Ok, so who has been watching that new show "Extreme Couponing" on TLC? I admit, I have been watching-honestly, the show makes me SO mad! I think my hubby gets more annoyed at my sudden loud outbursts and incessant commentary directed to the television- because they can hear me, right? (Now you know how I feel when you watch sports honey!)
What makes me so angry you ask? Well for starters, not every grocery store in the US doubles every coupon! There is no way I could ever get a $600+ grocery bill down to less than $20 using coupons here in SoCal!
Another issue I have with the store is the obvious- these people are organized hoarders! 50 bottles of dish soap? 100 sticks of deodorant? 67 bottles of mustard? Yes, it looks so pretty in those nice little rows on those plastic shelves in your bedroom, but, seriously?!?! Does one really need all that stuff??? The answer is no! In my opinion, these people have a shopping addiction and get a high from getting stuff for free, whether or not they need it or not!
The show also neglects to show how much money these people are spending on coupon clipping services and how many "free item" coupons they are using. If you coupon long enough, and follow money saving blogs and sites, you can get coupons for free things all the time. Manufacturers like to give out freebies of new products for people to try, in efforts to spread the word and have the consumer tell people all about it. If you watch on the show when the cashier is scanning the coupons, you will see "FREE" coupons in the pile, clear as day! Why don't they mention this? Because it would take away from the "reality" and will make the viewer think that not everyone can drastically decrease their grocery bills like those on the show, if they don't have those coupons for freebies.
My biggest problem with this show is fact that the majority of the food items these people are getting for free is all crap. Sorry to be blunt, but come on! Soda, processed snacks, candy, cake mix- all crap. When I go to the store, I buy a variety of healthy fresh foods and try to limit my junk purchases. Don't get me wrong, I won't pass up a good deal on cereal and fruit snacks, but at least I know that my kids will also be getting food with nutritional value in their diets as well. I challenge these extreme couponers to go shopping, get all their stuff for free, then go home and make a healthy, nutritious meal for their family using only what they got at the store. It isn't possible. Watch the show. Do you ever see a single fresh fruit, vegetable, or lean meat in their carts? Never.
I like to call myself a "practical couponer." I use coupons paired with store promotions and sales to save my family money on items we need and will use. I can not rationalize clearing a shelf of mustard just because I have coupons that will make it free! Where is the logic in that? I understand some people use these items to donate to food banks and whatnot, and I am all about that. If I had 40 extra hours in my week, no kids, and no social life, I may do the same. Unfortunately, with 4 growing kids and a hectic schedule between school, sports, and a life, it isn't a priority for me. By all means, if you are able to donate free items to those in need, go for it! Just be respectful to those at the grocery store who may need just one bottle of mustard from the shelf you just cleared.
If you watch the show, what do you think? Tell me about it, I'd love to hear what you have to say!
-Ambra
Thursday, May 5, 2011
2 FREE 8x10 Collage Prints at Walgreens
Now through May 7, you can score 2 FREE 8x10 collage print from Walgreens! Pick up a cute, cheap frame and voila- instant Mother's Day gift! Use the code FREECOLLAGE and/or FORMOM and choose the pick up in store option to avoid shipping costs and make this deal totally free!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Walgreens- Cheap TP, free flossers, cheap razors, and free body wash!
Made a quick trip to Wags when the hubby got home from work- we were out of toilet paper! Good thing there is a sweet deal this week! While I was there, I picked up a few other items as well :)
Cottonelle 12 pk TP
*Current RR deal: buy 2, get back $3 RR, buy 3 or more, get back $4 RR* (until 5/15)
I bought 2 packs and used the following coupons:
2x .50/1 MQ (Manufacturer Coupon) (print 2)
1x $1/1 IVC (Instant Value Coupon- found in the booklet in the front of store) takes off $2
$10- $3= $7, got back $3 RR= $4 for 2 packs of TP
I also picked up:
Noxema 4pk. disposable razors $3.99- *$3 RR
used $2/1 (5/1 RP)
Paid $1.99, got back $3 RR (profit $1.01)
GUM Ez flossers $2- *$2 RR
used .75/1
Paid $1.25, got back $2 RR (profit $.75)
2 Right Guard Body Wash- BOGO
used BOGO coupon (5/1 RP)- both FREE (I will still have to pay tax on this!)
My total was a little over $10. I used RR from last week to "pay" for everything (also got some cheap nail polish as "filler" items) and got back $8 in Register Rewards for my next trip ;)
Again- my coupon philosophy is to buy things when they are on sale or running with a store promotion- and to only buy things my family WILL use!
Don't forget- at Walgreens, your total number of coupons CAN NOT exceed the number of items you are purchasing! Throw in some cheap candy or pencils (called "filler items") to be sure your coupon to item ratio is at least equal! Register Rewards count as coupons too! Before I check out, I do a quick count. Items and coupons. If I have more coupons than items, I simply grab some gum or the cheap candy at the front to make my totals equal. It's worth it in my book.
Cottonelle 12 pk TP
*Current RR deal: buy 2, get back $3 RR, buy 3 or more, get back $4 RR* (until 5/15)
I bought 2 packs and used the following coupons:
2x .50/1 MQ (Manufacturer Coupon) (print 2)
1x $1/1 IVC (Instant Value Coupon- found in the booklet in the front of store) takes off $2
$10- $3= $7, got back $3 RR= $4 for 2 packs of TP
I also picked up:
Noxema 4pk. disposable razors $3.99- *$3 RR
used $2/1 (5/1 RP)
Paid $1.99, got back $3 RR (profit $1.01)
GUM Ez flossers $2- *$2 RR
used .75/1
Paid $1.25, got back $2 RR (profit $.75)
2 Right Guard Body Wash- BOGO
used BOGO coupon (5/1 RP)- both FREE (I will still have to pay tax on this!)
My total was a little over $10. I used RR from last week to "pay" for everything (also got some cheap nail polish as "filler" items) and got back $8 in Register Rewards for my next trip ;)
Again- my coupon philosophy is to buy things when they are on sale or running with a store promotion- and to only buy things my family WILL use!
Don't forget- at Walgreens, your total number of coupons CAN NOT exceed the number of items you are purchasing! Throw in some cheap candy or pencils (called "filler items") to be sure your coupon to item ratio is at least equal! Register Rewards count as coupons too! Before I check out, I do a quick count. Items and coupons. If I have more coupons than items, I simply grab some gum or the cheap candy at the front to make my totals equal. It's worth it in my book.
Grocery Store Lists
The newest lists and match-ups are available from Grocery Smarts now! Click on your store of choice below, the new lists are good from 5/4- 5/10. When you are checking out the lists, look for the "*****" in the left column for the best "stock-up prices" and bargains!
Great News!
Grocery Smarts now has current sale lists and coupon match ups for CVS, Walgreens, and Wal-Mart!
*Please be sure to check the dates on all lists! Not all stores are on the same sale cycles.
Todays CVS Trip
A few of you were able to make it to my very first coupon class, Coupons 101. Thank you to those who came to be my guinea pigs. I may try to do another class- hopefully things would go a little faster and have less hiccups :)
During the class, I told everyone how much I love drugstores like CVS and Walgreens to score everyday necessities like toiletries. So today, I want to show you how you can get "paid" by buying the following items using coupons from last Sunday's paper.If you got 3 or 4 papers like I suggested, these deals are completely do-able.
Today's trip summary:
2 Right Guard body wash $2.49 ea. *Get $1 Extra Bucks when you buy one (limit 2 per card)
2 Colgate toothpastes $2.77 ea. *Get $2.77 Extra Bucks when you buy one (limit 2 per card)
3pk of Ivory soap .99
Total before coupons: $11.41
Coupons I used:
1 BOGO Right Guard body wash (from the 5/1 Red Plum Insert) -$2.49
2 .75/1 Colgate toothpaste (from the 5/1 Smart Source Insert) -$1.50
1 .50/1 Ivory Soap (I had this coupon from a booklet P&G mailed me) -$.50 --------> -$4.49 off with coupons.
The total looks like this: $11.41- $4.49= $6.92 (plus tax)
I used $7 in Extra Bucks from last week (I bought the soap so I wouldn't waste any of the $7)
And got back:
$2 EB from the body wash
$5.54 EB from the toothpaste -------> $7.54 EB for next time!
SO my total (when you factor in the EB's) is negative .62! I made money to buy these products! If this is your very first CVS trip, you would have to pay out of pocket the $6.92, but then you would have $7.54 to pay for your next trip! And the next trip- try to buy things that have Extra Buck rewards and keep the cycle going! You will never pay for toothpaste, body wash, razors and more ever again, it's the best :)
During the class, I told everyone how much I love drugstores like CVS and Walgreens to score everyday necessities like toiletries. So today, I want to show you how you can get "paid" by buying the following items using coupons from last Sunday's paper.If you got 3 or 4 papers like I suggested, these deals are completely do-able.
Today's trip summary:
2 Right Guard body wash $2.49 ea. *Get $1 Extra Bucks when you buy one (limit 2 per card)
2 Colgate toothpastes $2.77 ea. *Get $2.77 Extra Bucks when you buy one (limit 2 per card)
3pk of Ivory soap .99
Total before coupons: $11.41
Coupons I used:
1 BOGO Right Guard body wash (from the 5/1 Red Plum Insert) -$2.49
2 .75/1 Colgate toothpaste (from the 5/1 Smart Source Insert) -$1.50
1 .50/1 Ivory Soap (I had this coupon from a booklet P&G mailed me) -$.50 --------> -$4.49 off with coupons.
The total looks like this: $11.41- $4.49= $6.92 (plus tax)
I used $7 in Extra Bucks from last week (I bought the soap so I wouldn't waste any of the $7)
And got back:
$2 EB from the body wash
$5.54 EB from the toothpaste -------> $7.54 EB for next time!
SO my total (when you factor in the EB's) is negative .62! I made money to buy these products! If this is your very first CVS trip, you would have to pay out of pocket the $6.92, but then you would have $7.54 to pay for your next trip! And the next trip- try to buy things that have Extra Buck rewards and keep the cycle going! You will never pay for toothpaste, body wash, razors and more ever again, it's the best :)
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
NEW Printables!
I just LOVE when coupon sites release new coupons, it's like Christmas morning- I can't wait to print them!
Here is a list of some of my favorites I saw on coupons.com:
FREE Hasboro Card Game - when you buy a Hasboro Game $9.99 or more
$1.50 OFF 1 Philadelphia Cooking Creme
$1.50 OFF 1 Wanchai Ferry Frozen Entrée
$1.50 OFF 1 NESTLE BUTTERFINGER Funsize Bag
$1.00 OFF 2 Stove Top Stuffing Mix
$1.00 OFF 2 Yogi Granola Snack Crisps
$1.00 OFF 2 Pillsbury Refrigerated Holiday Cookies
$1.00 OFF 1 Pillsbury Sweet Moments Refrigerated Desserts
$1.00 OFF 1 Pemmican Beef Jerky or Beef Brisket
$1.00 OFF 1 LACTAID Lowfat Cottage Cheese
$1.00 OFF 1 Hidden Valley Salad Kit
$0.75 OFF 1 Refrigerated JELL-O Pudding or Mousse 6Pk
$0.75 OFF 1 Cinnamon Burst Cheerios cereal
$0.75 OFF 1 Chex Cereal
$0.75 OFF 2 Frozen Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits
$0.75 OFF 1 Muir Glen Flavored Tomatoes
$0.50 OFF 1 Gardetto's Snack Mix
$0.50 OFF 1 any variety Pillsbury Refrigerated Cookie Dough
$1.00 OFF 1 Glade Premium Room Spray (9.7-oz)
$7.00 OFF any 1 Florastor Probiotic
$3.00 OFF 1 KY Brand Product
$2.50 OFF 2 U By Kotex Tampons
$2.50 OFF 2 U By Kotex Pads
$2.00 OFF 1 Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers
You can go HERE to get these and many more!
Don't forget- you can print more than one ;)
HOT Quiznos Coupon!
Go HERE and print a coupon good for a Quiznos small Prime Rib sub for only $2.99! This is my favorite sandwich at Quiznos, so I am so excited to snag this and share it with you! There are 8 different varieties to choose from. Enjoy! (You have to sign up for the Sub Club to print the coupon, it takes 5 seconds)
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Valentines Freebies from Vistaprint!
Vistaprint never stops with their freebies! Now they are offering 6 great items, all for free- you just pay shipping!
These items are promotions for Valentines Day, but you can customize them for any occasion :)
Since I never got around to sending Christmas cards out this year (having a baby in mid December threw me off!) I am making Valentines post cards to send out this year instead :)
These items are promotions for Valentines Day, but you can customize them for any occasion :)
Choose from one of the following:
Notecards
Postcards
A T-Shirt
A Tote Bag
A Mug
Photo Flip Book
Since I never got around to sending Christmas cards out this year (having a baby in mid December threw me off!) I am making Valentines post cards to send out this year instead :)
Go HERE to get started- hurry these offers won't last!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Printable Coupons
Don't forget to print coupons at home before you make your next shopping trip! My favorite sites for printing coupons are coupons.com and redplum.com - click on those links to get started!
These coupons are totally free (you may have to install a printer applet, these are safe and quick installs,) and can usually be printed twice per computer/printer. When the printing begins, just hit your back button on your browser toolbar, refresh, and print the second copy.
These coupons are totally free (you may have to install a printer applet, these are safe and quick installs,) and can usually be printed twice per computer/printer. When the printing begins, just hit your back button on your browser toolbar, refresh, and print the second copy.
Grocery Store Lists
The newest lists and match-ups are available from Grocery Smarts now! Click on your store of choice below, the new lists are good from 1/19-1/25. When you are checking out the lists, look for the "*****" in the left column for the best "stock-up prices" and bargains!
Great News!
Grocery Smarts now has current sale lists and coupon match ups for CVS, Walgreens, and Wal-Mart!
*Please be sure to check the dates on all lists! Not all stores are on the same sale cycles.
Groupon
If you haven't heard of Groupon yet, get out from under that rock and listen up!
Groupon is the hottest discount shopping site around these days. Retailers, restaurants, photographers, even hair salons all participate in Groupons deep discount deals! The fun part is that the deal isn't "on" until enough people sign up for it, so it's kind of exciting ;)
Past deals have included:
$25 for a $50 Nordstrom Rack gift certificate
$20 for a $40 Riptide Rockin' Teppan and Sushi gift certificate
And today's deal: $5 for a $10 GC for Seabirds Vegetarian food truck
Check out Groupon HERE and start saving today!
Groupon is the hottest discount shopping site around these days. Retailers, restaurants, photographers, even hair salons all participate in Groupons deep discount deals! The fun part is that the deal isn't "on" until enough people sign up for it, so it's kind of exciting ;)
Past deals have included:
$25 for a $50 Nordstrom Rack gift certificate
$20 for a $40 Riptide Rockin' Teppan and Sushi gift certificate
And today's deal: $5 for a $10 GC for Seabirds Vegetarian food truck
Check out Groupon HERE and start saving today!
6 FREE Offers from Vistaprint!
Choose from one of the following:
- Business Cards
-Wall Calendar
-Return Address Labels
-Sticky Notes
-Folded Note Cards
-Rubber Stamp
Go HERE to get started!
Happy New Year!
Friday, November 12, 2010
Printable Retail Coupons
GAP, Banana Republic, and Old Navy- 30% off (good through 11/14) also valid at GAP and BR outlet stores!
Coach Factory Stores- 20% off (good through 11/14)
Yankee Candle- $10 off $25 (valid until 12/11)
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Grocery Store Lists
The newest lists and match-ups are available from Grocery Smarts now! Click on your store of choice below, the new lists are good from 11/10-11/16. When you are checking out the lists, look for the "*****" in the left column for the best "stock-up prices" and bargains!
Great News!
Grocery Smarts now has current sale lists and coupon match ups for CVS, Walgreens, and Wal-Mart!
*Please be sure to check the dates on all lists! Not all stores are on the same sale cycles.
$5 off Boppy Pillow Coupon and a Target Price Cut!
Target has their Boppy pillows on price cut from $29.99 to $23.99 this week (until 11/13.) Use the $5 off printable to get one for $18.99! This is a great baby shower gift for under $20! You can't beat that!
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