Happy New Year

I've learned a lot about couponing in 2008 and hope to take it to a new level in 2009. I will be setting up a spreadsheet (a good New Year's Day project) which will track my savings and expenditures regarding coupon use (I have to prove to myself that this is all worth it and as the saying goes, "Numbers don't lie") I will share my savings monthly. There is time involved in this pursuit (couponing). I'm hoping to cut that down to about 10 or less hours a week. I still have a class to finish and a new profession to begin. That said, I should probably go do some shopping today that I won't have to account for (at least on the spreadsheet). I'm hoping for some freebies today.

Enjoy the background. There were others I would have chosen based on my preferences but chose this one in honor of dh and his other passion.

Entertainment Book

Thinking about getting the 2009 Entertainment Book to save on services and eating out? Click here for a FREE trial - print any 3 coupons. The other nice thing is this gives you the opportunity to see exactly what is in there before you buy it.

Jewel

Green Giant Steamers are on sale for $1. Use the $1 coupon in the 11/16 SS to get them FREE.

Walgreens 12/28-1/3

Walgreens Christmas stuff is now 75% off. Buy some Hershey's chocolate for very little:
8oz bags are now $.62. Use the $1.50/3 (expires 12/31) in the 11/16 SS and pay only 12 cents a bag!


January ESR FREE AFTER REBATE (Choose 1 only):
Revlon Matte Collection Blush or Eyeliner $9.99
Jan ESR of $9.99 OR
Revlon Matte Collection Eye Shadow $4.99
Jan ESR $4.99 OR
Revlon Matte Collection Lipstick $7.99
Jan ESR $7.99


Robitussin or Dimetapp, 4 oz. on sale $4.00 (Buy5)
-$2 off Robitussin or $2.00 off Dimetap
=$10 Out of Pocket
But Get $15.00 in RR when you purchase $20.00 or get $5.00 when you purchase $10.00
=FREE or OVERAGE
Through 12/31 buy 5 ($20 worth) and get $20 in RRs.
Can't print enough or want to do the deal modified use these coupons:
11/2 and 12/14 RP - $1 off Robitussin
9/21 and 11/2 RP - $1 off Dimetapp

Glade Scented Oil Candle Holder Kit on sale $3.99
-$2.50 12/7 SS
=$1.49 OOP
Submit Rebate #25 & get a $1.00 rebate for each you buy (Limit 4)
=$.49

Dixie Ultra Plates $1.99 with in-ad coupon
-$1.00 RP 11/16
=$.99

Extra Gum, 15 pieces 3/$1.98
-$.99/3 Easy Saver coupon
=$.99 for 3 packs

Scotch Packing Tape $1.99 with in-ad coupon
-$1.00 11/23 SS
=$.99

Dawn Dish Soap $0.99 with in-ad coupon
-$.50 12/14 P&G
=$.49

Fusion Razor on sale $8.99 Get $3.00 in RR
-$4.00 12/28 P&G or 11/30 P&G
=$4 Out of Pocket
Get a $3 RR when you buy one
=$1.99
GREAT STOCKING STUFFERS FOR NEXT YEAR!


Listerine Whitening Mouthwash 2/$8.00
-$2.00 Using 2 - 9/28 RP(exp. 12/31)
=$6 Out of Pocket
Get $4.50 in RR when you buy 2
=$1.50 for 2 - Cheap Cheap!

Walgreens 12/14-12/20

After 2 weeks of really great deals, Walgreens isn't offering the $5/$25 this week but there are still some good deals to be had and if you have any $5 coupons, you need to use them by Saturday.

Zooth Toothbrushes are 2/$4. Use the $1 coupon in the Walgreens Activity Book pictured below:

and the $1/2 coupon from the 11/30 PG and pay $1 OOP for 2 - get a $2 RR! - Money Maker.

DeMet's Turtles are on sale this week for $.99. Use the $1.50 coupon in the 11/16 S to get 51 cents overage.

Sunkist soda is $.79 for a 2L bottle. Find peelies in the store for $1/2 and pay only 29 cents a bottle.

Finally, Russell Stover Luminaries (the red ones) are on sale for $4.99. Use the $1 coupon in the 12/14S. Buy 2 and submit for a $10 rebate. $2 money maker.

Great Stocking stuffer

Head on over to Mercedes site for a sweet deal on Olay cleansers - what makes it a sweet deal? Anytime you can get back more than you've put out - it's worth the effort, as long as your budget won't suffer while you're waiting on the rebate.

Free Batteries @ Target

Use this coupon to get the batteries for those electronic toys you'll be getting this Christmas. Only get one set per toy because after they wear out, trust me, you won't want to replace them :P

Free Tape at Walgreens and more deals around town

Now that you've purchased all your Christmas gifts, (right?). It's time to start wrapping them up! Head on over to Walgreens for some free or money making Scotch tape. It is on sale this week for $1.00 per 3 pack. In the 11/23SS, there is a coupon for $1.00 off 6 rolls. Buy 2 - 3 packs for $2.00, less coupon, then a $2.00 rebate in the Dec ESC - an easy moneymaker! Don't have the coupon? Submit it online for the rebate and it's still FREE!

While you're there, Reynolds wrap is on sale this week for 99 cents. There is a $1.00 coupon in the 11/16SS. FREE foil for those holiday meals!

Head on over to Meijer for some great stocking stuffers for the girls in your life. Goody hair accessories are 30% off. Use this coupon and purchase anything $2.99 or less for virtually free - okay the $2.99 ones end up being $.09 - almost free. Lip smackers are buy 2 get 1 free. If you buy 6, you can use 3 - $1/2 coupons from this site (Lip Smackers are a Bonne Bell product, so you can use those as well as the Lip Smackers coupon). Each one will cost only 49 cents! YMMV on this deal, depending on your cashier. If they only let you use 2 coupons, it's still only 66 cents each.

Fresh Express salads are $1. Use the $.75 coupon from the 11/09 SS or the $.55 from the 12/07 SS for some cheap salad ($.25 or $.45)

Kellogg's $1 Printable x 14

This coupon allows you to print 14 times - that's 14 not the usual 2 - it doesn't expire until July so GO GET 'EM!

Free Holiday Music

Amazon.com is offering 25 free mp3s - one a day through the 25th. Click here to get started.

Jewel deal - Chronicles of Narnia - Prince Caspian

Right now the Chronicles of Narnia - Prince Caspian is $19.95 at Jewel. Buy 2 Kellogg's cereals at 2/$5 and save $5 instantly. So you are basically buying the DVD and getting the cereal free. Okay, not a bad deal but we can always make it better! Click here for a $3 printable off any Disney DVD. In the 11/9 RP, there are coupons for $1 off Kellogg's cereals. So with your $5 in coupons, you will now pay $14.95 for the DVD and 2 cereals. The DVD coupon can be used anywhere so if you find a better price somewhere else, please share!

Stock up on Hanes Socks/Underwear at Meijer

This week at Meijer, when you buy 3 packages of Hanes socks or underwear (bras included), you get an instant $10 deduction. This works for mens, womens, and kids varieties. Childrens socks/underwear are priced at $3.99 - buy 3 and pay

$11.97-$10 = $1.97 + tax

LESS THAN THE PRICE OF 1! So even if you need only 1 right now, you're still better off buying 3. If you need more than 3, separate your transactions as the wording says 3 or more.

Target Deal of the Day 12/1/08

Leapster (Green and Silver) is today's Target.com deal of the day for only $28.82 with FREE SHIPPING! You must order today to get this deal.

Walgreens 11/30 - 12/6

Walgreens is also having a $5 off $25 purchase for Monday and Tuesday ONLY!

Reach Ultra Clean Dental Care on sale 2/$6 (Buy 2)
-$3 Using B1G1F coupon RP 10/12
=$3 Out of Pocket
But get a $6 RR when you buy 2
=$3 OVERAGE

Colgate Max Fresh toothpaste on sale $2.99
-$1/1 SS 11/2
=$1.99 Out of Pocket
But get a $2 RR
=FREE
Get $2 back in Register Rewards when you buy one

Excedrin Express Gel 40 ct $5 (Buy 3=$15)
-$6 Using 3 $2/1 PRINTABLE
=$9 Out of Pocket
But get a $8 Register Rewards when you buy three
=$1.00 for 3 boxes

Glade Wisp Flameless Candle on sale $3.99
-$3/1 SS 11/2
=$.99

All Free & Clear 2x Detergent (12 loads) $1.79 after in-ad coupon
-$1/1 PRINTABLE
=$.79

Vicks Nyquil or Dayquil Products on sale $5.99 (Buy 2=11.99)
-$3 Using 2 $1.50/1 PG 11/30 and use PG 11/30 coupon for FREE Puffs when you buy two Vicks Products (this is called stacking - you can use the free Puffs coupon because it applies to the Puffs and is a separate item - this is how you get maximum savings from your coupons)
=$8.99 Out of Pocket
But get $4 Register Rewards when you buy two
=$4.99

Combine all these deals plus a $.35 caramel to get to $25, use your $5 off coupon - and get $17 in RR back! Couponers figure their savings on OOP less coupons (RR) back since they work just like cash. So in essence, you've spent $3 + tax on all these items. You can then take your $17 in RR to Jewel to work the P&G deal. (Jewel takes competitor coupons). Or save it for Walgreens deals next week.


Thanks to Clenice for putting the individual deals together

Jewel $5 OYNO when you buy $20 Proctor & Gamble

This catalina coupon will print after you have paid. This promotion seems to be working as past promotions - Jewel items work on shelf price - Osco items work on sale price. Watch how they ring up to tell if it is a Jewel or Osco item. The Jewel items will ring at shelf and then list the savings. The Osco items ring at sale price. Here are some of the participating items with their sale prices:

Always Maxi Pads or Tampax Tampons 2/$6
Bounce or Downy sheets $4.99
Bounty Paper Towels $10.99
Cascade $4.47
Clairol Natural Instincts Hair Color $5.99
Cover Girls cosmetics 40% off
Crest Pro Health Rinse 2/$7
Crest Toothpaste o Oral B Indicato 2/$3
Dawn or Ivory 2/$5
Dayquil/Nyquil, Vicks $4.99
Downy Concentrated liquid $4.99
Duracell Coppertop Batteries $5.95
Gillette Bodywash 2/$8
Gillette Fusion or Venus Razors $8.99
Iams Cat Food $14.99
Iams Dog Food $16.99
Olay Skin Care Poducts 20% off
Pampers Baby Wipes 2/$6
Pampers Jumbo Pack $10.69
Pepto Bismol $4.99
Pringles Stix $2.99
Puffs 4/$5
Secret Anti-perspirant Deodorant 2/$5
Tide or Cheer 75-100 oz $10.99


Match these items with coupons and save even more! And ALWAYS check your Avenu before you shop.

Super Doubles at Kmart this week!

This week Kmart is again doubling coupons up to and including $2 face value ($2 coupons are worth $4). This makes a lot of items free! Some ground rules and limits per customer: 4 like coupons, 75 coupons per day, no internet printables, no overage ( a $2 coupon won't get you $4 for a $3.50 item - only $3.50). Here is a list with some FREE items after coupon match up. You will need to register but this is a GREAT site. Also, here is a $5 off $50 coupon. If you work in $50 transactions, this really helps keep your total OOP low. It also helps to keep your transactions smaller so you can keep an eye on your cashier. My first Kmart doubles experience was less than ideal. The cashier rang items twice and chose the wrong product to apply the coupon to. The bottom line was after haggling with customer service (a total misnomer) I was still overcharged $12. I kept my subsequent transactions small - went to a different store - and watched EVERYTHING they did - if you can go alone (or at least with no small children) do it. Plan to spend some time - they don't seem to increase the staff to handle this event. But you can get some deals.