Back to school savings ideas

Just thought I'd share some of my Back to school shopping savings:

I have two daughters, ages 9 and 5. They wanted to go to Justice (which used to be Limited Too). So, we went. If you sign up for their cattzine, you'll get 40% off coupons a lot which is good for anything in the entire store including clearance. And sometimes their clearance stuff will be like $2.99!! You just have to check periodically. Anyway, back to my story. The girls tried on numerous outfits and finally chose 7 outfits a piece with headbands and fingerless gloves (yes...the 80's are back ya'll....I vividly remembering buying my white lace fingerless glove at CATO back in the day). So, I get to the checkout and the lady says $286--yikes!! I give her my 40% off card and now it's $177--yeah!!. And in turn she gives me $120 in Justice bucks. The trick to these bucks is using them!!! If you keep up with it you'll have a good savings in the end. For example I spend $177, if I use the $120 bucks....I only REALLy spend $57...see? To use the bucks, you do have to spend a certain amount but it's a 50% savings. And you can use them online. www.shopjustice.com And they really do have cute little clothes.

My other bright idea was going to Plato's Closet. I've always wanted to go and since I have a 14 year old son I thought now would be the best time to go. He gathered some things from his closet and off we went. They have a Plato's Closet in the Beechwood Shopping Center in Athens and there's one at the Mall of Georgia beside DSW shoes near the Ross and Chuck E Cheese across from the Mall itself. Anyway-they seem to have pretty good deals. Had some trouble selling the clothes because we went around 7pm and they wouldn't have our credit ready until the next day. But my son did find a couple of DC skater shirts for $4 and a $60 pair of skater pants for $14 and a really nice $80 hoodie for $14. This is the place to go if your kid has to have those namebrands but you don't have the money! They even have adult sizes up to 18/20 in women's and 42 in mens! If you sign up on their website you'll get a $5 off of a $25 purchase.

We also hit up Rugged Whse. If you haven't been there it's an experience as well. They have one in Athens at the Old Navy/Chuck E CHeese/Bed, Bath and Beyond shopping center. The also have one at the Mall of GA beside Pet Smart where the old Toys R Us used to be. Anyway, they are kind of like a clearance store with namebrand clothes. They have different things at different times. They have shoes, clothes, some home decor, purses, scrubs, etc. Last night we got my son some Volcom shirts (skater shirts that usually are $24.50) for $7.99. They had a lot of funny Hot Topic tees for $4.99. They had Justice clothes for $2-4.99 as well as Limited Too clothing. Nike tennis shoes for $24.99.

Lastly, Friday we'll probably be hitting the mall along with everyone else. It's TAX FREE too so take advantage!!

Deal finds for this week 7-29

PUBLIX DEALS

General Mills Cheerios BOGO ($3.99)
Kellogg's Cereal BOGO ($3.99)
Post Cereal BOGO ($3.99)
Bertolli Pasta Sauce BOBO ($3.75)
Kellogg's PopTarts BOGO ($2.39)
Dole Fruit, Gel or Parfait Bowls BOGO ($2.35)
Better Crocker Fruit Snacks BOGO ($2.59)
Hunt's Ketchup BOGO ($1.75)
Thomas' English Muffins BOGO ($2.99)
Arnold Natural Soft Bread BOGO ($2.79)
Entenmann's Pop'ems Glazed Donuts ($3.99)
Ritz Crackers BOGO ($3.49)
Mars Chocolate Bars 25ct BOGO ($14.99)
Bird's Eye Steamfresh Frozen Veggies 50%off
Yoplait Trix Yogurt BOGO ($2.79)--use your $.75 off coupons!!
PhillySwirl Frozen Treats BOGO ($2.99)
Stouffer's French Bread Pizza BOGO ($2.99)
Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits 2/$3--use your $.35 off coupons!!
Betty Crocker Supreme Brownie Mix BOGO ($2.69) -use your $.75/2 coupons!!
Hamburger Helper is $.99-use your $.80/3 coupon
Keebler 100 Calorie Right Bites-BOGO ($3.19)--use should have a coupon for these
KRAFT Delux mac and cheese dinner or Velveeta Shells & Cheese BOGO ($1.99)
Jello-O Snacks 3/$5
KRAFT BBQ sauce BOGO ($2.79)

Buy 4 different Kraft products on the list and spend $50 at Publix, get a $10 Publix gift card. And you can get up to $30 back. Plus Publix has many of those things on sale this week!!
More details here:
http://cookingwithkraft.com/pdf/fullplate-offer-form.pdf

There's a $2 off Huggies Diaper Box coupon in the Publix circular. If your a Baby Club Member, pair this coupon with your regular Huggies $1.50 off coupon and your Publix baby club coupon and get a free tub of Huggies wipes too!! In other words, that's $3.50 off a box of Huggies plus a free tub of wipes.

Also, Kellogg's is doing their Fuel for School rebate where you buy 10 Kellogg's products in a single transaction and you get a $10 rebate and $70 savings coupon to use at Dell towards a computer. You can buy a few boxes of Frosted Flakes, Froot Loos, Rice Krispies, Pop Tarts, 100 calorie Right Bites. (Which are ALL BOGO free at Publix this week) Just be sure to have the cashier ring these up separately so that you can have 2 different receipts for both transactions if you're doing the Kraft one as well.
You can read more about it here:
http://www2.kelloggs.com/uploadedFiles/Kellogg/Family_Focus/09_Kelloggs_DellAd_FSI_Final.pdf

Menu Plans for this week

I've been requested to repost some of these recipes, so here you go!

Buffalo Chicken Pizza

1 pizza crust-bought, canned, boxed--anything will do
1 pkg of pre cooked grilled chicken or rotisserie chicken or cook your own chicken breast and slice
1 c or so of Franks or Moore's buffalo sauce or hot sauce
1/2 stick butter
Monterey Jack cheese
Ranch Dressing

Spritz or brush the crust with extra virgin olive oil. Cover the crust with ranch dressing--not too much, just enough to cover the bottom. Melt the butter with the hot sauce--add chicken and stir to coat. put chicken on top of ranch dressing. Sprinkle with Monterey jack cheese. *You can also sprinkle with parmesan to make the crust nice and cheesy*. Bake at 400 degrees for about 12-15 minutes. Yummy!

Chicken Kabobs

3-4 whole chicken breasts, cut into chunks
1 bell pepper, cut into chunks
1 large onion, cut into chunks
1 pkg fresh mushrooms (cleaned)
cherry tomatoes, optional
pineapple chunks, optional
Lawry's Jerk Marinade

Skewer these onto metal or wooden skewers. (make sure you soak the wooden ones in water before skewering or they WILL BURN!). I do chicken, pepper, onion, mushroom, chicken, tomato, pineapple. Brush with the marinade. Grill 5-6 min on each side until juices run clear. Great served with rice.

Paula's Onion Burgers-from Pauladeen.com

1lb lean ground beef
2-3 T all purpose flour
1 can French Onion soup
yellow mustard
mayo
hamburger buns
onion, sliced in whole rings

Brown ground beef and drain. Sprinkle in the flour and add the soup. Stir and cook meat mixture until thick and liquid is absorbed. Spread mayo and mustard on toasted buns and spoon meat onto buns and top with onion.

Yummy Broccoli Salad Recipe
http://recipes.pauladeen.com/index.php/recipes/view/broccoli_salad/

Grilled Vidalia Onions--yum!
http://recipes.pauladeen.com/index.php/recipes/view/grilled_vidalia_onion_steaks/

Cheese on the Cob...great recipe for the grill to go along side your chicken or steak
http://recipes.pauladeen.com/index.php/recipes/view/cheese_on_the_cob/

Corn Casserole...always good
http://recipes.pauladeen.com/index.php/recipes/view/corn_casserole/

Chocolate Gravy and Biscuits!
http://recipes.pauladeen.com/index.php/recipes/view/chocolate_gravy_and_biscuits/

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FOR BACK TO SCHOOLERS:

Wal-Mart Deals

24 pk Crayola crayons $.25

2 pk Elmer's glue sticks $.25

Elmer's liquid glue $.25

1 subject notebooks $.15

2 pocket folders $.15

24 count pencils $1

Crayola colored pencils $1

10ct Crayola markers $1

10pk BIC pens $1

Savings for the week of July 21

This is my big deal find of the week. Staples has FREE bookbags. Yep. I said it, FREE. It's on the front of their sales paper here if you don't believe me.
http://http//staples.shoplocal.com/staples/default.aspx?action=entryflash&adref=staples_right_hand_nav&cm_sp=merchandising-_-weekly%20ad%20right%20rail-_-weekly%20ad%20right%20rail



I went in yesterday and purchased my son a $79 bookbag that was on sale for 25% off and then Staples is mailing me a rebate for $52, making it totally FREE after the rebate. The cashier said I don't know how they're doing it but they are. I said well I'm glad. You know as well as I do especially with 3 kids how expensive back to school shopping can be. So, what I do is hit up the weekly sales instead of going and buying everything at once.



THIS WEEK'S BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING DEALS:

STAPLES-

10pk of Zebra Coodoodles mechanical pencils, you pay $2.99 minus the $2.99 rebate=FREE

5pk of Zebra retractable gel pens, $4.99 minus the $4.99 rebate=FREE

4pk of retractable highlighters, $4.99 minus the $4.99 rebate=FREE

4pk of EXPO dry erase markers $1--no rebate needed--and these are always on the school lists

(limit 2)

3 hole punch is $1

Staples Photo Supreme Matte paper is $12.98, you get a $11.98 rebate making it $1!!

Pilot 3 pack of gel ERASABLE pens, $2

Composition notebooks are $.50--I actually got 2 graph paper notebooks for $.50 total!



I did spend $100.25 but I will be getting $77.44 back in rebates making my total $22.81 for a bookbag, 50pk of photo paper, erasers, 3 packs of pens, 2 packs of dry erase markers, 1 pack of gel erasable pens, 2 composition notebooks, 1 pack of highlighters, 1 pack of mechanical pencils, 2 composition graph papere notebooks, 3 hole punch, 2 packs of notebook paper and 3 20 oz bottles of coke (because I had the kids with me). Not a bad day!!



WAL-MART

Spiral notebooks and 2 pocket folders-$.15

Crayola 24ct, Elmer's glue, Elmer's glue sticks 2pk-$.25

Crayola colored pencils, Crayola markers, BIC crystal pens, 24pk pencils $1

10pk mechanical BIC pencils $1.50-printable $1 coupon--$.50

Expo dry erase markers $1.50
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INGLES has TRIPLE coupons this week. If you don't have any coupons, find some. You can go on coupons.com or frugalcouponliving.com or coupongeek.com and print some out and unless it says not to be doubled or tripled, Ingles will triple it up to $.50. So, if you have $.50 coupons, you'll get $1.50 off!! This is a great opportunity to get free things.


KROGER

Kroger milk $1.99
dozen med eggs $.59
grapes $.99/lb
Kraft dressing $1.49 (after the buy 10 get $5 off at checkout)
Kraft cheese $1.49 " "
Marie Callendar meals $1.67 " "
Coke 2 liter $.79 " "
Cheez its-$1.49 " "
Sunny D-$.79 " "
Sargento cheeses $1.49 " "
Tombstone pizza $2.49 " "
Kelloggs cereals $1.99 " "
Aussie $2.99
Huggies $8.99
Speed Stick $.88

You can go to the Kroger.com website and download coupons on your Kroger card. For example, $1.50 off of Luvs
$1 off of Gilette series
$1 off Duracell
$1 Bounce dryer bar, $.50 sheets
$.50 Always
$.50/2 pringles
$1 pampers
$2 Aussie shampoo
$1 Cheer
$1 Always infinity
$1 Herbal Essences
$.25 Bounty
$1 Febreze
$2 Gilette disposables
$1 Gilette body wash
$1 Gilette fusion razors
$4 Prilosec

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PUBLIX

Jif 40oz Peanut Butter BOGO ($5.63)
Mott's Apple Juice BOGO ($2.95)
Bananas $.49/lb
Hebrew National Hotdogs BOGO ($4.99) $1 off coupon
Yoplait Go Gurt BOGO ($2.79) $.75/2 coupon
Sargento shredded cheese $2, $.40 coupon
Lean Cuisine 4/$10
Kid Cuisine BOGO ($1.99)
Kellogg's BOGO
Honey Maid graham crackers BOGO ($3.99)
Planters BOGO ($4.29)
Hostess mini donuts BOGO ($2.99)
Hefty Everyday plates BOGO ($4.99)
Aussie/Herbal Essences 2/$5--coupons $2 off
Tombstone pizza $2.99--$2 off of 2 coupons available
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JUSTICE 40% off online--use code 563 at checkout for back to school clothes!

www.shopjustice.com

Happy Friday Deals!

Is it possible to be addicted to saving money...because I totally think I am. Let me tell you about the deals I found this week.

Snapfish...ends today so hurry you have until midnight. 50 prints for 50 pennies, just use the Code PENNY at checkout. Also, if you sign up as a new member, you'll get 30 prints for free plus a credit for a 16 x 20 collage! What are you waiting for? Go now www.snapfish.com. I've already ordered mine. It cost me $3.92 I think for 54 prints. Not a bad deal!

Today at Chick Fil A if you dress up like a cow you can get FREE chicken!!

Also, it's FREE chocolate friday. I've done this for 4 Fridays in a row now. go to www.realchocolate.com and sign up for a coupon for a FREE candy bar. This coupon was great last week because Ingles had their candy bars BOGOF, paired with this coupon, I got 2 free candy bars!! Yay me!

You also have to visit www.coupongeek.com, she posted some really great deals.

Okay, now on to our local deals.

RITE AID

Head & Shoulders shampoo is on sale for 2/$8

use BOGO coupon from Sunday's paper

use $4 rebate from Rite Aid

You'll get 2 bottles of Head & Shoulders FREE

Crest Pro Health Rinse $4.99

use $1 off coupon from Sunday's paper

use $2.25 rebate from Rite Aid

You'll get the Rinse for $1.74

Venus Razor is $7.99

use your $2 off coupon

use the $5 rebate from Rite-Aid

You'll get this Venus Razor for $.99

Oral B toothbrushes on sale BOGOF

use the BOGOF coupon

You'll get 2 Oral B Toothbrushes for FREE

Sally Hansen Nail Polish is $1.99

Use your BOGOF coupon out of the ALL YOU magazine

Use the $1 rebate from Rite Aid

You get 2 bottles of Sally Hansen Nail Polish for FREE

And the biggie--Pampers are $8.99

use your $2 or $1 off Sunday coupons

use the $2 Rite Aid rebate

You'll pay $4.99-$5.99/pack!!

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PUBLIX DEALS FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 9

A1 steak sauce-BOGO ($2.89) use your $2 off coupon and the $1 printable coupon, you'll make $.11 and get 2 bottles of A1 free!

Betty Crocker fruit snacks are BOGO ($2.59) use your $1/2, you'll get 2 boxes for $1.59

Bertolli Olive Oil is BOGO at $5.99--stock up price!

Entenmann's Little Bites are BOGO at $4.29

Nabisco single serve trays are BOGO at ($5.99) use your $1/1 coupon and you can get two for $3.99--printable coupon

Planters nuts are BOGO ($3.19) use $1.50/2 and $1/1 Publix coupons, you'll get 2/$.69

Crystal Light BOGO ($3.99) use $1/1 and coupon for free crystal light skin essentials

Smart Balance spread is BOGO ($2.79) use coupon for free Smart Balance milk when you buy Smart Balance spread and $1 off Smart Balance spread, you'll get the spread and the milk for $.38

Nature's Own Bread is BOGO

Klondike Bars are BOGO

$3 off Duracell batteries with Publix coupon, pair it with your $.75 coupon

Huggies bath products BOGO ($3.29) use your $1.50 off and get them almost free

Spray n Wash BOGO ($2.99) use, $1 off, and the Ingles $1 off and get 2 for $.99

Sparkle Giant Roll paper towels $2.50, use $1 off coupon

Cottonelle 12 roll $6.49, use $1 off coupon

Huggies box of diapers $19.99, use Publix circular coupon for $2 off and your $1.50 off Huggies

Enfamil is 2/$10

Scott 4 roll lis $2.50--you can usually find coupons for Scott

Del Monte fruit is $2, use $.55 coupon

General Mills cereals are BOGO ($3.99) Use your $1/3 coupon. And if you buy 10 specially marked boxes of General Mills Cereal from PUBLIX you can get 2 free movie tickets. So, you can get 3 boxes of lucky charms, 2 boxes of cookie crisp, 3 boxes of Reese Puffs, and 2 boxes of Cinnamon Toast Crunch (that's 10). With the BOGO sale, the $1/3 General Mills coupon and the $1/4 ingles coupon and the $.50 printables for Lucky Charms and Reese Puffs, I could get these 10 boxes for $13.95--which is only $1.39/box. Look at it this way, you'll be stocked up for summer and school starting back--it lasts a while and you'll be getting 2 free movie tickets that are worth up to $12/piece!!

PUBLIX HAS A COUPON IN THIS WEEK'S SALESPAPER THAT IS $10 OFF A $50 GAS CARD. YOU CAN'T GO WRONG WITH THIS!!! I'M BUYING TWO TO TAKE TO FLORIDA WITH US FOR OUR TRIP!! It is for BP and Shell only but you can always find one of those!

Also at PUBLIX, if you buy 4 participating Kraft products and spend $50 at Publix, you can get a $10 PUBLIX gift card.

HAPPY SAVING AND SHOPPING EVERYONE. HAVE A GREAT FRIDAY AND WONDERFUL WEEKEND. SEE YOU SOON!!