Publix -- 10/29 and 10/30 -- 90% savings!

I am so thankful for blogs like iheartpublix, mysweetsavings, and addictedtosaving. I used all three of these, as well as mycouponhunter, for putting together the scenarios of the past couple of days. I haven't had this good of a trip for a while, and it felt great to get up to 90% savings.

Check it out!

Transaction #1, 10/29:

2 Vivarin -- $3.19 each

Used $5/2 from Green Advantage Flyer

Used 2 $2/1 purchased from mycouponhunter

Paid: FREE! plus $2.62 overage!

*****

2 2-liters (Diet Rite, Diet A&W) -- BOGO -- 2 for $1.85

no coupon

Paid: $1.85

*****

1 2-liter Diet Mt. Dew -- $1.50

no coupon

Paid: $1.50

*****

Total paid: $.99

Total saved: $10.98

Percent savings: 91.7%

*****

Transaction #2, 10/30

*****

2 Ronzoni Healthy Harvest pasta -- BOGO -- 2 for $1.79

Used 2 $1 printable coupons from here

Paid: FREE! plus $.21 overage!

*****

1 box Special K protein meal bars -- $5

Used $1 printable coupon from here

Paid: $4!

*****

2 Idaho Gold mashed potato mixes -- $1 each

Used 2 $1 printable coupons from here

Paid: FREE! for both!

*****

8 Sominex -- $3.19 each

Used 4 $5/2 from the Green Advantage Flyer

Used 8 $2/1 purchased from mycouponhunter

Paid: FREE! plus $10.48 overage!

*****

2 EZ Foil pans -- $.99 each

Used $1/2 printable coupon from here

Paid: $.98 for both, or $.49 each!

*****

1 small onion @ $1.29/lb.

Paid: $.32

*****

2 bananas @.$69/lb.

Paid: $.52

*****

1 lime -- $.25

Paid: $.25

*****

2 2-liters (Vernor's ginger ale and Diet A&W) -- BOGO -- 2 for $1.85

no coupon

Paid: $1.85 for both, or $.93 each!

*****

1 Egg Beaters -- $1.67

no coupon

Paid: $1.67

*****

2 Oscar Meyer Lunchables -- $1 each

no coupon

Paid: $2.00 for both, or $1 each!

*****

4 V-8 juice -- BOGO -- 2 for $3.35

Used 2 $1/2 printable coupons from here

Paid: $4.70 for all 4, or just $1.18 each!

*****

2 Cascadian Farms granola bars -- BOGO -- 2 for $3.99

Used 2 $1 from the Publix coupon booklet Harvest of Savings

Used 2 $1 printable coupons from here (have to register)

Paid: FREE! for both

*****

1 Just for Men Touch of Gray -- $6.85

Used a free coupon received in the mail

Paid: FREE!

*****

2 Perdue fully cooked chicken breast nuggets -- BOGO -- 2 for $4.39

Used 2 $1 printable coupons from here

Paid: $2.39 for both or just $1.20 each!

*****

Total paid: $8.79

Total saved: $83.08

Percent savings: 90.4%

What $10 Will Get You at Walgreens -- Week of 10/17

After last week's scenario, we had $13.50 Register Rewards. Let's see how far we can stretch these this week.

2 Ricola cough drops (19-24 ct) -- $1 each
Use $1/2 from 10/17 SS (if our region gets it. Otherwise, we're out of luck here.)
Use $.50/1 from the Walgreens October coupon book found at the entrance to the store. (Will deduct $.50 each, or $1.)
You'll pay: FREE! for both!

Blistex medicated lip ointment (.21 oz) -- $2.59
You'll pay: $2.59
You'll receive: $2.59 in RR


Mucinex Nasal Spray (.75 oz.) -- $7.99
You'll pay: $7.99
You'll receive: $7.99 in RR


2 Nivea for Men body wash (up to 16.9 oz) -- 2 for $5
Use 2 $3/1 from 10/17 RP
You'll pay: FREE! for both! (Your cashier may have to adjust the value of the coupon down to avoid having overage. Many cashiers don't know that they can do this, but Walgreens' corporate coupon policy allows for it.)

2 Nivea for Women body wash (up to 16.9 oz) -- 2 for $5
Use $3/2 from 10/17 RP.
You'll pay: $2 for 2


2 Coffee-Mate (16 oz.) -- BOGO -- 2 for $2.69
Use 2 $1.50/1 printable coupons
You'll pay: FREE for both! (Again, your cashier may have to adjust the value of the coupon down to avoid overage. Wouldn't it be lucky if the register didn't beep, and you could keep all that overage?)

Dawn Hand Renewal -- $.99 w/ in-ad coupon
Use in-ad coupon to get the $.99 price
Use $.25/1 from eight/29 PG
You'll pay: $.74

Colgate Pro Clinical Toothpaste (4 oz) -- $3.99
Use $1/1 printable coupon
You'll pay: $2.99
You'll receive: $2 in RR

You'll need to buy some type of filler item because your item to coupon ratio is too high. I suggest the seasonal plastic tumblers that are eight for $1 with the in-ad coupon. You'll need at least 4, I think, to balance out the ratio. I don't know if these cups are Halloween-related, or fall-related, or what. I know that if they are Halloween, I would not buy them, and I'm not suggesting that you do. Even if I ended up spending more out of pocket, I'd spring for something less supportive of the occult!

Your total before taxes: $17.31 I assumed that you bought eight of the plastic tumblers.
Use your $13.50 in RR
You'll pay around $4!
You'll receive $12.5eight in RR!

I guess this low out of pocket makes up for last week's over-spending. :) I didn't look on any coupon website to verify if you could purchase the coupons needed, but I'm sure you would have fairly good luck at either mycouponhunter.com. This would add a couple bucks to your scenario and delay your shopping by a few days which may endanger the inventory availability. Even if you're shopping later in the week, I suggest that you print the coupons that you can right away so you don't risk them becoming unavailable by your shopping day.

I used couponingtodisney and couponkatarina to come up with my scenario today.

Happy shopping!

Publix 10/16 -- 97% savings!

An AMAZING Publix trip for me today! I picked up the Green Advantage Flyer when we went in, but I noticed that it expired yesterday. I asked at the Service Desk, and the gentleman (Ty) told me they would still accept it. I don't know if all stores will still accept those coupons, but the one on University did for me this morning. The success of this entire scenario is based on that coupon, so if you can't get a store to accept it, you'll have to find another method to make this magic! One other note: we walked into Publix today with NO COUPONS IN HAND! We were just out and stopped for the fun of it.

Here's how we did:

3 pears @ $.eighty-9/lb. -- $1.09

no coupon

Total: $1.09

2 Hebrew National hotdogs-- BOGO -- $5.19 for 2

no coupon

Total: $5.19

2 EAS diet meal bars -- $1.69 each

no coupon

Total: $3.3eight

(PS -- We are doing well on our diet. Finishing week 2 now, and I've lost 9 pounds. Talani has lost an amazing 22 pounds!)

3 pkgs. Lance cookies (from the checkout aisle) -- $.69 each

no coupon

Total: $2.17

5 Vitamin D ($2 each) and 1 Vitamin B ($3.29)

Used 6 $1 peelies found on same brand products

Used 3 $6/2 from the Green Advantage Flyer

Total: FREE for all 6, plus $10.71 overage!

Total paid: $1.02

Total saved: $34.63

Percent savings: 97%

Spa for Cheapskates -- Honey Shine Treatment

It's been a while since we had a Spa for Cheapskates moment. And it's not because it wasn't available! This has been sitting in my in-box for AGES! Sorry, Kilika, but I don't think I'll stay caught up on anything during this crazy school year! Keep the ideas coming, and I'll get them posted, all in good time.
I'm super excited about this idea. So easy, and SOOOO cheap! I recently bought a jar of local honey for the benefit of my husband and his seasonal allergies. It was expensive -- $7 or $8 for the jar. But the teaspoon needed for this recipe? I don't think I spent more than $.03 per teaspoon. A $.03 spa treatment? Oh, yeah, that is right up my cheapskate alley. :)
I hope you try it, and I hope you have beautiful results.

Hello, fellow spa lovers! Here's this week's Spa for Cheapskates recipe that will only set you back a few cents and make your hair look brand new!

Honey Shine Treatment

1 tsp honey

4 cups warm water

Mix ingredients well.

After washing and rinsing hair in your normal method, pour honey mixture all over hair.

Do not rinse.

Dry and style as usual. You may want to leave it down though to show off your shining, healthy looking hair.

No one needs to know you didn't just walk out of a salon.

Don't forget to take time for yourself this week. Even something as small as finding a few minutes to read, or listen to some music can rejuvenate our frazzled, hard working minds. Wishing you all a beautiful week!

Driftwood Girl @ Beauty and Inspiration

Love and prayers, Kilika

Hi, Barbie again. Just wanted to remind you, if you love this treatment as much I'm thinking you will, and if you want more Spa ideas before I get one back on here, visit Kilika's wonderful blog. The link above should get you there just fine. She has TONS of great ideas for spa nights, as well as recipes and other around-the-house goodies.

A $10 Walgreens Scenario for 10/10

We're starting with $7 in RR from last week. Here's how to make your $10 cash stretch this week. (I gathered information for this scenario from couponingtodisney and addictedtosaving.)

Hall's Refresh Lemon Raspberry Drops -- $1.00
Use $.75 coupon from October All You (or September All You)
OOP: $.25
RR Generated: $1.00

Crest Pro-Health toothpaste (4.2 oz.) -- $2.49
Use $1 coupon from 9/26 P&G
OOP: $1.49
RR Generated: $1.50

Noxema Disposable Razor (4-pk Triple or 4-blade) -- $3.99
Use $1 coupon from the 9/19 SS
OOP: $2.99
RR Generated: $3.00

Bayer Contour or Breeze 2 Blood Glucose System -- $14.99
Use $10 coupon from August eighth RP (Yep, my eight button still doesn't work.)
OOP: $4.99
RR Generated: $5.00

4 Mars candy -- $.49 w/in-ad coupon
Use in-ad coupon to make the candy bars $.49 each
Use 2 B1G1 coupons from the 9/26 RP
OOP: $.9eight! for all 4

3 Gillette body washes -- $9.99
Use 3 $2 coupons from the 9/26 P&G
OOP: $3.99
RR Generated: $3.00

2 Carefree pantyliners (22 pk) -- $.99 w/in-ad coupon
Use in-ad coupon to make each pkg $.99
Use $1/2 coupon from the 9/26 RP
OOP: $1.00

I confirmed on mycouponhunter.com that the coupons listed above are available. It will cost $1.94 to have these shipped to you. You'd have them in time to complete this scenario this week. Waiting those few days, though, do put you in jeopardy of not finding inventory you need. But, if you don't have the coupons listed, this may be your only shot! :)

Total: $15.69 plus tax
Use $7 RR from last week.
Add $1.94 for cost of coupons from mycouponhunter.com
Total OOP for this entire scenario: $17.63 plus tax.
Okay, so it's a little over the budget of $10, but I just couldn't leave any item out!


Total RR generated: $13.50!
Imagine all we can get next week with this amount!

PS -- If you can spend just a little more, you can get 2 Right Guard Total 5 Defense deoderants, using this $3/2 printable coupon, for just $.99!

A $10 Walgreens Scenario for 10/3

So, what if you wanted to spend just $10 or less at Walgreens? How could you maximize your spending? Check out my scenario for the coming week (beginning 10/3):

EOS Lip Balm Summer Fruit or Honeysuckle Honeydew -- $3

Schick Hydro 3 or 5 Blade Razor System or Cartridges $7.99
Use $4/1 from the 10/3 SS

2 Nivea Lip Care $1 each
Use $2/2 printable coupon from here

2 Quakes Rice Snacks 3.03 oz., $.99
Use $1/2 printable coupon from here

Pay $7.97 plus tax on applicable items

RR Received:
$3 for the EOS lip balm
$4 for the Schick Hydro

So, basically, you could spend less than the shelf price of the razor, get those other goodies, and walk away with $7 to spend next week (or at Publix!)!