Kids Swap Meet Deals

Whew, it's been a bit since I posted, and I have had many successful couponing trips since my last post, but I want to tell you all about my recent trip (today) to a kids swap meet which yielded many great deals.

3 x Robeez soft soled slippers Retail Price $29.99 each

1 x Robeez winter boots Retail price $42.00

1 x Gap long sleeved blouse Retail approx $24.99
1 x Children's Place sweater Retail approx $19.99
1 x Children's Place skirt Retail approx $14.99
2 x Joe Fresh long sleeved onesie approx $$7.99 each

If I would have bought all of these items new it would have cost me OVER $200 and I spent $29.50 (the cost of ONE pair of Robeez) !!!!

Overages

Although I recently had another great stacking trip to London Drugs I wanted to take the few precious baby free minutes opportunity to share with you another couponing technique that you can do at Walmart.  Walmart gives you overages, meaning that if your coupon is worth more than the item that you bought you will get that left over money to apply to other purchases! In essence you are being paid to take the product out of the store.  Here are 2 recent overageing trips that I did at Walmart:

Transaction #1

•  3 x Aspirin @ $4.97each less 3 x $6 off coupons = + $3.09
• 2 x Purex 3 in 1 regular $7.99  on sale for $2 less 2 x $3 off coupon = +$2  There were also $1 off Peelies on the inside of each of these to be used for my next purchase
• 1 x Finish Quantum dishwasher tabs Regular $7.99 on sale for $5 less $2 off = $3 However I have a mail in rebate form that will get me the full price of the product (including tax) back so I actually made $5 here
•  2 x glasses @ $1 each = $2

Total Purchased $51.31
Total Paid $ 1.21 ( all tax) 

Transaction #2

• 15 x Gillette Foamy shaving cream regular $2.16 each price matched to Rexall @ $1.49 each less 5 x $5 off WUB3 = + $2.65
• 9 x Aspirin @ $4.97 each less 9 x $6 off = +$9.27
• 1 x Purex 3 in 1 Laundry sheets Regular $7.99 on sale for $2 less $3 off = + $1
• 2 x Purex 3 in 1 laundry sheets Regular $7.99 each onslae for $2each less 2 x $1 = $2
• 1 x Finish Quantum dishwasher tabs Regular $7.99 on sale for $5 less $2 off = $3 I will also be getting the full cost of this back through mail in rebate
• 1 x Pacifiers @ $3 = $3
• 4 x Glasses @$1 each = $4

Total Purchased  : $121.89
Total Paid $3.33

Grand total purchased $173.20
Grand total Paid $4.54 (all tax)

I will actually be earning $10 (plus tax) for the purchase of the finish quantum products so I will have made money doing this transaction! See it does pay to coupon :)

Helping others by couponing

When I think back to how much better I could have managed my money when I was a single mom with 2 boys it drives me crazy!!! That being said, I am sooo happy that I am able to help my family out by saving so much money.  The reality is that as a family of five we are spending much less on EVERYTHING than most families in our same situation.  I am so thankful for that. As a result, and from the pure joy that I get from couponing I have been able to help others.  Doing street outreach on Vancouvers downtown east side, as well as working in the youth detox it became very apparent that things like toiletries are the last things you buy when you have no money. 

Walmart recently had a sale on Crest toothpaste for $.88 a tube. I had 23 coupons for $.75 off. 23 tubes of toothpaste cost me $2.99. I bought these toothpastes for the sole purpose of donating ( you may know from a previous post that I have more than enough toothpaste!)   I also have an abundance of travel size shaving foam that were FREE ( i actually got paid to buy them).

 
I have been fortunate enough to be able to breastfeed Addisyn nearly exclusively, but after seeing the amount of stackable coupons available for formula I thought that I would purchase the formula and give it a way to those who can use it:) I have accumulated

• 4 large cans of Similac sensitive powder,
• 1 Large can of Similac Advance powder,
• 1 large can of Emfamil A+powder,
• 5 small cans of Similac Advance powder,
• 1 small can of Enfamil A+ powder,
•  1 small can of nestle good start powder,
• 1 small can of heinz powder,
• 4 cans of similac sensitive concentrate,
• 6 cans of similac advance concentrate

All of this formula has cost me roughly $15 !!!

This is just the beginning of me being able to help out others with my couponing, and I can`t wait for more opportunities to do the same :)

A lesson in price matching at London Drugs

There were some great deals to be had this week, and I wanted to mention a few things about price matching and stacking at London Drugs. Generally they will only price match on item per price match, so you can't expect to buy 5 of something and have them price match all 5.  I have found that alot of stores will have a similar price on some thing every week. For example, if  shoppers and superstore both have diapers advertised for a similar price you can price match one pack to shoppers and one to superstore. It helps to go through all of your flyer's and circle the deals with a sharpie to help keep track. I also make a list of what I will be price matching and to what store, as well as having my stacklable coupons for each item paper clipped together with a stickie note on each with the values of the the stack of coupons. This makes it much easier on both you and your cashier :) Another way to fudge around the price matching policy is to do a couple of different transactions ( don't go crazy and do a million different transaction though, cause we don't want them changing the policy to state that you can only do one transaction) I did 2 different transactions on this day :

Transaction #1

• 2 x Dove go fresh deodorant Regular $4.99 price matched t superstore 2 for $5 less $5 in stacked coupons = FREE Saved $9.98
• 2 x Charmin toilet paper(12 double rolls) regular Approx $9.99 on sale for $4.99each less $4.50 in stacked coupons = $5.48 saved $14.50
• 1 x Johnson's baby lotion Regular $5.69 price matched to walmart $3.96 and 1 x Johnson's baby wash $5.69 less $5 in stacked coupons = $4.65 saved $6.73 London Drugs had an in store coupon for a free baby lotion when you purchased 2 other Johnson's products 1 x Johnson's baby lotion regular $4.49 = FREE saved $4.49
• sunlight laundry detergent Regular $7.99 price matched to Safeway $3.99 less $3.99 in stacked coupons = FREE saved $7.99

Total purchased : $56.51
Total Paid: 10.63

Transaction # 2

• Scrubbing bubbles shower cleaner Regular approx $9.99 on sale for $6,99 less $6.99 in stacked coupons = FREE saved $9.99
• sunlight Laundry detergent Regular $7.99 price matched to Safeway $3.99 less $3.99 in stacked coupons = FREE saved $7.99
• 2 x Dove go fresh deodorant Regular $4.99 each price matched to superstore 2 for $5 less $5 in tacked coupons = FREE Saved $9.98
• I also received a $.50 coupon book discount on the sunlight :)

Total Purchased : $29.35
Total Paid: $.30

Grand total purchased : $85.87
Grand Total Paid : $10.93

Back to the world of SAVING!!!

Can you believe it is the end of July already? We have been busy, and between a huge family camping trip(25 people) and a wedding out of town I have still managed to fit couponing into the mix.  On our recent camping trip my cousin and I got out our coupon binders out and did some trading, and I was able to take part in this months coupon train. I snagged some great coupons in both instances.  Coupon trading is a great way to get coupons that you will use while trading away those that others want.  This is the premis of the coupon train, and I highly recommend becoming part of one in your area.  It goes like this, people sign up to "ride the train" and a list is made of who will be participating.  The train ( collection of coupons ) is passed from person to person and each person takes the coupons that they want and leaves coupons that may be of use to others.  I get many stackable coupons that that I can use at London drugs trading coupons with others.  Here is what got on my trip to London drugs today :

• 2 x Pampers Mega pack regular $18.99 each onsale 2 for $26.99. My coupons stated that I must also purchase wipes
  2 x pampers travel size wipes @ $2.99 each = $6 I then had 2 x $15 in stacked coupons for diapers and wipes as well as $2.50 in stacked coupons for wipes = $.47 Saved $37.51
• 2 x Pampers Mega pack regular $18.99 each onsale 2 for $26.99.
  My coupons stated that I must also purchase wipes
  2 x pampers travel size wipes @ $2.99 each = $6 I then had 2 x $13 in stacked coupons for diapers and wipes as well as $3 in stacked coupons for wipes = $3.97 Saved $34.01
• 1 x Enfamil formula Regular $28.99 price matched to Superstore $24.99 less $19 in stacked coupons = $5.99 Saved $23
• 1 x Similac Formula Regular $28.99 price matched to Superstore $24.99 less $25 in stacked coupons = FREE Saved $28.99
• 2 x Similac Formula Regular $28.99 onsale for $26.99 less 2 x $25 in stacked coupons =  $3.98 Saved $54.00
• 4 x Tide Laundry Detergent Regular $8.99 each onsale for $5.99 each less 2 x $10 in stacked coupons. This should have cost me $3.96, however upon further inspection of my reciept it became apparent that the cashier did not ring in the second two detergents, but did ring in the second set of coupons so I cam out with an overage of +$8.02

Total purchased: $251.83
Total Paid: $10.29 Should have been $18.31

Hard Work = Savings

So, it was my intention today to do a big London drugs haul today while Addisyn hung out with Daddy :) I decided to swing by Shoppers Drugmart on my way as I had seen some whole wheat lasagna noodles on the clearance shelf a few days prior, and was hoping to scoop them up. To my delight they were still there, as well as Kellogg's cereal for $.99! I soon discovered that there was a 15000 shopper optimum event when you spent $75 (before coupons) so I took advantage. Here's what got:

• 8 x Special K blue berry flavour cereal Regular $6.49 on clearance for $.99 = $7.92 Saved $44 Each of these boxes also included a coupon for free yogurt value of $4.99 each total of $39.92
• 4 x Kellogg's Muslix cereal Regular $6.49 each on clearance $.99 = $3.96 Saved $22
• 1 x Kellogg's Satisfaction Regular $6.49each on clearance $.99= $.99 Saved $5.50
• 2 x Catelli Harvest whole wheat lasagna noodles Regular approx $3.99 on ale for $2.39 each less $1 WUB2 = $3.78 Saved $4.20
• Centrum Cardio vitamins Regular $17.99 on clearance for $5 less $3 = $2 Saved $15.99
• 10 x Nestea singles regular $3.49 on sale for $1.99 =$19.90 Saved $15
• 9 x Crest Pro Health toothpaste $3.79 each less 9 x Free coupons = FREE Saved $34.11

I earned a total of 15760 shoppers optimum points (value of $20)

Total purchased : $181.31

Total Paid : $40.51

I also did my planned London Drugs trip and here's what I got:

• 10 x Crest Pro health toothpaste Regular $4.99 onsale $3.99 each less 10 Free coupons from our dentist = FREE Saved $49.90
• 6 x Fantastic spray cleaner Regular $4.99 each on sale $3.69 each less 4 x B1G1 coupons less 2x $1 off = $6.38 Saved $23.56 Here is what I did here: I had 2 sets of 2 different B1G1 coupons and because I could stack them, I only had to buy two bottles to get 4 free !!
• 12 x Finish dishwasher detergent Regular $7.99 on sale for $5.99 less 12 x $6 in stacked coupons = FREE Saved $95.88
• 1 x and 1x Deep wood off $9.99each  mini spray $5.99each and 1 off mini spray free with B1G1 coupon less 2 x $5 WUB2 less 4 x $1 less 1 x $2 off = FREE Saved $21.97
•  1x Deep wood off $9.99each mini spray $5.99each and 1 off mini spray free with B1G1 coupon less 2 x $5 WUB2 less 4 x $1 less 1 x $2 off = FREE Saved $21.97
• 1 x Off power pad refills 8.99 and 1 x Off mini spray $5.99 less 2 x $5 WUB2 less 4 x $1= $.98 Saved $14
• 1 x Off power pads refill $8.99 and 1 x Off mini spray $5.99 less 2 x $5 WUB2 less 4x $1 less $2 = FREE saved $14.98
• 1 x Off power pad refills 8.99 and 1 x Off mini spray $5.99 less 2 x $5 WUB2 less 4 x $1= $.98 Saved $14
• 2 x Off Family aerosol $7.99 each less 2 x $5 WUB2 less 4 x $1 = $1.98 Saved $14
• Huggies Diapers Mega pack Regular $18.99 Price Matched to Sobeys $12.99 less $10 in stacked coupons = $2.99 Saved $16
• Multibionta Vitamins $14.99 less 1 x $10 off less 1 x $5 off = FREE Saved $14.98
• 4 x Crest toothpaste Regular $2.99 each Price Matched to Safeway 4 for $5 less 4 x $.75 less 1 x $.75 = $1.25 Saved $10.71
• Advil nighttime Regular $9.99 price matched to Walmart $3.97 less $4 off = FREE saved $9.99
• Dove conditioner Regular $4.99 Price matched to Safeway $2.99 and Dove Go fresh deodorant $4.49 less 3 x $2 WUB2 less $1 less $1 = FREE Saved $9.48

Total Purchased $362.79
Total Paid $28.27


I used $280.65 in coupons on this transaction COUPONS ARE CASH!!

Grand total purchased $544.10
Grand total paid $68.78

My Best Transaction Yet!!

After a week away in BC visiting friends and family, I was itching to get back to getting some awesome deals! I did manage to score some awesome finds while in BC helping with my sister in laws garage sale benefiting the Canadian Marfans Association ( I will post my finds in a later installment).  I had a couple of coupons that were expiring yesterday, and I have a really hard wasting the savings, especially when the coupons will enable me to pay nothing for my purchases! I headed to my favorite London Drugs to do some stacking and here's what I got:

•  2 x Similac Infant formula Regular $28.99 each on sale for $26.99 each less 5 x $5 off coupons, 2 x $10  similac cheques, 2 x $5 similac cheques = FREE Saved $57.98
• 2 x Pampers Swaddlers Mega packs Regular $18.99ech price matched 1 bag to Sobeys for $14.99 each less $32 in coupons ( can't remember exactly which ones) = $1.98 Saved $36
• the diaper coupons required me to purchase wipes as well, so I grabbed the travel wipes @ $2.99 each less $1 coupon = $4.98 Saved $1
• 2 x Lysol no touch hand soap system @ $14.99 each less 4x $5 off = $9.98 Saved $20

With the Lysol soap systems I also have two mail in rebate forms for a free system.  What this means is that even though I only paid $4.99 each for them I will receive a cheque from the company for for the full price of the item, meaning that I will MAKE $10 on each item!!!!

Total Purchase $138.52

Total Paid $ $19.42
However I will be receiving $29.98 back from Lysol so I actually made $10.56 on this transaction!!!!