Printable Coupons

Well, it is the first of the month and that means many coupons have been reset on the printable sites. Check out Coupons.com here and go ahead and print the ones you think you will use in the next month or so. There are some good ones for frozen veggies, brown rice, muir glen tomatoes, and (my favorite baking friend) Ghirardelli chocolate!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from some of the Phillips family! Looking forward to hitting up the local Southern Georgia Walgreens and CVS tomorrow! Lots of good Register Rewards at Walgreens and Extra Care Bucks (ECBs) at CVS.

Photo Card Deals

Hope everyone is having a great day gearing up for Thanksgiving tomorrow! Just wanted to let you guys know about a couple of great photo card deals going on right now. You can check them out on Sarah's site right here.

I did the deal from SeeHere on Monday night and received my 50 cards in the mail today! I spent about 10 minutes signing up for a new account and picking/editing my card. This was my first time doing store bought photo cards and I am really pleased with the results. And here's the best part...I got them for under $5! (I just paid shipping). Also, when you sign up for a new SeeHere account you get a promo code for 100 free 4x6 prints. So, if you wanted to do traditional cards and just include a picture it would still be worth signing up for a new account.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Encouragement for the Season

With Christmas just around the corner, I can already feel my stomach start to get butterflies. I tend to get a bit stressed about perfect gifts, perfect food, perfect decorations, perfect memories, you know I just want it all to be so PERFECT!

I am trying hard this year to plan ahead, in order to really enjoy the beautiful moments right in front of me. And one of the things I have been working on is stocking up on stocking stuffers for my family.

I read my sister's Christmas list (she is a 26 year-old single gal) and many of her requests were practical items that are just a bummer to have to spend money on (hello, tampons! ugh!). So for the past couple of months I have using my CVS Extra Bucks and Walgreen's Register Rewards to fill her stocking for almost free! The picture above is $18.97 worth of stuff that I got for $1.61 (basically just tax) by pairing sale, coupons, and Register rewards at Walgreens! And the good news is: it's not too late to start saving on the "incidentals" that really add up. Here is a link at moneysavingmom that really helps explain the whole Walgreens system.

Other ideas for those extra drugstore freebies: fill an Operation Christmas Child box, donate to OUR church (Christ Church) to help our refugee families, or get a toiletry box together to give to a woman's halfway house or homeless shelter.

The most meaningful part of the season is to be able to share the love of Christ by blessing others. It's the best way to relieve any holiday stress!

--Posted by Amanda b.

Walgreens Deals - 11/17/09

Hey everyone, hope you are enjoying our blog so far. We are definitely in full swing.
So here are some goodies I got at Walgreens this week!

• Total before coupons - $14.47
• Coupons I used - $1 off Aussie, $2 off Bic razors, and $5 RR (register rewards)
• Total spent - $3.98 (I also got $6 in register rewards back!)

--Posted by Amanda P.

Blogs we follow!

Here is the most simple ways to get good deals at the grocery store....read coupon blogs. (Also, buy the Sunday newspaper for circulars and coupons) Enjoy!!

• http://www.southernsavers.com/
• http://organicdeals.blogspot.com/
• http://attentiontargetshoppers.blogspot.com/
• http://www.couponmom.com/
• http://www.faithfulprovisions.com/
• http://frugalinfranklin.typepad.com/frugal_in_franklin/
• http://www.iheartpublix.com/
• http://hip2save.blogspot.com/
• http://blogs.tennessean.com/cheap/
• http://nashvilleforfree.wordpress.com/
• http://shoppinghigh.blogspot.com/
• http://www.thethriftymama.com/

CVS Savings 101

Ok! So this is really important in learning to save money!! Enjoy this great post where I learned a lot!! (Thanks to Money Saving Mom)

I spent a good few hours researching how to “do” CVS when I first began and sometimes forget how complex it can seem when you first start out!

For those of you who are still trying to figure things out, what follows is a CVS 101 Primer:

First off, in order to take advantage of any of the deals at CVS, you need to have a CVS store nearby. Check here to see if that's the case.

If so, you will need to apply for a CVS card. You can do this online or in-store. If you do it in-store, you can begin using your card right away, so this is the best option.

Always have them scan your card before they start ringing up your transaction. All of the deals are tied to your card account number, so if they don’t scan your card, you won’t be able to get any of the deals.

Once you have signed up and received your CVS card, you are ready to do your first CVS transaction. I recommend you start off with only one or two items. Keep it very simple so that you can learn the ropes and gradually branch out into doing more complicated deals.

Almost every week, there are one or two items which are advertised as completely free after ECBs. What this means is that you will buy the item--paying out of pocket for it--and then you will receive a “coupon” at the end of your receipt which will be for the amount of the item purchased. This coupon is called an “Extra Care Buck” (or ECB as we refer to them online). You can use this coupon on your next purchase just like cash, with only a few exceptions (i.e. you can’t buy stamps or gift cards with them--the fine print on the ECB explains a little more in detail).

So to start out, you would check your local ad and find out what product you needed to buy that week which would generate an ECB that was the purchase price you paid. Once you bought the item, you would receive an ECB at the bottom of your receipt which you could use like cash on your next transaction, thus making that item in essence, “free.”

It is not entirely free in that you paid for it out of pocket, however, once you have paid for the item out of pocket and earned an ECB, you can then use that ECB you earned to pay for the next transaction. You want to keep rolling your ECBs over and over and over, so your goal should always be to use the ECBs you earned from your last transaction, to buy something in the next transaction which will earn you the same amount or more ECBs than you spent.

My goal is to spend as little money out of pocket as possible and to roll over my ECBs to be the same amount or more as the ECBs I spent. By doing this, I usually will get $15-$50 worth of groceries and household items normally paying less than $1 out of pocket and earning enough ECBs to go back and do it again the next week.

In some instance, the item you are buying is actually less expensive than the ECB it will generate and thus you will “make money” by buying it. For instance, one week recently, the Addidas deodrant was on sale for $2.49 and generated a $3 ECB. So, even after tax, you "made money" buying it since you got more back in ECBs than you spent out of pocket in the first place. And if you have any coupons (there were $1/1 coupons for this particular deodorant out recently), you will "make even more money."

In this case, you could go in and buy 1 Addidas deodorant that was part of this promotion for $2.49, use a $1/1 coupon, pay only $1.49 out of pocket, and you'd get $3 ECBs back to use on your next purchase! This is what we refer to in coupon-world as a "money-maker".

(Please note: You will not be actually "making money" in that the store will be paying you cash for shopping there, but you will be "making money" in that you will be spending less out of pocket than you get back in ECBs.)

Most of the time, there is a limit on how many of an item you can buy per card which will generate ECBs. Usually it is somewhere between 1-5 and will be stated in small lettering underneath the deal in your ad.

There are weekly deals and monthly deals. The weekly deals are advertised in the weekly fliers and the monthly deals (which are good for the entire month) are advertised in the monthly ECB booklet, which should be available at all stores all month long.

Sometimes, they will advertise a monthly deal in the weekly flier. This is usually just to draw more attention to the deal. However, this does not normally mean the deal can be done both weekly and monthly (doing it twice that month), you can only do it two times, or five times, or whatever number of times the limit is for the month.

Once you have started figuring out the weekly and monthly free-after-ECB deals, you can start moving up to more complicated deals and this is when the fun really begins! Your goal should be to not only roll your ECBs over and over week after week after week, but to "grow" them so you have "overage" to use towards other groceries you need.

How do you "grow" your ECBs? Well, the easiest way is by stacking a manufacturer’s coupon with the free-after-ECB deals.

For instance, if the Addidas deodorant deal mentioned above were going on this week, you could do the deal a total of five times, since that is the limit. You could go in and spend $1.49 out of pocket to get $3 ECBs.

Then, take that $3 ECBs and buy two more deodorants (using 2 $1/1 coupons) so after the coupons, your total would be $3. Use the $3 ECB you just earned on your first transaction to pay for your second transaction, and you'd pay only tax and then have $6 ECBs.

Take the $6 ECBs you just earned and buy 3 more deodorants (using 3 more $1/1 coupons, if you have them), add on another $1.50 item from CVS you can use (toilet paper, etc.), and then pay for your items with the $6 ECB, again only paying tax out of pocket.

You'll leave the store with 5 deodorants, another $1.50 item, and $9 in ECBs to use on your next trip. All for less then $2 out of pocket!

The next step into more complicated transactions is to start stacking CVS coupons and manufacturer’s coupons along with the ECB deals. Once you have shopped at CVS using your card for 4-8 weeks, your receipt will automatically begin printing other CVS coupons. You’ll want to save all of these until they expire and check them against the deals for each week. Since these are store coupons, not manufacturer’s coupons, you can “stack them” (i.e. use them in conjunction with), a manufacturer’s coupon.

To take the example of the Addidas deodorant above: Let’s say my receipt had printed off a coupon for $1 off any Addidas deodorant last week. I could use that on one Addidas deodorant along with a $1/1 manufacturer’s coupon. This would mean that I’m only paying $0.49 for the deodorant (using ECBs I’ve rolled over, of course!) and getting $3 ECB back.

Another way to make your ECBs grow more, is to use $3/$15 or $4/$20 coupons in conjunction with the other deals you are doing. The $3/$15 or $4/20 are coupons which often print at the bottom of your receipt. They are also sometimes available in your newspaper--especially if you live in an area where there is a lot of drug store competition.

For those not familiar with these coupons, a $3/$15 is a coupon which is just that--you get $3 off of a $15 or more purchase. I look at these as "free money", meaning, if I'm going to already be spending $15.50 and after coupons and ECBs be paying basically $0.00 out of pocket in order to generate the same amount of ECBs that I spent, if I stack on a $3/$15 coupon, I can get $3 more worth of groceries without paying anything extra. So, I'll use this extra "money" to buy something that is around $3 and generates more ECB, or I'll use it to pay for something we need that week--say toilet paper or milk, etc. That way, it is lowering my normal grocery bill, without costing me any more.

Provided you have over $15 or $20 worth of products (before coupons, not after coupons), you can stack these coupons on top of any of the previously mentioned deals, too. You will want to make sure and use these coupons first, though, before you give your other coupons to the cashier. Otherwise, the register could have trouble inputting them.

By the way, if you've not done so already, you can also go here and sign up for email offers and you’ll instantly get a $4/$20 coupon. Plus, when you sign up for email offers, they often email you coupons, too!

Oftentimes, there are weekly and monthly deals which generate ECBs, but which are not free after ECBs. These can still be good, so don't overlook them. Paired with a manufacturer's coupon, or CVS coupon, or a $3/$15 coupon, or a mixture of all three, you can often get the item for free or close to free. I don't do this as often as I do the free-after-ECB items, but now that I have a stash of ECBs accumulated, I will often look at these deals and see if I can work one into my weekly shopping trip.

When you are checking out and doing a more complicated transaction, you will want to make sure and have your coupons in good order so that your transaction goes smoothly. The best way I have found to do this, is to always give $3/$15 (etc.) coupons first. Then give any other CVS coupons, then your manufacturer’s coupons. And lastly, give your ECBs. If you have an ECB that is for more than what your total is, they can either manually reduce it down and just take off the amount for your total (and thus you lose the rest of your ECB), or you can add on another small item to make up the difference.

I always bring my calculator and tally up the total after coupons to try and make sure I throw in an extra item or two if I need to. It’s best to go up to the register with a very good idea of how much you are going to be spending anyway, so calculating it up ahead of time is highly recommended.

CVS deal tonight

Tonight I got a great toothbrush that was $8.99 originally. It was on sale for $5.99 this week. I had a $3 off coupon for it. I used 3 ECBs (Extra Care Bucks) from my last trip. Total cost for a $9 toothbrush --- $.28!

Google Reader

If you are going to be a couponer...you must read blogs about couponing. The best way to do that is with Google Reader. If you already have a gmail account it is very easy.

Here is a great helper below on how to get set up! Google Reader

Shopping at CVS for real cheap

Its Hip to Save - is a great blog I read about saving $$$

Today's blog was great on saving money at CVS - so check it out!

http://hip2save.blogspot.com/2009/11/follow-me-monday-cvs-shopping.html

Let the savings begin!

So... in my large response from my tweets and facebook messages about saving money--I have decided to start posting important info about how to save $ in grocery shopping and everyday living stuff!

In 2010, I hope to get a once a month class going at church so that we can meet together and learn from each other. Get me your feedback on that idea. Let me know what day each month you would like to meet! I am thinking Thursday at 6:00 or 6:30.

I love saving money and one you get the hang of it...you will to. It's not something you should be worried about or think you can do it! You can do it!!

Ok that's my pep talk. I hope that I cab be held accountable to keepin this blog up! :)

- Posted by Amanda P.

New boots!

I love my new boots I got!

Kroger - 9/21/09

Total bill = $97
Total savings = $59

Total spent = $38.47

Ahhhhh....perfection!

Last night I organized the right hand side of my closet. Tonight, I
did the left hand side, the cubbies! It was a lot of work but it
turned out great!

I love the feeling when all of your shirts are folded all the right
way and everything looks in order!

Kroger - Aug 27th

With double coupons up to $1.98 I got some good deals.

I got all of this for $2.45
Retail value is $72.65!!!

Closet clean out!

Here is the pile of clothes I got rid of this evening. Crazy huh? I had so many extra things in my closet that I never used.
My Friend, Cali, inspired me to clean out my closet. She gave me tons of her great clothes because she will not have any room for them in NY. So I had to re-do some things in my closet so that they could all fit inside the closet!

Here is a pile of the hangers that I am keeping from all of the clothes that I got rid of this evening
Here is the new and improved closet! What do you think? Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of the closet before...:) Oh well.

CVS - Aug 24th

Retail total- $18.61
Out of pocket total- $3.09

I used $7 in extra bucks
I got back $7.79 in extra bucks!

It was a good day in the pharmacies for me! :)

Walgeeens - Aug 24th

Retail total - $31.91
Out of pocket - $4.34

I used $9 in register rewards
I got back $5 in register rewards
But I bought milk and eggs...so I think it was a pretty good savings
here!

I am going to be an aunt again!

So yesterday afternoon I got this photo in my email...how exciting!!!
My sister is due April 2010.

I said on my Twitter last night that she keeps popping them out so I
don't have to yet! :)

Kroger deals!!

Total value of groceries - $48.15
Total amount spent - $3.50
Total savings - 95% (my first time ever).

Thank you triple coupon week at Kroger!

Office Max

.01 cent boxes of crayons. Not bad office max...not bad!

Public deals!!

Total saved - $14.11
Total spent - $7.27

Walgeeens deals

All of this for $1.12 woo hoo!!!! I love a good deal!

Target specials

I got all of this from Target for $8.32. I saved $23.39!! Now that is
how you use coupons!!

Belmont mansion

Christopher and I went to the Belmont mansion today with our friends
Stacy and Amanda! It was the mistress of the houses birthday and they
opened the museum to the public for free. We also got birthday cake
and ice tea in honor of Adelicia Acklen's birthday. Very cool history
of how Belmont university was started!

Methodical - a little bit about me!

I am definitely a person of methods. I really look at everything on how that can be done through a procedure or through steps. I know that this is good for many things, but restricting in so many other things. I have no real life example that is coming to mind (even though I am trying to use one of my methods to come up with one.) :) I guess it restricts me me most by holding back creativity.

What is exciting is I really enjoy when I am not involved in my methodical thinking process (I do have an example of this). I have quite a memory. I really do remember a lot. Its almost like I have a filing system of memories (OK that is kind of methodical). Anyway, when someone says a certain word or tells a story... I get BUZZ WORDS out of it and I can totally re-live something similar to what they are saying and tell my own story or experience.

One good thing about being methodical is I can see where there are kinks in the system (Whatever system that is). That is definitely the "fixer" in me. In continually searching for my purpose and destiny, I know that I really need to focus on careers and activities where I can use my gift for the good. A job that where I can find links/pieces of a story/untapped potentials. I know that this could be read the wrong way...but really...I see things that a lot of people don't see, ANSWERS. Its easy for me to see answers to problems in peoples lives.

In reading this over, I don't feel like I creatively said what I was trying to write...but I think I got my point across. Ok! So I am working on it. I thinking blogging in itself is creative...so give me that for goodness sakes! :)