Great Walgreens Trip Today! :)

I haven't been doing much shopping lately.  I really haven't needed much.  That's one nice thing about stocking up when you can get great deals--you go through times when there's just not much you need to buy, so you can take a break!

There are some things I was beginning to run low on, though, like body washes, dish washing soap and disinfecting wipes.  Right now Walgreens is paying people to take Almay products off the shelves (combining coupons and Register Rewards), so I used that to my advantage and managed to pay under $15 for all of this:

This is about $57 worth of products, all of which I was needing (not in those quantities, but, goodness, if they're going to give them to me like that, I may as well stock up for later and give some away!  Oh, and of course the Snickers bars weren't a need, but Kevin was with me and had the "perfect" suggestion when I mentioned I needed some filler items! lol).

Anyway, many of the Almay products are 30% off, plus they will give you $5 in Register Rewards (RR) when you purchase one.  AND I had some $2/1 coupons AND there is a $2/1 coupon in the Spring Beauty Book, found at the cosmetics counter (you can stack the manufacturer coupon with the Walgreens one, don't forget!).  One of the Almay products I bought was $6.99 and the other was $5 and some change, so those were some nice money-makers!

The bags of 90 flossers (Little Mister uses these) were $2 each, with a $2 RR, making them free!

The Suave body washes were $2 each, with a $3 RR if you buy $10 worth.  I also had two Suave body wash coupons, Buy 2 Get 1 Free, so I bought 6 altogether, for about $.83 each.  These are great, too, instead of the liquid soap, to use for making your own foaming hand soap!

The 75-count disinfecting wipes are Walgreens brand, which I haven't tried before.  As long as they kill germs when I'm disinfecting the bathroom and don't fall apart, I'm willing to give them a chance. ;)

Palmolive dish washing liquid is on sale for $1 and if you buy 5, you get $1 back.  Not the best deal ever, but I paid for all but the tax with a RR from one of my Almay products. :)

I arranged this deal in 5 transactions to pay the least out of pocket, and I paid at the cosmetics counter, where no one had to wait in line behind me. :)  If you want to try to get some of these deals, remember the "rules" for Walgreens shopping, plan ahead, and have fun saving! :)

Coupon Policies

If you've attended the coupon classes, you may remember I have a pocket at the back of my coupon binder for store coupon policies.  Why is this important?  For one thing, it helps me remember how each store works with coupons.  But, almost more importantly, I can use it when there is a confused cashier who needs some "encouragement" to do the right thing.  I'm constantly amazed how many store employees, including managers, are not informed about their store's coupon policies!  If I'm armed with a printed-out copy, though, I can kindly (always with a smile, everybody!) show them what they are supposed to do.

Here are links to some common stores' coupon policies.  If yours isn't listed here, you can always google the store's website and find it.  Print them out and keep them with you! :)

Meijer

Walmart  (new)

Walgreens

Target

Kroger and CVS don't seem to have corporate coupon policies posted.  Perhaps they vary by store.

For those of you who live in other areas, here are a few more:

Dominick's

Safeway

Rite Aid

Great Deal at Walmart!

I don't know how long this will last, but right now you can get packs of 6 double rolls of White Cloud toilet paper for $2 at Walmart!  Better yet, if you have the February issue of All You magazine, there is a $1/1 coupon!  That would be like getting 12 rolls of TP for $1!  Even 12 rolls for $2 is hard to beat, if you don't have the coupon.  Go stock up! :)

Ten Things You Can Accomplish While Clipping Coupons

You can totally multi-task while cutting out all those Sunday paper coupons!

1. Pray
2. Catch up on a movie you've been wanting to watch
3. Have a conversation with someone in your household
4. Teach children or other household members how to save money with coupons
5. Talk to someone on the phone
6. Skype with a long-distance friend who coupons--clip coupons together!  (my sis in AZ and I have done this)
7. Enjoy a cup of tea and some girl talk with a nearby friend who coupons
8. Count your blessings
9. Review Bible verses you have memorized
10. If you've already browsed the ads for your favorite stores, start planning how you'll use the coupons!

And a bonus one for this particular weekend, if you're so inclined:  Watch the Super Bowl! :)

Helpful Websites

Overall Money-Saving Information

Money Saving Mom

The Frugal Girls

The Frugal Find

Coupon Dad

Bargain Briana

Coupons from the Internet to Print

Cool Savings

Smart Source

Red Plum

Coupons . com

Coupon Network 

Coupon Organization

Lovin' the $avings
Coupon Queen 
Money saving Mom

Freebies

MojoSavings

Sunday Paper Coupon Preview

Sunday Coupon Preview

Store Deals for Current Week

     Kroger

     Meijer

     CVS

     Walgreens

     Target

     Walmart

 Coupon Class Videos--free!!

The Frugal Find

Make Your Own Foaming Hand Soap!

I actually got this idea from the Frugal Girls website, so can't take credit for this brilliant idea!

What you need:
An empty foaming soap bottle
Regular liquid hand soap in your favorite scent (the clear kind--it can be colored, but not creamy, you know?)
Water

The day before Thanksgiving, I was in Bath & Body Works and managed, with a sale they were having and a coupon I used, to get some of their foaming hand soaps for $2 a bottle (regularly $5!).  Now the bottles are empty.  I like the bottles to use for this because they're smooth.  If you have boys in your house who frequently have dirty hands, maybe you'll know what I mean by this:  Most soap dispensers have ridges in the lids that easily trap dirt, and it's so hard to keep them looking fresh for long.  The Bath & Body Works bottles don't have ridges--they're smooth!  Easy to keep clean.  I don't know, maybe I'm the only one who thinks it's a contradiction to have a dirty-looking soap bottle. ;)

Anyway, I got a yummy-smelling bottle of regular hand soap for $1, poured about an inch or so of it into the empty Bath & Body Works foaming soap bottle, and filled the rest with water.  After replacing the lid, I turned it upside-down and swirled it around to combine the soap and water.  The Frugal Girls say you should never outright shake it or something awful will happen.  I don't know what that awful thing might be.  Dear Son took it upon himself, or so he informed me later, to shake the dickens out of it to make sure it was mixed properly, and nothing happened.  It just works. :)

And it really does work!  The fragrance isn't as strong as the B&BW stuff, but it smells pleasant and foams just as well.  Now I can't imagine paying what they're asking for a bottle with a little soap and lots of water!  But, that's me. :)  A $1 bottle of soap will go a long way now!

Oh, and I'm not recommending that you shake it, just saying that nothing happened to us.  That I'm aware of. ;)

A Few Deals for This Week

Target

Philadelphia cream cheese $1.19 each.
Print this $1/2 manufacturer coupon
Print this $.50/2 Target coupon
Buy two packages, use both coupons (a.k.a "stacking), and pay $.44 each!

Hasbro Hungry Hungry Hippo travel game---$4.99
Print this $5/1 and get it free!

For lots more Target deals, check this out!

Meijer

Yoplait yogurt--$.40
Print this twice ($.40/4).  This doubles to $.80 at my Meijer
Buy 8 and get them for $.15 each. (Or just buy 4 and only use one coupon)

Land 'o Lakes buttery spread--$.99
Print this $.50/1 twice (this will double to $1)
Print this $1/2 Meijer coupon once
Buy two, stack coupons and get them free, with overage!

For lots more Meijer deals, check this out!