Extreme Couponing? Not Inspiring.

I've been watching Extreme Couponing on TLC. I must say that most of the people on the show have NOT inspired me at all. I haven't learned anything new about shopping the sales and using coupons. What I have learned is that some people are OCD and/or shopping addicts, as well as hoarders! Seriously! If you have to store hundreds of rolls of toilet paper in your shower, dozens of bottles of mustard in your closet and cases of mouthwash under your bed, you have a mental problem. Storing enough toilet paper for 2 years? Working on your shopping plans for 70 hours a week? Buying hundreds of candy bars at once? Insuring your hoard for $30,000? That's nuts.
Why not use your amazing talent at getting things for 90% or more off to help the needy? Donate some of that stuff to local charities. Make a difference?

OK I sometimes like to just play the "Drugstore Game." I have canned good and nonperishables in my garage in a dedicated cabinet and a cupboard of toiletries in my hallway. I do NOT have more than 6-12 months supply of anything, and when donation requests come my way I go straight to my stash. If toothpaste is free, I'll get it, but I won't keep a 10 year supply of it in my house! I've been able to cheerfully give to our Second Saturday drive, Operation Christmas Child, Interfaith, Alternatives Women's Center and our Church with little financial sacrifice. It makes me feel good to use my Ferengi talents to help others.

::Exit Soapbox::

Now, back to your regularly scheduled blog:

Yesterday I rocked the coupons. Last week my daughter told me she was nearly out of tampons (how could I let that happen? maybe I need a 5 year supply! JK) and I also noticed I was down to only one jug of laundry detergent in the garage. Time to look specifically for those items on the blogs and in the ads. I found everything I needed this week at Walgreens.

My first trip was just to buy tampons. I got 2 boxes (and found one that had 4 extra bonus tampons in it!) of Kotex U on sale 2/$7. I used 2 MQ for $1 off and paid $5 OOP. I received a $3 RR. I went to another store with intentions of buying Purex on sale with WQ for $1.99 and MQ $1, however, they were out of stock! So instead I bought 2 more boxes of the tampons, using the same deal, and got $3 RR again. Later in the day I found myself near the first Wags with 20 minutes to kill, so I picked up 3 bottles of the Purex HD, used my WQ & MQ, added 2 Cadbury Creme Eggs at .39 ea. My OOP was $1.27 and I still have 3 RR. If I can get my hands on 3 more Purex coupons I'm going back today, otherwise I'll save my RRs for next week. So even though my total OOP was $1just over $11 (mostly tax) I have $3 RR to spend making my actual cost $8 for 4 boxes of tampons, 3 bottles of laundry detergent and 2 delectable sweets.

I also made a CVS run. I scanned my card at the kiosk and got my $7 ECB quarterly rewards. I picked up one each of John Frieda Frizz Ease shampoo and conditioner, on sale for $5 each. I used 2 $2 off coupons and a $1 ECB from my Bag Tag. My OOP was $5 and I got 3 ECBs back! I now have $10 ECB to spend next week. I'd still like to increase the stash of tampons and laundry detergent so I won't have to worry about those items for 6 months, so I'll be on the lookout. I have coupons for OB and Playtex that came with samples.

I'm going to be looking for deals on sugar since the orioles have returned to our yard and I like to keep the nectar feeders full for them and the hummingbirds. There should be sale prices on baking supplies for Easter.

I made a trip to PetSmart as well. I picked up some sale with a coupon that I received with a sample. I paid .05/oz for premium food, which I have found to be a difficult target price to achieve. I could probably get dog food cheaper, but I don't believe the quality is as high. You can get free candy bars all the time, but would you feed them to your kids for dinner every day? I could not find the HealthiDent dog treats that I had a coupon for. I got a sample in the mail, and was going to pick some up if the price was right, but they don't carry them. Later, after my Wags trip, I was near Kahoots and decided to see if they carried them. They did not, but they did give me a free sample of their dog food! Score! I guess I'll look at the HealthiDent website to see where they are sold.

I know I probably look like a failure to those Extreme Couponers on the TV, but my ability to spend more time with my daughter, friends and recreation and my extreme hatred of clutter make me OK with that! I've got my budget under control and I am debt-free except for our mortgage. We have a several-month emergency fund in high-interest savings, and that's better than most Americans, and I am grateful.

Oops, was I on the soapbox again?

Here's some freebies I got in the mail recently:

2 magazines, ASPCA magnet & window sticker, Stevia Cane sweetener with recipe

and here are some that you can sign up for:


$1 off  Medium or Large Frozen Beverage at Baskin Robbins
BOGO Scoop Flavor of the Month at Baskin Robbins

FREE Sample Zantac
FREE Organic Valley Kids' Activity book and coupons
FREE P&G Samples
Kids eat free every day in April from 4 p.m.-10 p.m. at IHOP. (1 free kids meal with each adult entree purchase)
April 22 is Earth Day. Bring a reusable cup to Starbucks and get FREE brewed coffee or tea.
FREE travel size Signature item with any purchase from Bath and Body Works  
FREE Happy Me Skin Care Samples
MojoSavings passed on this deal from Spoiled But Not Rotten:

Now is a great time for your kids to start thinking about what books they might want to read this summer. This is a great program for those kids that love to read!

1. Kids read any 8 books this summer and record them in the downloadable Journal.
2. Kids bring your completed Journal to a Barnes & Noble store between May 24 and September 6, 2011.
3. Kids choose  your FREE book from a  book list provided to you when you turn in your journal at any Barnes & Noble store.

Also from MojoSavings:

Volunteer Match is looking for volunteers all over America. Newman’s Own has teamed up with them to offer a FREE product to you just for offering a helping hand to those in need!  Any help that you can provide to this very worthy cause is always appreciated. Click here to help with projects in your area and know that each and everyone of you can make a difference.

From Chief Family Officer:

If you shop online or bank online with major institutions, chances are good that you've received email(s) this week advising you that your name and email address were obtained by hackers who accessed third-party servers, and to be careful not to fall for phishing emails. There's a passing mention in this Above the Law post that opting for "the html version [of emails] means more than just pretty pictures; it also allows for tracking of that email." I never really thought about it, and have generally opted for the html version of emails because I find them easier to read. But it turns out that plain text versions are safer and more private. So I'm thinking of switching to plain text versions from now on.

And don't forget to search the Amazon Music Store for free MP#s and the Amazon Kindle Store for free books! You can find free music offerings on iTunes, too!