~$3.64~

Huggies wipes $6.59 -$5 q = $1.59
4 Pillsbury
Reg. $2.59
Sale $1.25
-.80
-.80
-.90
-.80
-$1 Pillsbury bonus
=.70 cents or .17 cents each!
Mrs. Bairds Bread
Reg. $2.99
Sale $2
-.55 q
=$1.45

TOTAL $3.64
SAVED $16.22

~$4.27 @ Kroger!~

3 Cottonelle $1.19 - $1 q = .19 cents each
4 Oatmeal To Go
Reg. $3.29
Sale $2.50 - $1 q= $1.50 per box
$6.00 total -$4 Quaker promo = $2.00 for 4 boxes or .50 cents per box!
1 Fiber One box
Reg. $3.49
Sale $2.50 - $1 q = $1.50
TOTAL =$4.27
SAVED = $16.15

I was super excited to see my receipt and realize that I had gotten the $4 Quaker promo. I was not sure my items were included in the deal as it was not posted. The sale price with coupon was good alone, but the $4 off just made it a home run. Love it when that happens!

~.03 cents!~

2 Reynolds Wrap Foil
Reg. $1.69
Sale .89
-.75 coupon
-$1 coupon
= .03 cents with tax!!!

~FREE Movie Monday!~

Visit your local RedBox, type in the code 89ZQJ3 and enjoy your FREE movie. Offer code only good until midnight tonight!

~2009 1st Quarter Totals!~

This is a very exciting day for me to report to you my 2009 1st Quarterly Savings Totals! Are you ready?

January 09 = $134.20
February 09 = $505.46
March 09= $418.04

As you can see, I've saved over $1,000.00 in just 3 months by being running my household as if I were running a business. Also, I stayed under my grocery budget for the month of March by over $50. I could have stayed under all 3 months, but I have been focusing on stock piling for these 3 months. Now we have a well stocked pantry and a freezer full of meat. I can now focus on fresh fruits and weekly sale items. I do spend a large portion of my budget on fruits. I try to buy what is on sale, but they are still expensive. I don't want my daughter eating gold fish all day, so it is worth it. :)
I love being a home economist!

Thank you Jesus for giving me this opportunity to stay at home with my little miracle and for giving me the resources to save money and be a good steward with our finances. To You all glory is due!

~A Few Kroger Items~

2 Johnson's Baby Products
Reg. $3.79
sale $2.49 -$2q -$2 q = .98 cents or .49 cents each!

Mrs. Baird's Bread (hubby won't eat the cheap stuff anymore!)
Reg. $2.99
sale $2 - .55 q = $1.45

Country Crock
Reg. $1.99
sale .99-$1 q = FREE + .01 overage!

Irish Spring 3 pack
Reg. $2.29
sale $1.49 - $1 q = .49 cents

3 Healthy Ones lunch meat
Reg. $2.79
sale $1.99 - .75 = $1.24 each

Total= $6.63
Saved = $16.59

~CVS this week~

Crest Pro-Health

sale $3.49
-$3.49 ECB back

-.75 coupon

=FREE + .75 cent overage!

~Challenge!~

Anyone up for a challenge? If you are new to budgeting and couponing, first set a weekly goal and then work up to monthly goals. Here is the challenge:

1. Check the grocery store circular to see what is on sale
2. Make a 7 day menu including breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks based off of what is on sale
3. Go through your pantry and make a list of everything you need.
4. Go through your coupons and match up what is on sale with what you have on your list
5. Have fun saving money!

It is always good to have an idea of what your bill will be before you even go to the store. That way you know what you should be spending and you won't make any impulse buys.

Another challenge is to write down everything that you save each week. It really adds up at the end of the month!

~Printable Coupons~

Several people have asked about printable internet coupons. There are a few different sites out there. The two that I have found to be the best are:

coupons.smartsource.com/
coupons.com

Hope this helps!

~Another run to Kroger~

Well, I couldn't help myself. I had to make a final run to Kroger just in case the mega deal ends today. I finished off all of my Powerade coupons and got an awesome deal on the baby wash/lotion. If you are wondering, I used a catalina coupon + a man. coupon on them to make them so cheap along with the promo sale.

16 Powerade .49 cents - (8) .75 off 2 =.11 cents each!

3 Johnson's baby products $2.49- $3q - $3 q = $1.47 total or .49 cents each!

bananas .54 cents per lb =.96

Nutri Grain bars- $1.99 (on sale, but no coupon)

Total =$6.49

Saved $36.70

~CVS Money Makers~

Irish Spring
$4.99
-$4.99 ECB back
-.50 cent coupon
=FREE + .50 cent overage!

Colgate
$2.99
-$2.99 ECB back
-.75 cent coupon
= FREE + .75 cent overage!

~Awesome Garnier Deal!~

If you have any Garnier coupons, RUN....DON'T WALK to Walgreens today. They have several Garnier products that are reg. $3.99 on sale for $2.99 then you use their esaver coupon of $2 making it .99 cents....then you use your $1 off man. coupon and it is FREE + .01 overage!!!

The Dannon was FREE with a coupon too (at Kroger)
The gum was .33 cents

After the overages and tax, all of this cost me .30 cents!!!!!!!!!!!

Saved over $40!

I left there giggling ;) It feels so good to be saving this much money. Loving it! Came home and showed my cute husband and he was in shock. This is what stockpiling looks like.

~Free!~

Suave hairspray = FREE w/ coupon from Suave that came in the mail
Secret $2.33 (closeout) - $2 q - .50 q on my loyalty card = FREE + .17 overage!

~.30 cents @ Walgreen's!~

My next purchase:
1 Loreal make-up $14.99 - $2 q
1 Loreal make-up FREE (bogo) - $2 q
= $10.99 for 2
gum $1.29
subtotal = $12.28 - $10 register reward from Huggies deal -$2 (cashier put another $2 q in for something?)=
Total =.30 cents total Out-of-Pocket!

~Huggies Deal~

2 Diapers sale $10 - $5 q = $5 each
1 wipes $6 - $5 q= $1
Total $11.91 plus I got $10 back for my next purchase!
Saved $18.97

~Tyson Chicken bags @ Kroger~

4 Tyson chicken bags (reg. $5.79) sale $4.49 - $1 q = $3.49 per bag

~$10.81 @ Kroger~

Kellogg's Corn Pops cereal (reg. $2.59) sale $1.99-$1q = .99 cents

Kellogg's Corn Pops cereal $1.99 - .70 cent q = $1.29

3 Nature Valley Granola Bars (reg. $3.19) sale $1.99 - .60 cent q = $1.39 each

3 Pillsbury crescent rolls $1.39 - .75 q = .64 each (not the best deal, but if I purchased 3 then I got $1.50 coupon.....which really means that I paid .42 cents for 3 or .14 cents each!

4 Campbell's soup .69 - .90 off 2 q = .24 per can

Country Crock .99 - $1 q = FREE + .01 cent overage!

Freschetta Pizza = (reg $7.29) sale $3.99 - $1 q = $2.99

Total $10.81

Saved $19.95

~$7.12 @ Kroger~

Listed below are a few more of my deals from the Kroger Promo:
Cottonelle $1.19 -$1 q = .19 cents
Colgate (reg. $2.19) sale .99 cents - .75 q = .24 cents each
Johnson's Baby Wash (reg. $4.99) sale $2.49-$1 q = $1.49 each
Suave deo. (reg $1.99) sale .99 cents - $2 off 3 & $1 off 2 = $1.98 for 5 or .39 cents each
Suave Hairspray $2.18- $2.18 q = FREE!
Total $7.12
Saved $17.58

~Sweet Powerade Deal!~

I was super excited to see that Kroger was running their Powerade as part of the "buy 10 participating items get $5 off".
Reg. $1.69
Sale .99
= .49 cents each after promo

30 Powerades @ .49 cents - (15) .75 off 2 q's

Total before q's & promo = $50.48
Total Out-of-pocket = $3.73!
Saved $47.25
*That is a savings of over 93%!
Basically, I got 30 Powerade for the price I would have paid for 2 at the convenient store!

~$2.44 @ Kroger today~

Healthy Ones turkey reg. 2.79....sale $1.99 - .75 q = $1.24

4 Pillsbury Cinnamon rolls reg. $1.59 sale $1 -.75 q = .25 each

2 Pillsbury Cinnamon rolls $1 - .90= .10 each

4 Pillsbury crescent rolls reg. $1.39 sale $1 - $1.05 q =FREE + .20 cent overage

2 Pillsbury cres. rolls $1 - .90 = .10 each

Total $2.44

Saved $18.23