New Year - More Snow

The snow has been beautiful and plentiful so it's okay with me if we don't have anymore this year :) How about you? The kids were even looking forward to getting back to school!
The savings though ended last year kinda slow and haven't picked up much speed YET! There have been a few at each store and so you take what you can get. I would have to say the store (that is on my normal stop list)  I have been in the least is Bi-Lo and the store I have been in the most would be RiteAid. I don't think I have done a complete shopping trip in months mainly due to finances but also I do the deals and thats my stock so after 2 years of doing coupons I was pretty well stocked to survive the winter without much shopping. Also, we had a very kind friend who shared part of a deer, so that stocked the freezer with meat.
RiteAid, is about where CVS was 1 - 2 yrs ago. Slamming the deals every week and adding a savings card, printing UP rewards (like ECB). They are still working out the kinks and figuring out how all this couponing is affecting what they sell and how much they want to give away, but all in all it has been fun.
Some things I've pondered and learned over the last couple of years has changed the way I am going to try to coupon the year also. Before, if it was on sale and near free with coupon it went in the cart. Now, if it's a good food item, it still goes in the cart, and gets donated if our family won't use it. If it's meds, I only buy if my family or someone I know can use it, I haven't found an outlet to donate much of that. Bathroom items make great gift baskets, so I do stock all those that are near free, free, or money maker (rebates). I used to make sure I had 10 papers (buy in Atlanta - they are cheaper) because I used too much variety to order (I only order if I want more of a paticular item). Now I have cut that back to 6 or 8. And yes, it's well worth the $1.50 I pay for the AJC (AJC double stacks are $3).
Also, last year I joined just about every site that offered something free, points for use, or had info. So far, I see that excitement slowing too. You can spread yourself so thin that you can't decide where you want to go today. Does that make sense? Now, don't get me wrong. I would love to jump on great deals offered on Eversave.com or mamapedia.com or nomorerack.com or groupon.com not counting all the photo deals that were offered through kodak.com shutterfly.com etc etc etc but finances only allow for so much and you have to sit on your hands alot when all these are sitting in your inbox enticing you. HA HA! Okay Okay, I love to save - you should love to save - lesson here is just don't get overwhelmed because then you might drop it all and that would not be good on the budget either! :)
Okay - I'm stopping here because I did not intend to write a book just wanted to show where my journey has taken me and where I hope to be this year while SAVING tons! See you there!

Elmer's CraftIt club and sweepstakes

Did you know Elmer's has a Craft It club?? Well, they do and supposedly they send you samples and such to share with you. So just go HERE to join.

Also there is a sweepstakes you sign up for to win 2 $500 Walmart gift cards for your crafting needs.

Just thought you'd like to know !

BzzAgent Campaign: Elmer's Crafter's

Yes, I'm a BzzAgent. What's that you say?? Well, it's this great program where different companies go thru http://www.bzzagent.com/ by offering samples, coupons, etc of their products. Then the BzzAgent (me :) gets to review them and give my honest opinion of how I liked them.

This campaign just started, so all I've done is joined the campaign. Soon thought a package will arrive with samples and coupons for me to share with you. So leave a comment below if you want to hear more once my package arrives.

Have you ever used Elmer's or Xacto crafter's products?? Please tell us about which ones you've used and how you liked them! That would be awesome!

Whew!! Time flies!!

I never expected to take this long to blog again but summer can take a busy turn. Now that school is back in session I am going to try to take on a better schedule and also since there were a few more to join the coupon brigade after hosting the classes maybe there will be more reasons to blog. Please post comments so I know there is a reason for doing this, otherwise I'm just filling up cyber space with hot air, and we all know there is too much of that already :). Thanks!

Freebies 1st week of May

RiteAid
First let me say that I was completely wrong on previous post about the covergirl makeup being on sale last week. It is on sale B1G1 this week!!! So go now and use those coupons and get 2 free per coupon you use.
Unadvertised: Nivea Body wash is on sale for $3.99 - $4 (womens) cpn ss 5/2 = Free or mens is $3cpn = $0.99.
I've seen some stores have easter candy 90% off so great stockup for the freezer
Midol ib pm is $5.49 reg. price - $3 in ad  coupon - $3 manu. cpn = free with overage
Vitamin water $1 - $1/2 = $0.50
Kotex or carefree liners $1 - $1 manu cpns = free (the kotex has a video value cpn on RiteAid.com)

CVS
Nivea body wash is free here also after ECB so a great week to stock up. If Riteaid or cvs are out of stock make sure to get a raincheck
see southernsavers.com but there are toothpastes you can get for $0.25 - $0.50 each

Bi-Lo
New ad starts Tues. and it doesn't look any better than last week. The question that is lingering on other sites is have they given up. Are they going to close more stores?? I for one hope not because I do love Bi-Lo, it's clean, has good customer service for the most part, and hopefully can keep sales coming. I know this economy is super tough and I hope they can keep sticking it out with the rest of us.

Walgreens
Sure deo has an in ad coupon for $2/$3 and  there is a manu. cpn for $1.50 = FREE plus some have the TMF stickers for a rebate = profit
Some stores have lots of clearance and it's not always at the end caps so I search every aisle. I have gotten so much free or close to free just by going in and checking there clearance. For example Toilet paper was clearance to $0.99 one time (no not walgreens brand) but Cottenelle and Charmin basics 9 rolls!!! Stockpile time. Yesterday I got bandaids for the school for $0.37 a box regular $6. Diapers were $1 from $5 etc. etc
Nivea is also a money maker here after RR's

Have fun this week and see how much money you can save!!!

Rite Aid week of 4/25

Covergirl makeup will be B1G1 again and there are B1g1 Cpns out there - so that mean lots of free makeup and if you use the $5/$25 cpns that means lots of free other merchandise like milk, bread, toilet paper, etc., etc, etc

Free Dawn

Don't forget that Bi-Lo has Dawn dish detergent for $1 on their bonus buys list. There are rare $0.50 cpns out there, so hurry and stock up - and don't forget those rainchecks!!