Hi, I'm Michelle, a coupon-crazy Maineah! This page is intended to be a public forum for sharing of tips, tricks and match-ups specific to Maine and the New England area. Are you tired of coupon match-ups that reference coupons we didn't get locally? Me too, so here we are, focusing on local stores and coupons that are received in Maine Newspapers!
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
I Love a Good Soup Deal While Recovering From the Flu!
Yep, I did this much shopping while still getting over the flu...but coupons are my medicine! This was my biggest trip in a long time, which may not have been a great idea considering how I've been feeling, but I got it done.
Here we go!!!
6 DiGiorno Pizzas
Regularly $7.29
Sale Price $5.00
Used 2 B2G1 Free DiGiorno Pizza Coupons
Final Price $20.00
6 Coke Product 2-Liter Bottles
Regularly $1.69
Promotion Price $.01 each WYB 2 DiGiorno Pizzas
Final Price $.06!!!
8 Orville Redenbacher Pop Corns
Priced at $3.19 each
On Sale B1G1 Free
Used 4 $1.00/2 OR Pop Corn Coupons from the 1/20 SS (this is what I got instead of the $.75/1 some areas have)
Final Price $8.76
8 A&W Root Beer 2-Liters
Regularly $1.69
Promotion of two FREE WYB 2 OR Pop Corns, one of which is also FREE!!!!
8 Campbell's Soup Cups
Regularly $1.99
Sale Price $1.00
Used 4 $.50/2 Campbell Soup Cups Coupons, doubled
Final Price $4.00, only $.50 each!
2 Lean Cuisine Salad Additions
Regularly $3.99
Sale Price $3.00
Used $1.00/2 LC Salad Additions from February All You Magazine
Final Price $5.00 for both
Fresh Express Lettuce
Regularly $2.79
FREE WYB 2 LC Salad Additions
Bananas $1.09
Shopper's Value Pretzels and Cheese Snacks
Regularly $1.89
Sale Price 2/$3.00
2 Joy Ice Cream Cups
Priced at $1.49
Used 2 $.55/1 Joy Ice Cream Cups Coupons, doubled
Final Price $.78 for both!
Birds Eye Bagged Vegetables
Regularly $1.79
Sale Price $1.00
Used 4 $1.00/1 Birds Eye Vegetables Coupons (NLA, that one went fast!)
Final Price FREE!!!!!!
4 Campbell's Skillet Sauces
Regularly $2.69
Sale Price $2.00
Used 4 $.75/1 Campbell's Skillet Sauces Coupons, doubled
Final Price $2.00, only $.50 each!
4 Duncan Hines Frosting Creations
Priced at $.99
Used 4 $.50/1 Frosting Creations Coupons, doubled
Final Price FREE plus $.04 OVERAGE!!!!
2 Pepsi 6-Pack Bottles
Regularly $3.69
Sale Price $2.75
Used $2.00/2 Pepsi Multi-Packs Coupon
Final Price $3.50, only $.29 per bottle!
Essential Everyday Shredded Cheese
Regularly $3.19
Sale Price $2.50
Used $1.00/1 Shaw's Brand Cheese Email Only Coupon
Final Price $1.50
Total Retail Value $159.91
After Sales and Coupons $49.65
With bottle deposits my total was actually over $50, so I was able to use a $5 off $50 Recyclebank Coupon
Final Cost $44.65, a savings of $115.26, or 72%!!!!!!
Thursday, January 24, 2013
One Last Shot at the Web Exclusive Coupons!
I am really going to miss the Web Exclusive Coupons...the Gotta Love Great Deals promotion got a little stale this week, but it was rejuvenated by the new Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks Coupon!!! I made this last shot as the store brand coupons a good one!
4 Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks
Regularly $2.99
Sale Price $1.67
Used 4 $.50/1 Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks Coupons, doubled
Final Price $2.68, only $.67 each!
Diet Pepsi 2-Liter
Regularly $1.79
Sale Price $1.25
This means I have 5 of the Gotta Love Great Deals items so I could get...
Essential Everyday "Oreo" Cookies
Regularly $2.69
Sale Price $1.99
Used $1.50/1 EE Product Coupon (NLA)
Final Price $.49
Equaline Men's Bodywash
Priced at $3.65
Used $2.50/1 Equaline Product Coupon (NLA)
Final Price $1.15
Culinary Circle Entertaining Crackers
Priced at $2.29
Used $2.50/1 CC Product Coupon (NLA)
Final Price FREE plus $.21 overage
Wild Harvest Tortilla Chips
Priced at $1.99
Used $2.00/1 WH Product Coupon (NLA)
FREE Plus $.01 overage
Now for the rest of the deals!
4 Kikkoman Seasoning Packets
Regularly $.89
Sale Price $.79
Used 4 $1.00/1 Kikkoman Product Coupons
Final Price FREE plus $.84 OVERAGE!!!!
4 Stretch Island Fruit Co. Fruit Leathers
Priced at $.69
Used 4 $.75/1 Stretch Island Fruit Co. Product Coupons, doubled (use zip code 84121, thanks Ashley for the heads-up on this one!)
Final Price FREE plus $3.24 OVERAGE!!!!!*
4 Milford Valley Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Regularly $3.99
Sale Price $1.99
Used 4 $.75/1 Milford Valley Product Coupons, doubled (use the code MVJan2013)
Final Price $1.96, only $.49 each!!!
Total Retail Value $46.65
After sales, coupons, overage, and even some negative tax (so strange, but I'll take it) I paid $2.55!!! That's a savings of $44.10 or 95%!!! I definitely did my happy dance on this one!
Note: This coupon will go through for only the $.69 product price, however Shaw's does give overage so you are entitled to the full $.75. If you're lucky, when the cashier enters the coupon manually it will double. They do however have the right to reverse the doubling because overage is only meant to give you the full value of the coupon, not overage from doubling, but it could happen.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Got Chicken? I Sure Do Now!
Alright, I am home with power and my receipt so I can post yesterday's shopping trip for you all! I am very happy with this one!!!
As you likely know by now, you have to purchase five Gotta Love Great Deals items in order to use the four Web Exclusive Savings coupons. My past trips included a lot of Chex Mix and Fruit Snacks, but I am all out of coupons for those items, so I went with another staple in my house; Diet Pepsi!!! That's right, my name is Michelle, and I am addicted to Diet Pepsi.
5 Diet Pepsi 2-Liters
Regularly $1.79
Sale Price $1.25
Final Cost $6.25
Essential Everyday Pancake Mix
Priced at $1.99
Used $1.50/1 EE Product Coupon
Final Price $.49
Culinary Circle Entertaining Crackers
Priced at $2.29
Used $2.50/1 CC Product Coupon
Final Price FREE!
Wild Harvest Organic Animal Crackers
Priced at $2.19
Used $2.00/1 WH Product Coupon
Final Price $.19
Equaline Conditioner
Priced at $2.99
Used $2.50/1 Equaline Product Coupon
Final Price $.49
4 Milford Valley Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Regularly $3.99
Sale Price $1.99
Used 4 $.75/1 Milford Valley Product Coupons, doubled (use code MVJan2013)
Final Price $1.96, only $.49 for each box of two!!!
2 Fast Fixin' Chicken Nuggets
Regularly $5.49
Sale Price $2.99
Used 2 $1.00/1 Fast Fixin' Product Coupons (enter 90210 as the zip code and search for the brand in the drop-down)
Final Price $3.98 for both, only $1.99 each!
5 Lean Cuisine Frozen Dinners
Regularly $3.49
Sale Price $2.00
Used 1 $1/5 Lean Cuisine Dinners Coupon from the 1/6 SS
Final Price $9.00 for all 5
Normally I would get these at Walmart, but by adding them to my existing Shaw's list which was right around $15.00, I was able to get my total above $25 after coupons and sales so I could use a $4/$25 Email Savings Program Coupon.
2 BeechNut Stage 5 Fruit Purees
Regularly $.99
Sale Price $.89
Used 2 $1.00/1 BeechNut Stage 4 or 5 product coupons
Final Price FREE plus $.22 OVERAGE!!!!
2 McCain Sweet Potato Fries
Regularly $3.19
Sale Price $1.99
Used 2 $1.00/1 McCain Sweet Potato Fries Coupons
Final Price $1.98, only $.99 each!
Christmas Clearance Finds!!!
2 25-Count Bags of Bows
Regularly $1.29
Reduced by 75% to $.32 each
Crayola Mini Monster Dot
Regularly $8.99
Reduced by 75% to $2.25
Bingo Game (I have a soft spot for this one because my grandparents used to play almost nightly)
Regularly $4.99
Reduced by 75% to $1.25
Total Retail Value $87.72
After store promotions and coupons $28.26
I used my $4/$25 Email Savings Program Coupon to bring my total down to $24.26. That's a savings of $63.46...72%!!!!!! This is with a ton of great chicken products for dinners for myself and my kids!
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Saturday Shaw's Success! With One Exception...
Per my usual strategy, I managed to get a perfect mix of amazing deals, household staples and party recipe ingredients in this trip! One challenge was that the Gotta Love Great Deals (GLGD) items weren't in this week's ad. They really haven't changed over the last few weeks so I do know which ones are the best deals for my needs. They are listed on the Shaw's website and my store had them posted at the front, just in case you need the list!
GLGD Items
2 Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks
Regularly $2.99
Sale Price $1.67
Used 1 $.50/2 Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks Coupon, doubled
Final Price $2.34 for both, only $1.17 each!
2 Chex Mix
Regularly $2.99
Sale Price $1.50
Used 2 $.50/1 Chex Mix Coupons, doubled
Final Price $1.00, only $.50 each!
1 Pepsi 2-Liter
Regularly $1.79
Sale Price $1.25
Since I purchased 5 participating GLGD items, I was able to use the four Web Exclusive Savings Coupons on Shaw's major store brands.
I wish I could use more of the $1.50/1 Essential Everyday product coupons because there are so many things I need. Today I got several items, all for my Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe...yes, it's amazing, and all my friend wanted for her birthday!
EE Blue Cheese Dressing
Regularly $2.19
Sale Price $2.00
EE Shredded Cheddar Jack Cheese
Regularly $3.19
Sale Price $2.50
2 EE Cream Cheese Blocks
Regularly $1.99
Sale Price $1.69
I used my $1.50 EE coupon to save even more!
Culinary Circle Goat Cheese Crumbles
Priced at $4.49
Used $2.50/1 CC Product Coupon
Final Price $1.99
Wild Harvest Organic Tortilla Chips
Priced at $1.99
Used $2.00/1 WH Product Coupon
FREE!!!
Equaline Conditioner
Priced at $2.99
Used $2.50/1 Equaline Product Coupon
Final Price $.49
Now for even more amazing deals!!!
4 Ocean Spray Grapefruit Juices
Regularly $3.59
Sale Price $2.00
Used 4 $2.00/1 Grapefruit Juice Coupons (Use FL zip code 33233)
Final Price FREE!!!
Plus, I got two 5-pound bags of Grapefruits free for purchasing the juices!!!
2 Fast Fixin' Chicken Nuggets
Regularly $5.49
Sale Price $2.99
Used 2 $1.00/1 Fast Fixin' Product Coupons (use zip code 90210 and find Fast Fixin' in the brand drop-down)
Final Price $3.98, only $1.99 each!!!
2 McCain's Sweet Potato Fries
Regularly $3.19
Sale Price $1.99
Used 2 $1.00/1 McCain's Sweet Potato Fries Coupons
Plus, I loaded the $1.00/1 McCain's Sweet Potato Fries eCoupon to my SavingStar Account
I paid $1.98 OOP and will get $1.00 back, making my final cost only $.98 for both!
2 Joy Ice Cream Cones
Priced at $1.49
Used 2 $.55/1 Joy Ice Cream Cones Coupons, doubled
Final Price $.39 each, only $.78 for both!
6 Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa 6-packs
Regularly $1.39
Sale Price $1.00
Used 2 $1/3 Swiss Miss Coupons
Final Price $4.00, only $.67 each!
Bananas, 3.26 lbs @ $.49/lb (this was $.57 for the longest time, I like this new price!)
Final Price $1.60
Shopper's Value Tortilla Chips $1.89
4 Kikkoman Seasoning Packets
Regularly $.89
Sale Price $.79
Used 2 $1.00/1 Kikkoman Product Coupons
and 2 $1.00/1 Kikkoman Product Coupons (2 prints per computer on each link)
Final Price FREE plus $.84 OVERAGE!!!!
2 BeechNut Stage 5 Fruit Pouches
Regularly Priced at $.99
Sale Price $.89
Used 2 $1.00/1 BeechNut Stage 4 or 5 coupons
Final Price FREE plus $.22 OVERAGE!!!!
Total Retail Value $84.65
Total after sales and coupons $24.93, with bottle deposits my total was over $25 (I don't count this in my cost since I will get the money back when I recycle my bottles) so I was able to use a $4 off $25 Email Savings Program Coupon bringing my total down to $20.93. I will also get a $1.00 refund in my SavingStar account, so my final OOP will be $19.93, that's a savings of $64.72 or 76%!!!!!!
This trip was so much fun, and many of the items I got two of because I wasn't patient enough to take the time for my second computer to print all of the coupons. Well, I think it's worth it to make that happen today! I'm thinking more BeechNut, Kikkoman, Ice Cream Cones, Sweet Potato Fries and Web Exclusive Savings items are in my future. How will I do that now that I have no more Chex Mix and Fruit Snacks coupons you ask??? I'm thinking Pepsi products all the way! Think about it...spend $5.00 on soda, and get $8.50 in free products! Plus, Windham was all out of the Milford Valley Stuffed Chicken...at $.49 a box, I'm not surprised, so I have to go back for that!
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Saving Money Can Be Good For Your Wallet...and Your Waistline!
That's right, I succeeded at saving my usual goal of 50% while stocking up on a ton of healthy foods! It helped that we have these Web Exclusive Savings coupons for the major store brands at Shaw's. The flexible options for using these coupons definitely made this healthy trip much easier!
In order to use the Web Exclusive Coupons I did have to purchase five of the Gotta Love Great Deals (GLGD) items:
4 Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks
Regularly $2.99
Sale Price $1.67
Used 2 $.60/2 Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks Coupons, doubled
Final Price $4.28 for all four, only $1.07 each!
5 Pound Bag of Russet Potatoes
Regularly $3.29
Sale Price $2.50
No coupons, just chose this as a healthy option for my fifth GLGD item!
Now for the Web Exclusive Savings Items:
Essential Everyday Light Mayonnaise
Priced at $3.49
Used $1.50/1 EE Product Coupon
Final Price $1.99
Wild Harvest Tortilla Chips
Priced at $1.99
Used $2.00/1 WH Product Coupon
Final Price FREE!!!
Culinary Circle Reduced Fat Feta Cheese
Priced at $2.99
Used $2.50/1 CC Product Coupon
Final Price $.49
Equaline Shampoo
Priced at $2.99
Used $2.50/1 Equaline Product Coupon
Final Price $.49
Essential Everyday Butter $2.49
This would be another great option to use the $1.50 EE coupon on. I know it's not a "healthy" item, but it's a household staple, which are usually so hard to get great deals on!
7 Yoplait Simplait Yogurts
Regularly $1.00
Sale Price $.60
I had 3 $.30/1 Coupons and 4 $.40/1 Coupons, all of which doubled
The $.30 coupons made four of them free, and I earned $.20 of overage from each of the $.40 coupons, making all of them FREE plus $.80 overage!!!
2 1-Pound Earthbound Farms Organic Carrots
Priced at $1.19 each
Used 2 $.75/1 EB Farms Organic Product Coupons, doubled*
Final Price FREE!!!!
3.33 Pounds of Bananas
Regularly $.57/lb or $1.90
Sale Price $.49/lb or $1.63
I ALWAYS buy bananas, but it's so great to see them on sale!
Bakery Italian Bread
Priced at $1.99
My mother got a Catalina for a free loaf of Italian or French bread with a $10 purchase, so of course she gave it to me.
Final Price FREE!!!
Shopper's Value Pretzels $1.89
Bunch Romaine Lettuce $1.79
Cucumber $.79
1.77 Pounds of Braeburn Apples @ $1.79/lb, $3.17
Gallon of Whole Milk $3.92
Half Gallon of Skim Milk $2.59
Total Retail Value $56.62
After sales and coupons $27.22
I used a $4 off $25 Email Savings Program Coupon bringing my total down to $23.22. That's a savings of $33.40 or 59%!!! That's pretty amazing considering $16.64 worth of these items weren't on sale or purchased using coupons!!! My coupon items were such amazing deals including some overage, plus I used a money off your total purchase coupon to maximize the savings on non-coupon items!
*Disclaimer: This coupon says "May Not Be Doubled" so the store has every right to reverse it. Also, different Shaw's locations have different computer software which may or may not limit the doubling to the sale price.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Day Two of This Week's Deals, and Trip Two for Me!
It's official...my couponing is back in full swing! Things slowed down for a bit there, but you know I'm back when I make trips two days in a row to Shaw's! I have learned a lot through last week's trip as well as last night's when it comes to the Gotta Love Great Deals (GLGD), Bonus Web Exclusive Savings and Limited Time Offers. Today, I had a unique need for my shopping, a party! I made stuffed bread for a family party so I needed cheese and a few deli meats. These are NOT items a couponer likes to buy, but the coupon gods were with me! Check out the details!!!
Limited Time Offer, Special K Cereal
Regularly $3.99
LTO Price $1.88
Used $.70/1 Special K Coupon, doubled
Final Price only $.48!!!
GLGD Items, I got five so I could use the Bonus Web Exclusive Savings Coupon
Pepsi 2-Liter
Regularly $1.79
Sale Price $1.25
2 Fiber One Chewy Bars
Regularly $3.79
Sale Price $2.50
Used 2 $.60/1 Fiber One Chewy Bars Coupons, doubled
Final Price $1.30 each, only $2.60 for both!
2 Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks
Regularly $2.99
Sale Price $1.67
Used $.85/2 Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks Coupon, doubled
Final Price $1.64 for both, only $.82 each!
Bonus Web Exclusive Items
Essential Everyday Shredded Cheese, 16 oz
Regularly $5.49
Sale Price $4.99
Used $1.50/1 EE Product Coupon
Final Price $3.49
Wild Harvest Organic Animal Crackers
Priced at $2.19
Used $2.00/1 WH Product Coupon
Final Price $.19
Culinary Circle Pizza
Regularly $5.49
Sale Price $4.99
Used $2.50/1 CC Product Coupon
Final Price $2.49
I usually like to use these coupons to pick up free or almost free products, but this one was for my husband :-)
Equaline Shampoo
Priced at $2.99
Used $2.50/1 Equaline Product Coupon
Final Price $.49
In order to get the Limited Time Deal, I did need to make sure my total was at least $10 after all other promotions and coupons. This wasn't hard to do considering the deli items I needed. I'm also trying to take advantage of the BOGO sale on Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Crackers this week in the most efficient way possible. Rather than buying 12 at once like I usually do, I'm planning several small trips, all of which will include a $4/$25 Email Savings Coupon. I LOVE coupons for a dollar amount off your total purchase; they make me feel like I'm using a coupon on something I would otherwise never get one for, like Goldfish Crackers! This is also great when getting produce, meat or dairy products.
Margherita Deli Meats (Pepperoni, Salami and Prosciutto)
They came to $3.50, $3.77 and $4.50 for a total of $11.77
Now, I didn't choose this brand, it's just what they had for what I needed
I was in luck though, because there were coupons on the counter for $1 off any Margherita deli item! This brought my deli total down to only $8.77
4 Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Crackers
Priced at $2.39 each
On Sale Buy One Get One Free
Final Price $4.78 for all four, only $1.19 each!
Total Retail Value $56.83
Total after sales and coupons $26.18
I used my $4/$25 Email Savings Coupon, bringing my total down to $22.18
That's a savings of $30.65 or 54%. While it's not that impressive percentage wise, I was able to get some unexpected savings on the deli items I needed. I still met my standing goal of at least 50% savings, despite these less than couponer-friendly items!
Friday, January 11, 2013
Little of This, Little of That...Sorry, That's The Best I Got!
I think this is the first time I've posted a shopping trip and was at a total loss for a title! Oh well, all you really care about is the deals anyway :-)
Before you try to tackle this week's deals, make sure you're armed with the information you need on the Gotta Love Great Deals, Limited Time Offers and Bonus Web Savings. I addressed these last week, and Deals by Darlene also has a great rundown for you.
Now for the deals!
Limited Time Offer: 2 Special K Cereals
Regularly $3.99
LTO Price $1.88
Used 2 $.70/1 Special K Coupons, doubled
Final Price $.48 each, only $.96 for both!!!
Gotta Love Great Deals Items (GLGD)
Nature Valley Granola Bars
Regularly $3.49
Sale Price $2.50
Used $1.50/1 Granola Bar Purchase Catalina from last week's GLGD purchases
Final Price $1.00
2 Chex Mix
Regularly $2.99
Sale Price $1.50
Used 2 $.50/1 Chex Mix Coupons, doubled
Final Price $.50 each or $1.00 for both
Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks
Regularly $2.99
Sale Price $1.67
Used $1/1 GLGD Item Catalina from last weeks GLGD purchases
Final Price $.67
2-Liter Pepsi (this was a back-up plan, they were all out of the 24 packs of bottled water)
Regularly $1.79
Sale Price $1.25
By purchasing 5 GLGD items, I was able to use the Bonus Web Exclusive Savings coupons on these items:
Essential Everyday Pasta Sauce
Priced at $1.65
Used $1.50 EE Coupon
Final Price $.15
Culinary Circle Entertaining Crackers
Priced at $2.19
Used $2.50 CC Coupon
Final Price FREE!!!
Wild Harvest Organic Animal Crackers
Priced at $2.19
Used $2.00 WH Coupon
Final Price $.19
Equaline Contact Lens Solution
Priced at $2.99
Used $2.50 Equaline Coupon
Final Price $.49
4 Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Crackers
Priced at $2.39 each
On Sale Buy One Get One Free
Final Price $4.78 for all four, only $1.19 each!
Bananas $.89
Gallon of Milk (Not in picture) $3.92
Celery Hearts $1.99
Used $1.00 off Produce Catalina from last week's GLGD purchases
Final Price $.99
4 Perdue Refrigerated All Natural Whole Grain Chicken Products
Regularly $5.29
Sale Price $3.33
Used 4 $.75/1 Perdue Refrigerated Product Coupons, doubled
Final Price $1.83 each, only $7.32 for all four
2 Poland Spring Aqua Pod 8-Packs
Priced at $3.19 each
On Sale Buy One Get One Free
Used $1.50 off any bottled water purchase Catalina from last week's GLGD purchases
Final Price $1.69 for both, only $.10 per bottle!!!
Total Retail Value $75.15
Total after sales and coupons $25.30
I also used a $4 off $25 Email Savings Program Coupon
Bringing my total down to $20.30, a savings of $54.85, that's 73%!!!!!!
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