My time is just too valuable for that

This is the response that I get from many people when I tell them about the bargains that I get from using coupons and shopping the sales. My thought is that by spending a little time shopping sales and using coupons I am able to spend less money and therefore have to spend less time earning money. The way I look at it the time that I spend working on this is very well spent. Take today's shopping trip for example. I stopped at Walgreen's and bought 13 cans of tomato sauce, it cost me $5.07 but I will submit for a $5 rebate and since I will take the rebate as a gift card that I can turn around and use on other good deals like this I will actually get $5.50 back. So in essence I have a net PROFIT of 43 cents. My next stop was Fry's and I did two transactions there. First transaction 2 4 packs of TP, 3 boxes of Oatmeal Squares, 1 box of granola bars, 4 cadbury cream eggs, 4 pb eggs, and 1 Vitamin water (not pictured). The balance actually came up negative 29 cents so they PAID me (they will usually not let this happen). Next transaction 4 boxes of granola bars 12 cents. So again I had a net PROFIT of 17 cents. I have more coupons and will stop by tomorrow and pick up more granolla bars. Total time at the store was under an hour (I left work at 3:30 and was at the daycare to pick up the kids by 4:45). I do spend time online looking at the sale blogs and such, but I have also gotten pretty efficient at skimming and just reading what is relevant to me.

If you added up the dollar amount of what I bought it would easily equal my hourly wage. So there you have it, my time is worth too much to not save money where I can.

What can you get for under $9

I did a little shopping today and this is what I got:

3 bottles of Shampoo - Loreal Pro Vive
3 bottles of Conditioner - Loreal Pro Vive
4 Sure Deodorant
2 buddies bars
2 pk kids toothbrush
2 5 packs of tampons
1 small bag bite sized nutter butters
1 pkg crayola markers
2 pk gel pens
1 gourmet chocolate bar

I should also get back over $4 on a Walgreens gift card for the markers, gel pens and candy bar. The rest of the stuff was bought at CVS and I got nearly $11 in ECB back for my next purchase.

A Post with pictures even!

Please forgive my absence lately but I have been dealing with some things in my private life. My friend S reminded me the other day that I enjoy blogging and just because there are things going on doesn't mean that I shouldn't do something that I enjoy.

So on to the post. I sewed today! I've noticed that my son's shorts have been getting smaller and smaller so today while the kids were at there grandparents with their father I made my son two new pairs of shorts. The tan pair is from a old pair of pants and the blue pair is from some leftover fabric from making this jacket for Alex. I've noticed that lately Alex checks for the tag on his shorts so to help him out I sewed a small ribbon tag to the back side of the shorts waistband seam. These shorts are so quick and easy to make especially with the serger. It is this pattern that I have used over and over again.

Sunday Savings

My husbands friends do not believe that I have been getting such good deals at CVS. To start go here and read this post that I wrote, it has links to where I find deals. I need to preface this post by saying that this takes time and effort, you don't just pick up a Sunday paper, clip a few coupons, and then walk into CVS and get free stuff. The way to get free stuff is to roll extra care bucks (ECB's) earned from one item to another item that gives ECB's. You do even better when you can combine coupon savings to net more ECB's than you spend.

Another note that goes against most peoples ideas of thriftiness is that you need to be willing to stockpile when the deals are good and sometimes be willing to buy something you don't need (with ECB's of course) if it gives more ECB's than it costs so that you can roll those earnings to get items you need for free.

Today I went to two different CVS stores, here is what I bought:

Transaction #1

Schick Quatro Razor 9.49
4 count Schick Quatro refill blades 10.99
2 Adidas deodorant 1.94 each

I used a $4 off $20 CVS coupon (find it here)
I had a coupon to buy a Schick Quatro Razor get a 4 count refill blade free
I had 2 coupons for a free Adidas Deodorant
I also used $3 in ECB's

My total after coupons $3.84 which I used a CVS giftcard for (from getting a prescription filled)
I got $3 in ECB's back. This is not a great deal but even if you hadn't had the ECB's you would have spent $6.84 for a razor, a pack of refill blades and 2 deodorants.

Transaction #2

2 softsoap body washes 4.99 each
2 Benefiber chewables 36 count 6.79 each

I used a $4 off $20 CVS coupon
2 $2 off Benefiber coupons
1 $1 off Soft Soap Coupon
I also used $13 in ECB's that I had.

My total $2.07 that I put on a gift card that I had. (If you only had the ECB's from the earlier deal you would have spent $12.07). I got back $19.98 in ECB's.

I have one more deal that I think I will work this week. I currently have $32.98 in ECB's that I will use to pay for future deals. The ECB deals this week aren't great but if you are just starting there are a few monthly free after ECB deals that you can use to get some ECB's to start working with.

My husband mentioned that some of his friends would add in the cost of the paper and feel it was just not that great of a deal. In my area I can get a Sunday only Subscription for $1 a week, I have two subscriptions for a total cost of $3 a week. I feel that the savings that I get from the coupons and the true volume of items I have managed to get for free makes up for the cost of the paper. Also I have been able purchase items with ECB's and send away for rebate checks that help to offset the cost of the papers.

With that said, if you don't feel that it is worth your time or money than so be it but personally I'm having a blast. I love getting a good deal.

The thrift store sheet take 2

Ok. I showed you the apron that I made out of the sheet from the thrift store, well I have made a second item from it. I have a clothesline in the backyard that I use on occasion and a clothespin bag that I leave hanging from it. The bag from had ripped and since the hardware was still good i decided to just replace the bag. I think that this is much more cheerful than the plain tan one that I replaced.

CVS Deals

My husband has mentioned having me teach a friend of his how I get great deals at CVS. I have to admit that mostly it is by the blogs that I read that I am able to get these great deals. (BTW I went shopping today and spent about $7 and was able to get buttons and rick rack for Abbie's dress, cleaning products from Ace (I have submitted for $5.50 in rebates from them), and over $60 of products at CVS. I actually didn't have any out of pocket expense at CVS because I had a coupon for free $25 gift card with a new prescription and I recently had a prescription filled (btw I still have over $4 on the card plus $13 in Extra Care Bucks).

The first place that I look for deals is iMommies she lists great deals at a variety of stores. Next I check out Be Thrifty Like Us for CVS deals, then Money Saving Mom. Money Saving Mom also has a great tutorial about getting started with CVS shopping. The slickdeals.net drugstore forums are another great place to look for deals. Lastly I check out Thrifty Florida Mama for CVS and other deals.

I have mostly been doing CVS for deals but it looks like you can get similar good deals at Walgreens and Rite Aid if you don't have CVS. You will also need to have coupons printed off the internet and from the paper. I have a Sunday only subscription to the paper for only $1 a week, I am actually thinking of subscribing for a second paper for the extra coupons because it more than pays for itself. Here is a good link that lists where to get internet printable coupons. Lastly I am not brand specific, if there is a coupon I ask myself "if this item was free or nearly free would I buy it?" If the answer is yes or maybe I keep the coupon. When the item is super cheap buy as many as you can with the deal and coupons and stockpile for when prices aren't so good.