Thrifty Thursday: Christmas on a Budget

Each year, I start budgeting for Christmas in January. This enables me to buy things throughout the year when they go on sale. I was a little stressed this year because I really hadn’t come across many exciting deals, but then the Amazon deals came along and I made up for lost time.

I am still receiving boxes. I don’t think I will give the kids all of this for Christmas (I will probably put some of it away for their birthdays), but I just wanted to share that a little bit can go a LONG way and you don’t have to spend a lot of money for Christmas. I actually came in under budget for Christmas this year and will have money to start out my Christmas fund for next year.

Total OOP: $113.78 (before rebates), $108.79 after rebates
Total retail value: $380.78

Disney Bike – Total OOP was $6 exactly, regularly $79.99. On sale for $20 off at Toys ‘R us. Used 20% off coupon. Used $10 off Toys ‘R Us gift card. Used $30 Toys ‘R Us gift card (did a prescription transfer @ Randalls and got it for free).

Leapster – Total OOP was $3.88, regularly $49.99. On sale for $28.88 at Target.com. Used $25 e-certificate earned from Britax carseat deal that fell through, earned $2.02 back from Ebates.

Leapster games: Dora Pinata Party (regularly $17.99), Letterpillar (regularly $17.99), Kindergarten (regularly $24.99), Scooby Doo (regularly $17.99), and Numbers Raiders (regularly $17.99), total regular price $96.95. Purchased during Leap Frog 50% off sale , spend $49.47, earned $2.97 back from Ebates.

Leap Frog Tag reading system (regularly $49.99) and Disney Princess book (regularly $13.99) – $21.98 for both during Amazon Gold Box deal

Dr. Seuss I can Do That Game – $5.99 during Amazon deal (regularly $19.99)

Hannah Montana doll – $3.24 (purchased on clearance at Target) (regularly $9.99)

Hannah Montana Jake doll – $3.24 (purchased on clearance at Target) (regularly $9.99)

Barbie & The Diamond Castle dolls – $9.99/each (purchased through Amazon.com deals, regularly $24.95/each)

Total OOP: $110.64 (before rebates), $109.72 after rebates
Total retail value – $214.89

Fisher Price Musical Fingerpaint – regularly $19.99, purchased from Etoys for $14.99 (received .32 from Ebates)

Clipo Creativity Table – regularly $32.99, purchased for $19.99 on Amazon.com

Clipo Activity bucket – regularly $19.99, purchased for $5.99 through Amazon deal

Imaginarium blocks set – regularly $19.99, purchased for $9.99 through Toys ‘R Us deal

Mr. Potato Head Themed Value Pack – $7.99 through Amazon, regularly $19.99

Playskool Talk ‘N Scan Cash register – $5.99 through Amazon, regularly $15.99

Tonka Front loader truck – $3.99 through Amazon, regularly $12.99

Leap Frog fridge Farm – $9.99 through Leap Frog 50% off sale, regularly $19.99 (received .60 from Ebates)

Little Einsteins character set – $1.49 clearance at Target, regularly $7.99

Tonka Truck – $3.24 on clearance at Target, regularly $9.99

Fisher Price Rock, Roll & Ride trike – $26.99 on Amazon, regularly $34.99


My CVS trip for the week. I went in with the intention of buying just the Contour monitors. They are on sale for $14.99 this week and you earn a $5 ECB. I have a coupon good for up to $30 off. So, the cashier scanned my monitor and then my coupon and told me I needed $15 more in merchandise. This is NOT supposed to happen and I TOLD the cashier that she was supposed to adjust the coupon down, but she insisted she couldn’t. So, I ended up with all of these for some change OOP and earned $15.99 in ECBs.

My Walgreens trip. I lost count of how many Turtles I purchased. They are on sale for $.99 this week and there are $1.50/1 coupons. I bought them in sets of 11, used 7 coupons (you can’t use one coupon per item because then it beeps because of the overage), and paid .39/each. I went to different stores and did not clear shelves (there were still plenty left). I even shared leftover coupons with the cashiers!

SCENARIO SUNDAY: for the week of 12/14-12/20/08

CVS:

This is the only deal I’m doing this week:

Buy 1 Contour Blood Glucose monitor – $14.99 (earn $5 ECB)
Use $30/1 coupon

Buy 2 Colgate Total toothpaste – $2.99 (earn $2 ECB/each)
Use $1.50/1 printable coupon
Use $1 CVS CRT

Buy 2 Thermacare wraps – 2/$11.98 (earn $5.99 ECB)
Use 2 $1 Thermacare coupons

Total before coupons: $32.95
Total after coupons: $11.96
Earn: $14.99 in ECBs

RANDALLS/SAFEWAY (depending on where you live)

I found this deal on Fannie’s blog:

This deal will end on 12/16/08.

Buy 5 save $5 instantly!

Safeway is currently running a sale on various cereals. Check your area for pricing. It should be cheaper than mine since our area is pretty high when it comes to food.

Use coupons from 11/9/08 RP for $1/1 these cereals below!!!! After coupon your cereal will end up costing $.29-$.49 a box!!!

This is a list of all the cereals that are in this promotion…
Kelloggs Frosted Chocolate Fudge Pop Tarts – 22 Oz $2.49
Kelloggs All Bran Cereal – 18.3 Oz$2.88
Kelloggs Raisin Bran Cereal – 20 Oz$2.29
Kelloggs Chocolate Special K Cereal – 13.4 Oz $2.99
Kelloggs Cinnamon Pecan Special K Cereal – 12.5 Oz $2.99
Kelloggs Corn Flakes Cereal – 18 Oz $2.29
Kelloggs Fruit And Yogurt Special K Cereal – 12.8 Oz $2.99
Kelloggs Smart Start Cereal – 17.5 Oz$2.88
Kelloggs Smart Start Healthy Heart Low Sugar Cereal – 15.2 Oz $2.88
Kelloggs Smart Start Maple And Brown Sugar Cereal – 15.2 Oz $2.88
Kelloggs Special K Cereal – 12 Oz $2.99
Kelloggs Special K Low Carbohydrate Cereal – 13.5 Oz $2.99
Kelloggs Special K Vanilla Almond Crisp Cereal – 14 Oz $2.99
Kelloggs Special K With Red Berries Cereal – 12 Oz $2.99
Kelloggs Apple Jacks Cereal – 12.2 Oz $2.49
Kelloggs Cocoa Rice Krispies Cereal – 16.5 Oz $2.49
Kelloggs Corn Pops Cereal – 12.5 Oz $2.49
Kelloggs Froot Loops Cereal – 12.2 Oz $2.49
Kelloggs Frosted Flakes Cereal – 14 Oz $2.29
Kelloggs Frosted Mini Wheats Cinnamon Cereal – 16 Oz $2.49
Kelloggs Honey Smacks Cereal – 15.3 Oz $2.49
Kelloggs Crispix Cereal – 12 Oz $2.29
Smart Start Strawberry Oat Bites Cereal – 14.7 Oz
Kelloggs Rice Krispies Cereal – 12 Oz $2.49
Kelloggs Frosted Mini Wheats Bite Size Cereal – 18 Oz $2.49
Kelloggs Frosted Mini Wheats Strawberry Cereal – 16.3 Oz $2.49
Kelloggs Mini Wheats Frosted Maple And Brown Sugar Cereal – 16.5 Oz $2.49
Kelloggs Smores Pop Tarts – 12-1.83 Oz $2.49
Kelloggs Strawberry Pop Tarts – 22 Oz $2.49
Kelloggs Snack Bar Rice Krispie Treat – 6.2 Oz $2.79

Print $1/1 coupons here: http://bricks.coupons.com/Start.asp?tqnm=rjnefah1098550&bt=wi&o=54148&c=KC&p=uU1wzMHO

TARGET:

The Glade deal goes through tomorrow (if you can still find candles at your store)

The $2 Archer Farms ham coupons is good through 12/20. The ham is no longer on sale, but you can still get it for $2-2.50 on average before coupon (so free-.50 after coupon)

Get a free Happy Baby Organic meal. Print the coupon here: http://bricks.coupons.com/Start.asp?tqnm=rjnefah1098550&bt=wi&o=54148&c=KC&p=uU1wzMHO

WALGREENS (I’m only doing this because I have RR that are going to expire)
Buy Tide – $12.99 (use $1 coupon from this week’s inserts)
Buy DeMet’s Turtles – $.99 (use $1.50/1 DeMets coupon)
Buy Butterball chicken broth – .50

Use 2 $5 RR (one from Holiday deals, one from Gatorade purchase)
Spend $1.98, get $2 RR

Buy 2 Oral B stages toothpaste – 2/$4
Use $1/2 Oral B stages coupon
use $2 RR from Tide
Spend $1, get $2 RR

Savings Saturday: CVS and Walgreens deals for the week of 12/14-12/20

CVS:
ECB deals:
*CoverGirl Simply Ageless Foundation – $15.99, get $5 ECB
*Pepsi – 4/$11, get $3 ECB
*L’Oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes Technology mascara – $8.99, get $2 ECB
*Spend $10 on St. Ives body moisturizer, get $5 ECB
*Buy any Pure Black Rice Skin Care, get $5 ECB
*Buy Dove bar soap – $2.49, get $1 ECB
*Norelco face or bodygroom shaver – $34.99, get $5 ECB
*Clairol Natural Instincts or Loving Care hair color – $5.49, get $1 ECB
*Buy Crest SpinBrush (or 2 ct. refills) – $4.99, get $2 ECB
*Buy Crest, Fixodent or Oral B twin pack, get $2 ECB
*Spend $15 on Gillette Venus or Fusion cartridges (4-8 ct) or 1 ct razors, get $5 ECB
*Schick Quattro for men midnight razor, titanium razor, or trimmer – $7.99, get $3 ECB
*Spend $20 on Excedrin (20-250 ct), get $10 ECB
*ThermaCare pain relief wraps (2-3 ct) – 2/$11.98, get $5.99 ECB
*Bayer Contour blood glucose monitoring system – $14.99, get $5 ECB (MIR = $9.99)
*Bausch & Lomb ReNu MultiPlus Twin pk 24 oz – $12.99, get $3 ECB
*Digital Photo Viewer with clock or with keychain – $17.99, get $3 ECB
*Colgate Total Advanced – $2.99, get $2 ECB
*Right Guard Sport, Xtreme, Soft & Dri, or Dry Idea – $2.99, get $2 ECB
*Get $10 ECB when you buy $20 of these Folgers/General mills products: GM cereal, cereal bars, granola bars – 3/$10, Folgers Classic Roast coffee – $10
*Buy Pantene Pro-V, Infusium, Herbal Essences, or Head & Shoulders – $5.99, get $2 ECB
*Mars Candy – Spend $20, get $5 ECB; Dove Bars 2/$4, Dove pouches – 2/$5, Mars singles 3/$2

TWO DAY SALE (SUNDAY/MONDAY)*Buy Nova Max Blood Glucose monitoring system – $9.99, get $9.99 ECB
*EARinse Seawater rinse – $9.99, get $9.99 ECB
*Sleep MD 10 ct – $7.99, get $7.99 ECB

BOGO:Assorted toys
CVS batteries
Holiday gift wrap
L’Oreal lip color
Maybelline Face, Eye, Lip, or Nail color
Nature Made vitamins
Werther’s or Riesen
Other deals:
Duracell batteries – $2.99

WALGREENS – I am borrowing this from Hot Coupon World this week because I haven’t had a chance to go through the ad yet!

Pantene Pro-V or Gillette Hair Care
2/$8 – $2 RR = 2/$6

Tide Detergent
12.99 – $2 RR = $10.99

Buy 2 or More Delsym, Get $5 RR
Delsym – $7.99

Buy 1, Get $2 RR – Buy 2 or more, Get $5 RR
Zicam Cold Remedy – $9.99

Buy 3, Get $4 RR – Buy 4 or more, Get $6 RR
Midol, Bayer, Aleve – $4.99

Buy 1, Get $2 RR – Buy $2, Get $5 RR
Ex-Lax, Gas-X, Maalox – $4.99
Benefiber – $9.99

Buy 1, Get $3 RR – Buy 2, Get $6 RR
Zantac – $19.99

Buy 1, Get $1 RR – Buy 2, Get $2
Tums – $3.99

Buy 1, Get $4 RR – Buy 2, Get $10 RR
Prilosec- $19.99

Buy 1, Get $2 RR – Buy 2, Get $5 RR
Miralax – $9.99

Buy 2, Get $2 RR
Oral-B Stage 3 Toothpaste, Zooth or Oral-B Kids manual toothbrush – 2/$4

Buy 2 or more Listerine listed, Get $5 RR
Listerine – 2/$11

More Savings Monday: Sneak Peek at CVS ad for the week of 12/21 – 17 FREE items!!

If you’ve been down about the limited deals at CVS lately, don’t be. Next week will be a little bit better and the following week will be a LOT better!

The following information comes courtesy of Hot Coupon World:

Listerine antiseptic 16.9oz $2.99 get $2.99 limit 5

$1/1 Listerine Premium 500 mL or larger exp 12-31-08 from CVS Diabetes coupon Book

Sally Hansen Lacquer Shine nail Color $5.99 get $5.99 limit 2

.50 off Sally Hansen Nail Color, Any – 09-28-08 SS

$3/2 from CVS Beauty Book also referred to as the Reinventing Beauty flyer

Arm & Hammer Essentials starter kit $2.99 get $2.99 limit 5

Print Your Coupon $1/1

Also keep your eyes open for MIR forms!

L’Oreal HIP Metalic eye shadow duos $6.99 get $6.99 limit 2

L’Oreal VisibleLift Product Or Any Makeup, Powder, Blush Or Concealer, $2/1 Any – 10-05-08 RP.

$1/1 printable coupon here: http://bricks.coupons.com/Start.asp?tqnm=rk1eeqs13228629&bt=vi&o=53689&pt=&lang=&ws=&ct=&ci=&cl=&cp=&eb=1&c=ML&p=18060277&z=&r=&pc=&tc

ThermaCare neck to arm heatwrap 1ct $2.49 get $2.49 limit 3

Right Guard Professional solid 1.8oz or aerosol 6oz $6.00 get $6.00 limit 5
.50/1 IP http://sweeps.rightguard.com/index.html(use code rightguard) link comes in your email when you play this IWG
$0.55/1 Right Guard, Peelie, says on “THIS” purchase 12/31/2008
$2/1 Q inside Professional Aerosol box lid

Zipfizz energy 3ct $5.99 get $5.99 limit 1

Excedrin Express Gels 20ct $3.99 get $3.99 limit 1
Print Your Coupon $2/1
Rebate for Excedrin Express Gels. It says “Save up to $6.99 By Mail when You Buy Excedrin Express Gels 20 Ct. Cash receipt is to be dated between 10/19/08 and 12/31/08, rebate request to be postmarked by 12/31/08. Lmt 1 rebate per person, family, household or address. 10/19/08 SS
Look for $1/1 CVS Excedrin Express Gel CRT

Alteril sleep aid 30ct $9.99 get $9.99 limit 1

Halls Naturals 25ct $2.59 get $2.59 limit 1
Halls Cough Drops Single Bag, $1/2 or .50/1 Any 20 Ct. + – 10-26-08 SS
Halls Single Bag .50/1 20ct + – All You magazine (Issue 11, November 21, 2008)
Halls, Halls Sugar Free, Halls Naturals, Halls Breezers or any Halls Defense; .35/1 any bag (20 ct or larger) DND – All You, September 2008

EAS AdvantEdge bar 2.11oz $1.69 get $1.69 limit 1

Zantac 150 8ct $4.99 get $4.99 limit 1
11/09/08 SS has $1/1 Q as well as up to $5.oo MIRZantac Heartburn Relief
$1/1 on Any – 10-26-08 SS
Zantac Heartburn Relief, $1/1 on Any – 09-21-08 SS

EAS AdvantEdge shake 4pk $7.49 get $7.49 limit 1

Benefiber drink mix 16ct $7.29 get $7.29 limit 1
Benefiber, $2/1 Any Stick Pack – 11-16-08 SS
Benefiber $2/1 Stick Packs, Any – 10-19-08 SS

Iceland Health joint relief 60ct $29.99 get $29.99 limit 1

Slimquick 2pk 4oz total $4.99 get $4.99 limit 1

Sleepinal 32ct $8.49 get $8.49 limit 5

Regular ECB deals:
Buy $15 of coke products get $5 ECB limit 1

Any Oral-B toothbrush 4 pack $3 ECB limit 3

Buy $15 Gillette Fusion or Venus cartridges or razors (excludes disposables) get $5 ECB limit 1

Gillette Fusion Razor, $4/1 any – 11-30-08 PG

Buy Zeno acne clearing device(excludes mini) get $15 ECB limit 2

Get $10 ECB when you buy any 3 American Express gift cards limit 1

Brawn PocketGo shaver $18.99 get $5 ECB limit 1

Coby or TDE 5.6″ or 7″ digital photo frame $89.99 & up get $20 ECB limit 1

Buy $10 of Softsoap 7.5oz or Irish Spring bar soap 3pk get $3 ECB limit 1

Buy $19.99 of any Skin Effects get $5 ECB limit 1
$2/1 Skin Effects from CVS Beauty Book also referred to as the Reinventing Beauty flyer

Caress, Dove, Lever 200 bar soap 6-8pk or Dove body wash 19.4-24oz $6.99 get $1 ECB limit 5
$1/1 Dove beauty body wash (10 oz or larger) exp 12-31-08

Buy $15 of any Clearasil products get $5 ECB limit 5
$1/1 any StayClear product Clearasil exp 03-31-09
$2/1 any Ultra product Clearasil exp 03-31-09
Both found in the Winter edition of the the Beauty coupon Handbook flyer or RIB
10/26/08 SS $2/1 MIR Limit 1 per houshold

Clairol Perfect 10 hair color $11.99 get $2 ECB limit 1

Buy $20 of Trojan condoms 12ct (prices start 11.99) get $5 ECB limit 1

Buy $15 of Energizer get $5 ECB limit 1Energizer Batteries
.50/1, .75/1 or $1/1 any pack, or Flashlight – 11-09-08 ss
Energizer Brand Batteries, $1/1 Any – 10-26-08 SS
Energizer® PowerSource $1/1 (Click on billboard)

Vivitar mini digital camera $9.99 get $2 ECB limit 5

Crest Pro Health toothpaste 4.2oz or rinse 8.45oz $2.99 get $2 ECB limit 2
Crest Paste or Liquid, $1/1 any 4.2 oz+ – 11-30-08 PG

Scenario Sunday: for the week of 12/7

This is a slow week at CVS. There is one freebie and one moneymaker. I’m happy to say that next week has a few deals that are “better” and the week of Christmas (starting 12/21) will be absolutely fabulous (like the Thanksgiving sale) with SEVENTEEN freebies! With coupons, you should be able to make $20 and there is a $4.99 mail in rebate as well 🙂

On my other scenarios, I will lose money, but I am OK with that because I gained so many during the Thanksgiving sale and it would be hard for me to keep up with them anyway. Plus, I’m buying things I need.

So, here are my CVS scenarios for this week:

SCENARIO #1:
Buy Theraflu warming liquid – $5.99 (they have $2 off blinkie coupons right above the Theraflu in my store)
Buy 1 PowerAde – $1.59

Use $2 Theraflu coupon – spend $5.58, get $3.59
There is a MIR for the Theraflu, so when I send that in, I will get an additional $3.99, so I will end up making $2

SCENARIO #2: my diaper deal
Buy 2 Huggies diapers – $10/each
Buy 1 Huggies Pull Ups – $10/each

Use 2 CVS $2 Huggies CRTs (they have different bar codes and expiration dates!), use $2/2 Huggies diapers coupon (you can print this from the blue coupons.com link at the top of my blog or on the sidebar), and $2 off Pull Ups coupon

Spend $22, get $5 back
(if you wanted to spend less $, get 2 packages of wipes at $3 each instead of the extra bag of diapers Pull Ups…I just don’t need more wipes because I still have a huge stockpile from the Target deals last year)

SCENARIO #3: detergent
Buy Tide – $12
Buy Duracell Batteries – $3

Use $1 Tide coupon and $.75 Duracell coupon
Spend $13.25, get $5 ECB back

WALGREENS:

SCENARIO #1:
Buy 3 Reynolds foil – .99 w/ in ad coupon
Buy 3 Robitussin – $3.99/each (use $3 printable)
Buy 4 Hershey’s 4/$10 (use $1.50/3 printable)

Use 3 $1/1 Reynolds foil coupons, use 3 $3 Robitussin printables, use $1.50/3 Hershey’s coupon, $6 RR from the Reach deal and $2 RR from the Colgate deal

Spend $3.44, get $5 RR and $5 MIR (from Hershey’s)

**If you are having trouble with the foil coupons (or to avoid trouble), give the manufacturer’s coupons FIRST and then the store coupon!