RedPlum Inserts

I just received a GREAT question regarding RedPlum coupons from one of my readers... She noted that while she receives the "RedPlum" with the weekly grocery ads, she does not have any coupons...

My answer is not a good one I'm afraid. RedPlum seems to be selective on who receives their coupons. Some people get them, some don't....some did and not anymore... I am not sure what the rhyme or reasoning is, but I was one who never saw any coupons, just the "RedPlum" wrapper that my ads came in. However, I struck it lucky when I added my information to the mailing list (click HERE to add). I think a few of my fellow neighbors/couponers may have done the same and we now get the coupons, or maybe I'm just lucky. On the down side, I know of people who have signed up several months ago (and several times) and still do not get them in the mail.

If signing up doesn't help you, don't fret - I look at the RedPlum and Proctor & Gamble as 'gravy' savings since most of my bulk savings comes from the SmartSource that I receive in the Sunday paper.

Extra, Extra....

Read all about it!

If you still need to get your subscription, this is the week to do it!! If you contact me before 3pm on Saturday, you will get your papers in time for the big day...

What? you don't know what day I am talking about??

On April 5, there will be 2 - that's right - 2 SmartSource inserts, and it's a week for the RedPlum and P&G!! That's a whole lot of coupons for one week!!

To top it all off, these coupons will come during the huge Smith's case lot sale...

You don't want to miss this!!

(find the 2009 coupon schedule HERE)

What's for Dinner?

On of the first things I had to change about my life when I started shopping the "Grocery Smarts Way", was how I planned my family's meals. I used make the meal plan, make the grocery list, and hope for the best when I got to the store. So, now that I am saving a TON of money by using the sale lists, I have had to do things totally backwards.

Guess what though! It is SO much fun to shop first, then look at my pantry and freezer and start scribbling like crazy all the great meals I can put together!!

I thought I would share a few great websites I use to help in this great process... Most of these you can just put in the main ingredient you have and maybe on or two other items and before you know it you will have a wide choice of recipes to choose from.

All Recipes

Pillsbury

Betty Crocker

I will try to start posting some recipes I find for certain items that I buy on sale in a particular week. Hopefully, that will give you some good ideas for your own meal plans.... Happy Dining!! and Saving of course!!

Vons Stock-Up Sale

Hey y'all... I know that Grocery Smarts doesn't have the Vons lists up (yet), but I just freaked out a lot when I saw this weeks ad! There looks to be some great deals, and not all of them are even listed in the paper. Check out your ad, and see if there is anything that catches your eye that you may want to stock up on... then... go to Grocery Smarts website and use the Alphabetical Coupon Index to match up any coupons you may have to increase your savings!!

.75 on sale - coupon - Rosarita Refried Beans, any $1/3 (4/30/09) SS-3/22 = .42 a can
2.00 on sale - coupon - Ocean Spray Light, Diet or Grapefruit, any $1/1 (3/31/09) RP-1/11 = $1
Capri Suns for $1.50 - that's a great deal all by itself
1.50 on sale - Hillshire farm Deli Select Lunchmeat, any 8oz or larger .55/1 (4/15/09) RP-2/22 = .95

The ad says there are over 1,000 items involved in this mix and match promo & there is no reward limit! Have fun...

Oh - you may want to save some of your grocery budget for next week... I hear it's Smith's big case lot sale starting April 1st....

Want MORE deals?

You know you're a Grocery Geek when... you get out of the store and just have to call someone and brag about your great deals!

Pinching Your Pennies is an AWESOME forum for doing just that! There isn't a ton of participation yet in the Nevada Forum so I thought I'd do a post to get awareness out there so we can all start using it!

Basically, you just register then can share info on extra deals you find as you are out shopping. The Grocery Smarts lists are great, but if you find something extra - this is where you can post it for everyone to see! Pass the word around - the more "eyes" we have on the deals the more we all wil benefit! See you there!!

FREE RICE

Yep, that's right, but you won't find it in any store.

I got an email from a friend of mine & I thought about all the free toothpaste I have to donate for hygiene kits (no, rice and toothpaste don't have much in common, but hear me out). I was thinking more on a humanitarian effort how fun would it be to send some freebies across the world.

All you do is go to this site FreeRice.com and answer some trivia questions. They do warn that this game may make you smarter, and my friend says it is quite addicting. For every question you get right, sponsoring organizations donate 10 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program. Questions come from all sorts of categories such as Vocabulary, Art, Chemistry, Geography, and Math.

So, if you ever find yourself sitting around on the computer with nothing else to do, take a few minutes and expand your vocabulary or science knowledge and help world hunger at the same time!!

New Fav Day

This is so dumb, but I can't wait for tomorrow... Wednesday has become my new favorite day of the week since the new lists come out!! OK - I think it's a close second to Sunday when I have to do a little dance when I pick my big bundle of papers off my doorstep - I get like Disneyland excited for that day.

But I find that I get WAY anxious to see what great deals are here for the week...

Yes, I am a Geek!!

FREE Fries and Drinks

Jack-in-the-Box has FREE small fry and small fountain drinks TODAY (March 10th) only.

Click here to print out a coupon.

FREE Caress Body Wash

Want some FREE body wash? Caress will send you a free bottle - just click HERE. You will be asked to fill out a registration form. If you are like me and don't like giving out email info, you can create a "junk" email account. I just fill that one in anytime I fill out something like this.

NOTE: I am not sure what size bottle they will send, but hey, free is free....

Grape Nuts for $1

Word on the street is that there is a Register Reward at Walgreens that isn't in the ad

• Post Cereal is on sale 2/$5 this week
• Purchase 4 Grape Nuts cereals for $10 total
• Use two $1/2 coupons from the 3/1SS
• Pay $8
• Get back a $4 Register Reward
• Final cost ONLY $1 per box!
  

**At this time it looks like Grape Nuts are the only variety of Post cereals working for this deal. If you find out some other ones are working, then please let us know.

Found this info on a fun blog I found check it out HERE

Huggies Deal!!

OK - So here's a little coupon senerio for Huggies diapers at Walgreens this week:

If you buy $25 in participating products, you will receive a $10 RR (Register Reward) for your next purchase. Well, it just so happens that Huggies is part of this promo and they are on sale! $10 for a jumbo pack. So, you buy 3 for $30, and get your $10RR. Not too bad (about 0.19 per diaper)... but remember from my class that you can add store promos and mfr coupons to maximize your savings?

You are in luck... Huggies coupons have been reset this week so you can print out a few coupons HERE. There is one for $5 off one Gentle Care product and another for $3 off one Natural Fit products. Don't forget that you can print 2 from your computer!!

Now you have an additional $10 off your purchase. Your $30 purchase is now $20 and you will still get your RR of $10. It's like getting 100 diapers for $10 or (0.10 per diaper)!!

Trick: When you go to Walgreens, make SURE that you are matching up the right "type" of diaper with the right coupon.

Manufacturer's Coupons (did I spell that right)

I had a little discovery tonight. I went to Albertson's to buy a fruit tray with a $10 voucher I had floating in my wallett. (Slap my wrist later - you should never leave the store with vouchers) Well, I went to pull it out to pay & I saw I had another one for $3.50, so I pulled it out too. Oops, that one was for Smiths - hey, I had all 4 kids with me, I really wasn't paying attention. BUT, the cashier took it and said, let's just see what happens.... TA DA!! That voucher was actually a manufacturer's coupon and could be used at ANY store!! So, next time you get those little ditties, check the top next to the expiration date and see whether or not that paticular voucher is really a mfr coupon!!

Vocab lesson: A voucher is printed from the register when you get your receipt. At most stores it is a seperate coupon, but at CVS it prints at the bottom of your regular receipt.

February Savings!!

So, it was another SUCCESSFUL month of savings!! This is a pic of some money, but it doesn't even come CLOSE to the amount I saved... Here's how it broke down:

Total Value of Purchases: $1,098.99

Store Incentives: $418.67

Coupons Redeemed: $208.31

Cash out of Pocket: $472.01

That is a savings of $626.98!! For those of you who may be interested, this represents about 10-11 hours of organizing and shopping throughout the month. Any number crunchers out there, that amounts to $57-$63 per hour. Not bad for a part-time "job" that I have to do anyway!

ok - other dumb tidbits of info (cause I am such a dork)

• I bought 360 different items, household products, groceries, diapers, etc... = $1.31 per item
• For my family of 6 I spent $78.67 per person for the month
• Or $19.67 per person for the week

WHOO HOO!!!

If you want to know more, or want to book a class & learn how you can do this too... email me at thegrocerygeek@cox.net I would LOVE to teach you a few easy tricks to saving you TONS of money!!

Double Insert Day!!

Good morning!! Did you see the P&G insert along WITH the SmartSource in your Sunday paper?!! I just love Double Insert Days.... (It's almost as good as my birthday)

Word on the street is that P&G is testing circulation through the papers, so if you like having multiple sets of P&G - go out and USE them!! Hopefully, they will continue this little treat!

Happy Sunday!!