Freebies & A Cheap Tip!

As I've posted before I am always signing up for freebies from the sites I have listed on the right side of my blog (walmart and sweet free stuff).  You can also find fun freebies from some of the blogs I read regularly too.  Recently I saw a coupon for a free Whole Foods lunch bag (pictured above), which also came with an apple!  :-)  Here's a few more things I have gotten in the mail recently:

*Jergens Natural Glow moisturizer

*Trident pack of gum

*Stride pack of gum

*Auqa Fresh tootpaste (large travel size)

I've also have discovered a deal from my Mom and Sister-in-law where you can pick up a cast iron skillet for a really great deal.  Here's what you need to do.  Stop by the Tennessee welcome center and pick up a coupon to use at the Lodge Factory Outlet, which is located in South Pittsburg TN.  The coupon is good for one 10" skillet in the seconds section for only $3.99 (vs. $22 normally).  These are slightly imperfect, but most you really can't tell the difference.  You can buy one on your way out of TN and on your way back in!  They can make great gifts by adding cornbread mix or something similar.  

Publix 3/29/09

I'm a little behind on this post.  Better late than never!  Some highlights from this trip include the penny item, Salad dressing regularly priced at $2.29.  Picked up Coffee-mate creamer for $0.17 buy using a $1.50 coupon combined with the sale price.  Strawberries were on sale, so I used a $2 off Food Lion coupon.  Publix multi-grain bread was also on sale and I had another Food Lion coupon for bakery that I used to get $2 off.  You can go to the Food Lion website each week to see what coupons they have.  The produce or bakery coupons are the ones I use most.    Contessa brand frozen meals were buy 1, get 1 so I used a $1.50 off two.  There were a few other deals, but since I waited so long to recap I've forgotten some of what I did.  You can see the grand total below.  Pretty good week!

Spent:  $35.17

Saved:  $35.47

(That's $70 worth of groceries for $35 or 50% off)

Publix 3/15/09

Lots of great highlights to share this week!  

Motts applesauce - $0.12 each (sale was 3 for $5, plus had two Target $1 off coupons, plus two $.055 off manuf coupons)

Bertolli pausta pouch - $0.49 each (was buy 1 get 1 free at $2.99, plus used two instore $1 off coupons)

Kellogs Frosted flakes - $0.99 (was on sale for $1.99, plus had two $1 coupons)

Tai Pei frozen dinners - $0.99 (was buy 1 get 1 free at $2.99, plus used $1 off two coupon)

Suave lotion - FREE (had a coupon to get up to $3 value)

International Coffee creamer - $1.75 (Large bottle on sale for $2.75, plus used a $1 off coupon)

Other deals:

Kelloggs waffles - $1.50

Strawberries - $1.67

Publix salad - $2.00

Publix Tortilla chips - $0.01 (penny item again this week)

So here's how I did:

Spent:  $26.71

Saved:  $40.83 (thats 65% off!)

Thanks to http://www.fiddledeedeeblog.blogspot.com for all the great tips!

Kroger & Publix 2/8/09

I went to two grocery stores this week.  There were deals at both I wanted to take advantage of.  First off is Kroger.  They had a buy 10 get $5 off deal for some things that I needed (lean cuisine, pizza and waffles).  I also love Vitamin water and they have them 10 for $10.  I had a coupon for a free Kashi frozen entree, plus they were 15% off.  Used a Target coupon for the OJ which was already on sale.  And bought two pop tarts at $1.99 plus used two $0.55 off coupons.

Spent:  $39.90

Saved:  $26.91

Was back on track this week at Publix, saving more than I spent.  Penny item was cookies, yummy!  Chicken was on sale for $1.99 a pound.  Ore Idea Steam and Mash potatoes were buy 1 get 1 free, plus I had a $1 coupon.  Best trick is using two coupons for cat litter (manufacturer coupon and food lion coupon).  Picked up strawberries for $1.67.  Also bought a couple buy 1 get 1 free, but only bought one.  Most people don't realize you don't have to buy 2 to get the deal.  They just give you one at half the cost.  Had a coupon for a free del monte 100 calorie fruit can.  And used a $1 off coupon to get Muir Glen tomato sauce for free, actually made about $0.15 on it.

Spent:  $23.45

Saved:  $29.61

That's $53 worth of food for only $23!

More freebies!

Here are a few of the recent freebies I've gotten in the mail.  Best deal is a free 1 year subscription to Martha Stewart Living!  Also got a coupon for a free Kashi frozen entree.  A multi-pack of Emergen-C and always infinity.  Some great sites to check out for daily updates are located on the right side of my blog.  Check it out and get some fun freebies for yourself!  

Publix 2/22/09

I've gotten a little behind lately in keeping up with my posts.  There are two reasons for this.  1)  I haven't made too many trips to the stores, since I've been stocked up.  2)  I've been busy!  The last trip I made I didn't do as well as I had hoped.  When you're used to saving SO much money, saving a little doesn't seem as exciting.  :-)  There still are a few highlights to share.  Of course, the penny item is top of the list.  This week it was tortilla chips.  Pasta sauce was on sale buy 1 get 1 free.  Hillshire Farm lunch meats was also buy 1 get 1.  Only bought 1 and combined with a coupon.  Received a free 2L coupon for Diet Dr. Pepper in the mail, so I used that.  Used a Food Lion coupon for cat litter.  And got Bertolli dinner on sale.  Also picked up a few Publix brand items, so technically probably saved a little more than I can report.

Spent:  $29.43

Saved:  $13.06

Publix, Kroger, Target 2/8/09

Made a few stops this weekend, so I'm going to do a combined post with all my savings.  As you know from my previous posts I'm a big fan of the free Cottonelle toilet paper freebie deal at Kroger, so I stock up every chance I get.  And while I have enough cat food for probably a year, why not grab one more free bag while I'm at it.  Today I used 3 coupons I got from a Kraft Super Bowl promotion, which got me a free block of cheese, box of Wheat Thins and mixed nuts.  I also had a free coupon for 100 Calorie Cakesters, which I got through Kraft First taste (sign up here).  And a coupon for a free can of Del Monte No Salt Diced Tomatoes.  I like free!  Other deals:  Kashi frozen entrees at 50% off, Kashi snack bars for $0.75 (compared to $2.75) and French Toast for $0.65 (compared to $3.29).  I would have done better this week, but had to pick up a few things to make cupcakes for work.  Plus I went ahead and picked up two papers today, rather than waiting until Monday when they are $1 at Kroger.  I've had issues the last two weeks, so I didn't want to risk it again this week.  Almost forgot, the penny item was a 5lb bag of sugar.  Nice!

Spent:  $32.96

Saved:  $50.33