Monday, February 23, 2009

$460 IN TWO MONTHS

I have received $460 in free groceries this year! Starting January 13th, that is not bad! I am actually stocked up pretty good and won't be grocery shopping for a few weeks! This will allow me to save even more! AND I did received $33.20 off my next purchase at Albertsons... hooray for me and eveyone who is saving!

Monday, February 16, 2009

lovin' Kelloggs and the sale!


192 for 83... Love it!
Albertsons has Kelloggs at 50% off until this Wendesday, I couldn't help but to stock up. Also the buy one get one free on the cheese is still going on. I got some great stuff and won't have to buy cereal for a few months! I love that!
Anyone have any great savings tips or stories to share with the class?

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Love holidays, Don't love the Sunday before them!

No coupons in todays paper. Reminder: Sunday papers that come before a holiday will not have coupon inserts in them. Boo Hoo! Enjoy your Presidents day!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

More Cheese please!

Starting today, Albertson cheese is Buy one get One Free! This is Albertsons brand and the items must be identical. You can Freeze cheese ladies. I checked it out. So Stock up! Have your preferred card to get these savings!

Monday, February 9, 2009

More great news for out of staters!

After a bit of research and help from my Sis in law in Oregon. I found that Sunday coupon inserts are the same here as there. AND the Albertson's ads are the same. SOOO If you have an Albertsons in your state, just use the grocery smarts website and the program as per the intructions on my first post! Coupon mom is another option but having not ever tested it... I would use the Grocery Smarts website first! If you try this in other states please let me know how it works out!
Albertsons Pictures, Images and Photos

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Today's Utah papers

Make sure you grab all FOUR inserts in todays papers. There is a Smart Source, Red Plum, Proctor&Gamble and a General Mills insert. I just love Sunday's like this!

Friday, February 6, 2009

Just clearing the air...

I have had a few Debbie Downers on the Grocery Smarts program and I would like to share my thoughts on these concerns:
1. Some are concerned with buying all these EXTRA Sunday papers just to get the coupons, yes yes it is wasteful. BUT did you know your schools get paid by weight for recycled papers? Take your papers to your local school, use then for paper mache, wrap gifts with them or use them as packing material. Don't not do the program because your caught up on the extra papers... be creative. I know you can do it! Sometimes you can even buy coupon inserts off of Ebay... check it out if your really nervous about the extra paper. Or call all your neighbors and family members if they get the paper chances are they are not using the coupons, get theirs.
2. "Nothing me or my kids eat is ever on sale" Really? You never have General Mills cereal? You don't eat frozen pizza or snack on potato chips? AND if you can buy a box of cereal for .25 I think your kids can try something new... don't you? Be adventurous, try new items, you just might like it.
3. "I don't like the thought of buying things I don't need right this moment" okay okay I must admit this one had me hung up for awhile as well. BUT think of your savings in the long run. Sure you don't need any Chicken noodle soup right this second, but in a few months you will, and it most likely won't be on sale when you need it. Stock up while it's cheap, it lasts 2 years at least. Same with everything else, don't need soap yet.. but I know you will! Get the deal while there is a deal. Stock up, you'll always have it on hand. This is also how you create that massive food storage that we all need.
I heard that some don't like to take the FREE items because you won't eat or use them. TAKE THEM! Donate them to local charities or food banks.. they are FREE to you! TAKE THEM, I'm begging you!
4. "I don't have time to clip coupons" OHHH but my dear friend, it dosen't take long at all. It takes me maybe 30 minutes a week. If you feel you are too busy to set aside 30 minutes a week, your NUTS! Time is valuable.. and so is money! Come on, you can do it... think of all the savings your getting for that little 30 minutes! I promise it is well worth it.
Any other things you need me to help clear your mind.. you just let me know!
Coupons Pictures, Images and Photos

Thursday, February 5, 2009

The rest of the 49 states...

I have two words for you... COUPON MOM!
This website is fantastic! Click on the link from my blog, it will take you right there. Go to Grocery deals by State in the left column and choose your state. This will show you what to buy and what Coupon to use... you have been saving those Sunday inserts right? AWESOME!
Download the 10 page FREE ebook that has more instruction and tells you step by step, lots of good information in that. It looks allot like what Grocery Smarts does, AND Coupon Mom was on Oprah.. so you know it's legit! Good luck!

Idaho Coupons Crazies...

I found some information on some ladies who teach couponing (yes it is now a verb) in Idaho. This is not the same program I use (Grocery Smarts has not made it to Idaho yet)
In Rigby Idaho every Tuesday 10-11 am There is a coupon group and coupon education that goes on. You can bring coupons to trade or just sit and listen to how these fine ladies do it. Call Dawn 208-745-7845 for the address for this wonderful class!
In Idaho Falls the number to call is 208-523-4179, I think her name is Shannon. Just tell her you are interested in learning the smart shopping way! I'm sure they are very friendly and can wait to spread the word. You can mention you heard of it through Pinching your Pennies. Good Luck Idahoians!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Who wants $30 bucks?

Go to the Dear Savvy Shopper blog over there on the left and join the game! The game is during the month of Feburary and each day there is a new challenge. Complete the challenges and get points, person with the most points wins a $30 gift card! The challenges are all savings related, awesome ways to learn new tips on saving money. Go on... git to it.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Free Favorites!

Starting tomorrow at Albertsons... Don't miss out! (make sure you have your preferred card! And grab the ad right inside the door)

-One FREE Albertsons Icecream (1.75 qt) when you buy 3 Rosetto Ravioloi, Tortellni or Steam 'n Eat Ravioli (18-25 oz
-One FREE Hawaii's own juice blend (12 oz) when you buy 1 Eggo Waffles (19.8 oz)
-One FREE Albertons Potato Chips (11 oz) when you buy 3 Jack link's beef jerky (3.25oz)
-One FREE Tostitos Salsa (15.5 oz) when you buy 1 Delimex Taquitos (25 oz)
-One FREE Pepperidge Farm Texas Toast (11.25 oz) when you buy 2 T.G.I. Fridays skillet meals (24 oz)
-One FREE Albertsons Saltine Crackers (15-16 oz) when you buy 1 Planters Dry Roasted Peanuts. (34.5 oz)
-One FREE Barilla Pasta (12-16 oz) when you buy 2 Barilla Pasta Sauce (24oz)
-One FREE Dannon La Creme Yogurt (4-ct 4 oz) when you buy 5 Dannon Frusion Smoothie (7 oz)
-One FREE Cool Whip Aerosol Topping (7 oz) when you buy 2 Jell-o Pudding or Gelatin
-FREE Bananas (up to $1.50) when you buy any Skippy Peanut Butter
-One FREE Albertsons Homelife Awesome! Paper Towels when you buy Glass Plus Cleaner (32 oz trigger spray)
-One FREE Albertsons Ground Coffee (11.5-13 oz) when you buy 3 Coffee-Mate Flavored Coffee Creamer
-One FREE Albertsons Graham Cracker Pie Crust (6 oz) when you buy 1 Jell-o No bake Cheesecake mix (11.1 Oz)
-One FREE Powerade Sports Drink (8-pack 20 oz bottles) when you buy 2 Dasani Water (24-pack .5 ltr bottles)
-One FREE Tide to GO Stain remover (1 pen) when you buy 1 Tide liquid Laundry Detergent (72-96 Loads)

If you can still breathe after all that FREE stuff, in the Albertsons ad this week they are giving you FOUR coupons that let you match your coupons! So I get to choose what coupons I want to double!! I don't know what I'll use mine on yet, I'm going to wait till tomorrow when the Grocery Smarts website updates! HOORAY! Good luck Shopping this week, save big!

Monday, February 2, 2009

Starting February off right!


My total on all this great stuff was $229.70, after coupons and preferred savings, my total was $114.79. BUT that is NOT what I paid... I only paid $83.19! You may ask yourself how I accomplished this great feat? Well I had $31.60 in an Albertsons gift card for hosting a grocery smarts class. So I count that as savings for me! Hooray! But without the GC my total savings in coupons and sales was....drum roll.... $115.40! Can you believe that? $115.40 in FREE grocerys! $100.00 used to be my entire grocery budget. So here is the deal of the week at Albertsons. (you have to go before wendesday to get these offers!!)
Culinary Circle frozen pizza, this is a buy one get one FREE and then you get 2 Dr. Pepper 2 liters FREE! AND on the Culinary Circle website there is a $1.00 off coupon on the pizza~
Buy three boxes of Wheat Thins, and get easy cheese 8 oz or Velveeta 8 oz FREE! And if you've been saving those Sunday coupons you can even find a 2/$2 coupon for the Wheat Thins! HOORAY for FREE stuff!
My hubby and I are hosting a little get together this weekend... so I tried to stock up for the festivities. I got my KRAFT BBQ sauce for .25 cents, 2 bags of Tostitos chips and 2 Wholly Guacamole for $4.00. Hamburger and hotdog buns were also on sale... I sure do feel good about it!

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Live outside of Utah?

Still save! In the Nevada area your Grocery smarts passport is g89cah.

Proof it works!


This picture is missing 7 more cans of progressive soup.



Grocery Smarts is PERFECT for food storage! I got 25 cans of Campbells soup and got 10 FREE and the other 15 were .40 each! That is MAJOR for awesome food storage. Also in a few short months you should be totally able to plan meals completely from your pantry! One week Spagetthi noodles will be on sale STOCK up cause in a few more weeks the pasta sauce will be on sale... there, you have a meal!

Getting Started on your own Massive savings!

I have been asked (by my many saving loving friends) to start a Grocery blog about my great savings using the Grocery Smarts program. So lets get YOU started!
step by step.
1. Start saving those Sunday coupons! Don't be stingy when it comes to getting Sunday coupons, you need more then one set! I get 5 sets each Sunday. This is one for each member in my family and one extra. So sign up for your Sunday delivery ASAP! Call your paper and ask is they give a grocery smarts discount.
2. When you get those awesome coupons (don't cut anything out!) make sure you make a note of what Sunday they came on, here is the example. Use a bold black marker so they are easier to find.

3. go to the grocery smarts website grocerysmarts.com your passport will be g84cjr.
4. Choose your grocery store. I choose Albertsons, but all your favorite stores will be on there. Once you have selected your store, the weekly ads will pop up! Hooray! Look at everything that is on sale! Ads come out each Wednesday, so you will need to check this once a week... you pick the date. I try to do it Wednesday nights.
5. Click on start up in the right hand corner, this will allow you to highlight ONLY the things YOU want to buy!
6. After you have selected what you want to purchase, click on shrink (also in the right hand corner)
. This gives you your own shopping list. The more stars you have next to your item, the bigger deal you will be getting so I recommend STOCKING up!
7. On the right hand side of your new shopping list, it tells you where to find the coupons that will give you the best deal. They may be printable online coupons with the link right there (click and print as many as it will allow you) OR it will say something like ss-12/14 this means you will find your coupon in the Smart Source packet that came in your December 14th paper. There is also RP which means Red Plum. Some papers will also include a Dollar Days packet or a P&G Brand saver.


8. Go find your coupons, and clip them.
9. Now that you have clipped your coupons, you can count how many you are going to buy at the store. Read the coupons some are you have to buy two to get the deal. Write the number of items you are going to get on your shopping list so you don't have to figure all that out at the store. This is what mine looks like before I head out.
10. If they are out of an item on your list GET A RAIN CHECK!
11. Make sure if you are going to Albertson or Smiths, or somewhere where they have a preferred savings card that YOU have ONE!
12. Go to the checkout... I give my savings card, and my coupons at the end, that way I can see what I WOULD HAVE been paying as opposed to what my bill will be! Thats the BEST part!
13. SMILE, you just saved your family MONEY! You'll be taking that family vacation sooner then you thought!