Where do I get my coupons?

Well - no big deals to report lately (although there are a couple shopping trips this week that I am getting ready to do).

I thought I'd go ahead and post how I come across all my coupons.

• I get the Chicago Tribune delivered every week (it has better coupon values that our local paper). I've actually considered bumping up to 2 Sunday papers from there.
  
• I also go out and buy a couple copies of our local paper (more if there's good coupons)
  
• My family saves their coupon inserts for me (usually just my grandma & my great aunt)
• Coupon trades
• Writing to companies for coupons and to get added to their mailing list
• Printing from the internet (can print 2 copies of most coupons per computer)
  
• My most "profitable" coupon source is the recycle bins around my town! Us couponers call this "Dumpster Diving". There are about 10-12 sites where people can drop off their recyclables here in town (no curbside recycling). I like to hit these on Monday mornings and get a "stash" of papers that newspaper delivery people have tossed out. Sometimes I find 20 or more of the coupon inserts this way!
• Newspaper carriers - I don't currently have this "source" but I have in the past. Usually the newspaper carriers have to stuff the papers with the ad/coupon inserts on Sundays. These inserts come in bundles of a predetermined number and sometimes the carriers have extras. My source for this had to give up his route though - so I am still searching for a new one.

I thought this might help those who are new to couponing and give them some ideas of where to get papers from.

May 24th, 2008 - Schnucks, Jewel, Meijers, Walgreens

Did MORE shopping today (hubby loves it! LOL) Did the Meijers trip with my 5 yr old - didn't think we were going to both make it out of the store - made me remember why I don't take him "coupon" shopping with me. LOL

I've also decided I would try to post the price/coupons/deal I use next to the items I purchase. We'll see how long I can stick to that :-)

Walgreens
2 bottles Suavitel (on sale 2/$2.79 - used $1 cpns)
2 Barbosal shaving cream DOUBLE packs (sale $0.99)
9 Kleenex (sale $0.89, $0.50/3 cpn)
$25 Papa Johns gift card
$15 Starbucks gift card

Total was $50.24 and I paid using my Walgreens gift card so $0.00 OOP

Jewel
6 bags mini marshmallows (sale $1.00, $3 cat wyb 3 bags)

$0.06 OOP

Schnucks
2 Solo grips bowls (2/$4 sale, $2 cpn, $4 cat wyb 4 pkgs)
2 Solo grips cups (2/$4 sale, $2 cpn, $4 cat wyb 4 pkgs)
16 Solo paper plates, asst sizes (2/$4 sale, $2 cpn, $4 cat wyb 4 pkgs)
8 Smuckers toppings ($1 sale, $1.25/2 cpn, $0.55 cpn doubled to $1, B3G1F, Rebate - Buy 4 get $4 in movie rental value)
1 5 pk Spill Proof cups ($3.39 sale - no cpns but these tend to mysteriously disappear in our house)

$4.97 OOP

Meijer
2 single string cheese ($0.39 ea - occupied my son for all of 5 minutes)
3 Johnson's Buddies bar soap ($0.99 ea, B2G1F sale, $2.50 off 3 cpn)
9 pk girls underwear ($5.89 sale)
1.43 lb bananas ($0.50 lb - $1.30, $1 produce cpn)
1 bag apricots ($2.42 sale, $1 produce cpn)
6 pk Yoplait drinkable yogurt ($2.69 sale, free item cpn)
3 lb bag apples ($3.49, $3 produce cpn)
6 oz blackberries ($2.50, $1 produce cpn)
3 Edwards frozen slice pies ($1.25 sale, $0.75 cpn)
6 bags shredded cheese, 8 oz ($1.54-1.64 sale, $1 Meijer cpn, $0.40/2 dbl cpn, $0.75/2 cpn)
1 canteloupe ($2 sale, $1 produce cpn)
1 South Beach dressing ($1.67, free item cpn)
3 Bagel-fuls ($1.67 sale, $1 cpn)
1 Vlasic sweet relish ($1 sale, $1 cpn)
2 6 oz boxes raspberries ($2.50 ea sale, 2-$1 produce cpn)
2 pkgs melon chunks ($0.46 clearance, 2 - $1 produce cpn)

$10.72 OOP

So all in all - I spent $15.75 OOP & will be sending in to get (4) $4 movie rental vouchers. Not bad...

May 23rd, 2008 - Meijer, Jewel, & Schnucks

I went on a marathon 3-4 hour shopping trip this afternoon. I hit Meijer, Jewel & Schnucks and did QUITE well (if I DO say so myself!). Here's what I came home with:

Jewel
3 bags mini marshmallows
3 bags big marshmallows
4 napkins (120 ct)
4 plastic forks (24 ct)
4 plastic spoons (24 ct)
2 lb strawberries
1.8 lb bananas
6 oz blueberries
6 oz blackberries

Schnucks
4 bags sugar (4 lb)
4 Smuckers toppings
4 Solo paper plates (dessert size)
4 Solo paper plates (dinner size)

Meijer
2 Frank's Hot sauce
3 Johnson's soap buddies
1 bacon bits
24 Sprite 2 Ltr
17 jars Chi Chi's salsa
10 Vlasic relish
21 Bush's grillin beans

And all together I only spent $4.51 OOP!!!

I have receipts to send in for (2) $4 off movie rentals and I earned (2) $3 cats at Jewel & (2) $4 cats at Schnucks to use in the future.

May 22nd, 2008 - CVS

I had ECBs expiring so went to CVS to use them up.

1 Edy's Ice cream
1 24pk Aquafina water bottles
2 12 pk CVS toilet paper double rolls
1 Colgate 360 toothbrush
3 Aquafresh Advance tooth paste
1 Absolutely Divine cookies
1 10 oz ground Espresso
1 CVS toilet paper single roll
1 Fresh popcorn bag

Total OOP $4.37
Walked out with $9.xx to us next trip.

May 20, 2008 - Kroger

It appears I am a few days behind here... and I don't have any pictures either.

3 Barilla whole wheat pasta
4 Banquet Brown N Serve sausages
2 Mini Carrots
2 Nestle Quik bottles (single serving)
2 50 oz Wisk laundry detergent
1 loaf Kroger bread (clearance)

OOP $8.07 (would have been $2 less if I had remembered my coupons for the carrots - OOPS).

May 17th, 2008 - Meijer, Walgreens, & Target

Another evening spent shopping. It was a nice reprieve after having the kids all day while Daddy worked.


Meijer
1 gallon milk (not pictured)
16 Kraft Pasta Salad kits
4 Ortega hard taco shells
2 Ortega taco seasoning packets
36 Country time lemonade
5 Cattleman's BBQ sauce
10 French's Spicy brown mustard
10 French's Yellow mustard

Spent $11.81 OOP
Have $4 cat to use next trip

Target
4 12 pks Diet Pepsi Max
4 12 pks Diet Dr Pepper
4 12 pks Diet Sierra Mist
2 Planters cocktail peanuts
2 Planters Sunflower kernals
5 Lay's Cracker Crisps

Spent $29.42 OOP
Will send in for (3) $10 rebates from Pepsi
Net OOP (after rebate) = ($0.58) earned money on this one!

Walgreens
2 Walgreens pads (Easy Saver rebate item)
3 Kickers Energy sprays (Easy Saver rebate item)
1 20 oz Diet Coke Plus (free coupon)
3 4pks 60 watt lightbulbs (Easy Saver rebate item)
1 Orajel kids plaque rinse (Easy Saver rebate item)
3 Pert Plus 3 in 1 shampoo (Easy Saver rebate item)
1 Gillette 2 in 1 body wash (free coupon)

Paid $32.75 with Walgreens gift cards & will get my money back after my rebates.

May 14th, 2008 - Target, Kroger, Meijer, & Jewel

No wonder my husband thinks that all I do is shop! Hit another 4 stores today.

Target
4 12 pks assorted Pepsi products
1 Baby onesie (for the baby)
6 mini flower grow pots (for teacher gift)
2 16 qt plastic see through boxes

Used up 3 gift cards
Paid $10.75 OOP (after gift cards)
I'll send in the Pepsi UPCs for a $10 rebate
Net OOP (after rebate) $0.75

Kroger
1 loaf white bread

Paid $1.26 OOP

Meijer
36 Countrytime Lemonade (assorted flavors)
12 Kraft Pasta Salad kits
2 Valentine cello treat bags (for school parties next year - on clearance)

Paid $8.16 OOP
Have $4 cat to use on next trip

Jewel
8 Smuckers ice cream toppings
12 Hebrew National beef hot dogs
36 Chef Boyardee microwave bowls
5 cartons Egg Beaters

Spent $7.38 OOP
Have $10 cat to use next time
Will send in (4) rebates on the Smuckers for $4 credits on movie rentals = $16.00
Net OOP (after rebate) = ($8.62) - making money in the end