Monday, August 16, 2010

How I Got Paid to Shop at Kroger plus a few finds

Like I said in a previous post, we visited family out in East Arkansas this past weekend. Other than the ongoing fear that one of my children might be carried away to a distant land by a flock of mosquitos, we had a wonderful time! On our way back home we stopped at the newly renovated, absolutely fabulous Kroger on Oak Street in Conway, Ar. Let me tell ya'll - I lived in Conway for 6 years and I would have killed for that beautiful Kroger! I had a wonderful coupon experience, no issues what so ever! My Sobe BOGO coupons deducted the full allowed amount, which sometime happens, so it was a $0.79 money maker for me. Also, I was hoping that they might have 11 crayons somewhere in the school section and to my pleasant surprise there were flats with at least 200 crayon boxes on the shelf! Needless to say, I did 3 transactions each with crayons to use the overage on my next transaction. I know what ya'll are thinking, 33 packs of crayons Bethany? Really? Even though I am keeping some for my kids and my gift box stash, I promise, about 25 packs are being donated to a local children's home here in town. We don't have very much wiggle room in our budget, so to find an opportunity like the crayon deal that I can take to our local children's shelter was really exciting to me. Here is my more than successful trip:

1st Transaction:
11 Boxes of Crayons - $0.25 each
Paid $2.98
Got back $4 Catalina (good till 8/21)
Savings 88%

2nd Transaction

5 boxes of Fiber One Bars - $1.99 each
2 Sobe Lifewater (computer deducted $1.79)
11 boxes of Crayons
1 bag Chex Mix - $1.49
Use all coupons listed here
Used $4 Cat from first transaction
total was $1.49 including tax
Savings 98%
Got back $3.50 Cat and $4 Cat

3rd Transaction
5 Blocks Kraft Cheese - $2.79 (I found $1/2 blinkies by the product) (cat expired 8/15)
2 Sobe Lifewater - $1 (computer deducted $1.79 w/ BOGO coupon)
1 Bag Gardettos - $1.49
11 Crayons $0.25 each
Used coupons listed here
Paid with $3.50 and $4 Cat
Total was $3.80 including tax
Savings 95%
Got back $5 Cat and $4 Cat

So, I paid $8.27 out of pocket and ended with $9 in Catalinas - so essentially I was paid $0.73 to buy everything listed above! Amazing!

After my Conway trip we stopped in Russellville to visit more family and I made a larger run to their local Kroger. Again, I had a very positive coupon experience and took a video to post later. I found a few things while there. Welch's Grape Jelly is $1.49 after Mega Deal and there is a $0.55/1 in the 8/1 Smart Source - making it only $0.39 after coupon and deal!! Also, Pillsbury Frozen Biscuits and Cinnamon Rolls are included and $1.99 after deal - use the $0.50/1 from the 8/1 Smart Source to get them for $0.99 a bag, I do not make homemade biscuits so this is such a stock up price!

Also, here are my favorites from my Rville trip. The Nut clusters are only $1.37 after Mega Deal so you can use ecoupons or printables ($1/1) to make them only $0.37! If your store will let you use both then it's a Money Maker! Also, as I'll show in the video, I found $1/1 Cascadian Farms cereal coupons on the box making this Organic Cereal only $1.49 - great price!
I put away the rest of my groceries last night when we got home without a picture. I was just too tired. Overall I spent $37.50 and only $14 of that was on 24 Mega Items (yogurts, toaster strudels, macaroni grill meal, cocoa puffs, capri suns, more fiber one bars for my aunt, chex mix, cinnamon and crescent rolls) making my mega sale items around $0.58 each on average. I also got a mega pack of Roast, 2 marked down packs of Salmon, mushrooms, carrots, 2 things of Juicy Juice, 3 Individual Horizon Organic Milks, 2 Hefty Freezer Bags, 1/2 Gallon of Oranic Milk and some closeout Smart Balance Milk that ended up being a money maker after paper and ecoupon. Check back tonight for my video and Kroger trip finds!