Payge Maker's Proverbs

Another shopping trip today since my RRs were expiring today from Walgreens. 2 bags of Kit Kats, a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a peppermint patty - $3.30 OOP and received $6 in RRs... so basically made $2.70 on that trip. ($15.48 for $3.30 = 79% savings before RRs, 100% after RRs) Then we went to Walmart to get me a set of circular knitting needles and they didn't have the right size :( So we got 8 cans of Cream of Mushroom soup, 2 packs of lunch meat (using a Cub price match) and then my husband threw in his MtnDew to skew my savings :P $9.28 OOP for $15.50 is only 40% savings. You take his Dew out and then we'd been at $7.78 for $14 and a 45% savings. Lots of coupons expiring tomorrow and I didn't really find any super great ones this week in the paper. Once again (for the second time in 4 weeks) the Pioneer Press didn't arrive at my house this morning. Debating calling and cancelling and demanding a refund.

Today was a shopping day! I ended up with $137.31 worth of merchandise and paid $54.03 OOP. It gets better as I also received a $10 American Express gift card, $2 off my next Rainbow purchase, and $1 ECB. That brings the total down to $41.03 for a savings of - 70%. This included trips to 5 stores. Note: It was double coupon day at Rainbow and double coupon week at Kmart - and in Oakdale they just so happen to be right next to each other making it easy to go to both! Staples (52 cents for $10.52) - 95% savings Victoria's Secret ($0 for $9.50) - 100% savings CVS ($23.55 for $52.58 + $10 AMEX GC + $1 ECB) 55% savings (76% if you count the OYNO) Kmart ($6.12 for $12.08) - 49% savings Rainbow ($23.84 for $52.63 + $2 catalina) - 55% savings (59% if you count the OYNO) Should have been higher savings, but our FAVORITE Fuze (Strawberry Guava) was on sale at Kmart and I didn't have a coupon for it and no stores closer to us carry that flavor. If you take out the Fuze my Kmart tota...

It's Friday! My tips for today are... Be organized! For those of you reading that know me personally - stop laughing! Yes, I am probably the most unorganized person you'll ever meet, but there is an organization to my coupon madness! Whether you have a little coupon organizer (usually $5 or less - even a note card case works) or a zipper binder or a filing cabinet full of coupons - they are of no use if you don't know what's where and can find what you need for what you plan to shop for. Figure out a logical order for your coupons that works for you! I have mine in order of aisles at the local grocery store. This, of course, does not correspond with ANY other store I've ever been in - but it's what I know. Even though I don't shop there much anymore, since I shopped there for 10+ years, to me it's how a store should have their aisles ordered. Also, find match up web sites for your area. There are lots of match up web sites out there to match up ...

Just a quick list of before buying tips... Have rewards cards! Staples, Kmart/Sears, Roundy's, County Market, CVS, etc... Staples has many items rebated back with your card and they give you rewards for recycling ink cartridges ($2 each with a max of 10 recycled a month). I save them up until I have 9 or 10, since rewards are issued in $10 increments monthly. You also get a 10% rebate back on ink and paper purchases. If you're smart and don't go crazy - store credit cards - Victoria's Secret and Kohl's. Victoria's Secret sends out lots of coupons and freebies to card holders. Kohl's sends out up to 30% off your total purchase coupons a bazillion times a year - PLUS you can get Kohl's cash back, which sometimes is valid over a 30% off coupon time as well! Example - this week I got an email from Staples for a bonus $5 rebate reward. I also had an ad coupon for $5 off a $25 purchase. This was great because I'd just run out of ink! I had 9 cartri...

Just setting things up and figuring things out a bit - so the panoramic of Duluth's pier I took last year is only temporary :) I hope to keep track of my savings safari and see if it really makes a difference! For now though - it took longer than I thought to figure out my old info. I claimed this piece of internet land 5 years ago and didn't remember! So, when i went to set this up - I was shocked that someone had already taken paygem.blogspot.com and then I find out it was me!