Saturday, July 31, 2010

The Big Tarp = Big STEALS!

I am slowly becoming a BIG FAN of The BIG TARP! I've gone in there a few times recently and have gotten some awesome deals!

Most recently we got:

2 video games for $12.50
a $198 boutique jacket for about $12 (that I eBayed and earned $18)
food items for 50% off the marked price and an additional 25% off that

The used video games are 1/2 price AND B1G1. My son picked out (2) $24.99 games for $12.50 total. I looked up the titles he chose on eBay just to see if we got a fair price. The one title was selling used for $12. The other title was selling used for $20! Waa hoo!

All children's clothing is an additional 50% off the lowest marked price. I got the boutique jacket mentioned above and many other boutique items for 90% - 95% off retail. I even got a toddler girls Gap jean skirt for $4!

I got some graham cracker pie crusts to use for summer time pie making. They were marked $2.22. So they were $1.11 with an additional 25% off (or $.83 each). Not bad!

While The Big Tarp isn't fresh and bright like your traditional brick & mortars, there are still good deals to be had. Just be prepared for a flea market-type experience!

Target: 75% Off Toy Clearance

Ask any super-thrifty mom what the end of July means to her and she'll without a doubt tell you, "Target Toy Clearance!"

That's right- for many years now, at the middle to end of July, Target has marked down toys 75% off. Apparently this is their way of making room for holiday-season inventory.

Happy deal hunting!

Today's Scores!

I had some errands to run today: post office, Acme, library, Rite Aid. Every stop resulted in a big SCORE!

My first stop was the post office. I needed to drop off 2 packages and a few envelopes.

One of my packages was an Oilily jacket I'd bought from The Big Tarp for about $12. I was pretty sure I could "flip" it on eBay. Low and behold, it sold for $31! Now mind you, the $18 I made on the jacket isn't huge $$$, but it's $18 I didn't have before (and I really only sell on eBay for the "thrill" of it.) Lame, huh?

Keep reading for the scoop on the other SCORES of the day!

Acme: Clearance FREEBIES

After the Post Office we ran into Acme. As it's only 5 minutes from the house, I'm in there a couple times a week. Earlier in the week I'd seen TONS of clearance medications and I knew I had Sunday paper coupons for them so...

I ran in today, armed with Qs, and got all of this:

(2) Pampers wipes
(2) Kraft Mac & Cheese (one shown; we already ate the other for lunch!)
(4) Children's liquid Benadryl
(4) Bendaryl 100 ct tablets
(5) Visine
(1) Supra Clens

for...

DRUM ROLL...

$5.22

"TODAY'S TOTAL SAVINGS: $129.16"

I had $1 Catalina coupons making the wipes $.99 each. The Kraft is on sale this week 2/$1. The Supra Clens, which is the best contact lens cleaner EVER, was on clearance for $2!!! The Benadryl's and Visine's were FREE after Sunday paper coupons.

You're probably thinking to yourself, "Why the h#l% does this chick need all these OTC meds?"

The answer to your question is, "She doesn't!"

Actually, I'll probably keep a bottle of the Bendaryl tablets since I use them from time to time. The other items I'll probably "pay forward" and give them to family and friends who can use them. And, if not, they'll go in the eBay / donate pile. : )

(click receipt below to enlarge)


Fallston Library: FREE DD & Bob Evans Qs

We went to the Fallston library so DS9 could return a video game and check out some new books. Sitting right there on the Summer Reading Program table were coupons for:

1 FREE Dunkin Donut
1 FREE Bob Evans kids meal

I picked up one of each coupon for each of my 3 kids! Now, why couldn't we have had the Bob's Qs on Thursday night???

Rite Aid: 31 Items for $2.42!

(click receipts below to enlarge)


Yes, you read the title of this post CORRECTLY! I got 31 items at Rite Aid for $2.42 (and $.92 of that is tax!)

Here's what I did and how you can do it too:

I got:

(2) Slim Jim's
(2) 20 oz Mountain Dews
(7) 12 ct Rolaids
(2) Tucks Cooling Pads (I'm not going to tell you who these are for!)
(10) 2 pk women's Schick disposable razors
(1) Ace sports tape
(1) Poland Spring Aqua Pods
(1) Colgate toothpaste
(1) Reach toothbrush
(2) Nivea for Men body wash
(4) Stride gum

I used my Wellness Card which takes 20% off most of my regularly priced items and some of my sale items. I watched a ~ 2 minute video here and earned a $5 off $25 Rite Aid coupon. I used the $5/$25 coupon and:

B1G1 Mountain Dew coupon from here
(5) $1 Rolaids coupons, Sunday paper
(2) $4 off 2 Rolaids and Tucks coupons, Sunday paper
(10) $1 Schick coupons from a booklet similar to this
(1) $4 in-ad coupon for the Ace sports tape
(1) $1 Reach toothbrush coupon, Sunday paper
(2) $1 Nivea for Men body wash coupons, Sunday paper
(2) B1G1 Stride gum coupons, Sunday paper
$9 in +Up Rewards (similar to CVS extra care bucks, a.k.a. FREE Rite Aid $)

And I earned an additional $6 in +Up rewards!


I'm reading your mind again, and yes, I DO NOT NEED all of these items. However, many of these items were FREE, or in the case of the Ace sports tape a money-maker, and I'll give away what I can't use to friends and family OR ebay 'em!

I do not spend hours upon hours doing these deals. I'll admit it- I cheat! I stop by Moms Need to Know or Hot Coupon World each week and scope out what's FREE, nearly FREE, or a money-maker. Then I simply clip only those coupons that apply and out to the store I go!

Giant: Using Triple Coupons to Your Advantage

From time to time, Giant will have Dollar Doubler or $.99 Tripler coupons in their sales paper. Combined with a manufacturer coupon, these coupons will either double or triple the face value of the coupon.

Although Giant isn't the closest grocery store, or the store that I find to have the best prices, I try to take advantage of the Doublers and Triplers when it's practical.

Here's my haul from 2 weeks ago. We needed eggs, milk, produce, bottled water, and baby wipes.

I used 5 Tripler coupons along with:

Horizon $.75 coupon from a flier at the pediatricians office
Del Monte Pineapple $.50 coupon from coupons.com
Eggland's Best Eggs $.55 coupon from a magazine
Eckrich $.50 coupon from the Sunday paper
Pampers Wipes $.50 coupon from a home mailer

I earned one $.05 bag refill credit and since I used the self-scanner I also earned an extra $.25 off the eggs as one of the scanner promos.

Total out of pocket, including tax, for this haul: $16.87. Not bad for organic milk, produce, "the good eggs," meat, etc!

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Old Navy Steals!

I'd received an email from Old Navy advertising their Stuff & Save sale. With Stuff & Save, you use an Old Navy charge card to receive an additional 20% off your entire purchase. You also earn a FREE tote bag. I don't typically charge anything (cash basis of spending) but I was curious to see what it was all about. So yesterday, in the store I went!

I was IMPRESSED! There were tons of ladies tops on sale for $5 and the men's and children's clearance items were an additional 30% off!

With the Stuff & Save sale and the additional 30% off clearance discount I scored BIG TIME!

I got:

many pairs of infant & toddler-sized jeans for about $3
toddler hoodies for a little less than $3
women's tops for $4
men's boxer shorts for $1.10
dog toys for $1 and change
gift boxes and greeting cards for $.22
and much more!

To avoid interest fees and keep my out-of-pocket spending as low as I can, I'll be sure to pay off the entire charge from yesterday when the bill arrives next month.

Don't have an Old Navy charge? You can still save! Go here and play the game to find an Old Navy printable coupon!

PETCO: 10% off Entire Purchase

Click here for a printable 10% off Petco in-store coupon. Valid through 7/31. Remember, when shopping in-store, you can also use manufacturer coupons to further reduce your out-of-pocket spending!

Prefer to shop online? Enter code 10offjulydm at check out. Valid through 7/24.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

All You Reality Checkers: Riders by Lee Jeans

...And as if the FREE Rubbermaid Premier Storage set wasn't enough, I was also invited to review a FREE, brand new pair of Riders by Lee Jeans! As an All You Reality Checker, I get such opportunities from time to time, and I always take them up on it!

As a BIG FAN of Old Navy and Gap jeans, I must admit I wasn't sure how I'd like the new Riders. But I'm here to confess, they are realllly nice! As the tag indicated, the jeans really do "instantly slim you." Who can't use a little of that? Hee.. hee...

Want in on the freebies too? Check out SheSpeaks and the All You Reality Checker program!

SheSpeaks: Rubbermaid Premier Storage

When SheSpeaks asked me if I wanted to review a FREE 12-piece Rubbermaid Premier Storage set I was all over it! (As if they needed to ask!)

I did a video review that you can watch below. It's a little tough to hear, especially with a sweet little big-mouthed toddler in the background, but hey, it works.

A Few Purchases to Brag About

Check out the Totals at the bottoms of these receipts. It's always fun getting goodies for mere pocket change. Bwa haa haa haa haaaaa (insert evil laugh!)

You can click on the images to make them larger.

$.08

$.38



$.09





$.62

I'm Still Here!

Ok, so I got semi-scolded by Grammy D for not updating the blog lately! ; )

Wellll... I've been busy! I know, excuses, excuses. I actually did start back to work since having my daughter in May so I've been in a period of transition! Don't think I forgot about you, though.

I still have been getting some good deals. Here's some of what I've been up to:



My local Acme store is changing their baby food aisle. Pictured above are tons of baby/toddler foods that I got for SMOKIN' CHEAP! The jars, 2-pks, and tubs were all JUST $.25 and the juices and snacks were just a buck! Yes, of course I had coupons, so the super-cheap prices were even less!

There's nothing wrong with the foods and the expirations are all in 2011 & 2012 so I was more than comfortable stocking up on these.

If you shop Acme, check out your baby aisle! They might have a similar steal!