Huggies and Pampers on Sale At Target This Week

Diapers and Pull Ups/Easy Ups are On Sale at Target:

$5 Gift Card WYB Any 3!

This week at Target:  Buy any 3 participating packages (basically the Jumbo sizes) of Pampers or Huggies Diapers or Training Pants at $8.99 a pack.

It is pretty easy to get $1.50 or $2 off coupons for either items.  SOMETIMES, you can find a stackable coupon or, rarely, a $3 off one.   

If you printed the $2 off Huggies coupon twice from Coupons.com, and you have one of the plentiful $1.50 off one pants or diaper in many Sunday papers, you can get some great savings working a straight coupon deal.

Scenario:

Buy 3 Diapers/Pull Ups, etc. (You can buy a mix of Pampers or Huggies, diapers or Pull Ups. You don't have to buy 3 of the exact same ones.)

Use 2 $2 off Coupons and 1  $1.50 off coupon. 

$8.99 a pack x 3 =  $26.97

- $3.50 for coupons

Equals  $23.47 for 3 packs, or $7.82 per pack.

Then, You Get a $5 Gift Card. IF you want to figure that back into the cost of the diapers, etc, using what my husband refers to as "fancy math", it is LIKE you paid $6.16 per pack after taking the $5 gift card into consideration.

OR You can do this deal a couple times.

You would pay $23.47 for the first three packs, after coupons.

Then you would get a $5 gift card.

Use the $5 gift card to pay for the next 3 packs, and use the same 3 coupons (just for a rough idea of what you will pay.)

Therefore, the next three packs come to 18.47 AND you get a $5 gift card back again. (called Rolling Transactions.. when you do a deal a couple times and use the rewards from one to pay for the next one.)

So, to get 6 packs of diapers (about 24ct ea pack or so) or training pants, you will pay $41.94 out of pocket, and get $5 gift card to use later.  OR, $6.99 a pack plus an extra $5 Target Gift Card to use on just about anything in store.  IF you want to use Fancy Math and apply that bonus $5 to the cost per pack, it would come out to "Like Paying $6.16 per pack."   Not having to run out and buy an emergency pack of diapers for $10? Priceless! ($6 per pack is a great idea for a baby gift... don't buy Newborn if you are gifting. Some babies come out of the womb bigger than newborn.. or grow quickly!)

Looking for Diaper or Training Pants Coupons? You can check Ebay, etc.  Or you can go HERE to Coupons.com  or HERE to Huggies' site for printables.

If you get Huggies, don't forget to clip those Box Tops For Education! Also, Don't forget to enter your Huggies Enjoy The Ride Codes into your account, or your Pampers Gifts To Grow Points.  Earn Free stuff just bc you have to put a diaper on your baby!

Springtime = Babies!

It's Spring!

Everywhere I Look, Folks Are Announcing Pregnancies!

Babies, Babies, Everywhere!

Here Are Some Of My Ideas For Frugal and Maybe Untraditional But Awesome Gifts

*Especially Good Ideas For When It Is Not a First Child.. What do You Gift When There are Plenty of Hand Me Downs?

It seems like every time I turn around these days, a friend or family member is announcing a bundle of joy on the way!  Guess Spring is that time of year! The time for babies.  On a budget? Want to give thoughtful gifts that might not be what you would view as a traditional baby gift? I have a few ideas!

1. Drugstore deals for Diapers can be plentiful. You can get a pack of diapers for $6 pretty easily if you clip a coupon and find a sale. BUT! Don't buy Newborn. Some babies wont finish a full pack of Newborn sized diapers before they outgrow them, and the hospital might provide enough of this size.

2.  Give a Pizza or other deliverable food Certificate.  The new parents will LOVE not having to worry about a meal or two!

3.  This sounds odd, but gift paper plates. I find these on clearance all the time (usually after a holiday or season) for about 35c a pack. (I love Target!)  I have a cabinet full of paper plates and napkins of various designs, styles, etc.  No one wants to do dishes when they have a newborn to cuddle! I never accepted offers of friends who wanted to come clean my house for me when I had a newborn. I am not sure why, but I didn't. A few packs of paper plates to keep the sink clean from the start? That I accepted!

4.  Does the new baby have older siblings? Gift the parents with things that will keep these kids busy! Cheap Dvds $5 or under, activity sets, books, etc. 

5.  CALL the new parents and offer to pick up siblings for a special outing.. library time, trip to the park or movies, whatever.

6.  Drop off food. Don't stay, just drop off food and leave.  (Unless profusely invited in...)  Call and ask if they have freezer space. Then you can make meals and freeze them. Now, the parents have easy to defrost and heat up meals that are more nutritional than microwave meals!

7.  Gift the new parents with a gift certificate for a lawn service. Even being able to call in just once to get the yard mowed could really be a big help!

8.  Consider paying for a month of Netflix or such for the new parents. They will be tired and enjoy a diversion where they can stay in jammies!

9. Always scope out the clearance areas in baby sections of stores. (yes, you can use coupons too!)

10.  Dry Cleaning Certificate.. again, not having to do laundry would be nice.

11. Maid Service Certificate... ditto.

12.  Are you good friends with the parents? Why not make them a mix cd/mp3 album of their favorite music that might be baby friendly too?  They can play soothing music for the baby, and enjoy their favorite groups at the same time. This is much easier to listen to when you are sleep deprived than the standard baby music fare. Just pick their favorite groups and find the "calm" songs and put them all on one album.  Even Mike Doughty has some soothing music! 

13.  Gift them with a Shutterfly.com certificate or some other Portrait Studio certificate.

14.  Start a mail campaign.  Send the new parents a card (anonymously or otherwise) every week.  Make it funny. Or cute. Stuff about new parenthood and babies and sleep deprivation, whatever. Give their spirits a lift, make them chuckle, or be inspirational. Having a new baby is wonderful and difficult at the same time.

15.  Gift a Diaper Wreath, or a a lovely flower wreath for the hospital door.  Or, instead of flowers, consider sending a baby sock rose bouquet! This is lovely and practical!  Diaper cakes rock, too!  Full of useful items.  You can find items like this on a budget going through Ebay, or checking out La Petite Pidge on Facebook.  La Petite Pidge will custom make items according to budget needs. (lapetitepidge@gmail.com also)



Keep an eye on Groupon and Living Social for deals where you can get service certificates cheaply. 

Consider going in with another friend or two to buy the couple something they really might want or need for the new baby.

The main thing is to be creative and frugal.  That $20 outfit might be just adorable.. but the baby might wear it once, spit up on it, and ruin it.  Plus, I kind of loved picking out most of my kids' clothes. Mainly because as soon as I knew what I was having, I would start looking for sales and stock up.  Baby clothes as gifst are lovely, don't get me wrong. But if you already have 20 onesies in that size, and your baby hits a growth spurt, you might not get $20 worth of wear out of the thoughtful and lovely gift.  $20 on a gift card to Starbucks? That is a thoughtful gift that keeps on giving! New parents need coffee and might not splurge on Starbucks for themselves if they are knee deep in paying for other needs like Pampers, etc. 

If someone would have brought me a pack of paper plates, juice boxes, fruit snacks, crayons, coloring books, a Dvd or two, and a certificate for a FREE PIZZA, I would have flipped my lid and been soo excited. My kids would have been entertained, I would not have had to worry about dishes, snacks or dinner! THAT is a frugal and AWESOME gift you can coupon for. You could easily put together something like this for less than $25!  Actually, this is a great idea for my next birthday, too! :)

Bargain Puzzler of the Week: When the Cost is the Same, Does it Matter Where You Buy?

Bargain Puzzler of the Week:

Another Lesson in Changing Your Perspective

Let's say you need Pampers. Let's say that multiple places have them on sale for the same price. Does it matter where you buy them?

 

A local drugstore has Pampers for $8. Your fave big store like Target has the same pack for $8. Online has them for $8, shipped.  

Do You:

A. Buy them at the drugstore

B. Buy them at Target

C. Buy them online

D. It Doesn't matter

E. It Depends. 

The answer is E. It depends.  Not all same priced items really are the same price, all things considered.

IF you are truly going to pay the same out of pocket expense at any location, there are a few factors to consider when making your final decision on where to buy.

• Can you use a reusable shopping bag and get 5c back, like at Target?
• What is the convenience worth? If all the places have the same out of pocket expense, why not buy them online and get the dropped at your front door? Or can you go through Ebates, etc and get cash back from shopping online?
• Can you make other purchases at the drugstore and roll your transaction for even less out of pocket?

You have to decide for yourself when it looks like multiple stores have the same price on something you need. Rarely is the same price really the same price when you are a couponer.

My best advice, especially if you want to buy Pampers out right without couponing or dealing?  Buy them at the drugstore.  Why? I have found that drugstores are the place to buy Jumbo pack diapers when they are the same cost BECAUSE I have had great luck finding extra coupons inside the packs of diapers when I buy the Pampers at the drugstore.

This is also my tip of the week: when you are buying diapers, especially Pampers, feel along the sides of the diapers/pull ups.  If you feel something a bit more rigid or card-stocky inside the pack, SCORE! You just might get home to find a $1 off any Kandoo (which makes them about 49c a pack at Target), or $1 off Tide, etc coupon!  The packages are not usually marked that they include a coupon. I am the weird lady at the drugstore feeling up all the Pampers, just in case... But I have had great luck doing so from time to time.  (Other items than diapers can have unexpected coupons, peelies, rebates, etc attached in a drugstore.. I find that to be the case more often than in a traditional store. Keep an eye out!)

Does it matter where you buy your diapers or other items when they are the same price multiple locations? It can. IF you are willing to look at the bucks deals or feel the packaging up in the drugstores. Or if you are willing to look for cash back perks online. Or, if you are tired and want the convenience of buying that item when you are already in a store. That way you wont be tempted to spend more money on other deals you may find if you go to more than one store. The more locations you go to, the possibility of being tempted by more deals.  (which can be good or bad, depending!)

My Weekly Drugstore Brag

I Had Drugstore "Bucks" That Were Expiring..

So, This Weekend, I Went to 3 Drugstores.

I highly recommend here to pick one drugstore each week and go work those deals. It is madness to go to a billion different stores a week to get the cheapest best deals. Ok, so it isn't madness. It is kinda smart. But with several children, it is often more trouble than it is worth to drag them in and out of so many stores every week. Especially since I have been couponing long enough to have a nice little mini "store" of my own to shop out of for free. Out of toothpaste? I just go to my bathroom closet. But, since being sick with the flu, an unprecedented event occurred.. all of my drugstore "bucks" were expiring in one day!! So, three drugstores it was.

1. Rite Aid:  Most of the deals I wanted to work, they were out of. That was a bummer. And, I was a little scattered. I totally turned into "that lady" at the check out.. "what??! I am 30c shy of getting the full value of my +Up rewards? Ok.. let me see what you have in the circular.."  If you have a +Up rewards buck for $2, but your pre tax amount is $1.70, and you use the +Up anyway, you lose the remaining 30c value. So, I found a 88c Snickers bar with a 88c back +Up reward to add onto the bill.  I spent $1.39 out of pocket and got $2.88 in +Up Rewards Bucks back.  I bought 2 Disney Gummie Vitamins, $7.29 each at BOGO, 1 Altoids at half off at 99c, and the 88c Snickers.  Even though the Disney Vitamins were BOGO, it is the store's policy to allow you to use a manuf coupon on each of them. So, I used $2.50 in coupons on the Disney Vitamins making them $4.80 for two after bogo and coupons. I used $6 worth of +Up bucks to pay also.   The Disney vitamins had a $2 +Up attached, and of course, the Snickers had the 88c back.  
2. CVS:  I had $4 EB expiring to spend.  I decided to work the Schick Hydro Razor deal where you get $5 EB when you buy one Schick Hydro razor.  The razor was $8.49. I used a $2 off manuf coupon. Then, I used the $4 EB.  My total was $3.08 after tax.  I spent $3.08, and got $5 EB back.  Also, the razor came with 10 Free MP3 Song Downloads. 
3. Walgreens:  This was not my best brag. The main reason is that I really needed to break my transactions but was too tired to deal with doing that. I spent more out of pocket than I needed to by $5.  Oh well. I have the "bucks" to use next time now.  

I bought at Walgreens:
Taco Shells   $1.99
Always:  $2.99 (-$1 manuf, and I got $2 back, so "Free")
Cottonelle Flushable Wipes: I bought 2 packs at 99c each. Then, I got $1.50 in "bucks" back. So, 25c a                                         pack after bucks back.
Play doh Valentines Set: On clearance for $1.25 for a huge bag of mini Play Doh tubs.
Pampers:  I bought a pack of Pull Ups and a pack of Diapers for the 2/$20 deal. Then, I used two $2 coupons which made them 2/$16. Then, I got $3 "bucks" back, which made them 2/$13, or $6.50 a pack. Not the best price I have gotten lately, but $8 a pack is reasonable on these, so I will take $6.50 a pack! 
My total was $25.18, and I have $6.50 to spend another time.  Usually, I would break the transactions up to spend the least amount of money out of pocket. I would have ended with having spent only $18.68. 


 This was my first trip to Walgreens to do a deal like that, and the lady at the check out was a trainee. Also, there was a line.  As a couponer, I try to pick and choose my battles. It is how I get special treatment sometimes from the employees at CVS.. you know.. the ones that give me the circulars a week ahead of time sometimes... 

Also, when I got home, I realized I could have gotten two free Snickers bars. I had a coupon with me that was a BOGO Snickers coupon. When I was at Rite Aid and got one 88c Snickers, and got 88c back, I could have gotten two Snickers, paid 88c for both using the BOGO coupon, then gotten the 88c back per the +Up deal.  See, it happens to all of us sometimes! :)  


How did you do last week?






 
 

Shhh!! Here's the CVS Circular Feb 27-March 5th!

Here is Your SUPER EARLY Sneak Peek 

Into the CVS Circular for the Week of

Feb 27 - March 5

Ok, so my connection usually hands me the circular for the following week when I go in to do my weekly CVS run. As I started to pull out the circular I just received tonight, I saw the dates on it. They are for FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 5! WOW! Oopsies, because now I cannot report to you what deals will be available next week.. but here is a look into the future so you can decide what deals you want to use your coupons on. Also, it will give you a chance to find coupons for these upcoming deals.. plenty of time even to order coupons if that is your thing.  This is so awesome!

Here they are, the top deals for Feb 27-March 5 at CVS:

Spend $30 (pre coupons), Get $10 EB WYB any of these P&G products:

• Tide 20-32 loads liquid detergent:  $5.94
• Dawn Dishsoap, 94c
• Charmin Basic 12 ct, or Ultra Strong 9 ct, $4.99
• Bounty Basic 8 pk, $5.99
• Clairol Nice'n Easy or Root Touch UP, or GraySolution, $5.99
• CoverGirl Mascara, $4.79
• Puffs, assorted, 2/$2
• Pantene Pro-V, 2/$6.97

BOGO Nature Made Vitamins or Supplements

*Crest or Oral-B (Pro-Health, 3D White Vivid, Clinical Gum Protection Paste, Scope Outlast Rinse, or Satin Floss, assorted sizes):  You Pay $3.29, You Get $3.29 in Extra Bucks, "It's Like Getting it Free"

 Budweiser, Miller Lite, or Coors Lite 12 pks, $9.99

Prilosec OTC 42 Count, You Pay $24.99, You Get $5in EB

Clairol Nice'n Easy Foam, You Pay $7.99, You Get $3 in EB

Gillette Fusion Pro Glide Power or Manual Razor:  You Pay $9.99, You Get $4 EB

Cascade Gel or Powder, 45 oz, $2.94

Downy or Bounce, $5.99

Olay Body Wash, Assorted 4.25-23.6 oz, You Pay $6.79, You Get $2 EB

Febreze Fabric Refresher, $4.99

Febreze Air Effects, $2.99

Swiffer WetJet, $19.99

Metamucil, Assorted, $9.99

Pampers Baby Dry, Swaddlers, or Cruisers 48-96 ct, $19.99

Pantene or Head and Shoulders, $4.99

Always, Assorted, $2.99

Get $2 EB WYB Old Spice Pro Strength, Secret, Or Gillette Clinical Strength

Save $10 with Card, On Crest Whitestrips

Gillette or Old Spice Body Wash, assorted, $3.99

SAVE $10 WYB 1 ct Venus Razor AND 4-8 ct Venus Cartridge together

AND Get $5 EB!

Buy 1, Get 1 50% off, CoverGirl Foundation, Powder, Blush, Concealer, Lip, EyeShadow, or Liner

 SPEND $10 (before coupons), Get $3 EB WYB Dove, Mars, or Wrigleys:

• Mars Easter Minis Mix, $6
• Mars or Wrigley's Novelties, 2/$6 (assorted, ask me for details)
• 2/$6 Mars Minis 10-11.5 oz
• 2/$5 Easter M&M's 9.9-14 oz
• 2/$6 Dove
• 2/$4.98 Wrigley's Starburst, Skittles, etc
• $1 Mars King Size

Nips, 88c
Easter Candy, 88c
Palmer/Gold Emblem Easter Candy, Bagged, 88c
2/$6 Hershey's Bliss
Soft Peppermint Puffs, $2.99
Werther's or Riesen, 2/$5
Ice Breakers Ice Cubes Sugar Free, 2/$5


BUY 2 Get 1 FREE Cadbury Chocolate Bar


Gold Emblem Brand Sale, various items. (Ask me for details)


Pringles, 2/$3
Quaker Quick Oats, 2/$
Coffee-Mate or Wesson Oil, $2.99

Starbucks Via 8 ct, or Splenda 200 ct, $6.99


Folgers 11.3 oz, 2/$5
Arizona Tea Gallon, $1.99
Aquafina, Gatorade, Izze, assorted, 2/$6
Pepsi 12 pks, 3/$12
7 Up, Canada Dry, A&W or Sunkist 12pks, 2/$11


Buy 1 Get 1 Free Welchs, Jif, Hunt's, or Chef Boyardee jelly, peanut butter, Snack Pack, or Chef Boyardee.


3/$10 DiGiorno Pizza, Red Baron Pizza, or Stouffer's French Bread Pizza


Tostitos 10-13 oz chips, or 15.5 oz salsa, $2.99


Zhu Zhu babies or puppies, starting at $6.99


Spend $10, Get $3 EB WYB ANY L'Oreal Lip Color


Spend $10, Get $7 EB WYB ANY Physicians Formula Cosmetics


Revlon Foundation, Powder, Blush, or Concealer:  You Pay $9.99, You Get $2 EB


Spend $10, Get $3 EB WYB Select Maybelline Cosmetics


Buy 1, Get 1 50% off Select Men or Women's Designer Fragrances


Buy 1, Get 1 50% off All Revlon Nail 


Olay Wet Cloths, Cleanser, Scrub, $6.99


Spend $15, Get $5 EB WYB CVS Skin Care, Hair Care, or Cosmetics


Irish Spring or Soft Soap Soap, 88c

Spend $15, Get $5 EB WYB Dove, Degree, Caress, Lever, Vaseline, or Axe:

• 2/$9 Axe Shampoo, Styler, Shower Gel, Deodorant
• $6 Caress, Dove, or Lever Bar soap 6-8pk, or Dove 18-24oz Body Wash
• 2/$6 Dove Shampoo, Conditioner, Styler
• $5.79 Vaseline Body Lotion, oil, gel, assorted
• 2/$7 Dove or Degree Assorted Deodorants
• $4.99 Dove Men+Care Body and Face Wash, 13.5 oz

Buy 1, Get 1 50% off, Neutrogena Lip, Eye, or Skin Care, Limit 6


Spend $20, Get $5 EB WYB Lumene Skin Care or Any Skin Effects

Buy 2 Neutrogena Sun Care or Sunless Tanning, Get $5 EB

Save $2 on Jergens Natural Glow


L'Oreal Healthy Look Sublime Mousse, $8.99
Buy 1 Get 1 50% off Bioluxe shampoo, conditioner, hairspray.
Conair Instant Heat Curling Iron, $14.99
Clairol Natural Instincts, $5.99
3/$10 all St. Ives or Noxzema Skin Care
VO5, 77c
Buy 1 Get 1 50% off, Conair or Scunci Mirrors, hair shears, rollers, or caps and more


Buy 1 Get 1 50% off Gold Bond, Assorted


Buy 1 Get 1 50% off Bic Disposables


2/$10 Motions Shampoos


3/$10 Tresemme


Spend $20, Get $10 EB on assorted Nexxus Products


Huggies Pull Ups Mega Packs, $13.99


Huggies Diapers, 56-96 ct, $19.99


Oral-B Pulsar, $5.99


Get a FREE 4x6 Photo Book WYB 2 CVS Mega Diapers!


Oral-B Cross Action Power Toothbrush or 2 pk Brush Heads, You Pay $6, You Get $3 EB  (could be FREE after coupons, if you have the $3 off one!)


2/$5.50, assorted Colgate


Crest, Scope, or Fixodent Assorted Mouth Washes, $3.99


Buy 1 Get 1 50% off Colgate Toothbrushes


Assorted Listerine and Rembrandt, $4.99


Breathe Right, $9.99


Nicoderm, assorted, Save $5

Non-Drowsy Claritin, Assorted, $19.79

Zyrtec, $18.99

Buy 1, Get 1 50% off Ibuprofen CVS brand

SPEND $20, Get $10 EB WYB ANY Excedrin

Ensure 4-6pk, $6.89

Caltrate or Centrum, assorted, $6.99

SPEND $10, Get $4 EB WYB Any ThermaCare Heat Wraps

Alli Starter Kit, $49.99

GenTeal, Zaditor, Clear Care, or Aquify, $11.99

Buy1, Get 1  50% off, All Reading Glasses

BOGO ALL CVS Glucosamine Chondroitin or Calcium Supplements

BOGO Nature's Bounty Heart Health

**Revitalens:  YOU PAY $5.99, You Get $5.99 in EB! (Pair this with some coupons, and you have a moneymaker!)

Buy 2, Get 1 FREE: Power Bar, Clif, or Zone

Align Probiotic Supplement:  You Pay $39.99, You Get $7 EB

Assorted As Seen On TV items, $9.99

Febreze Noticeables Dual Scented Refills, $3.99

 Swiffer Multi Purpose Cleaner, Sweeper wet or dry cloths, $3.99 

4/$10 Deluxe Fleece Throws

BOGO Arm&Hammer dryer cloths or laundry detergent

Bounce or Tide Dryer Bar, Stain Release, or Booster Pac 10 ct, $3.99

2/$7 Purina or Dingo dog snacks, assorted

5/$3 Fancy Feast cat food

Duracell Batteries, $9.99 (assorted)

CVS Batteries, $3.99

BUY 60 DIGITAL PRINTS, GET 20 FREE!  In store, or Online Using Code 60GET20. Order 80 4x6 prints, pay for 60.

 Indoor/Outdoor 27 exp Camera, CVS Brand, $4.99

Select CVS Batteries, $1.99

GET $10 EB WYB 2 HP InkJet Cartridges

MegaMind DVD, $16.99

Buy 1, Get 1 50% off, Caliber Envelopes or Notebooks

25% Off All Pur Water Filtration Products

2/$5 GE REVEAL Light Bulbs, 4pk  (Decent price, and GE's site has printable coupons, usually.)

$19.99 Photo Restoration

Kodak 2 GB SD Memory Card, $14.99

Only $4.95, Buy a Green Dot Card, get a $5 Credit when you use it at a CVS by April 16, 2011

General Mills, Kelloggs, or Kashi cereals, TLC Bars, Assorted:  You Pay 2/$6, You Get $2 EB

Ozarka 24 pk Bottled Water, $3.88

Pepsi 2 L, 88c, Limit 5

Gold Emblem Nuts, $3.99

Hershey's Pieces, 8-10.5 oz, 2/$5

Keebler or Nabisco Crackers, cookies, 4-8oz, 99c  Limit 5

Miller High Life, Natural Light 12 pks, $7.99

Corona or Heineken 12 pks, $12.99

Shiner Bock or Blue Moon 6 pks, $6.99

SOFTSOAP Body Wash, You Pay $2.99, You Get $2 EB

***This is most of the advertised deals from the CVS Circular for Feb 27-March 5th. You must have an Extra Care Card to get the prices/deals. They are free, just ask to sign up.  

Also, you can use coupons on every deal listed, on sale or otherwise. When you see "Spend $30, get $10 EB" that means spend $30 before you take the coupon amounts off the prices. So, you might be able to spend $30, take $15 off for coupons, and get your $10 EB. You would pay $15 out of pocket to spend $30 in this hypothetical.   

If you need the exact "assorted items" descriptions, sizes, or deal limits, please let me know. I wanted to get this out to you guys quickly, so I left most of this off. But do NOT hesitate to ask, and I will update the info and let you know.

Happy Shopping! 

 

Baby Wipes on the Cheap Through Amazon

How To Get Baby Wipes Cheap 

WITHOUT Coupons 

One reader recently asked me how to get great deals with minimal couponing effort. Another reader asked me about baby wipes deals. This deal from Amazon.com appeals to both!

Amazon.com has a great deal on wipes, currently.  Many are eligible to be 30% off AND have Free 2 day shipping!  To take advantage of this deal that can drop a 7 package, 504 count Pampers Thick Care Wipes Box down from $13.99 to $9.79 (or cheaper if you are able to use code: MOMWIPES at checkout), you have to be an Amazon Mom member AND sign up for automatic delivery.  (Don't fret, I am going to lay it out for you below.)   

 Usually, I say do NOT buy a box "deal".  Especially not in store. More often than not, if you use coupons, you are making a big and pricey mistake. Since 7 packs of wipes come in this box, you have just lost the ability to use 7 (or 14 if you can find store coupons to stack with) coupons on this purchase in store.  However, let's do the math for a moment.  These packs run about $2.39 in store. For 7 packs, that would run you   $16.73 without any coupons.  Let's say you are able to find 50 c off coupons. That, times 7 packs, is a savings of $3.50. So, $13.23 would be your final cost if you only had one low value coupon per pack.  So far, Amazon wins by a landslide, right?  SOMETIMES, you can find $1 off coupons for Pampers wipes. Let's run that scenario: $7 off $16.73 = $9.73.  Whoa. Wait. That is a whole 6 cents cheaper.  Do I still think you should consider the Amazon deal? Absolutely! Here's why:  You probably will not have $1 off coupons on hand, and not 7 of them.  Also, it is worth 6 cents to me to have a box of wipes delivered to my front door without having to take the kids into the store with me. 

AND, there is a chance you will get the wipes even CHEAPER if the code MOMWIPES works for you.  (It worked for me last week, but not today. I had another promotion in my account, so that may have affected it. Also, it might be a one time deal.. or it could be expired)

Things to consider when buying name brand vs store brand: Price (Of Course), Quality, AND Pampers/Huggies have codes attached if you do their "rewards" programs. IF you don't, you can pass the codes along to a friend and inspire some goodwill points. :)

HERE IS HOW TO WORK THIS DEAL:

1. Make Sure You Sign Up For Amazon Mom HERE.   This is a FREE program Amazon offers to moms.  You will get a few months of free shipping on everything Prime Eligible. Also, you will get discounts off of baby items.
2. Go to Amazon.com and search Baby Wipes.  Look for the Prime Eligible ones. Click to view the ones you are interested in and look for the Special Offers box to appear. It will say something like "Save 30% with Subscribe and Save and Amazon Mom".  If you find wipes like that, you will go through the Subscribe and Save box on the right, not the cart, to order your wipes.  Or go HERE for the Pampers wipes I bought. (Don't get Sticker Shock, the discount will show up at the checkout process. You have to sign up for Amazon Mom and click the Subscribe and Save to get the discount taken off)
3. Click Delivery Every 6 Months (on the right)
4. Click Subscribe Now (you will get to review, etc before finalized)
5. When you get to the checkout screen where you can enter a promo code, try MOMWIPES (it may or may not work)
6. Finalize your order and wait for your delivery. 

You CAN use promo codes and coupons with this deal. You may NOT want to get these wipes every six months. That's fine. Wait until AFTER you receive your wipes, then go to your Amazon.com account and cancel the subscription.

See, you can save without too much couponing effort or loading the kids up for a run to the store...

Let me know if this works for you or if you have any questions.
Basically, Subscribe for Amazon Mom, search baby wipes Prime Eligible, Subscribe for 6 Month Delivery, Try Code MOMWIPES, Check Out.

Mini Coupon Philosophy Tutorial

Changing the Way You View Coupons

Can Save You Money

You have two manufacturer's coupons for Pampers. One is $1.50 off any diaper or training pants. One is for $1.50 off any diaper.  You need diapers. Both coupons expire on the same date. Also, you know you wont run out of training pants before the expiration date on the coupon and you need diapers now.  So, do you :

A.  Use the $1.50 off diaper coupon

B. Use the $1.50 off diaper or training pants coupon

C.  Use whichever coupon comes to your hand first, because it really doesn't matter. This is a trick question.

The answer is A.

It really does matter.  What if you find a really amazing deal on training pants before the coupon expires? If you could get them for $3 a pack using a coupon, wouldn't you stock up? IF ONLY you hadn't used that coupon on diapers... But you didn't know that deal was coming!  OR, what if you could trade your training pants coupon with someone to get a coupon that makes your Olay bodywash free?  You never know when you might need that other coupon. You never know when the opportunity will present itself to use, trade, etc that other coupon.  It may look like 6 of one, a half dozen of another at first glance, but if you absolutely don't need to use a coupon like that, Don't! It really really does make a difference sometimes.

The example here is for diapers/training pants. BUT, these scenarios present themselves all the time.  Especially when a manufacturer does a rebate offer. You will wish you had specifically used the coupon you specifically needed and not wasted a more flexible coupon.  Stores even do $ back or gift card deals from time to time.  I am especially glad I don't throw out the formula checks I still magically get in the mail. I have made $7 so far this year buying formula I don't need with those checks. But, guess what? I make money AND friends with little babies get free formula from me.  Win Win.  

So, don't waste a flexible coupon. Not unless you really need to use it OR it is about to expire. 

Sneak Peak at CVS Circular Starting Sunday, Jan 30th!

Should You Use Those Coupons THIS Week? 

Or Wait for Next Week's Deals? Here's the CVS Circular That Runs Jan 30-Feb 6 to Help You Decide!

The week Of January 30-February 5, get FREE 9 Roll Charmin WYB $25 worth of these participating P&G Products:

• $10.97 2xUltra Tide or Gain  Regular or HE 48-64 loads
• $6.97 Bounty Regular rolls paper towels, 8pk
• $1 Puffs Regular or plus lotion 60-108ct tissue
• $9.99 Duracell AAA,AA 20 pk, CD 8pk, or 9 volt 4 pk batteries
• 97cents Dawn 9.5-10.3 oz Dish Soap
• $2.99 Crest Pro-Health 6 oz, Scope Whitening, Outlast 5.8-8oz, Pro-Health rinse 8.45 oz or Glide floss 38.2-54.7 yds.
• 2/$6.97 Pantene or Head and Shoulders (Various Shampoos and Conditioners)

BOGO Nature Made Vitamins or Supplements, limit 6  (excludes sleep aid softgels 30ct)

Kellogg's Raisin Bran Crunch, Frosted Flakes, Mini Wheats 16.3oz-18.2 oz OR Special K 12-14oz:  You Pay 3/$10, You get $4 EB, it is like getting 3/$6

$9.99 Select 12 pks Budwieser, Miller Lite, or Coors Light



SPEND $15, Get $5 EB WYB These Unilever brands: 

• 3/$5 Ragu
• 3/$5 Skippy Peanut Butter
• 2/$5 Lipton
• 2/$6 Ben & Jerry's
• 2/$6 Hellman's Mayo

Keebler Cheez-It, Club Crackers, or Sandies: You pay 2/$6, you get $2 EB, It is like getting it for 2/$3

2/$3 Gardetto's, Chex Mix, or Pringles  5.5-8.75 oz


SPEND $15, get $5 EB WYB any of these Coke or Kraft Products:

• 3/$9 12pk Cokes
• 2/$4 Nabisco Wheat Thins, Triscuits, or Ritz
• 2/$3 2Liter Cokes
• 2/$6 Planters Mixed Nuts or Cashews
• 2/$3 Fuze, Vitaminwater, smartwater, Honest Tea, or Powerade

Kudos, Planters, or South Beach bars:  You Pay 2/$5, You Get $1 EB, It is like Paying 2/$4

2/$6 Haagen Dazs
2/$5 Lean Cuisine
2/$6 Sunsweet Prunes
$2.99 for 4lbs of Domino Sugar
2/$3 Swanson or Bumble Bee Chicken or pink Salmon


Valentine Sale
$4.99 Whitman's Sampler
$4.99 Assorted Hershey's 15-18.5 oz
$4.99 Hershey's, Reeses Hearts or Stuffed Bear with Russel Stover Truffles
$3.99 Disney Couple Pez Set
2/$3 Brach's, Werther's, or Riesen
2/$3 Valentine Classroom Exchange Candy
2/$4 M&Ms Hearts, Skittles, etc
99c Pez, Air Heads, Peeps hearts, etc.
88c Sweethearts or heart pops
99c Hershey's Drops or Reese's cup minis King Size
2/$5 Assorted Hershey's 8-8.5 oz

Valentine M&Ms:  You Pay2/$5, You Get $1 EB, It is like paying 2/$4

$7.99 starting price on Valentine Plush
2/$5 Valentine Cards, Candy Exchange, or boxed cards
BOGO Candle-Lite 3 layered jar candles
KISSING BEARS! $5.99 with any American Greetings product purchase


BOGO CVS Power Flash all purpose 27 exposure cameras
SanDisk 2GB SD memory Card, $12.99

$3.99 Bounce, Tide Stain Release, or Cascade

2/$5 Mr. Clean Products, assorted

2/$5 Scrubbing Bubbles, Shout, Fantastik, Windex, assorted

2/$10 Lysol Disinfectant Spray or Wipes (80 count)

$3.99 Select CVS Batteries
$2.99 Febreze Air Effects, etc.
$8.99 Swiffer Sweeper Starter
$19.99 Laptop Desk
$11.99 Breakfast and Laptop Tray or Children's Folding Table

Brita Pitcher Filters, 3pk: You Pay $14.99, You Get $5 EB, It's Like getting it for $9.99

Buy One, Get One FREE Arm & Hammer Laundry Detergent and Dryer Sheets

Garner Nutritioniste Eye Rollers $9.99

SAVE $4 off Roc Skin Care
Olay ProX Advanced Cleansing System $29.99
L'Oreal Youth Code $21.99
Zeno Devices $34.99
HALF OFF Lumene Skin Care

Buy 1 Get 1 Half Off FX or Organix

Spend $30, get $10 EB WYB:
Nexxus Shampoo, Conditioner, or Styler 1-33.8 oz (excludes trial size)

Spend $10, get $5 EB WYB:

• Dark and Lovely
• Optimum Care
• Let's Jam Organic Root Stimulator
• Fantasia

Aussie or Herbal Essences:  You Pay 2/$5.97, You get $2 EB, It's Like Paying 2/$3.97

Buy One, Get One HALF OFF:  Aveeno Shampoo, Conditioner, or Styler
L'Oreal Feria, Excellence, or Root Rescue: $6.99
2/$5 Old Spice or Secret Deodorant (Excludes Expressions, Flawless, Effects, and Fresh)
VO5  77cents
Buy 1 Get 1 HALF OFF Goody, Revlon, or Vidal Sassoon
Conair Instant Heat Styler, $14.99

Huggies Good Nites or Pull Ups Mega Packs, $13.99
Tampax Pearl or Always Infinity, $3.99
SAVE $2 on ClearBlue Pregnancy Test
Oral-B Vitality Floss Action Toothbrush or 3 ct Replacement Heads, $21.99
Buy 1 Get 1 HALF OFF Select Colgate
Polident or Poligrip, select, $4.49
Buy 1, Get 1 HALF OFF Crest or Oral B select toothbrushes
Buy 1 Get 1 HALF OFF Bic Disposable Razors
Buy 1 Get 1 HALF OFF Shyck Hydro 3 or Hydro 5 razors or 4 ct cartridges
Q-Tips, $1.99
GET $5 EB WYB Gillette Fusion ProGlide Razor and 4-8 ct Cartridges
GET $10 EB WYB Crest Whitestrips (select)

Pampers Diapers or Easy Ups: You Pay $8.99, You Get $1 EB, It's like getting it for $7.99 (and use $2 coupon found in most Sunday papers, so like $5.99)

BOGO CVS Brand Heart Health Supplements.
BOGO CVS Brand Glucosamine Chondroitin
Buy 1, Get 1 HALF OFF CVS Brand Laxatives, Fiber, Enemas, or Stool Softeners

Buy 1, Get 1 Half OFF Select: Advil, Advil Congestion Relief, Children's Advil, ThermaCare, FiberCon, Dimetapp, Robitussin, Anbesol, ChapStick, Centrum, Caltrate, or Preparation H

Alli Starter Kit- $49.99

Complere or Revitalens Multi-Purpose Solution: You Pay $8.99, You Get $3 EB, It's Like Getting it for $5.99

Buy 1, Get 1 HALF OFF, Atkins or Kelloggs Bars or Shakes
2/$10 CVS Liquid Nutrition or Nutrition Plus,
BOGO Radiance Vitamins, Minerals, or Herbals
Buy 1, Get 1 HALF OFF Oscal+D

Breathe Right Advanced, $9.99

Nicorette, NicoDerm CQ, or Commit gum, patch, lozenges $37.99

Bayer, $4.49

Vicks Custom Care, VapoRub, NyQuil, DayQuil: You Pay $4.99, You get $1 EB, It's like paying $3.99

Spend $30, Get $10 EB WYB: 

• $25 Prilosec OTC
• $10 Metamucil
• $29 Align
• $5 Pepto Bismol

Zegerid OTC: You Pay $24.99, You get $6 EB, You Use $8 manuf coupon in most papers, It's like getting it for $10.99

Dove Visible Care, 10.1oz:  $1.99
Listerine Antiseptic or Toal Care 1-1.5 Liter, SAVE $3

Campbell's Soup, 2/$1 Limit 10
BOGO Lay's Potato Chips 10.5-13oz (excludes baked)
Buy 2, Get 1 FREE Mars Singles

10/$4 Friskies Cat food

The P&G Rebate Books are being Mailed!

My P&G Brands Rebate Book of Coupons 

Worth More than $110 in Savings Came in!

I got this HUGE padded envelop in my mailbox yesterday from P&G. I was pretty excited to see what it was. Then, I laughed. Because it was just a small coupon book in that big envelop.  That small coupon book was such a welcome sight, though! This coupon book has more than $110 worth of P&G brand coupons in it! There are several of each kind and include: 

• $1 off Any One Tide (I will use most of these for FREE 1-Load packs in the Travel Section, and keep one or two in case of a really good deal. If I don't see such a deal, I will buy more free loads right before they expire.)
• $1 off Gain Detergent or Fabric Enhancer
• $1 off any One Downy
• 50c off Bounce
• 50c off Dawn (which would make the dishsoap 50c or less during a drugstore sale!)
• $1 off Cascade
• $1 off Gain Dish Soap (Again, less than 50c or even FREE during a sale!)
• $3 off Swiffer Wet Jet
• $1 off any Duster/Sweeper (Swiffer)
• 50c off any Swiffer Refill
• $1 off any Charmin MegaRoll
• $1 off Bounty Towel 6ct or Higher
• $1 off Pampers Diapers
• $1 off Luvs Diapers
• $1 off 8pk or Larger Duracell Coppertop
• $1 off ANY TWO PRINGLES (look for the snack size, or a sale for super cheap Pringles!)
• $1 off Iams dry pet food (dog or cat)
• $1 off any one Pepto-Bismol
• $1 off Metamucil
• $1 off any Always
• $1 off any Tampax
• $1 off any CREST Toothpaste or gel 4.0oz or larger
• $1 off any Crest Mouthwash, 946mL or larger
• $1 off any Oral B Manual Toothbrush
• $1 off Olay Facial Moisturizer
• $1 off Pantene Conditioner WYB Pantene Shampoo
• $1 off one Herbal Essences or Aussie Product (Get it free by looking in the Travel section!)
• $1 off any Head and Shoulders (free in travel section!)
• $2 off Clairol Hair Color
• $1 off CoverGirl
• $1 off Olay PCC or Lotion
• $1 off Venus Embrace
• $1 off any Secret (Travel!)
• $1 off any Old Spice Deodorant (Travel!)
• $1 off Old Spice Body Wash (Travel)

These coupons are awesome. They will make for several nice freebies. But, you say, if you buy travel sizes, you have to keep buying them. What I do is I keep the coupons in case of a deal or promotion. If I don't see one to my liking, I go pay for travel sized items with them. The travel sizes come out free, or pretty close to it. Yes, I have a shelf in my bathroom dedicated to such items. Yes, I have to go to that shelf more frequently to get a new one to use than if I had bought larger sizes. But, really. When it is free, why would I mind that? Plus, the travel sizes fit nicer on my in shower shelf rack than the larger ones that always topple over.

How did I get such a lovely coupon rebate book? Periodically, P&G brands will release a rebate form. You have to spend somewhere between $50 and $100 (Pre-coupon amount!) on participating P&G Brands. Then, you circle those items and their prices on your receipts and mail those receipts in! This is one reason why it is a good thing to keep your receipts! Often, a rebate will come out for an item I recently worked a deal on. All I have to do is thumb through my receipt envelop for the right one, and mail it in! Easy! And, if you were to use lots of coupons to get travel sized items for free, you would have already had that much $ towards the rebate done.. for free! If I used 5 $1 off coupons for participating items, and the items themselves each cost $1, my out of pocket would have been $0. BUT I would have gotten credit for $5 worth!  (Pre-Coupon amount).

Did you get the rebate book? Work with a friend and swap for the coupons you each want and need! Cooperate!

Good couponing!

$1 Pampers Wipes Coupon By Mail

$1 Off Pampers Thick Care Baby Wipes

Coupon By Mail

I love requesting coupons by mail! Saves me the trouble of printing them. Also, a lot of times, this can get you on their mailing list in the future. You just might get more coupons by mail without having to request them, you just never know.  

Go HERE to request your coupon for Pampers Thick Care Baby Wipes.

With a value like $1 off, you can get these super cheap, or maybe free if you find a good sale to combine it with.

Free Underjams Sample from Pampers

Free Underjams Sample from Pampers

Just click HERE to request your free sample for Pampers' Underjams!