Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Free Paid Only Tax

I had so much fun today I had to tell you about it. I went to Pick N Save for their double coupons (they only double on Wednesday). Please see photo.



Can you believe I got all the items pictured for 60¢!!!!!! And that was tax. They had Betty Crocker Double packs of Hamburger Helper and Betty Crocker Potatoes for $1 each!!!! That's a deal all by itself. I had $1/1 coupon for Hamburger Helper (from All You Magazine) and four .50¢ off 1 Betty Crocker potatoes from the past Sunday paper. I know I can double those. So I picked up 3 Soleil razors ($6.99 each), I had free coupons (from the Sunday Paper a few weeks ago) So that pushed me over the $25 mark that I had to spend to double. Except I realized that the Hamburger Helper was only a $1, so I couldn't double that-it was already free, so I pick up the Wrigley's gum- 10 pack is $1.99 and I had $1/1 coupon-double that and it's free!!! I couldn't believe it!! Get this the tax was actually $1.10 but I had an overage, so they subtracted that from the tax so only .60¢ . The cashiers aren't really suppose to do that, but I know the cashier well and she said she'd do it. But that's not all~ I had a very good day all around with coupons. I shopped all morning (combining all errands in one day) I spent $169.51 total for the day.... but I saved $256.57 in coupons for the day!!! Here are some of the deals I got
Sunsilk 24/7 hair products .08¢ each
Sunsilk Shampoo and Conditioner .58¢ each
Quatro Razors .99¢ and 1.99 each
York Peppermint Patties bagged .75¢ each
Capri Sun 10 packs .95¢ each
Reg size Cheetos for $1
Pepsi 12 pks $1.75
Secret body spray free
Westpac Veggies free
and more but those were the most impressive items I got.
I was on a rush all morning. The thrill of the hunt!! Well I better get going Lost finale is going to be in a few minutes. Til next time.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Free or Cheap Dog Treats

Good Morning!! Last time I wrote I didn't tell you that I refund and coupon too. I have been involved in refunding and coupons for 16 years. The early years I didn't do much with coupons, mostly I did refunds/rebates. But over time refunds became harder to find and to get all the qualifying items within the short time frame, that refund forms require. However I still do some rebates. Mostly Menard's rebates and Walgreen's monthly rebates. I moved on to coupons. Through the years some area grocery stores had double coupons, however their rules were strict and hard to follow. We still have one store in the area that doubles which is Pick N Save and Copp's. They double up to a $1 with a limit of 5 that can be doubled. However you must spend $25 before coupons. I still do real well at that store. I would like you to take a look at my cheap and free dog treat that I got last fall.



I used free coupons for the Iam's tartar treats coupons which came in the Sunday supplements in the newspaper. Those coupons were good up to (I think) $6 and they were actually priced at $5.50 each. So I bought 4 at a time and then I bought 5 other dog treats (which were on sale) to bring the total over $25 and on those dog treats I used 5 $1 coupons, those were doubled. I only paid a few cents for each order plus tax. I did this several times. (In and out of the stores, both Pick N Save and Cops) until I didn't have any free coupons left. When I came home I snapped this photo. So many of my friends don't understand how coupons can get you free or cheap items. This photo is my proof that it can be done. It's been a while I don't remember how much the total value was on the dog treats, but I do remember I paid just over $7 (mostly tax) all the treats you see in the photo!!! You are probably wondering where did I get all the coupons? Well I usually purchase 3 different Sunday papers. I get coupon inserts from friends and family. Also I found the nicest lady in FL who gets many papers from friends and family. She sends me coupons that I need and she can't use. She is one of the most generous people that I know!! I also belong to Refund Cents Magazine and online that's how I met this wonderful women from FL. This is a group that helps you save money through coupons, refunds, online coupons & codes, plus everyone chats about the deals that they have found. This site keeps me very informed what is on sale at national chain stores. Through this magazine and site, I have learned how to use coupons with sales and much more. Also available are trading boards. So people can trade for coupons, upcs or forms that you need and get rid of stuff you don't need/want any more. I have learned so much. I know there are many refunders that do better then I do but this is just a hobby for me. The trill of the hunt for good deals will continue!!! Oh yeah here's a picture of my mutt...


This is Shelby. In this photo she is about a year old. She is now 2 years old. Shelby is named after the Ford Shelby (Mustang). I picked this photo because you can see that she has one blue eye and one brown. Your asking what is she?? Her mother was a pure breed Golden Retriever (notice the ears) and her father was a Husky mixed with German Sheppard. She is spoiled, yup in part from all the treats!! She loves to run her top speed is 30 miles per hour. My son clocked her running at top speed with his 4 wheeler. She also benefits from my rummage sales. Last week I bought a child's size plastic pool at a rummage sale, so she gets to play in water this summer. Well time for me to go, more next time. Take care everyone.

Monday, May 21, 2007

Let me introduce myself

Good morning!! I am a Mom of 2. My hobby is searching rummage sales for items they need and things for myself. I have been going to rummages for 22 years and I love it!! I have items that I will never sell or pass on to someone else, just because of the story behind the item. For example I was at a rummage sale in my early days of rummage sales. I saw this very interesting cat cookie jar. (At the time I collected cat everything) Well it came with this matching plate. I wanted the cookie jar and not the plate. I asked the lady who was running the sale if I could just buy the cookie jar. The only thing she said was "it's California Pottery" My reactions was Wow that's nice, but I don't want the plate, just the cookie jar. She says again 'it's California Pottery" I looked at my friend who was with me and we started to laugh. I then said to the lady. Well I will give you the asking price of $20 but I don't want the plate. Guess what her answer was... Yup you guessed it. "But it's California Pottery". So I handed her the $20 and took the cookie jar and the plate. We laughed all the way to the car. When my friend and I get together we still laugh about this lady and the cookie jar. I still have the cookie jar and plate displayed in my kitchen. Even tho I don't collect cat items any more and the cookie jar is green which doesn't match my kitchen any more. Please take a look at the cat cookie jar.

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You will find more topics like this in my blog. So please book mark this blog and check back often for my rummage sale stories. You find much more. There will be posts about hard stressful days of rummaging, where frustration will show. However you will get to read about the REALLY good days and thrill of the hunt too!!
We live outside of town so having rummages sale here is differicult-very little traffic. Once a year my Aunt has a sale who lives in town. So I haul my unused treasures over to her house. However she has a rather small garage, so I feel as though I can't haul too much stuff over there. So my alternitive solution was to open a store at www.differentthings.ecrater.com. This is a brand new store. I have been selling on ebay and half.com for 6 years and I enjoy it. However I have so many items and so little money for the store fee's there. Please check out my store, I am adding new things all the time, so check back often... you never know what you will find!!!!
More to come... I can't wait to get this blog really rolling!! I'm excited to read your comments!!