Although my blog does contain links to coupons and some of my favorite coupon blogs, I don't blog primarily about savings as some others in the blogosphere do. I enjoy sharing my knowledge on a personal level with those around me, and will gladly answer questions to those who happen to land here looking for coupon strategy, but I don't pretend to be an expert. I know how to save money at my local grocery stores. I do try to keep my family within a grocery and household budget and cringe at the thought of paying full retail price for anything. I can be "extreme" in some of my shopping/coupon habits, but here on my blog, I don't make that my sole focus. I share many different things here that include coupons, reviews, spirituality, random thoughts and simple posts about my life and my loves.
However, I do grab some great deals on occasion and want to share them with you. A few will be posted here today. I will also be adding pages to my blog in the coming days with copies of our local store current coupon policies as well as some information on budgeting and meal planning. Otherwise, if you are seeking immediate information on "extreme couponing", I suggest you visit one of my fellow bloggers listed on the sidebar under "My Favorite Savers". They are all excellent websites with freebies, coupons and budget helps that go into a lot more detail that will be available to suit your immediate needs as a new or seasoned couponer. And check out the pages here as I add to them.
That said, I do want to share about 3 items I received for free or very cheap recently. I made a large grocery trip last week to Kroger and Save A Lot and managed to do very well within my budget and these finds are part of it. By far, these were my best "deals" had. By watching, ad matching and carefully planning your shopping trips, you too can find items like these to add to your stockpile.
SAVE A LOT locally does accept ANY coupons at face value, printed or clipped, with the exception of Internet printed coupons for a FREE item. They do not redeem any FREE coupons clipped from the Internet. By watching their recent ad and matching coupons from a Smart Source newspaper insert from last month, I managed a GREAT deal on Turkey Bacon.
Butterball Turkey Bacon (6oz. package) was on sale for 10/$10 ($1 per package). That alone, is a great deal. My traditional Oscar Mayer or Butterball Turkey Bacon purchases are usually around $2.50-$2.99 for a 12oz. package and that is at sale price. Regular price can be anywhere from $2.99-$4.99 per 12oz. package at Kroger.
I used Butterball coupons from Smart Source for $1.00 off a purchase of ANY 2 Butterball products.
That made each package of Butterball Turkey Bacon, only $.50 cents each!!!!
I walked out of Save A Lot with 12 packages of Turkey Bacon that I paid only $6.50 for. Although not a "free" item as seen on a lot of Extreme Coupon episodes these days, I was VERY excited and proud!
KROGER last week had Ronzoni pastas on sale for 10/$10 also. I had added pasta to my grocery list and had planned on scoping out prices while there and figuring the best bang for my buck with the few coupons I had in my binder. In May, Smart source had put out an insert that had Ronzoni coupons for $1.00 off ANY ONE package of pasta. Typically, Ronzoni is a bit pricier so I wasn't figuring they would be used any time soon. I had actually budgeted for the store brands pasta at $.69 cents a package.
By taking my binder with me and reading labels and being aware, I was able to use 6 coupons for Ronzoni pasta valued at $1.00 off any package with the 10/$10 sale.
I got 6 packages of Ronzoni pasta for FREE!!!
Another deal that I stumbled upon just in time for our weekend get together and BBQ, was Pepperidge Farm Cookies on sale for $1.99 per package. These retail around $2.99-$3.49 per package usually and are NEVER on my "to buy" list. I had planned on making a batch of cookies or a cake or something of that nature, but when I saw these on sale, it triggered my memory about coupons I had clipped that Sunday prior for $1.00 off Pepperidge Farm products. I opened my binder, and sure enough, they were good for $1.00 off ANY ONE Pepperidge Farm product.
I got 6 packages of Pepperidge Farm specialty cookies for only $.99 cents each!
2 Packages Oatmeal Raisin
2 Packages Double Chocolate Chunk
2 Packages White Chocolate Macadamia Nut
Although I might have been able to make the same amount of cookies from scratch for a few cents or a $1 cheaper, the time and effort would have taken me away from a relaxing afternoon with my loves and I would not have been able to have so much variety either.
I was able to get all 3 of these deals simply by clipping coupons from my Smart Source insert, putting them in my coupon binder and being aware when not only looking at sale ads, but also in the store while shopping. Both Kroger deals were unadvertised in the weekly flyer. I had not went prepared with those coupons pulled, but was pleasantly surprised by them that day and able to pull them from my binder that I carried with me as always.
If you do happen to be new at the coupon game, start slowly. Watch carefully and PLAN! PLAN! PLAN! By deciding on a firm food/household monthly budget, menu planning and scanning your pantry and freezer prior to shopping trips, you can save a ton of money per year. Add to that clipping coupons and ad matching, and you will be surprised at how much money you can save your family.
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