Stock Up Shopping July Edition

I try to spend as little as possible on groceries & I've found the most effective way to do that is to stock up when things are at their rock bottom prices.  This week when I went shopping these were the things I stocked up on:

Walgreens:

• This was a rare trip & against my usual method of spending $1/box of cereal, but JC & Emerson both love "waisin bwan", so I made an exception.  The cereal was on sale for $1.99, I bought 8 boxes, & after a coupon paid $1.87 a box.

Aldi:

• Boca Chick'n Patties were on special for $2.89 (they're usually in the $3-$3.50 range at other places), so I bought 6 boxes.  

• The pretzels were on markdown for $.89 a bag, so I bought 4.  I have been getting pretzels at the Dollar Tree, so saving the trip & paying less was exciting.  

Target: 

• 3 bottles of pure vanilla--marked down from $3.69 to $1.84

• Almond extract--originally $3.69 now $1.84

• Bay Leaves--clearanced from $2.99 to $1.48

• Walnuts--reduced from $7.99 to $3.98 for a pound. 

• And the shoes...well, how could I resist such a cutie pie pair of flats, especially when they were only $4.48, down from $15!

Happy weekend to you!

Super Saturday Shopping--Target & JC Penney

We had several days this week where Emerson & I had to be out of the house, so we killed time at Target & JC Penney.  (Forgive the poor picture quality, I had to take the pictures with my ghetto fabulous 4 year old cell phone)

At Target I found some fabulous clearance deals:  

• Biore facewash:  Originally $5.99 on clearance for $4.18-$3 coupon from Biore facebook=$1.18

• 2 Biore astringents w. bonus facewash: Originally $5.99 on clearance for $4.18-$3 coupon from Biore facebook=$1.18 each

• 4 pack of Cascade tablets: $0.97-$0.50 P&G newspaper coupon=$0.47

• 20 pack of Finish tablets: Originally $4.97 on clearance for $2.38- $0.50 manufacturer coupon=$1.88

Grand Total:  $7.31-$5 Target Giftcard from prior purchase=$2.31 OOP after tax

Bug enjoying her free pretzel

Today we made a rare sojourn to the mall to get our Free Auntie Anne's pretzels & get our oil changed & while we were there we stopped by JC Penney's to see if there were any deals to be had.  I have to say the store looked great & I love their new ad campaign, but I for one am sad to see their store coupons vanish & along with their copious clearance racks.

Of the very few items they had on clearance I found this little American Living dress for Emerson.  It was originally $44 (WOW!!!) & I paid $2.

Hope you got some excellent deals this week.  Happy weekend!

Frugal Fashionista: Sunday Best

I haven't done any fashionista posts lately; mainly because I haven't been all too fashionable of late.  I was, however, able to compile a few pictures left over from Sundays this summer to share with you all.  For the record, I feel totally ridiculous taking these pictures, so please, save any judgements.  ;)

Channeling my best June Cleaver

Dress:  Gadzooks more than 5 years ago, but I think it was in the $20 range
Head Band:  Rescued ribbon from a gift

Necklace:  Gift from my handsome husband

Pearl Earrings:  Christmas present from my parents










Wedges:  Target Clearance

Shirt:  Banana Republic outlet --Free thanks to a giftcard from my dad
Skirt:  Goodwill

Ring:  Anniversary present from JC (Just love that guy!)

Espadrilles:  TJ Maxx end of season clearance several years ago











And last but not least, I've got to include a picture of our busy little Doodle Bug...

Dress:  Children's Place--Bought at Once Upon a Child's on clearance for $1
Shoes:  Gift from Nana

Looking at my pictures, many of the items I'm wearing are close to 5 years old.  I'm glad to know my cheap finds are holding up!

Making The Most Of Store Coupons

A week ago we received a $10 off any purchase of $10 or more coupon to JC Penney's.  I have to say that these type of coupons are my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE COUPON OF ALL TIME!  EVER.  SERIOUSLY.  Last year I was lucky enough to get the same type of coupon to Kohl's once a month for 6 months.  With that free $60 I got enough clothes to clothe Little E for entirety of this summer.  For FREE.

Stores put out these types of coupons in hopes to a) get you to set foot in their store, & b) that you'll spend a whole lot more than the $10 offered in the coupons.  I look at it as the store paying me $10 to take home something, in the hopes that I'll be a repeat customer.   The majority of the time it does make me think more favorably of the store, but I rarely spend over $10.  Here's how...

1.  I shop clearance & stock up for the upcoming year.  Right now stores are trying to clearance out their spring & early summer items, so I looked for next summer.  By shopping clearance I am able to start my clothing stockpile for next year &  I make those free dollars go further.

2.  I ALWAYS make sure to get 100% of my free money, but I try not to go over the coupon value more than a dollar or so.  It is only logical to try to get the most for your money, whether that is money from your wallet, or money from a coupon, so take advantage.  Shop wisely though.  This is where you can get into trouble; give yourself a limit of spending X amount over the coupon & stick to it.

3.  Look for any other store coupons to maximize the trip.  On this particular trip I knew there was a coupon for a free moisturizer at the Sephora in Penney's.  I brought both to save an extra trip & save on unnecessary fossil fuels. 

Our grand total was a whopping $0.42, but to my mind the best part is that we "saved" $23.61 (not including the value of the sample).  I know I'm not the type of consumer JC Penney was hoping for when they sent out that coupon, but hey, it's all a part of being  the Green Goddess.  And I wouldn't have it any other way. 

The Best $64 I Ever Spent

I am an extremely awful housekeeper.  Awful.  I try, I really do, but it seems as soon as I get something clean, I turn my back and it's dirty again.  The biggest bane of my housekeeping efforts have been our wood floors.  I could sweep them every single day of my life and they would still have dust bunnies. 

Enter my new best friend:  The iRobot Roomba.  For those of you who have never heard of such wonderfulness:  this is a vacuum.  The world's most AWESOME vacuum.  It is a self propelled, Jetson's style, Rosey the Robot vacuum.

Our old vacuum has been broken for a while now, and while perusing our local Target, JC happened upon this sucker ON CLEARANCE!  My absolute favorite!!!  This bad boy was once $129 and we got it for the low low price of $64.  I assumed it wasn't going to work very well, but I figured it was worth a shot.

We brought it home, and tried it out on a Sunday morning.  We left for church and left the Roomba going in the living room...and came home to a spotless floor!  It's better than having a maid!  It doesn't clean at all like a normal person (it goes around in circles, goes off diagonally, etc) but it is super effective.  It goes under couches, beds, it gets corners, it does the dishes...I. am. loving. it. Amazing.

After trying it for a few weeks I feel safe recommending it to you lovely readers.  I have read on other blogs that it is on clearance nationwide at Target, so if you are in the market for a Jetson's like robotic vacuum, the iRobot is your gal.