Life without TV...

So, we have officially terminated our cable service.

You may remember me telling you we had "suspended" our service for 6 months. That was back before Christmas. So our 6 months was up a couple weeks ago. We were supposed to get a letter in the mail before it was turned back on so we would know. But we didn't get the letter. It was on for a few days before I knew it was on. I just happened to notice our DVR record light on. I was like, "Why is the DVR recording something?" So I flipped it on and there was cable! Haha.

So I called DirecTV and explained that we hadn't gotten the letter and that we did NOT want our service back on. They were nice about it and aren't going to charge us for the FOUR days it was on and I didn't know it!

So obviously, if we had cable and didn't even know it, the certainly we must not have missed it over the last 6 months!

Have we completely avoided our favorite TV shows, weather, news and more for 6 months? Absolutely not! I still saw every episode of Grey's Anatomy this season and Bug has had his fill of Thomas and Friends. We just do it without paying $80+ a month for it!

Read my post here about how we survive without cable!

My SUPER Walgreens trip and other spending this week

I had a GREAT shopping week this week!

Here is my Walgreen's trip:

2 Always
Colgate
Sandwich bags
Mickey Mouse toy (for Bug's Easter basket)
2 packs Easter Stickers

Shelf Cost: $16.75
I paid: $6.25 ($1.36 was tax)
and I got $7 in RR back! 
for a grand total of a 75c profit!

On my CVS trip I got $61.13 worth of stuff for $26.06.  I got $23.99 in ECBs back!  So it was like getting it all (toilet paper, diapers, contact solution, shampoo, hairspray and 2 mouth washes) for $2.07!!


My Winn-Dixie trip was pretty good too.  I got $110.98 for $52.15!!  That's a 57% savings!!

Did you get any great deals this week?

March Savings Recap!

Ok, so I'm $45 over my $350 budget for March.  :(

But I still didn't do too bad!  :)

Total Shelf Cost:  $780.83
Sales:  232.77
Coupons:  $198.62 
Total Savings: $431.39
Price Paid:  $395.00  (55%!!)


Here's what the year looks like so far:

Total Shelf Cost:  $2,189.84
Sales: $660.74
Coupons:  $585.05
Rebates: $37.48 
Total Savings: $1,283.27
Price Paid:  $1,031.98  (59%!!)

That's savings you can't argue with!  :)

Bargain Brag and Savings Tracker for February Update!

Last week was a BORING week for drug store deals.  I went to CVS because I HAD to spend ECBs.  Here's what I got:

4 boxes of Pop-Tarts and eos lip balm for $1.97!

That's a 90% savings off the shelf price of $11.95!

Plus I got $2.99 back in ECBs!


So just exactly how have I done with my $300 grocery goal for February?  Well, I am proud to announce that this month is the closest I've gotten to reaching my $300 goal!!!!

End of the Month Savings Tracker Update for January 2011

Okay, so I'm totally in love with my savings tracker!  It makes saving money even more fun!

I have to confess, even though I was already a little over-budget for the month, I went to Walgreens last week - there were some deals I couldn't pass on.   BOGO Hanes, diapers, men's shave gel, cheap Stayfree, etc.   I spent $26.55, I saved $37.53 and earned $5 RR.  The savings rate was 62% which really helped my average for the month!

Here's how January breaks down:


Total Shelf Cost:               $760.63


Total Coupon Savings:       $206.65


Total Discounts:                $238.83


Total Savings:                   $470.96

Amount Paid:                    $359.72

Rebates earned this month:  $25.48

Amount spent after rebates:   $334.24  <------ only $34.24 over budget!

Savings Rate: 61.92%!

The 20 Most Frugal Cities in America - Did you make the list?

Here is an interesting article on the 20 most frugal cities in America.  The list was compiled based on which zip codes were most used on Coupons.com.   (Which really, is a incomplete picture of "frugal" and slightly skewed, because who of us has not input a different zip code to get coupons that don't show up under our own?)

Regardless, the findings showed that Atlanta was the most frugal city but Ohio is the most frugal state because 3 of the cities in the top 20 are in Ohio (North Carolina was the only other state to have more than one - it had two.)  Seattle was the only city from the West Coast to make the list.The most frugal region?  The South!

Here are the top 20 cities.  Did your city make the list?  I'd love to hear from you!

1. Atlanta
2. Tampa
3. Cincinnati
4. St. Louis
5. Minneapolis
6. Charlotte
7. Nashville
8. Cleveland
9. Pittsburgh
10. Raleigh
11. Kansas City
12. Washington, D.C.
13. Miami
14. Dallas
15. Oklahoma City
16. Boston
17. Denver
18. Seattle
19. Columbus, Ohio
20. Wichita, Kansas

Savings Tracker Update and Purchases for the week

Here's a recap of what I've spent this week:

Last Saturday at CVS (I won't go into what I got):
I bought $43.30 of stuff for $15.70 - a 69.5% savings!
And I got $13.48 in ECBs back!

I went to double coupon Monday at Food Giant just to get a few items.  They were out of the Jif peanut butter that was on sale (it was a good sale!) so I only got one item that I had a coupon on (the muffin mixes).  The lettuce was on sale, the other items were just must haves. 

I spent $6.76


I went to Walgreens this week too.  I got 2 dozen eggs (had a rain check from last week when they were 99c), half gallon of milk, a candy bar, deodorant, and a Gillette razor (99c this week!)

It was $24.53 worth of stuff for $4.50 and I got $5RR back!

I entered all this into my savings tracker.   I have a $300 grocery budget each month.  I've spent $259.98 this month which leaves me $40.02 in my $300 budget.  I've received $16.49 in rebates this month - I always add my rebate money back into my grocery budget.  So I have an extra $16.49 to spend this month.  With 10 days left in the month, I have $56.51 left!

Savings Tracker

I just downloaded an incredible Savings Tracker spreadsheet that's going to help me keep up with my grocery spending and savings in 2011!

I found it at The Coupon Project and she generously allows anyone who wishes to download it.

You can get a version to use in Microsoft Excel or Google Docs.  Using the spreadsheet takes a basic knowledge of how to use Excel.  You don't have to do any programming, but you need to know how to enter values and navigate it.   It keeps up with your spending versus retail price month-by-month (which is something I've wanted to do but am not organized enough to do on my own!)

I can't wait to start using it!  It's going to help me be able to share my goals and achievements with YOU! 

I hope you'll download it and use it too!

Winn-Dixie Bargain Brag - groceries at 74% savings!

I meant to post this when I got home from Winn-Dixie yesterday, but I got busy and forgot!  I had a GREAT Christmas Eve trip to Winn-Dixie for a few items.

Before sales and coupons all this would have cost $89.33.

Sale prices saved me $21.68.

COUPONS saved me $32.32!!!

That's a total of $65.74 saved!!

Want to know how much I paid for everything in the picture?  (Including milk, diapers, wipes, 3 boxes of cereal, bag of fresh cut veggies, 8 cans soup, crackers, bacon and 13 other items?)


Only $20.71!!!

Saturday's Saving Tips - How I saved on Christmas gifts!

I am so proud because this is the FIRST Christmas in 4 years where I did not have to CHARGE gifts!  I am so proud of myself!

How did I do it?

• I shopped all year round.  In fact, Bug's two big "Santa" gifts were bought last year right after Christmas on clearance for less than $20 for both!  (A tot sized drum set and a sit n' spin toy).  They've been in the garage for almost a year just waiting for this day!  I really started Christmas shopping in late August/early September.  I just watched and waited for deals to come around on good things I could give for gifts - especially for my 4 nieces.  This made it easier to spread the expenses out.  I could afford $10 here one month and $20 there the next month easier than I could afford to drop $100 in December.
• I used Amazon gift cards earned through Swagbucks.  You can read more about what I got and how here and here.  You can read more about Swagbucks and how you can earn FREE gift cards here.
• I took advantage of FREE photo gifts!  I gave photo mugs, photo flip books, and photo key chains as gifts.  All items were purchased at different times over the year when the right FREE promotion cam along.  Sites like Vistaprint, Snapfish, Photoworks and See Here are good for these things!
• I gifted from my stockpile!  Read ideas on how to do that here.  I made several gift baskets this Christmas.  I made one with coffee that I had gotten for FREE and a photo mug.  I made one with razors, shaving cream and cologne I got for FREE.  I added some candy to that one and it made a great gift for Hubs' step-father.  FREE candles and lotions made some nice gift bags too!

I'd like to hear how YOU saved this Christmas!  Share your tips and ideas below!  And after you enjoy your holiday, hit the stores and start shopping for next Christmas!!!

Guess what I paid for an 11 pound turkey?

If you read the blog you know I loooooooooooove Winn Dixie!


Here's how I got an 11 pound turkey for $2!!!

Butterball Turkeys are on sale for 99c/lb.  I used the $4 off Butterball Turkey wyb 4 participating products coupon from the November All You (also in 11/07 SS).  I will submit for a $5 NBPR rebate on the turkey. 

My turkey was 11.105 lbs and rang up $11 exactly.
-$4 coupon = $7 paid.
$5 rebate = $2 total paid for turkey!

Now you may be wondering, since I had to purchase participating products to use the $4 off turkey coupon, was it really a good deal?  Well, one of the participating products I could buy were Pillsbury Crescent Rolls. I buy Pillsbury Crescent rolls every time they are on sale.  We could easily go through 3-4 packs a week.  They just happen to be on sale this week 3/$5.  There is a catalina deal on them all December.  I actually bought 6 because of the catalina deal.  I had (2) 50c/2 off coupons and one 40c/2 coupon - they all doubled.  So I paid $7.20 for 6 packs and got a coupon for $3 off my next purchase.  So it was like paying $4.20 for 6 packs of crescent rolls and I got to use my coupon for the turkey! 

So if you look at just that portion of my purchase, I got a turkey and 6 packs of crescent rolls for $14.20 OOP.  After rebates and the catalina it was like paying $6.20 for it all!

See all of this week's Winn-Dixie Deals.

See the Savings - Reader Feedback

I love hearing from my readers!  It's so great to know that what I'm doing is helping you!

I've had several comments from readers on my Facebook page and I just wanted to share them with you!




From Reader Tesla:

I used to think 30 bucks wasn't a lot of money... Made a quick trip to WD to get some meats and small stuff for the week. Spent 64.12, used my WD customer reward's card and two 1.00 coupons, and SAVED 33.13. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how much $30 really is. Now, with the remaining $30, we can pay... the water bill. Proud of my second WD trip.

From Reader Amber:

I went to Winn Dixie today and saved $112.65!! And that was using NO coupons b/c none of the ones I have applied. Oh, and I got a $3.00 off my next purchase register coupon! Thanks!

Thanks for sharing ladies!  :)))

Are you following the Contact Us program??

Have you been following along as we contact companies?  We are receiving coupons for doing this!  I would like to point out how this is profitable by using an example from this week's Winn Dixie ad:

Del Monte canned tomatoes or fruit is on sale Buy One Get One Free at $2.50.


That means you can get 2 cans for $2.50.


A couple weeks ago, I contacted Del Monte.  They sent me three coupons for 50c off any Del Monte products.


If I take two of these coupons to Winn Dixie this week I can get 2 cans of tomatoes or fruit for only 50c!  (Winn-Dixie doubles manufacturer coupons up to 50c - making each coupon worth $1!)  2 cans @ $2.50 - (2) $1 off coupons = 50c!!


Wanna know what's even better?  Del Monte canned vegetables are 10/$10 ($1 each).  Since my coupons are worth $1 when doubled that means I can get FREE cans of vegetables!


Can you see the savings???


You can catch up on the Contact Us posts here.

See the Savings

Are you new to couponing?  Are you a couponer who didn't realize how much you could really save with coupons?  Are you skeptical?  Do you not believe you can really save hundreds off your grocery bill by couponing?

Take a look at some of my favorite store experiences to see how much you CAN save!

• FREE at Winn Dixie
  Diapers, Wipes, Cereal and 2 family size frozen entrees completely FREE
• Dinner for 4 for $3
• $13 profit at CVS
  earned more back in Extra Care Bucks than I actually spent out-of-pocket
• $22 worth of groceries for $7 at Target
  That's a savings of 66%
• Steak Dinner for 2 for $2!
• $116 worth of groceries for $40 at Winn-Dixie
• 5 items purchased for 9c at Wal-Greens
• $70+ worth of items for $6.50 at CVS!

These are old deals and the sales no longer apply.  But I hope that you see that you CAN save a TON of money!  I have literally saved us hundreds of dollars each month by being a smart shopper, couponer and looking for deals EVERYWHERE!

If you need help getting started, check out all my posts labeled beginners.

Have some AWESOME bargain brags you want to share?  Link up here!  (These do not have to be current deals.)

$70+ at CVS for only $6.50!!!

The picture isn't all the great but I was working with a toddler who wanted to be in the middle of everything and a camera with batteries going dead!

Here's what I got

9 20oz Vitamin Waters

 2 20oz Cokes

2 bags Dove chocolates

6 packs Friskies cat treats

1 Schick Quattro for Women Razor

2 Nivea Women's Body Washes

1 Irish Spring Body Wash

4 Pure Protein Bars

2 Nivea Lip Care

Retail = $71.72
After coupons = $18.50

ECBs back = $12.00

Total = $6.50!!!

To give you some perspective:

regular retail on the Nivea Body washes is $5.99

regular retail on the Pure Protein bars is $2.79 (4 would be $11.16 regularly)

regular retail on the Schick Quattro is $9.99

six packs of cat treats would be $14.94 regularly

and nine Vitamin Waters would be $15.21 regularly

All those things are regularly MORE than what I paid for the WHOLE transaction!

I saved OVER 90% on these items!

I had several FREE product coupons.  One Vitamin Water, one Pure Protein Bar, two cat treats, one Nivea body wash, and one chapstick were all FREE with my coupons and the Irish Spring Body wash was FREE after I used a coupon and got ECBs back!

I also gave my card with my blog address on it to two ladies behind me in line who were FLOORED when they saw how much I saved!

Have you seen the savings this week?  Link up your bargain brag below!!