The Secret to Coupons, Part 2

Guest Post by Sarah of Capitally Frugal

Hopefully, you made it through last week's post (The Secret to Coupons, Part 1)!  Here are 5 more tips to finding the best coupons out there to lower your grocery bill. I really hopes this helps some of you!

6. Sign up for Store Rewards Programs
Most stores offer rewards programs these days; and, it is worthwhile to sign up for them! Many times you will receive coupons, via snail mail or email, periodically throughout the year. JcPenney, Kohls, and Bath and Body Works are among my favorites - they send out high dollar coupons every few months. I've been able to score terrific deals on my husband's work clothes and get Christmas presents frugally! Restaurants also offer discount programs. If you sign up for their rewards programs, they frequently let you know of offers in your area and send you the occasional coupon. I've signed up for Ruby Tuesday's program and received many B1G1 entree coupons over the months!

7. Sign Up for Company Trial Programs
Vocalpoint and Kraft First Taste are just a few of the trial programs that you can sign up for. Every few months, they will send you a product to sample, along with a stack of coupons. You can use some of the coupons, and pass the rest on to your friends. Just recently, Vocalpoint sent out a sample of Pampers diapers with several high dollar coupons. I was able to combine them with CVS and Rite Aid sales, to score some terrific deals!

8. Check Companies' Websites
Do you have a favorite manufacturer? In addition to writing to them, you should also check their website for coupons! Many companies have a special area for printing coupons - sometimes, you have to sign up for their email alerts and other times you have to fill out a brief survey. But, it's definitely worthwhile to shave money off your grocery bill. I've set up a Gmail account, that I use to sign up for email and coupons - this way, it doesn't clog my regular Inbox.

A few companies that I especially love are Seventh Generation and Coleman's Organic. Seventh Generation regularly resets their printable coupon page, and I wait to print my coupons until the products go on sale at our local grocery store. That way, I don't waste ink, from expiring coupons! I've been able to get our dish washing liquid for free every time I've needed it! Coleman's is also great, because they give you 5 $1 coupons for filling out a short survey. Organic meats are so expensive that any coupon really helps, and I wait until dollar doubler days at Harris Teeter to make these coupons go even further.

9. Create a Facebook Account
I know many people are worried that Facebook invades a person's privacy; but, you can create an account without compromising your identity. Like I've mentioned before, have a separate email address, use a pseudonym (such as Thrifty Jean), and don't add any personal details that you feel uncomfortable sharing. It's very easy, takes just a few minutes, and opens a huge door to coupons! Tons of companies are jumping on the Twitter and Facebook bandwagon, and are promoting their pages with incredible coupons. I've gotten coupons for free DiGiorno pizza, a box of pasta, pens, razors, and much more!

10. Search Ebay
Every once in a while, I hear about high dollar coupons that are not in our area. Once I've exhausted other means of obtaining it, I search Ebay. Many times, you can find a coupon "lot" (usually 10-20), very cheaply. With this method, you do need to do a mental cost analysis. If you're only saving a dollar, after you pay for the coupons and shipping, is it really worth your time and money? I've also found that the most cost and time effective way of purchasing coupons through Ebay is by using vendors who offer the "Buy Now" feature. Otherwise, once you begin bidding, the cost escalates quickly - and, I've often seen people paying $4.50 for a $3 coupon! Please don't ever do this - it's bad for my sanity. ;) But, if you must bid, calculate the greatest amount you will pay, wait until the last 3 seconds, and put in the amount. This has a three-fold benefit: 1) it prevents you from bidding too high; 2) the price doesn't shoot up; and 3) many times, you win by default. (For those of you who are not too familiar with Ebay, if you bid "$5" for an item but the highest amount everyone else bids is ".50," you only have to pay $.51.)

As an example, a few months ago, Harris Teeter was doubling coupons up to $1.99. Stonyfield Yogurt was on sale, and with a $1/1 coupon, it was free. On top of that, each yogurt container has codes that you can cash in for free items. I found 20 coupons for $1 on Ebay; and used them to get 20 cups of organic yogurt and 4 containers of Happy Baby puffs (once I submitted the codes) for free. Not a bad deal for $1 out of pocket!

Hopefully, you've found this series helpful - I'd love to hear your thoughts or suggestions!

Sarah blogs about her money saving adventures in Northern Virginia at Capitally Frugal.  She is a stay-at-home mom to a lively two-year old and has an extremely patient husband who puts up with her crazy couponing schemes!

Restaurant Gift Certificates 90% Off!

Today only, Restaurant.com has their gift certificates for 90% off with code "WOW."  Click the link above!

I have used these gift certificates with no problem in the past, so I will be stocking up on some new ones today.  As long as you take note of the fine print, they can be a really great deal!

Best Bloom Deals: 9/29-10/5

Thanks to Sarah at Capitally Frugal for the best Bloom deals each week.  Check out her complete list here.


It looks as if Bloom is keeping their double coupon policy. All coupons (up to $0.99) will be doubled - 20 coupons allowed, per household, per day.

Organic Earthbound Farms Iceberg Lettuce - $0.79/ea
Use $0.75/1* by entering the Earthbound Cookbook Contest (You will be allowed to print the coupon after you sign up.)
FREE after coupon

Colgate Total Toothpaste - $1.50
Use $1.00/1, found in 9/12 SS
$0.50 each after coupon

Kraft American Singles -B1G1
Use $1.00/2, found in 9/26 SS
$0.69 each after coupon

Philadelphia Cream Cheese - B1G1
Use $5.00/5, found on the Kraft website
$0.20 each after coupon

Planters Flavor Grove Nuts - B1G1
Use (2) $0.75/1*, found in 8/29 SS
$0.25 each after coupon

WFMW: Portable Diaper Changing Station

I always changed my first baby's diapers in her room at the changing table.  We lived a tiny apartment when she was little, so it was a no-brainer.  Even after we moved to our townhouse and I had my second, it was usually pretty easy to dash up the stairs and change her (good exercise too). 

This time around, however, I quickly discovered that I was not going to make it upstairs for all of the practically hourly diaper changes that a newborn needs (at least not without my two-year-old climbing the walls).  Unfortunately, we do not have room in our small kitchen or living room for a second changing area.

My solution is simply a second diaper bag hanging from our coat rack.  I got out a diaper bag that I don't usually use, so I didn't have to compete with snacks, crayons, and coupons for space.  I filled it with just a changing pad, diapers for both the baby and the toddler, wipes, and diaper cream. 

Now it's super convenient to do a quick diaper change in the middle of our other activities.  This portable diaper changing station Works for Me!

Wegmans Deals: 9/26-10/2

New Deals:

California Red Seedless Grapes - $.99/lb.

Campbell's Chicken Noodle or Tomato Soup (10.75 oz.) - $.50
Buy 2 and use $.40/2 coupon from 8/29 SS insert (doubled)
Final Price: $.10 each

Maxwell House Coffee (10.5-11.5 oz.) - $1.99
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 printable coupon
Final Price: $1.49 each

Coca-Cola (2 liter) - $.99

Pillsbury Toaster Strudel (10-11.5 oz.) - $1.99
Buy 2 and use $.50/2 printable coupon here, here, or here (doubled)
Final Price: $1.49 each

Pantene Shampoo or Conditioner - $2.99
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 coupon from 8/29 or 9/26 P&G insert
Final Price: $2.49 each

Edge or Skintimate Shave Gel (7 oz.) - $1.50
Buy 2 Edge and use BOGO printable coupon
Final Price: $.75 each

Crest Premium Toothpaste (6.2 oz.) - $1.99
Use coupon from 8/29 P&G insert (amount varies by region)
Final Price: $.99-$1.25

Speed Stick or Lady Speed Stick (1.8-2 oz., selected) - $.88

Dynamo 2X Laundry Detergent (50 fl. oz.) - $1.99

Ongoing Deals:

Produce -
Wegmans US #1 Russet Idaho Potatoes (5 lb. bag) - $1.99
Winter Squash - $.99/lb.
Wegmans US #1 3lb. Bagged Apples - $.2.49

Grocery -
Pillsbury Brownies Mix (13.3-20 oz.) - $.99
Quaker Chewy Granola Bars (8.4-8.7 oz.) - $1.99
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 coupon from 9/19 RP insert or printable
Final Price: $1.49 each
Near East Rice or Couscous - $1.79
Use $1.00/1 printable coupon or $1.00/2 printable coupon
Final Price: $.79-$1.29 each
Ziti, Spaghetti, or Thin Spaghetti (16 oz.) - $.69
Wegmans Fruit Bowls - $1.69
Use $1.00/1 coupon from filling a prescription
Final Price: $.69
Wegmans Canned Vegetables (14.5-15.25 oz can) Cream Style Corn, Whole Kernel Corn, French Style Green Beans, or Cut Green Beans - $.39
Wegmans Tomato Sauce, Puree, or Crushed Tomatoes (28-29 oz.) - $.69
Campbell's Chunky Soup (18.6-19oz., excludes Chili and Full Loaded) - $1.25
Use $1.00/2 or $1.00/5 coupon from 8/15 SS insert or $1.00/4 coupon from 9/12 SS insert or various coupons here
Final Price: $.25-$1.05 each
Wegmans Macaroni and Cheese Dinner (6-7.25 oz.) - $.33
Wegmans Hot Dog or Hamburger Rolls (8 ct./14 oz.) - $.99
Doritos Nacho Chips (11.5-13.875 oz.) - $1.99

Refrigerated -
Wegmans Gallon Milk - $1.99-$2.24
Dannon Danimals and Danonino Yogurt - $1.99 (through 10/30)
Use $1.00/1 from the 8/15 SS insert
Final Price: $.99
Yoplait Delights - $2.49 (through 10/30)
Use $.50/1 coupon from 08/08 SS insert (doubled)
Final Price: $1.49

Frozen:
Stouffer's Lean Cuisine Entrees (8-11.5 oz. select varieties) - $1.99
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 printable coupon
Final Price: $1.49 each
Aunt Jemima Waffles (12.3 oz.) - $1.49
Buy 2 and use $1.50/2 coupon that was recently available to print
Final Price: $.74 each

Meat:
Wegmans Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast (Club Pack - 5 lbs. or more) - $1.99/lb.

Paper/Toiletries/Cleaning -
Wegmans Facial Tissue (65-160 ct. cube or flat) – $.79
Wegmans 8 pk. Paper Towels or 12 pk. Bath Tissue – $4.99
Suave Shampoo or Conditioner (15 fl. oz.) - $.77
St. Ives (13.5 oz. Body Wash or 18 fl. oz. Lotion) - $1.99
Use $.50/1 coupon (doubled) from 07/18 SS insert or $1.00/1 coupon here
Final Price: $.99
Cottonelle Bath Tissue (12 pk.) - $4.99
Use $1.00/1 coupon from July All You magazine or 8/15 SS insert or $.50/1 coupon here or here (doubled)
Final Price: $3.99
Gillette Series or Satin Care Shave Gel (7 oz.) - $1.88
Wegmans Jumbo Diapers (22-50 ct., sz. 1-6) - $5.99

My Wegmans deals are based on the Sterling/Leesburg, VA sales ad and deals that I find in the Leesburg store.

With thanks to the coupon database at Mrs. Moneysaver for help in compiling this.

My store doubles coupons up to $.50, but Wegmans' coupon policies vary by store. Find the policy at your store here.

This post is part of BeCentsAble's Grocery Gathering.

Facebook

So I have finally caught up with the rest of the world and created a Facebook fan page for Frugally Blonde!  (How did I accomplish this?  My sister-in-law took my girls to the zoo this afternoon!) 

Now if you click on the "Facebook" box on the right sidebar, it will take you to my official fan page!  I will try to update my status regularly.  If you care to, you can now "Like" Frugally Blonde!

Deal Roundup

A few deals that have caught my eye recently, to give a good start to your week!

Another 80% off deal at Restaurant.com!  I always wait for these deals to buy my gift cards for date nights or family outings.




Pinecone Research is looking for women ages 18-24 to answer surveys and earn cash rewards.  I have not used this site myself, but I have heard from other bloggers that this is one of the best legitimate survey sites and that it is easy to earn a little extra cash with them.

Right now you can get a free 20 page 5x7 Everyday Photobook from Snapfish with code "babybook".  You only pay the cost of shipping ($1.99) and any tax.  I just created one of these with pictures of the new baby.  It was pretty quick and easy to do with the "autofill" option.  Then I shared the link to the book with family members and told them the code as well, since you can only use it once per account.  (Thanks, MoneySavingMom)

Here's an intriguing deal - use code "babies" at sevenslings.com to get a baby sling for just the cost of shipping ($49 value).  You can also use it to get a gift set for $5 plus shipping.  I put one of the slings in my cart and the shipping was $11.95, but this could still be a good deal if you need a sling.  These slings look similar to Hotslings; you have to choose a size.  I've never heard of the company before, but it might be worth a look.

I just got an email from Ebates announcing double cash back for some newly added retailers, and I noticed that one of them is Groupon!  So the next time you purchase one of Groupon's great deals, you can also get cash back from Ebates!  What's not to love?  (If you're unfamiliar with these sites, you can read about Ebates here and Groupon here.)

Keep your eyes open for drastically reduced summer merchandise.  Now that fall is in full swing and virtually all stores have Halloween displays up, this is the time to find those 75% and 90% off deals.  My CVS had summer items at 75% off last week, so I'm going to try to stop by early this week to see if there are any 90% off items I want to snag!

Note: Some of these deals include a referral link, so if you sign up through my link I will receive a small commission.

What other good deals do you see this week?

Guest Post: The Secret to Coupons, Part 1

Guest Post by Sarah of Capitally Frugal

People always ask me how I find "useful" coupons, not just ones for $1/3 Megamix Vanilla Vitamins. So, I thought I'd write a two-part series with some of the tips I've learned.

1. Buy the Sunday Newspaper
Probably the most obvious way of getting coupons is through the Sunday newspaper. While there are many coupons that you won't use, you can usually find a handful that are helpful. And, those that you don't need, you can swap (see Tip #2). Most times, the cheapest way to get the Sunday newspaper is to have a subscription. But, it's important to always check your statement - many times (at least in our area), they raise the cost of the subscription after several months, and you end up paying more for it, than if you bought it off the stand. However, if you call the newspaper, they will usually lower the cost, in order to keep your subscription.

2. Use Coupon Swapping Sites
When I first started couponing, I came upon Baby Cheapskate Baby Coupon Traders. Once you join (it's a very quick process), you can post a list of the coupons you have along with your wishlist. While you do need to post at least one coupon that is baby-related (for instance, you can do the $1/1 Johnson & Johnson baby product), the majority of the trading is for regular, non-baby coupons. Over the years, I've gotten the majority of my organic and high dollar coupons from them!

In fact, just recently, we decided to splurge on a chest freezer. (I've been saving for one, so I can stock up on meats and fruits during sales and summer time bumper crop seasons.) And, I found the cheapest freezer, with the best reviews, at Home Depot. I immediately started looking for coupons, and realized that my best option would be to trade for a "10% off Lowe's" coupon (since Home Depot takes competitor coupons). I went to my favorite BC Traders website, and listed my coupons. Within a couple hours, someone replied; and, within two days, a Lowe's coupon was in my mailbox. I ended up saving $20, by trading $5 of coupons I would never use!

Also, many times, you can find friends on these swapping websites, with whom you can trade your useless Sunday coupons. A while back, I had a friend, who I saved my cat coupons for, and she saved automatically held onto any organic coupons for me.

3. Write to Companies
Everyone loves feedback; and most businesses show their gratitude with coupons. I've written to countless companies, explaining what I love about their products, and received many high dollar coupons in return. And, there are times when I'm unhappy with their product and detail my grievances to them. I've been amazed by their timely response!

As an example, I was a loyal customer to a very well-known diaper company. For two years, we used their diapers exclusively, without a problem. Then, the quality began deteriorating: tabs did not stick, etc. I informed them of the problems we were having and our disappointment, and they immediately sent me free coupons with their sincere apologies. So, you see, it is worthwhile to point out problems - it benefits the company and you (this particular company must have gotten a number of complaints, because they ended up doing an overhaul of their product, and it's so much better now!). As a side note: Please make sure the complaint is justified (I don't write flimsy excuses, in hopes of getting high dollar coupons or monetary compensation).

4. Ask Friends
When I first started couponing, I was too embarrassed to ask friends for their Sunday newspaper. Heavens, I use to have a good job, and could afford to pay full price for my groceries, thankyouverymuch. What would people think of me? I really didn't want to be the stereotyped poor, denim-jumpered, pregnant, bare-footed homeschool mom, yet! But, the Lord has a way of stripping away one's pride; and I quickly learned that using coupons helped me be a better steward of my money! So, I did start asking people for their newspapers - at first, they looked at me a little funny and wondered whether we'd gotten a dog. And, I did get some good natured teasing...but, now, I have everyone so well trained, that they call whenever they received a coupon in the mail and ask if I want it! :)

In exchange, I always ask friends what products they enjoy and keep my eye out for great deals. When I can, I combine coupons and sales to purchase their favorite items! In my opinion, it's very important to not always be on the receiving end. Even if it's something as "insignificant" as the Sunday newspaper they were going to throw away, people always appreciate knowing you are thinking of them as well!

5. Check RetailMeNot for Coupons
Always, always search the web for coupons, before you make an online purchase! The best site I've found for online coupons is RetailMeNot. I've saved so much money by checking their site, and have found coupons for everything from pizza to an air compressor. About a year ago, my husband was frequently traveling for work and had a very measly travel stipend. In fact, it was so low that many times, he could only find hotels in the bad parts of town. So, I searched online, and found coupon codes he could use on Priceline and Orbitz. He ended up at the other extreme - getting a beautiful 4 star hotel for under $50/night, making his wife extremely jealous of his opulent living quarters. I stopped looking for coupons, when he called to say that he was relaxing in his suite and enjoying his 100 ft flat screen TV. ;)

I would love to hear how you, my wonderful readers, find coupons! In my experience, there is a lot of trial and error...did I mention, ERROR? :) But, the Lord does bless your efforts; and, while I've had many bad experiences (mostly cashier errors and uninformed store managers), there have been many blessings along the way. Through couponing, I've been able to afford organic food and to share my bounty with others! Hopefully, I haven't bored all of you, and you'll come back for part 2!

Look for Part 2 of The Secret to Coupons next week!

Sarah blogs about her money saving adventures in Northern Virginia at Capitally Frugal.  She is a stay-at-home mom to a lively two-year old and has an extremely patient husband who puts up with her crazy couponing schemes!

Check out Frugal Fridays at Life as Mom and Mrs. Moneysaver for more great frugal links.

Best Bloom Deals: 9/22-9/28

Thanks to Sarah at Capitally Frugal for the best Bloom deals each week.  Check out her complete list here.

Martha White Muffin Mix - $0.80

Use $0.55/2*, found in 8/8 RP
$0.25 each after coupon

Pillsbury Grands Biscuits - $1.25
Use $1.00/2 from their website.
$0.75 each after coupon

Red Baron Pan Pizza - B1G1
Use (2) $1.00/1, found in 8/29 SS
$2.50 each after coupon

Wisk Laundry Detergent - $3.99
Use $3.00/1, found in 8/29 RP
$0.99 after coupon
Bounty Paper Towels - $1.00
Use $0.25/1*, found in 8/29 PG
$0.50 after coupon

Arrowhead Mills Organic Peanut Butter - $3.99
Use $1.00/1 from their website.
$2.99 after coupon

My Blog Redesign

I am very tardy in mentioning this, but I need to send a shout out to my dear friend Lacy, who out of the goodness of her heart redesigned Frugally Blonde for me!

My previous attempts at designing the blog were amateurish, to say the least.  I'm sure I could learn how to do some design on my own, but I have never had the requisite hours to spend browsing the Internet for help and instructions.  Not to mention that I don't consider myself to be particularly good at graphic-design type projects.

Enter Lacy, who is an artist, in addition to being a blogger over at Catholic Icing.  Her blog is full of great craft and celebration ideas corresponding to Catholic feast days and traditions.  Check it out if you think you might be interested; I bet that other Christians might find some of the ideas useful as well.

I really love the header and logo that Lacy created for Frugally Blonde, and I hope you readers do as well!  It makes me happy to look at my blog now, and I think that it's much easier to read and navigate.  However, I'd love to hear any feedback and constructive comments from you, so do let me know what you think!

And Lacy, thank you once again!

Wegmans Deals: 09/19-09/25

New Deals:

Winter Squash - $.99/lb.

Wegmans US #1 3 lb. Bagged Apples - $.2.49

Quaker Chewy Granola Bars (8.4-8.7 oz.) - $1.99
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 coupon from 9/19 RP insert or printable
Final Price: $1.49 each

Near East Rice or Couscous - $1.79
Use $1.00/1 printable coupon or $1.00/2 printable coupon
Final Price: $.79-$1.29 each

Wegmans Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast (club pack - 5 lbs. or more) - $1.99/lb.
Aunt Jemima Waffles (12.3 oz.) - $1.49
Buy 2 and use $1.50/2 coupon that was recently available to print
Final Price: $.74 each

Ongoing Deals:

Produce -
Green Seedless Grapes - $.99/lb.
Fresh Green Beans - $.99/lb.
Wegmans Grape Tomatoes (1 pint) - $1.50
Plums or Nectarines (2 lb. bag) - $1.98
Jumbo Cantaloupes (size 9) - $2.00
Wegmans US #1 Russet Idaho Potatoes (5 lb. bag) - $1.99

Grocery -
Pillsbury Brownies Mix (13.3-20 oz.) - $.99
Wegmans Ziti, Spaghetti, or Thin Spaghetti (16 oz.) - $.69
Wegmans Fruit Bowls - $1.69
Use $1.00/1 coupon from filling a prescription
Final Price: $.69
Wegmans Canned Vegetables (14.5-15.25 oz can) Cream Style Corn, Whole Kernel Corn, French Style Green Beans, or Cut Green Beans - $.39
Wegmans Tomato Sauce, Puree, or Crushed Tomatoes (28-29 oz.) - $.69
Campbell's Chunky Soup (18.6-19oz., excludes Chili and Full Loaded) - $1.25
Use $1.00/2 or $1.00/5 coupon from 8/15 SS insert or $1.00/4 coupon from 9/12 SS insert or various coupons here
Final Price: $.25-$1.05 each
Wegmans Macaroni and Cheese Dinner (6-7.25 oz.) - $.33
Wegmans Hot Dog or Hamburger Rolls (8 ct./14 oz.) - $.99
Doritos Nacho Chips (11.5-13.875 oz.) - $1.99
Folgers Classic Roast Coffee (10.3-11.3 oz.) - $1.99

Refrigerated -
Wegmans Gallon Milk - $1.99-$2.24
Dannon Danimals and Danonino Yogurt - $1.99 (through 10/30)
Use $1.00/1 from the 8/15 SS insert
Final Price: $.99
Yoplait Delights - $2.49 (through 10/30)
Use $.50/1 coupon from 08/08 SS insert (doubled)
Final Price: $1.49
Pillsbury Ready-To-Bake Cookies (14-16.5 oz.) - or Sweet Moments Brownies (5.6-6.10 oz.) - $2.49
Use $1.00/1 Sweet Moments printable coupon here or here or $1.50/1 printable here.
Final Price: $.99-$1.49

Frozen:
Stouffer's Lean Cuisine Entrees (8-11.5 oz. select varieties) - $1.99
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 printable coupon
Final Price: $1.49 each

Meat:
Wegmans 90% Lean Fresh Ground Beef (Club Pack - 6 lbs. or more) - $1.99/lb.

Paper/Toiletries/Cleaning -
Wegmans Facial Tissue (65-160 ct. cube or flat) – $.79
Wegmans 8 pk. Paper Towels or 12 pk. Bath Tissue – $4.99
Purex 2X Laundry Detergent (50 fl. oz.) - $1.99
Use $1.00/1 Natural Elements printable coupon (if included)
Final Price: $.99
Suave Shampoo or Conditioner (15 fl. oz.) - $.77
Speed Stick (3-3.25 oz.) or Lady Speed Stick (2.3 oz.) - $1.88
Use $.50/1 coupon from 7/25 SS insert (doubled)
Final Price: $.88
St. Ives (13.5 oz. Body Wash or 18 fl. oz. Lotion) - $1.99
Use $.50/1 coupon (doubled) from 07/18 SS insert or $1.00/1 coupon here
Final Price: $.99
Cottonelle Bath Tissue (12 pk.) - $4.99
Use $1.00/1 coupon from July All You magazine or 8/15 SS insert or $.50/1 coupon here or here (doubled)
Final Price: $3.99
Gillette Series or Satin Care Shave Gel (7 oz.) - $1.88
Wegmans Jumbo Diapers (22-50 ct., sz. 1-6) - $5.99


My Wegmans deals are based on the Sterling/Leesburg, VA sales ad and deals that I find in the Leesburg store.

With thanks to the coupon database at Mrs. Moneysaver for help in compiling this.

My store doubles coupons up to $.50, but Wegmans' coupon policies vary by store. Find the policy at your store here.

This post is part of BeCentsAble's Grocery Gathering.

Frugal "Survival Mode"

I'm in survival mode right now.  Actually, sometimes it feels more like "barely surviving" mode!

Even though Baby "Gem" will be 3 weeks old on Tuesday, we've only been home from our second hospital stay for a week, so we really lost the first two weeks for settling in.  He's also still been on the bili-blanket for his jaundice, which makes life a bit more complicated.  (He always has to be plugged into an outlet!)  Add all that to the normal adjustment to having three kids under five, and you've got one tired, stressed-out mommy! 

While we're adjusting to our new family, I'm letting a lot of things go!  For instance:

Meal Planning - We have been greatly blessed to receive several dinners from friends and members of my church moms' group.  That has been so wonderful!  When we haven't had a meal from a friend, I've been making pasta.  And we'll eat cereal for dinner if it comes to that!  Right now, I just don't have the energy or organization to cook, and that's okay.  Friends who have three or more kids tell me I will cook again . . . right? right?

Couponing/Shopping - I was briefly tempted this week to try to make it to Harris Teeter's Super Double coupons.  Luckily, I stopped myself in time and decided that the preparation and effort to make the trip was not where I need to be spending my energy right now.  I have a good stockpile from my August bargain shopping, and now is the time to use it.  There will always be more sales to rebuild it later!  One surprising benefit for my couponing, however, is that I used my downtime in the hospital to totally clean out my coupon box.  Now whenever I have ten spare minutes I'm cutting out my back inserts, so when I do get back to couponing I should be totally organized!

Rules/Routine - As a caveat to this, I should say that we are getting our girls back into their bedtime and quiet time routines, as they were of course totally off them while we were in the hospital.  Sleep is definitely very important for everyone right now!  However, yes, I am letting other things slide.  For instance, I have suspended all my normal limits on movie time.  Right now, if I need to put on a DVD for the sake of all of our sanity, I do!  I'm also not worrying too much about balanced meals.  I remember that GiGi spent the first couple of weeks after LuLu was born eating mostly goldfish crackers, and she lived through it. ;-)  I'm also *trying* not to stress about getting back to a rhythm in our days.  I know that it will take some time to figure out what will work best for the new version of the family.

Blogging - Of course, you've also noticed that the blog has to be on the back burner for a little while.  However, I still have a couple of cool guest posts to run.  Beyond that, I hope you'll just bear with me.  I'll be posting whenever I can.  I also can't wait to share with you soon how I'll be attending my first blogging conference in October!

Well, that's about what my life looks like right now! 

What about you?  When have you been in "survival mode"?  Do you have any tips for me?  I could definitely use them!

Best CVS Deals: 9/19-9/25

Ashley from Frugal Coupon Living is taking the week off, so the best CVS deals are thanks to Coupon Savings Game.  Read the full list here.

Crest Pro-Health Clinical Gum Protection Toothpaste, twin pk, 8 oz total, $4.49($3 EB) *Limit 2

-$.50/1 from 8/29 P&G (Pay $3.99/1)
Final Price $.99/1

Edge Infusion, 7 oz or Schick Hydro, 8.4 oz, $2.79 ($1.80 EB) *Limit 1
-$1/1 from 8/8 SS Schick Hydro (Pay $1.79/1)
Final Price FREE
-BOGO Printable HERE Edge (up to $2.75) (Pay $2.83/2)
Final Price $1.03/2

Revlon Super Lustrous, Moon Drops, Color Burst Lip, or Double Twist Mascara, $6.99 ($5 EB) *Limit 1
-$1/1 from 9/12 SS or 8/15 SS (exp. 9/19) Color Cosmetic (Pay $5.99/1)
Final Price $.99/1

Right Guard Sport, Total Defense, or Dry Idea, $2.99 ($2 EB) *Limit 3
-$1.50/2 from 8/15 RP (Pay $4.48/2)
Final Price $.48/2

I've got to get back to CVS this week.  I'm looking at the cheap mascara and the good Huggies deal (see complete list).  (I'm using plenty of diapers these days, and I'm taking a short break from cloth.)  I'll be checking to see if my CVS has any summer clearance left too, although I might have missed it this year.  Oh well, I was busy!

Guest Post: Six Grocery Shopping Strategies for Busy Moms

I hope you all enjoy this guest post from busy working mom Amanda.  I think it has great strategies that are applicable both to moms that work outside the home and those who don't, especially about balancing your couponing and money-saving with the rest of your life.

For over a year now, I’ve been trying to find the right balance between making myself stressed out and insane at the store with my two screaming children and saving money. Several “bad” trips to the grocery store with high bills, wrong coupons, and grumpy cashiers made me re-evaluate my multiple stores/loss leaders/plus coupons save-save-save policy. While it is technically possible to feed my family on less than the $100 a week or so that I currently spend, it comes at a great personal cost to me in terms of stress. I get plenty of stress on my daily commute to work, and I certainly don’t want any more at the grocery store! I don’t see a lot of tips specifically geared toward working moms on the frugal websites that I’ve found, so I’ve adapted and omitted, until I’ve come up with something that works for me. Maybe it can help you, too, because no matter whether we work inside or outside of the home, one thing that any mom I know can say is that she is BUSY!

1. Forgive yourself for not being able to do every deal possible. This might mean that you pay more for something than someone else because you don’t have time to go to CVS, Target, and Walmart. Figure out what you can do, and let the rest go! If I have to buy detergent, I can’t make it to another store where it’s on sale, and none of my coupons are very good, then fine, I just buy generic and try better next time. Leading me to…

2. Plan ahead as much as possible. I menu plan in 2 week cycles and do one major shopping trip for every 2 week period. Then, I replenish eggs, milk, and produce mid-cycle in a quick trip on my lunch break.

3. Read blogs! If you can find a deal to do (such as the recent Medco one) that doesn’t require you to leave your chair, jump on it before it’s gone. These are easy wins. They are also excellent resources for coupon matchups and printable coupons.

4. Don’t be afraid to think “outside the box”. For example, I must confess that I hate Aldi.  Our Aldi is really nasty and dirty and there are flies all over the produce section. I can’t bring myself to shop there. So, instead I looked around my office- where can I quickly run in on my lunch break to do our midcycle replenishment of perishables? I found a multitude of options, a Magruders (which has awesome local produce prices), a farmers market at work on Tuesdays in the summer, and a great (clean!) international market right by daycare. There is also a Giant near my office if I need something specific or if they have a great deal on free cereal! See what options are available on your typical routes and rotate around until you find the best places for certain things. I also often have my groceries delivered with Peapod. That may sound like a huge extravagance, but sometimes I actually spend less than when I physically go to the store. I love how I can easily sort by unit price or actual price to find the lowest prices, and the grocery specials are similar to what I would get at Giant. I can easily sit down with my list and make sure that I have everything I need in my virtual cart, avoiding a return trip to the store for the “one thing” I forgot. I also never impulse buy- there is nothing to tempt me!  They accept coupons and my driver often gives me special coupons for a few dollars off my order. So, don’t rule out alternative options before you’ve explored them. This leads me to the best piece of advice that I’ve ever gotten from another working mom…

5. Do as much as possible on your lunch break. The store is relatively empty, you don’t have kids and hubby with you and it’s nice to get away from your desk (especially if you, like me, always bring your lunch).

6. It’s okay to take a break when you need one. I am currently not doing any drugstore deals. I’ve had too many bad experiences at CVS and Rite-Aid recently (I hate dealing with cashiers who don’t care about/understand coupon policies) and I’m just taking a break from it and using up my stockpiles. I’ll get back to it eventually.

I hope that you found these strategies helpful! I have enjoyed the opportunity to share them with you.

********

Amanda is a working mom to two beautiful children, aged 1 and 3, and the wife of an incredibly sweet and helpful husband. She struggles to apply frugal living concepts to their busy lives and find a balance between saving money and spending time. Amanda lives with her family in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC.

Top CVS Deals: 9/12-9/18

Thanks to Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living for the best CVS deals each week.  Read her complete list here.

3 Day Sale – Sunday, Monday and Tuesday Only

Brach’s Candy Corn, Autumn Mix, Mellow Crème Pumpkins $.99 (get $.99 ECBs) Limit 1
= FREE

Other Deals
Nivea for Men Active Body Wash -16.9 oz $4.99 (get $4.99 ECBs) Limit 1
$1 RP 7/25
$1 RP 8/29
= $1 MONEYMAKER

High Octane Energy Chews – 3 ct $1.99 (get $1.99 ECBs) Limit 2
= FREE

Nature’s Way Alive Energy Multivitam/Multimineral – 50 to 60 ct $9.99 (get $9.99 ECBs) Limit 1
$1 printable
= $1 MONEYMAKER

Tylenol Precise Pain Relieving Cream – 2.5 oz or Heat Patches – 3 to 4 ct $5.99 (get $2ECBs) Limit 1
$2 printable
$2 CVS printable
= FREE after ECBs (combine SC and MFR)

Free candy this week - what's not to love?!

I actually let some of my ECBs expire over our two-week hospital ordeal, but I'm not beating myself up about it.  These things happen during family emergencies.  I'll get out one evening this week or next week to roll over my remaining ECBs and start builidng them up again.

Wegmans Deals: 9/12-9/18

Note: Starting Sept. 5, Wegmans is no longer be offering their flyer in newspapers, only online or in-store.  You can sign up here to receive the flyer by email every week, and of course you can always visit Frugally Blonde for the deals each week!

New Deals:

Wegmans Tomato Sauce, Puree, or Crushed Tomatoes (28-29 oz.) - $.69

Campbell's Chunky Soup (18.6-19oz., excludes Chili and Full Loaded) - $1.25

Use $1.00/2 or $1.00/5 coupon from 8/15 SS insert or $1.00/4 coupon from 9/12 SS insert or various coupons here
Final Price: $.25-$1.05 each


Wegmans Macaroni and Cheese Dinner (6-7.25 oz.) - $.33

Wegmans Jumbo Diapers (22-50 ct., sz. 1-6) - $5.99

Colgate Total Toothpaste (6 oz.) - $2.39
Use $1.00/1 coupon from 8/29/ or 9/12 SS insert
Final Price: $1.39

Colgate Max Toothbrush (2 ct. Special Pack) - $1.99

Ongoing Deals:

Produce -
Green Seedless Grapes - $.99/lb.
Fresh Green Beans - $.99/lb.
Wegmans Grape Tomatoes (1 pint) - $1.50
Plums or Nectarines (2 lb. bag) - $1.98
Jumbo Cantaloupes (size 9) - $2.00
Wegmans US #1 Russet Idaho Potatoes (5 lb. bag) - $1.99

Grocery -
Pillsbury Brownies Mix (13.3-20 oz.) - $.99
Wegmans Ziti, Spaghetti, or Thin Spaghetti (16 oz.) - $.69
Wegmans Fruit Bowls - $1.69
Use $1.00/1 coupon from filling a prescription
Final Price: $.69
Wegmans Canned Vegetables (14.5-15.25 oz can) Cream Style Corn, Whole Kernel Corn, French Style Green Beans, or Cut Green Beans - $.39
Wegmans W Cola (12 pk./12 fl. oz. cans) - $2.00 (Limit 5)
Wegmans Hot Dog or Hamburger Rolls (8 ct./14 oz.) - $.99
Doritos Nacho Chips (11.5-13.875 oz.) - $1.99
Folgers Classic Roast Coffee (10.3-11.3 oz.) - $1.99

Refrigerated -
Wegmans Gallon Milk - $1.99-$2.24
Dannon Danimals and Danonino Yogurt - $1.99 (through 10/30)
Use $1.00/1 from the 8/15 SS insert
Final Price: $.99
Yoplait Delights - $2.49 (through 10/30)
Use $.50/1 coupon from 08/08 SS insert (doubled)
Final Price: $1.49
Pillsbury Ready-To-Bake Cookies (14-16.5 oz.) - or Sweet Moments Brownies (5.6-6.10 oz.) - $2.49
Use $1.00/1 Sweet Moments printable coupon here or here or $1.50/1 printable here.
Final Price: $.99-$1.49

Frozen:
Stouffer's Lean Cuisine Entrees (8-11.5 oz. select varieties) - $1.99
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 printable coupon
Final Price: $1.49 each

Meat:
Wegmans 90% Lean Fresh Ground Beef (Club Pack - 6 lbs. or more) - $1.99/lb.

Paper/Toiletries/Cleaning -
Wegmans Facial Tissue (65-160 ct. cube or flat) – $.79
Wegmans 8 pk. Paper Towels or 12 pk. Bath Tissue – $4.99
Purex 2X Laundry Detergent (50 fl. oz.) - $1.99
Use $1.00/1 Natural Elements printable coupon (if included)
Final Price: $.99
Suave Shampoo or Conditioner (15 fl. oz.) - $.77
Speed Stick (3-3.25 oz.) or Lady Speed Stick (2.3 oz.) - $1.88
Use $.50/1 coupon from 7/25 SS insert (doubled)
Final Price: $.88
St. Ives (13.5 oz. Body Wash or 18 fl. oz. Lotion) - $1.99
Use $.50/1 coupon (doubled) from 07/18 SS insert or $1.00/1 coupon here
Final Price: $.99
Cottonelle Bath Tissue (12 pk.) - $4.99
Use $1.00/1 coupon from July All You magazine or 8/15 SS insert or $.50/1 coupon here or here (doubled)
Final Price: $3.99
Gillette Series or Satin Care Shave Gel (7 oz.) - $1.88

My Wegmans deals are based on the Sterling/Leesburg, VA sales ad and deals that I find in the Leesburg store.

With thanks to the coupon database at Mrs. Moneysaver for help in compiling this.

My store doubles coupons up to $.50, but Wegmans' coupon policies vary by store. Find the policy at your store here.

This post is part of BeCentsAble's Grocery Gathering.

Guest Post: Restaurant Gift Cards - Use it, Don't Lose it

Guest Post by Laura of Frugal Friends in Northern Virginia

Here are some helpful tips for using restaurant gift cards and/or gift certificates followed by a story of how I would have lost 30% of my gift card value earlier this year, if I hadn’t kept my receipt and read the fine print.
When you receive or buy a gift card or gift certificate to a restaurant for your own use I suggest doing the following:

Keep all your restaurant gift cards in one place (I keep mine filed in a special drawer in the kitchen, near the take-out menus (which we barely use it seems). Keeping them in a pocket organizer in your purse or in your car is also another good idea.

If you have more than a few gift cards, you should keep a catalog of the gift cards noting the: restaurant name, value of card, purchase date and special terms (fine print). You can create a spreadsheet on your computer, keep a list in digital format on your phone, or keep a handwritten catalog.

Become a FaceBook fan of the restaurants for whom you have gift cards and also join their e-Newsletter/E-mail list, and considerfollowing the restaurant on Twitter. It is free to do this, and as a fan, member or follower of the restaurant you will often get access to exclusive offers or coupons (via email, printable off of FaceBook, or printable off of Twitter). Combining coupons/special offers with a gift card helps you get more for your mileage.

And now my story of a recent restaurant outing and how I would have lost 30% of the value of my gift card, if I hadn’t been a savvy shopper.

My husband and I decided to celebrate Valentine’s Day 2010 by going out to a restaurant at Tyson’s Corner in McLean, VA the Saturday night before Valentine’s Day (we don’t go out to Tyson’s much these days, so it was a treat!). We figured that the restaurant would be less crowded on Saturday than on Valentine’s Day. We even arrived fairly early (5-ish) thinking we’d beat the rush. What we didn’t factor in was the fact that snowmaggedon had left much of the parking area at Tyson’s un-parkable, and the parking garage was packed to the brim! It took awhile to find a spot, but once we got inside to the restaurant, we were seated right away.

We had a gift card, plus my husband had just signed up for the restaurant’s e-Club and had printed off a coupon for 1 free appetizer that was e-mailed to him. We were ready for a nice dinner, using up the remainder of our gift card with little out-of-pocket expense.

The gift card had actually been a birthday gift given to me by my mother-in-law a year and a half prior. The original value was $50, but back in October 2008 we had used up about $30 worth when my husband, son and I had gone out to celebrate my birthday. We had exactly $20.19 remaining on the gift card and I figured that our meal would cost us about $10 out-of-pocket plus tax and tip (using up the remaining balance on our gift card).

When paying our bill we handed over our gift card, and our waiter came back and said that there was only $14.19 left on the card. I pulled out the two original receipts (the original receipt from my MIL and the receipt from our last visit in Oct. 2008) and showed him that we should have $20.19 left, but wondered if it had started to lose its value because it had been 16 months since we had last used it.

The manager came over and explained quite matter-of-factly that all gift cards lose value after a certain amount of time and that if I had read the fine print I would have known that. I was a little flabbergasted that my card had already lost 30% of its remaining value, and by the manner in which the manager delivered the bad news to me (although he was probably just having a bad night, and he probably didn’t realize that I really cared about that $6 that I had “lost”).

Our waiter was extremely nice and understanding, and after the manager left our table I asked the waiter if he would mind bringing the gift card back to the table so I could read the fine print; he was more than happy to oblige. To my delight, the fine print on the gift card actually stated that “after 24 months of consecutive non-use” the gift card would start to lose its value incrementally per month. Since it had only been 16 months of non-use and the fine print stated after 24 months of non-use the value would decrease, the waiter and manager were able to apply the full $20.19 gift card value to our check. If I hadn’t kept my original receipt and hadn’t asked for my card back to read the fine print, I would have lost 30% of the value of my gift card.

Lessons learned:

Always keep receipts from the original gift card purchase showing the initial value.

When you don’t use the full gift card amount, always keep the receipt(s) from your purchases made using the gift card, so you know your remaining balance.

Note the fine print and special terms of the gift card. Be aware that either due to “error” in their system, or a change in their special terms/fine print, your gift card when redeemed at your local restaurant could show it is worth less than it really is.

Laura blogs about great deals in the DC area at Frugal Friends in Northern Virginia.

Guest Post: Sesame Place on a Budget (Part 3)

Yesterday, the Sesame Place on a Budget series talked about how to save on food, and how to find extra money to splurge on a memory lasting character dinner. In the final installment of the series, there are some helpful hints on paying a little extra for parking, to save $$'s on a locker! Here is a little excerpt from Part 3.

When you get to Sesame Place, you need to have a place to store your items. It will either be in your car or in a locker. You can carry around a backpack in the park, but when it is time to go on the water rides (and remember about 60% or more of the park is water rides), then you need to know what to do with your items! Plan ahead! Towels and shoes will be left in the little free cubbies when you go on a water ride (but they are very small - enough to shove a towel and two shoes). Buy a waterproof storage necklace ahead of time (they are expensive in the park). This is where you will store your money and keys! Lockers are incredibly expensive - over $18/day. You can come and go all day long when you use it, but I have a different suggestion. Skip the locker, pay the extra $3 for Preferred Parking and get to the park early to park up close!

For more information on why choosing the Preferred Parking is better than general, and why you won't need a locker at all if you do this......click to Part 3.

Guest Post: Sesame Place on a Budget (Part 2)

Yesterday, Becky Lucyshyn talked about how to save on hotels and tickets at Sesame Place. Today, she will focus on how to save on expensive amusement park food!  Here is a little excerpt from Part 2.

Planning ahead for meals is another huge moneysaver when going on vacation, and Sesame Place is no exception! Food in the park is typical of amusement parks and the prices can be expensive (especially when you have a family of four or more!). In order to stretch your budget for meals, our family took a save, save, save, splurge mentality with regards to breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner!

Let's discuss the splurge first so you understand why to be frugal on the other meals! We decided that dinner would be our splurge meal (or at least not our most frugal meal of the day). One idea that I would highly recommend is the character dinner! This is a splurge, but a very nice treat especially if you have been frugal in the other areas! To read more about how to have extra money for the character dinner by saving on breakfast, lunch, and snacks, click to Part 2.

Guest Post: Sesame Place on a Budget

For the next three days, I will be publishing a 3-part series on how to do Sesame Place, a Pennsylvania amusement park, on a budget.  I hope it will be relevant to readers in the DC and surrounding areas who might plan to visit this park, but I also think it has really good tips on navigating any silmliar destination.

For those of you on the East Coast, many young families have heard of and considered taking their family to Sesame Place in Langhorne, PA! Travelling to an amusement park, staying at a hotel, and eating out, can be quite expensive and Becky Lucyshyn from Rochester, New York has written a series on how to do Sesame Place on a Budget! Her series has helpful tips on how to save in many different areas: Part 1 will talk about how to save on tickets and hotels. Part 2 will talk about what food to save on what food to splurge on! Lastly, Part 3 will talk about how to save on parking, souvenirs, and other helpful tips!

Here is a little excerpt from Part 1. Sesame Place is best visited on a 2 day pass. If you get the 2 day pass, you can do everything, and many things multiple times! The park is probably 60% water park, 40% rides/attractions. In summer 2010 the general admission price for a two day pass is $53 (this is also the same price for a one day pass, so of course you will want to choose the 2 day! AAA is currently offering the pass at $49. This is similar to what I found last year. Tickets and hotel are going to be your biggest costs to the vacation.

In Langhorne, hotels abound but they are all priced for the convenience (hence more expensive) of staying 5 minutes away from Sesame Place. The Sheraton ranges $209/night, Holiday Inn range is $161/night, and the cheapest that I found for convenience sake (3 miles away) was $119/night. These hotels are again all for the convenience of being right near the park. However, if you are willing to drive a little bit - you can save BIGTIME! Just 19 miles away in Horsham, PA you can get rooms for $80/night!!! Our family stayed at the Homestead Suites, which gave the added bonus of having a kitchenette (which included a full size refrigerator, microwave, and stovetop range to use for all the food we were bringing!) in the room! It was $80/night in 2009 and is showing that price currently for dates in summer 2010 on Expedia. There are also other similarly priced hotels in that area too! For more information, click here for Part 1.

Best Bloom Deals: 9/8-9/14

Thanks to Sarah at Capitally Frugal for the best Bloom deals each week.  Check out her complete list here.

Oscar Mayer Lunchables - 4/$5

Use $1.00/2, found in 8/22 SS
$0.75 each after coupon

Olivia's Organic Salads - $2.99
Use $1.00/1, found here.
$1.99 each after coupon

Kellogg's Fiber Plus Cereal - $2.50
Use $0.75/1*, found in 8/8 RP
$1.00 each after coupon

Wisk Laundry Detergent - $4.99
Use $3.00/1, found in 8/29 RP
$1.99 each after coupon

Keebler Fudge Shoppe Cookies - B1G1
Use $1.00/2, found in 8/15 RP
$1.49 each after coupon

Guest Post: Using Your Local Library as Your Main DVD Rental

Guest Post by Laura of Frugal Friends in Northern Virginia

This is an updated version of a post originally published in September 2009 on my blog Frugal Friends in Northern Virginia.


Friday nights tend to be family movie night here at our house. If you frequently rent DVDs like our family, then I’d like to let you in on a little money-saving tip for DVD rentals:

Use your local library as your main DVD rental location; it’s free!

They don’t just have educational movies, but also (at least in the DC metro area) a large collection of G, PG, and PG-13 movies in a variety of genres.

What deterred me in the past from using the library as my main DVD rental source, was that there were not often DVDs on the shelf or in stock at my local branch that looked interesting. I often went when I wanted to watch a movie that evening or when I was already at the library with my son, and I didn’t always find a lot in stock right when I needed it.

Now, I’ve found a solution to my earlier issues, by planning ahead and using the county-wide library catalog. I can search for specific DVD titles at all libraries in my county, and request that it be sent to my local branch. I can also reserve/request titles that are already checked out, and I’ll receive an email notification when my local branch has it ready for me to pick up.

If you’re interested in saving a little money on DVD rentals too, I suggest that before heading over to Blockbuster, Hollywood Video, or even RedBox, you should check out your local library’s online catalog to see if they have a movie you’d like to rent. Let me warn you, your online library catalog is not as fancy or user-friendly (for sorting and searching) as Blockbuster.com, NetFlix.com, or RedBox.com, so I often will figure out what specific titles I’d like to watch by checking out one of those aforementioned sites, and then logging into my local library catalog and searching for those specific movies. Even if you only save $1 for each DVD you rent from the library rather than RedBox, that $1 each time adds up!

*Please check with your local library to see if there are any additional fees for inter-library loans or putting items on hold. Unfortunately, my county just started charging $3 per item for inter-library loans (if you want a book/DVD/item transferred to your local branch for pickup) and $0.25 for placing items on hold.

My husband and I recently checked out Invictus (2009) from our local library and I’ve been impressed to find out how many new(er) releases they have (not just the old classics). Right now we have two other 2010 movies on hold: Leap Year and Sherlock Holmes. We have also checked out many popular kid movies like Wall-E, Bolt, etc.

My library also has a great collection of children’s DVDs as well, including popular tv shows/movies like Bob the Builder, Thomas the Tank Engine, Handy Manny, Veggie Tales, Sesame Street, etc. (noticing a trend of toddler boy movies, because that’s all I watch these days?)

If you have any frugal DVD rental tips, please leave a comment and let me know, and please check out my previous guest post on Frugally Blonde “My Family’s Frugal Extreme - Life Without Cable TV”.

Best CVS Deals: 9/5-9/11

Thanks to Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living for the best CVS deals each week.  Read her complete list here.

Schick Hydro 3 or Hydro 5 Cartridges – 4 ct or Razor – 1 ct $8.97 (get $4 ECBs) Limit 1 $2 Refill SS 8/8

$5 Razor SS 8/8
= FREE – $2.97

Select Baby Products on page 12 (get $10 ECBs wyb $25) Limit 1

Deal Idea:
Buy Huggies Snug & Dry Boxed Diapers $20
Buy Two Johnson Products $5
Use $3 Huggies printable
Use $2/2 printable
= $10 for all three!

More Huggies Coupons:
$1.50 SS 8/22
$3.50/2 printable
$2 printable
$4/2 printable
More Johnson & Johnson Coupons:
$1 Bubble Bath or Wash printable
$1 Lotion printable, printable, printable
$1 Lotion RP 8/15
$3/3 any printable

Dentyne Pure, Stride Shift or Trident Layers $.99 (get $.99 ECBs) Limit 1
$1/2 printable
B1G1 Stride SS 5/16
= Two for FREE

Lindsay Olives $1
$1 RP 5/2
= FREE

B1G1 Gatorade Thirst Quench or Sobe Lifewater
B1G1 Sobe printable
= FREE

Check out the excellent Huggies deal this week!  I think I might be too overwhelmed still to make it to CVS this week, but I always have my eye out for a great diaper deal.

Personal Update . . .

Sorry things have been a bit quiet here.  My son's first week of life has been eventful, to say the least!  After spending an extra night in the pediatric wing of the hospital for his jaundice, we were discharged on Friday evening.  On Sunday afternoon we were readmitted to the hospital, as his bilirubin levels skyrocketed to worrisome levels.

Praise God, little "Gem" is responding beautifully to the phototherapy, and we are hoping to be discharged today or tomorrow.  Although it has been difficult to be away from my girls in the hospital, I don't have much to do while the baby is under the lights, so I'm trying to get caught up here on the blog.  I published the usual list of Wegmans deals today, and look for some interesting guest posts the rest of the this week.

Also, don't forget that my giveaway for the Safeway Gift Card and Bonus Box Tops Certificate ends tomorrow (Wednesday, 9/8) at midnight, and my Dryel giveaway ends Thursday (9./9) at midnight.  So enter now for a chance to win!

Thanks for all the good wishes for our new son!

Wegmans Deals: 9/5-9/11

Note: Starting Sept. 5, Wegmans is no longer be offering their flyer in newspapers, only online or in-store.  You can sign up here to receive the flyer by email every week, and of course you can always visit Frugally Blonde for the deals each week!

New Deals:

Green Seedless Grapes - $.99/lb.

Wegmans Ziti, Spaghetti, or Thin Spaghetti (16 oz.) - $.69
Stouffer's Lean Cuisine Entrees (8-11.5 oz. select varieties) - $1.99
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 printable coupon
Final Price: $1.49 each

Wegmans 90% Lean Fresh Ground Beef (Club Pack - 6 lbs. or more) - $1.99/lb.

Ongoing Deals:

Produce -
Small Whole Seedless Watermelons - $3.99
Fresh Green Beans - $.99/lb.
Wegmans Grape Tomatoes (1 pint) - $1.50
Plums or Nectarines (2 lb. bag) - $1.98
Jumbo Cantaloupes (size 9) - $2.00
Wegmans US #1 Russet Idaho Potatoes (5 lb. bag) - $1.99

Grocery -
Pillsbury Brownies Mix (13.3-20 oz.) - $.99
Wegmans BBQ Sauce (19-20 oz.) - $1.99
Use $1.00/1 Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce from summer Wegmans Menu Magazine
Final Price: $.99
Campbell's Chunky Soup (18.6-19oz., excludes Chili and Full Loaded) - $1.25

Buy 5 and use $1.00/5 coupon from 8/15 SS insert
Final Price: $1.05 each
Wegmans Fruit Bowls - $1.69
Use $1.00/1 coupon from filling a prescription
Final Price: $.69
Wegmans Canned Vegetables (14.5-15.25 oz can) Cream Style Corn, Whole Kernel Corn, French Style Green Beans, or Cut Green Beans - $.39
Campbell's Pork and Beans (11 oz.) - $.33
Goya Dried Beans (16 oz.) - $.99 (through 09/11)
Wegmans W Cola (12 pk./12 fl. oz. cans) - $2.00 (Limit 5)
Wegmans Hot Dog or Hamburger Rolls (8 ct./14 oz.) - $.99
Doritos Nacho Chips (11.5-13.875 oz.) - $1.99
Folgers Classic Roast Coffee (10.3-11.3 oz.) - $1.99

Refrigerated -
Wegmans Gallon Milk - $1.99-$2.24
Dannon Danimals and Danonino Yogurt - $1.99 (through 10/30)
Use $1.00/1 from the 8/15 SS insert
Final Price: $.99
Yoplait Delights - $2.49 (through 10/30)
Use $.50/1 coupon from 08/08 SS insert (doubled)
Final Price: $1.49
Pillsbury Ready-To-Bake Cookies (14-16.5 oz.) - or Sweet Moments Brownies (5.6-6.10 oz.) - $2.49
Use $1.00/1 Sweet Moments printable coupon here or here
Final Price: $1.49

Paper/Toiletries/Cleaning -
Wegmans Facial Tissue (65-160 ct. cube or flat) – $.79
Wegmans 8 pk. Paper Towels or 12 pk. Bath Tissue – $4.99
Purex 2X Laundry Detergent (50 fl. oz.) - $1.99
Use $1.00/1 Natural Elements printable coupon (if included)
Final Price: $.99
Suave Shampoo or Conditioner (15 fl. oz.) - $.77
Speed Stick (3-3.25 oz.) or Lady Speed Stick (2.3 oz.) - $1.88
Use $.50/1 coupon from 7/25 SS insert (doubled)
Final Price: $.88
St. Ives (13.5 oz. Body Wash or 18 fl. oz. Lotion) - $1.99
Use $.50/1 coupon (doubled) from 07/18 SS insert or $1.00/1 coupon here
Final Price: $.99
Cottonelle Bath Tissue (12 pk.) - $4.99
Use $1.00/1 coupon from July All You magazine or 8/15 SS insert or $.50/1 coupon here or here (doubled)
Final Price: $3.99
Gillette Series or Satin Care Shave Gel (7 oz.) - $1.88
Bic 8-ct. Round Stic or 10-ct. Crystal Stic Pens - $.99
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 printable coupon
Final Price: $.50 each

My Wegmans deals are based on the Sterling/Leesburg, VA sales ad and deals that I find in the Leesburg store.

With thanks to the coupon database at Mrs. Moneysaver for help in compiling this.

My store doubles coupons up to $.50, but Wegmans' coupon policies vary by store. Find the policy at your store here.

This post is part of BeCentsAble's Grocery Gathering.

Newest Addition

We are proud to announce the birth of our first son at 6:32AM yesterday, August 31.  It was also GiGi's 4th birthday!  As you know, I don't share the real names of my children here, so we'll just call him little "Gem." 

Mom and baby are both doing well, although we have some jaundice to deal with.  I hope to be discharged from the hospital by tomorrow evening and have some guests posts up for you by the end of the week.