Stacking coupons...

Target & Walgreen's will let you stack coupons which means you can use a manufacturer coupon WITH a store coupon on a item!!!

I check target.com weekly for their printable coupons and print 2 of each. Most of these coupons don't expire for about a month sometimes longer so when they go on sale, you get a even greater deal! It gets even better if you have a manufacturer coupon for that item... for example I found Wet Ones BIG ONES on clearance for $1.50 each down from $3. I had a manufacturer coupon for $1 off two AND 2 $.50 off Target printable coupons... I got 2 for $1, the same price for a travel pack.

Walgreen's put out coupon books every month but they go quick! I try to grab 2 or 3 at the beginning of every month. In this month's book they have a coupon for $1 off 2 bags of m&m's 9oz or larger, use 2 $1 off manufacturer coupons. I got 2 bags of $1.50 a couple of weeks ago. 

How I got to be a supposed "coupon master"

So lots of people have been asking how I do this whole couponing thing so well.... truth is I'm really not that good, I just get LUCKY sometimes! It's taken me years to get to this point. First started when I had our oldest, Alexander. Money was super tight and I figured hey why not give it a try. I started saving a couple $ here and there on baby food, diapers, and wipes. Then moved onto my junk food addiction... there are TONS and TONS of coupons for candy, chocolate, cookies, and other snacks! Even just saving $1-$2 in a shopping trip was exciting!!!


I finally started buying more than 1 Sunday paper at a time, started small with 2-3 papers a week and got myself a cute little pink coupon folder at Target in the $1 section mind you. Realizing that the Kroger where I lived doubled up to $.50 and had 3 tables in the back of clearance items was probably what threw me over the edge. I was hooked. Not all Kroger's are the same though, they vary by region and even at times by store since the manager's called what goes into clearance. This went on till about last summer when my husband went to basic training for the Army. I moved in with my amazing in-laws and started my couponing routine again, just not as crazy. It dawned upon me that living in the boonies wasn't the best place to go coupon crazy... no offense Lapeer but the fact that I had to drive an hour to get to a Target really SUCKED!!! Oh and the fact the Kroger didn't have good clearance items also SUCKED!!! 


We moved down here to Ft.Lee due to military duties. I started buying anywhere between 4-8 papers a week and started printing off coupons when we got our printer. A little overboard maybe but I swear it's an addiction and really one of the things that keep me sane with a 4 year old and a baby at home. My coupon folder got to the point where it didn't close anymore and was at it's full expansion so Jonathan went out and got me my own coupon binder! I divided it into 6 sections...

1. Food/drinks/medicine
2. dental/toiletries
3. cleaning/paper/air freshening/storage
4. baby/kids
5. military
6. store coupons/cvs ecbs/walgreens rr

I also got the baseball card sleeves to better organize my coupons. 


I look online everyday for new coupons and deals. I also take a look at the online ads for all the stores in the area to find the best deals possible. I write down the best deals by store and off to shopping I go!

Target, Walmart, Commissary.... I love it all~

Target
I bought 2 big boxes of Luvs diapers on sale for $16 each down from $20. Each box contains 108 diapers making each diaper 14.8 cents a piece (very good price for diapers!!!) Target is holding a promotion where you get a $5 gift card when you buy 2 96ct+ boxes of Luvs making each box $13.50 (12.5 cents per diaper) I then used 2 $2 off 66ct or more Target coupons AND 2 $1 manufacturer coupons bringing down the price of each box $10.50 per box making each diaper 9 cents each!!! 


Then in my second transaction I bought 3 vitamin waters using a buy 2 get 1 free Target coupon 3/$2
I then got 5 Dentyne Pure gums on clearance at $.52 a piece.
I used my $5 gift card and walked out of store. 


My total spent at Target was $27.52 before my $5 giftcard!!!


Walmart
My husband and I LOVE LOVE LOVE Lara bars. They are packed with energy, nutrients, and are delicious. Here's the issue, each bar costs about $1.09 at Walmart. So when I walked into Walmart and saw them on clearance for $.25 a piece, I just couldn't believe my eyes!!! I ended up buying 24 Lara bars, basically clearing out the entire tub they had out there & got 4 organic pb&j bars. Then I got a pack of wipes for FREE using a coupon. I some other miscellaneous things for $2 on clearance. 
All in all I spent about $10 at the store. Retail cost would've been $46.69 before taxes!!!


Commissary

• 2 Mueller angel hair pastas $1.17 used 2 $1 coupons = $.34
• 2 boxes of cereal $1.99 used $1 off 2 coupon = $2.98
• popcorn $3.48 used $1 coupon = $2.48
• snackwell cookies $2.39 used $1 peelie coupon = $1.39
• cheerios snack mix $1.69 used $.75 coupon = $.94
• 2 baby food snacks $1.37 
• pretzel/cheese snacks $.99
• apricot preserves $2.19
• 4 v fusion juices $1.99 used 4 $1.50 coupons = $1.96
• 2 pasta sauces $1.49 each = $2.98
• 2 dark chocolate bars $1.89 used $.50 off 2 coupon = $3.28
• charmin wipes $2.29 used $1 coupon = $1.29
• 6 cottage cheese singles $.59 = $3.54
• trix yogurt $1.89
• 3 snackers $1.99 used 3 $1 coupons = $2.97
• soymilk $2.89 used $1 coupon = $1.89
• 6 frozen veggie steamables $.97 used 3 $.50 off 2 coupons = $4.29
• hot dogs $2.29
• 3 packs of steak $7.59
• cherries @ $2.79 per lb = $5.27

Total spent is $53.29


All total I spent $90.91

Ddukbokki (Korean spicy rice cake) recipe

When you go to the Korean markets they will have packages of rice cakes either in the freezer section or refrigerated section. 


You will need...

• 1 package of rice cakes (log style or oval style) either is fine really
• 1 tbsp of red pepper paste (buy it in the tubs, it's cheaper than the squeezable bottles)
• brown sugar I use about 3/4 cup but you can put in up to 1 1/2 cup, just depends on how much spice/sweet contrast you want
• 1 cup of water

In a skillet or a wok bring the water to where its just about to boil then stir in the red pepper paste. 
Add the brown sugar and mix it in till it dissolves. Turn down the heat to medium.
Finally add in the rice cakes and turn down the heat to a simmer. Stir every so often. After about 10 minutes, Voila!  

Soba steak recipe

For those who have asked for my soba steak recipe here it is...

2 lbs of steak, any cut but I think eye of round works best & is cheapest.

1/3 cup of soba sauce

2 tsp of sesame oil

Turn your oven onto broil from the top

Mix the soba sauce and sesame oil

Pour onto thawed out steaks and rub in on both sides

Put into the oven for about 10 minutes, flip then cook for another 10 minutes.... 

THAT'S IT!!! EASY BUT DELICIOUS!!!

Target, you pulled through for me... AGAIN!!!

• 2 packs of Sharpie permanent markers FREE after Target coupons
• 2 packs of Papermate pens FREE after Target coupons
• 2 travel packs of Wet Wipes FREE after 2 $.50 Target coupons & $1 off 2 manufacturer coupon
• 2 Herbal Essences FREE after $2 Target coupon & $3 manufacturer coupon
• 3 4pack Vitamin waters FREE after 3 $1 Target coupons & 3 $1.50 manufacturer coupons
• 6 pack Clif Bars $2 after $1 Target coupon & $2 manufacturer
• 2 huggies wipes FREE after coupons
• formula $19.99

My total came out to $23.41
Not too bad considering all I got for FREE!!!


COMMISSARY

• Capri Sun $1.69 after 
• 2 Gerber puff snacks $2 after $1 off 2 coupon
• Seasoned seaweed $3.99
• Canada Dry 2 liter $1.09
• 2 rice candy packs $1.38
• 4 Lara bars $2.42 after $1.10 coupon off 4
• spicy bbq sauce $3.99
• Mrs. Dash spice $1.49 after $.50 coupon
• oriental sauce $1.97
• sandwich bags $1.97
• freezer bags $1.45
• Silk soymilk $1.89 after $1 coupon
• Sargento pepperjack slices $1.24 after $.75 coupon
• 6 cottage cheese $3 
• Sargento cheddar slices $1.24 after $.75 coupon
• 4 steamable veggies $2.86 after $1 off 4 coupon
• wild caught salmon $10.83
• corn on the cob $.49 after $.50 coupon
• 2lbs of turkey lunch meat $5
• high fiber bread $1.99
• sushi to go $6.09
• 8 organic fruit bites $6.12 after 2 $1 off 4 coupons
• cucumbers $1.49
• Fuji apples $.92
• seedless watermelon $2.49

Total after coupons $69.09


Total for both stores $92.50

I love shopping at the Commissary!!!

So I was supposed to have a cardiologist appointment today at 1:30 but ended up rescheduling after listening to Gavin scream all morning... I finally gave in and took him to the doctor when he started tugging on his ears so hard I thought he was going to rip them off. Poor baby has a really bad ear infection in his left ear *tear*tear* Good news is he had his 9 month check up out of the way. He weighs 16lbs and is 27 1/4 inches now!!! 
Anyways afterwards I decided to haul the kids to the Commissary to get some groceries for the upcoming holiday weekend.

• tortilla chips $2.39
• lays bbq chips $2.19
• pretzel & cheese snacks $1.98
• miso soup mix $1.99
• capri sun $1.69 - $1 coupon
• chex mix $1.09 - $.50 coupon
• gardetto's snack mix $1.09 - $.50 coupon
• oceanspray cranberry juice (2) $3.98
• korean bbq sauce $3.99
• reynold's wrap $3.99 - $1 coupon
• salsa $2.49
• milk $2.94
• chicken breast 2 packages $6.73
• bread $1.96
• lamisil $5.97 - $3 coupon
• baby oil $2.83 - $1 coupon
• ground beef 96% lean $3.60
• 3 packages of steak $7.22 - $3 coupon on top of being half price!!!
• 8 packages of squeezable fruits $7.12 - $1.78 coupon
• 2 pears $1.26
• pint of blueberries FREE after coupon $2.99 value
• watermelon $2.49
• glad trash bags $3.14 - $2 coupon

My grand total was $58.35




Also I finally got my usb cord in the mail for my printer!!! Just printed off a couple coupons for baby products!!!