How do you FIND these deals?

While I like to think that I, in general, divinely inspired, my coupon deals (blessed as they may be) are not!  I most often repeat deals and scenarios that are found elsewhere.  I do, however, very often, recalculate the deals to fit our needs, but I still get the basis from elsewhere!

So… here’s my TOP TEN list of favorite blogs / sites to frequent to FIND THE DEALS!

#1 ) A Full Cup

#2 ) Money Saving Madness

#3 ) Bargain Briana

#4 ) Freebies for Mom

#5 ) Common Sense with Money

#6 ) The Krazy Coupon Lady (from Kansas City!)

#7 ) Cincinnati Cents

#8 ) Deal Seeking Mom

#9 ) Stretching a Buck

#10 ) I heart Wags

Recent Comments:

• XXX says A tip to save some cash when enjoying movies it that instead of heading to the movies on a busy [more]
• daphne says I JUST LOVE YOU!!! You always amaze me. You’re wonder womman of another kind!! I know it’s hard to BE [more]
• Jen says We are currently going through a pregnancy possibly affected by VACTERL…having more tests run. Would like to discuss some [more]
• Jen says Hi Amber! It’s lunchablemommy – actually not on A full cup anymore, so I wanted to send you my [more]
• Tracy says Love it! That is something Maggie would do. She loves Disney Princess stuff too. LOL. [more]

• November 15, 2009 -- Ten Commandments of Couponing!
• October 31, 2009 -- Carving and Couponing…
• April 18, 2010 -- Back atcha! Meijer shopping trip 4/18/10
• April 11, 2010 -- Coupons… gotta make it back!
• January 5, 2010 -- New Year’s Resolution: ADD Magazines to your list of things NOT to pay for in the new year!

So to ring in the new year and new magzine FREE subscription for you!

FREE Cosmopolitan Magazine.

Go HERE to sign up for your free 1 year subscription!

Recent Comments:

• XXX says A tip to save some cash when enjoying movies it that instead of heading to the movies on a busy [more]
• daphne says I JUST LOVE YOU!!! You always amaze me. You’re wonder womman of another kind!! I know it’s hard to BE [more]
• Jen says We are currently going through a pregnancy possibly affected by VACTERL…having more tests run. Would like to discuss some [more]
• Jen says Hi Amber! It’s lunchablemommy – actually not on A full cup anymore, so I wanted to send you my [more]
• Tracy says Love it! That is something Maggie would do. She loves Disney Princess stuff too. LOL. [more]

• April 21, 2010 -- FREE Scentsy!
• January 9, 2010 -- Top 10 Deal Finding / Coupon Sites
• December 30, 2009 -- Fabulous deal on Carter’s sleepers at Kohl’s
• December 29, 2009 -- Over the hills we go, stockpiling all the way!
• November 15, 2009 -- Ten Commandments of Couponing!

Kohl’s is having a HUGE sale right now ONLINE (and in the store but in the store you cannot get the extra 20% off that I am going to list so they are a little more expensive!).  The infants and toddlers sleepers on a pretty SWEET sale and if you have a child who wears footed PJ’s you can get them for $4 or so a pair with FREE SHIPPING!!!  Last night I got 10 pair for Kyleigh for $50!!!!  And they were even the NICE two piece ones.  So we have her next size of PJ’s under control!  (that is always a huge task).  I was thrilled because even at consignment the fleece button up two piece PJ’s (like the Gap style) run $5-7 used or $7-9 brand new!  So for me to get them for $5 each was HUGE!

Kyleigh got these and one more but I cannot remember which other one…

So… here’s the details:

Kohl’s Sleepwear is located here

USE THE FOLLOWING CODES TO OBTAIN 20% off your order PLUS FREE SHIPPING:

20% off – Extra20

Free Shipping- NOCHARGE

You have to put in your CC number BEFORE you enter any code or gift cards.  AND if you have a store credit or gift card you can use that in ADDITION TO your codes!!!  Most of the footed PJ’s come out to $4.80 + tax and that includes shipping because its FREE!!!  The two piece sets were working out to about $5.50 each but Ky cannot wear the footed style without us modifying them to fit the tube so we splurge for the two pieces!

Happy Shopping!  If you get some post and let me know what you picked up!!!Recent Comments:

• XXX says A tip to save some cash when enjoying movies it that instead of heading to the movies on a busy [more]
• daphne says I JUST LOVE YOU!!! You always amaze me. You’re wonder womman of another kind!! I know it’s hard to BE [more]
• Jen says We are currently going through a pregnancy possibly affected by VACTERL…having more tests run. Would like to discuss some [more]
• Jen says Hi Amber! It’s lunchablemommy – actually not on A full cup anymore, so I wanted to send you my [more]
• Tracy says Love it! That is something Maggie would do. She loves Disney Princess stuff too. LOL. [more]

• January 9, 2010 -- Top 10 Deal Finding / Coupon Sites
• January 5, 2010 -- New Year’s Resolution: ADD Magazines to your list of things NOT to pay for in the new year!
• January 4, 2010 -- Dressing for Less… another tip.. Consignment Store
• December 29, 2009 -- Over the hills we go, stockpiling all the way!
• November 15, 2009 -- Ten Commandments of Couponing!

A few runs that I have achieved in the past months while I have been on hiatus…

Huggies Diaper Deal- last month at Walgreens

$8.99 / pack

- (1) RR $2 = $6.99 pack

- ($1) WAGS Coupon (from activity book)= $5.99

- ($2) Huggies IP = $3.99 or ($3) MFR Q from Huggies Mailer = $2.99 / pack.

$108.50 total- I ended up with 25 packs.  I will also submit this for Caregiver’s Marketplace Rebate and get an extra $18.75 back so  $89.75 TOTAL for that entire wall of diapers!!!!  Not bad eh?  The total without discounts or coupons would have been $312.25 so I saved $222.50!!!!!!

I also hit a major money maker at Meijer in the past few weeks.  Jello!!! Who knew?

Buy 6 Jello at $0.55 each= $3.30

- (2) $1.25 /3 Jello = $0.80 OOP

Receive back $2 CATALINA ONYO = $1.20 money maker… so I turned this around to my soups!

Each set of 4 Campbells Soups came out to $1.20 EXACTLY after my $0.40/4 Q!!!!

So each transaction looked like this:

6 Jello + 4 Campbells Soups

- (2) $1.25/3 Jello MFR Q

- (1) $0.40 / 4 Campbells (doubles to $0.80/4)

- (1) $2 Catalina from previous transaction = FREE – yes the transactions physically came out to ZERO!!!  because the items were NON-taxable grocery!!!  I walked out with everything you see in the photo for $0.80….!!!!!!

THEN I had another first!!!  I actually came up with OVERAGE at Kroger!!!

35 McCormick Gravy packets – 2/$1- had $0.50/2 (doubled to $1 so free!)

30 McCormick Spice Grinders- 10/$10 (had $1/1 ANY McCormick spice so FREE)

Now somehow it came up with $1.49 in overage… meaning my Total was NEGATIVE $1.49 after coupons… I think I had a cellfire Q that I did not account for.  So I literally had to get 2 candy bars or take the CASH back.  They PAID me $1.49 to take this photo worth of stuff home!  (also missing is 16 additional grinders and 10 other packets from a previous trip!) Sweet huh?Recent Comments:

• XXX says A tip to save some cash when enjoying movies it that instead of heading to the movies on a busy [more]
• daphne says I JUST LOVE YOU!!! You always amaze me. You’re wonder womman of another kind!! I know it’s hard to BE [more]
• Jen says We are currently going through a pregnancy possibly affected by VACTERL…having more tests run. Would like to discuss some [more]
• Jen says Hi Amber! It’s lunchablemommy – actually not on A full cup anymore, so I wanted to send you my [more]
• Tracy says Love it! That is something Maggie would do. She loves Disney Princess stuff too. LOL. [more]

• April 18, 2010 -- Back atcha! Meijer shopping trip 4/18/10
• October 31, 2009 -- Carving and Couponing…
• January 9, 2010 -- Top 10 Deal Finding / Coupon Sites
• January 5, 2010 -- New Year’s Resolution: ADD Magazines to your list of things NOT to pay for in the new year!
• December 30, 2009 -- Fabulous deal on Carter’s sleepers at Kohl’s

I was reading through some posts on one of my favorite coupon blogs: Bargain Briana and found this list!  It cracked me up and seeing as how its Sunday I thought this list oddly appropriate!

1. Thou Shall Not Used Expired Coupons. Unless it is your stores policy to accept them. Sometimes they will not beep even with expired.
2. Thou Shall Use the Coupon for the Item is intended.
3. Thous Shall understand the requirements & restrictions on the coupon. Read the coupon language carefully. Sometimes there is a certain number you have to purchase or a specific variety is only included on the coupon.
4. Thou Shall Not Decode the Coupon to misuse the coupon.
5. Thou Shall Not Alter Coupons.
6. Thous Shall Not Make Copies of Printable Coupons. Making copies of printable coupons is a big “no no”.
7. Thou Shall Not Clear the Shelves.
8. Thou Shall Question Any FREE coupon items for legitimacy. The old adage, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
9. Thou Shall Not Misuse the Self Checkout System.
10. Thou Shall Use Your Couponing Powers for Good Only!

As seen on Bargain Briana’s 15 days of CouponingRecent Comments:

• XXX says A tip to save some cash when enjoying movies it that instead of heading to the movies on a busy [more]
• daphne says I JUST LOVE YOU!!! You always amaze me. You’re wonder womman of another kind!! I know it’s hard to BE [more]
• Jen says We are currently going through a pregnancy possibly affected by VACTERL…having more tests run. Would like to discuss some [more]
• Jen says Hi Amber! It’s lunchablemommy – actually not on A full cup anymore, so I wanted to send you my [more]
• Tracy says Love it! That is something Maggie would do. She loves Disney Princess stuff too. LOL. [more]

• October 31, 2009 -- Carving and Couponing…
• April 18, 2010 -- Back atcha! Meijer shopping trip 4/18/10
• April 11, 2010 -- Coupons… gotta make it back!
• January 9, 2010 -- Top 10 Deal Finding / Coupon Sites
• October 27, 2009 -- Recession Payback… LOTS of great Coupons here!

So its Halloween already!  Where on earth did the time go?  Oh that’s right… the past THREE weeks have been eaten by rancid illness that has overtaken our house!  First Owen, then Kyleigh, then Ross, then me… now Troy.  Geez……..

Maybe we will see the light of day soon!  LOL  I am still really weak and “swimmy” in the head.  I managed to loose a few pounds over the past week (maybe like 3-4!!) so I cannot complain but man the nausea from all this drainage sucks!  (TMI.. I know.)

So on to the better stuff! Last night was the annual pumpkin carving.  Troy made my perfected polka dotted pumpkin by drilling holes… easy schmeasy.  Owen carved his OWN creation… and did a DARN good job.  Ross pouted a lot and tried to get into everyone else’s business and Kyleigh was more interested in “cookin up some dem seeds”…  Yes she played in the pumpkin guts and was perfectly happy.  Glad it doesn’t take much to please my kids!

Yes…  every now and then we acquire additional children from over the fence!  LOL

So much whining… (please tell me that the whining stops at 5???)

And THEN… because I am STILL sick, STILL wiped out, on day 3 of my Zithromax and STILL not feeling much better… Troy decided to keep up with the coupon shopping for the week.  It was a big week because of the Mega Sale at Krogers.  Lots of FREES and super cheaps on stuff that we needed to stock up on.  I traded and ordered Q’s online so some of them did not arrive until yesterday.  Tonight we still have one more run to do but we are almost there!

This is Troy and Owen’s booty from Kroger last night:

Shown in the picture:

10 steamfresh veggies (either 25 or 50 cents),

10 Land O Lakes Butters (17 cents each), $0.99 (Mega Sale) -

15 Glade Scented oil candle refill packs (50 cents each… yes I could get them free elsewhere but I would rather pay 50 cents for the refills than to get the entire candle holder and such free because it just seems like such a waste to me…),

20 Bumblee Tuna envelopes (FREE + $0.06 overage), $0.49 each (Mega Sale) – $0.55/1 Coupon = $0.06 overage

20 Krusteaz Pancake mixes (yes we REALLY like this stuff!) $0.17 each,$1.17 (Mega Sale) – $0.50/1 (doubled) = $0.17 each

10 Quaker Chewy Bars $0.99 each,

12 boxes of Cheez-its $0.25 each,

8 boxes of Betty Crocker Potatoes ( a few cents each… I totally honestly couldn’t tell you how much now but they were CHEAP… rest assured!  LOL)

Troy SAVED $192 and spent $44 ($10 of which was mucinex and more sudafed… blas it all this stupid sickness!)  ……….. nice right?Recent Comments:

• XXX says A tip to save some cash when enjoying movies it that instead of heading to the movies on a busy [more]
• daphne says I JUST LOVE YOU!!! You always amaze me. You’re wonder womman of another kind!! I know it’s hard to BE [more]
• Jen says We are currently going through a pregnancy possibly affected by VACTERL…having more tests run. Would like to discuss some [more]
• Jen says Hi Amber! It’s lunchablemommy – actually not on A full cup anymore, so I wanted to send you my [more]
• Tracy says Love it! That is something Maggie would do. She loves Disney Princess stuff too. LOL. [more]

• January 12, 2010 -- Coming Home!
• August 28, 2009 -- Another few faves from Gulf Shores…
• April 18, 2010 -- Back atcha! Meijer shopping trip 4/18/10
• January 6, 2010 -- First SNOW!
• November 15, 2009 -- Ten Commandments of Couponing!

I have been still finding the deals and using my coupons to the max but the deals slowed down a bit.  You will find, as you continue on in the coupon journey, that the sale cycles do this.  There is a definite ebb and flow.  Plus, now I have a decent enough stockpile that I do not need to get EVERY deal that comes my way.

This past week was another Meter Reward Deal at Walgreens.  Its kind of boring though:

15 meters sale priced at $14.99 each

- (up $30 off Bayer Meter) Q = FREE each

+ $10 each Register Reward

$150 money maker!  (Mama’s buying groceries for the next three weeks!) – $7 paid for the Q’s = $143 money maker.  Not bad eh?

THEN this week (these deals are still valid)

at CVS: there is a HUGE diaper deal.  Evidently this was a misprint on CVS’ website but if you present your store with the ad then they will honor the ECB reward.  Go here to print a copy of the website ad.   You will need to take as MANY copies of this as you plan to do deals for. READ: you have a limit of 3 diaper packs for $8.99 per each Card… I have my card and my mother’s so I needed two copies!

Here is how the deal worked out for me:

Diaper sale $8.99 Pamper Jumbo Pack

- $5 ECB (on EACH PACK!  TOTAL OF $15 on THREE) = $3.99

- (1) $2 Pamper’s $2/1 Q’s (from P&G year of savings – there is also a $1 /1 in the 6/7 P&G saver)=

$1.99 PER PACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (yes…. holy carp!)

And yes… Ky does NOT wear Pampers.  There is some kind of powder in them that makes her butt break out into blisters.  So I am hoping to trade with someone for Huggies!

Also at CVS:

Johnson & Johnson Powder (the big ones!) sale priced at $2.99 – $1/1 Johnson’s Baby Product (got this Q in trade) = $1.99 per powder!  (These are regularly $4-5 each and we go through it like water!)

Dawn Dish Detergent – 2/$2 – $1 ECB = $2/1 – (2) $0.25/1 Q’s (6/7 P&G) = $0.25 EACH (also huge deal for us!)

Gilette Fusion Razors $7.99- $4 ECB = $3.99 – (1) $4/1 Fusion Q (6/7 P&G) = FREE + $0.01 overage!

Coke 12 packs 4/$13 – $3 ECB = 4/$10 – (4) $1/1 Coke Q’s (from Coke rewards)  = 4/$6 or $1.50 each.

~ Just a reminder it is 1/2 priced Lysol week at Meijer!  There is also a MEALBOX Q for $1/4 Lysol products.  Combine your MFR and Mealbox Q’s to get almost FREE lysol products!!!~Recent Comments:

• XXX says A tip to save some cash when enjoying movies it that instead of heading to the movies on a busy [more]
• daphne says I JUST LOVE YOU!!! You always amaze me. You’re wonder womman of another kind!! I know it’s hard to BE [more]
• Jen says We are currently going through a pregnancy possibly affected by VACTERL…having more tests run. Would like to discuss some [more]
• Jen says Hi Amber! It’s lunchablemommy – actually not on A full cup anymore, so I wanted to send you my [more]
• Tracy says Love it! That is something Maggie would do. She loves Disney Princess stuff too. LOL. [more]

• January 9, 2010 -- Top 10 Deal Finding / Coupon Sites
• January 5, 2010 -- New Year’s Resolution: ADD Magazines to your list of things NOT to pay for in the new year!
• December 30, 2009 -- Fabulous deal on Carter’s sleepers at Kohl’s
• December 29, 2009 -- Over the hills we go, stockpiling all the way!
• November 15, 2009 -- Ten Commandments of Couponing!

I am also very privileged that I have so many great blog readers who keep me in nifty coupons from all over America!

I acquire my coupons from a variety of different places including:

1) The Sunday Paper. Lexington’s paper notoriously SUCKS for coupons… we always have the smallest inserts and the least amount of coupons but eh… water under the bridge. If you can get your hands on Louisville Papers you are in business!!!!!!! They get the bigger inserts and their Smartsource / Redplums are always DOUBLE the size of ours!

All coupons that come from the Sunday Paper are MFR Coupons (manufacturer coupons).

** I buy 5-10 papers per Sunday- depending on the inserts. If there is only one SmartSource (as is true for every 3rd or so week) then I only buy 5. If its a week when there is a P&G, Redplum AND a SmartSource then I will buy 10!!** Keep in mind that you will have to factor in the price of your papers to your weekly shopping budget. For me… I rarely pay full price (or any price for my Sunday papers) but I will talk about that LATER

2) Internet Printable Coupons. Most companies are internet savvy. They have websites and they offer coupons through various sources on their own sites or on other internet printable websites such as:

Smartsource
Coupons.com
Redplum.com

3) E-coupons
Cellfire
Shortcuts

4) Bricks – This is the most popular form of online printers for individual companies. Usually when a company runs a promo with an online coupon on THEIR site it will be a Bricks coupon. Most of the time these coupons have a limit of 1-2 prints per computer. If you click the BACK button it will generate another coupon.

5) In store – If you are browsing through the stores you will find the following:

Blinkies – Those little black or red machines that attach to store shelves and spit out a coupon electronically. They are called Blinkies because usually they have a red blinking light on them to get your attention!

Peelies – The coupons attached to the top of an item that states – Save $1 when you buy this item. These are generally intended for if you pick up the item THAT day.

Tearpads – Pads of coupons found on store shelves that you can take multiples of. When I was shopping with Ali at Kroger the other night we found a tearpad that had a mail in rebate form for a FREE Crest Toothpaste. (SCORE!) On Sunday I found a tearpad with Kraft Parmesan Cheese $1/1 Q on it. The Parm was on sale for $2.99 which made it $1.99 after Q! This is amazing because the stuff is normally $4 a bottle!

Wine Tags – Special Coupons that are attached to the bottle necks of products particularly drinks, detergent, 2 liter bottles, dressings, makeup products, etc.

Catalina’s – Coupons that print from the Catalina machine.  These are found locally at Kroger, Meijer, and Walgreens.

6) Store Specific Special Promos – Samplers will generally have coupons and the Beauty Assistants at Walgreens have a whole basket of coupons under their counters.

Also there are store specific deals and coupons.  As I listed in my Coupon Abbreviations / Lingo those are:

ECB’s – Extra Care Bucks (at CVS ) – Printed on the bottom of a CVS receipt these work like gift cards but are really a coupon.

RR – Register Rewards – ( at Walgreens) – Print from the Catalina machine and work like giftcards but there are RULES for RR.  I will discuss those more indepth in a future post.

Meijer Mealbox – found on the Meijer Website.  These are Meijer Specific Coupons.

Target Register Tapes – Come on the bottom of your receipt and are Target Specific.

In Ad coupons – Found mostly at Walgreens, Rite Aid and CVS.

7) In Product Coupons – Many times on the inside of a box or backside of a bag there will be a coupon that can be used on a future purchase of a product.  Clip and keep these.  I pulled one off a Gorton’s fish box the other day that does not expire until 2012!!!!!!!

6) Coupons by Mail – Stores like Kroger, Target, CVS and most that have a “loyalty” card will send you offers in the mail. Today I got a pack of coupons from Kroger that included a FREE bag of Lays Potato Chips and FREE Nestle Toll House morsels.

7) Coupon Clippers – There are many places online that you can go to buy JUST the coupons you want for cents on the dollar. Mostly a $1 Q will go for 8-15 cents. That said… the GOOD ones.. go fast! Also.. make sure you are buying from a reputable source. Be very careful buying Q’s on Ebay as there is a rash of counterfeit (copied) coupons out there and those can get you into trouble fast! My favorite coupon clippers are:
thecouponclippers.com
centsoff.com

Buy / Trade – There are tons of places online that you can buy and trade… or even with friends locally! For me… I don’t drink coffee, don’t have a pet… so any of those things I am ALWAYS ready to trade or give away. Better for you to use the $2 off than for them to sit and rot!

So this week… I challenge you: When shopping around in the grocery store, keep your eyes peeled for new coupons!  Generally ones that are found in products or in the stores have MUCH longer expiration dates which is why they are so great to find!

Recent Comments:

• XXX says A tip to save some cash when enjoying movies it that instead of heading to the movies on a busy [more]
• daphne says I JUST LOVE YOU!!! You always amaze me. You’re wonder womman of another kind!! I know it’s hard to BE [more]
• Jen says We are currently going through a pregnancy possibly affected by VACTERL…having more tests run. Would like to discuss some [more]
• Jen says Hi Amber! It’s lunchablemommy – actually not on A full cup anymore, so I wanted to send you my [more]
• Tracy says Love it! That is something Maggie would do. She loves Disney Princess stuff too. LOL. [more]

• November 15, 2009 -- Ten Commandments of Couponing!
• May 31, 2009 -- Coupons 101 – Your FIRST coupon run
• January 9, 2010 -- Top 10 Deal Finding / Coupon Sites
• January 5, 2010 -- New Year’s Resolution: ADD Magazines to your list of things NOT to pay for in the new year!
• December 30, 2009 -- Fabulous deal on Carter’s sleepers at Kohl’s