I'm back!

Alright, y'all, I took a bit of a vacation from couponing, just because we have soooooo many things going on around here right now. But since Kroger is now running it's first mega-saver event of the year, I had to take advantage of it. We all went together tonight after dinner at Captain D's. (Gotta love that they let us use a coupon for every meal!) After about an hour or so of extreme couponing everyone began to get tired, so I had to hurry up and finish. But we managed to get 40 items that are part of the mega saver, so we got $20 deducted off the bill! I always figure it as an additional $.50 off each item. We got 63 items, and only spent $59.59 out of pocket. Kroger plus savings was $73.35 including the $20 off, and we had $41.08 in coupons. The cashier was absolutely stunned, and couldn't stop saying, "Wow." I love it! And it was almost totally food, and a good chunk of it was meat that was marked down.

So here's the rundown--

All of these were included in the buy 10, get $5 off mega promotion. I'll put the regular or sale price here since that's on my receipt, and then take off the bonus (MSP), then subtract any coupons so that you can see the actual out-of-pocket cost of each. Clear as mud?

Finish dishwasher gelpacs $3.49 - .50msp = $2.99 - $2.50 mq = $.49

6 Hunts canned tomatoes $1.00 ea - .50msp = $3.00 - .45/3 mqd = $.35 each

4 French's mustard $1.69 ea - .50msp = $1.19 - 3/.50mqd's and 1/.30mqd = $.79 each

2 Mission tortillas $1.49 ea - .50msp = $.99 - .50mqd's = free (I love free food.)

2 Hormel Chili $1.29 ea - .50msp = $.79 ea - .55/2 mqd = $.24 each

Krusteez cookie mix $2.29 ea - .50msp = $1.79 - .50mqd = $.79

3 I Can't Believe It's Not Butter $1.99 ea - .50msp = $1.49 ea - $1mq = $.49 each

2 Pepsi $1.29 - .50msp = $.79

2 Birds Eye Steamfresh corn $1.99 ea - .50msp = $1.49 ea - $1/2 mq = $.99 each

2 Pepperidge Farm frozen turnovers $2.49 ea - .50msp = $1.99 ea - .55mqd's = $.89 each

2 Cheez-its $2.49 ea - .50msp = $1.99 ea - $1 mq = $.99 each

Quakers rice cakes $1.29 - .50msp = $.79 each - $.75 mq = $.04

Ritz $2.49 - .50msp = $1.99 - $1 mq = $.99

2 Johnsonville bratwurst $2.99 ea - .50msp = $2.49 - $.55 mqd = $1.39 ea

Johnsonville turkey sausage $2.99 - .50msp = $2.49 - $.55 mqd = $1.39 ea

4 Johnsonville Italian sausage $3.49 ea - .50msp = $2.99 ea - $.55 mqd = $1.89 ea --(these are regularly priced at $6.99!)

2 Oscar Meyer chicken sandwich kits $2.49 ea - .50msp = $1.99 - $1 mqs = $.99 ea

2 Oscar Meyer deli cuts roast $2.99 ea - .50msp = $2.49 - $1/2 mq = $1.99

Good deals not included in the Mega promotion:

2 Halls cough drops $1.00 ea - b1g1 free mq - .50 mqd = free

3 doz large eggs $.88 ea

Chuck steak $2.35 (mgr special)

Stacy's pita chips $3.49 - free coupon from mail = free

2 Kroger pint ice cream (for the kiddos) $1.00 ea = $2.00

2 pks chicken thighs $3.38 & $3.19 (mgr special)

3 Oscar Meyer weiners $.99

3 Kroger buns $.58 ea

3 Kroger bread $.78

Old El Paso mexican rice $1.25 - .50mqd = $.25

2 Old El Paso taco seasonings $1.00 ea = $2.00 - b2g1 free q - .50eq = $.50/2

*(Plus I got a $1.00 off-your-next-order making these free with a $.50 overage not counting the mega promotion!)

MSP = mega saver promotion

mq = manufacturer's coupon

mqd = manufacturer's coupon that was doubled

eq = electronic coupon (Shortcuts & Cellfire)

b1g1 = buy one, get one

So the total before any discounts was $194.02 (Lee always panics at this point). After scanning my card it was $114.12 plus $6.55 tax = $120.67 minus the $20 for the mega promotion = $100.67 minus $41.08 in coupons = $59.59 out-of-pocket (oop)

Coupon School

I've started a couponing training school of sorts on Facebook. If you would like to learn how to get lots of great deals and save tons of money on your grocery bill, join the Facebook group. What? You're not on Facebook? Well, get on there and catch up with the rest of us!

Our first day of homeschool...

Well, so far, we are loving it! We started early, because we wanted to be sure we had time to be flexible with our schedule. We are using Alpha Omega's Switched On Schoolhouse which is all on the computer. Our first day was Wednesday. The kids got up (Adam an hour earlier than Molly) and sat down at their laptops to do their lessons. Adam finished his core subjects in about 3 hours, then did his Spanish and handwriting lessons. Molly began to whine and complain shortly into her school work, and I heard the dreaded, "I hate school!" So I sat down at her computer with her and walked her through her lessons, and then she felt much better. It turns out that her language is more difficult than the A Beka that she is used to having. Today on day three, I still had to sit with her some and help her some. But she is getting the hang of it, and she doesn't complain and whine any more.

Yesterday, we went to the Pink Palace museum with some friends and had lunch. Then we had time in the afternoon to get our scheduled school work done. Today, they worked some in the morning, then did some house work, and now some friends are here to swim. Molly has a little work left to do this afternoon.

I know we have only had three days, but I feel like we have accomplished a lot already (Adam had a history quiz today and Molly had a math quiz), and we have SOOOO much less stress and pressure compared to a regular school year. There's no homework to do in the evenings, and the kids have so much more time to enjoy...well...what they enjoy.

I am doing more teaching at Jo-Ann these days, since it seems that more people are finding out that the store is there. I have two classes tomorrow, one at 10:00 and one at 1:00, so I will be there all day. Lee will have fun with the kids all day. Hopefully.

Good deals at Walgreens

Since we are homeschooling this year, we don't really need all the usual school supplies, but we can always use pens, scotch tape, envelopes, hilighters, etc. Well, now's the time to get them! Walgreens has a bunch for $.19, $.29, $.49 and such.

Right now, they have Tylenol and Motrin on sale for $4.99 (the shelf wasn't marked, but it's in the ad), and when you buy one, you get a RR for $3 your next Walgreens purchase, making them $1.99. There are also coupons out there for them, including a $2 off for Motrin, making it free! I also have several $1 off Tylenol coupons.

They have a 2-pack of gel pens for $1, and you get $1 RR back too. So I got a Tylenol and a Motrin and 2 packs of pens, along with some other school supplies.

Here's a pic:

Here's the rundown:

Tylenol Arthritis (hey--pain reliever is pain reliever!): $4.99 - $2Q = $2.99 - generated a $3 RR

Motrin: $4.99 - $1Q = $3.99 - generated a $3 RR

2 pks gel pens @ $1 ea: $2 - generated $2 in RR

2 5-pks mechanical pencils @ $.19 ea: $.38

5-pk of highlighters: $.49

10pk envelopes (great for books I'm sending on Paperbackswap.com): $.59

Total: $13.44

Tax: $1.23

Total: $14.67

Coupons: $3

Total out of pocket: $11.67

Plus, I have $8 in RR coupons to spend at Walgreens later making it a net cost of $3.67!

Plants and Gardening

My hardy hibiscus finally decided to come up! It's been later and later every year, and it hasn't bloomed the last 2 years. I have missed the huge dinner plate-sized pink blooms. I have transplanted it to a pot where it won't be soaked by the splash-overs from the pool. It seems to be happy there--we'll see if it blooms. Now...does anyone know how to make a bougainvillea bloom?

I planted a garden at the Tibbits's house the first of June, and I go over there once a week or so to check on it. I planted pumpkins, cucumbers, watermelon and canteloupe--things that like lots of room! So they are kind of growing together into one big patch. Mitch tells me that I have some small canteloupes or pumpkins, but the cucumbers don't seem to have been pollenated. I may have to take that into my own hands. Next year, I'd like to plow up part of the backyard for a garden, but I'm afraid it gets too much shade. My two tomato plants that I grow in pots back there every year seem to do pretty good, though.

MemphisMommies.blogspot.com

I'm going to start posting all my coupon deals etc. on my other blog - http://memphismommies.blogspot.com.

I'm going to be doing several postings on how to do serious couponing, as well as weekly deals for each store and the shopping trips I do.

See ya there!

Today's Kroger Trip

I think I'll start posting my couponing trips here, since I get so many questions about them. Here's a copy of what I posted to AFullCup.com's message board. (A "Q" is a coupon, and Kroger doubles Q's up to $.55. An "IP" is an internet-printed coupon. "OOP" means out-of-pocket.)

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Here's my trip today. I am thinking about going back tomorrow to look for more items on clearance!

Hunts ketchup: $1.50 sale price - free coupon rec'd in the mail
Oscar Mayer beef franks: $3.99 - free coupon rec'd in the mail
Weber marinade: $1.29 - .50Q doubled = $.29
Lysol spray: $2.49 on clearance - $2Q = $.49
2 Oust spray: $1.99 on clearance - $2Q = free
5 Glade scented oil candles: $2.99 on clearance - $2Q - B2GO = $3.96/5 or $.79 ea
Kroger mozzarella block: $2.99 on sale BOGO = $1.49 ea
Dannon yogurt 4pk: $2 on sale - $1Q = $1
2 Danimals yogurt 4pk: $2 on sale - $1Q = $1 ea
2 Activia yogurt 4pk: $2 on sale - $1Q = $1 ea
Lean pockets: $1.50 sale - $.50Q doubled = $.50
Energizer batteries AA 4pk: $2 - $1Q = $1
Hillshire lunch ham: $2.99 - $1Q = $1.99
Healthy Ones lunch turkey: $3.19 - $1Q = $2.19
2 bread @ $1.19 = $2.38/2
buns: $1.19
milk: $2.58/gal

Total regular price: $71.14 - sale price disc $13.85 = $57.29
Qs = $32.98
tax = 4.69
Total OOP = $29.00

I'm a bit bummed because this Kroger won't take IP's if they are more than $1. I plan to check other Krogers in my area.

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So my house should smell great these days! LOL! I like to stock up on things when they are really cheap, and those Glade candle thingies make great last-minute gifts, even though these happen to be in my favorite scent.