Dollar Doublers

Spoke with one of Martins' managers today. She said you can use up to 4 DD coupons per order, and you can do multiple orders, however it is frowned upon. They would rather you do one order per customer. So if it's you and your spouse at the market together, then two orders would be fine. The computer will let you do as many orders as you want, so it's your decision as the customer to do what you feel is right. I helped my mom with 4 transactions today, using 13 DDs total. She is buying for a 2 person, 3 pet household and frequently has the grandkids over. Personally I do not see a problem with multiple transactions as long as you are not hoarding the items (ie. buying 20 bottles of Heinz ketchup)

Tracked Today's Coupons Via Individual Newspapers

• First tip - Do NOT buy your papers at a grocery store. I've been doing this for months and only recently noticed they mark up the prices $1 for each paper! Buy from a gas station. The prices will not be marked up much, if at all. Wherever you buy from, you will pay sales tax, so the best place to buy is from a newspaper dispenser. You pay the lowest price and no sales tax. I've only seen Times News & Washington Post dispensers. If you've seen any others please let me know!

• Second tip - ALWAYS check the newspaper for coupons before you purchase them. There are no inserts on holidays, and one time the paper was missing all the coupons even though it stated "Save $500 in coupons" on the front page.

• Third tip - Do not buy the Sunday paper from our local area unless you're going to read it. Our local paper is always missing at least 1 coupon insert (apparently Smart Source) and when it does have coupons, they're never as good as the out of town papers. 

So today I bought 1 of each newspaper from a gas station, and I plan to buy more tonight from the dispensers.  Here's what I found:

Cumberland Times News - Priced @ $1.50, paid $1.50 + tax, had a very small Red Plum insert that did NOT have the Suave coupons for the Martins gas deal.  (Side note: Martins used to automatically double your $1 coupons during their doubler promotion but last time they didn't double unless you actually scanned the doubler coupon from their sale paper, so if you plan to use this promotion then buy a C.T.N. paper for 4 doubler coupons)

Baltimore Sun - Priced @ $2.25, paid $2.25 + tax, had a Red Plum and a Smart Source insert.

Washington Post - Priced @ $2, paid $2 + tax, had the same Red Plum and Smart Source as the Baltimore Sun, but $.25 cheaper.

Pittsburgh Post Gazette Sunday - Priced at $1.75, paid $2.25 + tax, only had the Smart Source insert.

The Washington Post is the best value for coupons this week. I'm going to keep track of these stats over the next few weeks to determine if this remains true.  Have a great week everyone =) 

Coupon Organization

Here's a great walk-through of organizing your coupons with & without clipping....

Stock Up On 5/22 Inserts!!

Assuming our regional Martins will have the $1 double coupon promotion I strongly advise everyone to stock up on newspapers because you will get an awesome deal on gas! According to the Martin 5/22 preview, Suave Hand & Body Lotions are on sale for $2.50 and Suave Body Wash is on sale for $1.89. These are included on the "Buy any 4 get 200 Points" list which you can redeem for a discount on gas (100 points = 10 cent discount per gallon).... Well, this Sunday's Red Plum insert will have coupons for these Suave products which are to include:

• $1/1 Suave Body Lotion
• $0.50/1 Suave Body Wash
• BOGO Suave Body Wash or Lotion (up to $3.00)

Assuming your transaction meets the requirements for the $1 double coupon, here is the breakdown:

Buy 2 Suave Body Washes = $1.89/ea

  - Use 1 $0.50/1 cpn which doubles to $1.00

  - Use 1 BOGO cpn

  - Final Cost = 2/$.89

Buy 2 Suave Lotions = $2.50/ea

  - Use 1 $1/1 cpn which doubles to $2.00

  - Use 1 BOGO cpn

  - Final Cost = 2/$.50

*** You just bought 4 items to earn 200 points and only paid $1.39!! ***

I will be double checking our specific store's ad and the Suave coupons when I get them on Sunday, and you should too, just in case prices or coupon values are different from other regions.

CVS has lots of great deals this week as well.  For example, we will be stocking up on Skippy Peanut Butter which is on sale 3/$5 and earn $3 ECB wyb $10, so that's 6/$7 !! I've never seen the sale price for Skippy go below $2/jar, so this is a great deal, but there is a limit of 1 ECB reward and there are other products you can purchase to earn the reward, but this is what I plan to do.

Also you can make money on Revlon nail polish! This week's sale price is $4.99, but you will earn $4 ECB so it's like paying $.99, and you can do this up to 6 times. HOWEVER if you have the $2 Revlon Color Cosmetic coupon from Smart Source 5/8 you will make $1.01 on each you buy! 

And one final highlight before I call it a night, earn $3 ECB wyb $10 of select Suave products.  On this list is Suave Invisible solid deodorant for $1/each. Again, RP 5/22 will have a coupon for $.50/1. Buy 10/$10, use 10 coupons for $.50/1, earn $3 ECB and you just bought Dove deodorant for $.20 a piece!!

Upcoming Deals for 5-22

Hey guys, sorry I haven't posted in 2 weeks. To make up for it, here are the upcoming deals for my favorite stores. Remember to browse the forums for more details and all the other stores.

Rite Aid     Martins     CVS

There are 2 big promotions running this week.  Martins will be doubling your $1.00 coupons and CVS will be giving out $10.00 gas cards!  Be sure to read your local ad's small print for the details, and as always please contact me with any questions.  Happy Shopping  =)

Upcoming Deals for 5-8

Smart source will be issuing $1.00 coupons on Carefree pantiliners. You will see deals in every store's weekly, but Walmart is the best deal. Walmart sells the smallest packs for $.94 or $.96 and your coupon overage will cover most or all of the tax. However if the pennies do not matter to you then every other store should have them on sale for $1.00.

CVS
* $7 ECB wyb $15 any Excedrin - LIMIT 2
   (It's almost 50% off with the extra bucks, but throw some coupons on top of that and you're getting a really great deal)

* Carefree bodyshape pantiliners 20-22 ct $.99
   $1.00 cpn coming in 5/8 inserts


* Covergirl Outlast Lipstain $6 - Get $3 ECB wyb $10
   $3 off $10 beauty purchase coming to CVS coupon kiosk 
   Use $2.50/2 CG products from 5/1 PG
   Final Cost = 2 CG lipstains for $3.25/ea & earn $3 ECB


* Gillette Disposable razors 2-12 ct BIG1 50% off
   $4.00/2 cpn in 5/1 PG for Mach3, CustomPlus3, and Sensor3 disposable Gillette razors


* Aussie or Herbal Essences 2/$5.97 - Get $2 ECB wyb 2 - LIMIT 1
   $.50/1 cpn in 5/1 PG
   Final cost = 2/$4.97 & get $2 ECB




Rite Aid

* $10 +UP WYB $20  LIMIT 1
      - Neutrogena, Aveeno, Clean&Clear or ROC Facial Skin Care BOGO 50%
      - Neutrogena Cosmetics BOGO 50%
        $3/1 Neutrogena Cosmetics All You Magazine May 2011
        $3/1 Neutrogena Healthy Skin Cosmetics All You Magazine Apr 2011

* Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic Suncare Products - $5+UP wyb $15 - LIMIT 2
   $1/1 Banana Boat All You Magazine May 2011
   $1/1 Hawaiian Tropic All You Magazine May 2011


* All Single Serve Nutritional Bars B1G1 50%
   BOGO cpn for Powerbar Triple Threat in 5/1 SS
   Final cost is 75% off retail price


* Viactiv vitamins $6 - Get $2+UP
   $1/1 printable
   $2/1 printable

Good Deals on Little Things

CVS

Select Colgate toothpastes $2.77 & earn $2.77 ECB (limit 2)

Used 2 coupons for $.75 off any Colgate toothpaste

In order to use my $5.00 ECB from a previous trip I had to add a filler item, which was the fruit snacks for $1.00. Final Cost $.04 + $.34 tax & earned $5.54 ECB

Rite Aid

This weeks ad featured a Nestle deal for $5.00 +UPs wyb $20.00 in Nestle products.

Candy bars were on sale 2/$1.00 and I had 17 coupons for $.50/2 Nestle bars.

Because my pre-coupon total was only $17.00 I added a case of Nestle water bottles (*not pictured*) for $3.49 bringing the promotion total to $20.49.

Also donated $1.00 to a children's charity & received store coupons in return.

Final Cost after $5.76 previous +UPs and coupons = $4.23 + $1.05 tax & earned $5.00 +UPs

 Walmart Trip 1

20 packs of Taco Bell taco seasoning $.58 each

Used 10 coupons for $1.00/2 = $.08 each

Noxema Bikini Razor $2.17

Used coupon for $2.00/1 = $.17

38 packs of Reach floss $.88 each

Used 19 coupons for $2.50/2 = profit $.74/2

Final Cost = $0.00 but received $10.15 cash back!!

 Walmart Trip 2

3 40 ct. Gain fabric softener sheets $1.87 each
Used 3 coupons for $1.00/1 = $.87 each
6 pks of 3 Ivory bar soap $.97 each
Used 6 coupons for $1.00/1 = profit of $.03 pre-tax
5 Bic Comfort Razors 4 pk $2.96 each
Used 5 coupons for $3.00/1 = $.04 profit pre-tax
3 travel size bottles of Frebreez with Gain $1.97 each
Used 3 coupons for $1.00/1 = $.97 each
5 travel size Degree deodorants $.97 each
Used 5 coupons for $1.00/1 = $.03 pre-tax profit
22 pks Reach Floss $.88 each
Used 11 coupons for $2.50/2 = profit of $.74/2 pre-tax
Final Cost $5.23