Been Far Too Long

Thank goodness for my Dad who has now provided me with a laptop so I can get more regular use of the computer.  Sharing computer time with "game boy" is impossible or next to impossible, so thank GOODNESS for my dad!  Yay computer time once again!  Victory is mine...well...sort of.

See, the reason I was unable to procure computer time to blog was because after one month of hauling my cookies daily to the Edmonton dirt lot train station parking lot (finding it to be full and then parking on a residential street and walking), our mother-in-law had to return to watch someone else's children.  We had been unable to find childcare...and with that said, the cost of child care for two children far exceeds what we are able to budget.  Being that my job is reasonably well paid, it had me starting to wonder...how is one to get ahead in life with more than one child?  The more people I spoke with, the more it became clear.  This is a huge problem for society as a whole. 

I went to work and provided them with two weeks notice upon the realization that I actually could not AFFORD to work because the cost of child care is so expensive and I do not qualify for subsidy and on top of that there was no child care that would transport my child to school (kindergarten starts this year), now I am forced to find night employment at minimum wage in order to be able to pay the bills and be able to transport my child to school.  On the plus side, I will be able to stay home and be home for my kids, but its going to be hard to work all the time (at night and on the weekends) and pull in the numbers we are going to need to keep our house afloat.  I had one of what I hope will be many interviews for a minimum wage position.  I have applied for so many part time jobs I cannot even keep them straight.  I have even gone searching for jobs late at night (and applied at several Boston Pizza locations.  Odd...none of them want to hire a washed up legal assistant mom with two kids... and next to no server experience)...even though I have been told I could easily pass for 25-26.  Lol.  Nevertheless, I persevere and put on a happy face because heck...maybe I can find a job where I can find more coupons!  :)

That being said, couponing has kicked into overdrive.  I am mostly purchasing items I can get for free or nearly free.   In the time that I have not been blogging, I have since stocked up on diapers and wipes (for each pack of pampers and each tub of wipes I paid $1.99...that was together...what would that make them...$1.00 for the pampers and $0.99 for the wipes...can you say "stockpile"??).  Also, I was able to locate boxes upon boxes of cereal on clearance at Shoppers Drug Mart for $2.99 and I had $1.50 off coupons!  AND the boxes had Free Product Coupons (FPC's) on them for Skinny Cow Ice Cream novelties (up to $5.99 I believe)...AND what was even better, they had boxes of Raisin Oatmeal Crisp that had coupons for $5 off ice cream and they were on clearance for $1.99...and the coupon exceeded the value of the cereal.  Awesome!

So, here is my list of things I have learned recently:

1.  Price match whenever possible.  Since I love love love to stack at London Drugs, I go there often and price match on a regular basis.  This has saved me an incredible amount of money.  Over the course of the weekend last weekend, I accumulated $200 in coupon savings.  One of the items I was able to get was cans of Campbell's Soup for $0.04 per can with my coupon stacks.  Mmmm....mmmmmm good.

2. Do not be shy about asking your neighbours to contribute to your efforts to save money.  Make em laugh.  charm them.  Get their inserts.  Just ask people.  Most people do not want to pick up the papers off the step let alone put them directly into the recycle bin/bag whatever the case may be...so ask around.  If you are too shy or feel too weird about that then...

3.  Join a network like Smart Canucks and start trading.  I have met so many incredible people and have been a part of an incredible experience by being a part of Smart Canucks (hereinafter referred to as "SC"...sorry....legal writing habit...).  Many traders are generous and people go to great lengths to get their inserts, but the bonus is that they are also willing to share them....I am greedy.  I want them all.  Just kidding.  Seriously though, they are a great bunch of people and I do definitely recommend getting involved...although, I have been privy to many a cat-fight on the pages of SC so...be tactful...be respectful...be courteous...be privy to great deals and fun trades.

4.  Walmart clearances rock.  You will recall Walmart allows overage, and their clearance allowed for me to accumulate lots of overage on items.  It was great!!  For instance, I made $1.00 off each Loreal hair product I bought, which was great because I didnt realize this until AFTER I traded for the coupon, I just thought I would get them free....it was a total bonus!!!  I made $0.53 for every 3 cans of Gillette I bought AND I made $0.52 for every two boxes of tissue I bought...I do not get a ton of overage items at one time, but enough to make a difference and every amount of savings helps for two reasons....the overage frees up chunks of money in the groceries and all of that savings adds up, plus I am able to obtain items for my family that I would otherwise not be able to afford because often times it is the fancy health and beauty products that I have been able to obtain overage or get for free and normally it is hard to find the cash for such bonus items (like Loreal Volume spray...aveeno body wash...etc.).  AND I am able to provide many of the items to my friend's foundation that she is beginning to create in honour of her daughter.  It is called Isabella's Umbrella, check her facebook page to learn more about this and her goals!  Simply type Isabella's Umbrella into the search part, and it should be the first thing to come up.

I am too tired to continue to blog right now...but before I go, one more thing i have learned is that the savings are out there.  When you are on a very strict budget, you CAN make it happen and make it appear as though you and your family are living the high life, when you are actually shopping on a dollarama budget.  Oh...speaking of Dollarma, many locations are accepting coupons now.  That's right.  Dollarama's take coupons...not all of them yet...but that should be in the works from what I understand.  I havent been able to try this one, but I have heard many a story about people's conquests from Dollarama including Vileda Scrunges for free.  That's sweet.  I have that coupon.

Great deals at Walmart!!!

I hadnt done a late night coupon run in awhile, so I figured with the Brandsaver Inserts set to expire at the end of the month, I should check to see what I could get.

Here is my haul:

6 Satin Care Shave Gel full size - $1.50 sale (price was not listed, I scanned on a whim and it was on sale) less $1.00 off coupon from Brandsaver, they were $0.50 per can.  They are regularly $3.16 each.  I got all six for $3.  HUGE SAVINGS!

6 Crest toothpastes - $0.88 (price not listed, but will be tomorrow) less $0.75 coupon from Brandsaver = $0.17 per tube.  Not free...but still good.

6 Old Spice Body Wash 250 ml bottle on sale $2 each.  Buy 2 save $3 coupon from Brandsaver also makes them $0.50 each.

My flyers AND my examiner did not come today....not happy!  Will report more extreme deals as soon as I can.  If you have Brandsaver inserts, use them up!!!  They will expire at the end of July!  Happy Couponing!

The Job...Red Plum...and Other Assorted Events

Today began as always.  With something eventful.  Having said that, I realize that I forgot to go into detail on what happened on day 2 of my job.  Day 2 was the first day I received a parking ticket.  Day 2 was not pretty.  Day 2 was not a good day. 

Day 2 began with me getting to the train station somewhat early.  I knew from previous experience going to this train station (I was blessed on day 1 by receiving what appeared to be the very last dirt lot parking spot the City of Edmonton transit system had to offer me), that there was a short cut to the back of the parking lot.  I took that way.  I discovered no spots.  Many people's cars were crammed up together like sardines in over packed cans.  I pitied the poor people who looked like they may have to crawl into their cars through the trunk.  I searched row on row.  No spots.  One person parked their car in a lane.  I hope they got towed.  Alright...that's the bitter part of me talking.  Nevertheless, 15 minutes of driving up and down the lanes aimlessly set me far behind in my schedule.  If I didnt leave, I would for sure be late.  I needed to park immediately.  Then...there was the pay lot.  Paved.  Lines painted.  Its for fancy Edmontonians.  Regular Edmontonians park in the dirt apparently.  I decided to be fancy, but for a day.

All this driving made me have to really move it to catch the train.  Once I got off the train downtown I had to walk as fast as possible to get to the office.  As luck would have it, I was completely ill-prepared for this power walk as I was only wearing a pair of ballerina flats that kept slipping off my feet.  I was walking along, minding by business then, bam....I'm tripping....I'm tripping....whoa...whoa...finally after stumbling for what felt like a million yards, I decided to succumb to gravity and allow myself to hit the pavement.  Great....did anyone see that???.  I got up and a lady goes "Are you okay?!?!?!" I just laughed and said the only thing injured was my pride. 

The day just spiralled from there.  Being in technology training with just the teacher and yourself in a tiny room isolated from everyone in the office made me begin to call this portion of my training "Ad-Seg".  After my stint in ad-seg, I returned to the car to get parking ticket #1.  Not sure what I will do come Monday...with it being a long weekend there were tons of dirt lot spots today....I was fortunate.  I know that fortune will run out on Monday when the real world returns.

All in all today was a good day though.  Got a parking spot.  Was released from ad-seg into the general population and even seemed to make some early friendships. Plus, when I returned home the Edmonton Examiner came, as did the flyers.  In the Edmonton Examiner (and next week in the flyers I assume) was a copy of the latest version of Red Plum.  What a gigantic disappointment.  Not many useful coupons at all.  Well....maybe a few, but all in all, definitely not the best issue.  Hopefully Smart Source will be better.  That comes out next weekend.

Nonetheless, I couldnt help but notice that there is a coupon for Glade Aerosol Sprays.  $0.25 off.  Sobey's has them on sale for $0.99 and Walmart has them for $1.00.  Not a bad deal at all if you use them regularly for your bathrooms.

Red Plum also has coupons for sensodyne toothpaste. If you have some from previous inserts there could be some good potential for stacking possibilities.   I have not had the chance to review and re-organize and categorize my coupons.  Once I have done that, I can advise as to the deals.  One off the top of my head very worth mentioning is the Purex Laundry Detergent which is 2 for $7 at London Drugs...with the $3 off Purex Coupon (x2) that is detergent for $0.50 per bottle...when it retails at around $7.99 per bottle normally.  An incredible deal.

Another that caught my eye is Safeway has their Crest Toothpaste 4 for $5. with the $0.75 off any Crest toothpaste coupon (from Brandsaver insert or brandsaver.ca), that makes each toothpaste $0.50 per tube (or 4 for $2.00).  Good deal, but not as good the deal from a couple weeks ago for 5 tubes for $5.  $0.25 per tube then!

Walmart has Kraft Singles on for $2.47, with the $1.00 off coupon from facebook, they are $1.47.  That's the BEST price I have seen to date.  Walmart also has Advil Nighttime going on sale for $3.99 per box.  With the $4 off tear pad coupon they are free.  Hopefully you can find some though.  I havent seen a 10 pack since the last round of Advil sales!

There are a few deals for now.  Teething baby is waking up again.  Gotta run.  Happy Canada Day to all and to all the best price! 

Some Deals Worth Mentioning

I meant to mention this earlier, but I happened to be in Walmart earlier in the week and they had a roll back for Dawn liquid dish soap.  $1.00 per bottle.  With $1.00 off when you buy 2 coupon (Brandsaver flyer), they were then $0.50 per bottle.  Definitely stock up time.

I read on a forum that Walmart has Covergirl makeup (some select kinds - mascaras and lip glosses) on sale for $3.97, with the $2.00 off covergirl makeup (also in brandsaver flyer) make up will be $1.97 each.  I say each because if I have some spare change I just may treat myself to new mascara or lip gloss....but there probably won't be much in the spare change department for a long time after getting not one, but two big fattie parking tickets (and this is only my third day on the job).  How does one accumulate so many parking tickets you might ask??  Well, while this has nothing to do with couponing, I am sooooooo happy to tell you my real honest and true feelings on this subject.

Edmonton might be the only city in the world that will put giant piles of wood chips around all the trees in my neighbourhood, but they can't pave the main parking lot at one of the only stations in the south, Century Park.  They expect us to park our cars in a gravel lot like we are parking to head to the county fair, only there is no reward....except muddy shoes.

Because of the ingenious mud-lot parking system the City of Edmonton chooses to use, many people take up more than their fair share of parking spots, leaving none open by 8 am.  Yesterday I parked in a lot where you needed a pass.  I didnt have a pass.  I knew I didnt have a pass.  What I did have was a job to get to and nowhere to park my car.  I received a $75.00 ticket for pulling that manoeuvre.  Today I decided I would try again in the dirt lot.  Much to my shock and amazement (note the oozing sarcasm) there were no spots left by 7:50.  I decided to park at the shopping complex somewhat adjacent to the station. 

I went to work and managed to locate another transit user that goes south.  I asked her where people park at the other south station (Southgate Mall Station).  She said you get ticketed if you park there.  So I ask where people park...the answer...you guessed it...Century Park Station.  Fantastic. 

When I walk to my car in the pouring rain, wouldn't you know it, there was another parking ticket for $75.00 on it.   I am guessing there are no coupons for parking tickets out there...but if there is, let me know!  I tried to research the transit system only everytime I get onto the right page suddenly Internet Explorer cannot display the page. 

Maybe tomorrow I park the car on the sidewalk right in front of the station.  If I'm going to get ticketed anyways, might as well make it count.  :)

GARAGE SALE MISSION

Being a broke couponer does things to you.  I'm on my last few days of maternity leave.  I'm on my last few dimes and I thought I should do something to cheer myself up.

So I had a garage sale.  Now, I know you are probably asking yourself how the HELL a garage sale cheered me up...but I decided to give myself a mission.  Any money I made from the garage sale (aside from the money my son is earning for selling his old toys because he is saving for a Transformer) would then be used to coupon and I would see what I could do with it.  I hung signs around my neighbourhood with the kids and the dog, but alas...I only made $4.  My spirits were crushed a bit, but I was not detered. 

I already had my price match flyers ready, my coupons pulled and my plan in action.  I was tired but eager to come out of this with a smile on my face and tons of new products!

Here is what I was able to get:

3 bottles of  Dove Men + Care Body Washes (with bonus shampoos on two bottles and a deodorant on one)
3 bottles of Dove Go Fresh Body Washes
2 cans of Campbells Chicken Noodle Soup
2 cans of Campbells Vegetable soup
2 bottles of Dawn liquid dish soap
1 Aveeno Shampoo (with bonus hair product)
1 Aveeno Conditioner
3 trial size bottles St. Ives lotion
1 package Baby Wipes

Total cost ..........drum roll please...........$3.61

SAY WHAAAAAAAT?!?!

I cannot believe what I can turn change into these days.  Although my first day of Operation: Garage Sale was a big fat let down, the end result was GREAT!  I hope tomorrow is an even bigger day!  Maybe I will make $5!!!!  Or maybe even $10!!!  :)

Back to Work Blues

Well, its the end of my maternity leave, probably the end of late night couponing....well....maybe not.

In an attempt to cheer myself up today, I went on two coupon trades.  Knowing Adidas products were coming on sale at Walmart, I put a call out on the local board on Smart Canucks to see if anyone was interested in trading for some.  I was able to get 14 of them!  So happy!  Then, I was able to meet someone who gave me the tear pads needed to complete another stack! 

I stopped at my local Shoppers Drug Mart and located Fibre Plus cereal on clearance for $1.99, with the 100 cents off coupon (yes..that's what it says!!) it was then $0.99!  AND they had Fibre One cereal with a $5 coupon for frozen yogurt, ice cream or cones on the box and the cereal was marked down to $1.99 as well!  SCORE!

On the way home I was so happy I created a plan to shop later.  After supper I took the girl and went to London Drugs with price match FEVER!  Here is what I got:

2 bottles of Purex Laundry Detergent
2 bottles of Lysol 4 in 1 cleaner
4 tubes of Arm & Hammer toothpaste (various types)
5 tubes of Crest toothpaste (various types)

Total cost:  $7.14 (this is less than the cost of ONE of the laundry detergents at regular price without tax!!!)

I was very pleased!  So I decided to stroll over to Walmart to scan their products that I knew were coming on sale in this weeks flyer.  YAY!  Price updates!  That meant the Adidas deodorant was now $0.27 with the $2 off coupon I traded for!

I bought 5 Adidas deodorants and 3 gillette shave foam for a total cost of $0.92.  I felt renewed. 

After returning home and getting the small folks to bed, I decided to venture back out for some much needed mommy coupon alone time. No one following me screaming.  No one spazzing out.  No one insisting I stand in the toy section while they point out every Transformer on the planet and what their names are. 

I went to a different Walmart which had a HUGE stock of Adidas deodorants, so I got to use up the rest of my coupons...and not even come close to clearing the shelf!  I checked the ice cream, but none worthy of my $5 off ice cream coupon.

Then, I went to Save-On Foods and located new tear pad coupons for Save $5 on any 5 kraft products and $0.75 off Post Cereals...then I hit pay dirt.  Dark Chocolate Cherry frozen yogurt.  Regular $7.99.  On sale for $5.  With my $5 coupon (from cereal box) it was free.  I walked out of Save-On with lots of new coupons and some delicious frozen yogurt and didnt pay a penny.

I think I will get a bowl of the frozen yogurt right now and ease the back to work blues!!

More Deals June 17 - 23

Here are a few more great deals (with coupons) that I can see, I am sure there are loads more, but here are the ones I noticed right away:

SOBEY'S:

Like I said before, its BOGO time at Sobey's so there are tons of good deals, but not loads I see in the flyer that you can coupon on, but some good deals still.  The best one I see that you can coupon on is:

Buy Two Palmolive dish detergents and receive a third one free.  You can then use the buy 2 save $1 coupon and get all three for $4.18, or $1.39 per bottle.  Not a SCREAMING deal, but a decent one.

ZELLERS:

Lysol No-Touch is on for $9.99 which is a good price to either use the $5.00 off coupon from the May Smart Source and get it for $4.99, then use the Mail In Rebate from the June Smart Source and get it for free.  :) Or Price Match and double coupon at London Drugs to also get it for free...that is, if they have some!
Gillette Razors are on sale and there are tons of coupons for those as well.
Cheez Whiz is on sale for $3.49, with the $1.00 off coupon it would be $2.49.
Colgate Total is on sale for $1.49, with $1.50 off coupon from dentist office it is free.

SAFEWAY:

Safeway has Gillette Gift Packs on for $10.99 without the club card, but with the club card they are $7.99....but if you still have some of the buy 3 Gillette Products or a gift set over $10 coupons, then you can still use it on this purchase because it is $10.99 BEFORE the rewards card.  The gift send then becomes $2.99.  :)

Duracell Batteries are buy one get one, and you can use the coupon on the purchased one.

SHOPPERS:

Duracell Mini Chargers are on sale for $9.99.  Use the $5 off coupon from the Brandsaver insert to get it for $4.99.  They are usually close to $15.00 so this is a great deal!!!

Those are a few more of the deals that I can see....most of the flyers seem to have made their way to the recycle bag...but if I get a chance, I will see what other deals I can find!