deals, freebies, and blessings to give away

I've had the chance the past three days to hit Kroger, Wal-Mart and Walgreens.  Check out my deals.  Hope you're inspired to try hunting for your own deals! Let me say it again....it really is worth spending a few extra minutes planning out your shopping trips, looking up the deals, and getting organized.  All three of these trips, I planned before I went.  The Walgreens check-out gal even said, "Wow, that's great savings!"

Wal-Mart

Best deals:

Yoplus Yogurt 4-pack--$1.68 on Rollback--used $1/1 coupon from test-tasting this yogurt at Kroger this weekend...$0.68 for 4-pack

2 Hormel Natural Choice Turkey lunchmeat--$2.50 each--used 2 $.55/1 coupons (from in-store coupon machine at Kroger)...$1.95 each

Plastic Easter tablecloth--clearance for $2.50 (this was marked as $5 but came up as $2.50...I plan to use this on one of my small group tables in my classroom next year.)

2 Duncan Hines cake mixes--$.85 each--used $.55/2 coupon from 3/28 inserts...$0.58 each

16-pack of Stayfree pads--$2.97--used $2/1 from March inserts....$0.62

Travel size Clearasil face scrub--$0.97--used $1/1 from March inserts--Free + $0.03 overage

Travel size Tide detergent--$0.97--used $1/1 from 4/4 inserts--Free + $0.03 overage

3 bags of Hershey's Easter candy--on clearance fro $1.37 each--used $2/3 printed coupon from coupon.com (I think)....$0.71 a bag

(my Wal-Mart had carts beyond carts of Easter clearance at the front of the store...anything you could imagine!)

Total for all items purchased:  $17.64

Total saved:  $9.20

Walgreens

Ice Mountain spring water--$1.97--used B1/G1 when you purchase Dulcolax coupon from march inserts....FREE

Dulcolax--$6.99--used $3/1 coupon from a hangtag on the bottle...$3.99

[I was able to use the $3/1 and the B1/G1 coupon...making it $2.20 for the water and Dulcolax.]

Pilot Erasable Frixion 2-pack pens--$1.19--used $1/1 coupon from Walgreen's April coupon booklet--$0.19

Dawn dish detergent--$1.99--used $1/1 April insert coupon--$0.99

Starbucks Mocha Frappucino--$1.99--used the in-store ad coupon making these 4/$5 and a $1/1 coupon printed from this list.....$0.25

(I have learned a few tips from Money Saving Mom about Walgreens.  Make sure to have the same amount of items as coupons...or more.  Also, hand over your coupons in the following order:  Register Rewards, then Manufacturer's coupons, then Walgreens coupons.  This keeps from any confusion with the register.)

Total out of pocket today using $7 Register Rewards from a previous trip and coupons:  $0.96

Total savings:  $8.53

Kroger

Well I did a lot more shopping at Kroger than just for Ziploc bags.  However, this is a deal I had to share so that you can hopefully cash in on before it's too late.

Right now Kroger is running a catalina deal on Ziploc bags....purchase 3 and you get $2 back.  This will be in the form of a catalina ticket that will print out and you can use as in-store credit the next time to shop.

The deal scenerio:

Ziploc Evolve Sandwich bags 50 count--$2.39

Ziploc Freezer bags 18 count--$2.50

Ziploc Snack bags 100 count--$3.15

*Use a $2/2 coupon from March inserts

*Use a $0.40/1 coupon from March or April inserts (this will double)

The total will be $5.24 out of pocket....you will receieve a $2 catalina

Making these $3.24 for all or $1.08 a piece

Total savings for the Ziploc products:  $4.80

It has been such an incredible joy to increase how much we give because of my dedication to using coupons to find great deals and savings.  The best thing about all of this deal craziness is when we are able to donate any of the items we purchase.  Each communion Sunday at our church (first Sunday of every month in our church), we bring a bag of food as a food tithe to those in need.  The items go to a local food pantry.  (God can even use a talent like that!) Right now, there is so much we have that we don't need or items I could get at very cheap prices or for free that I shy away from because we just don't need it right now.  However, what we do buy at these great prices and don't need, we give away.  A lot of the food items go to our church for the food pantry and I'm currently hunting for other outlets in the community to give more of these cheap or freebie femine products and personal care items to.

It's been on my mind lately how God can use this time now as I get used to saving money through coupons and deal hunting for a time later when we have kiddos.  I love thinking about the fact that God puts things in our life by season....and not just for that time....but to prepare us for things to come as well (God-willing!). 

Happy savings!