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My shopping trip tonight was slightly less successful.  For starters, Joe had softball so I was on my own with both kids.  Shopping anywhere with a 3 year old and 1 yer old is always a challenge, so the fact that we are all home safe and in one piece means the outing is one for the books!

I was also not as prepared as I was the last night at Target.  I had all my coupons, but they were not sorted out.  They were mixed in together with all of my other ones and I was constantly having to sort through them on the fly.  I also did not have a list of the exact things I was there for.  Okay, enough about the bad.  Here is the good:

(2) BENGAY Pain Relief + Massage.  Some have reported this at their Wal-Mart for $4.88.  My Wal-Mart listed it at $6.83.  You can go to the BENGAY site and print 2 coupons for $5 off.  This means I paid only $1.83 each.  I think this is a great deal seeing as I will get good use out of them.

(1) Old Spice Body Wash
(1) Old Spice Deodorant
In the 6/6 P&G insert there are 2 coupons.  One is for Buy a deodorant and get the shower wash free.  The other is for buy a shower wash and get the deodorant free.  I heard from other sites some Wal-Marts were taking BOTH, making this FREE.  Mine also did!!!

(2) boxes of NexCare bandages.  In the 6/6 P&G insert there was a $1/1 coupon and there is also a $1/1 coupon on the coupons.com site.  My Walmart had the bandages on clearance for $1.25 per box, so I paid $0.25/box

(2) boxes of Coffee Mate stick packs.  There is a B1G1 coupon on the CoffeeMate site.  They are $1.18 a box, or $0.59/box after the coupon.

(2) cups of Skinny Cow Ice Cream (not pictured - put it in the freezer...).  There’s a high-value Skinny Cow coupon which was just released for $1 off any Skinny Cow product.  Price of $1.22 minus coupon = $0.22 each ( I printed 2 coupons)

(2) cases of Nestle Pure Life water mini bottles (24 bottles in all).  There is a $1/2 cases coupon HERE.  Each case is $1.88 making the discounted price $2.76.  This doesn't include the bottle deposit.

(2) Warm Delights Minis.  These are $2.12 each.  I love them because they are not too unhealthy when I have a chocolate craving.  Coupons.com has a $0.50 off coupon (you can print 2), or you can take your chances and there are peel off coupons for $1/2 on some packs.  This makes the price $1.62 per pack (there are 2 in a pack)

(2) Nivea Lip Products. On Coupons.com there is a $1/1 Nivea lip care product coupon.
In the All For You magazine there is a B1G1 coupon as well.  My Wal-Mart lists these at $2.47.  This makes them $0.73 each.

(2) bottles of KC Masterpiece Barbecue sauce. (Not pictured).  Print $1/1 coupon from coupons.com.  Some Wal-Marts have this on sale for $1, making it FREE.  My Wal-Mart had it for $1.44, so I got each bottle for $0.44.

Grand total:

Retail - $43.95

I paid - $14.07

That is a 68% savings!



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I decided to embark on an “Extreme Shopping” lifestyle.  For those who are not familiar with “Extreme Shopping”, it doesn’t mean retail therapy and spending sprees.  Instead, it is a carefully planned out system of using coupons in combination with in-store sales to maximize your savings and greatly reduce your grocery bills.

I enlisted the help of a really great website I came across, Money Saving Mom.
This site allows you to search by a particular store and then it will tell you which coupons from which weekly fliers you can use in combination with the in-store sales to get the best deals.Tonight was my first "outing" and I prepared carefully by printing out my coupons and writing down what I was going to get.  One of the key rules is to focus and not get side tracked with other things you see in the store.  Get in and get out with what is on your list you have coupons for!  This is not easy at a store like Target, which is where I went tonight.

Here is a sample of the deals (as outlined on the site) and a few photos of what I was able to get.

Olay Total Effects Body Wash (8-oz.) — $3.54
(was actually $5.50 at my Target)
Use $4/1 Olay Total Effects Body Wash coupon from the 6/6 P&G insert
Free after coupon (ended up paying $1.50)

Satin Care trial size — $0.97
Use $1/1 Satin Care Shave Gel coupon from the 6/6 P&G insert (not all regions got this coupon)
Free after coupon

Vaseline with Aloe Lotion — $0.97
Use $1/1 Vaseline printable coupon
Free after coupon

Tresemme Hairspray (travel-size) — $1
Use $1/1 Tresemme coupon (Click on the “Like” button on the Tresemme Facebook Page to print your coupon.)
Free after coupon

Pampers Baby Wipes (tubs) – Prices start at $1.99 (My Target offered them for $2.39)
Use $2/1 coupon from the 6/6 P&G insert
As low as free after coupon (I paid .39 cents)

Buy 1 Scrubbing Bubbles Power Sprayer Shower Cleaner at $8.69
Buy 1 Scrubbing Bubbles Power Sprayer Shower Cleaning Refill at $3.64

Use $5/1 Scrubbing Bubbles manufacturer’s coupon
Stack with $3/1 Scrubbing Bubbles Target coupon (click on “household” on the sidebar to quickly find this coupon)
Use Buy One Scrubbing Bubbles Power Sprayer Starter Kit, Get a Refill Free coupon
$0.69 plus tax for both after coupons!

I also had a coupon for an Kraft Extreme Macaroni & cheese cup for FREE

I saved $23.49 and including tax I only spent $4.45!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Here is the one downfall I see...a lot of coupons to use means you are in line longer.  In my experiences most of the cashiers are not too skilled at deducting your coupons which means often they need to call their supervisor (He had to call her 3 times tonight!).  Good thing it was a Monday night and not too busy.

I felt like the people behind me in line were glaring at me and rolling their eyes.  I am not sure if they were, that is just how I felt.  I had to keep telling myself that it doesn't matter how they feel - I am doing this to save my family money.  I didn't hear anyone in line offer to pay my bill or my mortgage, so they will just have to wait a few extra minutes while I save some money!

So Target was a success.  I am going to try for groceries next....I'll post my results as I continue on the journey.
 
I want to be that kind of mom like in the paper towel commercials.  You know the one....her child just spilled a gallon of milk all over the kitchen floor, yet her reaction is to flash a crooked smile and reach for the quilted paper towels. 

I want to be the kind of mom who has no expectations for our family portraits.  That way I am not so disappointed when the kids do not co-operate with the photographer.  This past Christmas I spent a lot of money on pictures of the kids, even though I had no "good" ones of them both because if one was smiling the other wasn't, one was running out of the room, one was crying, lifting her skirt up, picking her nose, trying to eat his foot.....

I want to be the kind of mom that doesn't feel so guilty asking for help. 

I want to be the kind of mom that doesn't feel so guilty taking time for myself once in awhile.

I want to be the kind of mom who doesn't care if my daughter jumps in a huge puddle and soaks her shoes and clothes, even though we are already running late to get to daycare.  She's a kid!!  Maybe I should jump in puddles!

I want to be the kind of mom who jumps in puddles with my kids!

I want to be the kind of mom that appreciates the sweet things my 3 year old does.  Sure she doesn't understand that picking a flower from a potted plant in the bank isn't acceptable behavior for adults....but she just picked a flower for her mom and had the biggest smile on her face when she handed it to me.

i want to be the kind of mom who is not so OCD about all the parts of every toy remaining intact and in place.  It's a playroom....not a museum.  Breath.  Repeat.  "It's a playroom...not a museum".

I want to be the kind of mom who always remembers to count her blessings.  The kids may scream, color on walls, refuse to eat anything other than hotdogs and "nuggies", but they are healthy...happy...beautiful and smart.

I want to be the kind of mom who is a good example to her children. 

I want to be the kind of mom who realizes work is not everything - family is.



coupons, sales, deals, offers, baby, freebies, samples, giveaways, discount, bottles, diapers, formula, twins, triplets, free, matchups, stores, Tops, Target, Wal-Mart, Aldi