This deal has been going on all week, but I just remembered it while planning my own shopping. If you are a Staples rewards member (if you aren't, it is free to join), you can get FREE batteries this through Sat 5/1. Here is how:

• Buy one 20ct pack of Duracell AA or AAA Batteries at $9.99
• Receive $9.99 back in Staples Rewards
• Final PRICE: FREE after rewards

Do you ever find yourself feeling a little **ashamed** that you use coupons? Like somehow it makes you a lower class citizen? Well, then I have found an AWESEOME article for you. It is written by Karen from Saving the Family Money.  I am actually going to get to meet her in July and I can't wait!  She has done an excellent job of expressing just how I feel about my coupon usage.  I highly suggest this read!

PRODUCE:
Mangos - $0.33 / ea

Avocados (large) - $0.50 / ea

MEAT:
Yellow fin Ahi Tuna Steaks - $6.99 / lb

Beef Cross Rib Roast - $1.97 / lb

Signature Cafe St Louis Style Smokehouse Red Ribs (26 oz precooked) - $7.99 

waterfront Bistro Cooked Shrimp (2 lb bag; 91-100 ct per) - $7.98

DAIRY:
Silk Soy Milk (64 oz) - $2.99

• Buy one and use $1 off 1 store cpn (pg 3 of circular, limit 3) - $1.99
• Also use $1 off one manufacturer's coupon from 02/21 SS
• FINAL PRICE - $0.99 ea with both coupons

Yoplait Yogurt (4-6 oz) - $0.50

• Buy 6 and use $0.40 off 6 from 03/21 SS, $04/18 SS, or 04/28 SS (the first coupon per transaction doubles to $0.80)
• FINAL PRICE - $0.37 ea after coupon for the first six per transaction, $0.43 ea for any additional in same transaction

Lucerne Chocolate Milk (1 gallon) - $3.49

FROZEN:
Safeway Raw Shrimp (2 lb bag; 51-60 ct per) - $5.98
2 Days Only: Sat 5/1 - Sun 5/2; Limit 2

Marie Callenders TV Dinners (10-21 oz) - $2.50

• Buy one and use $0.51 off 1 stroe cpn (pg 3 of circular; limit 6) - $1.99
• Also use $1 off 1 coupon from April Issue of All You Magazine
• FINAL PRICE - $0.99 ea with coupon

NON-FOODS:
Scrubbing Bubbles Bathroom Cleaner (22 oz) - $3.50

• Buy one and use $1.51 off 1 store cpn (pg 3 of circular) - $1.99
• Also use $0.75 off 1 from 03/521 SS (the first coupon per transaction will "double" to $1)
• FINAL PRICE - $0.99 for the first one per transaction, $1.24 for an additional in same transaction

Windex Glass Cleaner (26 oz) - $3.50

• Buy one and use $1.51 off 1 store cpn (pg 3 of circular) - $1.99
• Also use $0.75 off 1 from 04/11 SS (the first coupon per transaction will "double" to $1)
• FINAL PRICE - $0.99 for the first one per transaction, $1.24 for an additional in same transaction

OTHER:
Barilla Whole Grain Pasta (13.25 oz) - $2 (estimated price)

• Buy two and get the 2nd FREE - $1 each when you buy two
• Use two $0.55 off 1 from 03/21 SS (the first one will double to $1)
• FINAL PRICE - $0.22 ea when you buy two and use 2 coupons

Chicken of the Sea Canned Tuna (5 oz) - $0.44

2 Days Only: Sat 5/1 - Sun 5/2 

Sunshine Cheez-its (7.5-9 oz) - $0.99
2 Days Only: Sat 5/1 - Sun 5/2; Limit 4

Mission Flour Tortillas (10 ct) - $0.99
Must use store cpn (pg 3 of circular) for price; limit 10

Kraft Salad Dressing (14-16 oz) - $0.99

2 Days Only: Sat 5/1 - Sun 5/2; Limit 3

Safeway Canned Green Chilies (7 oz) - $1

• Buy one and use $0.50 off 1 from 04/04 PG
• FINAL PRICE - $2.49 with coupon and after rebate
• 
  
  • OR
  Buy one and use $0.25 off 1 from 03/07 PG
  FINAL PRICE - $2.74 with coupon

• Buy one and use $2 off 1 from 03/14 RP
• FINAL PRICE - $12.24 with coupon and after rebate

• Buy one and use $1.50 off 1 from 04/04 PG
• FINAL PRICE - $12.74 with coupon and after rebate

• Buy one and use $10 off 1 from 04/11 SS 
• FINAL PRICE - $9.99 with coupon and after rebate

• Buy one and use $1 off 1 from 04/04 PG
• FINAL PRICE - $3.12 with coupon and after rebate

• Buy one and use $1 off one from 03/07 PG
• FINAL PRICE - $0.88 with coupon and after rebate

• Buy one and use $2 off 1 from 03/14 RP
• FINAL PRICE - $5.49 with coupon and after rebate
• OR
• Buy one and use $1.50 off 1 from 04/04 PG
• FINAL PRICE - $5.99 with coupon and after rebate

• Buy one and use $1 off 1 printable
• FINAL PRICE- FREE with coupon!

I just wanted to post a quick note to let you know that I am still playing catchup from taking last weekend off. It is amazing how getting out of your routine can really throw things off! I've had some sick kiddos and been sick myself as well, so I seem to be moving a bit slower than usual...quite literally!

Cory's graduation was awesome though. We had a lot of family come down to support us and celebrated all weekend long! Cory has started his new job and is loving it. We are spending all our free time looking for a new apartment in order to shorten his commute to Irvine. In anyone knows of any great places in south Orange County, let me know!

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know what to expect for the next little while here at Frugalicious. I should have all the grocery deals up before I go to bed tonight. I plan to start posting tips again starting on Friday. I will not be doing any roundups or Hot Deals until we've moved (2-4 weeks), so make sure you check the "Recent Deals" tool in the sidebar often!

Thanks,
Misty

Just a reminder that you may want to go print some coupons before the end of the month!  Some may not be available on the 1st of next month.  You can also print coupons.com coupons directly from our sidebar.

Total before sales / coupons: $87.17
Total after all sales, coupons and rebates: $44.01


Total Time Spent planning: 30 min
Total Time Spent Shopping: 60 min
Total $$ "earned" per hour: $28.80

 
Here is the breakdown so you can see exactly how it worked.  I think this can be helpful / encouraging when you are just starting out.  If after reading it, you have any questions at all, please leave a comment and I will try to clarify!

ALBERTSONS:
2 Pam Non-stick spray at $2.50 ea - $5
14 Hunts Tomato Sauce (29 oz) at $1.50 ea - $26
3 Poptarts (12 ct) at $2.49 ea - $30.98
1 Raisin Bran Crunch at $2.49 - $33.47
Grape Tomatoes at $0.99 (CLEARANCE!) - $34.46
Cuties (3 lb bag) at $2.99 - $37.45

• Used 2 $0.35 off Pam - $36.75
• Use 1 $1.25 off 3 Poptarts - $35.50
• Used 1 $0.55 off Cuties - $34.95
• Used 1 $5 off any order over $25 (received during last trip) - $29.95

VONS:
2 Knudsen Sour Cream at $1.69 ea - $3.38
Sunchips at $2.99 - $6.37
2 Strawberries (1 lb) at $0.99 ea - $8.35
8 Pasta (16 oz) at $0.79 ea - $14.67

• Used 2 $0.60 off one Knudsen (the first one doubled to $1) - $13.07
• Used FREE Sunchips coupon (requested here) - $10.08

HENRYS:
2 Pineapple at $0.88 - $1.76
Basil at $0.99 - $2.75
Apples at $1.23 total - $3.98

Use this $1 off Aveeno Daily Moisture Lotion coupon to get some for FREE at Riteaid this week (4/23-4/29 in So Cal & 4/25 - 5/1 everywhere else):

Buy 3  Aveeno 2.5 oz Daily Moisturizing Lotions at $3.59 ea - $10.47

• Use 3 $2 off 1 in-ad coupons (some stores may only allow you to use one coupon) - $4.47
• Use 3 $1 off 1 printables (you will need two computer) - $1.47
• Get back $5 SCR
• FINAL PRICE - FREE plus $3.53 in overage! (or just $0.47 for all three if you can only use 1 in-ad coupon)

I am so proud of my wonderful husband. He will be graduating from law school on Monday. In order for me to put this in perspective for you, I need to give you a bit of background. 

The first year of law school is incredibly demanding.  Students are not allowed to have any employment.  The entire purpose is to weed people out and the completion is fierce.  There were quite a few members of Cory's classes who just didn't come back after the first semester.  Cory studied long, long hours...typically 15+ hrs a day that first semester.  That alone would have been a stressful situation, but he had some additional things on his plate: 

We were surprised (and very excited) by a twin pregnancy about 8 months before he started school.  Our twin boys were born 3 weeks into his first semester.  Twins are wonderful, but tough...especially since they were our first and we had no idea what we were doing!  They were both very needy and looking back, I think at least one was colicky.  Cory got up with me twice a night for months in order to make breastfeeding them easier.  He would diaper and burp one while I fed the other.  He also somehow found the time to play with an interact with them regularly.  His relationship with them was a huge priority in his life.

I'm not sure how he did it, but his grades that first year put him in the very top of his class.  I personally believe we were blessed for doing our best to do what we believe God wanted us to be doing: having a family. 

While the last two years of law school aren't as hard core as the first, they are still very demanding.  Cory worked part time these last two years in addition to attending full time school and being an amazing father.  We also had a third baby (a beautiful little girt) right before he began his third year. 

I don't know how he has done all that he has.  He is incredibly supportive of me, of our children, and of Frugalicious.  He is always happy and never too busy to listen to me.  He regularly finds time to help me clean, cook, or put away laundry.  The first thing he does when he gets home is to drop his bags, kiss his little girl and play with his boys.  He is amazing and I am so grateful he is mine.

To make things even better, he got a job offer recently!  We are so excited to be moving forward with our lives.

So, for the next few days I am going to be focusing on him so he knows how much I appreciate all he has done for our family over the last few years.  If I get a few minutes, I will still post some things here, but don't expect to hear too much from me for a fews days.  I'll be back in full force on Tuesday!  Enjoy your weekend!

• CVS has Dove Deodorant Buy one get one free this week (through tomorrow 4/24), so you may be able to get some for FREE or close to FREE with this $2 off Dove Ultimate Antiperspirant/Deodorant   coupon.
• Amazon has Your Shape for Wii marked down to $19.99 (from $50)

 

You may remember that Lo asked me to find a deal on the Dyson D25 All Floors.

Since she wanted the deal withi 24 hrs, I quickly found the best deal I could Monday morning. Well, thanks to Lori over at Moms By Heart, I just found an AMAZING deal on that Vacuum. So, Lo, I hope you haven't bought it yet, b/c here is the deal for you:

Kohls

• Regular Price: $549
• Sale Price: $399.99 (will show when you add it to your cart)
• Use code PRICES15 to save 15% - $339.99
• Get back $60 in "Kohl's Cash" (you can use it on a future purchase at Kohls) - $279.99
• Get back 4% in your ShopAtHome account (as long as you click through the ShopAtHome website on your way to Kohls) - $266.39

If you saw the above sign at the store, would you assume you had to buy 2 of the product in order to get a $2.50 price? 

Well, you typically don't!  While you should always read the fine print just to be sure, most sales like this do not require you to buy 2 products.  The wording is simply a marketing ploy. You could buy one and pay $2.50, or you could buy 3 and pay $7.50. 

There are sales that require you to buy a certain number of products in order to get some sort of special pricing, but they will ususally be marked with one of the following types of signs:

PERSONAL CARE:

• $3 off one Revlon Color Burst Lipstick (link at very top of page.  It is small.  You will need to register to print the coupon)  Thanks, Coupon Dad!
• $3 off any L'Oreal Double Extend Lash Boosting Mascara, Concentrated Lash Boosting Serum or 24 Hr Lash Boosting Power System.  Take the "Lash Booting Challenge to get it.  (This is a new product and a high value coupon, so you may be able to get it for FREE or close to it with the right drug stores sale) 
• $1 off Burt's Bees Toothpaste

OTHER NON FOODS:

• $0.50 off Cottonelle Bath Tissue
• $1 off any Windex Product
• $2 off Glade Relaxing Moments 

FOODS:

• $1 off one Keebler Sandies Cookies
• $0.50 off any Newman's Own Product (if your store doubles, you could get something free with the right sale)
• $1 off any 2 Starbucks Ice cream (who doesn't love Ice cream coupons?)
• $1 off 1 Pillsbury Toaster Strudel (this is a very high value for this coupon)
• $0.50 off one Old Orchard Juice (thanks, Saving Bits and Pieces!)
• $1 off 2 Oreo or Chips Ahoy Cookies

 

PERSONAL CARE:
FREE FULL SIZE Origins skincare product.  You must exchange it for your current one in celebration of earth day.  Here are the details from their facebook page:  We’ll trade you for FREE. One day only – 4/22. Bring your current skincare to any Origins counter and we’ll trade it for a full-size of one of our gentle, high-performance cleansers. Choose either: Checks and Balances™ Frothy face wash Or a Perfect World™ Antioxidant cleanser with White Tea. Value up to $20!  Thanks Moms By Heart!

FREE Sample of Eucerin Body Lotion 

FREE full size Dove product when you submit a video review

KIDS:
Request a FREE single serve sample of Baby's Only Organic dairy or soy pediatric formula from Nature's One.  (call 614-898-9758 and select option #2. The call is automated).  Thanks, Freebie Blogger!

FREE Toby the Train Coloring Book

FOOD:
FREE Chili Dog at Wienerschnitzel 

Become a fan of Hood Simply Smart Milk on Facebook and fill out this form.  They will mail you a coupon for a FREE Hood Simply Smart Milk!  Thanks, Money Saving Mom!

FREE Pretzels at Pretzel Time or PretzelMaker (4/26 only)

OTHER:
10 FREE country song downloads from People Magazine


If you are a teacher Think Green has plans and Earth Day activities for your classroom!  If you share your feedback you can get a FREE reusable tote!

Over the door organizers can be great for storing many smaller items. Since they are hidden when the door is open, they can be placed on almost any door in your home. If you get  a lot of FREE samples, this can be a great way to keep them organized in your bathroom!

PRODUCE:

Russet Potatoes (10 lb bag) - $0.97
Lemons - $0.33 ea
Green Cabbage - $0.33 / lb
White Mushrooms (1 lb pkg) - $1.98
Personal Watermelon - $2
Seedless Red Grapes - $0.97
Cucumbers - $0.49


MEAT:

Catfish Nuggets - $2.98 / lb
Pork Sirloin Chips (Bone-In) - $0.97 / lb
Beef Cross Rib Steak (Boneless) - $1.97 / lb
Beef Cross Rib Roast - $1.97 / lb

DAIRY:

Silk Soy Milk (64 oz) - $2.50

• Buy 1 and use $1 off 1 from 02/21 SS
• FINAL PRICE - $1.50 with coupon

• Buy 1 and use $0.75 off 1 from 04/11 SS
• FINAL PRICE - $1.75 with coupon

Yoplait Yogurt (6 oz) - $0.50

• Buy 6 and use $0.40 off 6 from 03/21 SS or 04/18 SS (the first coupon per transaction will double)
• FINAL PRICE - $0.37 ea for the first six per transaction with coupon; $0.43 ea after that

Safeway Yogurt (6 oz) - $0.33
Safeway Sour Cream (48 oz) - $2.98
Mountain Dairy 2% or 1% milk (1 Gallon) - $2.29
Must buy 2 identical gallons for price

REFRIGERATED:

Chiquitq Juice Blend (64 oz)

• Buy one and use $1 off 1 printable
• FINAL PRICE - $0.98 with coupon

Safeway Refrigerated Punch (1 Gallon) - $0.98
Hoffy Bacon (16 oz) - $2.50

• Buy 3 and use $3 off 3 from 03/28 SS1
• FINAL PRICE - $1.50 ea with coupon

FROZEN:

TJ Farms Crinkle or Straight cut Fries (32 oz) - $0.98
Fisher Boy Fish Sticks (6 oz) - $0.49
Safeway Frozen Chicken Wings (64 oz) - $6.98


NON-FOODS

Snuggle Fabric Softener (64 oz) - $2.50

• Buy one and use $3 off 1 from 03/28 RP
• FINAL PRICE - FREE plus possible overage depending on your store!

Alka Seltzer Original (12 ct) - $1

• Buy one and use $1 off one from 02/21 RP
• FINAL PRICE - FREE!

Fabuloso All Purpose Cleaner (28 oz) - $0.98

• Buy one and use $0.25 off 1 printable
• FINAL PRICE - $0.73 with coupon

Colgate Plus Toothbrush (1 ct) - $1


OTHER:

Keebler Sandies (9.5-16 oz) - $2

• Buy one and use $1 off 1 printable
• FINAL PRICE - $1 with coupon

• Buy one and use $0.55 off one from 04/18 RP (the first coupon per transaction doubles)
• FINAL PRICE - $1 for first one per transaction, $1.45 for each one after that

Hostess Twinkies (10 ct) or Cupcakes (8 ct) - $2
Chicken of the Sea Chunk Light Canned Tuna (5 oz) - $0.50
SoBe Lifewater (20 oz) - $0.88

• Buy two and use B1G1F printable
• FINAL PRICE - $0.44 ea with coupon

1. Buy One Entree Get One Free  with purchase of two beverages! (expires 4/21)
2. Buy One Breakfast Entree Get one Free with purchase of two beverages between 9am and 11am (expires 4/25)
3. $5.99 weekday lunch coupon with purchase of a beverage 11am to 4pm (expires 4/23)

Making Frugalicious Shopping More Effective and Efficient

Last week, I mentioned that the Current Deals List is a search-able, sort-able, filter-able, print-able list of current grocery sales matched to available coupons.  Today I want to tell you about all the extra details that are a part of that list:  details that go far beyond a simple list of matchups.

A Rating System
Have you ever spent money stocking up on something on to find it on sale for a better price a week or two later?  When I first started shopping this way, I did, and it drove me crazy.   This list solves that problem!    Every item on sale is rated on a scale of 1-5 based on how good of a sale it is.  If it is the absolute best price we have seen for any brand of that item over the last 6 months, it is given a 5 star rating.  If it is the worst price we've seen, it gets a 1 star rating.  This can be extremely useful in helping you focus on what to stock up on each week.

A Brand Rating System
Are you brand loyal?  Well, then this system is for you!  In addition to the overall rating mentioned above, each item is rated according to it's brand.  If the current sale is the lowest price for that particular brand (even if there are other brands that may be less expensive), it is given a 5 star brand rating.

A Recommended Stock Amount
When something is on sale for an amazing price, do you ever wonder just how much of a stock you should be buying in order to make it to the next rock bottom sale?  Well, this list will help you decide.  This is especially useful when funds are tight and you don't have enough to buy a 6+ mo supply of every rock bottom sale.  You can be more focused in your stockpiling efforts.

When To Use Your Coupons
Have you ever seen a coupon matched to a sale and wondered if you should use it now or wait for a better sale?  Well, this list not only matches almost every item on sale to available coupons, it also tells you if you should use your coupon now or wait for a better sale.

EXCITED YET?......next week I'll tell you all about our Coupon Database!

PRODUCE
Fresh Express Bagged Greens - $1.50
Coupon is only for Artisinal Variety.  Unsure if this variety is included in the sale

• Buy one and use $1.50 off 1 printable (no longer available to print)
• FINAL PRICE - FREE with coupon!

Eat Smart Precut and Bagged Veggies (10-12 oz) - $1.50

California Cuties Tangerines (3 lb bag) - $2.99

• Buy one and use $0.55 off one printable
• FINAL PRICE - $2.44 with coupon

Blackberries (5.6 oz) - $1.99

Baby Carrots (1 lb bag) - $0.99


MEAT
Foster Farms Savory Servings Boneless, Skinless Marinated Chicken Breasts - $3.99 / lb

New York Steak (Bone-In) - $3.99 / lb

Foster Farms Whole Chicken - $0.77 / lb


REFRIGERATED 
Foster Farms Poultry Franks (16 oz) - $0.99

Stater Bros Refrigerated Punch (1 Gallon) - $0.99

Yoplait 8 pk 6 oz yogurt - $3.49


FROZEN
Delimax Taquitos (25 oz) - $3.99

• Use $1 off one in ad store cpn (pg 3) - $2.99
• Use $2 off one coupon from 04/11 SS - $0.99

OTHER
Powerade (32 oz) - $0.50
Must buy 15 for price

Coke 6 pk (16.9 oz) - $2.50

Kellogs Corn Flakes (12 oz) - $1.69

• Buy 2 and use $1.50 off 2 from 03/28 RP
• FINAL PRICE - $0.94 each with coupon
• 
  
  
  • OR
  Buy 2 and use $1 off 2 printable
• FINAL PRICE - $1.19 each with coupon

Kellogs Raisin Bran (15 oz) - $1.69

• Buy two and use $1 off 2 printable
• FINAL PRICE - $1.19 each with coupon

Grannys Oven Cookies (10 oz) - $0.99

Aunt Jemima Syrup (24 oz Country Rich) - $1.99

• Buy 2 and use $1 off 2 from 01/03 RP1
• FINAL PRICE - $1.49 each with coupon

Glaceau Vitaminwater (20 oz) - $0.99

• Buy 2 and $1 off 2 from 04/11 SS
• FINAL PRICE - $0.49 each with coupon

Sun Dish Soap (25 oz) - $0.99

Sobe Lifewater (20 oz) - $0.99

• Buy 2 and use B1G1F printable
• FINAL PRICE - $0.49 each with coupon

Today's guest post is from Nannette Dalton.  She is my mother and she is truly wonderful. Besides being an incredible mother and one of my heros, she is amazingly creative.  One of the many things she does well is scrapbooking.  I have been amazed again and again at the beautiful projects she creates.  She has recently (and finally...she has been trying for YEARS) gotten me to start trying my hand at digital scrapbooking.  Once I realized what a frugalicious thing it is (as compared to traditional scrapbooking), I asked her if she would do a few guest posts for us.  So, over the next few weeks, she is going to let us in on all her secrets:  just exactly how she is able to create beautiful scrapbooking for not much more than the cost of printing.

Here is the first page I ever digitally scrapbooked:


Give it a try.  Create this same page with your own pictures and colors! First go here and download the free kit called Vintage Florals from Shabby Princess. It will come in a “Zipped File” just right click it and select extract all. You can then delete the Zipped file.


Go here for the complete Tutorial. ( Video and/or written for Photoshop Elements 5 and older. You can still use this tutorial for newer versions of PSE but you may have to hunt a bit for the tools)

WARNING… it is very addictive!

Pinching Your Pennies has found a way to get a patio set at Walmart for as little as $50! 
Offer should be good until April 30th.