Learning to Coupon

I've had lots of emails asking me how I've been able to get the "deals" I mentioned below. I learned everything from this blog.

Read her link titled "Couponing 101" and then read under "Store Guides" about specific stores. She posts "deals" several times a day in the body of her blog, too.

Basically, start getting your Sunday paper and cutting coupons. Organize them in a way that works for you (I'm using a binder now with baseball card storage sheets). Learn the money saving programs at Rite Aid, CVS and Walgreens - they are pretty great! Check out the printable, online coupons (coupons.com) - there are more links on the blog mentioned above for online coupons.

The savings are not limited to the drug stores either. I've gotten some $50 magazine subscriptions for free or as little as $5 for a year. I got a Leapfrog Tag Junior system for $8.99 at Target. I've gotten some nice board games at Toys R Us for very little. So, get saving!

Email me with your questions - this has been a fun little "hobby" for me - when I'm not feeding, playing with or changing JP. It's a way to use my brain since quitting work! I'm excited for my friends to learn, too!
nicci_loscalzo AT hotmail DOT com

PS - I can't "comment" back to anyone's comments below for some reason...maybe it's my MAC or maybe it's Firefox. So, Kari, shoot me an email if you wanna know anymore about this! ;)

PSS - Someone asked me "Nicci, what are you going to do with all those deodorants?!" hahaha. I thought once I get my stash built up, I'll make a nice donation to a local women's shelter or some charity that could use some toiletries :) If they are free, I might as well, right?!

PSSS - I'm watching TV while I'm typing this and there's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on...uhhh, is it me or is this ridiculous?

Fun with Blitz

Blitz was scratching at JP's play pen earlier, and JP thought it was hilarious.

UPDATED: I realized I had forgotten about a $1 coupon in my pocket, so I stopped by Rite Aid today and submitted it with my receipt from yesterday and got $1 back. So, make the total below $2.35 :)
And an extra tid-bit - My deal today at Rite Aid. All of this cost me $3.35. The only reason it cost me anything was because I made a mistake and bought 2 Herbal Essences - I should have just gotten one. Oh well!

Rite Aid is great because they have a rebate program that will reimburse you in cash - not cash toward your next purchase, but an actual check.

My CVS Deal Today

I can't resist sharing my deal today. I tried to venture to Toys R Us to pick up some $3 diapers, but when I got there, you couldn't get to any of the aisles because the check-out line was zig-zagged throughout the whole store. So, I left asap. Instead, I stopped by CVS to pick up some freebies. Note: these deals are good through tomorrow, too, so if you wanna run out and pick them up, you can!

Here's what I got (and a 12 pack of Diet Coke I left off the picture):
The Breakdown (these are the sale prices):
12 pack diet coke: $3.00
Bottle deposit (thanks, Taxachusetts): $.60
Renuzit Air Freshner: $.99
Renuzit Air Freshner: A$.99
St. Ives Body Wash: $3.99
Vaseline Sheer Infusion lotion: $7.99
Bic Soleil Razors: $6.99
Degree Ultra Pure Deodorant: $4.00
Teething Tablets (JP's got his second tooth coming through!) $5.49
Mountain Dew 20 oz. (it's my vice): $1.59
Bottle Deposit: $.05
Total: $35.64

The coupons I used:

1. bogo renuzit air freshner (equals $.99)
   
2. $1.00 off St. Ives body wash
3. $1.25 off Degree deodorant
4. $1.50 off Vaseline lotion
5. $2.00 off Bic Soleil razors
6. $5.00 off $30 purchase - cvs coupon printed online
7. $5.00 off $15.00 purchase - cvs coupon printed in the store at the little coupon kiosks
8. $10.00 extra care buck from my last cvs shopping trip (the make-up and tissues in post below)

Total Paid: $9.40

BUT THEN....I got back more Extra Care Bucks 'ECB' (cash toward next purchase)
$5.00 ECB for Bic Soleil
$7.99 ECB for Vaseline lotion
$4.00 ECB for Degree
$3.00 ECB for St. Ives
= $19.99 ECB (essentially, cash back)

So, in all, I made a $10.60 PROFIT!!!!!! YAHOO!!!!
Email me if you wanna know how to do it :)

Play Yard

We dropped the mattress in the play yard converting it from a bassinet to an actual play pen. JP is really enjoying it. He loves looking out at the dogs and laughing at them. He falls over quite a bit still and gets mad, but we just prop him back up and his gumless smile returns! Thanks to all my Nobles friends who bought JP this great contraption!

This Thanksgiving, we are thankful for this amazing little man. He was certainly worth the wait!

JP ONE SOCK

JP ONE SOCK....that's his Native American name. Regardless of the type of socks we put on him, he winds up with one (and only one) off. It took me a while to catch this on camera, but it's been happening consistently since he was born. He just prefers one sock!


And here's a little bonus picture of him snuggling with Daddy and Blitz. Check out how Blitz has his head nuzzled in JP's leg :)

Couponing

So, since deciding to become a stay-at-home-mom, I've started learning the art of couponing. That's right, couponing is a verb. It takes some time to figure it out and get yourself organized, but it's pretty amazing the kinds of deals you can score! I used to buy mostly generics to save money, but now I'm buying name brand products for wayy less than generics.

For example, I went to CVS yesterday for these three things: Tissues, Foundation and Blush.

The original prices...

Tissues: $2.39

Foundation: $15.99

Blush: $12.99

Total: $31.37

What I paid...

$7.32 (& .43 of that was tax)

BUT WAIT!!!! There's MORE!!!!

I got back a $10 ExtraCare Buck, which is basically cash off my next CVS purchase. So, all in all, I made a $2.68 PROFIT!!!!!

Pretty cool, right?

And here's what I picked up at Target today for just $16.46 (original price $50.55):

Techy

JP checking his email:

JP tasting his email: