerPad Lamps(up to 10.00)Get in on this one fast before they're all gone!!

Buy 1 OFF! PowerPad Lamp, Get 1 FREE!(up to 10.00 value)

they also still have the BOGO OFF! Clip On Starter Kit(Maxium value:3.99) still; print it from HERE.

Guess Who Got an Invite to the Got2B BuzzAgent Campaign!?!

2010-05-31T20:58:00.000-07:00

I was VERY excited to see the invite for this event in my email this week! I'm waiting on my test kit from them, but have already received a great BOGO coupon for use at CVS(here I come again!) and I cannot wait to try it out! In case you're wondering the test kits usually come with full size products for the BzzAgent to test and several samples and information pamplets to give out, as well as high value coupons most of the time. All they ask is an honest review and that you share with lots of people in your day to day life! Of course I'll share what I think on here and I'd love to hear comments from anyone who has used this before or uses it now! Did anyone else get in too?

Not a member of BzzAgent and want to get in on all the great campaigns like this one? Click the banner below and join today!

Free Muir Glen Tomato Paste at Wal-Mart!

2010-05-31T20:53:00.000-07:00

Print the $1.00/1 Coupon from Coupons.com and head to Wal-Mart for a free can of Muir Glen Tomato Paste!

Other Great Coupons.com coupons available now:

~$2.00/1 KISS Nails(FREE at Dollar General)

~$1.50/1 Huggies Little Swimmers

~$1.00/1 Nexcare Products(FREE Trial size at Target, Wal-Mart and reported at some CVSes)

~$1.00/1 TARGET Eggo's Product Coupon(ONLY good at Target)

Target GiftCards Rolling Rolling Rolling!

2010-05-31T20:27:00.000-07:00

I did several Scrubbing Bubbles giftcard deals at Target not long ago and still had 24.09 in giftcards from those. I was told about a great Olay Gift Card Deal at Target and had to take all my $2/1 and $1/1 coupons that were expiring today and check it out! Here's what I got:

~18 Olay refreshing Toner(Gave one to my neighbor, gotta spread the love!!!)

~10 Olay Gentle Foaming Face Wash(2 missing, gave them to another neighbor and her mom who recently had a cancerous place removed from her chin, this is a sensitive skin formula, I hope it helps her!)

~2 Olay Foaming Face Wash

~2 Olay Age Defying Foaming Facial Cleaner(gave one to the first neighbor also)

~6 Tide Travel Packs

Total spent: 0.00 out of pocket expense

GiftCards In: 61.02

GiftCards Back: 85.00(43.07 of that not spent rolling this deal, so still have that)

**Received a 0.05 Reusable Bag Discount**
Coupons Saved: 55.00
Taxes: 2.70

*these also qualify for the Olay Rebate HERE for 20.00 back when you buy 50.00 of qualifying Olay Products, which I have twice by buying 107.48 BEFORE coupons...I will be sending one form off for me and one to my mom's address*

CVS Til You Drop!!!

2010-05-31T19:43:00.000-07:00

Catch-up time! I've CVS-ed all week long and thought I'd put one giant picture and breakdown up for it!

I've got:

~4 Women's Nivea Bodywash(1 not pictured)
~3 Men's Nivea Bodywash
~2 Nivea Lip Care
~14 Revlon Creme Lip Gloss(FREE)
~8 Old Spice Body Washes
~2 Packs CVS Pocket Tissues(FREE)
~1 CVS CottonBalls(FREE)
~8 Gold Emblem Mixed Nuts(2 not pictured)
~1 CVS Conditioner(FREE)
~2 CVS Shampoos(FREE)
~3 Old Spice Body Spray(FREE...1 not pictured)
~2 Old Spice Deodorants(FREE)
~1 Revlon Nail Polish(FREE after coupon/CRT Coupon)
~1 CVS Nail Polish Remover(FREE wyb Revlon Nail Polish *LAST Week's Sale!*)
~2 Huggies Mega Packs(not pictured)
~9 Power Bars(FREE after ECB)
~2 Off! Clip On Refills(FREE)
~2 Queen Anne Cocoa Butter Lotion
~1 Ban Deodorant(FREE after ECB/coupon)
~1 L'Oreal Juicy Lip Gloss

Total OOP: 23.00 even(11.27 on a CVS money card, 3.62 on a pre-paid visa...so actually 8.11 out of my pocket expense)
Tax: 11.66 of the 23.00

CVS Savings: 188.51
Coupon Savings: 115.22
ECBS Spent: 32.19
ECBS Returned: 28.91

Sam's Club Free Bounty Sample!

2010-05-29T07:02:00.000-07:00

Are you a member of Sam's Club? Then pull up THIS PAGE, fill out the form(including your member number) and get a free sample by mail!

Email Incoming!!! 5/28/2010

2010-05-28T11:29:00.000-07:00

I am part of the E-Vic club that Harris Teeter has associated with their Store Card(the VIC card) and I receive an email every Friday stating what deals I am able to get. These deals are specific to my card and are different for everyone in the program based on what you buy and they're usually pretty good. Today was even more awesome!

YAY for free!! I'm going to be in there shopping for groceries at some point and will definately take advantage of this and at least two of the other offers in my email.

Please remember this deal is specific to my card and is non-transferrable to another card, every card receives a different combination of deals. If you're signed up but just want to know what deals you have, have someone in Harris Teeter scan your card as you come in and let it print the deals at the bottom of your receipt.

Not a member of the E-VIC club yet? Join HERE for free!

Kelloggs Promotions-Free Stuff for Collecting Codes!

2010-05-28T11:18:00.001-07:00

Do you eat Kelloggs cereals? If so, watch for the specially marked boxes with the Toy Story logo on it! Collect those codes and cash them in for great prizes like:

~Toy Story 3 T-Shirt
~Hamm(the pig toy) bank
~FREE movie ticket
~$5.00 concession cash(both ticket and cash valid ONLY at participating locations)

and a lot more!

Want to learn more, visit their website HERE!

Free Earthfare Organic Ketchup when you spend $5

2010-05-27T19:21:00.000-07:00

Earthfare Market just released a new coupon on their website for a FREE Earthfare Organic Ketchup(valid on 20oz ONLY) when you spend $5 or more in their stores. Print this one fast, it's only valid through June 1st!

FREE EarthFare Ketchup Coupon

The Other Side of Freebies

2010-05-27T18:56:00.000-07:00

So I get lots of good freebies in my mailbox each week thanks to several generous companies, but a lot of the freebies or almost freebies I have I obtain through frugal shopping with coupons. I want to share with you what I worked on this morning for about an hour-my food stockpile closet. I have a large closet in our main hallway that I use as a pseudo-pantry and from time to time I have to rotate stock in or out depending on what we need in the kitchen or what may be given away to family or friends.

First I'll share some pictures:

You have to forgive the multitude of pictures, the hallway is only so wide, so unfortunately it took several smaller shots to get the whole closet. What you don't see in these pictures is yet another pantry cabinet that is in an inset wall in my son's walk-in closet that has flour, sugar, can vegetables, noodles, macaroni and cheese and most of our bulk staples.

More to the point though-my family and I don't go hungry, we're able to help others in our family and community when they're in need and it's all because of coupons! A little over a year ago, NONE of this was here and we wondered some weeks how to make ends meet and still have food on the table. I was determined to make things work and turned to coupons and thanks to some great friends at weusecoupons.com and great sales paired with my coupons, we now have 3 closets full of extras(food and non-foods).We also have plenty of health and beauty items that would have been definite extras for us before, and a FREE freezer(thank you to the sweet couple of craigslist who answered my "in search of" ad) FULL of food, as well as a well stocked fridge and above fridge freezer!

All I just want to say is if you're having a hard time, keep looking up and trying, anything can be accomplished with some hard work, and a few good coupons ;)

Host a Bull's Eye Bold BBQ HouseParty!

2010-05-27T18:51:00.000-07:00

Are you a member of Kraft First Taste or Houseparty.com? If so I have great news for you! They just started taking applications for their Bull's Eye Bold BBQ Party!

I've hosted a few houseparties myself and I have to say both the packages they send you and the information you receive is fabulous! You often receive several full size products(or coupons to obtain these for the party), party favors, high value coupons and information sheets or online passes for special events to give out.

All they ask is you throw a simple party to help promote the product and then talk about it on their website(Houseparty.com). Doesn't sound like too bad a deal to me, please share with us if you apply and are picked for this exciting event!

To join Houseparty and apply for this opportunity, visit Houseparty.com

Incoming!!! 5/27/2010

2010-05-27T18:36:00.001-07:00

Today was a slightly busier mail day for me, but with a much better round of freebies!!

~1 reusable shopping bag courtesy of Earthbound Farm with coupons!
~1 coupon for a FREE Chavrie Goat Cheese product up to 5.50

Speaking of my Chavrie Coupon, they've got a great offer on their website right now for a FREE "For the Love of Goat Cheese" Recipe Book when you buy any two Chavrie products. To check it out or download the mail in form for the recipe book, give them a visit HERE.

Want A Chance for Free Neutrogena SunCare?

2010-05-27T18:30:00.000-07:00

Allure Magazine has an online contest ongoing right now that ends the last day in May. There are great prizes to be won including:
Twenty Sunscreens from Neutrogena, Salt Sunglasses(valued at $400!) and a Hat Attack Hat!

These Sunscreens are listed as being included in the contest:
~Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 with Helioplex
~Neutrogena Age Shield Face Sunblock SPF 55 + Repair
~Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid Sunblock Fluid SPF 55
~Neutrogena Spectrum+ Sunblock Lotion SPF 55
~Neutrogena Spectrum+ Sunblock Lotion SPF 100 +
~Neutrogena Sport Face Sunblock Lotion SPF 70 +
~Neutrogena Ultimate Sport Sunblock Spray SPF 85
~Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunblock Spray SPF 85

To enter, fill out the short form on this page.

Allure has lots of great contests every month and I will try to keep you updated on as many as possible!

Want Cheap Lifesavers?

2010-05-27T08:52:00.000-07:00

Coupons.com has a $1/2 and my Food Lion has the Lifesavers Sour Gummies on closeout for 0.34 each, making it a possible 0.32 money maker!

FREE Potty Training Kit from Pampers

2010-05-27T06:47:00.000-07:00

Got a potty training little one? Grab some FREE samples, resources, and tools for mom and dad! Just check out the site HERE. Each kit comes with Pampers Easy Up Trainers, stickers and coloring pages, high value coupons, helpful hints for parents and more!

FREE Naturemade Chewable Vitamin D Sample

2010-05-27T06:41:00.000-07:00

Naturemade is offering a free sample of their new Chewable Vitamin D vitamins. Just click HERE and register to have your sample sent to your house.

Swagbucks, Searching daily and earning rewards!

2010-05-26T19:34:00.000-07:00

How many of you are already with swagbucks? Show of hands...? I don't see many hands, so let me fill you in on one of my favorite websites!!!

swagbucks.com is an AWESOME website that gives you "swagbucks" for searching using their search engine, reading their blog(those are codes given at a certain time btw), or doing various activities like their daily poll or the merchant offers that change weekly.

I have to say I visit swagbucks everytime I need to search, even if it's just pulling up a site I already know the address to, within two months I've earned 535 swagbucks which is a rather small pittance compared to some people's winnings! I intend on using mine to gain amazon.com giftcard codes and buy some christmas for my family with them. Because the codes also cover shipping I will wait until the last possible moment(probably octoberish for me) and turn them all in and likely get several free to me items!

Interest in joining and getting in on all the great rewards?

Check it out by clicking on this banner:

Incoming!!! 5/26/2010

2010-05-26T19:16:00.000-07:00

I just realized I hadn't shared my mail with you! Today was a light day, one freebie and store flyers as well as some mass mailing coupons.

~FREEBIE: Eucerin Daily Skin Balance Skin-Fortifying Body Lotion sample with $1.00/1 Coupon on the back outside!
~1.00/1 Palmolive Coupon inside the mass mailer and the official Food Lion ad that I used to raid their Oreo section with. LOL

Food Lion and the $5/5 Kraft Deal!

2010-05-26T19:00:00.000-07:00

I decided to run to Food Lion tonight and splurge on cookies for my kids. They LOVE Oreos and basically all Oreo based cookies and they are part of the $5/5 products deal this week and I just happened to have some great coupons handy.

I got:
~12 various Oreo Products(2.49-2.50 each)
~4 Oscar Mayer Shaved Lunchmeat Tubs(2.99 each)
~1 Bar-S Bologna(0.99 each)
~2 Pepsi Brand 2-liters(2.67 for two...OUCH!)
~1 Hefty 50-Count Foam Plates(FREE thanks to a Food Lion mobile coupon!)
~2 packs Ball Park Hot Dogs(BOGO)
~1 bag Wavy Lays(BOGO)
~1 Multi Pack Ramen Noodles(1.29 for one)

Total Cost: 19.14
MVP Savings: 33.31
Coupon Savings: 21.75

While this is not the best example of a *cheap but needed trip* it was a LOT of good deals, the lunchmeat alone before the deal and coupons would have been almost 12.00 plus tax! This is what we call a major splurge in our house, we rarely to never bring in any food that's not produce or meat if it's not almost free or completely free(with exception of tax of course!).

So does the Food Lion Mobile coupon peak your interest? I got those plates for free because I accepted a mobile coupon for "Buy two Ball Park Hot Dogs and receive one FREE pack Hefty Plates or Bowls(up to $2.60)". I *love* their mobile coupons, and while they may not all apply to our family, they're all great deals!

Wanna join? Text CLUBFL to 467467 and follow the instructions that they text back to your mobile phone. Regular text charges will apply, including airtime if your plan requires it for these. Find out more information about the Mobile Coupon Club from Food Lion HERE.

To check out the deals for this $5/5 Kraft Products deal and get some ideas on the rest of this week's sale, check out weusecoupons Food Lion forum HERE!

FREE Tropicana Juice!

2010-05-26T11:19:00.000-07:00

Are you a member of the Tropicana Juicy Rewards club and have 5 points? If so you are eligible for a FREE 59oz or 64oz Tropicana Pure Premium juice coupon which is snail mailed to your address! Close to the five, but maybe need one more? Take a short survey HERE to get a free point for your account!

Not a member yet and want to join? Click HERE and register and take a short survey for a free point to count towards your five.

If you need some points to qualify, here are a few to add into your account, but redeem them quickly as it seems they expire not long after they are added to your account!

Worth 1 Point each:

~TWMOM-READR

~Blogg-Her11

~FBOOK-TROPI

~MOMCE-NTRAL

(thanks to moneysavingmom and southernsavers for points listing)

So Day One of Freebies eh?

2010-05-26T10:53:00.000-07:00

Alright, well today is the first day for this, my new blog. While I am a bit nervous and I'm sure that will show in my post, I'm gonna dive right in and start adding freebies for you to take advantage of!!

First for the day:

Free Kraft Mayo samples

Click Here to fill out a short form to receive your free mayo samples! Samples are limited to 1 per household, ages 18 and over.

Free Crest 3D Whitestrips Sample

Want a FREE sample of Crest 3D Whitestrips? Click HERE to get yours!

I know these past two have been nothing but samples you get in the mail and there's certainly nothing wrong with that, but how about freebies from the store? I regularly coupon my way into tax only items at several local stores. Wanna know how? Come back and check regularly for my trip posts and break downs as well as Great Deal lists!