day off work equals full day of couponing...

hey y'all. sorry i haven't been a good little coupon blogger and kept up with this better. it took me a little while to learn all the tricks, how to stack store and manufacturer's coupons, how to roll register rewards and extracare bucks, how to avoid getting in the assistant manager's checkout line while scoping out the dumbest or youngest looking cashier. lol.

anyway, now that i'm getting the hang of finding the deals and making sure i do them right, i'm going to attempt to get my blog up and running. in the beginning, i may not have everything as planned out and informative as i'd like. it's NOTHING like any of the other "coupon mom" blogs that i've learned so much from and continue to do EVERY day. those ladies amaze me. they find deals online in forums, on facebook, on twitter, in their local paper, by emailing corporations, by joining every consumer study panel they can find, etc. it's mindblowing how professional and intense some of their sites are. you can check the best ones out by clicking a link off my blog roll on the right of my page. for all my beginner couponers, i've tried to at least get y'all started with links to the best blogs, the best printable coupon sites, and all that stuff. the BEST site with the most available coupons is coupons.com. there is a scrolling link at the top of my page where you can click and it will take you straight there to magically print out your HUGE savings.

anyway, for now stick with me as i slowly grow my site to something bigger and better. i'll master twitter like the moms. fan every company i can think of on facebook. join swagbucks (which i recently did and y'all should click the link at the bottom of my page to join too, super EASY way to earn gift cards and other rewards for just searching the internet like you're already doing all day anyway) join mypoints like the moms. take pics of each shopping trip. post detailed "brags" of each trip INCLUDING links to any and all printable q's. post a "couponer's dictionary" somewhere on my site since all the others have one to explain the lingo and abbreviations. for now if you can't figure it out, just comment on a post or email me at brianmsellars@gmail.com and i'll be happy to explain. also, if you like what you see so far, and/or can't wait to learn more and be a pro at saving money every time you shop, just like me, PLEASE click on the right side of my page to start "following" my blog. the more followers I get, the more exciting things will get. i'm planning to start the giveaways like the bigger blogs do, as well as some other fun stuff.

o.k before i head off to dreamland where my tired little brain (from working THOUSANDS of "scenarios" in at least 5 different Walgreen's parking lots today/tonight) will definitely dream about insane, lengthy, SCARY math word problems involving olay lotions, bogo coupons, register rewards, oop, etc. here are some "mini brags" and deal ideas for y'all from today.

TARGET
keebler wheatables garlic herb crackers on sale 1.99
kellogg's all bran crackers on sale 1.99
morningstar veggie burgers 3.24
morningstar veggie chix patties 3.24
morningstar vegetarian buffalo wings 3.44
morningstar veggie beef crumbles 2.99
reese's dark pb cups .64 (i'm addicted! they're my favorite "filler" in any deal
swiss miss cocoa .97 x 3
whisker lickin's cat treats .88 x 2
friskies party mix cat treats 1.24 x 4
beggin' strips canadian bacon dog treats 2.59
ge cfl 13w light bulb 2.39
3 american greeting's cards .99 x 3
purina cat chow indoor cat 3.5 lb bag 3.99
edwards key lime pie slices 1.90

23 items, total with sale prices-$41
minus 12.50 in target coupons from target.com
minus 23 in mfr coupons
total spent $5.50
savings of 87%


HALLMARK GOLD CROWN
4 rolls of wrapping paper 4.99 each, but promo buy one get 2nd for .99
so 9.98 + 1.98 = 11.96
one spool of burlap ribbon 3.99
one pinecone package ornament 1.49

total w/ promo prices 17.44 minus 15 (3 ip $5 off $5 (did 3 transactions)) = 2.44
total spent $2.44
retail value $25.44
savings of 90.4%

WALMART
snuggle dryer sheets 40ct 1.87
-2q from 12/6 chronicle
general foods intl vanilla bean latte 2.68
-2q internet print
hormel compleats chicken n dumplings 1.98
-1q chronicle
moisturizing gloves 2
schick st3 disposable razors 12ct 1.97
-2q chronicle
all you magazine 2.24 (TONS of q's in it, so totally pd for itself)
meox mix market select cat food .48 x 4
-1q chronicle
michelina's chicken littles tv dinner .92 x 2
orowheat multi grain sandwich thin sliced buns 2.50
-.55q chronicle
turkey/cheddar lunchables 1.25
-.55q chronicle
14 items
total value $16.01
minus 9.10 q's
spent 6.91
savings of 57% (not my best but grabbed a few things I needed that I didn't have q's for :-( plus it's still almost 60% less than what I used to spend when I'd run in Walmart just to "grab a few things")

good night y'all!! will post the first 4 of my Walgreen's 4day sale trips tomorrow night. that sale is AWESOME!