Another coupon post

Another K-mart trip today...We needed coffee and I needed contact solution, I knew I had coupons for both. So why not use a coupon that they will double? All the other stuff I got, I just couldn't resist the deal. I knew it would be used eventually and why not get it cheap. Here is the price break down.

Secret Deodorant $3.89 :) FREE
Clear Care Contact Solution $8.95 $4.95
Folgers Brazilian coffee (big size) $6.49 $5.99
Tostidos tortilla chips $3.00 No coupon!!! But it was on sale!
Hershey Special dark chocolate kisses $2.50 $.50 who could pass this up for $.50!!!
Ragu Spaghetti sauce $1.99 $.99
Wheat Thins $2.50 $1.75
Triscuits $2.50 $1.75
2 Coffeemate coffee creamers $4.98 $2.98 for both

price before coupons $36.80
total after coupons $21.91

Not as great as last time, but I did get a couple higher priced items...Like the contact solution and the coffee. So when you consider what I got and what I would have paid before for these things, then I did pretty good. Plus Mike just had to have his tortilla chips, I only bought these because he requested them. I know I could have gotten them cheaper somewhere else...ha ha! It would have only been $18.91 if I had not gotten those. When you consider the coffee and contact solution alone would have been $15.44. I'd say that's pretty darn good for what I got!

Coupon obsessed...

I have a new hobby. I have been collecting coupons for about a month and decided I would try to save our family some money. So far I think I have done pretty good with it. It is time consuming but I feel a sense of accomplishment when i leave the store spending WAY less than what I would have spent before without blinking an eye. I also shopped for sale stuff before, but never did I imagine how much less you can pay if you take the time to use coupons.

Kmart is doubling all manufactures coupons up to $2 till October 3rd. I have made 2 trips so far and I wanted to share how I did. This is the list of the things I ended up with. The price in black bold is the price that I would have paid if I didn't have a coupon and the price in red is what I actually paid for the item.

2 secret deodorants $7.78 FREE
1 Dove deodorant $3.99 FREE
2 Visines $7.98 FREE
1 24ct advil $3.99 FREE
2 Aveeno baby lotions $9.58 $1.58
1 Reynolds foil $2.99 $1.49
1 Ajax dish soap $1.99 FREE
2 Pringles $3.00 $1.00
1 huge gatorade $1.66 no coupons (gasp!)
1 10 pack Bic disposable razors $3.49 FREE
1 bag of dark chocolate kisses $2.50 $.50
1 jar of Ragu spaghetti sauce $1.99 $.99
1 Lea and Perrins Worcheshire sauce $3.25 FREE
1 dial hand soap $1.59 $.49

TOTAL before coupons ( I would of spent) $55.78
TOTAL I ACTUALLY SPENT $8.71

*total before coupons*
*total after coupons*

I did this in two trips but if I would have done it in one, I had a $5.00 off coupon when you spend $50....shoot! They do actually have a 10 coupon limit, so the chances of me being able to do all of this at once is slim. So I am really proud. These are all things we use. It makes me feel like I am doing something good for my family. You may be thinking, why in the world do you need 3 deodorants? I thought that also when I started reading about "stockpiling", but not only will I not need to buy deodorant for like a year, I will probably never pay a cent for it again. In fact, before this double coupon shinanigans is over, I will probably have 3 or 4 more...Why pass up something that is free that eventually you will use? That is my theory anyway. Also, I can give it away to someone who needs it. Every time I come home with another bag from Kmart, Mike rolls his eyes. ha ha...He really does like that I am saving money though. He just thinks it's funny how obsessed i get with things.

Down with the Dodgers! Let's go Giants!!!

Momma's day with Austin

new art projects by Kaden

Pictures from the party

Great Grandma and Grammy

Papa

Austin taking the first swing on the pinata

Singing happy birthday! Right before my camera died...boo

Kaden and Uncle D playing sword fight and Austin hanging out with D

Austin with his buddy Jeremy

My Mama and Laurie

Hanna and Marcel

Gavin

Grandma and Grammy

Mike and Cody

Jude

Jude and Austin

Kaden

blowing bubbles

The pinata

the cake

posters I made for the party

Big ol birthday boy

Playing with "Woody"

I can't believe that Austin is 2!!!! He had a super great birthday this year and he really understood that it was his special day. Mike had a 3 day weekend, so we were all home on the morning of his birthday. It was so much fun to celebrate all together. The night before Mike and I were up till midnight decorating the house, wrapping his presents and putting together his new tricycle. Finally I had everything set up for how I wanted it when he woke up.

Kaden's presents

He woke up bright and early Saturday morning. I think he knew that it was his birthday or something. He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw all the decorations. Kaden was just as excited as Austin was. Kaden ran out in the living room first and squealed, "I got a new bike"!!! It was so sad because we told him that it was Austin's birthday and that was his present. We did get him a present too, but I think it was really hard for him seeing Austin get so much attention.

Austin's reaction to decorations

When Kaden realized that the tricycle wasn't for him...

Kaden eventually got over it. It took lots of talking about how we should all be excited to celebrate brother today and everyone has their very own day. We explained that he had his birthday in april and now it's brothers turn to have his day. We had lots to do to prepare for the party the next day. So we headed off to Costco to do some shopping. We got the boys a hot dog and then headed home for naps. We headed back up to SLO later in the afternoon and High St. Deli for dinner. Yum! We were trying to get everything done for the party, so we tried to get the boys to bed early. We knew the next day would also be a long one.


We had his party at Strother park this year. We have done the birthday parties in our backyard before but this year we just wanted to try something new. I have to say that it was really nice not having it at home. I think all the kids enjoyed having the spacious park to run around and play in. Not to mention cleanup was a breeze compared to having them in your backyard...