Coupon Organization - Finding Your *Thing*

I know everyone has their own *thing* as far as coupon organization goes.  A very popular way is to just keep them whole and unclipped so that you can search for coupons by which insert (date and type - for example, 8/1 SS would be the Smart Source insert from August 1).

This just does not work for me.  I buy too many things that are not on someone's random list of what's cheap and when I'm searching for a coupon for a particular item (let's say, sugar), I am not going to remember which insert the Domino sugar coupon was in.  BUT if I organize them alphabetically by product name in a nice, practical binder, I can go right to the D section and grab that Domino coupon!  My one exception to this is that I put all of my coupons for cereals in the front of the C section.  This is just because of the large number of cereal coupons that are fairly generic (for example, $1 off 2 of the following cereals: Fruit Loops, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Apple Jacks, etc.)

I also know people with binders who sort them by section of the grocery store.  I can see how this would make sense, too, but it is not my *thing* so I don't do it.

You need to find your own *thing*... and in the meantime, be patient with me as I will often not know which insert a particular coupon was in!  It's just not my *thing*.

Target Toy Clearance

Just in case you weren't aware, Target seems to do a big clearance of their toys both right after Christmas in January and also at the end of July and into August as Summer winds down.

I've heard different Targets have had different items clearanced.  My Target has most clearance toys down to 75% off now.  I picked up a few stocking stuffer items (Mickey Mouse toys, small balls and trucks) for less than a dollar each but my biggest find was this Toy Story 3 inflatable pool with little squirt guns to knock down the alien dudes.

Original Price... $29.99                   
Paid... $7.48

                                            

Swagbucks - $50 for Christmas Shopping!

I've finally started really cashing in some of my swagbucks.  I've been saving for Amazon.com gift cards to use towards Christmas, when I realized I had enough swagbucks saved to buy $50 worth of Amazon gift cards!

When I started using swagbucks, I was skeptical.  I didn't see the bucks accumulating all that fast.  I didn't think the search results were quite as good as google, etc.  But when I see that I already have $50 I can spend on Christmas for free, just for using swagbucks as my search engine a couple times a day... I think that's worth it!  I can't wait to see how many more Amazon gift cards I can buy between now and December 25th!

Interested in joining me, banking those swagbucks that lead to all kinds of rewards - including Amazon gift cards and even cash through paypal?  Just click on any of these swagbucks links - It is free and they'll start you off with 30 bucks!

Make Money Buying Crayons at Kroger

Kroger is running a catalina deal where if you spend $20 in select school supplies, you'll get a coupon for $4 off your next shopping order.  Their crayons are regularly priced around $2.25 but are on sale for $0.25!  When you buy 9 packs, though, Kroger recognizes it as $20 worth of school supplies so here's what it looks like...

Bought...
9 boxes of Crayola crayons $0.25 each

Coupons Used...
NONE

Paid $2.25 plus tax
Received a coupon for $4 off my next shopping order.
PROFIT of $1.75 for buying 9 boxes of crayons!!!

If crayons weren't on your son or daughter's school supply lists this year (like mine - sigh, must mean she's growing up if she needs colored pencils instead), then I suggest keeping some around the house for fun little projects or donating them.  We are taking several boxes up to a church in the Toronto area that our good friends are launching this month!

Awesome Cereal Deal at Meijer - Today and Tomorrow ONLY! UPDATED

*UPDATE* There is now a $0.50/1 coupon for the Pops Mixits, too... making this an even better deal!!

Meijer is running a catalina deal where if you purchase 10 Kelloggs, Keebler, Sunshine, Eggo, or Morningstar products, you will get a coupon for $10 off your next shopping order.  They are also have some super prices on cereal this weekend during their 2-day sale.  Here are a couple of my favorite scenarios for this catalina deal... keeping in mind that my 3 kids go through cereal like it's their job!!

Deal Idea #1
Bought...
8 boxes of Kelloggs Cinnabon Cereal $1.25 each
3 boxes of Kelloggs S'mores Cereal $1.25 each
(Yes, I know that's 11 rather than 10 but it works with the coupons below.)

Coupons Used...
4 $1/1 printables found here
1 $1/1 Cinnabon cereal (I believe it was in the 6/27 RP)
2 $1.25/3 Kelloggs cereals (cannot remember which insert - I don't organize my coupons that way... more to come on coupon organization later!)

Paid $6.25
Received coupon for $10 off my next shopping order
PROFIT of $3.75 for 11 boxes of cereal!!!


Deal Idea #2
Bought...
10 bags of Pops Mixits Cereal $0.99 each (sign nearby read 3/$5 but they rang up as $0.99 each!!)

Coupons Used...
$0.50/1 printable here (as many as you can print, 2 per computer - for me it was 4 coupons total)

Paid $5.90
Received coupon for $10 off my next shopping order
PROFIT of $4.10 for 10 bags of cereal!!! or even better if you have more than 2 computers!!!

Welcome to Competitive Grocery Shopping!

Welcome to Competitive Grocery Shopping, where I will challenge myself to get the best prices on all my family's needs each week!  I will post deals as I find them and hope that you can beat your best prices and grab some good stuff for your family, too!