Current Wal-Mart Deals

Kraft Salad Dressing $1.58

Use $1.50/1 from 3/29 SS

= $.18

Baked Ritz crackers $2
Use $2/2 from 1/25 SS
= $1 each

Yo-Plus Yogurt $2.08
$1.50/1 Yoplait Yo-Plus yogurt
=$.58

Aveeno baby wash $2.99
Use $2 printable here
=$0.99

Band-Aid Kids' Prints $1.88
Use $1 coupon from 2/8 SS (exp. 5/31)
=$0.88

Johnson & Johnson Baby Cotton Swabs $1.38

Use $1/1 from 3/8 RP (exp. 6/10)

= $.38

KY jelly $2.97
Use $3 coupon from 1/4 RP (exp 7/1)
= FREE

Glucerna Cereal (found in health section) $3.96
Use $5 printable here
= FREE plus overage

Luden's Throat Drops $1.12
Use $1 coupon from 1/4 RP
= $.12

Johnson's Buddies $0.97 each
Use coupons here, here, or here
= FREE 

Beech Nut Let's Grow Microwavable Meals $1.06

Use $1/1 from 1/4 SS (exp. 4/30)

= $.06

Mento's Gum $1.28
Use $1 coupon from 3/1 SS (exp 4/30)
= $.12

Purina Puppy Chow (small bag) $4.12
Use $4 coupon here
= $.12

Is the Sunday Newspaper a Wise Buy?

Many have asked me, "How valuable is it for you to get the Sunday newspaper with the coupon inserts?" Well, I think the best way to answer is for you to look here, here, and here. Without coupons, these deals wouldn't have been nearly as good. To get the Tribune delivered to your house for $1/week, check out my post here!

Of course, we don't live off cereal. (In fact, sometimes I trade it for whole, unpasteurized, organic milk from my parents' farm.) But when I can find healthy cereal at a great price (like 6 boxes for $1.16), I stock pile as much as I know we'll use.  However, I do believe in good nutrition. We eat fruits and vegetables every day. We drink organic milk. We try to eat a fresh green salad every day. I love making my own bread. Yes, we do eat desserts, although it's a rare occurrence for me to buy packaged desserts and cookies (but we do love good ice cream!).  My point is: there's a balance. Scoop up those great deals, but don't forget to eat your green and orange veggies every day! 

My favorite place to buy greens: Sam's Club. Pick up a 16 oz. box of Organic Spring Green Mix for around $3.99!!

Post Cereal Haul

These 12 boxes of cereal cost me $2.32!! Here's what I did for each transaction:

• Buy 6 boxes at $1.50 each = $9
• Use (3) $1/2 coupons = $6
• Pay with the $5 Catalina from doing this deal on a couple days earlier = $1
• Pay $1 + $.16 tax
• Receive another $5 Post Catalina

Free Samples

Pick up your free sample of Rachel Ray Nutrish Dog Food here.

More Samples Available:

Jergens Natural Glow Moisturizer

Always Infinity

Kotex

Cottonelle Toilet Paper & Wipes

Jewel Ad 4/2-4/8

Here are the highlights for Jewel. I only list the items that seem to be the best deal.

Three Day Sale (Thurs., 4/2 - Sat. 4/4)

Premium Tomatoes on the Vine $1.48

Healthy Choice Complete Dinners $1.97

Jewel Fresh Cut Blue Ribbon Beef Filet Mignon (6 oz) 2/$7

Wild Mahi Mahi (6 oz. previously frozen) 2/$7

Ice Mt. Spring Water (28-Pack .5 Liter or 12-Pack 700 ML Bottles) $3.77

SPECIAL DEALS

Kraft Salad Dressing $1.67

- Use $1.50 coupon from 3/29 insert

Kellogg's Cereal $2 (Use coupons from here and from 2/22 RP)

There's a Catalina deal going on for buying Kellogg's cereals 12 oz and over. Here's how YOU can get coupons for a free gallon of milk worth up to $4.69 (works on 1/2 gallons too):

• Buy 3 boxes & receive 1 Catalinas for a free gallon of milk
• Buy 5 boxes & receive 2 CATs for a free gallon of milk
• Buy 7 boxes & receive 3 CATs for a free gallon of milk

A note on the milk Catalinas: Check your expiration date as the date varies when you get more than one. This is an especially good deal for those of us who buy Organic Milk!! And it was even better a couple weeks ago when the cereal was $1.50/box. :)

For those with children:

Check out this promotion:

Buy $25 of Huggies products and receive a $5 Catalina (for OYNO) and a $3 CAT (for Culinary Circle Products)

If you have enough Huggies coupons from last month's Coupons.com printables, you might be able to pick up some wipes for a great deal!

Organics & Such

Remember to use the Wild Harvest $1 coupon found here for Wild Harvest (WH) products

Wild Harvest Braeburn Apples (3 lb.) $1.99

WH Mini Carrots (1 lb) $2

WH Celery (1 lb) $2.50

WH Grape Tomatoes (1 pint) $3.49

WH Russet Potatoes (5 lb) $5.99

Simply Organic Spices B1G1 ($2.99 single item price)

Dairy

Kraft Chunks or Shredded (8 oz) or American Singles (12 oz.) $2

Daisy Sour Cream (16 oz) 3/$5

Philadelphia Cream Cheese $1

Brookstone's Sour Cream (16 oz) 1$1.50

BOGO

Bottom Round or Sirloin Tip Steak or Roast

Top Loin Pork Roast

Fresh Boneless, Skinless or Split Chicken Breasts

Avocados ($1.99 single price)

Land 'O Lakes Butter (1 lb. or spreadable 15 oz) $4.99 single price

- Use $.55/1 coupon from 3/29 SS

Oscar Mayer Bacon ($6.99 single price)

Hormel Bacon ($5.99 single price)

Edy's Ice Cream (1.5 qt)

Betty Crocker Cake Mix ($2.39 single price)

Nabisco Snack Crackers ($4.19 single price)

Jewel's One Day Sale April 1

Today only, April 1, Jewel has these specials going:

• Large Eggs (1 doz.) $0.57, Limit 2
  
• Jewel Natural Cheese Chunks or Shreds $.97, Limit 2 but see note below!!
  
• Mann's Cut Vegetables (12-16 oz bag), $.99
  
• Sara Lee Turkey Breast or Chicken Breast (1/2 lb.) $1.99
  
• Jewel Fresh Cut Blue Ribbon Beef Filet Mignon (6 oz. portion) 2/$6
  

When Jewel specifies a limit on a particular item (i.e. 2), that means you are limited to 2 of each variety. So for the cheese above, you could buy 2 mozarella shredded, 2 mozarella chunks, 2 sharp cheddar chunks, 2 medium cheddar chunks, and so on. 

New Printable Coupons

Head over to Coupons.com to print some new April coupons!! Here are some of my favorites:

Save $1 on Yoplait Yo-Plus Yogurt
Save $1 on any Simple Green product
Save $1 on any Cottonelle toilet paper 4 pk or larger
Save $.60 on one box of Nature Valley granola bars

Brookhaven Marketplace 4/1-4/7

Here are the highlights from this week's Brookhaven Marketplace ad. In case you're wondering, Brookhaven is an Illinois store (located in Darien, Mokena, and Burr Ridge) with great prices on produce and meat. They also carry a variety of international foods.

PRODUCE
Strawberries 99¢/lb.
Idaho Potatoes (10 lb. bag) $1.99
Red Seedless Grapes 79¢/lb.
Green Seedless Grapes 69¢/lb.
Bartlett or Bosc Pears 69¢/lb.
Cluster Tomatoes 99¢/lb.
Fresh Express Garden Salad 99¢/bag

DELI/BAKERY/MEAT
Bobak's Polish Ham $2.99/lb.
Turkey Breast $2.99/lb.
Bone-in Chicken Breasts 99¢/lb.
Chicken Leg Quarters 49¢/lb.

GROCERY
Our Family Granulated Sugar (5 lb.) $1.99

DAIRY
Dean's Milk (1%, 2% or whole) $2.29/gal.
Dutch Farms Butter (1 lb.) $2
Easter Lamb Butter (8 oz.) 99¢ (This is really neat-looking! It's butter molded into a lamb shape.)
Dutch Farms Ricotta Cheese (15 oz.) $2
Our Family Shredded Cheese ( 8 oz.) $1.67
Large Brown Eggs (Cage Free) $2.79/doz.

BULK
Raw Almonds $2.49/lb.

Free Seeds from Heirloom Tomatoes

Since I just love fresh fruits and veggies and I really miss not have land for a garden, I've been formulating my plan for doing some container gardening this summer. You can imagine how excited I was to see that Tomato Heirlooms is offering a free packet of seeds to anyone who signs up for a free account on their website. Create an account here and you will automatically receive three packets of basil seeds: 250 each of Sweet Italian Basil, Purple Basil and Lemon Basil. Hurry because supplies are limited!

If any of you have some great ideas on Container Gardening, I'd love to hear them!

Thanks, Money Saving Mom!

Chicago Tribune for $1

If you are new to couponing and need to subscribe to the Chicago Tribune, go here and enter code x581 to have the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday papers delivered to your house for $1/week.

Free Sample of Aveeno

Click here for your free sample of Aveeno Nourish+ Hair Care Naturals. Included with your sample will also be a coupon! By the way, requesting samples is another great way to build up your coupon stashes.

Jewel Deal on Post Cereal (through 4/1)

How would you like 5 boxes of FREE cereal? Jewel (Chicagoland) has Post Cereal on sale 2/$3 when you buy in sets of 2. (See below for varieties that are 2/$4.) There is also a catalina (CAT) promotion going on through April 19. Here's how it goes:

• Buy 3, get a $1 Catalina
• Buy 4, get a $2 Catalina
• Buy 5, get a $5 Catalina

Even if you don't have coupons, you can snag some good, healthy cereal for less than $1/box! Here are some scenarios for you:

WITH COUPONS

• Buy 3 = $4.50; Use $1/2 and $.55 coupon; Receive $1 CAT
  Cost after Qs and CATS: $1.95 ($.65 each)
  
  
• Buy 4 = $6; Use 2 $1/2; Receive $3 CAT
  Cost after Qs and CATS: $1 ($.33 each)
  
  
• Buy 5 = $7.50; Use 2 $1/2 and one $.55 coupon; Receive $5 CAT
  Cost after Qs and CATS: -$.05 (FREE!)

WITHOUT COUPONS

• Buy 3 = $4.50; Receive $1 CAT
  Cost after CAT: $3.50 ($1.17 each)
  
  
• Buy 4 = $6; Receive $3 CAT
  Cost after CAT: $3 ($.75 each)
  
  
• Buy 5 = $7.50; Receive $5 CAT
  Cost after CAT: $2.50 ($.50 each)

UPDATE:
Some have reported that you can only get the price 2/$3 once per day per preferred card. Additionally, the pricing of 2/$3 only seems to be working when you buy in pairs (mix or match).

The following cereals are 2/$3:
Honey Bunches of Oats
Honey Bunches Just Bunches
Grape Nuts
Shredded Wheat
Post Raisin Bran

These cereals are 2/$4:
Honey Comb
Alpha Bits
Cinnamon Grahams
Fruity Pebbles
Post Selects

Coupon Sources thanks to A Full Cup. (Because some Jewels take expireds, I'm listing all here.)

• Post Cereals Shredded Wheat, Raisin Bran, Grape Nuts - 3/29/09 $1/2 (expires 5/10/2009)
  
• Post Honeycomb Cereal, Any Box - 03-01-09 SS $1.00/2 (expires 4/12/2009)
• Post Selects Cereals, Any - 03-01-09 SS $1.00/2 (expires 4/12/2009)
• Post Honeycomb Cereal, Any Box - 03-01-09 $0.55/1 (expires 4/12/2009)
• Post Kid's Cereals, Any - 01-25-09 SS $1.00/2 (expired 3/8/2009)
• Post Cereals, Any - 01-25-09 SS $1.00/2 (expired 3/8/2009)
• Post Shredded Wheat Cereals, Any - 01-04-09 SS $1.00/2 (expired 2/15/2009)

CVS Deals 3/29-4/4

Here are the best deals I see at CVS this week.

Aviva/Accu-check Diabetes Monitor $9.99 (limit 1)

Receive $9.99 ECB

= Free

Scrubbing Bubbles Action Cleaner $2.99

Use $2.75 coupon here

= $.24 (Thanks, Piera)

Glade Sense & Spray Lasting Impressions $5.99

Use $4 coupon from 3/29 SS

Receive $1 ECB

= $.99

Buy 2 Softsoap Ensembles (soaps or refills, prices starting at $3.99 each)

If you buy 2 refills at $3.99, then...
Use 2 $1 off coupons from 3/22 SS

Receive $4 ECB

= $1.99 for two

Walgreens 3/29-4/4

Here are some of the deals this week at Walgreens.

Chapstick Natural or Soft Shimmer $1.99
Receive $1.99 RR (Register Rewards)
= Free

Reynolds Alum. Foil (20 sq. ft) $.89 with in-ad coupon
Use $1/1 from 2/8 SS
= Free

Mentos Gum $1 (on sale till 4/24 for 2/$2)
Use $1/1 from 3/1 SS
= Free

Printer Cartridge Refill $7.50
Submit for $7.50 EasySaver Rebate #28
= Free

Skintimate Shave Gel or Edge Infused /Energy Shave Gel $2.99 

Receive $3 RR (through 4/24)

= Free

No Nonsense Panty Hose B1G1, starting at $2.49
Use $1/1 coupon from 3/29 SS
= $.25 each

Softsoap Body Wash $3.99
Use $1/1 coupon from 3/29 SS
Receive coupon for a free Softsoap Body Wash
= $1.50 each
(Presently this coupon can be "rolled," meaning you can use the coupon to get your free one, and another coupon for a free body wash will print. This has been working yesterday and today, but we never know how long it will "roll!")

Free McCafe Today

Have you picked up your free McCafe beverage at McDonald's today? Mondays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., McDonald's in the Chicagoland area are offering a free 8 oz. McCafe beverage of your choice!

Couponing Basics - Part 1

Here are a few steps to help you start saving BIG on your groceries, toiletries, and around-the-house expenses.

1. Buy the Sunday newspaper. Ironically enough, I'm telling you to buy to save. However, this step is worth it! Pull out those coupon inserts! Clip the coupons you know you'll use, and file the rest of the insert in a file folder labeled with the date the insert was issued. Choose the major newspaper for best value coupons (i.e. Pick the Chicago Tribune over the Chicago Sun-Times). The number of inserts varies from week to week, so don't worry if there's only one insert the first week you buy the paper. In addition, ask friends and family to give you their unused inserts.
   
   
2. Stock up when the prices are lowest. Pay attention to the "loss leaders" at the grocery stores. If you know prices, and the sale price is the lowest you've seen at a number of stores, then stock up. It's even better if you can match the sale with coupons!
   
   
3. Be willing to try different brands. When I started serious "couponing," I found myself trying lots of new brands. In fact, I started buying far fewer store brand and Aldi items because I could get name brand products cheaper when on sale and/or combined with a coupon. In some cases, you might not be able to budge on your favorite brand, but if you can, go ahead and give it a try!
   
   
4. Be an observant shopper! Be constantly on the lookout for clearance items and coupon dispensers throughout the store. When our Jewel marked down Domino Brown Sugar to $1/bag, I bought a few and used the coupons in my coupon holder to get some pretty cheap brown sugar! Make use of those coupon dispensers throughout the store (blinkies, they're called). If you'll use the item being advertised, pick up a coupon or two and file it in your coupon organizer. Very likely, that item will go on sale, and you'll be able to use the coupon when the price is right! When Kraft cheese was on sale recently, I was so thankful to have picked up coupons a few weeks earlier. This resulted in my getting FREE cheese.
   
   
5. Learn the coupon policies of the stores in your area. Store coupons (Target, Walgreens, and other stores issue these) can be stacked with manufacturer coupons. Also find out:
   * Do any stores accept expired coupons? (Many Jewel and Dominick's do!)
   * Do any stores in your area double coupons? (I have yet to find any Chicagoland stores that do this.)
   * Do they Price Match? (Wal-Mart is famous for this one.)
   * Do they accept competitor's coupons? (Jewel's policy has been to accept competitor's manufacturer coupons.)
   
   
6. Get ready to make a quick weekly stop at CVS and Walgreens. You'll be amazed at how cheap you can get some common household items including razors, toilet paper, shampoo, napkins, snacks, and more! In the days ahead, we'll talk about these two stores in detail.