Grocery Highlights 4/29-5/5

HEB

I did not see much this week here. Only these combo deals I thought worth noting.

Meal DealBuy These:-
Fully Cooked Sliced Chicken Breasts or Thighs for Fajitas (26OZ)
-Kraft Regular or 2% Natural Shredded Cheese (8oz)

Get These Free:-Market Fresh Bratwurst Links (up to $3)
-Wholly Guacamole Classic (7oz)
-HCF Picante Sauce (24oz)
-HEB Flour Tortillas (20ct)
-HEB Sour Cream (8oz)
-HEB Soft Drink (2L)

AND
Buy This: Marie Callender’s Pasta Al Dente Frozen DinnersGet This:
Fresh Express Hearts of Romaine or Triple Hearts Lettuce BlendsAND
Get This: HEB Creamy Creations Ice Cream (1pt)
-Use $.75/1 Marie Callender’s Al Dente coupon HERE

RANDALLS

This is the last week of the Living Well promotion. It ends on 5/5. I hope you have been able to take advantage of this great sale. It has turned out to be even better for my family as I have seen all of the products included. I have done 3 transactions so far and paid very little out of pocket for items we love and needed. Please see the previous posts for coupon matchups and more explanation.

Other sale items this week:

Select Keebler Cookies - $1-Use $.55/1 Keebler coupon HEREFinal Price = $.45 (I had to put this one first!!!)

Broccoli - $1/lb
Mangos - 2/$1
Red Seedless Grapes - $.98/lb
Fresh Express Salad Blends - $3.69 (BOGO)-Use $1/2 Fresh Express coupon HERE (pg 3)Final Price = $2.69
80/20 Ground Beef - $1.99/lb
Chicken Drumsticks, Thighs and Quarter - $1/lb
Rice-a-Roni - $1-Use $1/4 Rice a Roni coupon (RP 3/8)Final Price - $3 for 4
Snyder’s Pretzels - $1
Quaker Rice Cakes use $1 off one from 3/29 Red Plum = FREE ( Quaker mini rice snacks are also part of the Living Well promotion )

TARGET

Don't forget Target. They have some great printable coupons right now. Here a few matchups and good deals.

Ritz Cheese and Peanut Butter Crackers - $2-Use $1/1 Target coupon HERE-Use $1/2 Ritz coupon HEREFinal Price = $1 for 2
Target Brand Baby Body Wash - $1.25-Use $.75/1 Target coupon HEREFinal Price = $.50
Nabisco 100 Calorie Packs - $1.94-Use $1/1 Target coupon HEREFinal Price = $.94
Kashi Waffles - $1.99-Use $1.50 Kashi coupon HEREFinal Price = $.49

Apples (Select Varieties) - $.99/lb-Use $1/1 Target coupon HEREFinal Price = FREE (if you buy only 1lb)

V8 V-Fusion Juice - $2.99-Use $2/1 V8 coupon HEREFinal Price = $.99
California Pizza Kitchen - $5.50-Use $2/1 CPK coupon HEREFinal Price = $3.50

Grocery Highlights 4/22-4/28

HEB

Large cantaloupe $1 each
HEB bake shop bread 1$ each
HEB sour cream and cottage cheese 16oz 1$ each
Hill Country Fare shredded cheese 8oz $1.50
By the way- the nesquik combo deal I mentioned last week is not so great. It is a HUGE container for almost $8.

Randalls

Select Fresh Express Salads - 10/$10
Buy 2 Classico Pasta Sauces - 2/$4-Get 2 Boxes Safeway Pasta Free-Use $1/2 Classico Coupon HERE Final Price = $3 for 2 Sauces and 2 Pastas
Baby Carrots (1lb) - $1
Pillsbury crescents (4 count) $1.39 buy 3 get $3 on your next order - the big ones are signed but it works for the little ones.

Saturday & Sunday Only
85/15 Ground Round - $1.99/lb
Artichokes - $1.47
Wishbone Dressing - $.99-Use $.75/1 Wishbone Coupon HERE Final Price = $.24

The Living Well promotion I posted last week continues this week. Buy $30 worth of qualifying products and get $10 coupon toward your next shopping trip. The $30 is after Randall's coupons but before manufacturer coupons so your out of pocket can be even lower than $30 and still get the $10 coupon back. Please check the previous post as all the prices and qualifying products remain the same. I also have a few more to list that I found during my trip this week. There are tags on the shelf showing the product qualifies, so you almost just have to walk up and down each aisle.

I am also going to list a great sample idea of how to really maximize this promotion with coupons you can print at home. Remember you can print 2 coupons per computer just go back to the original print button or use your back button. Feel free to ask my any questions!

Buy These Items:
4 Boxes DreamField Pastas - $8
2 Cans Muir Glen Tomatoes* - $4.10
2 Cartons Trop50 OJ - $5
2 Packages YoPlus Yogurt - $5
1 Bottle of Bright Green Bleach - $1.49
1 Bag of Mission Tortillas - $2.50
2 6-packs of Ozarka (may be called Deer Park) Water - $3.98
Subtotal = $30.07
Use $14 in coupons, pay $16.07 out of pocket
Get back $10 coupon for your next shopping trip

$1/1 Dreamfield Pasta Coupon HERE
$1/1 Dreamfield Pasta Coupon HERE
$1/1 Muir Glen Coupon HERE
$1.50/1 Trop50 Coupon HERE
$1.50/1 YoPlus Coupon HERE
$1/1 Bright Green HERE
$1/1 Mission Tortillas HERE

Also:

Hefty trash bags 80 count $5.99 use 1$ off coupon from Sunday insert 4/19

Ozarka Sports top water 6 pack is $1.99 each buy 2 get a $2 on your next order AND these are part of the living well deal - just as with the Aquapod deal I posted before you get a $1 off 2 manufacturer coupon catalina and a $2 on your next order each time you purcahse 2

Be sure to pick up a Living Well flyer in the front of the store. It has additional coupons like .50 off Caprisun.

Grocery Highlights 4/15-4/21

HEB

Red seedless grapes $1/lb
Fresh blackberries 5.6oz $1.50
Hill Country Fare split chicken breasts $1/lb
Boneless Pork Sirloin chops $1.99/lb
Buy Nestle Nesquik 48.7-56oz get Free Nestle Juicy Juice and HCF cookies with in-store coupon
(I have no idea what the Nesquick costs but sounds like a good deal)

Randalls

Red Seedless Grapes - $.88/lb
Red Bell Peppers - $.98 each
Kraft Macaroni & Cheese - $.49 (Limit 4)
Pasta and Rice a Roni - $.89 (Limit 6)-Use $1/4 Coupon (RP 3/8)Final Price = $2.56 on 4
Foster Farms Lunchmeat - $1.99
Select Mrs. Bairds White Bread - $1.39
Chef Boyardi Ravioli - 10/$10

Now for the big deal at Randalls-

Living Well Promotion runs through May 5th buy $30 of qualifying products in a single transaction and get $10 off your next order. As usual the $30 total is before manufacturer coupon but after Club Card prices. See a list of participating items HERE.
Read more about the promotion and how some people are matching up their coupons at Money Wise Moms HERE

I will try to point out a few other promotions and coupon match ups that you can use in conjunction with the Living Well to maximize:


Stay in for Dinner and Save buy 5 save $5 instantly 4/15 - 4/28 this includes Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers and complete selections and Marie Callender's Pasta Al Dente, Pot Pies 16.5 oz and Dinners. The Healthy choice double dips with the Living Well promotion but the Marie Callender's IS NOT part of living well so don't count it in your $30 if you buy it.
Sale price $2.99 each = $1.99 each when you buy 5 use $1 off one HERE = .99 cents or $1. off 2 HERE or from 4/5 Smart Source = $1.49

Bright Green products get $1 off one HERE best buy is 64 oz. Chlorine free bleach $1.49 = .49

Bertolli sauce double dip -The $4 price counts to your $30 Living Well total and earns you an additional $2 Catalina (prints out with receipt)
On sale until May 5th at 2 for $4 - buy 2 and receive a $2 Catalina coupon for your next order.
Use $1 off one coupons from the 4/5 Unilever insert (there was also a .75 cent coupon in the same insert)
$4 - 2 coupons = $2.25 at the register get back $2 Catalina = net .25

Sun Chips sale price 2 for $6 use $1 off 2 HERE = 2 for $5

Yoplait YoPlus $2.50 get a $1.50 off coupon here (remember you can always print 2 IP coupons)

Kraft Mac & Cheese dinners sale price .59 cents limit 4 and counts for Living Well total this is a great item to throw in when you are just a few cents away from the $30 total.


Walgreens

I want to add a few great Register Reward deals at Walgreens. Sorry these sales are only good through Saturday. Register Rewards are like coupons that print out with your receipt. They are good for a future purchase. There are 2 important things to know about RRs. They expire! They usually have an expiration date about 2 weeks aways. Also, you cannot use a RR that you received to purchase that same product again. For example, if you purchase the toothpaste and get your RR and then try to use that RR to purchase another toothpaste you will not receive another RR. However you can use it to buy another product offering an RR. Confusing? Always make sure you are purchasing the correct product by checking the store ad or look for tags on the shelf.

Colgate Max White Or Max Fresh Toothbrush sale $3.49 get back $3.50 register reward = FREE use $1 off HERE = $1 profit - note you will have to be registered with Smile Talk or sign in to print coupons OR.75 cents off any from 3/29 Smart Source = .75 cents profit

Scunci 18 pack Elastics sale $2 get back $2 register reward = FREE

Fiber Choice 10 count $2.49 get back $2.49 register reward = FREE

Edge Energy or Infused shave $2.99 get a $3.00 register reward when you buy one = FREE

Dave Ramsey Books for sale

I am a member of a homeschoolers buyer coop and right now they have Dave Ramsey books for sale. Visit https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/index.php?option=com_epp_offer&Itemid=782 and scroll down to see products listed.  If you would like to buy an item then you can do it through my account and we also should have enough to get free shipping.  I need your order and money by April 26th.  The 26th is the last day to order.

Please email me instead of leaving a comment.  I do not always check the comments on this blog.  

P.S.  This is a great deal for his book, The Total Money Makeover.  It is cheaper than buying on Amazon used.

I want more! I want savings!

Okay everyone, I can't seem to get enough coupons for the things that I normally buy. What's a frugal minded mom to do? Listen up sisters, you can get 20 copies of that Loss Leader. Combining the manufactured coupon and in store coupon can save you up to 60% or more. So how do you get 20 copies of one item. The coupon master is the answer. Here's what you do. Go online, decide which coupons you would normally use. Order them, sit and wait. In a couple of days your package of already cut coupons is in your hand. Yes, no slaving over the scissors. These coupons are not printed, they are the coupons from the newspaper inserts. Check the sales and save! save! save! Don't ever pay retail again. The shipping cost of ordering online can be reduced if you pair up with other sisters.

Fresh or free only at HEB. The policy is if you find an item that is expired, you will receive the exact same item for free. You will need to bring it to the cashier and talk to them about this. Some employees may give you a hard time, or they may not know anything about it. Ask for the manager. You as a customer are working for them in helping to keep all the inventory fresh and that's why you get it free.

Summer heat with a summer bill. Lite up is up to 15% discount off your light bill from May through September. Google lite up discount for income guidelines. You will need to apply to receive this discount. Contact 211 for information. If you qualify you may need to re-apply every year. Some energy companies even offer an energy conservation program by installing energy efficient light bulbs, caulking around your windows, looking at you door jams all for free. Your electric provider will have a list of contractors.
You may also receive a discount phone line as long as you opt out of any special calling features. Call your phone company.

Many resources are available for free and are posted at the clinic on Foothills Farms Loop aka WIC office,or MAP program. These programs offer from working with finance classes to where to get free income tax service. There is also a first come free clinic on Tuesdays and Thursday, donation of $5. Look in the Chronicle or online. On certain days you may obtain free legal advice at alternating locations. Ask 211.

Walgreens is offering free health care through their clinics. The nearest Walgreen's clinic is in the Houston area. So if a family member has become unemployed or laid off, your whole family will be able to receive medical care at no cost until you find a job. Yes the prescriptions will need to be filled at Walgreen's. PS Discount card can help with a cash pay, no insurance account. Do not sign up for the Walgreen's discount card because there is a fee involved.

Now a little about this up coming food storage class. Sugar shelf life and other baking necessities. I plan on covering different types of sugar with taste tests. Basic items to get you by. How to make baking powder, evaporated milk, "homemade maple syrup." How to freeze eggs, milk, cream. What not to freeze and why. How long is too long on the spices and more. I will be teaching class at 10 am and 2pm. I am hoping to offer online classes to anyone who can not attend on a Saturday in the future.

How financially sound are you? Dave Ramsey is offering a free 30 day trial. You will have access to the snowball technique and how everything works. Most people find finances very personal and feel very uncomfortable about talking to anyone other than their spouse and this is completely understandable. Just remember we are striving to become better everyday and without mistakes learning does not take place. Just be sure to cancel within 30 days and you will have a start on how to begin to snowball THE DEBT BONDAGE down.

Grocery Highlights 4/8-4/14

Just FYI -there will not be any coupon inserts in this Sunday's paper!

Randalls

Duncan Hines Brownies - 10/$10 (Good through 4/12)-Use $.35/1 Duncan Hines (SS 2/1)Final Price = FREE
Coca-Cola & Pepsi 12packs - 3/$9.99-3/$6.99 with in-ad coupon
Quaker Chewy Granola Bars - $2.99 (Buy 2 Get 3 Free)-Use $.75/2 Quaker Chewy (SS 3/2) Final Price = $4.48 for 5 (or $5.23 if your store only allows 1 coupon)

Vitamin Water 10 sale price $1 use $1 off from 4/5 Smart Source = FREE
Wheat thins Artisan crackers $1.69 use Buy one get one free from 3/15 = .85 cents each
Lays Potato Chips (Select Varieties) - $1.88
Hawaiin King Rolls 2 for $4 use $1 off 2 HERE = $1.50 each
Blue Bell Ice Cream - $3.79 (sign up at bluebell.com for a $1 off coupon
Rancher’s Reserve Whole Boneless Beef Brisket - $.99/lb
Safeway Whole or Half Ham - $.97/lb
Safeway Spiral sliced Ham - $ 1.67/lb

HEB
I am just not good with the HEB specials. They do a lot of meat specials that I don't buy. So, be sure to check the ad for the cuts of meat that your family uses.

Strawberries 1lb $1.27
Oscar Mayer bacon $2.50
HEB brand cheeses 8oz. $1.67

Target

This is the last few days for the new store specials. The signs say that they end on 4/13. Some of the coupons sent out don't expire until 4/21, but remember that the specials that go with these coupons will end Monday. Here a few other things I found.

Aparagus $1.49lb
Cambells cream of mushroom .66
Philadelphia cream cheese $.99
All Detergent - $3.99-(get a $1/1 HERE)-Use $1/1 Target coupon HERE (5th one down)Final Price = $1.99
Hershey’s Bliss - $2.99-Use $1/1 Hershey’s Bliss (SS 3/1)-Use $1/1 Target coupon HERE
Final Price = $.99
Betty Crocker Warm Delights - $1.57-Use 2 $.50/1 Betty Crocker (SS 4/5) AND-Use $1/2 Target coupon HEREFinal Price = $.57
Vitamin Water 10 sale price $1 use $1 off from 4/5 Smart Source = FREE
Market Pantry Fruit Snacks - $1.36-1.52-Use $1/1 Target coupon HERE =.36=.52

$1 Makeup from ELF

EDIT: ** I found out that this company always sells their makeup for a dollar and Nordstrom is not buying them.  I am sorry I did not research this more thoroughly before posting.  So the only thing in question is the quality of the makeup.  I guess we will see.**

Nordstrom is changing the logo on their makeup, so they're selling almost
everything for $1!!!

The make-up line e.l.f.(eyes-lips-face) has been bought out by Nordstrom
and will be re-packaged with the Nordstrom name on it.

They are getting rid of the entire make up in ELF packaging.. They are
selling everything for $1. You do have to pay shipping. They have
everything - powder, mascara, lipstick, a mineral line (100% natural),
brushes & cases, nail polish, lotions, you name it - it's there. The
website is: http://www.eyeslipsface.com/shop.asp

When you check out there is a space for a coupon code. Use CAROLINA and
save an additional $7.50 if your order is over $15.00.

I just placed an order for $15 and the coupon code worked great.  Happy Shopping!

Round Rock Home Storage Center

It's finally open! But only for bulk purchases. (Contact Mia to find out which of our sisters has a can sealer and which has a mylar bag sealer.)

The new Home Storage Center (Cannery) is located at 3912 Gattis School Rd in Round Rock. It's open Tuesdays from 2-8pm and Saturdays from 8am-1pm.

No need to order in advance. Just bring your order with you! (The current order form can be found here.)

Enjoy!

Saving Money

All of us are trying to save money. Lately I have been drawn to many items that seem to be on sale. But how do we know you are getting a good deal.



By understanding some basic marketing concepts, you can build confidence about how you shop, why you buy certain items, and how to save the green.



The savings or preferred card entitles you, the consumer, to purchase items at a discount. Thus saving you money. This fantastic little card also tracks the most popular items that other consumers in your zip code buy, similar to a survey. This information helps the store with target advertising specific merchandise. The store may order more of a particular item knowing when you come in for the "hot deal" you will also buy this particular item, which may be overpriced.



Floor plans are well thought out. No you are not going crazy when you can't find the item that was on aisle 4, three weeks ago. If the item moved, it didn't sell fast enough. Grocery stores rent out space for a particle item for a certain amount of time. Relocating the item has a couple of advantages: re-introduce it as an advertised item and have the current consumers searching for the item, thus increasing the odds of another unexpected higher priced item in the cart.



Eye level is the hottest selling point. It's the easiest to reach while being rushed, bumped, answering the phone, or correcting children, and any other distractions not mentioned. The item is normally overpriced. Sometimes the item has the wrong price underneath it. I noticed this more then ten times at HEB, which I could only assume happened "accidently", of course.



End Caps are loaded with items that appear to be on sale, but 80% of the time these items are not.



Wording. As advertised is not the same as on sale. Know the prices! Don't remember them? Write it down to visually see the price cycles.



Hot Real Estate is the most highly sought after place in the entire store. They stack it high, in your face and in front, it just needs the whistles and balloons and sometimes they have that too. This lowest price item is normally seen upon entrance to get you in the store. Along the way there is a good chance you will pick something up that is not on sale or overpriced.



Paycheck Cycle Refers to how the grocery stores promote their ads to get the most money out of the consumer. Surveys tell us more people have "more money" at the beginning of the month. Money is spent faster at the beginning of the month and held on to longer around the end of the month trying to catch up on unpaid or missed bills.



These are just a few basic marketing techniques that every store uses. Normally every grocery store cycles about 9 to 12 weeks, look for this. You can plan on when to buy what or know what your grocery store will be pushing to sell in the next couple of weeks. Keeping you one step ahead of the game.



I have noticed some important money saving tips at certain stores that I would like to share.



All chain stores do not offer the same price. Some stores charge more for the exact same product at different locations. I noticed this at HEB and Wal-Mart.



Larger quantities do not equal great buys. Sometimes it is more. Get the calculator out to know for certain! I noticed this at Target.



Dollar stores (Dollar General, Family Dollar, Everything $1 and Dollar Tree) can dilute certain items without telling you. This is illegal for medicine but everything else is fair game. Break down the price to know if you are really saving.



Randall's allows you to use in store coupons with manufactured coupons together while doubling or tripling the value adding savings. Just remember most items are overpriced to begin with, weigh it out with a calculator to make sure it is a good deal.


HEB does not price match but honors online coupons as long as they are printed in color.



Wal-mart price matches and accepts coupons, but Sam's does not take any coupons.



Here are some links to print coupons online.

http://smartsource.mygrocerydeals.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=site.dspHome
This is smart source, the insert from the paper. It will tell you the best deals in your zip code. You will need to install a printer program to print the coupons.

http://www.redplum.com/
Installation of a printer program is needed as well.



The link below lets you in on great deals of all types. Don't get lost in the links;)


http://frugality.alltop.com/



One thing that does not relate to groceries but helps your frugality...



No prescription coverage? cash pay customer? Call around for pricing. I noticed a savings of over thirty dollars on the same prescription at different stores. Wal-Mart is not always cheaper. The discount card link below is free and saves with generics up to 50% and brand names up to 10%. It will list available pharmacies and pricing for a particular medicine.
http://www.pscard.com/

Holly Villarreal

Grocery Highlights 4/1-4/7

Remember: the Randalls and HEB ad specials run from Wed –Tues.
Target, CVS and Walgreens specials are Sun.-Sat. and Walmart seems to vary. There was a Walmart ad sent this week which says Sun April 5- April 11. Sorry this has to be so confusing!!!

Randalls

Randalls has a few coupon deals this week. They are found in the ad, which you can pick up in the front of the store.

Quaker Life Cereal $.99 with in-ad coupon-Use $1/1 Life HERE (this is for Maple Brown Sugar Life which usually is included in the sale) Final Price = FREE
18ct Eggs $1.49 with in-ad coupon
Lucerne Butter $.99 with in-ad coupon
Green Seedless Grapes - $.88/lb
Ozarka, Aquafina, Dasani and Refreshe 24pk Bottled Water - 3/$9.99 (if you did the Ozarka deal last week and have the $1off 2 coupon from last week this would be a good deal)
Tyson Breaded Chicken Selections – BOGO
Rancher’s Reserve New York Strip Steak $3.97/lb (must by large quantity)
Softsoap Hand Soap $1 -Use $.35/1 Softsoap (SS 3/29) tripled at RandallsFinal Price = FREE
Nestle Baking Morsels $2 use .50 off 2 HERE will be doubled) = $1.50 ea.


Target

Target’s ad runs Sunday through Saturday.
Many of the new store specials are supposed to end on 4/13. I will be heading there next week to stock up on many of the specials and use my last $5 off $50 coupon. I have also been trying to collect coupons to match up with these specials.

There are several deals available using Current Target printables. Target printable coupons can usually only be used one per transaction. But the good thing about them is that they can also be matched up with manufacturer coupons. A good place to print them is from hotcouponworld.com. You can use their Target Coupon Generator to print multiples and they are available for a longer time then the ones from target.com. I have listed several deals below with target coupons. I give a link after each one for the coupon generator. However, you can just go HERE once and print out all the ones you think you will need. They print 5 to a page so plan accordingly to save on paper. REMEMBER: one per transaction and check the expirations!

$1 off Archer Farms® artisan bread Bakery Dept. HERE There are small "artisan breads" priced at $.99 in the bakery area, so they are FREE with the coupon!
Nutrigrain yogurt and cereal bars $1.77 use $1 off 2 Target HERE = $1.27 each
Hostess cupcakes $1.99 use .50 cents off Target coupon HERE = $1.50
Pledge multisurface spray $3.89 use $1 off any Pledge furniture care Target coupon HERE AND $2 off HERE = .89 cents
Nature's Source cleaners $ 3.19 - $3.29 use $1 off Target HERE and $1 off HERE or from 3/1 Smart source = $1.19 - $1.29
Dole bagged salad $2.50 use target coupon $1.00/1 HERE = $1.50 ea
Market Pantry fruit snacks rang up $1.36 use target coupon $1.00/1 HERE = $.36 each

Johnson's baby toiletry items of varying price use target coupon $0.75/1 HERE and use manufacturer coupon:
Johnsons Baby bubble and bath wash $1 off here

Other deals at Target:

Delmonte canned corn $.35 use $1 off 12 (SS 2/08) = $.26 each
Land o Lakes Butter $2 use .55 cents off one when you register HERE = $1.45

Walmart
according to the ad these specials begin April 5 but may have already started

Great Value Butter 1lb $1.50
Kraft 8 0z cheese $1.50
Blue Bunny Ice cream $3.50 use $1 off coupon HERE when you join IScream
Wheat Thins Artisan Crackers - 2/$4-Use BOGO Wheat Thins Artisan (SS 3/15)
Strawberries 1lb $1.50
Fresh pineapple $2.50 each
Asparagus $1.50/lb
Hormel Black Label bacon $2.50
Kraft Salad Dressing - $1.58-Use $1.50/1 Kraft Salad Dressing (SS 3/29)Final Price = $.08
Halls Cough Drops - $1.18-Use $1/1 Halls (SS 3/29)Final Price = $.18