Coupon Swap And/Or Coupon Meet: Be Sure To Vote!!

I talked with the girls at work a while back about setting up a basket at the office for unwanted/unused coupons. At the time I thought this was a great idea but it never came to fruition.

Anyways, I have been told by a few ladies that we should consider starting a coupon swap. I think this is a wonderful idea. We all have many coupons we will never use that would be of interest for somone else. For example I have tons of diaper and pharmacy coupons that I know I will never use and someone is more than welcome to them.

I have set up a poll on the left bar. I personally don't care what is chosen, I will go with the flow either way but I am interested in everyones insight and if you have something to add please feel free to leave a comment.

Option 1:

A coupon swap meet. I am envisioning this as something we do once maybe every 6 weeks. We could meet somewhere kid friendly and it doesn't always have to be the same place.

The only real problem I forsee with this is that I know of at least 2 ladies who do not live in the immediate Tri-State area and I would hate to see them miss out when they are trying so hard to learn with us. Not to mention countless others. You can zoom in on the feddjit link on the bottom left and see people from St. Albans, Gallipolis and Charleston to mention a few.

Option 2:

A coupon train: This would entail mailing coupons. I would ofcourse start if everyone would like. I would pack an envelope with coupons I don't want or use and ofcourse peelies I find in abundance to be mailed to whomever and that person would mail them to the next.

There are a couple of problems I can see with mailing coupons. #1 Someone would have your physical address. While I don't see this as an immediate threat, should it grow... #2 Everyone would have to use some coupon etiquette. If I have 20 peelies I would expect the person at the end of the train to be able to have a couple of those also.

Option 3:

Both a coupon train and a swap.

I am game for either or both. If we decide to do both it could potentially solve the problem of people who live too far away. They could leave a comment as to the coupons they need and at the swap we could be sure they get what they need, as well as any extras and mail them.

So, using the "Quick Poll" in the left hand bar, please be sure to vote. I will keep the poll up for at least week and we will see what we get. It may just be a few of us hanging out or mailing but I am okay with that too!!

Saturday Sampler

3 Pk. of Pampers Cruisers w/ Dry Max

Arm & Hammer Brilliant Sparkle Toothpaste

Prepare Then Share Preparedness Pack ( for emergencies)

Skin Like Butter Lotion Sample

Sample Pack of Playtex Sport Tampons

Sample Pack of Playtex Gentle Glide Tampons

Kashi Cereal or Fruit & Grain Bar

Free Blood Glucose Meter from FreeStyle

Mariani Dried Plums Sample ( use code ADSUPER )

Nicorette: Coupon for 20 pc. Starter Pack at Wmart

DenTek Comfort Clean Floss Picks (must have Facebook)

Cream of Wheat Sample

Benefiber Orange Sample

Mixables Dog Food Sample (use code LANCE)

I'm Over My Monthly Budget

So, I went over my monthly budget of $40 per week = $160/monthly. I went over by about $80 and normally I would not even reach my budget. There were a few contributing factors that I can immediately point out.

1) I don't really have a set budget. I just typically spend around $40/week and don't beat myself up if I go over.

2) I bought 10 extra papers here. I also added in this Sundays papers since it is the last day of the month.

3) I never go to Walmart and this month I have spent $56.74 in their store. Well, I can't say I never go. I do make a big Walmart trip maybe 3 times a year and I have never spent more than $50.

4) I spent too much OOP at CVS this month. $47.23 This doesn't particularly bother me, as I have a habit of sometimes rushing and not strategizing at CVS. I tend to do this every 3 or 4 months. Blasphemy!! I would NEVER do this at Kroger. I dunno why I do it with the easiest and most profitable store we have around. Go figure!

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When I list the retail price of an item, I give you my purchase price. Although the Glade tins retail at $3, I listed them at the purchase price (clearanced at $1.74) in my Year To Date Expenditure Report. So, my retail values should in all honesty be a little higher but that would make way too much work...LOL. I also don't list retail vs. sale price. If they can put an item on sale today for $2, that's all I'm gonna pay. When it's $4 next week, they don't want my money. Stock Up!!

This month I have spent a total of $240 OOP and according to my calculations the retail value is over $1000.

How do you think you fared this month?

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Everyone knows I am no fan of Walmart. I shopped there for years because I just didn't know any better. And if you don't know how to coupon, I agree that Walmart is your best option for saving money.

Let's take this months Expenditure Report as my example for why I don't like Walmart.

I spent $56.74 OOP at Walmart on $221 worth of goods. YET, I spent only $30 more at Kroger on $517 worth of goods. That is double the amount of food and household goods for half the money!

If I run out of something important or needed, I do tend to stop at Wmart or a local grocer such as FoodFair. STOCK UP!!

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Tip:

I only bought 2 gallons of milk this month. We don't drink alot of milk, I would say the majority goes in my coffee. I buy milk when it's on sale at Aldi's. It will typically go on sale for $1.50 a gallon at least once a month. I buy 2, sometimes 3. I always buy Vitamin D (same price) and pour a little off the top and stick it in the deep freezer. Milk freezes just fine!!! The plastic container will pop out of shape when frozen but pops right back into shape when thawed! To thaw, I take it out of the freezer and set it in the sink for a few hours. I leave some ice and set it in the fridge. Cheese and butter also freeze just fine!!

What are some tips you use or are now utilizing to save money?

**This weekend I am going to put up a poll about starting a coupon swap and/or coupon train. Please be sure to vote and leave some input so that we can get the ball rolling on sharing unwanted/unused coupons!!

Coupon for Free Heluva Good Product

Get a coupon for a free Heluva Good! product when you become a fan on facebook.

Go here to become a fan and fill out the form!

Free $5 Gift Card to Babies R Us or Toys R Us

Today only, 1/28/10, you can get a free $5 eGift Card to Babies R Us or Toys R Us when you become a fan on facebook!! Valid in store or online!!

Go here to become a fan of Babies R Us!

SoBe Life Water Coupon

Go here (IE) or here (FF) to print your coupon for BOGO free SoBe Life Waters! Be sure to print 2!

Thanks Dee!

Free 1 Year Subscription to Maxim Magazine

I get alot of free magazines, no strings attatched! This one will go fast, so hurry!

Go here to get yours!

Speedy Rewards

Just a heads up to those who have already registered their Speedy Rewards cards online and receive the Speedy emails that their was a coupon in yesterdays email for a free Speedy Snack Chicken Quesadilla or Popcorn Chicken. If you are not registered to receive Speedy mail you can do that here.

*Coupon states for single use only. I'll print 2 and if I am able to use them both tomorrow I will post.

Saving Money On Ink

All the coupons I have been printing lately have really started to tax my budget! Ofcourse printing coupons still allows me to save money but exactly how much, when I have went thru 2 black cartridges in a month. Ridiculous!! A lady at work actually gave me $5 last week to go towards my ink purchase and this week she brought me a pack of paper. I must have been complaining a bit too much because I certainly didn't mean for her to do that.

Anyways, I got online last night to compare prices. Walmart has my ink here for $14.99 for a single black cartridge (yields 150 pages). I checked Office Depot, same price.

I checked Office Max. They have Office Max brand of compatible inks for HP, Dell, Lexmark, Brother etc. much cheaper. Today, I bought a twin pack of black cartridges (yields 300 pages) for just $18.37. When I went into the store the prices were not marked. I asked a CS to ring up the price for me. She did and it rang up $21. I told her the online price was $18 something and she told me she would price match their online price for me. Sweet! I even turned in 5 empty cartridges for $15 in MaxPerks that can be used on any purchase.

I never thought much about saving money on ink because I didn't really go through very much. I would stop by Wmart for a cartridge once every couple of months but recently as much as twice a month. What can I say? It's been a good couple of weeks for IP's.

So, how do you save money when printing so many coupons? Any good suggestions? If you are new to couponing and have not given it much thought, what are some ways you think you could save?

Looking For Moms To Test PlaySmrt Gaming Software

Thought I would share the below email. GL!


Hi Christy,

Introduce your young child to educational computer games and the internet safely!

We are looking for Moms to test Playsmrt - a great new gaming software that allows parents to create a safe, interactive online environment for children between the ages of 1 to 6 years. Activities include video-conferencing with family members, playing videos, printing images for coloring, learning languages, plus much more. Parents set the limits, kids explore!

Playsmrt is now forming an advisory board and looking for Moms of children between the ages of 1 to 6 years. If you are interested in joining this panel, please click here to fill out this short survey.

If chosen as an Advisory Panel member, Playsmrt will provide you with a free netbook computer, for your children to use with the Playsmrt product. At the end of the trial period, you keep the netbook computer as a reward for your efforts and assistance!

The product is still in early testing and your feedback will be used to make appropriate improvements. This Advisory Board will be active for 6 months, during which you will be asked to complete a few short surveys per month. You may be asked to join a few short conference calls to provide more details to Playsmrt concerning the products.


All information obtained through this survey will be kept completely confidential and shared only with Playsmrt in order to determine advisory panel members. Mom Central promises to never share or distribute your personal information with any outside parties.

Please click here to take our survey. As always, thanks so much for your time and attention!

Kraft Printables

Just in time for the Kroger Mega Deal, Kraft has come out with some new printables coupons!!!

Go here for yours!

** The Chi Chi's microwave bowls were part of the mega deal. There were a bunch with B2G1F peelies. 3 of them would be $5.07 with promo and after coupon would be close to $2.50. Just something I noticed today. 1st street store.

i-Wireless

The first week of January I bought the above phone for Marv's birthday. I didn't want another bill and cell phones are not our primary means of communication. We love Vonage!! Anyways, there was a $20 off eCoupon on shortcuts for any i-Wireless phone purchase of $29.99 or more at Kroger. I looked at this phone at Kroger and it was $39.99. I also noticed the sign by the phones that said get 20 free minutes each time you spend $100 at Kroger. Hmmm, I thought, this could potentially be a very sweet deal if he gets the 20 minutes BEFORE coupons.

January 8th I paid $20 for the phone, loaded with 300 bonus minutes for purchasing. Immediately, I registered the phone with my primary Kroger card and as of today he has received 4 seperate text messages congratulating him on his 20 bonus minutes. According to my calculations I have bought $456 in groceries this month and only paid $75 OOP !!!!!

Sweet!!!

Walmart 01/25/10

I haven't been listing my steak & poppers (old news), just keeping tabs in my Year to Date Expenditure report but I wanted to show you why you never leave home without your coupon box!!

I had an hour to kill this afternoon and decided to go to Wmart and grab a couple of the steaks and poppers and right inside the front doors, where they put the clearance rack were Reynolds Oven Bags. They were clearanced at 2 for $1. I knew I had coupons from a booklet I got at Foodland in Catlettsburg before Xmas. Anyways, I went back out to the van and I had 9 coupons for $0.50 off any Reynolds Oven Bags. I scored 9 for FREE!! I got 1 steak, 2 poppers and 9 Reynolds bags and paid $2.28 with tax. This was the S.P. store and they had 6 or 7 cases.

Kroger 01/25/10

Dee shot me an email last night about her Kroger trip yesterday and had mentioned that one of the girls told her it was "Suppose to be a limit of 3 mega deals." Which was not the case, as we all did 4 and 5 megas yesterday.

I'm not going to list everything. Just wanted to let you know that I did the mega deal 4 times and only 3 of the $5 off came off my total today. This was the 1st street store. I had no other problems. I took my receipt to the front desk and she told me that the mega deal was a limit of 3. Ofcourse, I had to argue with her that I did it 5 times yesterday and their ad does not mention a limit. Eventually, she gave me back $5 store credit. So, just an FYI. Check your receipts or stick to 30 items at a time.

Kroger 01/24/10

First let me say that Kroger kicks Walmart in the kisser! I spent less than $10 on all of this stuff!! I did 3 transactions. When that CAT printed, I took my groceries to the van and smoked a cigarette. I looked through my Q's, got out the ones I wanted and went in and did 2 more transactions.

Second, I want to ask the person who is using the D.G. Q for the buddies and NOT cutting off the bottom. Please stop. You are going to ruin it for us all, including yourself!

Third, while I was at Kroger (Ashland) a chic told me that the Russell store will only take 1 IP for the same item. Which tells me that you need to watch how many of the Butter and Salsa Q's you use in one transaction. Remember, Kroger ads are 2 week ads!!!

Promo at Kroger: Get $5 off instantly WYB 10 participating items (essentially you get $0.50 off per item WYB 10)

1st transaction:

I got the $5 off promo 5 times

4 I Can't Believe It's Not Butter $0.99 each. Used (4) $1 off printable here. Total FREE

3 ICBINB Baking/Cooking Sticks $0.99 each. Used (3) $1 off from insert. Total FREE

4 Hunt's Tomatoes $0.49 each. Used $0.50/2 printable for sauce. Total FREE

4 La Victoria Salsa $0.99 each. Used (2) $4/2 printables here. Total Profit $2!

Nature Valley Nut Clusters $1.99. Used $0.50 off from insert and $1 off eCoupon here. Total FREE

Pepperidge Farm Goldfish $0.88. Used $1 off P.F. Crisps from insert(beeped!) Total Free

Quaker Rice Snacks $0.49 each. Used $1 off Quaker Delights from Kroger mailer. Total Profit $0.50

5 Kraft Cheese $0.99 each. Used (2) $1/2 printable here. Total $0.60 each

4 Propel Waters $0.49 each. Used $1/4 Kroger mailer. Total $0.25 each

3 Rotel Tomatoes $0.42 each. Used B2G1 Free from All You Mag. Total $0.12 each

French's Mustard $$1.19. Used $0.50 off from insert. Total $0.19

Zesta Wheat Saltines $1.19. Used Free Can off chili WYB Zesta Saltines ($1). Total $0.19

Hormel Chili $0.79

5 Velveeta Easy Cups $0.49 each. Used $1/5 from peelie. Total $0.30 each

2 Pepsi $0.79 each. Used $0.55/2 (Thanks Dee!). Total $0.52 each

3 Jello Pudding $0.49 each. Used $1.25 off 3 Kraft Baking products peelie. Total $0.09 each

Finish Dish Detergetnt $2.99. Used $2.50 off from insert. Total $0.50

New York Pizza Sticks $1.99. Used $0.50 off New York Garlic Bread from insert. Total $0.99

2 Coffee Mate Creamers $2.49 each. Used (2) $0.50 off from insert. Total $1.49 each

Snyder Pretzels $1.99. Used $0.75 off from insert. Total $1.25

Solo Plastic Cups $1.49. Used $1 off from insert. Total $0.50

Miscellaneous:

3 J&J Buddy Bars $0.99 each. Used (3) $1 off D.G. Q. Total FREE

Cool Whip $1.59. Used Free Cool Whip WYB 3 Kraft Baking products from Kroger mailer. Total Free

I got 54 items. Total before coupons $77.86 and I spent $8.72 OOP BUT I received a $5 cat OYNO for the Kraft Cheese AND the pretzels and 1 creamer are Nats, which she owes me $3 for. So essentially I spent $0.72!!


2nd transaction:

5 Kraft Cheese $0.99 each

2 La Vic Salsa $0.99 each. Used $4/2 printable. Total $2 profit

3 ICBINB $0.99 each. Used $1 off printable. Total free

Twinkie, a Crunch Bar and small chips for filler

Total before Q's $17.23. I used my $5 cat from 1st transaction and I paid $0.29 OOP !!!!!!!!!


3rd transaction:

5 Kraft Cheese $0.99 each

3 Rotel Tomatoes $0.42 each. Used B2G1F Q . Total $0.12 each

2 La Vic Salsa $0.99 each. Used $4/2 printable. Total Profit $2

5 Bags of chips $0.33 each as filler

Total before Q's $15.67. I used my $5 off cat from 2nd transaction and paid $0.25 OOP !!!!