Sunday - start saving

We went to church this morning - a very exciting day. Over 30 people were baptized today. Isn't that amazing? We're members of Immanuel Baptist Church here in Shawnee (http://www.immanuelshawnee.org/). After church we grabbed lunch and then went to score some deals at CVS. Later we went to the dollar movie - it's actually $1.50, but what a deal. Hannah Montana is playing there now and the kiddos hadn't seen it yet. If you want to check times, here's the link - http://www.jonestheaters.com/ (click on Hornbeck). I know most people here know about it, but some may be new to the area. It's an old-time theater that's fun to visit.

Ok, I promised an explanation of some of the good deals, so I'm starting from the beginning. Here's a way to get started couponing if you're new to this. Start saving the entire coupon inserts. I've found it's much easier to do it that way. Maddie helps me a lot with this. We usually get two papers - the state and local. If there are some really good coupons, I'll buy extras of the local paper - just because it's cheaper. If you have some connections with people who throw away their inserts, they could be a good source of extras for you. There are actually services that sell coupons, but I think that's a bit overboard. There are three different types of inserts: Red Plum, Smart Source, and P&G. Not every weekend will have all three. When we get them, we put one staple in towards the middle of the folded edge - just to keep them secured together. We then write the date on the outside with sharpie. The dates are written very tiny along the "binder" side, but it's easier to write it big on the front and it saves time. We have made separate pocket folders for each type of insert (one for Red Plum, one for Smart Source, and one for P&G. Here are a few pics.

Date at the top, staple in middle along left edge.

This system works for us, but do whatever works for you. It might take awhile before you really start to score some deals if you don't have lots of coupons already, but there are several good deals this week that don't require coupons at all. Here's the breakdown of what we got today.
This is from the CVS trip - sorry, no more little girls available. I usually end up with more, but the detergent I wanted (Gain) wasn't available in HE. Here's what we got: the kids each got a package of candy ($2.89), 5 pocket folders for back-to-school (on sale $0.25 total, 1 gillette fusion razor $7.99, one box electrasol tabs dishwasher soap ($3.99), one pkg Tylenol 8 hour 24 count ($3.99), 2 70 pg notebooks ($1.98 - total), 2 rulers ($1.98 - total), 2 school glues ($1.98 - total). Now, that totals around $25.05... But alas, I had a $2.50 coupon for dw soap from 7-12 Smart Source (SS), $2.00 coupon for tylenol (from 6-21 SS), $4.00 coupon for razor (6-7 P&G) which brings the total to $16.55. Now the biggie - I had $16.00 in Extra Bucks from our last trip to CVS. Extra bucks are basically free money in the form of coupons at the end of your register receipt. Every week, if you look at the circular, you'll notice some items that say 5 Extra Bucks, or whatever amount. So, when I gave them the $16.00 from last week I paid... drum roll please... $1.32 for all of the above items. Amazing, huh? It gets even better. Most of the items I bought were eligible for Extra Bucks, so at the end of my receipt I had $16 Extra Bucks to use next time!

Here's the receipt, but I don't have an amazing camera, so this is as close up as I could get. Here's a tip as well. Some of the stuff sells out quickly. If you don't get there in time and they're out, just ask for a rain check. They'll give you one and on it will be the code for the Extra Bucks -you'll get those when you come in later to purchase the item(s).

Some people ask if I end up buying things I wouldn't normally buy when I use coupons. Yes, I do, but I don't buy things we won't use or need. I bought some Eggo bakeshop products (they're freezer pastry/breakfast items) that I probably wouldn't have bought, but with my coupon I only paid 50 cents a box. That's breakfast for all my kiddos for a couple of days and you can't beat that price. I also usually don't buy $7.99 razors, but when I get them for free, why not? I've only been doing this since about April and before that time I had only bought disposable razors. It seems like a splurge, huh?

On my last trip to CVS I bought eight bottles of shampoo - they were on sale, I had buy-one-get-one coupons and then also had coupons for the ones I paid the regular price. Make sense? I know we won't use eight bottles now, but they're the brands we like, so I just won't have to buy shampoo for awhile. By the way, I ended up paying $16.42 for eight bottles of shampoo (four head and shoulders and four pantene), three boxes of cereal (fruity pebbles and 2 post trail mix crunch), two therma care heat pads (I had rain checks for these) and two things of candy for the kids. Then, I got $16 Extra Bucks back. You can't beat that.

Another option for the extras you end up with - give them to someone who needs them. A friend of mine sends a care package to her grandparents every month with necessities in it. I've done the same for my dad. I certainly don't recommend hoarding tons of things you don't need, but just get what you will use in a reasonable amount of time. I have enough of a stash that if I get too busy this fall with school I'll have enough toiletries on hand for several months.

Ok, enough for today. I'll type up some more tips tomorrow. Let me know the good deals you score!