Albertsons deals week of 6/25-7/1

The following are all part of the buy $25 in P & G Beauty Care Products and get a coupon for $5 off your next Sun Care Purchase:

Crest Renewal Whitestrips is on sale for $29.99
use the $5/1 coupon found in the 6/1 newspaper insert to get it for $24.99

Gillette Fusion Razor is on sale for $9.99
use the $4/1 coupon found in the 6-1 newspaper insert to get one for $5.99

Gillette Venus Razor is on sale for $9.99
use the $2/1 coupon found in the 6-1 newspaper insert

Old Spice Body Wash is on sale for $5.50
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 6-1 newspaper insert

Head & Shoulders Hair Care is on sale for $4.50
buy 2 and use the $4.50/2 coupon to get them at $2.25 each

Secret Flawless Anti Perspirant is on sale for $4.00
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 6-1 newspaper insert


Lots of Baby deals as well:

Gerber Pasta Pickups are 10/$10

Gerber 2nd Foods Baby Food 2pks are 10/$10

Pampers Cruisers or Baby Dry Big Pack Diapers are on sale $19.99
buy 2 of them and use the $2/2 coupon in the 6-1 newspaper insert to get them for $18.99 each

Pampers Cruisers or Swaddlers Mega Packs are on sale for $15.49
buy 2 of them and use the $2/2 coupon in the 6-1 newspaper insert to get them for $14.49 each

Pampers Kandoo Body Wash or Hand Soap is on sale for $2.50
buy 2 of them and use the $2/2 coupon in the 6-1 newspaper insert to get them for $1.50 each

Pampers Wipes, Swipers or Clean n Go Refills are on sale for $5.99
buy 2 of them and use the $2/2 coupon in the 6-1 newspaper insert to get them for $4.99 each

Johnsons Baby Care Products are discounted 25%
use the $1/1 printable coupon found here Thanks MSM!
or use the $1/1 coupon found in the 4-27 newspaper insert

Similac Infant Formula 24.7 oz powder is on sale for $23.99
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 5-11 newspaper insert

Similac Infant Formula 32 oz is on sale for $5.99
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 5-11 newspaper insert

Huggies Baby Wipes are on sale for $2.50
use the .50/1 coupon found in the 6-22 newspaper insert

Huggies Diapers 54-104 ct are on sale for $19.99
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 6-22 newspaper insert

Huggies Diapers Jumbo Back is on sale for $9.99
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 6-22 newspaper insert

Now here are the rest:

Shedds Country Crock Spread is on sale for $2.79
buy 2 and use the $1/2 coupon found in the 5-18 newspaper insert to get them for $2.29 each

Daisy Sour Cream 16 oz is on sale for $.99
use the .50/1 coupon to get it for .49

Foster Farms Split Chicken Breasts are BOGO

White Castle Burgers 6 ct are on sale for $3.00
use the .50/1 coupon found in the 5-4 newspaper insert

DiGiorno Pizzas are on sale for $3.75
use the $1/1 ultimate variety coupon found in the 5-18 newspaper insert

California Pizza Kitchen Pizzas are on sale for $3.75
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 6-1 newspaper insert

Dove Miniatures Ice Cream Bars are on sale for $3.00
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 5-4 newspaper insert

Albertsons Novelties (Ice Cream) is BOGO aprox $2 each

Whole Fruit Sorbet is on sale for $2.50
use the .75/1 coupon found in the 6-8 newspaper insert

Fruit a Freeze Ice Cream Bars are on sale for $2.50
use the 75/1 coupon found in the 6-8 newspaper insert

Edwards Pie Slice is on sale for $2.00
use the .75/1 coupon found in the 5-11 newspaper insert

Aquafresh Toothpaste is on sale for $2.00
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 5-4 newspaper insert

Aquafresh Direct Toothbrushes 2 ct are on sale for $2.00
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 5-4 newspaper insert

BullFrog Sunblock is on sale for $5.99
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 5-18 newspaper insert

Aveeno Sunblock is discounted 25%
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 5-18 newspaper insert

Ban Invisible Solid Antisperpirant/Deoderant is on sale for $2.79
use the .75/1 coupon found in the 4-20 newspaper insert

Garnier Nutioniste Skin Renew Facial Care is on sale for $11.99
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 4-20 newspaper insert

SunSilk Shampoo or Conditioner 12oz or Styling Aids are on sale for $2.99
use the $1.50/1 coupon found in the 5-18 newspaper insert

Maybelline Mascara is discounted 30%
use the $1/1 coupon to save even more!

Shick Quattro Razor is on sale for $8.99
use the $2/1 coupon found in the 6-8 newspaper insert

Tums are on sale for $3.50
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 5-18 newspaper insert

Sundown Vitamins or Supplements are BOGO
buy 2 and use the $2/2 coupon found in the 5-18 newspaper insert to get them for $4 each

Band Aid Adhesive Bandages are on sale for $2.50
use the .50/1 coupon found in the 4-27 newspaper insert

Purex Liquid Laundry Detergent is on sale for $7.99
use the .50/1 coupon found in the 5-18 newspaper insert

Barilla Pasta is on sale for $1.25
buy 2 and use the .50/2 coupon found in the 6-15 newspaper insert to get them for $1 each

General Mills Cereal Select Varieties are on sale for $2.50
buy 2 and use the $1/2 coupon found in the 6-8 newspaper insert to get them for $2 each

Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks $2.50
buy 2 and use the .50/2 coupon found in the 6-15 newspaper insert to get them for $2.25 each

Weber Seasonings are on sale for $2.50
use the .50/1 coupon found in the 5-18 newspaper insert

Hefty Foam Plates are on sale for $2.00
use the .50/1 coupon found in the 5-18 newspaper insert

Fresh Express Salad Blends are on sale for $2.50
use the .75/1 coupon found in the 6-1 newspaper insert

Kens Lite Accents Dressing Spritzer is on sale for $1.33
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 5-4 newspaper insert exp 6-30

Kens Salad Dressing is on sale for $1.33
buy 2 and use the $1/2 coupon found in the 5-4 newspaper insert exp 6-30

Kraft Salad Dressing is on sale for $2.00
use .75/2 coupon found in the 6-15 newspaper insert

Litehouse Organic Dressing is on sale for $3.00
buy 2 and use the $1/2 coupon found in the 6-1 newspaper insert to get them for $2.50 each

Frenchs Mustard is on sale for $1.00
use the .30/1 coupon found in the newspaper insert

Hersheys Bliss Chocolate Candy is 2/$6
use the BOGO coupon found in the 5-4 newspaper insert to get both for $3

M&Ms Dark Chocolate Candies are on sale for $2.00
buy 2 and use the $1.50/2 coupon in the 6-1 newspaper insert to get them for $1.25 each

Keebler Club Crackers are on sale for $2.99
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 6-1 newspaper insert

7Up or Sunkist Drinks 12 pks are on sale for $3.00 each.
normally I don't report non coupon deals, but when 12 pks are $3 or less it's worth it alone!

Boost Nutrional Energy Drink 6 pks are on sale for $6.99
buy 2 and use the $2/2 coupon found in the 6-1 newspaper insert to get them for $5.99 each

Buy 10 32 oz bottles of Powerade or Powerade Zero and get 1 Dasani 24 pk of water FREE
use coupon found in the weekly flyer

Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water 24 pk or 12 pk are on sale for $3.99
use the .75/1 coupon found in the 5-18 newspaper insert

Nestle Juicy Juice 100% Juice 8pk is on sale for $2.50
use the .75/1 coupon found in the 4-27 newspaper insert

Duracell Batteries AA or AAA 4 ct, C or D 2 ct and 9V 1 ct are on sale for $3.00
use the .75/1 coupon found in the 5-18 newspaper insert

Grocery Goodies for the week!

Ralphs:
over two trips due to the absence of pullups the first time.

• 2 Private Selection Ice creams @ $1 each
• 2 Ralphs Sliced Cheese (Swiss) @ $2 each
• 1 Ralphs Pretzeles (part of a Bartles and James Salty/Drinks coupon deal) @ .99
• Green Grapes @ .79/lb (2.85lbs)
• Value Bundled Bananas @ .29/lb (1.81 lbs)

Total Spent 1st Trip= $9.76
Total Saved = $12.23! (no coupons used)

Trip #2:

• 3 Jumbo Packages of Huggies Pullups @ 9.99 each. Used 2 shortcuts loadable $2/1 coupons, 1 $1.50/1 coupon from their potty training DVD (doubled to an additional $1), 1 $1/1 Huggies Diaper (doubled to an additional $1). I should have gotten another $2/1 shortcut coupon but it didn't go through for some reason.

Total Spent 2nd Trip = $23.64
Total Saved = $14.50! That's even better than the previous $7.99 sales at CVS!



Stater Bros:

• 2 24pks Pepsi and Diet Pepsi (not shown) @ 2/$11 used store $2/2 coupon made it 2/$9
• 5 Guerrero Tortillas 12 ct @ $1 each
  
• 2 Honey Bunches of Oats Family Size @ 2/$5 used store $1/2 coupon made it 2/$4
• 2 Cheetos and Fritos bags (1 ea) @ 2/$3 used store $1/2 coupon made it 2/$2
  

In their Buy 10 items get $5 off deal I bought:

• 2 Pillsbury Grand Biscuits @ 2/$4 used .30/2 printable coupon made it 2/$3.70
• 2 Betty Crocker Brownie Mix @ 2/$4 used 2 .40/2 printable coupons made it 2/$3.20
• 2 Yoplait Yo-Plus 2/$4 used 1 $1/1 coupon found in recent insert made it 2/$3
• 2 Honey Nut Cheerios @ 2/$4 used 2 .65/2 printable coupons made it 2/$2.70
• 2 Green Giant Corn Nibblets @ 1.99 each used .60/2 printable coupon made it 2/$3.38

Total Spent = $34.42
Total Saved = $40.91!



Albertsons:

• 4 Lean Cuisine @ $2 each used rain checks to get this price & 2 $1/2 printable coupons to get them all for $6!
• Nectarines @ 1.49/lb (2.67 lbs)
• Plum @ 1.49/lb (1.94 lbs)

Total Spent = $12.87
Total Saved = $10.61

CVS:

• Skippy Peanut Butter @ $3.29 (I was out)
  
• Hershey's Sweet & Salty @ $2 (used as filler for ECB)
  

Total = $5.29
Used a 5 ECB
Total Spent .= .29!

Pavilions:

• 3 Hot House English Cucumbers @ $1 each
  
• 3 1lb bag of peeled baby carrots @ $1 each
• 2 lb package of strawberries @ 3.99 each
  
• Safeway French Bread @ 1.89 each
• 1 Safeway brand Parmesan Cheese Canister @ 4.49

Total Spent = $16.37
Total Saved = $9.24

Total over all spent = $97.35
Total over all saved = $92.49!

Albertsons deals week of 6/18-6/24

Not the best deals this week but here are some that can be made better with coupons.


Peaches, Plums or Nectarines are $1.49/lb
no coupons but a good deal nonetheless

Dole Fruit Bowls 4 pks are on sale 5/$10 (buy 2)
use the .50/2 coupon found in the 5/18 newspaper insert

Johnson's Baby Care Products are on sale 25% off the regular price
use the $2/2 printable coupon found here or the $1/1 here
or you can use the $1/1 coupon found in the 4/27 newspaper insert

Huggies Little Swimmers are on sale $7.49
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 5/18 newspaper insert

Head and Shoulders Shampoo, Conditioner or 2 in 1 is on sale 2/$9
use the B1G1 coupon found in the 6/1 newspaper insert

Sunsilk Shampoo and Conditioner is on sale $2.99
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 5/18 newspaper insert

Gillette 2 in 1 Body Wash in on sale 2/$8 (buy 1)
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 6/1 newspaper insert

Curel Moisturizing Lotion is on sale $5.99
use the $1/1 found in the 4/20 newspaper insert

Frigo Cheese Heads String Cheese 24 oz are $6.99
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 5/11 newspaper insert

Dannon Danimals Drinkable Yogurt is on sale 3/$4.98 (buy 1)
use the .50/1 coupon found in the 5/4 newspaper insert

General Mills Cereals 5/$10 (buy 2)
use the $1/2 coupon found in the 6/8 newspaper insert

Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Cocktail is $1.99
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 5/11 newspaper insert

Tropicana Coastal Groves Lemonade are on sale 2/$5 (buy 1)
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 6/8 newspaper insert to get it for $1.50

Land O Frost Deli Shaved Lunchmeat are $2.99 (buy 2)
use the $1/2 coupon found in the 4/27 newspaper insert to get them for $2.49 each!

Oscar Mayer Beef Franks are 2/$4
use the $1/2 coupon found in the 6/15 newspaper insert to get them $1.50 each!

M&Ms Dark Chocolate Candies are $2/4
use the $1.50/2 coupon found in the 6-1 newspaper insert to get them $1.25 each

Dove Chocolate Candy 2/$6
use the B1G1 coupon found in the 5/11 newspaper insert
or the B1G1 printable coupon found here and here

Lysol Aerosol Disinfectant is $3.99
use the $2/1 coupon found in the 5/4 newspaper insert

Electrasol Dishwashing Detergent is on sale 2/$7 (buy 1)
use the .75/1 coupon found in the 6/1 newspaper insert

Snuggle Liquid Fabric Softener is on sale $2.99
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 5/18 newspaper insert

Wisk Liquid Laundry Detergent is on sale for $4.99
use the $1.50/1 coupon found in the 5/18 newspaper insert

Albertsons week of 6/11-6/17

Well compared to the last week's events, this week's deals seem rather bland, but I will try to highlight the ones that you can benefit with extra coupons.

My personal favorite this week is Disney Little Einstein Milk is on sale for 2/$6
if you have been holding on to your printable coupons $1/1 or $1/2 now is the time to use them, far as I can tell there is no limit!
I think there is also a paper coupon in a recent insert but I will have to flip through them and get back to you.

If you have ever considered going the Organic route, now is the time to start!

Wild Harvest Organic Microwave Popcorn is on sale for 2/$4
Wild Harvest Omega-3 Large Eggs are on sale for $3.79
Wild Harvest Organic Mini White Tortilla Rounds are on sale 3/$5
Wild Harvest Organic Applesauce Cups are on sale $2.59
Wild Harvest Organic Grape Juice is on sale for $4.49
Wild Harvest Organic Ketchup is on sale for $1.99
Wild Harvest Organic Lemonade is on sale 2/$6
Wild Harvest Organic Milk is on sale for 2/$6
Wild Harvest Organic Mustard is on sale for 2/$3
Wild Harvest Organic Peanut Butter is on sale for $4.29
Wild Harvest Organic Salad Dressing is on sale for 2/$5
Wild Harvest Organic Salsa is on sale for 2/$5

Every single one of the above has a $1/1 coupon found in the 5-11 newspaper insert!

Barilla Whole Grain Pasta is on sale for $1.25
use the .50 coupon found in the 5-4 newspaper insert

Lloyds Fully Cooked Pork Spare Ribs or Back Ribs are on sale for $9.99
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 5-18 newspaper insert

Cheez-It Crackers are on sale 2/$4
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 6-1 newspaper insert to get 1 for $1

Tropicana Pure Valencia Orange Juice or Pure Fruit Juice is on sale 2/$8
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 4-20 newspaper insert to get 1 for $3

DanActive Yogurt Drink 4-pks are on sale for $2.00
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 4-27 newspaper insert

Yoplait Fiber One 4 pks are on sale for $2.25
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 5-11 newspaper insert

Yoplait Yo-Plus 4 pks are on sale for $2.25
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 6-1 newspaper insert

Dove Hair Care is on sale for $3.50
use the $1.50/1 coupon found in the 6-8 newspaper insert

Right Guard Xtreme Deodorant is on sale for $3.79
use the .75/1 coupon found in the 5-18 newspaper insert

Excedrin is on sale for $4.99
use the $2/1 coupon found in the 5-4 newspaper insertk

Bic Soliel Razor is on sale for $5.79
use the $2/1 coupon found in 6-1 newspaper insert

Colgate Total Toothpaste is on sale for $2.00
use the $1.50/1 coupon found in the 6-1 newspaper insert

Hefty Trash Bags are on sale for $6.79
use the .75/1 coupon found in the 5-18 newspaper insert

Albertsons week of 6/4-6/10

Wow it seems like only last week Albertsons was having one of their famous 8 hour sales...oh wait it was last week. Oh well any chance to take advantage of insane prices is a good one. Seems like Albertsons is putting deals all over, on top of their 8 hour sale, they also have an additional flyer that came out with their usual one. So let's get to it.

First the 8 Hour Sale because that takes place tomorrow June 5th from 1pm to 9pm.

Fresh Extra Lean Ground Beef 85% Lean is $1.59 lb
Red Seedless Grapes are .69 lb
Farmer John Meat Wieners are .79 each (limit 4)
Coke, Diet Coke or Sprite 24-pk cans are 2/$9 (when you buy 2)
Budweiser or Miller Beer 30-pk cans are $15.88 each (limit 1)
Kellogg's Cereal & Snacks, General Mills Cereal, Kellogg's pop-tarts 2/$3 (limit 8)

• Corn Flakes
• Raisin Bran
• Fruit Snacks
• Yogos
• Trix
• Golden Grahams
• Cocoa Puffs

Albertsons Purified Drinking Water 24-pk 2/$5
Hormel - Honey Ham, Virginia Ham, Hard Salami, Genoa Salami or Grande Pepperoni $2.99 lb
Jennie-O - Oven Roasted Turkey Breast or Hickory Smoked Turkey Breast $2.99 lb
Chocolate Chip Cookies 18-ct $1.99
Twizzlers .99 each (limit 4)

Save $5 Instantly when you buy $25 or more of participating Kellogg's products in a single transaction.

Kellogg's Cereal in a Cup 10/$10 (final price .80 each after $5 savings)
Kellogg's Pop-Tarts, Go-Tarts, Special K Bars, Nutri-Grain Bars 2/$5 (final price $2 after $5 savings)
Kellogg's Cereal - Mini-Wheats, Special K, Eggo Syrup $2/5 (final price $2 after $5 savings)
Kellogg's Eggo Waffles 10-ct 2/5$ (final price $2 after $5 savings)

Theater Box Candy 10/$10
Equaline Rubbing Alcohol 10/$10
Equaline Toothbrush of Floss 10/$10
Assorted Theater Candy 10/$10
Hershey's Candy "Pack a Snack" 10/$10
Tropicana Punch 10/$10
Albertsons Whipped Topping 10/$10
Vita Snacks Dog Treats 10/$10
Gerber 2nd Stage Baby Food 10/$10
Gillette Foamy or Barbasol Ultra Shave Cream 10/$10
Johnson & Johnson Band-Aid Adhesive Bandages 10/$10
VitaminWater 10/$10
Honest Tea Organic Tea 10/$10
Max Velocity Energy Drink 10/$10

Band Aid Bandages $1.00
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 5-18 newspaper insert and it's FREE

Fresh Strawberries $1.99

Storck Werther's Candy 2/$5
use the .75/1 coupon found in the 5-11 newspaper insert Olay Skin Care Products 20% off
It's possible that the following coupons will be useful:
$1/1 Olay Quench Hand & Body Lotion or Mousse found in 5-11 newspaper insert
$1/1 Olay Facial Moisturizer or Facial Cleanser found in 5-11 newspaper insert
$1/1 Olay Facial Moisturizer or Facial Cleanser found in 6-1 newspaper insert
$1/2 Olay Body Wash found in 5-11 newspaper insert (this is a Target only coupon, but I could swear my Albertsons accepts competitors coupons so it's worth a shot).

Oral-B Cross Action Toothbrush 2/$6

Ajax Dish Liquid $1.00 each
use .20 coupon found in the 5-18 newspaper insert

All Liquid Detergent 64 Loads $7.99 each
use $1/2 coupon found in 4-20 newspaper insert

Aquafresh Extreme Clean ToothPaste $2.50
use the $1.50/1 coupon found in the 5-4 newspaper insert

Bertolli Complete Meals for Two $6.99
use the $1.25/1 coupon found in the 5-18 newspaper insert

Breyers Ice Cream is B1G1 at $6 buy 2

Chef Boyardee Canned Pasta $1.00 buy 3
use the .35/3 coupon found in the 5-18 newspaper insert

Crest Pro Health Rinse $4.00
use the .75/1 coupon found in the 6-1 newspaper insert

Crest Toothpaste $1.50
use the .75/1 coupon found in the 6-1 newspaper insert

Degree Men's Deodorant $3.50
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 5-18 newspaper insert

Gillette Fusion Razor $9.99
use the $4/1 coupon found in the 6-1 newspaper insert

Head & Shoulders Shampoo, Conditioner or 2 in 1 $2/9 (buy 2)
use the $4.50/2 coupon found in the 6-1 newspaper insert

Kraft Salad Dressing $1.66 each (buy 2)
use the .75/2 coupon found in the 5-11 newspaper insert

Juicy Juice 64 oz $2.50
use the .75/1 coupon found in the 4-27 newspaper insert

Nestle Nesquik Flavored Milk $1.25
use the .50/1 coupon found in the 4-27 newspaper insert

Pantene Pro-V Shampoo, Conditioner, 2 in 1 or Styling Products $3.50
use $1.50/1 coupon found in the 6-1 newspaper insert

SoyJoy Nutrition Bars $1.00 each (buy 3)
use the $1/3 coupon found in the 5-11 newspaper insert

Suave Shampoo or Conditioner $1.50 (buy 2)
use the $1/2 coupon found in the 5-18 newspaper insert

Suave Invisible Solid Deodorant Twin Pack $3.00 (buy 2)
us the $1/1 coupon found in the 5-18 newspaper insert

Tums Antacid Supplement $3.79
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 5-18 newspaper insert

Wild Harvest Organic Milk $3.00
use the $1/1 coupon found in the 5-11 newspaper insert

Windex Glass Cleaner $2.50
use the .40/1 coupon found in the 5-11 newspaper insert

Yoplait Go Gurt $2.50 (buy 2)
use the $1/2 coupon found in the 4-20 newspaper insert

My Coupon Organizing (System?)

As with most of my posts, this is not just a statement of what I am doing, but also an explanation of why I chose to do what I did...hope you enjoy!

After careful consideration, I have decided that I do have a coupon organizing system...of sorts. It's actually a work in progress. At the time I am writing this I only get and use my own coupons and only get one copy of the paper...a total noob I know! After browsing around the web last night I became fully aware for the first time just how badly I am going about this, compared to the rest of you "pros" out there. As has been the case, most of the time, I find a great idea and then I over complicate it an it ends up falling by the wayside. This being my third attempt to clip coupons I am determined to make it work this time! Here's what I have been doing...

First I clipped the entire 4/20 inserts collection (which is when my first paper came) and then I created an excel spreadsheet for 4 sheets, broken into categories

• Need it - staples, toiletries, soda, bread etc,
  
• Want it- treats, things I would only buy because I had coupons
  
• Extras - things I have little to no intention of buying but as I mentioned here no item is useless
• Other - Restaurants, entertainment...basically anything not grocery related.

On each of those sheets I have columns for:

• Product
  
• Category
• Subcategory (this is largely just what *I* call it)
  
• Coupon Amount
  
• Date of insert
• Expiration Date

and then I stopped. My 4-27 paper vanished before I could get it and two weeks went by while I waited for the agency to send me the missing coupons, the next set of coupons I clipped was the 5-4 set. I clipped them but became overwhelmed and was unable to transfer them onto my spreadsheet, after that I just kept the inserts labeled as I saw to do here but unless I was following something someone else found, they were pretty much useless to do my own research and deal making.

Then I started going printable happy, but keeping track of those was even harder, either keep 3 various ones on a sheet or cut them all up and make them smaller and (with 3 kids) easier to lose (which I have done a LOT). After forgetting, or *gasp* loosing, the printable coupon I needed when I went to use it, I came up with a system of sorts for them as well. There is nothing quite as heart breaking in the coupon world (or at least mine) as seeing a printable coupon link that I "have already printed the number of times allowed" and being unable to find it, and having to sift through pages and pages only to find I do not have it was not very effective.

So now I have taken the remaining pages of coupons and numbered them. If it was pages of the same coupon then they got a 1a, 1b etc and if it was a page of various coupons (for instance the target ones), I just put one number for that entire page. Then I put them all in an excel spread sheet with the following columns:

• Page number - in some cases there are varying types of the same coupon in which case it would be numbered 1-1, 1-2, 1-2, 1-3 depending on how many are on each page.
• Coupon Amount
• Product
  
• Expiration Date

I have realized that as insanely complicated as it is to put each and every coupon in a spread sheet, you can't beat the efficiency of finding coupons to match up to your grocery or drugstore deals. Even if you don't have a list posted by someone else already the "find" button is all it takes to see if you have a coupon that nobody has mentioned yet. Turns out I am not the only crazy person out there considering a list of every coupon...
Deal Mama Belle is already doing it!

They say you can't serve more than one master (in terms of following a given system), but I think that I can make something work by using parts of other's system and making one that's definitely mine.

So here's my plan...

• Stick to dating the front of the insert, but not clipping them.
• Start numbering each page of the insert and putting each page worth in a spread sheet with the columns I used in the coupons I already clipped.
• Store each insert in date order (newest to oldest) and keep them available
• Cut out only the coupons I need for a given trip and maybe some from the "Want it" category. Put those coupons in order for each store and place them in individual holders. Right now I am using sandwich baggies, but I hope to upgrade soon.
  
• I am also hoping to be able to track how much I have actually saved from week to week, and at least track my CVS purchases in depth.

Well that's it for now, I promise to put up pictures once I have access to a camera and a more defined system is in place. I realize that this doesn't allow for me to benefit from stumbling onto an unadvertised clearance section or unbelievable deal, so maybe I will print out my spreadsheets, put them in a sheet protector and bring a dry erase marker to note the deals that would benefit from a coupon I have. Or maybe since I am a one paper couponer currently, I can afford to put all the inserts in a folder to bring with me, with no less than 2 kids in tow at all times, I don't have the luxury of going back to the car for a coupon I need. Honestly, though, as the Queen of impulse purchases, coupon or no coupon, I don't think my budget will mind me not having the ability to buy something I wasn't planning on. Especially since I do all this in cash and budget down to the wire.

No one system works for everybody, this what I am creating for me. Want to see some others? Check out The "Cent"sible Sawyer

Which is Better?

Conservation or Preparation?

That's the question that plagues me this morning. With all the printable coupons I have acquired lately, my husband has commented on the abundance of ink being used by our printer. He has requested that I not print out a coupon until I am SURE I plan to use it. This creates a bit of a problem because, as you know, often the site with the link can go away or the offer will expire even before the coupon itself does. So what to do? I have been making note of the coupons I might want to use at some point and saving the ones that are in PDF form until I am going to print and use them that day. Seems like a good plan, right? Well it was until I found myself right near the Macy's I was planning to visit later in the week for the FREE Jocky's I found on Be Thrifty Like Us. Of course, since I hadn't planned to be there this morning, I hadn't printed out the coupon yet, and now I have to decide if it's worth the cost in gas to go back for the $9.50 free panty. Honestly, it probably is, since the mall is just a short way off of my normal route and I would definitely save more than I will spend in gas. That won't always be the case though, and going back to my organization emphasis from yesterday's post, apparently I need to make sure I have any random coupons (ones in places I don't normally go) all printed out and in my car just in case I find myself in that area before I have planned.

As I mentioned in my previous post (linked above), you should NEVER go someplace just for the FREE item, but after searching the Macy's website for something else I might need that was fairly cheap, I came to the realization that the extra cost just to prove to myself that the trip was a productive one, wasn't actually helping my cause and now tat I think about it, I'm sure that's part of the plan behind giving an item completely 100% free (though to be fair, as I haven't picked up the item yet, I may end up paying tax, only time will tell). Turns out as is the case with almost everything these days, there is no rule that fits all the time in every occasion. Perhaps my recommendation should be modified to say "Only go someplace just for the FREE item when the benefit of the item is worth the cost in time and gas and if you can confirm the item is there ahead of time." In the meantime, I'm going to print out the Macy's coupon and see if there is any other Specialty coupons I should have ready and waiting. As for the normal grocery printables, I am going to try to check over the notes I make while reading my blogs and decide which coupons I am actually going to use, not just which ones would be nice to have, that way I can use only the ink and paper that's necessary.

Lesson learned.