Friday = Deal Day!!!

I went to Ukrop’s this morning to check out if the value-packs of chicken that are on sale for $1.88/lb were also 50% off today for the Friday one day deal.  Unfortunately they weren’t.  I was walking out of the store when one of the customer service reps told me to go check out the baby aisle because it had just been marked down.  That led me on a fun scavenger hunt of markdowns throughout the store.  I spent $34.59 (before tax) and saved $90.20!

We really didn’t need many groceries this week and my household supplies were starting to get low so when I saw the deals at Kroger this week for things like Lysol cleaners and Hefty zip-top bags I had to go.  While we were in the store Natalie saw the Dan-o-nino yogurt and wanted me to pick her up some.  I told her that I didn’t bring any coupons for it and that I would get her some later.  Well, at the check-out I got a coupon for $1 off Dan-o-nini yogurt so we went back and picked that up.  My total Kroger trip was $19.25 (before tax) and I saved $64.87!

I also hit Walgreens today.  I had to ring up my purchases in several transactions because of Register Rewards (RR).  While I was in the store I noticed a package of Pampers Swaddlers size 1 on clearance for $2.74!  I didn’t have any of my extra coupons with me, but I thought this was such a great deal that I ran home to get my $2 off Pampers coupon from the 3/14 RP insert so that I could get a pack of diapers for $0.74 (before tax).  Overall I spent $0.36 (before tax) at Walgreens today.  I started off with $10 in RR to use.  I ran into a problem with a $3 RR that was suppose to print.  The machine jammed when it was printing.  The cashier realized it and called over the manager.  Instead of re-ringing and voiding the transaction like I have seen them do in the past he just offered to give me a $3 refund.  The way he rang it in it actually gave me $3.15 back.  He apologized for the problem.  I was more than happy to have real cash as opposed to a RR I have to remember to use in the next two weeks.  I left with $8 in RR for future purchases.

Here is a picture of my Friday deals (along with my couponers in training):

Ukrop’s:

Avent 2-pk 9oz Trainer Cups (not pictured): $1.94

Jillian Michaels DVD : $3.74

Windsor Pilates DVD: $3.74

Prenatal Yoga DVD: $4.99

Facts of The Bible Book for Kids: $3.49

(2) Binky pacifier twin packs: $0.99 each

(4) Johnson & Johnson Nursing Pads (36 ct): $1.17 each

Security Lined Envelopes (55 ct): $0.59

(5) Scotch-Brite Nail Saver Sponges: $0.49 each

Top Care Cetirizine (Generic Zyrtec) (30 ct): $6.99

Shelf Price (Before Sales or Tax):  $124.79

Final Price (After Sales, Before Tax): $34.59

Total Savings: $90.20 (72%)

Kroger:

Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner: $0.99

Lysol All-Purpose Cleaner: $0.99

Strawberries: $1.88

(4) Dial Hand Soap: $0.30 each

(6) Kraft Cheese Shreds & Blocks: $0.49 each

(2) Sargento Shredded Cheese: $0.49 each

(1) Dawn Dish Detergent: $0.99

(8) Hefty zip-top bags: $1.00 each

(2) Coke product 2-Liters: $0.69 each

Dan-o-nino Yogurt: $1.00

Reusable Bag Credit: (-$0.10)

Shelf Price (Before Sales, Coupons, Bag Credit, or Tax): $84.12

Final Price (After Sales, Coupons, Bag Credits, Before Tax): $19.25

Total Savings: $64.87 (77%)

Walgreens:

(2) Planters Trail Mix: FREE

(4) Cadbury Eggs: $0.39 each

(2) Band-Aids 30 ct: $2.00 each

Neosporin: $2.00

Colgate Toothpaste: $3.24

Colgate Toothpaste: $1.49

Pampers Swaddlers (40 ct): $0.74

Redeemed $10 RR

Shelf Price: (Before Sales, Coupons, RR, or Tax): $42.96

Final Price: (After Sales, Coupons, RR, Before Tax): $3.51

Total Savings: $39.45 (92%)

Earned $8 RR

Did you find any great deals this week?

Ukrop’s shopping trip – lots of clearance deals!

We have had a busier week than planned so far so I haven’t even had a chance to really sit down and make a menu plan for us for the week.  I went to Costco Monday to check out some more prices and options for a retirement reception I am planning this weekend and ended up picking up some fruit and organic milk while I was there.  I still have a rather full stockpile so we won’t go hungry or need to order take-out to get us through the week.  Because of our limited needs to get us through the week I only picked up the really good deals (or the things that I really wanted) for my groceries. 

I did however take a few minutes to walk up and down some of the aisles in the store and found lots of clearance deals.  I saw an employee with a huge stack of shelf tags with clearance prices so keep looking!  I found the best deals in the “non-grocery” sections.  Make sure to browse the cleaning supplies, housewares, office supplies, batteries, and cooking utensils.

Here is a picture of my few grocery purchases:

Ritz Crackers = $0.66

(2) Honest Teas = $0.49 each (They were suppose to be free after coupon.  I will see if I can get it adjusted when I am in the store later this week.)

(2) Keebler Fudge Shoppe Cookies = $1.11 each

(1) Fudge Shoppe Cheesecake Middles = $0.55

1/2 Ukrop’s Yellow Cake = $4.35 (to take to a friend who just had a baby)

(5) Dozen Eggland’s Best Eggs = $0.64 each

Bagel Bites = $0.99 (the girls ate them for lunch before I got the picture taken)

(3) Reusable bag credits = - $0.15

Here is the picture of my clearance deals:

(19) 4-pks of Duracell AA batteries = $0.74 each

Index Cards = $0.29

Pop-up Hamper = $1.74

KitchenAid Santuko Knife = $2.62

KitchenAid Ice Cream Scoop = $2.12

KitchenAid Slotted Serving Spoon = $1.74

KitchenAid Meat Serving Fork = $1.74

Red Dinner Napkins = $0.74 (for the reception Sunday night)

Super Glue = $0.47

Super Glue 2-pk = $0.42

(5) Primary Learn to Write Tablets = $0.44 each

Food Club Sandwich Bags (150 ct) = $0.25

Shelf Price (before sales, coupons, bag credits, or tax) = $173.08

Final Price (after sales, coupons, bag credits, before tax) = $42.20

Total Savings = $130.88 (76%)

If you are interested in the battery deal don’t go to Westpark.  Another lady and I discovered the deal at the same time and between the two of us we got the last of them.

Did any of you find some great deals this week?  Feel free to share.

Megan is doing better :)

Thanks for the concern for Megan and understanding about my match-ups being later than normal this week.  She really had us worried last night.  When we got to the exam room at KidMed (a pediatric Urgent Care Center) they took her temperature rectally and it was 103.6.  They quickly brought us a dose of Tylenol and by the time we were leaving (about 2 hours later) her fever was down to 102.  The doctor ran several tests but all of them came back negative for a bacterial infection, so we are treating it like it is a virus and monitoring her fever.  She still has a slight fever today even with the medicine on board, but thankfully not as high as yesterday. 

I can’t say enough about how nice they were to us at KidMed.  This, thankfully, was our first trip there.  They brought Megan juice boxes and popsicles to calm her down between the tests (and to get some more fluids in her).  They also had flat screen TVs in the waiting room and in the exam room turned to Nick Jr to help entertain and pass the time.  I hope that we don’t become regulars at KidMed, but it is great to know there are options beside the ER and Patient First when the pediatrician’s office is closed.

Ukrop’s Coupon Match-ups for the Week of March 15-March 20

I found one free item this week at Ukrop’s and I found some really inexpensive items (check out the weekly ad here).  Don’t forget about the unadvertised deals that I mentioned last week or to check out the Ukrop’s store brands that I mentioned here for some great deals. 

There is a promotion listed on page 6 of this week’s ad from Heinz.  If you buy any 6 participating products you will get $3 taken off your order.  You must scan your UVC card for this promo.  The best deal I saw for this is with the Smart Ones Entrees.  I have it listed in my table below.  Here is a list of the participating items:

• Classico Pasta Sauce (24 oz)
• Ore-Ida Frozen Potatoes (20 oz or larger)
• Bagel Bites Frozen Snacks (9 ct or larger)
• Weight Watchers Smart Ones Frozen Products (any variety)
• T.G.I.Fridays Frozen Snacks (7.6 oz or larger)
• Heinz Tomato Ketchup (40 oz)
• T.G.I.Fridays Complete Skillet Meals

I am only listing the items that have a coupon available in the table below.  I do want to mention that the Whole Beef Tenderloin are on sale for $6.98/lb and if you ask one of the meat department guys they will cut it for you free of charge.  Now that it is staying light later and the weather is warming up this will make a great grill meal!

I am curious to find out if the Value Pack Perdue Boneless Chicken Breast that are advertised on the first page for $1.88/lb will be part of the 50% off Friday only deal.  I plan to hit the meat department early Friday morning to find out – it would be a great deal to get boneless chicken breast for $0.94/lb!  Check back on Friday to find out.

Guidelines for Ukrop’s coupon policy:

• Ukrop’s will double manufacturer coupons up to $0.99 only on Wednesdays.
• Ukrop’s will not double more than 5 like coupons per transaction.
• Ukrop’s does accept internet printable (IP) coupons up to a face value of $2.  They do not accept IP coupons for a free item.  This includes buy 1 get 1 free.

The items that have a coupon that will double on Wednesday are shown in red with the final price on that day. 

Abreviations:

SS = Smart Source (Sunday paper coupon insert)

RP = Red Plum (Sunday paper coupon insert)

PG = Proctor & Gamble (Sunday paper coupon insert)

WYB = When you buy

Item	Sale Price	Coupon Source	Coupon Amount	Doubled	Final Price
Nabisco Ritz Crackers (14.5-16 oz)	3/$5	1/24 SS	$1		Buy 1 for $0.67
Ball Park Hot Dogs (16 oz)	$2.78	3/14 RP	$0.75/2	$0.75/2	Buy 2 for $4.06
AquaFina Water 24 pk/16.9 oz	$2.99	Must use SPOT coupon	Limit 4		$2.99
Taco Bell Medium or Mild Salsa (16 oz)	$1.99	February 2010 All You Magazine	$1		$0.99
Hershey’s Pieces (10-10.5 oz)	$2.99	1/31 SS	$1		$1.99
Hershey Signature Packaged Candy (8-9.6 oz)	$3.59	3/14 (for Bliss Chocolate)	$1/2		Buy 2 for $6.18
Totino’s Pizza Rolls or Party Pizzas (7.5-10.7 oz)	4/$5	2/7 SS	$0.50/2 Pizza Products WYB Pizza Rolls	$0.50/2 Pizza Products WYB Pizza Rolls	Buy 2 Pizza Products & 1 Pizza Rolls for $2.75
Selected Kellogg’s Cereals (12-25.5 oz)	2/$6	2/7 RP	$1/3		Buy 3 for $8
Selected Kellogg’s Cereals (12-25.5 oz)	2/$6	3/7 RP	$1/2		Buy 2 for $5
Selected Keebler Cookies & Crackers	3/$5	2/7 RP	$1/2 Flipsides Pretzel Crackers*		Buy 2 for $2.33
Selected Keebler Cookies & Crackers	3/$5	3/7 RP	$0.55 off Keebler Fudge Shoppe Cheesecake Middles*	$0.55 off Keebler Fudge Shoppe Cheesecake Middles*	Buy 1 for $0.57
Selected Keebler Cookies & Crackers	3/$5	3/7 RP	$0.55/2 Keebler Cookies	$0.55/2 Keebler Cookies	Buy 2 for $2.22
Selected Keebler Cookies & Crackers	3/$5	3/7 Parade Magazine	$1 off Club Crackers*(expires Wed 3/17)		Buy 1 for $0.66
Selected Keebler Cookies & Crackers	3/$5	Tearpad near product in Ukrop’s	$2/2 Keebler Crackers		Buy 2 for $1.32
Honest Tea (15.5-20 oz)	5/$5	honest tea	$0.50	$0.50	Pick up 1 for FREE
Pampers Big Pack Diapers (56-96 ct)	$18.99	2/21 PG	$2 off Pampers Cruisers*		$16.99
Pampers Big Pack Diapers (56-96 ct)	$18.99	3/14 RP	$2		$16.99
IAMS Dry Dog Food (15.5-17.5 lb)	$16.99	2/7 PG	$1		$15.99
IAMS Dry Cat Food (3.5-4 lb)	$6.99	2/7 PG	$1		$15.99
Freschetta Frozen Pizza (18.5-25.12 oz)	$4.99	3/7 SS	$1.25		$3.74
Freschetta Frozen Pizza (18.5-25.12 oz	$4.99	smartsource	$1		$3.99
Wanchai Ferry Frozen Meals (24 oz)	$6.99	2/21 SS, 3/7 SS	$1.50		$5.49
Pillsbury Savorings (7.8 – 8.5 oz)	$3.49	3/7 SS, 1/31 SS, smartsource	$1/2		Buy 2 for $5.98
Welch’s Grape Juice (64 oz)	2/$4	3/14 SS	$0.75	$0.75	Buy 1 for $0.50
Eggland’s Best Grade A Large Eggs (1 dozen)	50% off (regularly $2.69)	11/1 SS, 1/31 SS	$0.35	$0.35	$0.65
Yoplait Yogurt Cups (4-6oz)	10/$6	coupons	$0.50/6	$0.50/6	Buy 6 for $2.60
Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits (16.3-17.3 oz)	$1.79	3/7 SS	$0.40/3	$0.40/3	Buy 3 for $4.57
Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits (16.3-17.3 oz)	$1.79	coupons	$0.30/2	$0.30/2	Buy 2 for $2.98
Irish Spring Bar Soap (3 bars)	$1.14	3/14 SS	$0.50/2 Multi-packs	$0.50/2 Multi-packs	Buy 2 for $1.28
Nature’s Bounty Vitamins (30-250 ct or 2-15 oz)	50% off	1/24 RP, 2/14 RP, 3/14 RP	$1 off any		varies
Nature’s Bounty Vitamins (30-250 ct or 2-15 oz)	50% off	1/24 RP	$2 off Your Life Multis*		varies
Nature’s Bounty Vitamins (30-250 ct or 2-15 oz)	50% off	1/24 RP	$3 off Co Q-10*		varies
Nature’s Bounty Vitamins (30-250 ct or 2-15 oz)	50% off	3/14 RP	$3 off Your Life Multis*		varies
Claritin Allergy  (10 ct or 4 oz)	$7.99	claritin	$2		$5.99
Smart Ones Entrees (6-11.5 oz)**	5/$10	1/10 SS	$3/10		Buy 10 for $14 (after Heinz promo)
Smart Ones Entrees (6-11.5 oz)**	5/$10	1/10 SS	Free Flatbread WYB 3 Smart  Ones		Buy 3 for $6 and get a free Flatbread
Smart Ones Entrees (6-11.5 oz)**	5/$10	1/10 SS	Free BreakfastWYB 5 Smart Ones		Buy 5 for $7 and get a free Breakfast(after Heinz promo)
Classico Pasta Sauces (15-24 oz)**	2/$4	3/14 SS	$1.50 off fresh beef WYB 2 sauces		$4 for sauce & $1.50 off fresh beef
Classico Pasta Sauces (15-24 oz)**	2/$4	classico	$1/2		Buy 2 for $3
Bagel Bites (7 oz)**	$1.99	bagelbites	$1		$0.99
Ore-Ida Frozen Potatoes (18-32 oz)**	$2.79	All You February 2010	$1/2		Buy 2 for $4.58
Boston Market Entrees (9-16 oz)	2/$5	boston market	$1/3		Buy 3 for $6.50
Marie’s Salad Dressings (12 oz)	$2.99	1/31 SS	$1		$1.99
fuelperks! bonus! Rewards Items:
Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Bars (10.4 oz)	$2.79	2/7 RP	$1/2		Buy 2 for $4.58

*I did not get a chance to go to Ukrop’s this week so far to verify what are the selected items.  I am giving you the coupons available, but cannot guarantee the items are on sale. (edit 11:15AM 3/17/10 – I ran into the store real quick this morning and discovered that the Club crackers and the Flipside crackers are not on sale.)

** Items that are part of the Heinz promotion

Please feel free to point out any deals that I may have missed or any unadvertised deals that you find. 

Happy Shopping!

Match-ups are delayed....

I am sorry that I still haven't finished my weekly match-ups.  We had plans this morning to meet some friends for lunch and pedicures.  While we were out Megan (my 21-month-old) started to act rather clingy and actually fell asleep on our friend at lunch - definitely outside of the norm for her.  When we got home I took her temperature and it read 102.  I gave her some Motrin and laid her down.  After a nap and being up for a little bit I checked her temperature again and this time her fever is up to 103 - 3 hours after giving her the Motrin.  So, needless to say we need to take her to the pediatric urgent care and see what is going on.  I will hopefuly be home later tonight and can finish them then.  Sorry for the delay.

Where are the Ukrop’s weekly match-ups?

I apologize but between the time change this weekend and some other commitments I had Sunday and Monday I am still working on this week’s Ukrop’s match-ups.  I will have them ready for you in time for double coupon Wednesday.

I do want to encourage you to spend a few extra minutes (if you have it) in Ukrop’s looking at any of the Ukrop’s brand, Joe’s Market, or other store brands like Food Club and Full Circle.  These are items that are not going to be carried by Martin’s when the stores get converted this Spring.  Now is a great chance to get some good deals on clearance items.  (I got the “perfect pot” size bags of Ukrop’s coffee for $0.59 each last week.)

The Adventures of a Family Road Trip

We haven’t really taken our girls on that many long road trips.  Our normal road trips are to visit family about an hour away.  We decided to take a trip to Philadelphia because Steve was given free tickets to a suite for a Philadelphia 76er’s basketball game (against the Boston Celtics).  One of our babysitters, actually our first sitter she started watching Natalie when she was 3 months old, goes to school outside of Philadelphia so we saw it as a chance to visit her at the same time.  We looked at the maps and saw that it should take about four and half hours to drive the trip.  We knew that we were going to be going through some high traffic areas, like DC and tried to plan accordingly for traffic and necessary stops so we figured it would take us about 6 hours.

I made sure we had water to drink in the car and some snacks so that everyone would stay happy in between stops.  I even packed empty ziploc bags in case my nausea and a car ride didn’t agree with each other.  (That was probably one of my best ideas.)  We loaded up the car (we were only going to be gone one night so we didn’t need that much stuff) and left Richmond around 10AM.  We were “on track” for getting to the hotel around 4 and the girls were excited about seeing Sarah.  We had the GPS set with our final destination and we were ready to go. 

Then around 11 – I had to go to the bathroom.  I encouraged Natalie to come with me, but of course she had decided she didn’t want to wear her shoes in the car and it took me longer to get the sneakers back on her than to actually make the bathroom break.  We decide that since we had to drive 2 miles off the interstate to find the Wawa and that the GPS showed the interstate only another 3 miles up the road we would drive through Spotsylvania for another 3 miles listening to the GPS tell us where to turn to find I-95 again.  We get back on the interstate and continue heading North.

We got near DC – thankfully it was around noon so the traffic was not horrible, but the GPS started having problems on us.  We realized the problem was because so many of the roads ran parallel that the GPS (through Steve’s blackberry) couldn’t decipher for certain what road we were on and it would tell us too late that we should have been on an exit ramp.  We ended up going 495 and I don’t know what happened through this portion because somehow we again ended up in a suburban area.  We finally found our way back to an interstate around 1 and at this point I had pulled out goldfish to hold the girls over until we could find a place to stop for lunch.  I had been feeling nauseous for the last hour and had cracked and closed the window numerous times.  Somewhere between the combination of turning around to hand out goldfish, the way the sun was coming into the car, and my stomach getting empty I really started to feel sick.  I cracked the window again and ate a handful of goldfish then quickly realized that was not a good idea.  Thank goodness for the ziploc bag!  Poor Steve, the girls were hungry and fussy, I was sick, and he was trying to find a place we could stop and just get out.  I know he was wondering what did I get myself into?

Thankfully we found an exit in the next 10 minutes and they even had a Panera.  I could not handle the thought of greasy fast food and getting back into the car to ride for several more hours.  We stopped got lunch, got some fresh air, and then packed up everyone again in hopes that the girls would take naps.

Megan must have been worried about missing out on something because she just would not give it up.  We tried everything, a DVD, a CD, “quiet car”, she just was not going to go to sleep.  “Quiet car” did help Natalie go to sleep.  Megan did finally crash as we drove into downtown Philadelphia, about 30 minutes from our hotel.

We did have to make one more stop before we made it to the hotel.  Because of all of our suburban side trips during the day we realized we may not have enough gas to get all the way to the hotel and instead of play the where is the closest gas station in an unfamiliar area we stopped before we hit Philadelphia (and were able to squeeze in another bathroom stop).  We finally arrived at our hotel right at 5PM.  An hour later than we had anticipated, but we made it there safe and sound without any more excitement.

Sarah watched the girls Friday night for us so that we could go to the basketball game and they had a blast hanging out with her at college.

Here are a few pics of the girls with Sarah on Friday night and Saturday morning when we took Sarah to breakfast and visited the town near her campus.

  So excited to see Miss Sarah!

The first time they slept together – they look so sweet and innocent when they are sleeping.  :)

Exploring the town together – Megan loves her big sister so much that she copies everything Natalie does.

Thankfully our trip back home wasn’t as eventful and we were able to stop by Ikea so that Natalie could play in the kid’s area (Megan wasn’t big enough) and we could check out a few things.  We made family memories, but I don’t know when we will plan the next family road trip.