Some AWESOME deals this week...

It seems like we have been gone for most of the month of August.  Our cupboards and fridge have been screaming to be stocked... so... Thursday I sat down with my GrocerySmarts lists and box of coupons and off I went... Check out the deals this week that I took advantage of to stockpile this week!  Does it even count as a stockpile if it doesn't last more than a few weeks?

Transaction #1

These items earned Catalinas for their purchase.  And well, we always need more chocolate chips.  I used a $1/10 coupon from the SS-7/10, but there is also one in the BoxTops-8/7.  

Total paid $21.76

Earned $4.25 for my next purchase

Transaction #2 (Both pictures)

Picture on top shows items that were part of the Back to School Mega Event (Buy 10 items receive $5 off your total).  Picture on the bottom was other items on sale that I just 'needed'. 

Total Spent $94.62

Total SAVED $80.62

Not quite 50% but that's ok I guess since I got lots of staple-type products

Ok - Here was my first transaction.  Hunts was doing a Catalina promotion where I earned $1 for every 4 items that I purchased.  It seems there is no limit to this offer. You do not have to do multiple transactions to get this deal multiple times, but it will spit out several $1 Catalinas.  But who cares?  You are going to give them right back in a second anyway!!

Transaction #1

Total Spent $21.65

Total Saved $20.91

Earned $6 for next transaction

(note: the coupons in the RP-8/7 have a different bar code on them and would not scan. period. No "boops" or anything. Will have to be manually added. Hopefully you get a cashier who will do this for you)

Transaction #2

Total Spent $43.53

Total Saved $143.16 (That's what I'm talking about!)

I created my lists on Thursday and went to each store on different days as I had time.  For all you geeks out there... I purchased a total of 174 items for $181.56 or around $1.04 for EACH item!  Yeah!!  Tomorrow I will show you some tricks on how to make the most of your cupboards to fit all this fun stuff!!  I just love saving money!!

Grocerysmarts.com printable grocery planner.

Grocerysmarts.com printable grocery planner.

Sooooo glad that the Smith's promo is continuing this week!! Seeing as how I totally did not get to the store at all last week, my refrigerator is screaming to be filled. Happy Shopping everyone!!

Smiths Game Day Event

I was doing some shopping at Smiths Saturday night (did pretty great actually - see receipt below).  I did however see a ton of other items that were included in the promotion that were not on the Grocery Smart lists.  At our classes, we teach how the best way to get the most out of your coupons is by combining them with sales or store promotions.  This is one of those times you can end up saving lots!  With this promotion, you will receive $5 off your purchase instantly when you buy 10 participating items.  To the best of my knowledge, there is no limit to how many rewards you can receive, so you can do this all in one transaction - yeah!  This promotion means that you get an additional .50 off each item.  Add and coupon and VOILA!
So, if you haven't used all your coupons, or if you want to go snag a few more deals before Tuesday night, here is the complete list of items and coupons for this Smiths's promotion:

FROZEN FOODS

• Armour Meatballs
• Birds Eye Vegetables
• Boca
• C&W Vegetables
• DiGiorno Pizza
• California Pizza Kitchen Pizza
• Dreyer's Ice Cream
• El Monterey Bag Snacks - SS-1/30 and Load a coupon here This Link or Print 2 here Group B
• Foster Farm Corn Dogs
• Hot Pockets
• Hungryman Meals
• New York & Mamma Bella Breads - SS-12/5 & SS-11/14
• Ore-Ida Potatoes
• Reames Noodles
• Red Baron Pizza - SS-1/23
• TGIF Appetizers
• TGIF Skillet Meals
• Totinos Pizza Rolls - Load coupon This Link-01/11
• Wanchai Ferry Skillet Meals - GeneralMills-1/2 or print 2 here Group A
• Macaroni Grill Skillet Meals - GeneralMills-1/2

NATURE'S MARKET

• Balance Bar - Print 2 Group B
• Barbara's Cereal
• Envirokidz Bars
• Envirokidz Cereal
• Garden of Eatin' Tortilla Chips
• Honest Tea
• Horizon Organic Milk, 3 pack
• Izze
• Kettle Chips
• Nature's Path Hot Cereal
• Silk Pure Almond or Coconut Milk - SS-1/16 & SS-2/5

MEAT

• Bar-S Met Franks
• Claussen Pickles
• Oscar Mayer Deli Creations
• Oscar Mayer Deli Shaved Lunchmeats - SS-1/23 & Print 2 at Group A
• Oscar Mayer Fun Pack Lunchables
• Gorton's Shrimp
• Hebrew National Beef Franks
• Oscar Mayer Beef Franks
• SeaPak Shrimp - SS-1/30

DRUG/GM

• 3M products
• Advil
• Aim Toothpaste
• Airborne - JohnsonsSS-1/9 & Print 2 at Group B
• Aquafresh - LOrealRP-1/2 & Print 2 This Link
• Arm & Hammer Toothpaste - SS-12/5
• Axe Body Wash - Load coupon This Link
• Axe Deodorant - Load coupon This Link
• Axe Hair Stylers - Load coupon This Link
• Axe Shampoo/Conditioner - Load coupon This Link
• Band-Aid - JohnsonsSS-1/9
• Benefiber - SS-1/9
• Bengay - JohnsonsSS-1/9 & Print 2 at Group B
• Candle-ite
• Carefree/Stayfree - JohnsonsSS-1/9 and Print 2 at Group B
• Clorox & S.O.S. - MarieCallendersSS-1/2
• Colgate - SS-1/30 & SS-2/5
• Command
• Crest Toothpaste - PG-2/6, PG-1/16, and Load Coupons at This Link
• Desitin
• Dial
• Dove Body Wash
• Dove Hair Care
• Dove Men
• Dove/Degree Deodorant - Print 2 at This Link
• Duracell - Load Coupon at This Link-
• Excedrin - SS-12/5, SSs-1/9, and Print 2 at Group B
• Ex-Lax
• Fusion ProGlide Razor - PG-2/6
• Handi-Foil
• Loctite Glue
• Hershey - SS-1/30
• Johnson & Johnson Baby - JohnsonsSS-1/9
• Kandoo Wipes
• Kingsford
• Kiwi Shoe Care
• Listerine - JohnsonsSS-1/9, and Print 2 at Group B and This Link
• Luvs Diapers - Load coupon here This Link
• M&Ms Medium Bag - RP-1/16
• Mars Bonus Bags - Print 2 at Group A
• Mars Miniatures - Print 2 at Group A
• Matchlight
• Melitta Coffee Filters
• Mylanta
• Neosporin - JohnsonsSS-1/9
• O-Cel-O Sponges
• Oral-B - PG-1/16 and PG-2/6, and Load coupon here This Link
• Oral-B/Glide - PG-1/16 and PG-2/6, and Load coupon here This Link
• Pampers Diapers - PG-2/6, RP-1/30, and Load Coupon here This Link
• Pampers Wipes - PG-2/6, RP-1/30, and Load Coupon here This Link
• Pepto Bismol - PG-2/6
• Prevacid - SS-12/12 and SS-1/9
• Prilosec - PG-1/16, PG 2/6, and Load Coupon here This Link
• Reach Toothbrush - JohnsonsSS-1/9
• Scotch Tape
• Scotch-Brite sponges - SS-2/5
• Sensodyne - LOrealRP-1/2
• Gum Crayola Power Brush
• Thermacare
• Tums
• Willert Home
• Zantac - SS-1/16

GROCERY

• All Laundry Detergent - Print 2 at This Link
• Alpine Cider
• Beneful Prepared Meals - SS-1/16, SS-1/9, RP-1/30
• Brawny Paper Towels
• Busy Bone Dog Treats
• Cattlemen's BBQ Sauce
• Chex Mix/Bugles/Gardetto's - GeneralMills-1/2, Print 2 at This Link, and Load coupon here This Link
• Crystal Light on the Go - Earn a catalina. See bottom of this list for details this list
• Crystal Light Drink Mix - Earn a catalina. See bottom of this list for details this list
• Del Monte Canned Vegetables
• Del Monte Fruit Cups
• Dinty Moore Beef Stew
• Dixie Heavy Duty Tableware
• Finish Autodish Monodose - SS-1/9, NestleSS-1/2, SS-1/23 and Print 2 at This Link
• Finish Jet Dry - SS-1/9, NestleSS-1/2, SS-1/23 and Print 2 at This Link
• Frank's Red Hot/Wing Sauce - SS-12/12 and Print 2 at This Link
• French's Yellow Mustard - SS-1/23, Print 2 at This Link and This Link
• Gatorade - RP-1/9
• Ghirardelli Brownie Mix
• Heinz Ketchup
• Hormel Chili With beans
• Hunt's Tomatoes or Tomato Paste - SS-1/23
• Arrowhead Spring Water - Print 2 at Group A AND earn a catalina! See bottom of this list for details this list
• Jell-O Gelatin or Pudding - SS-1/9 and Print 2 at Group A
• Keebler Fudge Shoppe Cookies
• Sunshine Krispy Saltines
• Kellogg's Cereal - RP-2/6, RP-1/9, RP-1/16, RP-2/6, and Print 2 at This Link
• Ken's Salad Dressing
• Kleenex Facial Tissue - MarieCallendersSS-1/2 - Plus earn a catalina! See bottom of this list for details this list
• Kraft Easy Mac Cups
• Kraft Mac& Cheese Shapes
• Kraft Mayo & Miracle Whip - SS-1/23
• Kraft Velveeta Cups
• Kraft Velveeta Shells & Cheese or Deluxe Mac & Cheese - SS-1/16
• Krusteaz Cookie Mix - SS-12/5
• Krusteaz Corn Muffin Mix
• Krusteaz Pancake Mix
• Krusteaz Bar and Muffin Mixes
• Langers Juices
• Lipton Tea, 12 pack
• Lipton Tea, 6 pack
• Yuban Coffee
• Monster Energy Drinks
• Nabisco Oreo Cookies
• Nabisco Ritz Crackers - SS-1/30
• Nabisco Snack Crackers - SS-1/30
• Orville Redenbacher Microwave Popcorn
• Pace Picante/Salsa - RP-1/30
• Palmolive Dish Detergent - SS-1/30
• Pepperidge Farm Naturals Crackers - Print 2 at This Link & This Link
• Pepperidge Farm Deli Flats
• Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Crackers
• Pepsi 2 liter
• Planters Mixed Nut and Cahsews
• Planters Roasted Peanuts
• Progresso Soup, Light, Reduced sodium or High Fiber - GeneralMills-1/2 and Print 2 at This Link
• Propel Water
• Purina Beggin Strips - SS-12/12, SS-1/23
• Purina One Dry Cat Food - SS-2/5, RP-1/30
• Quaker Chewy Granola Bars
• Quaker Quakes
• Reynolds Aluminum Foil - SS-1/30
• Ro-Tel
• Sara Lee Bread
• Snuggle Fabric Softener
• Snuggle Sheets
• SoBe LifeWater & Juice
• Solo Grips Cups & Plates
• Starbucks Bag Coffee
• Sunshine Cheez-It
• Tidy Cats Conventional Litter
• Tidy Cats Scoop Litter
• Uncle Ben's Whole Grain, Long Grain & Wild Ready Rice
• Whiskas Dry Cat Food - RP-1/16
• Whisker Lickins Cat Treats

DAIRY

• I can't Believe It's Not Butter Spreads
• Kozy Shack Pudding
• Kraft American Singles - SS-1/16
• Kraft Deli Fresh Natural Slices - SS-1/16
• Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough - Print 2 at This Link
• Philadelphia Cream Cheese
• Tropicana Orange Juice
• Velveeta Loaf

{Holy Smokes!}.  The reference next to the item is where you can find a coupon for these items.  Remember that when you combine a store sale/promotion WITH your coupons, you will save BIG!  Have fun & let me know how you do... I wanna see pictures people!  Email them to me at thegrocerygeeks@gmail.com and I will add them to our Grocery Gallery! Remember, your goal is to SAVE more money than you SPEND {check out my receipt here} and HAPPY shopping!!!

Peppery Pork Roast

I thought I would post one of my favorite recipes since pork loin is on sale at Smiths this week. Enjoy!

Pepper Pork Roast
2 med. onions sliced
2 T canola oil
4 lbs pork loin (I've used both pork loin and pork roast)
salt and pepper
3 cloves
2 sticks of cinnamon
1 bay leaf
1 (12 oz) can Dr. Pepper
1.5 cups dried apricot halves
1.5 cups pitted prunes

• Slice onions and place in slow cooker
• Heat oil in skillet over med-high heat
• Season pork with salt and pepper, then brown all sides in skillet
• Place browned pork on top of onions in slow cooker
• Add cloves, cinnamon stick and bay leaf to cooker
• Pour Dr. Pepper over pork and top with dried fruit
• Cover and cook 3-4 hours on high or 8-9 hours on low
• Ensure pork is 160 degrees
• Remove pork from cooker after it's done
• Use a slotted spoon to remove onion, fruit and spices
• Discard whole spices
• Skim any grease from sauce
• Slice pork (it falls apart!) and serve with onions, fruit and sauce!

I also like to serve the pork over brown rice or mashed potatoes

High Value CPK coupon!

I know it's the last day of the Smith's Kick Off to savings promo, however, I came across this high value coupon for CPK pizzas that are part of the promo! Will make large CPK pizzas $1.99 after the promo! WOO HOO!

Just click HERE and share the video with someone. I emailed it to my DH and was able to print the coupon twice right away. Super easy!

Thanks KrazyCouponLady!

Target Clearance

I LOVE getting reports of your great finds and savings!!  This one came from KaLee - she scored a bunch of stuff at Target on clearance... Guess where I'm going tomorrow!!  Happy Saturday everyone! 

I just went to target today and they had school supplies and garden 
supplies on clearance. My original bill would have been $234.68, if I 
bought everything not on clearance. But since I did, I spent only…. 
$54.08!!! That’s a difference of $180.60!! WooHoooo!!!!! 
 
This is what I got: 
SCHOOL SUPPLIES 
6-2” binders 
11-1 ½” binders   
2-10pk folders 
2-magnetic curtains 
11-lunch bag ice packs 
1-Dry erase poster 
1-drawing pad 
29-150 sheet lined paper 
 
GARDENING 
2-hose nozzle 
1-kneeling pad 
2-trowels 
1-planter box 
1-planter bag with tools 
1-outdoor rug 
1-pop-up bag 
3-5pk lawn and leaf bags 
 
 
Thanks, 
KaLee 

Back to School Savings

My son's speech therapist is one of my blog followers {Hi Ellen}, and we were talking about some of the great deals that have been popping up on school supplies.  I promised her a compiled list of deals around town so here ya go!  Only 13 more days till school starts - YEAH!

OfficeMax
Composition Books, 100 sheet - .50 [limit 3]
Schoolio washable markers, 8 pack - .25 [limit 3]
Schoolio 2 pocket folders - .01 [limit 6]
6" plastic protractor - .05 [limit 3]
Schoolio crayons, 24 pack - .05 [limit 3]
Paper Mate #2 pencils, 10 pack - .15 [limit 3]
Crayola Crayons, 24 pack - .20 [limit 3]
All Crayola art supplies - B2G1 FREE
Hammermill copy paper, 500 sheets - $3
Prang fine line markers, 8 pack - $1
Lots more items part of the Buy 2 Get 1 Free promo

Office Depot
Wood pencils, 12 pack - .25 [limit 3]
Scholastic School glue - .25 [limit 5]
Office Depot 2 pocket folders - .25 [limit 5]
Scholastic crayons, 24 pack - .25 [limit 3]
Paper Mate Ballpoint pens. 36 count - $1 [limit2]
Office Depot copy paper, 500 sheets - $1 [limit 2]
Office Depot composition books - $1 [limit 2]

Staples
Staples 1 subject notebook - .01 [limit 6]
Hammermill copy paper - .01 [limit 2]
Scissors, 2 pack - $1 [limit 2]
Sharpie, 5 pack - $1 [limit 2]
Pentel ballpoint pens, 5 pack - $1 [limit 2]
Quartet dry erase markers, 5 pack - $1 [limit 2]
Staples slim-line pencil sharpener - FREE after easy rebate
TONS more items really cheap & don't forget the 20% off supplies coupon in ad

Target
Avery 1" Binder - $2.00
RoseArt washable watercolor paint set - .50
RoseArt washable glue sticks, 2 ct - .20
Paper Mate mechanical pencils, 3 count - $5
Five Star poly portfolio - .50
Mead 1 subject notebook - $1.50

WalmartComposition Books - .25
2-pocket poly folder - .75
Expo dry erase, 2 pack - $1.50
Bic highlighters, 5 pack - $1.50
Bic mechanical pencils, 10 pack - $1.50
Copy Paper, 500 sheets - $2.50
Avery 1" Binder - $2.50

CVS Deals
Five Star Notebooks or Binders - Buy $15 worth and receive $5 ECB
Paper Mate pens - .50
Caliber 1 subject notebook - .50
Crayola Products - Buy $15 worth and receive $5 ECB
Caliber School supplies (pencil sharpener, eraser, ruler, pencils, etc) - B1G1 FREE
3-ring binder - B1G1 FREE
Caliber school glue - .49
Expo or Quartet dry erase set - $4.99
Sharpie, 8 count - $3.99
Paper Mate mechanical pencils - $1
Pilot pens, 2 count - $1

Walgreens
School supplies, B1G1 FREE
Coupon in the ad = .50 off each item up to $10 in savings

OK - I would be here all night if I typed up EVERY item, these are the ones in each ad that jumped out at me.  For those of you who may not have school-aged kids, what a great time to stock up and donate to your nearest school.  I know plenty of kids and teachers who would gladly appreciate the help this year!!  Click on each store's link to see the full add.... Happy Learning!!!

Surprise Catalina Deal

Thanks to Heather, one of my readers, I was able to take advantage of the awesome Catalina deal at Albertson's this week!  If you have checkout out the Albertson's list for this week, you will notice that Betty Crocker fruit snacks are part of a General Mills promotion.  If you buy 4 boxes, you will receive $3 off instantly at checkout.  Then use your coupons found in SEVERAL locations: GeneralMills-1/3, GroupA printables, GroupB printables, BettyCrocker.com, and General Mills printables.

(Don't forget to print all the printables twice from your computer)

Here's the BEST part!  If you buy 5 boxes of snacks in a single transaction, you will ALSO receive a catalina for $3.50 off your next shopping trip!!!  So, let's say I bought 15 boxes of fruit snacks in 3 different transactions, used a bunch of coupons, and got all my catalinas, here's how the price breaks down:

15 Boxes of Fruit Snacks = $30

General Mills Promos earned instantly = $9

Coupons = $5.70

3 GM Catalinas earned = $10.50

Total = $4.80!! or .32 per box!!!!

Another note, these transactions will "roll" where you can use one catalina on your follow-up transaction, and still earn another catalina = "rolling".  (*sing along: rolling, ba ba, rolling, ba ba, rolling down the river*)

Rolling Transactions!!

Can it be??  Albertson's is having another General Mills promo this week (it seems like this just happened a few weeks ago)!!  These are my favorite types of promos to practice my "rolling" transactions.  So, here's a little tutorial on how "rolling" transactions work:

*****	* General Mills Promo: Save $5 on your NEXT shopping order when you spend $15 or more on participating General Mills products.*		Sale prices shown BEFORE/AFTER factoring in $5 coupon. Essentially a 33% discount. Use the first price to add up to $15.
****	Betty Crocker Cookie Pouches, 17.5 oz.	1.69/1.13	Betty Crocker Cookie Mix, any flavor 17.5 oz or larger, .40/1 DND DNT GroupA AND GroupB Print each twice	$0.73
****	Betty Crocker Cookie Pouches, 17.5 oz.	1.69/1.13	Betty Crocker Cookie Mix, any 17.5oz or larger .40/1 (1/9/10) GeneralMills-11/15	$0.73

I will buy 9 cookie pouches for my first transaction (9 x $1.69 = $15.21).  I have 9 coupons because I printed 2 each from Group A and Group B and then I have my 5 General Mills inserts from 11/15.  So, my total to pay on this transaction will be $11.61 and I will get a $5 reward for my next purchase. 

This next purchase will happen as soon as I slap that little plastic stick down on the belt. 

*****	Betty Crocker Specialty Potatoes, 4.6-6.6 oz.	1.00/.67	Betty Crocker Potatoes, any flavor box or pouch, excluding Potato Buds, .40/1 DND DNT GroupA AND GroupB Print each twice	$0.27
*****	Betty Crocker Specialty Potatoes, 4.6-6.6 oz.	1.00/.67	Betty Crocker Potatoes, any box or pouch (excludes Potatoes Buds) .35/1 (1/9/10) GeneralMills-11/15	$0.32
****	Gold Medal Flour, 4.25- 5 lb. bag	1.69/1.13		$1.13
*****	Green Giant Vegetables in Sauce, 7-10 oz. Box frozen	1.00/0.67	Green Giant Frozen Boxed Vegetables, any two (2), .50/2 DND DNT (12-31-2009) GroupA-12/1 and GroupB-12/1 Print each twice	$0.42 ea

I will buy 9 Specialty Potato boxes (9 x $1=$9), 2 bags of flour (2 x $1.69 = $3.38), and 4 boxes of GG Frozen Vegatables (4 x $1 = $4).  That puts my total at $16.38.  I will use my coupons for a savings of $4.35 AND my $5 coupon from the previous transaction.  So, my total out of pocket for this transaction will be... $7.03 AND I will earn another $5 coupon for my NEXT transaction!! 

It is so important that before you go to the store, you know what items will be in each transaction and how many of each item you need to reach your $15 requirement.  This will make things go so smooth when you are ready to check out.  I even go as far as printing out separate transactions and keeping my shopping cart organized by those transactions.  Yes, I am a GEEK! 

(Note: your last transaction should be the meats and produce you plan to buy for the week, or things NOT included in this promotion. Use that last $5 to pay for these items and save even more on your everyday items)

Pretty simple right!!  I can't wait to hear how much you saved this week rolling transactions!!  Leave a comment or email me a picture and I will add you to my Grocery Gallery!  Have fun and Happy Saving!

Old Navy $1 Flip Flop Sale!!

Saturday (tomorrow 5/23/09) only, Old Navy is having their annual $1 flip flop sale!! Get in line and get there early to take advantage and stock up for your family. I hear they only allow 5 per customer so you may want to make a few trips.

Here is a list of local store locations - have fun!

POST Cereal Deal

I just received this from a fellow couponer and thought I would pass this along... I also posted it on Pinching Your Pennies... This is exactly the kind of things that make that site so great! Thanks Tonya!!

Hey Jen,I'm sure you already know about the POST cereal deal at Albertsons, but I thought your readers might be interested in knowing that you get a $5.00 Catalina [this is like a cash voucher you use on your next transaction] when you buy 5 boxes of Post Cereal, the great news is that this Catalina rolls. I also found out after my first trip to Albertsons today that the ad says the price is $1.57 when you buy two, BUT I noticed on my receipt that I was charged $1.57/box and then I got an additional $1.00/2 boxes off which comes out to $1.07/box + the $5.00 catalina on 5!

There are $2.00 off 1 box of Trail Mix Crunch on the Post web page [click HERE for coupon - don't forget to print it twice]. My cashier scanned them, no problem so I actually made money on the Trail Mix Crunch. In the ad it only lists a few cereals but It seemed like all the post cereals had tags in front of them. ANYWAY, sorry this is so long, but I hope a lot of people can take advantage of this great cereal deal! Thanks again for all the tips and the newspaper deal the other day.

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