I went to Walmart today to see if the trial size shampoos that I had coupons for were in stock.  My intention was to get these and use the overages to purchase other items that were onsale, and that I had coupons for.  I also did some price matching to get the most bang for my buck:)

• 9 x Nexxus Shampoo @ $2 each less 9 x $3 off coupons = +$9
• 1 x Nexxus Conditioner @$3 = Free Saved $3
• 1 x Crest Toothpaste Regular $2.99 @ $1.88 less $.75 coupon = $1.13 Saved $.75
• 3 x gillett shaving foam Regular $2.46 @ $1.46 each less $5WUB3 = + $.62
• 4 x Arm and Hammer Laundry Detergent Regular $4.97 each price matched to No Frills $2 each less 4 x $.75off = $5 Saved $14.88
• 1 x Purex Laundry Detergent Regular $5.76 price matched Shoppers Druhmart $3.99 less $3 off = $.99 Saved $4.77
• After Bite (for my Cohen and his mosquito bites) $.4.47

Total purchased $64.55
Total Paid $4.16

Is it strange that I was disapointed that I paid so much?

I'm Gonna Blog

I have to say that I am having so much fun doing this coupon thing, and generally saving my family tons of money! I am going to take the advice of a new friend and start a blog :) I am currently thinking about a name for my new blog, does anybody out there have any suggestions? Here's a peek at a shopping trip I did today:

• 3 x Kelloggs Fiber Plus cereal Regular $4.97each onsale for $2.97each less 3x $2 off coupons = $2.91 Saved $12
• 1 x English Breakfast tea (for my hubby) $2.79
• 19 x Pure protien bars regular $1.89 less 19x Free coupons = FREE Saved $35.91
• I had $2.88 in superbucks ( from getting gas)

Total purchased $53.61
Total Paid $2.82

Free Diapers

I noticed that I had a couple of stackable coupons for diapers that were about to expire so I headed to London Drugs to use them. Two of the diaper coupons that I had required me to buy wipes, and it almost killed me to pay full price for them. Unfortunately I couldn't find a price match for them, and they were all out of the travel size wipes containers. Here's what I got:)

• 2 x Pampers Cruisers Mega Pack Regular $18.99 each pricematched Safeway 2 for $25 less 2 x $2 off, 2 x $2 off, 2x $4 off WUBdiapers and wipes, 2x $5 off WUB diapers and wipes = FREE Saved $37.98
• 2 x Pampers wipes @ $4.99 each (OUCH) less $1(left over from diaper purchase and cashier was nice enough to put it towards the wipes:) ) = $8.98 Saved $1
• 3 x Advil Nighttime (20ct) Regular $9.99 each London Drugscoupon book $7.99 each Less 3 x $4 off, 3 x $4 off = FREE SAved $29.97
• 2 x Old spice mens deodorant Regular $3.99 each price matched Superstore 2 for $5 less $3 WUB2, 2x $1 off = FREE Saved $7.98
• Triscuit crakers $2.74 less coupon for free box= FREE Saved $2.74

Total purchased :$93.08

Total Paid: $12.48

Getting closer to the ZERO balance

I scorded a bunch more coupon inserts from last weekends paper so I headed out to Walmart today in search of overages. My plan was to buy some flowers for my front garden beds with those overages. Here's what I got:

• 13 x Iams trial size cat food @ $1.73each less 13 x$2 off coupons = + $3.51 Saved $26

• 42 x Gillett foam trial size @ $1.27 each less 14 x $5 off WUB3 = +$16.66 Saved $70

• 3 x Gillett foam regular $2.50 onsale for $1.46 each less $5 off WUB3 = +$.62 Saved $8.12

• 5 x Nexxus shampoo @ $2 each less 5x $3 off coupons = +$5.00 Saved $15

• Stargazer Bulbs $9.97 rang in at $7 Saved $2.97

• Sun Garden Bulbs $12.97 rang in @ $9 saved $3.97

Because the bulbs rang in cheaper I ended up with an -$6.48 overage left so I grabed:

• printer paper $4.93

• Crest toothpaste $1.88

Total Purchased : $126.23
Total Paid : $0.67

Stacking Stacking Stacking

So I found out that not all of the London Drugs in Calgary Have the new policy about stacking certain coupons, so I headed out to a different one, and I stacked untill my hearts content! Here's what I got:

• Sunlight Laundry Detergent Regular $7.99 onslae for $4.99 less 5x different $1 off coupons = FREE Saved $7.99
• 10 x Multibionta vitamins (including 4 boxes of 50+ for my parents) regular 14.99= $149.90 les 10 x $10 off less 10 x $5 off = FREE Saved $149.90
• 2 x Old spice mens deoderant Regular $3.99 each Price matched Superstore 2 for $5 less $3off WUB2 less 2x $1 off = FREE Saved $7.98
• 2 x Gillett mens deoderant Regular $3.99 each price matched Superstore 2 for $5 less 2 x $1 off coupons = $3 saved $4.98
• 2 x Greenworks dishwashing liquid regular $3.99 each onsale 2 for $5 less 2x $1.50 off = $2 Saved $5.98
• Cascade Action pack dishwasher detergent regular $5.99 onsale for $3.99 less 2 x differnt $1.50 off less 1x $.50 off =$.49 Saved $5.50
• 4 x Finish powerball dishwasher detergent Regular $14.99 each onsale for $7.99 less 4 x $1 off coupons = $27.96 Saved $32
• London drugs also had a deal where you got a Free diswasher cleaner with the purchase of 2 finish products so I got 2 regular $5.39 each = FREE Saved $10.98

Total purchased: $271.70
Total paid: $43.74

My First Audience

I went to Walmart with a bunch of coupons that would see me getting paid to take the items out of the store, and when I was checking out I had my first audience waiting in antcipation to see how much money I had saved! Here's what I got:

• 33 x Gillett shaving foam trial size $1.27 each = $41.91 less 11 x $5 off WUB3 = +13.09 (yup, I made money buying these!!)
• 11 x Iams cat food trial size @ $1.73 each= $19.03 less 11 x $2.00 off coupon = +2.97 (made money on this one too!)
• 2 x Snack pack cookies Regular 3.99 each onsale for $2 each = $4 Saved $3.98
• Watermelon $3.97

Sobeys had a deal where you get a free 4 litre of milk when you buy 3 kellogs cereal, so I price matched at walmart as their kelloggs cereal was onsale for $3 a box

• 3 x Miniwheats Regular $5.99 onsale for $3 = $9 Saved $8.97

• 4 Litre of Milk = FREE Saved $4.37

Total Purchased : $98.54
Total Paid : $4.27 ($3.06 being tax!!!)
Each box of cereal also had a coupon for a free box of Coolison Yogurt Tubes. A value of $11.97
The Cat food has since been donated to a friend of Justins (Lucy can't eat this kind) and most of the shaving cream is being donated to the Mustard Seed homeless shelter:)

Saving isn't always about coupons

I realized that the AIO cloth diapers that I had purchased for Addisyn before she was born were never going to fit her properly as they were clearly not made for baby's with such chickeny legs lol. I had purchased them used, so I decided to try and sell them for what I paid for them ($110 for 27) and I did:) I also sold an old baby carrier that I had for $30. I then began my search for some new (to us) things for Addisyn. I have become addicted to the group Airdrie Parents Swap and Buy, and heres what I scored from there in the last 3 days:

• 3x Perkle 9 month sleepers (retail $9.95 each) paid $6 for all Saved $23.85
• 9 x carters winter sleepers (retail aprox $9,95each) paid $9 for all Saved $80.55
• 2 x Similac 375g cans (retail 15.99 each) FREE saved $32
• 1 x Enfamil 375g can (retail $15.99) FREE saved 15.99
• 1 x Heinz nutrution formula (retail 15.99) FREE saved 15.99
• 2 x Similac concentrate 385ml cans (retail 3.99 each) FREE saved $8

With the Free formula I also recieved over $40 in coupons for formula(some of which I can stack at London Drugs for more FREE FORMULA!!!)
I also hit up Kijiji this week for some great finds:

• 13 x Mother ease one size cloth diapers (retail $11.99 each)

I already had two of these diapers which are snug enough around her legs and will take her through potty training
4 x Mother-ease medium wraps (retail $12.25each)
1 x Extral Large Bummis wet bag (retail $19.95)
Paid $85 for all Saved $140

• 12 x Green mountain size medium (15-29lbs) prefold diapers (retail $32/12) Paid $12 Saved $20 (and shipping prices for these are crazy!)

• I also picked up my free pocket diaper that I had a voucher for from the great cloth diaper chand (retail $9.95) FREE Saved $9.95

• As well, I order Addisyn two adorable headbands from Mamabargains (retail $12.98 each) Paid 12.98 for 2 Saved $12.98

Total purchased: $484.13
Total Paid : $124.98
I saved $359.15 + $40 in coupons!!! Remember ladies, it pays to buy gentley used!!!!
P.S. Because I paid for all of this with money from selling other items, I had no money out of pocket for these purchases and still have $15 to spend!!!

My Stockpile and Incredible Savings

I did my very first shopping trip in this new couponing adventure on April 22, 2011, and as of May 29th I have saved my family just over $800!! As a Family of five we currently have a $800 per month grocery budget, and in the past I was spending this amount and was only able to get exactly what we needed and no more. By using coupons, in the past 5 weeks I have been able to feed my family and been able to stock up on items that we use. Here is what is currently in my stockpile:
5 packages of diapers
14 boxes of baby wipes
1 case of ready to use formula
1 can of powdered formula
7 bottles of laundry detergent
2 bottles of dishsoap
2 finish quantum diswasher kits
20 boxes if sandwhich bags (and another 20 given to family members)
4 boxes of freezer bags
4 boxes of cereal
21 bottles of BBQ sauce (5 bottles given to family members)
15 cans of pasta sauce
2 jars of pickles
6 bottles of mustard
6 cans of soup
5 boxes of pasta
4 months worth of multivitamins
3 months worth of low dose asprin
1 box of cold and flu medicine ( 1 box given to family members)
1 bottle of Tylenol arthritis given to my mom
10 bottles of mens body wash
2 bottles of bodywash
1 bar of soap
3 bottles of shampoo
2 bottles of conditioner
1 box of haircolor
3 x shaving cream
2 bottles of bug spray
5 bottles of mouthwash
263 rolls of toilet paper
3 salmons
4 whole chickens
5 meals of porkchops
1 roast
1 package of beef stew meat
3 packages of ground turkey
5 packages of hotdogs
1 meal of steak
1 meal of chicken breasts
5 hams
2 packages of hotdog buns
7 loaves of bread
1 bag of buns

I have spent no more than what I have in my monthly grocery budget, and have been able to purchase nearly double that amount!!!!!

I Love those Pink Stickers

For those of you who shop at Superstore you have seen those lovely pink stickers that mean you are about to get a great deal. When I see these stickers I try stock up on meat and bread when I get the chance. Today was the last day to get the $25 gift card when spending $250 so I went to see what the had :) My kids love th expensive whole grain breads, the grainier the better, and given it's price I buy it off the clearance shelf and freeze it :)

• 7 x Country Harvest Multigrain bread Regular $3.67 eaach less 50% = $12.84 Saved $12.84
• Country grain buns Regular $3.89 less 50% = $1.95 Saved $1.95
• 5x Country Harvest whole wheat Bagels Regular $4.07 each les 50% = $10.18 Saved $10.18
• 2 x Club pack of Porkloin sirloin chops(6 meals) Regular $31.63 less 30% = $22.14 Saved $9.49
• 5 x Honey ham sandwhich meat @ $5.59 each = $22.36 less 50% = $11.20 Saved $11.20
• 2 x Maple Lodge chicken breast sandwhich meat = $9.46 less 2 x $1 off coupons = $7.46 saved $2

Total Purchased : $113.38

Total Paid: $65.77

Planning for Summer

Today a made a quick trip to Co-op as I found out that they were clearing out their Huggies Pure and Natural Diapers. That being said, I actually use Cloth Diapers 95% of the time, however, this summer we are going on 2 separate week long camping trips and the way I figure it, why pay full price for diposable diapers just before a camping trip when I can plan ahead and get them cheap? This is also the reason that I bought 6 packages of hot dogs on my previous trip.....there ain't nothing like hotdogs roasted over an open fire....

• 3 x Huggies Pure and Natural Diapers Regular $15.99 (Co-op has outragous prices!) onsale for $9 less $3 coupons attched to the package ( too bad I couldn't doupble them up with my $2.50 coupons!) = $18 Saved $29.97

I also swung by No Frills

• Purex Laundry detergent Regular $5.99 onsale for $3.47 less $3 off coupon = $.47 Saved $5.52
• Dove bar soap Regular $1.99 onsale for $1 and Dove shampoo Regular $4.99 onsale for $3 less $2 off WUB2 dove products = $2 Saved $4.99

Total Puchased : $60.94
Total Paid : $20.47

Clean Bums for All!!

I ventured to No Frills today to get some great Deals, and found out at the cashier that they are now only accepting 2 coupons per family on the entire transaction (Airdrie). I was lucky that the casshier let me use most of my coupons, but I suggest that if you want use more than 2, price match at Walmart....which is just what I did :) Here's what I got:

No Frills

• 2 x Purex Laundry detergent Regular $5.99 each onsale for $3.47each les 2x $3 off coupon = $.94 Saved $11.04

• 12 x Hunts pasta sauce Regular $1.99 each on sale for $1 each = $12 Saved $11.88

• 3 x Wonder bread whole wheat hotdog buns Regular $2.50 on sale for $2 = $6 SAved $1.50

• 2 x Huggies Pure and Natural Diapers Regular $12.99 each on sale for $8.99 less 2x $2.50 off = $12.98 Saved $13.00

• 2 x Huggies wipes Regular $3.99 onsale for $2 less 2x $2 off coupon = $2 Saved $5.98

• 2 x Pampers wipes Regular $3.99 onsale for $2 les 2 x $2 off coupon = $2 Save $5.98

• 6 x Schneiders Hotdogs regular $3.99 each onsale $2 each = $12 Saved $11.94

• 2 x Bicks dill pickles Regular $2.79 each onsale for $1. 97 less 2 x $.75 coupons = $2.44 Saved $3.14

• 2 x Motts Fruitsations Regular $2.99 onsale for $1.77 each less 2 x $1 off coupon= $1.54 Saved $4.44

• 2 x Nordica Cottage Cheese Regular $3.99 onsale for $2 each less 2 x $.75 coupons = $2.50 Saved $5.48

Total Purchased: $128.84
Total Paid: $56.05

Walmart

• 10 x huggies wipes Regular $3.99 Price matched No Frills for $2 each less 10 x $1 off coupon = $10.00 Saved $29.90

• 4 x Frenches Mustard Regular $2.99 onsale $2 each less 2 x $1 off WUB2 = $6 Saved $5.96

• Finish Starter Kit Regular $10.97 onsale for $6 less $6 coupon = FREE Saved $10.97

• Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce $2 less $2 coupon = FREE Saved $2

• 3 x Coolison Yogurt Regular $3.99 onsale for $2.77 less 3 x $1 off coupon= $5.31 Saved $6.66

Total Purchased $76.80
Total Paid : $22.61

Grand Total Purchased $205.64
Grand Total Paid $78.66
Saved $126.98

This is Fun!

A Quick trip to Walmart:

• Fibre Plus cereal Regular Aprox. $3.99 on sale for $2.97 less $2 off coupon = $.97 Saved $3.02
• 2x Great Grain Cereal Regular $5.99 on sale for $3.97 less 2x $.75 off = $6.44 Saved $5.54
• 2 x Kraft Shredded Cheese Regular $7.99 each On sale for $5.99 each less 2 x $1 off coupons = $9.98 Saved $6
• Finish Starter Kit Regular $10.97 Onsale for $6 less $6 printable couppon = FREE Saved $10.97
• Hidden Valley ranch salad dressing Regular 3.97 less coupon for free bottle = FREE Saved $3.97

Total purchased: $49.23
Total Paid: $17.69

Adventures in Stacking

I ventured to London Drugs today for my first experience in coupon stacking and learned soooooo much. I was under the impression that if the coupons were different ( had different bar codes) they could be stacked. The reality is that if the coupon says that it cannot be combined with and other offer or coupon then it cannot be stacked. I was hoping to beable to stack a few more coupons, but I still made out like a bandit! Here's what I got:

• (Gift) Enfamil A+ powder Regular 28.99 (price matched from Superstore for 24.99) Less $13 in coupons (1x$5, 1x$5, 1 x $3) = $ 11.99  This also included 2 cans of ready to use formula value $8 Saved $36.97
• Sunlight Laundry detergent Regular 5.99 (price matched from Sobey's $4.99) less $1 coupon = $3.99 Saved $2 I was hoping to stack big on this as I had 4 different manufacturers coupons :(
• Similac Advanced ready to use formula Regular $16.99 less $10 (1 x $5, 1x $5) = $6.99 Saved $10
• 2 x French's Mustard regular $2.99 (price matched Walmart $2 each) less $1.50 WUB2 Coupon = $2.50 Saved $3.48 I also had another $1 off coupon I was hoping to use :(
• 2 x Off bug spray Regular $6.99 each = $13.98 less $5 off WUB2 = $8.98 SAved $5 was hoping to use $6 more in coupons :(
• 2 x Huggies wipes Regular $3.99 each (price matched Shoppers Drugmart 2 for $6) less $3 ( 2 x $1 off, 1 x $1 off) = $3 Saved $4.98
• 4 x Ziploc freezer bags Regular 3.99 each on sale for 2.99 each less 2 x $4 off WUB2 = $3.96 Saved $12
• 4 x Multibiota Vitamins $14.99 each less (4 x $10 printable coupon, 4 x $5 printable coupon) = FREE Saved $59.96

Total purchased: $163.62
Total Paid : $45.21

Also something to remember when price matching at London drugs they generally only price match the first of an item

Cheap or Free is the Name of the Game

Some sweet deals at local stores!
Canadian Tire:

• 2 x Snuggle fabric softener Regular price $3.99 on sale for $.99 less $1 off coupon = FREE

Shoppers Drugmart

• Tylenol Arthritis (for my mom) Regular $10.99 on clearance for $3 less $5 off coupon = FREE (too bad Shoppers does not do overages)
• 3 x Nuprin Low dose Asprin (for Justin) regular $5.99 on clearance for $1.29 = 3.87
• 2 x Sunlight Dish Liquid Regular $3.99 on sale for $.99 less $.50 off coupon = $.99 ( there was also a coupon for $1 off sunlight laundry detergent of each bottle!!!)
• 2 x Life brand Cold and Flu Regular $10.99 each on clearance for $.59 each = $1.18

Total purchased : $70.25
Total Paid: $6.46

Summer Clothes for less

With the nice weather finally here it has become necassary to buy the boys some shorts. I took full advantage of the Gap outlet store having 40% off sale, and combined it with a coupon I had for an additional 15% off. Here's what I got:

2 x Shorts for Cohen regular $24.99= 49.98
Less 40%= 20.00
Less 15%= 4.50
Paid: $25.48

1 x Shorts for Cohen Regular $ 29.99
Less 40%= $12
Less 15%= $2.70
Paid: $15.29

2 x Tank tops for Cohen Regular 12.99 = $25.98
Less 40% = $10.40
Less 15%= $2.34
Paid: $13.24

2 x Shorts for Tyler Regular 34.99 = $69.98
Less 40%= $28.00
Less 15%= $6.28
Paid: 35.68

1 x Shorts for Justin Regular 34.99
On Clearance for : $11.99
Less 40%= $4.80
Less 15%= $1.08
Paid: $6.11

1 x Tshirt for Justin Regular $24.99
On Clearance for : $9.99
Less 40% = $4.00
Lesaa15%= $.90
Paid: $5.09

Flip Flops for me Regular $9.99
On sale for: $3.99
Less 40%= $1.60
Less 15%= $.36
Paid: $2.03



Total Purchased: $245.90

Total Paid: $108.08!!!!

Bring on BBQ season!

After an exciting morning of what I now call "Dumpster Reaching"(standing on a milk crate and reaching in for the papers) and collecting 22 coupon inserts that were in yesterdays paper( Why pay for a news paper when you can get it for free the next day right?) I had a plan to head to Superstore to get bottles of BBQ sauce for $.50. Before heading there I decided to swing by Walmart to see if they had gotten any more of the Ziploc bags in stock, which they hadn't, but the BBq sauce that I was after was there and would end up being FREE!! Heres's what I got:

• 24 bottles of Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce @ $2.00 each = $48.00 less 24 $2 off coupons = FREE Saved $48
• 4 packages of Majesta Toilet paper(the equivalent of 132 single rolls) regular $10.98 each.Onsale for $5.98 each less 2x $5 off WUB2= $13.92 Saved $30

Total purchased : $91.92
Total paid: $13.92

The BBQ sauce does not expire until July 2012 so we are set! And why the hell were those papers in the garbage anyway shouldn't I have been "reaching" into some sort of recycling bin????

It only takes one transaction and your hooked

I went to Walmart to day to match up a killer coupon with a sale in hopes of getting paid to "purchase" the product. Here's what I got:

• 40 boxes of ziploc sandwich bags onsale for $1.48 = $59.20 less 20 $4 off WUB2(when you buy 2) coupons (value 80.00). I was paid $20.80 to take these out of the store!!!!
• 7 boxes of Nestea Regular price $3.49 price matched from Co-op flyer @ $2.29 each = $16.03 SAVED $8.40 
• 2 bottles of sunlight laundry detergent regular price $6.97 each Multi buy discount $11 WUB2 less 2x $1 off coupon =$9Saved $4.94 
• Free box of Special K cereal (with coupon) Saved 3.97  
• Special K cereal $3.97 less $1 off coupon Saved $1
• Kelloggs fiber plus cereal $2.97 less $.75 off coupon Saved $.75
• Fibre Plus Granola bars $1.97 less $.50 Saved $.50  
• Special K granola bars $2.47 less $.50 Saved $.50
• 2 boxes Catelli harvest Multi grain pasta Regular $3.49 on sale 1.77 saved $3.44 
• Pretzels $1.67
• International delights creamer $2.77

Total purchase : 124.38
Total paid: 20.43
For those of you wondering what I am gonna do with all of those sandwhich bags....They are being donated to the food bank.