Frugal In Florida

I went through the phase there where I'd buy 4 papers on Sunday, print coupons from 5 to 6 different computers (heh, working at an office with reduced staff is good for that) ... AND constantly stalk the coupon notification sites like a hawk. I also would constantly check in on my favorite website for the local grocery chain, Publix. Michelle does a bang up job on the site and IF you have a Publix in your area, you should check it out (I still do but only get what I need, not what's a good deal) ... I never did get an organization program together that worked for ME although I did try the binder system, the shoe box and the bag. Just had to rely on my memory and lord knows, that leaves a lot of open areas! Yes. I did save a ton of money. Yes. I did stockpile a LOT of stuff. Yes. I did try a lot of new stuff that I'd never have bought before. However, I do not coupon like  that anymore. Why? Well, several reasons. Buying stuff just because it's a good deal is n...

I love coupons. Really, they do save a lot of money on the things that you need and use. But of course, like anything else, there is a time and a place for them.  Right now, is NOT the time or place for ME. See, during the past 2 months, with Pantry Challenges and cleaning out the freezers (and pantry!), I've come to realize something. Stockpiling is G.O.O.D. so long as it's stuff that you use consistently. But it's not so good when you have, say, 20 bottles of Mr. Clean that you've purchased at a steal but still have said 20 bottles a year later ... I forgot that I'm NOT a fan of Mr. Clean. Ooops, sorry Big Guy! So, let me think, I paid approximately 90 cents per bottle. 90 x 20 is $18.00. That's almost $20 (I'm all about rounding up). Hmmm. Do you see where I'm going? I've got almost $20 worth of stuff that I'm playing with tossing in the garbage, dumping down a toilet or sink OR donating (can I donate something like that? I'm think...

So because there is NO GYM again (WTF??!!) I stayed at work a little later than normal to finish up some stuff on my desk. Then I decided to go to the Publix downtown to go coupon hunting. They usually have some great coupons! Sure enough, there were! Procter & Gamble must have something going with Publix. Again, they have these sheets (well, actually, it’s a trifold this time) of cleaning stuff. $1 off Tide (2 of them), $1 off swifter refills, 50 cents off any dawn, $1 off bounty, $1 off charmin, etc. Way cool. I know I’ve got some great coupons to match them up with. Unlike the health & beauty sheet, these DO expire. OH – and if you buy ANY 2 participating items, you can get a free Publix recycle shopping bag. Those are 99 cents each folks and I just refuse to pay for them so here they are, FREE. I also got some cracker coupons, only 3 of the buy 1 cracker get $1 off cheese. Bummer. Some $1 off poptart peelies (b1g1f now). $1 off success rice peelies. I did buy a few...

The Boat Parade Party is in 3 days and I am NO WHERE near ready!! 2 boxes Wheat Thins & 1 box of Triscuits ($2 each and $1 off coupon, $3 total for all 3) 5 packages of elf keebler cookies. Buy 5 get $5 gift card. Had $1.00 off 1 pkg, used 5 coupons. $8.29 spent (hmmm, some of them were $2.99?) 4 6pks propel. $2.99 each. Used 75 cents manuf. coupon & 40 cent Target coupon, $7.36 total 2 Hidden Valley dressings, $2.59 each. Used 1.00 off 2 and Target 50 cents each $3.18 total 3 2ltr bottles of Sprite/coke. $1.25 each. Used the $3 off purchase (when you buy 3 Nabisco or Planter products), paid 75 cents for all 3 2 pkgs dixie plates. $2.85 & $2.79. Used a $1 off 2. Pd $4.64 for both (not a good deal at all) Total spent: $28.39. Total saved $27.70 Not to mention the $5 g/c that I will use on the next purchase of sodas, cookies & crackers. This time, I should only spend $10.40 or so. Minus the $5 and it will be $5.40. Now we are talking! The best deal above I wou...

which are rare! Found these back in the soda aisle last night when I stopped to get dh some diet coke (he hasn't had any in quite a while) Across top (8x11 paper, landscape) in red back ground says "Enjoy $6 in savings!" Coca cola product (3 12 pks or multi pack bottles) save $1.00 Nestea 12 pck .5 ltr, save $1.00 Betty Cocker 2 pouch potatoes , save $1.00 Tyson Cornish Game hens, save $1.00 Tyson Appetizers, 1 bag or 2 boxes, save $1.00 Betty Crocker 2 Cookie Mixes, save $1.00 Now if we could just get soda below $4 a 12 pk. The bottles go on sale much cheaper as do the mini size cans and bottles. AND if the potatoes would go on sale B1G1F I'd be happy too!

I’ve only seen this at ONE Publix in town: Cover has “Over $7 in valuable coupons inside” and then says same in Spanish. Shows husband & wife with young son & daughter and grandmother. “Celebrate Noche Buena” Right there I see its geared towards Latino demographics. Then says you can enter for a chance to wind a Caja China BBQ/Roasting Box (this is what you put the piggy in) Coupons: Fresh Express, save $1.00 on one bag (NOTE: this is a PUBLIX coupon) Clamato 32 oz or larger, save $1.00 (PUBLIC coupon) Kern’s Nectar B1G1F coupon, manufacturer Kozy Shack Flan Product, 50 cents off, manufacturer Kingsford 13.5 bag or larger, $1.00 off, manufacturer Morton Salt, 35 cents off 2, manufacturer Dixie Ultra Plates, save $1.00 off 2, manufacturer Splenda, save $1.00 off, manufacturer (does not state minimum size!) Glad OdorShield, save $1.00 off, manufacturer (does not state minimum size!) Not a ‘great’ booklet, but if I can get the Dixie plates to go B1G1F I’ll be sittin pretty! ...

I managed to confuse a Publix cashier this morning I am actually still shaking my head about this, 8 hours later! I went into store #1 to return my stainless steel cleaner. Pointed out to the gal that I had a coupon for $2 off. She said it didn’t matter and gave me back $3.12. Hmmm. I only paid 99 cents for it. I really felt bad but she didn’t seem to care. On way out, noticed that they had new coupon booklets out! Woohoo! Grabbed one, opened it up & the first coupon was $1 off Fresh Express Salads. Grabbed about 8 and left. Store #2 is down the street from work. Thought about it on the way to work and decided to stop in for a quick check of coupons as this store has a great display. Grabbed one of the soon to expire (12/5) Thanksgiving Savings booklet since I saw the $2 off any produce when you buy 2 Fresh Express. $2 plus $2 equals $4!! Sure enough, Fresh Express on sale for $2.50 a bag (not a ‘great’ deal), comes to $1.50 each. Grab 2 bags. Grab some...

Ok, here's what I got this morning: 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper (green & red) with 8 coupons on it (all publix). Only one's that I'm really interested in are the $1.00 off Publix ice cream & $1.00 off eggnog. There are also $3 off deli platter, $3 off 20 stem bouquet, $2 off spiral ham, $3 off dessert platter, b1g1f cranberry (odd, they are on sale b1g1f this week, wonder if I can get 3 for price of 1?). Then: booklet of $15 in savings @ Publix (pepperidge farm & campbells) ... recipe book, coupons in back: free franco american gravy with purchase of 2 pepperidge farm stuffing, free box of pepperidge farm baked natural snacks with purchase of 2 pepperidge farm holiday cookies, save $1 on Publix flour with purchase of 2 swansons broth (shows can & carton) and then: $10.00 gift card with purchse of $25 of campbells, pepperridge farm and swanson holiday products. Must submit original coupon plus form. Hmmm. Make Merry Holiday 2008 booklet. 30 cents off domino ...

So far today, I’ve spent $17.xx and this is what I’ve gotten: 12 cans of Hunts tomatoes (FYI the whole ones have the least amount of sodium) for 20 cents per can 6 32 oz cartons of College Inn Broth for 40 cents each (FYI – Thai Coconut Curry has 1,010 mg of sodium per serving!!!!) 6 12 oz bags of nestle chocolate chips for 75 cents each 2 8 pks of coke for $6 2 4lb pkgs of chix leg quarters for 80 cents – was really $4.80 total but used them $2 off coupons! 2 3.4lb bags of sugar for 95 cents each Woohoo. And actually, this was all free as it was paid for with my Visa GC. While I was at the 2nd store getting more tomatoes, was looking for more of the books for the coupons on broth and found some other great ones, $1 off Kraft 2% cheese, 75 cents off propel, and the B1G1F Dannon Frusion single serving bottles. When I was picking up the sodas, saw the little hang tags on 2 ltr bottles for family pizza night, coupons are: free movie rental with rental of another @ Blockbuster, 55 ...

woohoo. I think I'm going to score some GREAT deals today. Publix has the following on sale: Hunts tomatoes , B1G1F ($1.49). I have 12 (yes 12) coupons for $1.00 off 2 ... yehaw! I need these! College Inn Broth 32 oz carton are B1G1F ($2.79). I have 7 (yes 7) coupons for $1.00 off each. This came from the booklet at the store which is how I scored the Hillshire sausage for $1.50 each last week (I didn't post that). Will get 3 chicken & 3 beef. 3.4 lb Dixie Sugar is on sale $1.50 each and I have a 55 cents off each coupon. Not the best but since it's getting to be baking time, need to buy when I can. This coupon came from the same booklet This is not a "great" deal, but will be ok, buy any 8 pk coca-cola product and get $2.00 off any meat purchase. I will buy chicken leg quarters (sale 59 cents lb) and pretty much get them for free. I have 2 of these coupons left. Again, came from the monthly booklet at Publix. Also, just pulled up this $3.00 off coupon...

I've been browsing the money saving mom website the past few days & decided to go ahead and do the Glades candle deal at Target. The first time I did it on Friday morning on my way to work. No problems. Cost me $5.30 and then I got my $5 gift card. Go back on Saturday with Halloween clearance in mind, 3 refills & 1 candle in cart, along with coffeemate, betty crocker frosting & oreos & goldfish. Give her the $2 off from candle, the buy 2 get one free on refills and the $1.50 off 2 refills. Mind you, only the $1.50 was an internet coupon, along with my $1.00 off coffeemate & 55 cents off the frosting. "I'm sorry, we don't accept internet coupons anymore". Huh? I just use some yesterday? "Sorry, the cashier was wrong, we don't accept" and she points to a notice on side of register with the $5 off Target coupon. Hmmm. So I said fine, take off the frosting & the cream. The candles were still a good deal. Had I NOT been in ...

I really am not much of a Kmart fan. I suppose it goes back to the store being OLD and in a not so great area of town here in Lauderdale. Oh, and the employees. Not quite sure where they train them, but clearly, customer service is not stressed enough. BUT then Sears came in the picture. AND now, well, the store is clean. Open. Bright. Clean. The employees, well, they are still there. I’ll leave it at that. THEN – they announce in the Sunday paper, that they will be DOUBLING coupons! Woohoo!!!!! I think (need to check) that this is for a week or so only. Guess what else they are doing now (again, need to double check) … LAYAWAYS!! So, if we can get SEARS quality stuff (not THE best but acceptable by most standards) at Kmart on layaway with double coupons. Well. Need I say more?

I found a new website yesterday that provided some GREAT coupons to print off (ds favorite, pizza rolls, $1 off). www.becentsable.net I didn't spend a whole lot of time on the website, but did print off the Hunts coupon ($1 off), Pizza Rolls ($1 off) and a few others. With the price of groceries still high, figured I better start getting them coupons again for the things I buy frequently. I know, I know. I go through these periods. BUT it irritates me when I pay full price for something that I KNOW I've seen a coupon for!!

Publix has their Health & Wellness tips & coupons out!! These are usually found in the spinning display that has the weekly sales papers. Hurry before they are all gone! Colgate $1.00 off any total 4 oz or larger (great for the CVS deals) Welch $1.00 off any 2 grape juice Clorox $.55 off any 75 ct wipe AND free clorox bleach with purchase of 4 clorox products There are more in the flyer, but these are the 3 that I would use :)

It's been awhile since I played with CVS shopping :) ... this morning, swung by there on my way to work as we are running low on shampoo and they had a sale going on. Bought 1 bottle of Garnier for $2.99. Used my $1 off coupon (have about 5 of these somehow), which lowered the price to $1.99. Final cost was $2.17 (since when do they charge tax on shampoo??) ... then the receipt printed out with my $2.00 rewards bux. Then I got a new lipstick (50% off) and an eyeshadow (75% off). Handed her my $2 coup and a $1.50 coupon. Needed to spend another 13 cents or something stupid, so picked up a hersheys bar ... paid 43 cents. Did not realize there was a hershey sale going on. Buy 4 for $2.00 and get $1 back. So, I have a reece whipped coupon of b1g1f, so will by 3 total for $1 and will get $1 back :) I kind of like this game!! Really need to pick up some toothpaste. Thought there was some sale, but have to look at the sale flyer a little closer. Been busy at work and haven't h...