What's a good deal?

So if you have been following along, you know the basic gist of couponing including where to find coupons and how to use them. A common question newbies ask me is “What’s a good price for…” The answer pretty much depends on how important the product is to you (corny, I know) and how much your food budget is. Another determining factor is where you live as prices will be vary by region. What I can tell you is the price that I *try* to pay. Don’t get me wrong, there are times when I am running to Seven Eleven to buy Nyquil at 1am, but as a general rule, these are the prices I look out for:

Household/Toiletries/Personal Care Items

I usually find these items at Target, Walgreens, RiteAid

TOOTHPASTE:  FREE

KIDDIE TOOTPASTE: FREE -$1

ADULT TOOTHBRUSHES: FREE -$.75

MOUTHWASH: FREE-$1

FLOSS: FREE

BODY WASH: FREE-$1

DEODERANT: FREE

SHAMPOO/CONDITIONER: FREE- $2
(This is for cheaper brands like Herbal Essence, John Frieda, Pantene, etc)

RAZORS FREE - $1

LAUNDRY SOAP: $1.99/32 loads

BODY LOTION: Free- $1.50
FACE WASH: Free- $1.50
DISH SOAP: Free-$.75

Grocery Items

(There are sooo many, so I will just highlight a few I get for super cheap)

SHREDDED CHEESE: free-$1/lb

PASTA: free-$.25

PASTA SAUCE: $.25-$1

CRACKERS: $.50 or less

CEREAL: $.50 per box or less

OATMEAL: $.50 for instant oats

PEANUT BUTTER: $.50-$1.00

FROZEN PIZZA: $2.50 or less for a large pizza

CANNED VEGGIES: $.50 or less

COOKIES/BROWNIE/CAKE MIX: $.50 or less

GRANOLA BARS: $.50 or less

CHIPS $1 or less

PASTA $.50 or less

RICE/POTATO PACKS $.50 or less

SALAD DRESSING $.50 or less

CONDIMENTS: $.50 or less

FRUIT SNACKS: $.50 or less

Of course you can get other items with coupons, but these are some good deals that can bring down your budget and/or save more money for something else. Is this helpful? Do you have any questions??

Kohls: Eric Carle's "The Mixed up Chameleon" stuffed animal/book $2.50 UPDATE

UPDATE: There is some confusion on Kohl's website on whether or not the stuffed toy is included, so your mileage may vary on this one, sorry team!

I LOVE when Kohl's has these stuffed animals + book combos at the front of the store. My boys like to hold the animal while we read about them. And my New Year's resolution this year (one of them) is to do my Christamas shopping all year as I find deals. Here is a cheap and easy one!

Right now you can get Eric Carle's "The Mixed up Chameleon" book AND the stuffed chameleon for $2.50 SHIPPED

I got mine this morning in addition to "The Grouchy Ladbug" but the ladybug is already sold out now, so you better act fast on this one.

When you checkout use the code SHIP4FREE and shipping is free! I got one of each, bon't don't tell my boys. There just might be a Chameleon and a Ladybug under the tree on Christmas morning!

Thanks, Hip2Save!

Careful! Tomato Recall

Check it out HERE. From the FDA wesbite,

"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 2, 2011 - Taylor Farms Pacific, Inc. of Tracy, CA has been notified by grower Six L’s that a specific lot of grape tomatoes supplied to Taylor Farms Pacific may be contaminated with Salmonella. This product has been recalled by Six L's.

This lot of grape tomatoes was used in the following products made by Taylor Farms Pacific for Albertsons, Raley's, Safeway, Savemart, Sam's Club, & Walmart and is being voluntarily recalled as a precautionary measure. No illnesses have been reported.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy people may experience fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (which may be bloody), and abdominal pain. In rare cases the organism can get into the bloodstream and cause more serious complications. For more information visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website at http://www.cdc.gov/¹."

$1/$5.00 Safeway Produce Coupon

For you facebookers, here is a $1 off $5.00 for produce! Click HERE and "Like" the Safeway Facebook page and then go to the Simple Nutrition tab and follow directions. I am going to use mine tonight!! You can print one and then go to the back button til you see "Print your coupon" and print it again, up to two coupons per computer.

Thanks Kari Brown & Frugal Living NW for the heads up!

Another chance for ALL YOU! A must have couponers!

If you are thinking about getting serious about couponing, this magazine is a MUST HAVE! It comes monthly with high value coupons for a ton of great (or free even) deals. I just got mine through Ebates. It takes a couple of steps, but well worth it!!! First, go to the link : EBATES for two bad monkey friends

Create an account (takes 10 seconds)

Type in Magazines.com in the search field

Click on the "Shop Now" orange button next to Magazines.com Save 51%

You will be sent over to the magazines.com site. Choose ALL YOU for 19.97

You will initially have 19.97 out of pocket but you will get a check from ebates for 10.17

Sound like a lot of work for a magazine??? Ebates has EVERYTHING and I have heard nothing but amazing things about it. PLUS, you get $5 added to your account just for signing up! I am expecting my first check from EBATES within the next month! ps,  I HAVE TWO SUBSCRIPTIONS TO ALL YOU hehe

TTTarget TTTuesday Week of 5/1/11

This was an awesome trip for me because my shampoo & conditioner stockpile was lacking and Papa Monkey was down to only 2 body washes. I had a blast on this trip. I brought my two bad monkeys and they were champs! It is a good time to teach them counting as I place (or throw) items in the cart.

Here is how it panned out: 1 trip, 1 transaction!

John Frieda Root Awakening haircare $6.13
Use $3/1 from (SmartSource 5/1)
Use $3/2 Target coupon
Final Price: $1.63 each

I usually pay about $1 for it, but I LOVE this product!

Aquafresh Training Toothbrushes for kids are $1.99
Use $1/1 Target coupon
Use the $1/1 Aquafresh Kids Toothbrush (RedPlum 04/17)
Final Price: Free

Aquafresh 1.5oz Training Toothpaste $2.89
Use $1/1 Target coupon

Use $1/1 Aquafresh Kids Toothpaste  (RedPlum 04/17)
Final Price: .89 I have 2 monkeys that will be using this a long while!

Reach Dental Floss (mint waxed) $ .97
Use $1/1 coupon from 4/17 SmartSource insert
Final Price = Free

Nivea Hydrating Shower Gel for Men (16.9 oz)  $3.14
Use $3/1 coupon from 4/17 Red Plum insert
Final Price = .14 each

Total for this purchase: $10.64

I saved 49.84 for products I use on a daily basis!!!

For many many more great Target deals check out My Frugal Adventures, Frugal Living NW, Krazy Coupon Lady. There are so many more deals I might have to make a Target Thursday trip!!

Next up: What's a good deal? And also stay tuned for: Monkey talk: Abbrevations & Coupon Lingo



Albertsons Steals! May 1- May 3

I made two trips to Albertons today; one on my lunch and one after dinner. WAY worth the two trips!!

First let me respond to your acquisations, "There are only coupons for junk food" I say NOT TRUE! While this post does not help my case, I must remind you of my bachelor Dad and my garbage disposal husband. These quick and easy meals make good lunches for the males in my life (not my bad monkeys of course). And must I remind you Summer is almost here in the NW (thank you GOD) and we can never have enough chips and salsa for BBQs! That being said...here is how it all worked out:

Buy 1 Tostitos Salsa $2.50
Buy 1 Tostitos Chips $2.50
Buy 1 Pepsi Max
Use (2) $1/1 coupon from 5/1 Moments to Save Insert (only in the Oregonian, not the Columbian)
Use FREE Pepsi Max When You Buy Tostitos Chips & Dip coupon from 5/1 Moments to Save Insert
Use (2) Albertsons doubles (-$2)
$1.00 after coupons & doubles when  you buy all 3 items

Maruchan Yakisoba $1

Use $.50/1 coupon from 3/13 SS Insert

Use Albertsons double (-$.50)

FREE after coupon & double

Propel Zero $2.50

Use $1/1 coupon from 5/1 Moments to Save Insert

Use Albertsons double (-$.1.00)

$.50 after coupon and double

Tony’s Crispy Pizza $1
Buy 2
Use $1/2 coupon
Use Albertsons double (-$1)
FREE after coupon & double when you buy 2

I had this seperated in 3 transactions because you can only use 3 doubles at a time, but you can have 3 different transactions per trip to the checkout? Make sense?

TOTAL PRICE: $2.60 after OR deposit

That's less the the regular price of the one jar of salsa! Convinced about coupons yet? NO??? Ok, read on...



After I finished my lunch trip I decided to grab two more Oregonians becuase this paper was really rich in coupons. So, most of the deals above are repeats from my lunch trips. I had two rainchecks from a couple weeks ago that I was finally able to use today. If you are not familiar, I will explain more about rainchecks later. Here's how my evening trip worked out:

Tostitos Chips $2.50              

Use $1/1 coupon from 5/1 Moments to Save Insert
Use Albertsons double (-$1)
$.50 after coupon & double

Tostitos Salsa $2.50
Use $1/1 coupon from 5/1 Moments to Save Insert
Use Albertsons double (-$1)

$.50 after coupon & double

Garden of Eatin Chips $2.89
Use $1/1 coupon from 5/1 SS insert
Use Albertsons double (-$1)
$.89 after coupon & double

Maruchan Yakisoba $1
Use $.50/1 coupon from 3/13 SS Insert
Use Albertsons double (-$.50)

FREE after coupon & double Tim loves these for his lunches

Allegra Allergy $5 (AFTER RAINCHECK)

Less coupon from 3/17 SS insert

= .07 tax only! Yes, I am serious! These were $9.94 on sale today!!!

Quick Cook Pasta $1 (AFTER RAINCHECK)

Less  $1/2 Printable coupon (no longer available)

FREE after coupon & double

Propel Zero $2.50

Use $1/1 coupon from 5/1 Moments to Save Insert

Use Albertsons double (-$.1.00)

$.50 after coupon and double

So… I got 10 boxes of pasta 5 boxes of allergy meds, 2 bags of tortilla chips, 1 jar of salsa and 4 packs of Ramen lunches for  $3.24!!

You can see more Albertsons deals here: Frugal Living NW or Thrifty & Thriving

Next up: TTTarget TTTuesday!!