Tag Archives: Bargain Shopping

12/31/2010 Publix Shopping Trip

Posted by shopaholicsavers on December 31, 2010 None comments

Today was a slightly unusual shopping trip to Publix because, while I did need groceries, I was mostly going tonight because I had a stack of $1 off Bakery, Deli, Meat or Produce Publix coupons that were expiring today. I found a stack of these coupons in the flyer/Ads/coupon holder in the entrance of Publix. I used 21 $1 off coupons today and I got a lot of stuff. I love dollar amount off department coupons because it gives you the freedom to pick your own items and I usually choose the cheapest items I can get while still qualifying to use the coupons (these coupons required that the items were at least $1 to start with). As you can see, I got quite a haul today. It is usually not easy to get coupons for fresh produce, deli items, bakery items, or meats so I wanted to make sure I got as much as I could (and could use) today. I gave away the rest of the coupons I couldn’t use. I will freeze some of these groceries but most of them we will eat in the next couple of weeks or give away to someone who can use them.

My total after coupons + tax – $11.15

I used $7.22 I had on a visa gift card

Final Total- $3.93 (Not bad at all considering the gallon of milk alone cost me $3.29)

Saved- $23.40 before gift card and $30.62 after the gift card

CVS Deal 12/30/10

Posted by shopaholicsavers on December 30, 2010 None comments

Today I went to CVS to get the Tone Bodywash that was on sale for 3.88 with 3 dollars ECB’s (Extra Care Bucks aka CVS dollars) back. After going to the first CVS and finding them sold out I gave up but found electric tea light candles on clearance for 4.99. I bought 3 and used 7 dollars ECB making my total around eight dollars. I was excited to do this unexpected deal because I have a plan to use these at my upcoming wedding. Last Christmas before I discovered couponing I spent 2 dollars on two electric tea light candles for my sister so I was pretty excited to get 60 for 8 bucks.

Then I decided to go to another CVS that was on my way home to get the body wash. They had one left on the shelf! I had 5 dollars ECB that were going to expire on the third so I bought the Tone body wash, a cvs brand cucumber melon body wash and a small Johnson and Johnson lotion. My total came to .10 cents and I got 3 dollars ECB. Making a total profit of 2.90.

by Candy <3

Publix Christmas Clearance

Posted by shopaholicsavers on December 27, 2010 None comments

My sister and I went to Publix to go grocery shopping yesterday and we couldn’t help looking at the Publix Christmas clearance. They had a lot of candy and some decorations on sale. My favorite find was several types of Publix Christmas reusable gift bags. These gift bags can be reused over and over again and they only cost .50 cents, which is a lot cheaper than most paper gift bags that rip easily. My family already had a very eco-friendly Christmas this year as far as wrapping went. We used comics, store bags, reused gift bags and recyclable wrapping paper. We also like to give out gift bags (usually full of items we get for free couponing) and these .50 cent bags are also perfect for that.

Free CVS Shopping Trip

Posted by shopaholicsavers on December 20, 2010 None comments

I went to CVS Saturday to pick up some soup that was on sale for .50 cents a can. When I got there the CVS coupon machine printed off a coupon for $2 off of Advil. I went to the travel section and got a 4 pack of Advil for .99 cents and then I picked up 2 cans of .50 cent soup.

My total was $1.99

– minus the $2 Advil coupon

= $0.00 Free, I didn’t even have to pay tax

I’m not sure if this will work every time but it worked in this case

$20 P&G Rebate

Posted by shopaholicsavers on December 20, 2010 None comments

P&G is offering a $20 mail in rebate for people who purchased $50 worth of certain P&G products before coupons.

The picture above shows what I purchased that was included in the deal.

Before Coupons the total for these products was- $54.86

After Coupons my total was approximately- $7.50

And this counts for my $20 mail in rebate

= $12.50 Profit and $47.36 in coupon savings

I wasn’t going to do this deal until I realized that I had already done P&G deals worth $38 before coupons so I decided it was worth my time. All of the P&G beauty products I bought were for Christmas gifts or things I will use.

Click HERE to go to this deal’s website. The link to the rebate is in the top banner.

$10 Amazon.com Gift Certificate from Viewpoints.com

Posted by shopaholicsavers on December 20, 2010 None comments

On one of the blogs I read I saw an advertisement for a campaign run by a website called Viewpoints that reviews products (and almost anything else). The deal was to write ten reviews in certain product categories and receive a free $10 Amazon gift card. Recently they e-mailed it to me. This was a really cool deal.

They then e-mail me the below offer but their offers are only for the first certian number (usually thousands) of people who complete them and I think it’s probably too late for this one.

Click HERE to visit their site. I plan to continue to do deals with them in the future.

Where I Find My Deals

Posted by shopaholicsavers on December 20, 2010 1 comments

People constantly ask me where I find my deals. Here are some of the blog sites I use most often-

The first three are fantastic couponing blogs that also post great deals and ways to get free stuff. Combined they have saved me thousands of dollars. If you go through their sites and click on the stores you shop at, they will show you what deals each store is having every week and what coupons you can match up with those deals, often to get free stuff.

www.southernsavers.com – includes videos on how to start couponing

www.moneysavingmom.com – also posts articles about real life and saving money, including how her and her husband paid 100% down for their home

http://hip2save.com/ – includes a lot of online deals

www.heyitsfree.net -posts free stuff that you can get online, mostly through the mail. Through this site, I’ve gotten a lot of free food, coupons for free stuff, free magazine subscriptions, and a lot of other random free stuff in the mail. They focus on collecting legit, non-spam freebies.

Target Shopping Trip 12-11-2010

Posted by shopaholicsavers on December 11, 2010 None comments

Not Pictured- 1 Christmas Shopping Bag and 1lb Ground Meat

I bought-

4 Suave Naturals Shampoo– $0.97 (Regular Price)
I used (4) $1/1 Target printable
Free+ after coupon

4 Degree Pure Satin or Shower Clean Deodorant (Travel Size) – $0.97
I used (4) $1/1 Target printable
Free after coupon

3 Up & Up PantiLiners (20 ct) – $0.89 (Regular Price)
I used (3) $0.75/1 Target printable
$0.14 after coupon

2 Vaseline Lotion (10 oz) – $1.89
I used (2) $1.50/1 Target printable
(2) $1/1 coupon from the 11/14 RedPlum insert
Free+ after coupons

5 Hasbro Battleship Travel Game – $4.99
I used (5) $5/1 from the 12/5 SS (Apparently these are regional coupons)
Free+ after coupon

3 Reach Dental Floss – $0.97 each
I used (3) $1/1 Reach Floss or Toothbrush
Also found here $1/1 Reach Floss or Access Flosser 3/7/2010 RP Insert (exp 12/31/2010)
and here $0.50/1 Listerine or Reach Products 8/1/2010 SS Insert (exp 12/31/2010)
Free+ after coupon

1 Easy Mac (4 pack) $2.64
I used $1/1 Target printable
$1.64 after coupon

1 Olay Body Wash $5.00
I used $2 Manufacturer Coupon
$3.00 after coupon

1 Christmas Shopping Bag $3.00

1lb Ground Meat On Sale for $2.49

Subtotal- $6.47

Minus 5%off- $-2.86 (Target Coupon I was mailed for using my Free Target Debit Cars)

Minus $ -.18 for using my Target Debit Card

Tax- $2.64

Final Total- $6.07

Saved- $57.28

EDIT: WordPress (the blog hosting site) doesn’t like the address to the target printable coupons. To find them go to Target.com and scroll to the very bottom to click on the Coupons link.

My Publix Shopping Trip 12/9/2010

Posted by shopaholicsavers on December 9, 2010 None comments

I bought-

3 packs of Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast– on sale for just under $3.00 each

– I used (2) $1 off a Product from the Publix meat Department (Given to me at Publix during a back to school promotion)

1 Kraft Block Cheese– on sale for $2.50

1 Kraft Shred Cheese– on sale for $2.50

– I used (1) $1/2 Kraft shredded or block cheese (Target coupon), 7-8 oz PRINTABLE

1 lb Ground Sirloin– cost $3.28

2 Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls– on sale for $1.00 each

– I used (2) .50/1 Pillsbury Sweet Rolls or Grands Sweet Rolls, SS 10/10

2 Pillsbury Biscuits– on sale for $1.00 each

– I used (2) .50/1 Pillsbury Sweet Rolls or Grands Sweet Rolls, SS 10/10

3 Sundown Folic Acid Bottles– cost 3.79 each

– I used (3) $3 off Sundown Naturals Vitamins, 120 ct.+, or Osteo Bi-Flex, 120 ct.+ (Publix coupon), Green Advantage flyer

– and (3) $1 off Sundown Naturals or Marvel vitamins, RP 11/7

1 Onion Salt– on clearance for .79 cents

2 Coffee Mate Coffee Creamers– on sale for $1.25 each until 12/10

-.75/1 Nestle Coffee-Mate Liquid or Powder Creamer PRINTABLE

2 Covergirl Foundations– on sale for 4.49 each

I used (2) $1.50 off CoverGirl or Queen Color Collection item (Publix coupon), Green Advantage flyer

– and (1) $2/2 CoverGirl product, PG 11/28

My Total Was- $21.60

I Saved- $42.91 (A 200% savings)

Then I used a $20 Visa Gift Card I won during a work contest for free

My Final Total- $1.60

Final Savings Total- $62.91

This is how I shop all the time. I started this blog to teach other people how to do it. These are items which my family and I will use with the exception of the Folic Acid which I bought because I was paid to buy them (I will find a use for them eventually). Most of these deals are still good until the end of Publix’s sale week which ends (in Florida) Wednesday night at 10pm. Happy Shopping 🙂

Frugal Christmas Shopping

Posted by shopaholicsavers on December 7, 2010 1 comments

Click HERE to read 30 Ways to Save Money This Holiday Season

Being broke and living more frugally teaches you a lot. I am refusing to use the heat in my apartment unless absolutely necessary and another benefit of cooking myself is that using the stove warms up my apartment. Not using the heat and obviously not using the air conditioning will save a lot on my electric bill this month. When I’m cold now instead of running for the thermostat I dress more warmly, I use throw blankets when I sit on the couch, and there is an extra blanket on my bed.

In my living room is a Christmas tree and decorations that my roommate borrowed from her grandparents. We can even do Christmas cheer on a budget. My brother and I decided, after hauling too many boxes of surplus Christmas stuff into our mother’s attic last year, that no one in the family is allowed to buy anything that has to be packed up again after Christmas. It will be a more practical Christmas than ever before but it will still be fun.

This year I went so far as to ask my loved ones a few months before Christmas what they really, really needed or wanted. I think I’ve done a good job with that list. Hidden behind the couch in my apartment sits the stack of Christmas gifts I’ve been collecting for the last six months when I found things that for the right price that I knew my loved ones would enjoy or could use.

I have become an expert at Christmas shopping on a budget. Many of the items I’ve collected have been free through couponing including personal items and stocking stuffers. I have new clothes for my family that I bought at Rue 21’s $3 clothing sale. I have best selling/collectible books that I bought for .10 cents to $1 at thrift shops and the library book sale. I got four free gifts when my Borders reward card gave me a free $10 gift certificate. I got two gifts for about $1 when I found a free $5 Hallmark printable gift certificate. I bought items such as headphones at CVS when they offered them free after CVS dollars. I hit up the $1 sale at Claire’s. I used coupons to get items free at Bath and Body Works with any purchase, usually buying the new sample fragrances for $1 in order to get two gifts for $1.

I followed sales and used my resources. My work is giving away a free $20 gift card each shift to the person who gets the most people to give them their e-mail. I did my best with this every shift when most people weren’t even trying. So far I’ve won 6 of them. I will use them as gifts or to buy gifts for free.

My couponing has provided me and my loved ones with so many household products that I will be making Christmas gift baskets for other families for free. Sure, there are things that I would love to buy my loved ones that I can’t afford right now but then I would love to give them the moon and stars too, but I know they will settle for the small mountain of gifts that I have amassed as cheaply as possible.