Target $3 Columbia Pictures Movies

Print the $2 off Movie Staycation coupon (Target version), and take it to Target to get a number of movies for only $3.

I got the following movies for $19. Look for a sticker like the image above on most of the qualifying movies. Most of these movies are $5 with the exception of Annie which is a Special Anniversary Edition and is priced at $9. You can print as many of these coupons as you want and use one on each movie. There is no limit. Have fun!

• Karate Kid
• Matilda
• Annie
• Something's Gotta Give
• As Good As It Gets

$80 In Savings From DELL and Kelloggs

Here is a link to an opportunity to save some money on some products you may be purchasing from the grocery store. I used this offer last fall but it was just from Kelloggs and not linked with DELL. It's a good deal if you have coupons to offset the price of the drygoods listed. Take a look and see what you think.
http://www2.kelloggs.com/uploadedFiles/Kellogg/Family_Focus/09_Kelloggs_DellAd_FSI_Final.pdf

July 2009 Totals

Well, another grocery shopping month is over. Here's how I did:

• Spent $509.38
• Saved $412.90
• Percent Saved 45%
• Total Savings with Roundy's FuelPerks $21.14

Check Your Receipts For Future Savings!

There is a trend that is starting in which stores offer you an incentive for your feedback on your shopping experiences. Check the bottom of your register receipts to see if there is an offer for future savings if you call in and answer a few simple automated questions. Right now I know that Bath & Body Works in EP offers this on all of their receipts and have for several months. It used to be very random and now it is with every receipt. If you call in an answer a few questions you are given a code to write on your receipt and then you are eligible for $10 off your next $30 purchase. This offer DOES NOT expire which is awesome when it comes to needing a few gifts at the holidays! When you use these coupons you can check out multiple times in $30 increments in order to use more than one of these coupons. I have even seen these coupons for sale on eBay where a lot of 5-7 coupons would go for about $25-$45.

Mastercuts also uses this method. Again, you call in and offer your feedback to an automated machine and you are given a code that allows you to save $2.00 off of your next service. The coupons says that the offer is good for 45 days from the date of the receipt, but I don't think they keep track of that. You can use multiple coupons at one time with no problem at all.

Cub Foods occasionally will have an offer at the bottom of their receipts but no one there will draw your attention to it. Again, you call in and offer your feedback and in turn you get a free loaf of french bread on your next visit. That's a $2.99 value.

I know that other retailers are anxious for you to call in or log on to their website to offer feedback with no incentive. If you really like the retailer and plan to continue buying from them, you might consider calling in and asking that they offer a discount for your feedback. It might work!

Culver's Happy Hour

Culvers has happy hour daily from 2-4pm Mon-Friday. During this time buy 1 cooler, get one free. This is only for the Culvers in Eden Prairie and Chanhassen.

Another Great Deal! all you magazine

I know I blogged about this last month in the posting about where to get coupons but I have to tell you more about this excellent magazine! I received my August edition of "all you" yesterday. I quickly went through it and clipped 20 coupons that I know I will use. BTW, there were some coupons that I didn't clip, so you can see that this magazine is packed with saving opportunities! 3 of the coupons are BOGO which brings each item down to 50% of the original cost and one was flat out FREE! One free package of Jack Links Buffalo Chicken Nuggets (beef jerky) up to $7.67 value. I was so excited about all of the great coupons I received when I noticed that there was a coupon in the magazine for the magazine itself - the August edition. I got to thinking that I could clip it and give it to a friend and then thought I could stop and pick up a second copy for myself and have a second set of coupons! This magazine is only sold at Walmart and the shelf price is only $2.24! I used my $1.00 coupon and got it for $1.24. I will easily save about $71.00 with these coupons. Also, there was another $3.00 coupon for Neutrogena products, so now I have 2 more of them for the next sale at Walgreens or CVS. I highly recommend this magazine to anyone who enjoys cheap coupons, practical fashion tips, frugal home decorating ideas and recipes. I look forward to this magazine every month. Give it a try!

Coupon Strategies Pay Off BIG!

One of my strategies with using coupons is to clip any coupon that I might use and and file it in a folder. Then I watch the weekly ads to see what is on sale that I might have coupons for. I scored big this week at Walgreens! I buy make-up at Walgreens when it is on sale. This week Neutrogena was BOGO on eye and lip items. I had (4) $3 coupons for Neutrogena make up that I had been hanging on to. I went to Walgreens and picked out some new lipstick, eyeliner and blush. I purchased a total of 6 make-up items with 4 of them qualifying for the BOGO deal. At the check out I waited for the clerk to scan all of my items. They totaled $62.26. Basically most make-up items are about $10/each. I then gave her my 4 coupons. With the coupons and the BOGO sale, I spent a total of $22 and saved $40! Be sure to notice that I used 2 coupons for each BOGO deal. You CAN use a coupon for an item that essentially becomes free once the register calculates things. This holds true at the grocery store as well. Give it a try!

Start Shopping for School Supplies NOW!

We all know that at this time of year the ads start coming out for school supplies. It can make your heart race momentarily when you realize that summer is half over and school does loom around the bend. My strategy for school supplies is to start watching the ads now and pick up the items you need as they become good deals. I print out a supply list for each of my kids and put it on a clipboard that I keep handy. I take grocery bags and put one child's name on each bag. I line them up in the dining room and as I purchase items from their list, I simply put the items in their bag. The kids are so excited about this. They compare who has what and visit about what they year may bring for them. It's fun to see them looking forward to going back to school. Another strategy of mine is to set some goals for school supplies. One of our goals is to see if we can purchase all of the supplies from funds made from selling items at the consignment store or on Craigslist. Why not try to buy new from money made by purging the old? We look at each list and recycle from last year. No need to purchase a new pencil box every year! We reuse pencil boxes, rulers, plastic folders, clipboards, sharpeners, erasers and anything else that still has some life left in it! The more I talk to other moms the more I realize that many families are taking this approach this year. Once we eliminate the items we won't be purchasing new, we estimate what we think is a reasonable amount to spend on the remaining items. As we purchase, we keep the receipts handy and have a running total of where we are at. You may have noticed the Target ad from this past week. It had many school supply items on sale for great prices. I was able to pick up several items for all 3 of the kids and still only spend $13.00. If you decide to take your lists and go on one school supply shopping adventure, the store will love you because you will end up paying more than necessary for the majority of items you purchase. Using my strategies this year will help prepare you for upcoming years as you become accustomed to what items will go for when they are on sale. Good Luck!

Don't Be Fooled!

We've all seen the sales where the sign says 10/$10 or 4/$12. This subconsciously sends us the message that we should probably buy 10 or 4 to get the deal. That is exactly what the grocer wants you to do. They want you to load up your cart with 10 items and feel good that you got a good deal on them. Here's a secret! You DON'T have to buy 10 to get the items for $1/each. You can buy any quanity because each one is $1 regardless of how many you buy! The same goes for the 4/$12 deal. This is a deal that Target has going this week for Coke products. The sign says 4 12 packs for $12. What that means is that each 12 pack is $3.00. Buy as many as you like at that price!
When you shop be sure to be looking for coupons affixed to items on the shelves. When I was at Target yesterday for pop I noticed that some of the Sprite 12 packs had a sticker on them for a FREE 2 liter bottle of pop with the purchase of the 12 pack. So. . . I bought 3 12 packs of Sprite for $9.00 and got 3 2 liter bottles of pop for FREE. I saved $8.22 on this deal. Not bad. ALWAYS keep your eyes open for coupons at the store. If you don't plan to use them immediately, take a few anyway and file them away for a later date. You'll be surprised how often they will come in handy for a deal down the road!

FuelPerks Update!

Have you tried using your FuelPerks card at BP? Have you had trouble swiping it at the pump and end up going inside to pay for your gas in order to get your discount? The problem is that the FuelPerks card is a bit too wide. Simply take a scissors and slice a small amount off the bottom of the card. Be sure not to trim the top of the card where the magnetic strip is. This should make the card work at the pump. So convenient when you have the kids in the car or when it is raining! I imagine this winter we'll be loving this feature too!

Make Money Filling Prescriptions!

Many people have prescriptions that they fill on a monthly basis. Whether you have ongoing prescriptions to fill or just the occasional ones, there is a strategy for coming out ahead in getting them filled. Read the following story from a fellow blogger who takes the costly experience of filling monthly prescriptions and turns it into a money making opportunity for her and her family.
I have the misfortune to take three medications daily and Richard takes two. That is 5 scripts a month…when I fill them for the first time I fill at target..then the next month I transfer them to CVS where I use a transfer prescription coupon and get a $25 GC that is $125 a month for doing something I HAVE to do anyway…so why not do it where I can get money back. The next month I transfer them to Walgreen’s for the same deal. After three refills my Doctor sees me and gives me a new script. The cycle starts over. It is a nice little $1500 extra money a year for doing something I already HAVE to do. So I guess my misfortune can be seen as not so unfortunate.
The lesson here is to research the promotions at local pharmacies. Not too long ago Cub Foods was offering a free meal with a new prescription. I got my medications AND a rotisserie chicken, a bag salad, a container of mashed potatoes and a loaf of french bread. Not a bad deal in my estimation! I would definitely recommend checking with CVS, Walgreens, Target, Cub and Rainbow before filling a prescription. That means having the doctor print out the form for you and not having him call or email it to a local pharmacy. This may add a few more steps to the process, but you could be savy and come out way ahead!