The Smart Shopper Saves

No Sunday Inserts

2009-07-04T08:01:00.000-07:00

Remember---there will be NO SUNDAY INSERTS in the 7/5/09 paper because of the holiday. So, relax, enjoy your weekend and have a Happy 4th of July!

Sunflower Market

2009-06-30T09:01:00.000-07:00

Have you shopped at Sunflower Market? If not, it's really worth a trip. They have good produce for GREAT prices. I like to go on Wednesdays because it's "Double Ad Day" meaning- it's the last day of one sale ad and the first day of the next week's sale ad so the store honors BOTH sale ads and you have lots of great deals to cash in on! Here's what I bought on my Wednesday 6/24/09 trip:

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Family Pack $3.64
93% Lean Ground Beef Family Pack $4.61
.83 lb Apricots $0.56
1 Pineapple $0.99
2.01 lb Nectarines $1.35
2 Limes $0.20
6-oz Raspberries $0.99
6-oz Blueberries $0.99
10.69 lb Seedless Watermelon $3.56
Total Spent: $16.89

I know that GS is working to get a list on their website for Sunflower Market but until then you can check out the ads online at: www.sfmarkets.com.

Other Sunday Paper Coupons--#2

2009-06-29T21:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday there were other coupons in addition to the SmartSource insert in the Sunday paper. I was really surprised to see the 1 page P&G (two-sided) Gillette Fusion/Venus coupons.

P&G also put coupons in the Parade insert as well. I have never seen them do this before but I'm not complaining!Here's the breakdown:
P&G: $3/1 Gillette Fusion Manual or Power Razor (any)
BOGO Gillette Series Shave Gel 7-oz. or larger
$3/1 Venus Embrace or Venus Spa Breeze Razor
BOGO SatinCare Shave Gel 7-oz. or larger
Parade: $1/1 Cottonelle toilet paper Aloe & E 12-pack
$0.50/1 Cottonelle SoothingClean Wipes tub
$2/2 Covergirl products (any)
$1/1 Covergirl product (any)
$2/1 Covergirl & Olay Simply Ageless product
$1/1 Bit-O-Luv Dog Treats 4-oz (any flavor)
I'm always happy to see extra coupons! Hope you found these in your paper too.

Other Sunday Paper Coupons

2009-06-22T10:50:00.000-07:00

Did you happen to look in your USA Weekend & Parade inserts yesterday? I always browse through mine. Every once in a while they will have coupons inside. Yesterday they had 7 coupons available. Here's a breakdown:
USA Weekend: $0.50/1 tub Scott Naturals Moist Wipes, $1/1 Scott Extra Soft double roll toilet paper 12-pack, $1/1 Scott paper towels 6-pack or larger, $1/1 Cottonelle toilet paper (any variety) 12-pack, $2/1 Prilosec OTC
Parade: BOGO 2.05-oz Kraft Easy Mac, $2/1 Prilosec OTC
Even though I get 4 papers and 4 Parade inserts only 3 of the Parade inserts had the Kraft Easy Mac coupons. I don't know why some of those inserts have coupons and some don't but I always check. I'm still happy about my 3 Kraft coupons.
So if you haven't went through your papers or they are in the recycle bin you might want to go through them today and grab these coupons.

HELLO!

2009-06-17T22:12:00.000-07:00

Yes I know...I have been a slacker. So sorry. We took on a huge project here at our house. We have been working like crazy since April to landscape our backyard before the heat of summer gets here and it has really consumed ALL of our extra time. I haven't been teaching many classes or doing a whole lot of shopping but I HAVE been using up my stockpile of food and toiletries which has been so nice! Wow I love couponing and stocking up because we have sooooo much that I've been able to take a little break and utilize what I already have. Now it's time for me to get back to teaching & shopping!
On the GS website under the "other stores" list you will see a Target list for this week!!! I'm seriously jumping for joy over that one. It's really worth checking out so be sure to take a look.

Kraft Coupons

2009-05-13T09:28:00.000-07:00

The buzz of the coupon world this week is the printable Kraft coupons. These are high value and RARE coupons. Right now they are available on GS Group A coupons (but you can only print them once) and you can also go to Kraft.com click on the right hand side where it says "hurry! coupon offers..." become a member and get access to the coupons. Be sure to hurry because it sounds like Kraft has set print limits on these and will be pulling them as soon as that limit is reached.

Big News From Grocery Smarts

2009-05-12T08:09:00.000-07:00

Grocery Smarts is growing! Lists are now available in the following areas:

Southern California g92ro1
Idaho g83ro1
Eastern Washington g99ro1

Other areas that should be added soon are Arizona, Western Washington, Oregon and Northern California. If you have friends and family in any of these areas please feel free to pass along this info with the codes. I've also put the links for these new codes on my blog along with codes for Utah and Nevada.

Coupon Links

2009-05-01T00:03:00.000-07:00

I've added the links to printable coupon Groups A, B, C, & Singles and the Alphabetical Coupon Index from GS website to my blog for you. If you haven't checked out the NEW Group C coupons be sure to click the link and take a look. If you haven't been on GS yet this week get on there and check out the deals Albertsons has going on for the next couple of days or see the NEW Vons or CVS lists.

Albertsons 8 Hour Sale--TODAY

2009-04-30T08:32:00.000-07:00

Here's your reminder---the Albertsons 8 Hour Sale is today from 1pm - 9pm. As usual shredded cheese is a great deal at $1.50 for a 6-8oz bag. Various Kellogg's products are also $1.50 each and if you use your Kellogg's cereal coupon from the 4/5 Red Plum you can get your Corn Flakes, Pops, or Froot Loops for $0.50 each! I love the deli meat for $2.99 lb and my favorite on this sale: Tostitos for $1.50! Yes, I'll be getting 4 bags (it's limit 4 total) since that's the best price I've seen this week. Be sure to check the Albertsons list on GS website so you don't miss out on any other deals while you are there.

Excited to Shop

2009-04-29T20:07:00.000-07:00

Great news! Vons & CVS lists are up on the GS website!! I think the Vons list and sale were just what I needed to get excited and motivated to shop again. I put my list/coupons together this morning, shopped Vons and had an AWESOME trip. I have to give snaps & a big thanks to fellow GS Instructor Sarah who does an excellent job on the Vons list. It seems like it has been such a LONG time since I have been excited about a grocery sale. I did a total of 3 transactions--2 transactions with the spend $30 get $10 for your next purchase promo rolling those $10 into the next the last was the buy 2 Coke 12pk products get 2 Coke 12pk products FREE & a 24 bottle case of Dasani water--FREE! Here's the breakdown for these 24 itmes:

Total value: $138.91

Spent: $40.96

Saved: $97.95
70% SAVINGS!!

If you need tortilla chips this is your week to buy. Tostitos will be under $2 at almost every grocery store. Also be sure to check your junk mail for Red Plum & P&G Brandsaver this week.

New Lists Coming

2009-04-22T09:05:00.000-07:00

Have you checked Grocery Smarts today? I know they have been hard at work to get more store lists up and today is the first time I've actually seen them on the drop down menu. There aren't full lists there yet...but they are coming. I'm soooo excited! I can't wait for the CVS & Sunflower Market lists. But for now I'm looking to shop at Smiths this week because they have better deals on what I need. The ConAgra promo at Albertsons is tempting but they had a similar sale not long ago and I'm pretty stocked up on most of those items. I'm still waiting for a "killer" grocery store sale. We are soooo overdue for one.

On Sale This Week

2009-04-17T10:49:00.001-07:00

I'm not super excited about the sales this week althought it's a good week to buy produce and meat at Albertsons. Some of the deals are only good 4/17 - 4/19 so be sure to double check the GS lists and your sale ad before you go. I'm also wanting to get the McCormick Spices/Seasonings for FREE! Sounds like Albertsons is trying to get us ready to start using our barbeques. Now we just need our weather to co-operate!

Junk Mail

2009-04-16T09:25:00.000-07:00

My sister gets a junk mail "packet" (all the sale ads, restaurant coupons, etc.) in a Red Plum sleeve but doesn't get the Red Plum or P&G inserts with it. She has tried like crazy to get on that list. A couple of weeks ago I was at the post office buying stamps. I saw people getting mail from their post office boxes and each one had a junk mail packet in it. It got me thinking...what if we go directly to the post office ask about the junk mail. The next day I went back to the post office with my friend Suzanne. Each of us went in separately and asked if they had any extra junk mail packets. The lady I spoke to went and checked then brought me one. The man that Suzanne talked to wanted to know her address. He knew which postal worker had that route, told her she was scheduled to receive one and that she should check her mail when she got home. It was a good lesson for us...if you DON'T get Red Plum & P&G inserts I would definitely go directly to the post office and ask if they have an extra one or at least give them your address and say that you would like to get them. Maybe if there is enough requests for them someone will get the hint and make sure we ALL get the inserts in our junk mail. If I had my way, I would prefer to get all the inserts in my Sunday paper. That way I'd have 4 of each!!

Shopping Trips, Easter Clearance

2009-04-13T09:50:00.000-07:00

Sorry for not posting last week. It was Spring Break and between sick kiddos and family coming into town I really didn't get much shopping in except for 2 trips to Albertsons. Here's my breakdown:

Trip #1:

Purchased 6 boxes Post cereal, 2 Mentos gums

Spent: $3.42 Saved: $28.40 89% SAVINGS!!

Trip #2:

Purchased 1 Jumbo Pampers, 4 Diet Coke 12 packs

Spent: $14.52 Saved: #27.96 65% SAVINGS!!

I'm looking forward to the junk mail this week. I'm so ready for a super saving grocery sale. Also remember that all Easter items should be on clearance now and it's a great time to stock up on those plastic eggs, decorations, baskets, and of course candy. (as if we haven't had enough already!)

NO Inserts Today

2009-04-12T19:00:00.000-07:00

Just a friendly reminder there were NO inserts in your newspapers today due to the Easter holiday.

Under $7 Shopping Trips

2009-04-04T10:54:00.000-07:00

Check out how I did on my latest shopping trips to Target & Walgreens. I didn't spend over $7 on either one! I know the items look random but many of the coupons I had made them FREE! (Johnson's Buddies soaps, fruit snacks, Reynold's foil) Others were stacked with store coupons making them less than $1 (Pledge, Johnson's baby wash) Some had store incentives which made them FREE (Skintimate shaving cream, Chapstick).

Target--Total spent for these 10 items: $6.20. Would you believe that big bag of baby wipes only cost me $0.49?
Walgreens--Total spent for these 8 items: $5.67. Those poor Fruit Mentos were somehow opened & eaten on the way home....my kids are still not sure how it happened! Hmmmm....

Albertsons 8 Hour Sale - TODAY

2009-04-02T08:44:00.000-07:00

Just a friendly reminder--it's the Albertsons 8 hour Sale today from 1pm-9pm. I usually hate to miss these. I can always find something I need for a great price. Today I'll be getting:

Hormel deli lunch meat $2.99lb
Jenni-O deli lunch meat $2.99lb
shredded cheese 6-8oz 2/$3
Sierra Mist 24pk $4.49

There are boneless skinless chicken breasts $1.79lb (they are $1.69lb at Smiths if you are shopping there this week and only want to make one trip). I'm also checking out the Kellogg's 2/$3 deals. Did you know in this week's Red Plum there's a $1/1 coupon for Kellogg's cereal? You could get your box of cereal today for $0.50! During the last 8 hour sale that had lunch meat on sale the deli where I was shopping had cut and pre-packaged the deli meat in 1lb packages so there wasn't a huge line up at the deli counter. It was fresh- sliced that day. Such a GREAT idea.

Smiths Case Lot Sale

2009-04-01T09:34:00.000-07:00

I used to get crazy excited for the Case Lot Sale at Smiths but since I've been smart shopping and using Grocery Smarts I'm excited in a different way. Some of the deals at Smiths are well worth the trip while others are not and we can do much better buying the items separately with our coupons. It's really empowering to be able to shop with more knowledge. What used to seem like a screaming deal to me doesn't even catch my eye now. Here's what cases I'm going to purchase during the sale:

tomato paste, tomato sauce, ramen noodles, gallon water

Some cases I'm still debating on whether or not to buy:

cake mix (if I can get spice cake), Hunt's pasta sauce

Don't forget to check the Grocery Smarts list. They've taken the guess work out for you and rated which cases are a good deal. Also keep in mind you'll have to ask the Smiths store your shopping at whether or not they accept coupons on their Case Lot sale. Good luck!

Inserts!

2009-03-31T23:12:00.000-07:00

Whew! A whole week has passed and I have no great shopping trips to share. I do, however, have some great insert info. Sunday's Smart Source insert was thicker than usual which made me super excited to have 4 newspaper subscriptions with 4 inserts. Then today in the junk mail there were 3 yes, I repeat--3-- inserts! I'm still trying to get over the excitement from that. I've heard there should be 2 inserts in this Sunday's (4/5) paper. This is because Sunday 4/12 is Easter and there will be no inserts that day or in the junk mail next week. See...those coupon making people do care about us! I'm still scanning the sale ads to see what looks good and anxiously awaiting the new Grocery Smarts lists.

Sunday Coupons

2009-03-23T23:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I noticed something fun in the Smart Source. Smiths put some store & manufacturer coupons right into the insert. Gotta love that! I'm looking forward to a new Red Plum and new sale ads. This has been a slow shopping week for me but that's the benefit of being a smart shopper. Now I'm so stocked up, I can pick and choose which sales to hit while I use up what I have. I love it! I've also added more items to the shopping "rules" list in my previous post. (click HERE) I'll probably keep adding to it as I think of things or get suggestions or ideas from you. Be sure to check it out.

Some of My Shopping "Rules"

2009-03-20T09:46:00.000-07:00

I have some funny "rules" when I shop. It's basically how much I'm willing to pay for items I want or need. I have put a price limit of what I'll spend on certain items and do so with the help of my Grocery Smarts lists, sales, & coupons. Here are a few:
I never pay more than $1.00 for:

toothpaste/toothbrushes, (usually $0.50 & under or FREE) soup, cake mixes/frosting, pasta, mustard, hand soap, Quaker Quakes, frozen veggies

I never pay more than $1.25 for:

cereal (usually it's under $1), granola bars, fruit snacks, Chex mix, cream cheese, dish soap, plastic food storage bags (Ziploc or Hefty), Goldfish crackers
I never pay more than $1.50 for:
household cleaners, applesauce, Q-tips, syrup, Electrosol, mac & cheese

I never pay more than $1.99lb for:

boneless skinless chicken breast, ground beef, pork chops, roast

I never pay more than $2.00 for:

shredded cheese, tortillas, chocolate chips, razors, deoderant, Cottonelle wipes, Excederin, NyQuil, Lean Pockets, Doritos

I never pay more than $3.00 for:

Diet Coke (12 pack), Tostitos

Do you have crazy shopping "rules" like me? I'd love to hear about them. Leave me a comment or send me an email and tell me what you are spending "limits" are.

Red Plum-NO...P&G-YES!

2009-03-18T09:43:00.000-07:00

Don't worry if you don't see a Red Plum in your junk mail this week. There won't be one. (see 2009 Coupon Insert Schedule) I did get a P&G Brandsaver in my junk mail yesterday along with the sale ads. It's dated 3/15 which is strange because we normally date them for the upcoming Sunday. I'm not complaining--I love P&G coupons. As a matter of fact on Monday I received my $120 P&G coupon booklet from the "Year of Savings" promo. (click HERE for post) It's a thick booklet with great coupons. Unfortunately the promo is over now but hopefully they'll have another for us again soon.

Pinching Your Pennies

2009-03-17T08:50:00.000-07:00

Want to share deals or post big savings tips? Pinching Your Pennies is an AWESOME forum for doing just that! There isn't a ton of participation yet in the Nevada Forum so I thought I'd do a post to get awareness out there so we can all start using it! Basically, you just register then can share info on extra deals you find as you are out shopping. The Grocery Smarts lists are great, but if you find something extra - this is where you can post it for everyone to see!

I'm always hearing about various deals and sometimes there is just too much info for me to post on this blog. If we all share our info and start using this forum it can be a great smart shopping tool for all of us! I'm excited to see how we can help each other.

Read the guidelines for joining HERE

Link to the NEVADA forum HERE

Smiths Savings

2009-03-16T12:31:00.000-07:00

Here's the breakdown of my trip to Smiths:

# of Items Purchased: 60
Total bill/value: $155.10
Total savings: $100.40
Total spent: $54.70
64% SAVINGS

I separated my purchase into 2 transactions--30 items in each. I'm hearing from lots of you that many of the items included in the buy 10 get $5 off are GONE or SOLD OUT. Don't let it get you down. Just make sure to ask for a rain check on the items that are out of stock before the sale ends on Tues. That way you'll be able to get them for the sale price later when they are in stock again.

Where Have I Been?

2009-03-15T18:52:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know I haven't been posting/updating this poor blog lately. I have been debating whether or not to share this info with you but I think it's important that you know what's going on. Remember how I was cursing my camera for not being able to get my pics downloaded and onto this blog? (click HERE) Well, it came back to bite me because that camera is GONE. Our house was broken into and burglarized on Wednesday 3/11/09. It was a horrible, crazy day for us but the good thing is that my family is safe. We are lucky in so many ways. So I thought I should let everyone know to just be careful and pay close attention to everything happening around you. Also, until I get another camera I'm not going to be able to post my pics or pics of the inserts and I've removed some of my personal info from this blog. I'm sorry to have such bad news. I'd much rather tell you about all the SWEET deals out there and help you save money.

70% SAVINGS at Vons

2009-03-07T10:12:00.000-08:00

O.K. this past week has been torture for me with my computer mess. I really thought it was fixed but...it turns out when you lose your hard drive and get a new one you have to replace EVERYTHING and I do mean everything to get it up and running to the way it was before it crashed. I am still missing the ability to download pictures to my PC. Frustrating! So I'm not able to post any pics of my shopping trips or what Red Plums & SmartSources we have. Trust me I'm working on it. Anyway, I had a good trip to Von's today. I went EARLY (like right after 12am) to cash in on the 48 hour sale prices and stock up on other great deals. Here's my breakdown:

Total bill/value: $75.78

Savings: $53.20

Total spent: $22.58

70% SAVINGS

I purchased 23 items including a cantaloupe & bananas. (that averages out to $0.98 each!) The 48 hour sale ends Sun 3/8/09 and any other sale items end Tues 3/10/09.

Sunday Paper COUPONS!

2009-03-03T10:11:00.000-08:00

Sunday was an AWESOME day for those of us who subscribe to the RJ! Why? Two inserts: SmartSource and a P&G Brandsaver. It was seriously like Christmas for me with the P&G in my papers. These are much sought after coupons which usually show up in our junk mail so we are limited to one insert. (for those of us who are lucky enough to even get them in the mail) Now I have 4 P&G inserts!!! Yippee! The only other time I had a P&G insert in my RJ Sunday paper was back in November. Now we really need to use up those coupons and then maybe P&G will get the hint we really need their insert in our papers instead of the junk mail.

Computer Down

2009-03-02T17:00:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of posting. My computer "crashed" last week and it was finally up and running (thanks to my computer expert cousin) late Sunday night. I'm still trying to get everything back to the way it was so just bear with me a little bit longer...

Albertsons Trip #2 = 85% SAVINGS

2009-02-24T20:09:00.001-08:00

I did some more damage at Albertsons.

I had these 42 items separated into 4 transactions. Here's the breakdown:

Total bill/value: $109.42

Saved: $93.67

Spent: $15.75

85% SAVINGS!

WOW! Basically, I paid $0.37 each for 42 items and I have another $10 voucher left to use on my next trip. If you factored that in I'd have spent only $5.75. This sale has been so fun! I hope you had a chance to cash in on it. I'd love to hear how you did.

91% SAVINGS at CVS!

2009-02-23T23:14:00.000-08:00

Yes--that's right--I saved 91% at CVS today.
I bought 18 items (one box of cereal is not pictured) on this trip.

Total value/bill: $69.80

Saved: $63.93

Spent: $5.97

91% SAVINGS

By using my coupons & ECBs I was able to roll all those savings into the diapers and pay very little. It's really a thrill to shop like this and save so much!

Albertsons Teaser

2009-02-19T18:20:00.000-08:00

So far I have completed 4 transactions at Albertsons. I'm not going to post my picture and totals yet (I'm saving that info for the ladies at my class tonight and letting them be the first to see) but I will tell you that I'm at 74% savings and I still have a $10.00 voucher to use. Tune in for more details later...
***UPDATE***2/23/09***So...I still haven't been back to use my remaining $10 voucher and finish getting the rest of what I need/want to get. (tomorrow!) Here's the breakdown for the 4 transactions so far.

Total bill/value: $134.10

Saved: $99.65

Spent: $34.45

74% SAVINGS

If you haven't shopped this sale yet, tomorrow is the LAST day and it's totally worth your time to go to Albertsons and get some of these deals.

This Week's Sales

2009-02-18T09:23:00.000-08:00

I'm actually excited to go to Albertsons this week! Check out the Grocery Smarts lists for the buy 10 GM items and get a $10.00 voucher good for your next shopping trip. This is a good one to get your feet wet if you are just starting and to stock up if you are already smart shopping. Remember to separate your transactions into 10 GM items. You can only earn one $10 credit per transaction but you can then roll that credit into the next transaction. Lots of fun!
If you have a chance to go to Target the Valentine's merchandise is now 75% off! I bought my kids Valentines they can use next year and I have seriously stocked up on my tissue, gift wrap & bags for super cheap! I also bought bags of chocolate candy (Dove, Snickers) for under $1 that I can just stick in my freezer for later. Here's a peek at some of my stash: Yes I said SOME of my stash...I did buy lots more. If you know me--you know I'm totally a sucker for hearts, pink, & red. I will use this stuff all year long. Awesome deals for 75% off!

CVS

2009-02-17T09:03:00.000-08:00

Here's a little bit of Advanced Couponing (I told you it was good stuff!) and smart shopping I did at CVS.

The total value of this purchase was $87.14. I saved $66.93. I paid $20.21. That's 76% savings! If you factor in the $7.98 ECB that I left with it makes my OOP $12.23, saved amount $74.91 & 85% total savings. Not bad at all for these 16 items.

No Inserts This Week

2009-02-15T10:31:00.001-08:00

I know, my paper and junk mail were empty too! There are no inserts scheduled for this week due to the Holiday. Those coupon making folks must need a 3 day weekend so they can rest then stock us up next week. I'm crossing my fingers that we'll get double inserts to make up for it. Hope you had a great Valentine's Day. If you're off with the kids on Monday, enjoy the 3 day weekend & take advantage of some good sales out there.

Vons

2009-02-11T08:44:00.000-08:00

No Red Plum yesterday?! Well, I made up for it with an AWESOME trip to Von's today! Last week they had the Kellogg's fruit snacks on sale for $1.00 a box but when I ran to get some...they were GONE. I asked for a rain check and today I went, they had plenty and I got my 8 boxes of fruit snacks for $1 each. I know that probably seems like a lot but we seriously go through those fruit snacks like crazy. Treats for play dates, school, sports, scouts and church to name a few. I also had to get in on the buy 2 get 3 free Betty Crocker deal. We have so many GM coupons right now and there are always printables for those and YES you can use a coupon on each item even if it's FREE! Woo hoo! The popcorn was BOGO and I had 2 coupons for that. So here's the breakdown:
The total value of my bill for these 20 items was $46.40 & I paid $10.95 or $0.54 each! That was so much fun. I love shopping this way. It was good to have a great trip because lately the sales have not been very exciting for me and I haven't been shopping much. Um... hello... Albertsons ...we are waiting for a killer sale! Some other good deals worth checking out at Vons this week are: Red seedless grapes $0.78lb (dang I bought them for $0.88lb on Mon) Coke or Pepsi 12 packs $2.49 each when you buy 3, Sweet California navel oranges $0.48 lb, & baby peeled carrots $0.99 a bag. Get out there and get some deals!

My February Calendar

2009-02-08T19:11:00.000-08:00

Some of you may know that during the last couple of weeks I wasn't able to schedule any coupon classes due to a temporary "freeze" on new classes. Thankfully that freeze was lifted this past week and I've been busy filling up my February calendar. If you were on my Class Waiting List you received an email notifying you that I was able to book classes again. If you weren't on the waiting list but were thinking about scheduling a class, here is some useful info.

The Coupon Class is FREE
Classes last about an hour
At class I can offer you a special rate on a subscription to the R.J. that will save you 70% & give you access to the Sunday paper coupon inserts
If you host a class and have 8 or more NEW moms in attendance you receive a $20 gift card to Albertsons or Smiths
If you host a class and have 12 or more NEW moms in attendance you receive the gift card and an Advanced Couponing Class/Tutoring from me for you & 1 friend (trust me...this is good stuff!)

You can also check out my previous post about classes by clicking HERE.

Smiths

2009-02-06T11:35:00.001-08:00

So I ran to Smiths last night and they were out of many 4 & 5 star items on the Grocery Smarts list. I'm happy you guys are out there saving money but...I didn't get everything I had planned on. It's a good lesson for all of us to be prepared to adjust our shopping lists when we get to a store and they are out of the sale items. The main thing is DON'T get frustrated. Many times during sales stores sell out of sale items but will re-stock them during the course of the sale week. DO go back to the store if you are able or check with the manager to see if they will be getting more items in stock. ALWAYS ask for a rain check. I have never - ever had a hassle getting a rain check. Then, I can get that same item for that same price within a week or two when the store has plenty in stock. Here's how my trip went:
I bought these 31 items for $22.00! ($0.70 each!) The total value was $59.05. I saved $37.05. By using my digital coupons & manf coupons I was able to get the Gillette shampoo & Crest toothpaste for FREE!! It was still a good trip even though I didn't buy all of the items I had intended to...but I DID get rain checks!

Albertsons 8 Hour Sale--TODAY!

2009-02-05T12:10:00.001-08:00

I'm heading over to Albertsons today. The 8 hour sale is on from 1pm to 9pm. I can't pass up the boneless skinless chicken breasts for $1.79lb. I'm getting low on that so it's time to stock up and freeze it for later. Navel Oranges are 3lbs for $0.99 and the Albertsons shredded cheese is 3 for $5.00. Fresh sliced Hormel or Jenni-O Turkey is $2.99lb and Hansen's apple juice is $0.99 for 64oz. There are also some great deals on Kellogg's cereal. If you're going there today don't miss out on this sale.

Missing Papers

2009-02-01T23:58:00.000-08:00

Today when I went outside to get my 4 Sunday papers only 3 were there waiting for me. O.K. this is the 3rd time it's happened. It hasn't been consistent...just every few Sundays. No pattern to it. The first time I called the R.J. and they sent another paper over within an hour or two. The 2nd time it happened I thought hmmmm did someone steal one of my papers? I called the R.J. and again they sent over the missing paper. When it happened today I was kinda embarrassed about calling the R.J. again but I did and they couldn't have been any nicer. Seriously they are so sweet and sent my missing paper right over. The woman I spoke to knew I was a subscriber through Grocery Smarts and understood just how darn important those coupons are to me. She said "I know that what your doing really works and that you need all 4 of your papers." Wow! She does KNOW! So if you ever have trouble with your delivery give the R.J. a call and they'll get it fixed for you right away.

Junk Mail

2009-01-28T23:38:00.000-08:00

Whew! I was getting worried. I normally get my junk mail on Tuesdays but it didn't come until Wednesday this week. Since I let you know how my Sundays went with the ads, here's how Tuesdays go with the junk mail.
First thing I do is filter through the mail and look for the Red Plum. I date that and move on to the Grocery Store ads. I know Grocery Smarts will have the Albertsons & Smiths lists up so I generally browse through the Food 4 Less & Vons looking for the best deals. I always keep the ads until I actually go shopping because the stores will put coupons in those ads that you can't get anywhere else and they are usually really good coupons! Don't throw those away cause you could be missing out on some great deals. I shudder to think of how many Red Plums or great coupons I got rid of before I became a smart shopper! I used to dread junk mail day and now I can't wait for it to get here.

Sunday

2009-01-25T21:15:00.000-08:00

Here's what I'm looking for and excited to see when I go through my Sunday papers each week. Woo hoo!
I look for the SmartSource and any other coupon inserts then pull them out. Next I grab the Target, CVS, Walgreens, JoAnn & Michaels ads. I whip out my Sharpie & mark the date on the inserts then sit and comb through the other ads. Happiness! Don't forget to check your Parade & USA Weekend ads because they sometimes have coupons inside that you can clip out. This week there was one for 409 cleaner. Have you been one of the lucky ones to get an extra SmartSource in your paper? For as long as I've been doing this I haven't had it happen to me. (Still waiting/hoping to experience that!)

Here's What I'm Looking At

2009-01-21T16:50:00.000-08:00

Just thought I'd show you what I'm looking at in this week's grocery sale ads.

ALBERTSONS

There are a few items in the spend $20 get $5 off at checkout promo on the back of the ad that I need and have coupons for. (the new Banana Nut Cheerios & Cinnamon Chex cereals) The free 2 liter bottle of Cherry 7-up (reg or diet) offer on Jan 24th is one to check out for sure.

SMITHS

I'm overly excited about the buy 10 items get $5 instant savings @ checkout because of all the great products you can mix & match. My favorite item is the Green Giant Steamers. They are soooo good, low fat, and did I mention very INEXPENSIVE. I love eating them with steamed white rice. I will totally be stocking up on Goldfish for $0.99. Can't beat that! Also a good time to buy a block of Velveeta cheese to mix up with a can of chili for an awesome queso dip. (um, hello...Super Bowl Sunday coming up) Check out the great deal on Nature's Own Bread too. Grocery Smarts has both of these lists on the website and what coupons you need to get the rock-bottom prices.

FOOD 4 LESS

One store that we don't have a list for but I was excited about. I went there today to check out the Buy 7 and save $3 at checkout promo. Just a word to the wise...you must separate the transactions by 7 items each to earn the $3 off. Here's how I did:

The Aunt Jemima syrup, pancake mix, cereal, Quaker Oats, oatmeal & granola bars were all part of the buy 7 promo. The Top Ramen is a kid favorite around our house and they are $1.50 for a 12 pack. Chicken Noodle soup is $0.58 each, Rice-a-Roni is $1 each. I had coupons for everything except the Top Ramen. So I spent $24.43 for these 27 items. That averages out to $0.90 each! Not too bad. All of these sales started today and end on Tues so you have plenty of time to get out there and be a smart shopper!

Albertsons 8 Hour Sale--TODAY

2009-01-15T10:44:00.001-08:00

There are some great deals to be had during Albertsons 8 hour sale today from 1pm - 9pm. Go to Grocery Smarts & check out which 4 & 5 star deals you want then get on over to Albertsons so you can take advantage of the sale. You know I'll be there!

Target!

2009-01-14T19:48:00.000-08:00

Guess what you can get for $0.65 each @ Target this week?

Yes Pringles. The king sized can is $1.25 and if you go to Target.com you can print out 3 Target coupons for $0.50/1 then combine them with a manf. coupon for $0.30/3 from P&G 12/14. I love the printable coupons Target offers on their website and the fact that you can print as many as you want. It's even more fun to combine them with manf coupons during a sale and save BIG. Target also prints you out great catalinas (Target store coupons) at checkout. I use these all the time.Here's an example of things I've bought using Target printables & catalinas.Everything I purchased was on sale or had a manf coupon/catalina/Target coupon and cost me around $1.00 or less each except for the Gain fabric softener (which I was out of) & Heart Basket. I saved so much on everything else that it didn't hurt so much when I had to buy the Gain full price. (Still trying to get stocked up on that one) If you're wondering how to store all these little extra coupons check out Target's $1 section...right now they have coupon organizers that will fit right in your purse so you'll have them with you whenever you're doing your Target shopping.

2009 Coupon Insert Schedule

2009-01-11T17:12:00.000-08:00

Jan 4, 2009 2 Smart Source & 2 Red Plum
Jan 11, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum
Jan 18, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum
Jan 25, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum

Feb 1, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum, P &G
Feb 8, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum
Feb 15, 2009 NO INSERTS SCHEDULED - President's Day
Feb 22, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum

Mar 1, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum, P & G
Mar 8, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum
Mar 15, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum
Mar 22, 2009 Smart Source ONLY
Mar 29, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum

Apr 5, 2009 2 Smart source, Red Plum, P & G
Apr 5, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum
Apr 12, 2009 NO INSERTS SCHEDULED - Easter
Apr 19, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum
Apr 26, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum

May 3, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum
May 10, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum
May 17, 2009 2 Smart Source, Red Plum
May 24, 2009 NO INSERTS SCHEDULED - Memorial Day
May 31, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum

Jun 7, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum, P & G
Jun 14, 2009 Smart Source ONLY
Jun 21, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum
Jun 28, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum

Jul 5, 2009 NO INSERTS SCHEDULED - 4th of July (P&G ?)
Jul 12, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum
Jul 19, 2009 Smart Source ONLY
Jul 26, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum

Aug 2, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum, P & G
Aug 9, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum
Aug 16, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum
Aug 23, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum
Aug 30, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum

Sep 6, 2009 NO INSERTS SCHEDULED - Labor Day
Sep 13, 2009 Smart Source & 2 Red plum
Sep 20, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum
Sep 27, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum

Oct 4, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum, P & G
Oct 11, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum
Oct 18, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum
Oct 25, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum

Nov 1, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum, P & G
Nov 8, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum
Nov 15, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum
Nov 22, 2009 Smart Source ONLY
Nov 29, 2009 NO INSERTS SCHEDULED - Thanksgiving

Dec 6, 2009 Smart Source, Red Plum, P & G
Dec 13, 2009 Smart Source & Red Plum
Dec 20, 2009 NO INSERTS SCHEDULED - Christmas
Dec 27, 2009 NO INSERTS SCHEDULED - New Years

My Albertsons Trip & SAVINGS!

2009-01-09T17:56:00.000-08:00

I had a killer trip to Albertsons! Did I say I love this sale? I do!

I separated my items into 5 transactions. The first 4 had items that were included in the buy $30 earn $15 promotion, and the final transaction was items on sale or with various promotions (the buy 2 Smuckers or Jif & get a free loaf of bread & buy 10 Yoplait Yogurts & get 10 free). I earned my $15.00 vouchers and would roll them into the next transaction and ended up with an extra $15.00 in vouchers as a bonus I didn't even know about. Woo hoo! Here's my breakdown:

Total Bill: $267.04 Spent: $86.94 Saved: $180.10

That's a 67% savings or 79 items for $1.10 each! Plus I still have $15.00 in credit right now to use at Albertsons on my next trip. Maybe I should go back before this sale is over. FYI... there were coupons on the display where the Halls Cough Drops were for BOGO so I grabbed 2 of those and used 2 $0.50 off and ended up getting 4 bags for $0.98 or $0.24 each! Keep your eyes open for those. I can't wait to hear about your Albertsons trip. Send me an email! If you haven't been to a class yet...let's get you going so you can save big too.

Big Deals at Albertsons

2009-01-07T23:49:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited for the Albertsons promo this week...
The spend $30 get $15! It's on the back page of the sale ad and you can check out the Grocery Smarts list to see for yourself just how many 4 & 5 star deals there are. I LOVE this promo. They had one like it in November and I stocked up on so much but spent so, so, so little! I think this one is even better because there are such great items included in the sale. Not just the typical granola bars, cake mixes, frosting and cereal but seriously cool name brand items like Pampers, Cascade, Gain, Bounty and Tide!! The main thing to remember is that you have to separate your $30.00 transactions to earn more than one $15.00 voucher. You can only earn one per transaction. Just use that plastic divider bar at checkout. It may take a little more planning at home before you go but so worth it in the end. I can't wait to get there and score some great deals!

Back To Smart Shopping

2009-01-05T23:45:00.000-08:00

Did you get your 3 inserts in the Sunday paper yesterday? That's right, 3 inserts...Yippee! Now I'm all rested after the Holidays and ready to get back to Smart Shopping. The Nestle promotion at Albertsons (ending tomorrow) has been great so if you haven't had a chance to get over there you might try and check it out. Hopefully we'll get some killer sales this week so we can dig into all our new inserts. I can't wait.

No Insert Reminder & 2 Red Plums!

2008-12-30T23:29:00.000-08:00

Just another reminder that there are no coupon inserts in the RJ Sunday paper 12/21/08 & 12/28/08. I guess Red Plum made up for their 2 weeks of no inserts. I got my junk mail today and lo and behold...2 Red Plum inserts! Actually my sister called and scooped me that she had just got 2 inserts in her mail. Now I'm wondering (& hoping) for 2 SmartSource inserts sometime soon. Guess we'll have to see about that. Even just one insert in the paper will be fine with me...I'm so ready to have inserts again! Be sure to check the Grocery Smarts lists tomorrow for the new store lists.

Walgreens Trip

2008-12-24T11:24:00.000-08:00

I ran to Walgreens this morning and scored this awesome deal.

I spent $3.17 for these 7 items which works out to $0.45 each! Now I can stay home, do some baking with the kids, and get ready for Christmas. I probably won't post much for the rest of the week so I can just enjoy Christmas time with my family. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and wonderful Holiday.

Food 4 Less...Who Knew?

2008-12-23T11:59:00.000-08:00

Wow! I had no idea of the deals to be had at Food 4 Less. I went with my Grocery Smarts list but NO COUPONS and still had a great shopping trip. Here's what I got:
10 lbs russet potatoes $2.48, half ham for $0.87lb, 2lbs apples for $0.98, celery $0.68, then various odds & ends that I needed and I knew were a good price. My total bill was $28.59 for 18 items!! Not too bad. You just have to spend $20.00 to get the ham for $0.87. That's why I got the 2lbs of beef stew meat. It was $5.43 and I needed it for a meal I'm making on Christmas Eve. This trip totally made up for my trip to CVS that was a bust because they were out of all the things I went to get. Just remember on Grocery Smarts the Food 4 Less list is under the "other lists" and it's definitely worth a look.

No Coupon Inserts Today

2008-12-21T22:15:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder that there were no coupon inserts in the paper today and there will be no insert next Sunday as well as no Red Plum in the junk mail last week and we won't get one this week either. Two weeks with no new coupons! Hopefully SmartSource will be good to us on 1/04/09 and give us 2 separate inserts (which they do occasionally) or General Mills or Campbell's will throw one in. One good thing from today's paper was the CVS ad. I'm excited about their ECB offers for Sunday 12/21 & Monday 12/22. I hope to get to CVS tomorrow to check out some of those deals.

Albertsons & Smiths Deals

2008-12-19T22:00:00.000-08:00

So so sorry for the non-posting all week. I had to finish up my Christmas shopping, attend parties, dinners, a Parent Teacher Conference, Doctor's appointment, get Christmas cards sent and enjoy the RARE snowfall here. I have done (with the help of my hubby--part of the reason why there are no pics of the items) a little bit of Albertsons shopping too. Now's the time to shop if you need a ham for your Holiday Dinner. I also used my in-ad store coupon for the Diet Coke and as if I didn't have enough cereal the Kellogg's deals were great and we stocked up on the Powerade too.
My next trip will be to Smiths for: 5lb bag of Russet potatoes $1.29, Philadelphia cream cheese 8oz $1.00, Kroger frozen pie shells 2 pack $1.00.
I will probably hit either Albertsons or Smiths again for another ham so I'll have an extra in the freezer.

What's In Your Pantry?

2008-12-14T20:56:00.000-08:00

I thought it might be fun to share recipes that use products I (and a lot of you) have in my pantry after shopping the sales and stocking up. A few months ago I signed up for the Betty Crocker email newsletter and pretty soon I started getting emails from them full of great recipes using many of the products I had purchased at various sales. Recently, I went back to their website and found that you can search for recipes by products. (click HERE to see) So fun! I found a great recipe using their chocolate chip cookie mix.
Here's what I made:
These are the Luscious Layer Bars. Click HERE for recipe.
The ingredients I used from my pantry:
1 pkg Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix $0.75 - Albertsons current sale
1 cup Nestle Butterscotch Morsels (bag)$1.25 - Vons sale 11/10/08
1 cup Hershey's Milk Chocolate Chips (bag)$0.70 - Albertsons sale 10/08
1 Egg -$0.99 (dozen) - Smiths sale 12/08/08
1 can sweetened condensed milk $1.05 - Smiths sale 11/09/08
1 cup flaked coconut (bag) $? - unknown sale - already had in pantry
(I didn't use walnuts)
Not only did I use things I had on hand, I was able to make a delicious treat for around $3.25. How great is that during Holiday Baking time?

Have You Been to Vons?

2008-12-12T08:18:00.000-08:00

Last night I made a mad dash (literally...we only had 20 minutes) to Vons with my friend Dyanne. She wanted to add Frosted Flakes to her mega cereal stash-- currently around 30 boxes. We quickly checked the Grocery Smarts list, grabbed our coupons, went to Vons, shopped, checked out and came back home with time to spare. I spent $5.01 and saved $24.38. That works out to 82% savings!!!
Grocery Smarts has Vons on the "other stores" list. Check out the Kellogg's promotion to see how to get Frosted Flakes for $0.29 and apples for $0.79 lb. If you aren't sure how to use the Grocery Smarts website, you can schedule a FREE class for you & your friends where I'll teach you how. Just call or email me for more info.

This Week at Target...

2008-12-11T13:26:00.000-08:00

If you need crackers, cookies or snacky food let me tell you about my shopping trip to Target this week. They have a promotion going now for various Keebler crackers & snacks. They are all on sale (prices vary) and if you buy 5 you get a $5.00 Target Gift Card. I had coupons from a booklet I picked up @ Albertsons awhile back and also from 12/14 RedPlum. Here's what I bought:

10 Keebler snacks = $23.88
- 3.00 Mnfcpn
- 5.00 Target gift card
- 5.00 Target gift card
= 10.88 total or $1.08 each item!
You don't have to separate the transactions to get multiple gift cards. You could, and then use your $5.00 gift card to pay for the next transaction of Keebler snacks and earn another $5.00. Whatever works for you, it's still a great deal. The sale ends Sat 12/13/08.

Time to Roll...at Walgreens

2008-12-09T19:52:00.000-08:00

I couldn't wait to post this shopping trip to Walgreens. I swear I jumped out of the car, put my stuff on the counter snapped a picture and started typing! This is a little bit of advanced couponing with rolling transactions. I purchased these 15 items for $10.60 and saved $31.68. That's 74% savings!!

Basically I paid $0.70 for each item! 12 packs of Diet Coke for what??? This is definitely a Show Off shopping trip. You can get great deals at Walgreens & CVS by using the Grocery Smarts lists. I also offer tutoring in advance couponing as a class incentive. For more info check out my previous post by clicking HERE.

P&G Coupon Booklet by Mail

2008-12-09T12:05:00.000-08:00

I had a Red Plum and P&G Brandsaver in my junk mail today. Woo hoo! If you get one, check on the first page of the P&G Brandsaver where you'll see a coupon booklet offer. It looks like this:
Basically if you purchase $50.00 worth of P&G products anytime between 12/14/08 - 1/31/09 they will send you a coupon booklet with $120.00 worth of P&G savings. Too bad all those P&G items we just bought at Albertsons were before the 14th! I have several P&G items that I use and I have found that it's pretty hard to always have coupons for them so I'm excited about this offer. I frequently buy Pampers diapers so I should get up to the $50.00 in no time flat. I'm also a loyal user of Gain detergent and Bounty paper towels. Remember in class how we talk about "brand loyalty" and only using specific products? Well here's your chance to get extra coupons if you are loyal to P&G products. Just read and follow the requirements exactly as stated in the ad and you should have no trouble. I can't wait for mine!

Expired Coupons

2008-12-08T22:43:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder if there was something you could do with your expired coupons instead of throwing them away? Probably not. I've been doing a little research and found a good use for them. Did you know that Military families can use expired manufacturers coupons for up to 6 months after the expiration date? When they are stationed out of the U.S. they don't have access to coupons like we do and rely totally on donated coupons mailed to them. I'm still learning as much as I can because I'd love to mail mine to a family who really needs to save money. Imagine if we didn't have our inserts that are stuffed full of coupons. Sad! If you are interested in donating your expired coupons to Military families do a little searching on the Internet. One website with lots of info and worth a look is http://www.ocpnet.org/. It's another good way to use coupons and a great opportunity to support our Troops & their families.

Alphabetical Coupon Index

2008-12-05T09:04:00.001-08:00

A new feature was added to Grocery Smarts website that will help you get even MORE savings and value out of your coupons! Once you've entered the passport and are on the page with the Nevada map, look just below the website logo and you'll find a link that says "Alphabetical Coupon Index". Click on it to find a full listing of ALL current coupons that have been released in our area through the Review Journal AND the direct mail.How do you use it? It is simple... if you need or are planning to buy something that isn't on a list and you want to know if you have a coupon for it, just pull up the Index and scroll through it alphabetically until you find what you are looking for. If there is a coupon for what you are looking for, it'll tell you what the coupon value is and what week it was published! So, you need some Benadryl for a sick kiddo? If you were to check the index, you'd find: Benadryl Allergy Product, any (except trial size) $1/1 (12/28/08) RP-9/28
AWESOME, HUH? This list will be updated weekly with new coupons and expired ones will be pulled out.
CLICK HERE TO CHECK IT OUT

Super Double Deal!

2008-12-05T00:06:00.000-08:00

I made it over to K-Mart tonight. They were out of some of the things I wanted but I still saved--BIG TIME. I grabbed 2 boxes of rice krispies and on the boxes were coupons for $1.00 off of any brand and size bag of marshmallows. (Remember previous post?...coupons everywhere...) So after the sale prices and double coupons, here's what I got for $3.45!!!!

Rice Krispies = $0.50 each, Biz = $1.99, Marshmallows = FREE! I'm adding this trip to my smart shopping "Show Off" savings. (Click HERE) I think this trip is definitely worth showing off. Do you have any show off trips on current sales you'd like to share? Email me the info with a picture. Be sure to include the date, the name of the store where you shopped and a breakdown of your transaction. I'll post the best show offs on my blog each week.

8 Hour Sales

2008-12-04T09:47:00.000-08:00

Albertsons & Smith's have 8 hour sales today. Smith's 8 hour is on the Grocery Smarts list and there are a couple of 4 & 5 star items worth checking out. I'm looking at:
Smiths dozen large eggs $0.99
Kroger semi-sweet baking chips 6 oz $0.50 (I hope the mini chips are included)
These deals are only good today from 3pm to 11pm. Albertsons 8 hour is today from 1pm to 9pm. I'm interested in:
Kellogg's cereal (corn pops, corn flakes, froot loops, raisin bran) $1.50 use $1/1 coupon corn pops or froot loops RP 11/9 = $0.50!
Tostitos Chips 2/$3.00 limit 2
Albertsons shredded cheese 3/$5.00 ($1.66 each)
So if you were planning on shopping today be sure to check out the 8 hour deals.

Coupons Everywhere!

2008-12-03T22:16:00.000-08:00

When I teach a Grocery Smarts class I tell everyone that the bulk of our coupons come in the Sunday paper, but that there are coupons everywhere. So in addition to your SmartSources and various (General Mills, Campbell's) inserts in the paper you may get Red Plums or Proctor & Gambles in your junk mail. On the Grocery Smart website there are links to printable coupons and links to different companies that have coupons available as well. But it doesn't stop there. Once your conscious of coupons you will notice them all over the place. I was at the front desk of the local Rec Center signing my daughter up for Romper Room and there was a stack of $1.50 off coupons for Clorox cleaning products. The receptionist told me to take as many as I wanted. WHHAAAA? Are you kidding me? In keeping with RULE #2 of my class (have enough coupons for each member of your family...) I took 4 then grabbed another one because I could and I use those products all the time. You can buy All You magazine at Wal-Mart and it's filled with great coupons. I like to give these to my hostesses as gifts. Here's what it looks like:
The little booklet on the right was near a display of baking items at Albertsons. They sometimes have booklets like these around the store. I always pick 'em up to check for coupons or good recipes and take 4 whenever possible. So keep your eyes open for coupons when you're flipping through magazines or see the blinking lights on the grocery isle. Just remember that they won't be listed on the Grocery Smarts website so you will have to keep track of them.

Update on double coupons

2008-12-03T15:12:00.000-08:00

I was worrying about the whole double coupon thing so I emailed Kmart yesterday to clarify the policy. I wrote:

"I'm just trying to clarify your Double Coupon policy. I'm in Henderson, NV and the sale ad states that K-Mart will double coupons up to and including $2.00. But the management at the store said $2.00 coupons would not be doubled to $4.00 but to $3.99 then retracted and said $2.00 coupons would not be doubled at all. Could you please tell me which policy is correct. From my understandingof the K-Mart sale ad the $2.00 coupons were including in the doubling and should be worth $4.00. Thank you for your help and for having the double coupon event."

This is the email I got back today:

Dear Stacie,
Thank you for contacting Kmart regarding the Kmart Double Coupon Event. We appreciate your interest in this promotion.The current event is 11/30/08-12/06/08 and includes all Kmart stores.Up to and including $2.00 value. Amount of credit from doubling a couponcannot exceed the retail price of the item. Only one coupon can be doubled per item. A limit of up to and including 4 coupons on 4 identical items including varieties may be credited per customer per day. Other coupons for the same item will be redeemed at face value. No cash or in-store purchase credit will be awarded for double coupon amounts above the retail price of an item. Limit 75 total coupons per customer per day. Offer excludes products prohibited by law. Not valid toward previous purchase. In the event of a return, coupon savings may be deducted from refund may not be used in combination with any other offer. Not valid for online purchases. Prices effective only at select stores. Coupons will not be doubled for non-merchandise items, concessions, federal or state regulated items, and prior purchases. Kmart reserves the right to modify or cancel this program at any time.Thank you for taking the time to contact us. We appreciate your business and value you as a Sears Holdings customer. We certainly hope you will continue to make Sears Holdings your choice for quality and value.Sincerely, Brooke G. National Customer RelationsSears Holdings Corporation
Re: Double Coupons (KMM2289768I15977L0KM)
Wednesday, December 3, 2008 12:52 PM
From: "Kmart Help" help@customerservice.kmart.com

Now we have official word from K-Mart! Whew.

Be Careful

2008-12-02T14:03:00.000-08:00

Just a little buyer beware for you. The double coupon deals at K-Mart can be tricky. Some people are having trouble with them doubling the $2.00 coupons. Be very cautious when you go there. I have heard that management at one store said they will only double up to $2 so you would not get $4 off. Another scenario I heard about was that someone received $1.99 for their $2 coupon giving them a total of $3.99 off. I haven't been to K-Mart for a shopping trip yet but when I go I am going to make a list with a subtotal of what I expect to pay and if the total at checkout is not close to that amount, I will head on over to customer service. I generally don't shop at K-Mart because I find that they are a tad more expensive and I can get better deals somewhere else. I only listed deals that I thought were worth a trip- if you use those products and are near a store. Just remember to be careful!

Super K-Mart Double Coupon Deals

2008-12-01T13:49:00.000-08:00

I checked out the Super K ad online for good deals during their double coupon week and here's a couple more deals that look good to me.

Lipton/Knorr rice or pasta side dishes $1.00 (.75/2 Lipton/Knorr side dishes RP 11/16) = $0.25 each!
Lysol spray $2.66 ($1/1 Lysol disinfectant spray SS 11/09) = $0.66!
Ziploc 2-5-ct food containers $2.50 ($1.50/2 Ziploc food containers SS 10/12, SS 11/2) = $1.00 each

I know there are more but I can't post them until I verify the coupon amounts and where they are located. Of course I'll share the info with you as soon as I have it.

Coupons - NO. Sale Ads - YES!

2008-11-30T21:00:00.000-08:00

Sad sad day for us Smart Shoppers. There was no coupon insert in the paper today but...there were sale ads and one that caught my eye was the K-Mart DOUBLE COUPON ad! Make sure you read the restrictions printed at the bottom front page of the ad. (like no internet coupons) Basically K-Mart will double your coupon amount up to and including $2.00 this week 11/30/08 - 12/06/08. For example:
$1.00 coupon = $2.00
$2.00 coupon = $4.00
Here's a couple of K-Mart deals I'm excited about:

Gillette Body Wash $4.00 ($2/1 Gillette Body Wash P&G 11/30)=FREE!
Kellogg's 9-20oz selected cereals $2.50 ($1/1 Kellogg's cereal listed on coupon RP 11/9)=$0.50

I'm also going to check and see if there are other items on sale at Super K-Mart that aren't in the sale ad. If I see any deals too good to pass up I'll post them.

Show Off!

2008-11-25T17:05:00.000-08:00

So this will probably be my favorite section of the blog. It's the "Show Off" our smart shopper savings area where we can share info and brag about super shopping trips. Here's a show off of mine:

Smith's 11/09/08 Total bill: $115.70 Spent: $38.48 Saved: $77.22 (67%)

You wanna show off too? I'd love to hear about your shopping trips. Email me a picture of the items you purchased with a breakdown of your transaction (date, store where you shopped, total bill amount, savings/coupon amount, what you spent out of pocket) and I'll post the best show offs on my blog.

Saving Without Coupons

2008-11-24T16:45:00.000-08:00

Using Grocery Smarts can save you money even if you don't have coupons. You'll find that when you start saving your inserts it takes time to get your coupon stash built up and sometimes there are items on sale with no coupons available for them. My shopping trip today was a perfect example. I prepared my shopping list for Smith's with the Grocery Smarts website. There were quite a few 4 or 5 star items on sale for $1.00 that I needed but didn't have coupons for.

Total bill: $102.52
Fresh Values Savings $51.31
Manf. Coupons $7.02
Total OOP $44.01
That's a total savings of $58.51 or 57%.

I even bought a 16-20 pound turkey and 2lbs ground beef. I also had a $30.00 gift certificate which I used on this transaction so I actually only paid $14.01. This was good savings without many coupons. So while you're busy adding coupons to your collection you can use the Grocery Smarts website and know you're getting a good deal.

Coupon Insert Schedule

2008-11-23T21:43:00.000-08:00

After attending a Grocery Smarts class, many of you will become subscribers to the Review Journal. We all want those Sunday coupon inserts of course! This last week there was no Red Plum in the mail and I (being coupon obsessed) was so bumbed out. Thank goodness there is a Coupon Insert Schedule on the Grocery Smarts Nevada main page (where you select your store from the drop down bar.) Just scroll down a little and it's there on the right hand side. Now you'll be prepared for those tough no insert days. Here's the schedule for the rest of 2008.
November 23rd: SS
November 30th: No Issue
December 7th: SS, RP, PG
December 14th: SS, RP
December 21st: No Issue
December 28th: No Issue
NOT excited about those 3 no issue days, but hopefully we'll have some smokin' hot sales to make up for it.

Get to Class!

2008-11-22T15:13:00.000-08:00

Are you ready to learn how to be a Smart Shopper? Do you want to save more money than you spend at the grocery store? It's never too late to get started! Here are a couple of incentives I offer if you book a class with me.
For hostesses: Schedule a class and have 8 or more new people attend, you receive a $20 gift card to Albertsons or Smiths. If 12 or more new people attend you receive the gift card and a personal tutoring session with me in advanced couponing for you & 1 friend. Attending a class is the best way to learn about Grocery Smarts and how to use the free website. Let's get you going right away. Call or email me for more info.

Watch Grocery Smarts on TV!

2008-11-21T14:50:00.000-08:00

Great news! If you want to learn more about what Grocery Smarts is or how to use it, KVBC News 3 (local NBC affiliate, channel 3) interviewed GS Instructor Mandi and went shopping with one of her students to show how it all works. The air dates will be:
Segment 1 (Mandi's Interview): Mon Nov. 24
Morning News - 5 to 7am
Noon News - 11 to noon
Segment 2 (Shopping with Michelle): Tues Nov 25
Morning News - 5 to 7amNoon News - 11 to noon
We are really excited for you to check it out!

I Love Target

2008-11-21T10:30:00.000-08:00

O.K. Here's my confession. I am and have always been a Target Girl. That is, I LOVE TARGET! I was thrilled in July 2008 when a new one opened near me in Henderson. This place rocks. It's huge, new, clean and...has an expanded (large) grocery section. The shopping carts alone are worth the trip. You've gotta take a little spin around the store with one. So cool! My favorite time to go there is somewhere between 8:00p.m - 10:00p.m. I head to the Food Avenue to get my REFILLABLE diet coke and start cruising, always starting at the killer dollar section. The store is quiet and almost empty...ahhh my happy place. BUT--since becoming a Smart Shopper I have spent much less time and money at Target. There are still good deals there and Target.com has printable store coupons that you can combine with Manufacturers Coupons and get serious discounts. (Especially when it's a clearance item) So I must dedicate some of this blog space to my beloved Target. I'll let you know the sale prices I'm excited about each week.

Let Me Explain

2008-11-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

Hi! I'm starting this blog to keep you up to date with the latest scoop on good deals, smart shopping, and ways you can save money. I'm a Certified Grocery Smarts Instructor and I'm excited to share info and tips with you. I can teach you how to lower your grocery bill and stock up the pantry without breaking your budget. It works for me, my family members, and lots of my friends. I'll have some "Show Off" posts where we can share our Smart Shopper savings. You'll be amazed at how much you can buy without spending a fortune. You can call or email me for more info or to schedule/attend a class.
If you are new to shopping smart, this is the best place to begin...How do I shop smart? It is so easy! I use a free website service that helps me plan my weekly shopping list. Then, I get coupon inserts from the Sunday paper (1 for each person in my family, I get 4). And, by combining the online shopping lists with the coupons, I save hundreds of dollars each month on my groceries! Four papers seems like a lot, but don't worry... at my classes I teach you how to cut your grocery bill in half AND can also hook you up with a sweet deal on the Review Journal! Continue reading or check out my "FAQ's" post to learn more. Did you already attend a class? So, you just attended my Coupon Class and you're pumped up to save and are excited to get started! This blog is a good way for me to stay connected with you, give ongoing support and post ideas to keep you as motivated next month as you are today.
Where do you go from here?First things first... you need to get over to the Grocery Smarts website and print off a shopping list! If you just started a newspaper subscription to get the coupons, you'll have to be patient for the first few weeks while your collection of coupons grows. Each Sunday you'll get more inserts and each week you'll find yourself saving more. Within about a month to six weeks, you will have a nice pile of inserts to pull coupons from and will start noticing a real difference on what you spend at the store.
Then, over the course of the next few months, you'll notice your panty will start filling up. Your drawers will start filling up and every spare spot you have on a shelf or in a cupboard will be filled with the food and products your family consumes each day. You will love how much you are saving and that you have a nice stash of family supplies and food storage that builds each week. It'll be so satisfying to know you did it for less, much less!
So, bookmark my blog and check back often for info, tips and to see what I buy each week from the lists. By seeing my scenerios, it'll help give you ideas on how you can better use the list to maximize your savings. Welcome aboard!

FAQ'S

2008-11-21T00:24:00.000-08:00

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Grocery Smarts?

Many shoppers who want to save money at the grocery store spend hours scouring over the ads and digging through piles of coupons to find what matches up. Grocery Smarts puts an end to all of that craziness and simply matches local store ads to current coupons (found in the Sunday paper) in an easy to use list. The list is updated each week as new ads are released and even links you instantly to any online printable coupons that are out there. Using an easy "5 Star" rating system, the list even tells you which deals are the BEST deals! And, the greatest part about these lists is they are free! Free for anyone to use, anytime... and you don't even have to register or fork over your email address to use the service. Nice, huh?

How can I learn how to use the lists?

The best way to learn how to use the store lists is to attend a class. If you haven't ever been invited to one, consider hosting your own! In-home classes work the best, so grab your friends and family to attend and contact me to book one anytime!

What's a class like?

Classes generally last about an hour (depending on how chatty the ladies get). In that time, I teach you the benefits of shopping the sales, show you how to do it, and give you recommendations on how to stay organized. It's not complicated or difficult to learn because the list does all the hard work for you.

How much time will I have to spend clipping coupons?

Virtually none! Seriously, the Grocery Smarts big wigs came up with literally a "5 minute" method that'll keep you organized, yet not feeling overwhelmed. You only cut what you need, when you need it!

Is it really worth it?

It is for me (and lots of my friends and family)! I've been couponing for awhile and my grocery budget is in good check and my pantry is full. My favorite part about shopping this way is I actually get to buy nicer brands. No more generics for me... nothing beats a name brand item when it's on sale and has a coupon to boot! Just check out my trophy receipts (the ones where I save more than I spent)! Seriously, I love to show them off!

So... What's the catch?

Several other similar online shopping services charge users a monthly membership fee to access their coupon matching service. However, in an effort to be a head above the rest, the founders of Grocery Smarts didn’t think charging a monthly fee to families who are trying to save money made any sense at all. They started thinking outside the box and realized that regardless of what service you use, in order to shop smart and to do it right, you need multiple sets of coupons from the Sunday paper. They thought, "Why charge a fee to the user… when the newspaper sits right in the middle directly benefiting from the concept we teach?" So, the Grocery Smarts big wigs presented their concept to the Review Journal. They quickly realized that when we teach our classes, we naturally refer new subscribers to the paper. So, you can imagine how quickly they jumped on the opportunity to open their market up to moms like us who typically wouldn't be getting the paper at all.
So here's the long and short of it... At the class, as I teach you the concept of shopping smart and show you how you can use the website to save money at the store. And, because having the right amount of coupons (1 set for each person in your household) is such a key part of saving big, it makes sense for me to hook you up with the papers you need at the class. I offer the Review Journal at amazing prices to anyone not currently taking the paper, plus can get you up to 4 more additional Sunday papers delivered to your door for less than a buck a week! And that's why the class is free... I make money based on how many new subscriptions I turn into the Review Journal. So, I guess we can all thank them for stepping up, getting involved and helping Grocery Smarts keep the classes and website FREE for everyone!

The Smart Shopper Saves

No Sunday Inserts

Sunflower Market

Other Sunday Paper Coupons--#2

Other Sunday Paper Coupons

HELLO!

Kraft Coupons

Big News From Grocery Smarts

Coupon Links

Albertsons 8 Hour Sale--TODAY

Excited to Shop

New Lists Coming

On Sale This Week

Junk Mail

Shopping Trips, Easter Clearance

NO Inserts Today

Under $7 Shopping Trips

Albertsons 8 Hour Sale - TODAY

Smiths Case Lot Sale

Inserts!

Sunday Coupons

Some of My Shopping "Rules"

Red Plum-NO...P&G-YES!

Pinching Your Pennies

Smiths Savings

Where Have I Been?

70% SAVINGS at Vons

Sunday Paper COUPONS!

Computer Down

Albertsons Trip #2 = 85% SAVINGS

91% SAVINGS at CVS!

Albertsons Teaser

This Week's Sales

CVS

No Inserts This Week

Vons

My February Calendar

Smiths

Albertsons 8 Hour Sale--TODAY!

Missing Papers

Junk Mail

Sunday

Here's What I'm Looking At

Albertsons 8 Hour Sale--TODAY

Target!

2009 Coupon Insert Schedule

My Albertsons Trip & SAVINGS!

Big Deals at Albertsons

Back To Smart Shopping

No Insert Reminder & 2 Red Plums!

Walgreens Trip

Food 4 Less...Who Knew?

No Coupon Inserts Today

Albertsons & Smiths Deals

What's In Your Pantry?

Have You Been to Vons?

This Week at Target...

Time to Roll...at Walgreens

P&G Coupon Booklet by Mail

Expired Coupons

Alphabetical Coupon Index

Super Double Deal!

8 Hour Sales

Coupons Everywhere!

***Update on double coupons***

Be Careful

Super K-Mart Double Coupon Deals

Coupons - NO. Sale Ads - YES!

Show Off!

Saving Without Coupons

Coupon Insert Schedule

Get to Class!

Watch Grocery Smarts on TV!

I Love Target

Let Me Explain

FAQ'S

Update on double coupons