Hallmark Coupons= Cheap Wrapping Paper or Christmas Cards

Are you enjoying Cyber Monday shopping? Did you go out Black Friday too? I didn't do either. Fortunately, I stocked-up on toys pre-Thanksgiving. I was just wrapping up one of the Christmas presents and was so pleased to find I still had a ton of paper left. Last year Hallmark had several coupons in magazines that made for $1 giftwrap at their store.

This year, they are at it again. In case you need some as well, don't forget to use those coupons for $5 off Any Hallmark Purchases found in several magazines (Dec issue):

Family Circle
Food Network Magazine
Martha Stewart Living
O, The Oprah Magazine
Real Simple
Redbook

You could also use the $10 off $10 Hallmark posted by Hip2Save a few weeks ago. Some stores are not allowing these. I will let you know if I was able to use mine at our stores. Of course you don't have to buy wrapping paper. I am thinking of getting Christmas cards or small ornaments, myself!

There is one in the Cordova Mall and another off Hwy 98 & Blue Angel (Winn-Dixie shopping strip). The four above I bought last year are thick, glossy and very high quality. We can finally cover our front door with paper that a slight breeze won't tear apart.

FREE Bible Study at East Brent

Well, this is a great bargain if you ask me! Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) is an international, nondenominational Bible Study. Classes are 9am-11am Weds at East Brent Baptist (near the Home Depot by at the Cordova Mall area). This Weds, Dec 1 is the intro class. There's an intro class every First Weds of the month. This class is also for women only.

A young children's program is available for children 6 and younger. I was blessed to help out in the infant nursery this past Weds. Not only did they sing hymns while rocking the babies, but they also taught them sign language words and a memory verse! I was so impressed about how much care they gave these little crawlers and walkers.

If you live in another city, there might be Men's and Children's classes (1st grade and up) in your area. It's great if they do because you get to study the same passages in Scripture together as a family! Plus it is all FREE. They provide all the study materials so you don't need to buy a book!

I am really enjoying this study of Isaiah we are doing. It's causing me to dive into the Word and learn so much about things that apply to our modern times. I hope you can check it out too!

BSF at East Brent Baptist Church
9am-11am Wednesdays
Childcare provided
Intro class every First Weds (no childcare until you are registered)

$30 in CVS Store Coupon- NEW Reinventing Beauty Magazine

CVS puts out a quarterly magazine for $0.99 called Reinventing Beauty. It always has great store or manufacturer coupons. You don't have to buy the magazine to get these great coupons. Right now, there is a stack of the inserts at the registers. Pick-up a couple to use for BOGO deals. In fact, you can use many of these at Publix, too!

Store Coupons exp 1-31-11
$1/1 Kraft Dressing 16 oz
$1/1 Crystal Light drink mix 8qt or On the Go packets 10 ct
$1/2 Colgate Wisp 4ct or more
$1/1 Pro Clinical Toothpaste (not travel or trial size)
$1/1 Softsoap BodyWash 15-18 oz (not trial size)
$1/1 Lady Speedstick or Speed Stick Stainguard (not trial size)
$3/1 Nature Made product
$1/1 South Beach Living Protein Fit Cereal Bars 5 ct
$1/1 Ritz Crackerfuls
$2/1 Boiluxe full size
$2/1 Cristophe full size

Manufacturer's coupons (various expiration dates)
$1/1 Purpose skin care
$2/1 Bio Oil 2 or 4.2 fl oz.
$1/1 Ardell Lashes Starter Kit
$5 off $10 GlaxxoSmithKline Oral Care products (Aquafresh, Biotene, Sensodyne, Polident, Poligrip)
$2/1 Maybeline NY Volum' Express Falsies Black Drama Mascara and Eye Studio Lastig Drama Gel Eyewear
$1/1 Maybeline NY Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner

Get $15 Overage For Gift and Gas Card at Publix

Are you getting your gas card at Publix this week? I hope so. Soon after we left the Perdido store, my hubby got gas at the Shell station across Mc Donald's. It's $2.75/gallon (only 2 cents more than Wal-Mart). And you can use the promotion on the American Express Gift Card (AMEX) to get another $5 overage... intrigued?

Here's how it works:
First Transaction:
Buy $50 AMEX gift card
Use $10 off $50 AMEX gift card*
*back cover of sales ad or PRINT. Go to the last tab on top of the weekly ad. It says "Coupons" or click from the left side bar.
Pay $40 + $4.95 activation fee

Here is the tricky part:
Second Transaction
Shop for 1 hour 10 minutes (that's how long it takes to activate the card) or shop the next day
Get $25 of groceries & a $50 Shell Gas Card
Use $10 off $50 Gas Card (towards end of sales ad or PRINT)
Use any coupons for your groceries
Use the $50 AMEX card to pay for gas card
Pay the remaining balance, if any, with cash or something else
=$10 overage on gas card to go to grocery item balance

I had some FREE product coupons mailed to me and a raincheck on the Ronzoni Garden Delight, putting my total after coupons to only about $4 plus $40 for the gas card- which all went on the AMEX card!

$5.99 Energizer Lithium 4x (Green Ad sale)
*use $1 MQ & $2 Target PRINT= $2.99 each
BOGO Scotch Gift Wrap or Magic Tape $2.79 (use two $1 from Winter Family Savings booklet)
BOGO Pillsbury Cake Mix $1.79 (not great, no coupon, but I want a cake!)
$1.99 Keebler Peanut Butter or Cheese crackers (price cut from $2.70)
Also Laughing Cow wedges are $2.19 (use $1/1 MQ tearpad)

Buy 2 Lucky Charms Get FREE Movie Ticket!

Wal-Mart still had $1.96 movies last night at 8:30 pm. While there, I saw some General Mills cereal at an end cap. They are kids cereals and you buy two and get 1 FREE movie ticket. These are good for up to $12 admission. The cereal flavors are Trix, Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Reese's Puffs.

Buy 2 Kid Cereal $2.98 each

Get 1 FREE movie ticket $8 (in our area)

Grocery Deals 11/26-11/30

I'm staying put this morning. But I do plan some grocery shopping tomorrow! $0.50 Kraft cheese at Winn-Dixie can't be passed up.

Publix Super Deals by I Heart Publix:
Nonni’s Biscotti or Soft Baked Tusconi BOGO $3.37

Gardein Garden Protein Meat-Free Entree BOGO $3.99
$1 MQ PRINT or PRINT

Chung’s Egg Rolls or Spring Rolls 10-12 oz box BOGO $2.99
$0.35/1 (PDF) Rolling or $1/2 MQ 10/17 SS Insert

Kellogg’s Eggo Pancakes, Cinnabon, Nutri Grain Fruit Pizza, 5.3-16.4 oz BOGO $2.79
-$1/2 Eggo Products Rolling

Lactaid Milk, half gallon, 2/$6
-$2/1 Lactaid blinkie (check your binders)
-$1/1 Lactaid Milk Product (exp 12/2/2010)

Gerber Graduates 6 oz, 10/$9
-$1/2 MQ from Target catalina

Cheese-It 9.75-14 oz BOGO $2.39
-$1.50 off pretzels wyb Cheez-It Target Q
-$1/2 MQ tearpad at Winn-Dixie (have you found this?)
-$1/2 Walgreens Q in December booklet

Scotch Gift Wrap Tape, BOGO $2.79
$1/1 Publix Q Winter Family Savings
(Some people found $1/1 tearpads)

Red Delicious Apples, 5 lb bag, $3.99
Iceburg Lettuce, $.99
Florida Tomatoes, $1.29/lb
Florida’s Tangerines 3 lb bag, 2/$3

In-Ad Coupon $10 off a $50 BP, Shell, Chevron/Texaco or Hess Gas Card wyb $25+ Groceries
In-Ad Coupon $10 off a $50 American Express Gift Card ($4.95 activation fee)


Food World Deals:
$1.77 boneless, skinless chicken breast (great price!)
$1.99/lb ground chuck
$0.99 Food World white bread
$0.39/lb bananas

Winn-Dixie Deals:
Get $10 Gift Card wyb Flu Shot ($23 or $43)
Get $5 off every $50 gift card purchase

Saturday Only Sales:
$0.99 Kraft Cheese 5-9.6 oz shreds or block (limit 2) use $1/2 PRINT
$3.99 DiGorno pizza (limit 2) use $1/1 11/14 RP
$4.99 Cottonelle (limit 2) use $0.50/2 PRINT
$2.99/lb pork loin baby back ribs (limit 2)
$4.99 Tyson snack wings (limit 2)
3/$1 Winn-Dixie canned vegetables 14.5 oz corn, peas, green beans (limit 12)
$1.99 4-lb navel oranges
Canned veggies make great Food Pantry donations- only $4 or 12 cans!

Best of Friday-Tuesday:$1.99 Dole Salad 10-12 oz
$2 for 3-lb bag onions
$1.50 sliced or whole white mushrooms
$2 Wholly Guacamole dips (use $4 Facebook, $2 overage)
BOGO Green Giant canned vegetables not asparagus $1.39/2
BOGO London broil $4.99/2lbs
BOGO Genl Mills Cereal (double up for WIC)
BOGO Manischewitz potato pancake mix 6 oz, $2.99/2
$0.25 Elite chocolate coins

CVS Black Friday Deals

Yes, I couldn't resist. I went to CVS after Tanks giving dinner. I felt bad for the cashier but she said her Mom had to work too and they had Thanksgiving yesterday. I was not alone there for too long. A few wives dragged their hubbies to get Black Friday deals early too.

I started with no ECBs to rollover. I also used the $4 off $20 found in the Christmas book. It's good through 11/28, limit 1 per household. Thanks to Southern Savers for the photo.

Here is the summary for the transactions:
Total without any ECBs or coupons: $92.24
Total out-of-pocket: $23.65 + tax
Total ECBs left over: $17.96
Total after these ECBs: $6
That's a savings of 93% after all is said and done.

The first 3 transactions are all FREE items without any coupons. With coupons, it would be a $11.75 moneymaker! Submit the Renpure Try-Me-Free Rebate and that's another $4.99 overage!

FIRST TRANSACTION:
5 Reese's candy, $0.79 x 5
5 Mars candy King size, $1.59 x 5
Total out-of-pocket (OOP): $11.90
ECBs Received $11.90
FREE 10 candy bars after ECBs!


SECOND TRANSACTION:
2 Listerine Pocket Pacs $2.99 x 2
1 Carmex lip balm $0.99 (next to Airborne)
2 Herbal Essence Hydralicious shampoos $3.99 x 2
2 Colgate Sensitive $3.99 x 2 (no triclosan!)

1 Excedrin 8 ct $0.99 (travel section)
1 Gillette deodorant $4
Subtotal: $27.92

-$2 x 2 Clairol Family Q for shampoo 10/31 PG
-$2 Gillette from 10/31 PG
-$0.75 Colgate sensitive from All You Dec 2010?
-$11.90 ECBs from 2nd transaction
-$1 Green Tag ECB
Coupon Total: -19.65
Total OOP: $8.27
ECBs Received $31.92


THIRD TRANSACTION:
1 LA Looks Hair Gel $2.99
1 Renpure Shampoo & Conditioner $4.99 x 2
1 Philips Earphones $6.99
1 Eucerin Daily Moisturizer $6.99
Subtotal: $26.95

-$23.94 ECBs from 3rd transaction*
This could have been lower OOP if I gave my other ECBs instead.
Total OOP:$3.01
ECBs Received: $26.95 (plus $7.98 I have left over)
You know... I don't think I paid for that detergent! I looked in my receipts & it's not on there. It's $1.99 get $1 ECBs. I'll have to go back tomorrow & pay for it!

FOURTH & 5th TRANSACTION*
Chocolate Fountain $18.88
Cold Eeze $6.59
Subtotal: $25.47
-$25 ECBs from 3rd transaction

Total OOP: $0.47
ECBs Received: $10 ($plus 7.96 ECBs left over)

I had to go back into the store to get the Cold Eeze for DH. The chocolate fountain is for Ladies Gift Exchange. It's a smaller version and perfect for family use! It's red and pretty cute. They also had lots of other gift-type appliances that were $18.88 with $10 ECBs after purchase.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing everyone a wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving!

This was in Family Fun's October 2010 issue- "pumpkin pie" giant cookie. It was a hit with the little kids. And I was so proud of myself for finally making something from this magazine. We've had the subscription for 6 months now! These little turkeys from Makes&Takes were also a great idea. The only problem was the little kids knew they were chocolate and only wanted to eat these instead of dinner... would have been better as a parting gift!

Last Minute Target Shopping

I thought of a couple more last-minute gifts to get so I hurried over to Target. The lines were pretty short. Maybe people fled Pensacola for better cities for Thanksgiving. Anywhoo, there were still lots and lots of toys and items for Thanksgiving. These finds are courtesy of Totally Target. Many of these items should still be on sale through Saturday, at least.

Skippy Natural, $1.93 (-$0.75/2 Target Q)
Betty Crocker Cookie Mix, $1.50 (-0.40 man Q)
Maxwell House Int'l Coffee, $3.04 (-$2/2 Target Q, -$1 man Q)
Jello Pudding, $0.77 or $0.99 (-$0.50/2 Target Q, -$1.25/3 from Kraft booklet)
Keebler Chocolate Chip cookies, $1.99 (-$1/1 man q)
Mrs. Smith $3.41 (free Cool-Whip w/ purchase)
Cool Whip, $0.89 (-$1/2 man Q, -$0.50/2 Target Q)
Stove Top, $0.79 (-0.50/2 Target Q)

My total was around $26 but I got a $5 Gift Card from the Smart Ones.
Smart Ones dinners, $1.99 each*
*(-$4/10 Target, $4/10 Man Q, $5 GC wyb 10- these expire in a couple of days and I don't remember the links for the other 2 Qs. They come out to $0.69 each after Qs & GC)

My kids will have gift exchange soon so I decided to grab another Rapunzel. They were only $6 for the bigger one and $3.44 for the mini-version. The two Sorry games gave me $2 in overage using the $5 Qs inside the package. The Ladybug Game is for friends and was only $6 after 50% off Q. The total came out to $8.44 for some great Christmas presents. I also bought 3 pairs of pajama shorts, 2 undies, and a henley long-sleeved shirt for $2 using two $10/3 Target qs.

Mini-dolls make great cake toppers. After seeing this Tangled Theme Cake, I had to get that mini-Rapunzel doll. Jessica at Life As Mom makes cakes with the best decor! Check out her tutorial- it's so simple!
On a side note, at Target I saw this lady who came up to me and asked me if I was a blogger. It surprised me that someone would even recognize me. She told me how she had gotten out of the habit of couponing for some reason in the summertime. I tried to encourage her, but it didn't seem to be any use. It's makes me so sad to hear of a die-hard couponer who can't seem to get back into the swing of things.

So this Thanksgiving, I'd like to encourage you to keep on going, even if it's just one or two deals a week. Pair up with someone who has time and experience and go shopping with them. Remember women do things better together- clothes shopping, Bible study, cooking. Why not grocery shopping? It's a lot more fun with a buddy system!

$1 Kraft Cheese at Winn-Dixie Saturday Only

Winn-Dixie's weekly ad ends Thanksgiving Day. But they have a few deals just for the weekend. Kraft cheese will be $1 on Saturday only. Use the $1/2 PRINT to make it only $0.50 each! There is a limit of 2 per customer. Thanks Julie for the heads-up!

$1 off Pilgrims Pride Chicken (Wal-Mart)

I never recommend clicking on any banners when visiting other websites. I always say, only click on a link the writer wrote themselves. And yet I chanced it tonight when I was on coupons.com because I saw this $1 off Pilgrims coupon. Wal-Mart carries this chicken. Often, split chicken breast is on sale for $0.99/lb at area grocery stores. I always go to Wal-Mart to price match to avoid driving everywhere. It's rare to find coupons for chicken.

Go here to receive $1 off Pilgrim's Chicken and you can print 2 per computer! The coupon link is on the top right corner. You could go straight to the bricks link as well. You could also get $0.55 off when you register at Pilgrim's Pride website.

Thansk to Amanda at Simple Saving Savvy for the photo and link! I lost the link after I printed the coupons and found it again on her blog.

Target Toy Super Shopping! Restocked for Tomorrow

It's funny how priorities tell a lot about you. Our one vehicle is "resting" for a few days. With all this talk about Target's BOGO toy sales, I just couldn't stand it anymore. I called someone to go there with me. After dinner, after her and my children were surely asleep, and the dads getting there too, we trekked to Target. What a fun time we had! I even printed extra coupons in case she wanted to buy a couple things, which she did. We shared a $5 Q to a grandmother buying a Thomas the Train set, too.

We had a great time of fellowship and we also got great deals!

These are the item I got:
2 FREE Leapfrog Tag books (BOGO & two $5 Qs)
2 other Leapfrog Tag books, $2 each after Qs
Barbie Rapunzel $6 (w/ 50% off Q)
2 Hasbro Card Games ($1 overage)*
Total: $6

Food I couldn't ignore:
Shrimp, $3 (used $1 Target Q)
Market Pantry Egg Nog (for my hubby) $1.99
2 dozen eggs $0.99 each (forgot this $0.55/2 Q)
Total:$7

*Target registers now detect overage on coupons and scan them down accordingly. Lately, on certain non-printable coupons, I've received overage. I'm not sure which these were. But the Hasbro Card Games (many are $3.99) have $5 Q found inside of the package. They are ringing up with $1.01 overage! There are still plenty left & with at least 4 types on sale.

The only downer was those Cuponk games, they were too scary for me! I wouldn't get those even they were moneymakers. So I have 2 coupons for them and as I was leaving it on the shelf for someone else to use, the Target employee told me he would have to throw them away. The store considers them paper trash. So sad. So next time you feel the urge to coupon fairy a few items, tuck them into the actual product. Or hand them to people in the aisle or in line at the register.