Rite-Aid, Tues. 9/28/10, Wed. 9/29/10, Fri. 10/1/10

Rite-Aid is rapidly becoming a favorite store for me in the land of no doubles. There are several Rite-Aids close by (we only had one back in Nashville)! I managed to do three separate transactions. One of these will qualify for the Beauty for all ages rebate ($10 rebate).

TOTAL: $207.25

TOTAL OUT OF POCKET AFTER COUPONS AND REBATES: $14.83

SAVINGS: 93%

GENERATED $26 in UP REWARDS

NOTE: For the newbies in my area......Final balance is $14.83 but since I generated $26 in UP rewards then I actually made $11.17. This means that Rite-Aid paid me $11.17 to take these items. I will roll the $11.17 into my Rite-Aid transaction next week.

NOTE: Just noticed that 3 of my Oral-b/Crest UP Rewards didn't print. I'll call customer service tomorrow to find out if they can send them to me. That means that I should have received $6 more UP Rewards. If they will not give me the rewards then I will return the toothbrushes on my next visit. Follow-up: I called customer service and they indicated that there is a limit of 2 on the toothbrushes but that the toothpaste was unlimited. They are going to send me one more $2 UP Reward in the mail.

NOTE: For the newbies.....my total is so high because I have two RoC Skincare items in this shop and they are expensive (about $20 each). French skincare.....oooh-la-la!

NOTE: I went to three different Rite-Aids to do these shops. This may seem excessive to many of you newbies who don't feel as though you have time to stop three times. Let me assure you that each shop took less than 10 minutes. I did two of the shops while Jason and I and the kids were coming home from an evening out together; I just happened to spot a Rite-Aid while we were either driving to our destination or coming home. We keep games and fun stuff in the car for everyone (including Jason) so that they don't mind if I stop every now and then when we encounter a store that has some good deals that week. I didn't actually plan to stop three times. My hubby doesn't mind because he knows that I will be quick about getting in and out and it enables him to have some free time to read or listen to an audio book or play a game with the kids (it's important to establish a pattern of "non-lingering" if you want to earn the trust of your spouse on this issue). This system works for me but it may not work for everyone. You will have to find time in your schedule to fit in your shops. There are some weeks that I have time and other weeks when I don't have time. The key is being able to "let go" of the ability to obtain the "free stuff" when I don't have time. I believe that this is a skill and it takes time to cultivate this skill of "letting go." LOL.

If you want to see the details of the shop then please leave a post. I haven't heard from anyone so I'm not sure if any of you are shopping at Rite-Aid. Gracias.

Rite-Aid - Wednesday, 9/8/10

This post will examine how to search for a deal when you find a high dollar value coupon in your inserts. I saw the $3/1 Purex coupon three weeks ago when I was in Nashville (took a little trip to the recycle bin and stocked up on inserts while I was in town). I just knew that I would be able to find a good deal with this coupon if I held onto it. I was really hoping for free Purex 3-in-1 sheets. Thankfully I found some.

You won't be able to do this deal unless you got a raincheck from Rite-Aid last week on the Purex 3-in-1 sheets (sorry, just posting as an example of how to spot a good deal). I was reading my circular for Rite-Aid and saw that the Purex sheets were on sale for B1G1 last week. I went out to Rite-Aid's website and started searching through the video values sections to see what other items I could get for "free" or "free with overage." I had read on a few websites that there was a $5/$25 Rite Aid coupon. I grabbed it. I had also read on "I Prefer Publix" about the Boudreaux's Butt paste deal so I searched for the video values Q and grabbed it. I went to Rite Aid last week looking for both the sheets and the butt paste and they were out of both so I picked up rainchecks.

I combined all of the above to score my deal. Sometimes you have to think outside the box to make a deal work. You have to go looking for a deal instead of having it handed to you on a blog. Some of my best deals come from my experience as a couponer by searching for things on my own. I encourage you to do the same as it will make you a better couponer.

**As an encouragement......you often times become a better couponer by having a deal fail or by working a deal really hard but then having it turn out completely different than you thought it would because you forgot a coupon or you didn't understand the way the deal worked. So, don't get discouraged when things don't work out. Just remember that you are gaining experience and that experience will come in handy one day.

Here's the deal:

4 Purex 3-in-1 sheets $8.99 (B1G1 price of $4.50 ea)
- $3/1 Q from 8/15 RP
= $1.50 ea.
1 Boudreaux's Butt Paste $9.99 (sale price of $3.99 ea)
- $3/1 Video Values Q
- $2/1 Q from 4/11 SS
= FREE + $1.00 overage
1 Boudreaux's Butt Paste $9.99 (sale price of $3.99 ea)
- $3/1 Video Values Q
- $1/1 peelie on package (doesn't expire until 12/2013)
= FREE

$5/25 Rite Aid Q

TOTAL: $55.94
TOTAL AFTER COUPONS: $1.36
SAVINGS: 98%

NOTE: I still have a raincheck for 8 more of the Purex 3-in-1 sheets (they only had 4 on the shelf and my raincheck was for 12). The cashier just crossed out the 12 and wrote in 8 and then signed it. Hopefully I won't have any trouble with this in the future but I did take her name down in case I needed to reference it with the manager when I come in to get the rest of them.

NOTE: Does anyone know if you can use two Rite Aid Video value Q's for the same product in one transaction? The second Boudreaux's butt paste Rite Aid video values Q beeped and she put it through because I told her that I had spoken with the manager about using two of the Q's when he wrote me the raincheck. Do I need to do two separate transactions when using a video values Q for an item. When I printed the Q from my computer I just printed two copies since it gave me the option on my printer to do that. Do the Q's have separate identifier numbers on them. If you know the answer to this question please post it here (Brandy maybe)?

Target - Tuesday, 8/10/10

These deals will go through Saturday, 8/14/10. I shopped at the SuperTarget down the street from me; you will need a SuperTarget for the produce deals.

I haven't been couponing over the last two months. I don't have any inserts but I decided to go ahead and shop at Target anyway to see what I could get by printing online coupons. Not bad. You can pass this list along to your friends that don't want to pay for inserts. They can score some FREE products with just the printables listed.

STOCKPILE
8 Super Sticky Post-it Notes $1.00 ea. (sale price)
- $1/1 printable (.pdf - can print multiples)
= FREE
4 packages of bic pens $.99 ea. (sale price)
- $1/2 Target Bic Stationary product printable
- $1/2 on ANY Two (2) BIC® Stationery Products printable
= FREE
4 trial size Right Guard deodorant $.97 ea.
- $2/2 Smartsource printable
= FREE
2 Chef Boyardee Mini Ravioli $.87 ea.
- $1/1 Target Chef Boyardee printable
= FREE
8 Sobe Lifewaters $.99 ea. (sale price)
- $.50/1 Target Sobe printable
- B1G1 Q from Sobe website (play "heads or tails" game at bottom every day)
= FREE
2 Juicy Juice 8-pack boxes $2.29 ea.
- $1/1 Target Juicy Juice printable
- $1/2 Juicy Juice Any - 08-01-10 RP
= $.79 ea
2 Del Monte Fruit Cups $1.75 ea. (sale price)
- $1/1 Target Del Monte printable
= $.75 ea.
1 pair of Merona shoes $4.98 ea. (clearance price)
- $3/1 Target Merona printable
= $1.98 ea.

THINGS I NEEDED
1 bag of carrots $.99 ea.
- $1/1 Target produce printable
= FREE
1 Dora the Explorer DVD $5.00 (could only find one at this price)
- $3/1 Target Dora the Explorer printable
= $2.00 ea.
1 bag of celery $1.29 ea.
- $1/1 Target produce printable
= $.29 ea.
2 carton of eggs $.99 ea.
- $.50/1 Target Deli printable (must use on Market Pantry or Archer Farms deli item)
= $.50 ea.
2 loaves of French Bread $1.29 ea. (sale price)
- $1/1 Target Bakery printable (must use on Market Pantry or Archer Farms bakery item)
= $.29 ea.
1 Simply Orange juice $2.99 ea.
- $1/1 Target Simply Orange printable
= $1.99 ea.
2 Quaker Oats $2.19 ea.
- $1/1 Target Quaker Breakfast printable
= $1.19 ea.

GIFT FOR FRIEND
1 Merona shirt $3.75 ea. (30% clearance price)
- $2/1 Target Merona printable
= $1.75 ea.

TOTAL: $66.06
TOTAL AFTER COUPONS: $16.87
SAVINGS: 75% (without inserts)

NOTE: The following coupons beeped but I talked the cashier through each one:
1. Right Guard (register couldn't match coupon to the trial size). Told her that the coupon didn't exclude trial size. She read the coupon for a solid 2 minutes to check every single word on it. LOL.
2. Bic Pens (manufacturer Q beeped but she pushed it through)
3. Deli coupon (didn't match up with the eggs; she just checked to make sure it was a Market Pantry item and then pushed through)
4. Both of the Merona coupons beeped but she remembered the items and pushed them through.

NOTE: Kathy, I found Quaker Oats oatmeal on sale for $2 a box on one of the front end caps. I know you stock up when it's a good price. Just thought I'd let you know that you can get it for $1 a box with the Target Q. The boxes on the aisle were more expensive; you'll have to look on the end cap. Quaker Oats is also on Sale at Publix though so you'll get a better deal there if they accept Target Q's. Makes each box $.94 cents (or less depending on the price in your store).

NOTE: I didn't actually use the man. Q. for the juicy juice. Just listing it here in case you have it.

NOTE: Received a $5/50 Target Q at the end of my transaction. Nice bonus.

Question....

I am thinking of posting some of my other deals from the drugstores, Target, etc. Would any of you be interested in seeing them posted here? Would you rather I start a new blog with a different title or is it easier if I post my other deals here? This blog is called, "I love Publix" so part of me already wants to start a new blog and call it something else as it seems weird to post non-Publix deals on a website that is so specifically geared towards one store.

Weigh in if you would in the comments section.

I have a Target deal that I did tonight and I may post it here until I can start another blog. There were some good deals there tonight.

Sold our house....

It's official. We are moving!

With our move comes the close of this blog as I will no longer have a Publix near me. I am going to keep the blog open for another week in case you want to post something here and then I am going to close down the blog.

Thank you again to everyone that made this blog so fun. It's hard to imagine life without a Publix but I will just have to work a little bit harder to find ways to save money on my grocery bill.

In the meantime, have fun hitting the wonderful sales at Publix. I will think of you guys while I'm struggling in the land of no doubles. :) LOL.

To my CBC friends.........let us not forget to be grateful for the things that God has given to us because of His great mercy.

Camera is LOST

No posts until I get a new camera. Maybe sometime in the next few weeks. There are some great deals this week @ Publix so don't let my lameness stop you from getting motivated to organize your shop!

I actually did shops the last two weeks but couldn't take a picture of them for you. :(

Publix Shop 5/11/10

I have been shopping on Tuesdays the last few weeks so I haven't taken the time to post my shops as most of you will have shopped before I have. I did want to note one item that will still be on sale next week (advantage buy):

Terra Chips $2.99 - $3.99ea.
$1/1 Q from 3/28 SS
$1/1 Publix Q from "Natural Selection" booklet
= $.99-$1.99 ea.


TOTAL: $376.10
TOTAL AFTER COUPONS: $19.10
SAVINGS: 95%

NOTE: I will submit for the Oil of Olay rebate for $20 off of $50 purchase. My balance will be
-$.90 after submission.

NOTE: There is also a movie ticket rebate for both the Pop Tarts and the Cheerios (so a FREE date night)! That's got to be at least a $20 value right?