Back-To-School Series: Our Final Summary!

We had 8 Awesome Back-To-School Shopping Weeks!! Check out our 2013 Back-To School Summary Facts and tell us how you think we did!

We bought $485.86 worth of Back-To-School retail in 8 weeks!!

We visited the stores 22 times to get these deals!

We bought 201 items!!

             Out of the $485.86 worth of retail, we only spent $104.81 of it after rebates!

The single most item we bought was 2 Pocket Folders!  We bought 22 of them this year and every single on only cost $0.01!!

Our second most bought item was pens!!  We heart pens because they always seem to disappear!!

We saved a total of $381.05 this year!!

Our favorite sales was the almost $12 scissors that was on sale for $1 the first week of the year!

Our series was so popular that we was on Central PA Live talking about our deals!  Check out our Live TV talk here----> Click Here

Lastly, the most important part is to say that we have enough items in our stockpile that this pile will last all year plus!!  This is what extreme couponing & savings does!



Our percentage in savings was 78% with only a few coupons used the entire item!!   We deem this a successful year!

2013 Back-To-School Series Week 8: Week of 8/25

The Back-To-School have basically winded down this week!  There will be a few more weeks a few deals, but the majority of them have passed.  I took advantage of this week and deem it my last week of my personal Back-To-School Shopping Series.  One of the main reasons is because  have plenty of goodies and I think I am prepared for another Back-To-School Giveaway next year, but my have two winner next year.  We shall see what my mind comes up with until then!  This week I went to Toys r us and Staples.  Toys r us already started their clearance on bookbags and lunch boxes.  My daughter will be starting Pre-K next year and I took full advantage of buying her a bookbag.  Only one kid to buy for next year! Places like Target will be starting their clearance soon too, so keep an eye out on it.

Back-To-School Series Week 8: Week of 8/25-8/31
You Saved How Much

2013 Coupon Journey: Week of 8/25

After a few weeks of "Eh?" couponing for me, I went to Rite Aid and CVS and killed it!  I felt very victorious walking out of those stores!  I was bummed that Rite Aid was out of the Command Hooks, but was able to score a raincheck for the future.  I was shocked the cashier did a raincheck for me and I didn't even ask.  Fingers crossed that I can redeem this without issue.  Plus the CVS Coupon Machine loved me this week and gave me the coupons I exactly wanted.  Thank you Magic Machine.  YSHM hearts you!  Friday I will be doing my last shopping spree for Back-To-School.  Here and there you may find clearance items in this portion, after the sales dwindle.  Let's get started with my victorious week by bragging in detail :)

Results Week: Week of 8/25-8/31
You Saved How Much

Couponing Tip: To many this will be a no-brainier, but there are some that don't get it.  DO NOT PHOTOCOPY COUPONS!  Did I make myself clear?  Good! You can't copy 50 of the same coupon (printable or not) and expect to clear Walmart or Target out of product.  No, no!  Each printed coupon allows 2 printable coupons per printer and they each have a different serial number.  By photocopying coupons, you are putting yourself at risk for federal charges, making other couponers look bad, and hurting the stores margin.  By also doing this you will find even more tougher coupon policies and price of products being risen to help make up the difference by the stores losing more.  Stores do love coupons, they make money off of the coupons, but do it the correct way.  As always, carry that coupon policy with you and always remember to have good couponing ethics.  

CVS

Transaction #1

Bought 4 Head & Shoulders Men's Shampoo, $5.00, Sale Price

**Spend $15, Get $5.00 Extrabucks. Limit 1**
Used two Buy One, Get One Free (Up to $6.99) (Expires 8/31)

--Took max amount off, yesssss--
Paid: $6.02, Received $5.00 Extrabucks

Final Price: $0.26 each

Bought 2 Charmin Basic Single Huge Roll, $0.99, Sale Price

Used $1.49/2 (CVS Coupon Machine)
and used one $0.20/1 (Expires 8/31)
and used one $0.25/1 (Expires 8/31)
Final Price: $0.05 for both

Bought 1 All Laundry Detergent, $3.99, Sale Price

**Buy 1, Get $1.00 Extrabucks. Limit 1.**
Used $1.00/1 (Expires 9/8)
Paid: $2.99, Received $1.00 Extrabucks

Final Price: $1.99

Bought 1 Stayfree Pads, $2.99, Sale Price

**Buy 1, Get $1.00 Extrabucks. Limit 1.**
Used $1.00/1 (All You Magazine)
Paid: $1.99, Received $1.00 Extrabucks

Final Price: $0.99

Back-To-School Series Week 7: Week of 8/18

Week 7 of the Back-To-School Series is here.  I am personally thinking of doing only one more week of this.  I have plenty of goodies to last all year and then some!  I did enjoy buying these goodies though!!  It's always refreshing to buy something outside of the usual spectrum!!   My new excited coming is Black Friday! I know we are only 96 days away, but I am still excited!  I went to Staples and OfficeMax this week! I was disappointed I didn't get the adult scissors for $0.50 at Staples and the penny items among other items weren't there at OfficeMax.  My punishment for going on Fridays!  I will be doing it again this week because of the availability in my schedule to travel that way.

Back-To-School Series Week 7: Week of 8/18-8/24
You Saved How Much

Staples

Bought 2 Papermate Magic Erasers, $0.50, Sale Price
Limit 2.
Final Price: $1.00

2013 Coupon Journey: Week of 8/18

All I have to say this week is, "Holy Shaving Cream!"  To be honest though, with this being a moneymaker at Walmart, I think I will be using my couple coupons I have left and will be getting more!  I remember when I first started couponing Shaving Cream was so easy to come by.  It was always free or moneymaker.  Then that darn TLC Couponing Show (that will remain nameless) ruined a good thing!  Basically in 2 1/2 years, this is the most free shaving cream I have found, so I am going for it and stocking up like a crazy person.  This week I went to Rite Aid, CVS, and Target!  I was hoping to hit Weis this week before typing this up, but it did not happen.  I will be posting the Back-To-School Deals either late Friday night or Saturday morning again!  I have to head in that area on Friday to pick up a huge box of goodies, so I will do my shopping then instead of making a special trip!  Helps save on gas too!!

Results Week: Week of 8/18-8/24
You Saved How Much

Back-To-School Deals: Week 6 -- Week of 8/11

We have ended Week 6 for the Back-To-School Deals!!  I didn't hit OfficeMax this week because of the lack of deals in my area.  I however hit Rite Aid & Staples!  Rite Aid had their great $0.29 items and Staples had some great deals.  I did hit Staples at the end of week, which means I didn't get everything on my list!  I did at least get those penny deals!!  The Playschool Crayons are missing from my picture that I bought from Rite Aid.  I think they are somewhere hiding in my car or my toddler grabbed them out of my bag.  Either scenario is very likely!

Back To School Series Week 6: Week of 8/11
You Saved How Much

Staples

Bought 6 Staples Subject Notebooks, 70 Sheet, $0.01

Spend $5.00 to get deal.  Limit 6.

Final Price: $0.06

Bought 1 Bic Brite Liner Highlighters, $1.00

Limit 2.

Final Price: $1.00

Bought 1 Pilot Bottle2Pen, 5 pack, $4.99

Get $4.99 Easy Rebate. Limit 1.

Paid: $4.99, Submitted $4.99 Easy Rebate

Final Price: Free

2013 Coupon Journey: Week of 8/11

This week I went to CVS, Rite Aid, and Weis!  CVS was out of the great Soothe deal!  I did however stumble across a cart with 75% off As Seen On TV items.  I splurged a little on a few items and one of them are for the 500 Likes Giveaway!  Love it!!  Because of the crazy week I am having, I will finish my Back-To-School Shopping on Friday and praying that all the items will be there!! I preach that you should go at the beginning of the week, but my excuse is that I live in the middle of no where to begin with, so I like to wait and do all my trips while I am out and my next outing towards an office supply store is Friday!  I will do my best to have it posted early Saturday morning or late Friday night!

Results Week: 8/11-8/17
You Saved How Much

Couponing Tip:  People have suspected I buy tons of papers to get deals, but I don't!! Depending on the inserts, depends on my amount of papers I buy.  If there are only one or two, I will buy 2-3 papers.  I am lucky to have different regional papers in my area and each paper has different inserts in them because coupons are regional!  If there are 3 or more coupons, depending on how good they are, I will buy 4, sometimes 5 inserts.  However, I have been lucky and having a local newspaper delivery person handing me his leftover inserts.  I usually give the majority of them away, but I do keep some of them as back up, just in case that great deal comes and I already used my amount!


Weis

Bought 1 Better Than Ears Treats, $2.00 Sale Price
Use $1.00/1 (Expires 8/31)
Final Price: $1.00

TOTAL FROM #1:  $1.06.   Saved: $2.99

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CVS

Bought 1 As Seen on TV Farbriclear, $2.49, Clearance Price
Final Price: $2.49

Bought 2 As Seen on TV InstaHang, $1.82, Clearance Price
Final Price: $3.64

Bought 4 Sally Hansen Xtreme Nail Color, $3.29, Regular Price
**Spend $12.00, Get $5.00 Extrabucks. Limit 1.**
Used 3 $1.00/1 (Expires 8/31)
and used Save $4.00, When You Spend $12.00 On Makeup (CVS Coupon Machine)
Paid: $6.16, Receive $5.00 Extrabucks
Final Price: $0.29

Bought 1 M&M Peanut Butter, $0.99
Bought 1 M&M Chocolate Bar, $1.19
Used Buy One, Get M&M Chocolate Bar Free (Expires 9/30)
Final Price: $1.08

2013 Back-To-School Series: Week 5-- Week of 8/4-8/10

Back-To-School Week 5 Results are here!! I will be discussing these results on Central PA Live!!  I will also be talking about our series that I have been doing for these 5 weeks!! If you are Central PA local, check out Channel 10 at 4!!  Anyhow, I went to Rite Aid, Walgreens, Staples, OfficeMax!!  I didn't get everything I wanted on my lists, but I am pretty satisfied with what I got!

Back-To-School Results--Week 5--Week of 8/4
You Saved How Much

Walgreens

Bought 1 Wexford Dry Erase Markers, 4 count, $0.99
With ad-in coupon
Final Price: $0.99

Bought 1 W AA Batteries, 4 pack, $0.99
With ad-in coupon
Final Price: $0.99

Bought 1 Sharpie Black Marker, 2 pack, $0.79
With ad-in coupon
Final Price: $0.79

Bought 1 Uni-Ball Gel Pen, 2 pack, $0.99
With ad-in coupon
Final Price: $0.99

Bought 1 Papermate Pens, 10 count, $0.29
Final Price: $0.29

Bought 2 Wexford Wooden Rulers, $0.19
With ad-in coupon
Final Price: $0.38

Bought 4 Pink Erasers, 2 pack, $0.25
With ad-in coupon
Final Price: $1.00

Bought 1 Wexford Color Binder, $1.00
With ad-in coupon
Final Price: $1.00

TOTAL FROM #2:  $6.81.  I used the $4.50 Register Rewards making my total $2.31.
                                         
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Walgreens Summary:  Spent: $2.31    Saved:  $22.06
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Rite Aid

Transaction #1

Bought 1 Crayola Chalk, $0.49
Final Price: $0.49


TOTAL FROM #1:  $0.49             Saved: $0.80


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OfficeMax

Bought 2 OfficeMax Metal Compass, $0.05, Sale Price
Limit 2.
Final Price: $0.10

Bought 2 Papermate InkJoy Pens, 10 count, $1.00, Sale Price
Limit 5.  
Final Price: $2.00

Bought 2 OfficeMax Paper Projector, $0.05, Sale Price
Limit 2.
Final Price: $0.10

Bought 2 Composition Books, $0.50, Sale Price
Limit 4.
Final Price: $1.00

Bought 1 Dry Erase Board, $2.00, Sale Price
Final Price: $2.00

Bought 5 OfficeMax Filler Paper, $0.01, Sale Price
Must Spend $5.00. Limit 5.
Final Price: $0.05

TOTAL FROM #1:  $5.37              Saved:  $14.74

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Staples

Bought 2 Bic Mechanical Pencils, 5 count, $0.25
Limit 2.
Final Price: $0.50

Bought 1 Pentel RSVP Pens, 5 count, $3.29
Buy 1, Get $3.29 Easy Rebate.  Limit 1.
Paid: $3.29, Submitted $3.29 Easy Rebate
Final Price: Free

Bought 1 Purell Hand Sanitizer, $2.00
Used $1.00/1 (SS 7//28)
Final Price: $1.00

Bought 1 Wescott 5" Kids Scissors, 2 count, $1.00
Limit 2.
Final Price: $1.00

Bought 2 Bic Dry Erase Markers, 4 count, $1.00
Limit 2.
Used two $1.00/1 (SS 8/4)
Final Price:  Free

TOTAL:  $3.03 after Easy Rebate                 Saved: $15.30


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2013 Back-To-School Journey

                                 Spent             Saved      Spending Goal

WEEK 5:                 $11.40           $52.92        $20.00

YEAR TO DATE:   $82.17          $285.57      $120.00

Results Week: Week of 8/4

This week was a great couponing week!  I headed to CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid!  I think I was excited to coupon this week due to the fact that I will be on Central PA Live tomorrow!!  Very excited!  I had a little issue with CVS not working out as planned, but other than that, great week in couponing!

Results Week: Week of 8/4-8/10
You Saved How Much

Back-To-School Results: Week 4 -- 7/31-8/3

Back-To-School Week 4 has wind down! I am really enjoying these deals!!  I also am proud to announce that I will be on Central PA Live this Thursday, August 8 to talk about the deals to find!!  I will also be announcing our giveaway, which will now officially start on August 9!  This week I went to Toys r us, Staples, and OfficeMax.  I didn't get everything on my lists because of going at the end of the week!  That is the bad thing about living in the middle of no where, having to schedule a time to go shopping there!

Back-To-School Results Week 4-- 7/31-8/3
You Saved How Much

Toys r us

Bought 1 Angry Birds Bookbag, $14.99, Regular Price

Bought 1 Angry Birds Lunch Box, $7.99, Regular Price

**Buy a $12.99 or more bookbag, get lunch box free**

Final Price: $14.99

Bought 8 Crayola Crayons, $0.25, Sale Price

Must buy 4 for price. Limit 2.

Final Price: $2.00

TOTAL FROM TRANSACTION:  $18.02             Saved: $16.31

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OfficeMax

Bought 5 Subject Notebooks, 70 Sheet Count, $0.01

**Must Spend $5.00**

Final Price: $0.05

Bought 3 OfficeMax Glue Sticks, 4 pack, $0.25, Sale Price

Final Price:$0.75

Bought 3 Bic Matic Grip Pencil, 6 pack, $0.50, Sale Price

Final Price: $1.50

Bought 1 Duracell Coppertop Batteries, $10.99

Buy 1, Get $10.98 MaxPerks. Limit 2.

Paid: $10.99, Received $10.98 MaxPerks

Final Price: $0.01

TOTAL FROM TRANSACTION:  $14.09. After Maxperks, my total is now, $3.11.  Saved: $28.11 (after maxperks)

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Staples

Bought 1 Bounty Basic Paper Towels, 12 pack, $6.99, Sale Price

Used $0.25/1 (PG 7/28)
and used 15% off Office Cleaning Supplies (Staples Ad Coupon)

Final Price: $4.99

Bought 2 Purell Hand Santizer, $2.00, Sale Price

Used two $1.00/1 (RP 7/28)
Final Price: $2.00

Bought 4 Slider Pencil Cases, $0.01, Sale Price

Must Spend $5.00.  Limit 4.

Final Price: $0.04

Bought 2 Bic Wite Out, 2 pack, $0.50 Sale Price

Limit 2.

Final Price: $1.00

Bought 2 Zebra Red Pens, $1.00, Sale Price

Limit 2.

Used one $1.00/2 (SS 7/28)

Final Price: $1.00

Bought 2 Papermate Mechanical Pencils, $0.50, Sale Price

Limit 2.

Final Price: $1.00

Bought 2 Translucent Pencil Boxes, $0.50, Sale Price

Limit 2.

Final Price: $1.00

Bought 10 2 Pocket Paper Folders, $0.01, Sale Price

Limit 10.

Final Price: $0.10

TOTAL FROM TRANSACTION:  $12.12       Saved: $27.22

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2013 Back-To-School Journey

                                  Spent        Saved        Spending Goal

THIS WEEK:           $33.25      $27.22         $20.00

YEAR TO DATE:    $70.77      $232.59       $80.00

2013 Coupon Journey: Week of 7/28-8/3

Great week for couponing this week for sure!! I have been noticing that I have been scaling back some.  Unsure if it's because I have a good stockpile and just grabbing things here are there or if it's because I have my mind divided on Back-To-School and this.  I only was able to head to CVS and Rite Aid.  After taking the picture and putting my pile away, I realized I forgot to add the Starbucks drink (that was in the fridge) in the picture!  I also had a great unexpected double dip on extrabucks.  I turned in a raincheck and received not only my raincheck extrabucks, but also for this week's special!!  Woot!  Rite Aid has many moneymakers happening also!  I know Weis had some good deals and Walgreens, but I haven't made it there yet this week before posting this.  Also, Friday I will be heading to the office stores **fingers crossed I get everything** Friday.   Also, by Monday or Tuesday I will have the Back-To-School Giveaway ready to go!  Watch for details!

Results Week: Week of 7/28-8/3
You Saved How Much

Couponing Tip: While doing my shopping there are two things I have learned about store set up.  Avoid the eye leveling shelves and end caps.  I will admit at Target the end caps are the first place to find clearance though!!  Other than that, unless there is a killer deal in those areas that are on your list avoid!! They like to put the "I think I am getting a great deal items in that area.  Not only that, next time you are in the store, check out the prices on the top and bottom shelves compared to eye level.  You will see the difference!!  You can also avoid this trap by sticking to your list!!




CVS