$1 Ice Cream and $0.38 Pepsi

At 10:30 PM on Saturday night, sweaty and hot and exhausted from my day, I stopped into Price Chopper to pick up three more things before the clock struck midnight and sales changed.

You see, I forgot to bring the Facebook coupons with me while grocery shopping earlier in the week.  And I really really wanted to pick up two half gallons of Breyers coffee ice cream for just $1 each.  I had the coupons with me and just made sure Pchop was on my way home.

Honestly, I might start doing all my shopping after 8PM.  No one was even in the store and it was so fabulous!

Purchased (in two transactions)...
(2) Breyers half gallon ice cream  reg. $4.29, sale $3.50
- (1) FB coupon $2/ea
- (1) $0.50/1 print coupon
= OOP $1/ea
~ Saved 77%

(1) Caf Free Diet Pepsi  reg. $1.67
- (1) $0.38/ea Shop Rite coupon
= OOP $0.38
~ Saved 77%

Totally worth a quick detour into Price Chopper after 10 PM!

Practically Free At Price Chopper

I wanted to quickly pop on to show y'all my two favorite finds at Price Chopper this week.  I paid less than a buck for what you see above!  My legs never have to worry as I have a healthy stockpile of shaving cream!

Purchased...

(4) Pure Silk Shave Cream  reg. $2.19, sale $1.79
- (4) $0.80/1 Pure Silk 7/8 RP
= OOP $0.19/each!

(4) Zone Perfect Bar  reg. $1.25, sale $1
- (4) $0.55/1 Zone Perfect 7/15 SS
= OOP FREE!!

Total value purchased ... $13.76

Paid out of pocket ... $0.76

Percentage saved ... 94%

$0.38 Heinz Ketchup and Other Great Price Chopper Coupons

THIS is what I mean when I say stock up at rock bottom prices.  You can pick up Heinz Ketchup through Saturday at Price Chopper for just $0.38.  That's about as low as it's going to go!

Heinz Ketchup  with coupon $0.88
- $0.25/1 Heinz Ketchup SS 5/20
= OOP $0.38

All coupons found and available for printing HERE.

Free Or Better Meat At Price Chopper

Just to be clear, in case it wasn't clear in my earlier post, you can get FREE lunch meat this week at Price Chopper.  Actually, it's a $0.05 money maker.

Deal...
(5) Oscar Mayer lunch meat  reg. $1.19, sale $0.79
= OOP $3.95
~ Earn $4 OYNO Catalina

Now if you have a catalina from doing the deal last week, you can absolutely roll it this week to turn this into a total money maker!

Tip...things like this freeze very well.  So stock up now and enjoy over the next few months. 

More Great Price Chopper Grocery Coupons

Chips and soda and sports drinks, oh my!  The Pchop has some really good summer food and drink coupons available on their website this week.  If you still have your $0.99/1 Coke coupons (I do...yay!), you can get coke (my drug of choice) for FREE this week.  Time to stock up for summer.  Woo hoo!!

Stock Up On Eggs This Week

You can stock up on eggs at Price Chopper this week...

Land O Lakes brown eggs $1.99
- $0.75/1 coupon
= OOP $0.49

My Awesome Price Chopper Week In Review

This has been a BIG shopping week for many of us.  Price Chopper did not disappoint!  Summer sales are on and I'm loving it.  I picked up ice cream, cleaning products, meats, veggies and more.  And there is still time.  I started my week with a goal to not only shop wisely for items I needed but to also elaborate practical ways to use the best Price Chopper deals in your every day life.  So let's talk first about my favorite items on sale this week.

Details Listed Here

* (1) Seedless Watermelon  reg. $4.99, sale $2.99
- (1) $2/1 Watermelon Hannaford coupon
= OOP $0.99
~ Saved 80%

* (1) Strawberries  reg. $2.99
- (1) $1/1 lb Hannaford coupon (thru 5/24)
 = OOP $1.99

* Iceberg or Romain Lettuce  sale $1

* Bananas  sale $0.49/lb

* (1) Vidallia Onions 5lb.  sale $4.99
- (1) $0.50/1 Vidallia Onions print coupon
= OOP $3.99

* (1) Wholly Salsa  sale $2
- (1) $1.50/1 Wholly Salsa
= OOP $0.50

* (2) Boneless Center Cut Pork Chops  B1G1 Free
~ Saved 50%

* (2) Boneless Pork Country Style Ribs B1G1 Free
~ Saved 50%

* Boneless, skinless chicken breast  sale $1.99/lb
- (1) $2/$10 any fresh meat purchase

* Crab Classic Flake Style Crab meat  sale $2.50
- $0.50/1 Crab Classic
= OOP $1.50

* (5) Oscar Mayer Deli Meat 2oz pack  sale $1
= OOP $5
+ Earn $4 OYNO Catalina

* (1) Swiss Premium Iced Tea or Lemonade  sale $1.50
- (1) $0.55/1 Swiss Premium SS 5/20 (R)
= OOP $0.40

* (1) Slimfast Shakes 4-pack  reg. $6.49, sale $5
- (1) $1.50/1 Slimfast Shakes RP 5/20
- (1) $0.75/1 Slimfast Target coupon (should not double, mine did)
= OOP $2.75 without double, $2 with double
~ Saved 58% without double, 69% with double

* (4) Suave Lotion  sale $2.50/ea
- (2) BOGO Free RP 5/20
- (1) $2/$5.99 iSave machine coupon
= OOP $3/4 bottles of lotion or just $0.75/ea

* (1) Suave Body Wash  sale $1.88
- (1) $0.50/1 Suave Body Wash
= OOP $0.88/ea

* (1) Clorox Wipes  reg. $2.99, sale $2
- (1) $0.50/1 Clorox Wipes Dollar General Coupon (should not double, mine did)
= OOP $1.50 without double, $1 with double
~ Saved 50% without double, 67% with double

* (1) Glad Force Flex Trash Bags 25-80 ct.  sale $7.49
- (1) $1.85 Glad Force Flex
= OOP $5.64 ($0.07/bag if you purchase 80 ct.)

* (2) Ocean Spray Juice Drinks  reg. $3.29, sale $2.50
- (1) Buy any Ocean Spray Cranberry juice, get Ocean Spray Cherry juice FREE
- (1) $1/$4 or more juice purchase Catalina
= OOP $1.50/2 or just $0.75/ea (without Cat it is still an awesome deal)
~ Saved 77% with Cat, 62% without Cat

* (4) Coke 2L  sale 4/$4 with in ad coupon
- (4) $0.99/1 Coke coupon
= OOP Free!

* (5) Polar Seltzer 12-pack  sale 5/$12 with in ad coupon
- (1) in ad coupon
- (2) $1/2 Polar Seltzer 12-packs RP 5/20
= OOP $10/5 packs or just $2/each

* (3) Lays Potato Chips  reg. $4.29, sale $3.29
- (1) in ad coupon 3/$6
= OOP $6/3 bags or just $2/ea
~ Saved 53%

* (1) Hellman's Real Mayo 22-30 oz  reg. $2.99, sale $2
- (1) in ad coupon (must spend min $15 and limit 1)
- (1) $1/1 Hellman's RP 5/20
= Out Of Pocket $1
~ Saved 66%

* (2) Kikoman marinade  reg. $3.48, sale $2.61
- (2) $2/1 Kikoman marinade
= OOP $0.61/ea
~ Saved 82%
+ Earned $1 OYNO Catalina from purchase of two

* (1) Jello Temptations or Mousse  sale $2.50
- (1) $0.90/1 print coupon (nla)
= OOP $0.70

* (1) Luigi's Italian Ice  sale $2
- (1) $0.75/1 Luigi's Italian Ice RP 5/13
= OOP $0.50

* (2) Breyer's Ice Cream  reg.$4.29, sale $2 (limit 2)
- (2) $0.75/1 Breyer's Blasts
= OOP $0.50/each
~ Saved 88%

* (2) Milky Way candy bars  reg. $0.99, sale $0.79
- (1) $0.75/2 Milky Way candy bars
= OOP $0.08/2 or just $0.04/ea

* (2) Dove Chocolate Singles Bar  reg. $0.99, sale $0.79
- (1) $0.50/2 Dove Chocolate Singles
= OOP $0.58/2 or just $0.29/ea
~ Saved 71%

With these awesome sales, plus a few from last week and some staples from the pantry, I was able to make SIX yummy dinners in five nights this week, too.  Several are even freezer meals- to enjoy later when you are too busy to cook.

On Monday, I cooked up a big package of chicken breasts to make a very yummy dinner of Chicken Mojo as dinner #1.  A BIG crowd pleaser!!  This was step one in a week of dinners, as I pre-cooked a week's worth of chicken at one time.  Better yet, I used the crockpot as to not add any extra heat into the house!

On Tuesday, I use some of the leftover Chicken Mojo and great produce sales such as $1 lettuce from Price Chopper to make my version of PF Chang's Lettuce Wraps as dinner #2.  Ooooh they are so tasty.

On Wednesday I used the two packs of BOGO free boneless pork ribs (one of my very favorite meat sales that PChop does from time to time) to make BBQ Pork Ribs for dinner #3.  A classic any time of year.  A simple potato "baked" in the microwave and a yummy salad make this a "stick to your ribs" meal.  Very satisfying!   

On Thursday I made my first of three freezer meals for the week, Sweet and Sour Chicken as dinner #4.  Once again using some of the Chicken Mojo cooked on Monday.  The gift (or bird) that keeps on giving.  This is the perfect meal for a busy night when you want to eat something tasty, healthy and easy peasy lemon squeezy.  The prep for this meal took less than five minutes! 

And on Friday, I made my third and fourth freezer meals of the week, Cheesy Chicken and Rice as dinners #5 and #6 for the week.  They were the same meal but I made one to eat that night and one to freeze.  Or two to freeze.  This used up the very last of the Chicken Mojo from Monday night.  Not one skinny bit went to waste, but every nibble was incredibly tasty.

And today, Saturday, I am going to offer you one more meal prep tip for the week.  You know those yummy freezer meals that I made this week?  Those make awesome gifts!  Great to give to a sick relative or friend or someone who just had a baby.  Great to give to a friend who is under a lot of life stress, too. It is so easy for you to make them ahead of time and gift as needed.  Because while a scented candle is lovely, nothing says I love you like a home cooked meal!

How much fun to prepare once (chicken, onions, rice) and use many times over the week!  The key is to have a PLAN.

I pay close attention to Price Chopper sales ads, manufacturer coupons, Price Chopper coupons, Catalina deals (this is my weak spot but I am learning to be better at them) and what I already have in my pantry to make the most of my grocery budget each week.  Planning ahead to stockpile the best deals is another budget saver.  For example, this week I will pick up a few of the chicken packs, Polar Springs 12-packs, Clorox wipes, Suave lotion, Breyer's ice cream, pork ribs, mayo and Kikoman marinades for my stockpile.  I clearly do not need everything this very week, but these are all items I love to use throughout the summer months. 

I also took the time on Sunday to plan out my dinners for the week, based on the protein and veggie sales.  Not only does this save your budget, but it also saves you time and most important with summer approaching...calories.  Look again at all of the meals I just made this week.  Click on the links to see each ingredient.  Those are really healthy meals, y'all!  Not just a bunch of junk to fill you up.  I made six healthy, gluten free meals, to feed 4-6 people, using one package of chicken and two packages of pork ribs.

It is so worth the extra time it takes to plan on Sunday knowing it will save me time, money, energy and calories throughout the remainder of the week.

So tell me, what was your favorite purchase from Price Chopper this week?

Shopping At Price Chopper Round 1

This week will be a two shop week for me at Price Chopper.  This trip at the start of the week and another one to take advantage of the special sales on the 25th.  This wasn't an inexpensive shopping trip but I got a lot of protein and produce.  I am working on stocking up on ready to go freezer meals.  Some I will show you this week and a few more next week.  I'm excited to share ideas to save everyone time, energy and money but still put yummy and healthy meals on your family table.

Purchased...

* 2 Boneless pork ribs  sale BOGO Free- so 2 for $6.59
~ saved 50%

* Boneless, skinless chicken breasts @1.99 lb

* Strawberries  reg. $2.99
- $1/1 strawberries Hannaford coupon
= OOP $1.99
~ saved 33%

* Iceberg Lettuce  sale $1

* 3 Russet potatoes  @$1.49 lb

* 1 Green bell pepper  @$2.49 lb

* Dole Asian salad mix  reg. $3.99, sale $2.99

* Clorox Wipes***  reg. $2.99, sale $2
- $0.50/1 coupon
= OOP $1
~ saved 67%

* Clorox bleach  reg. $2.49
- Free with PC machine coupon
= OOP Free
~ saved 100%

* Price Chopper soy sauce  reg. $1.50

* Price Chopper peach/pineapple salsa  reg. $2.29. sale $2

* Ocean Spray Cran Raspberry Juice and Ocean Spray Cherry Juice  reg. 3.29/ea, sale $2.50/ea
- Free OS Cherry when you buy OS any cranberry juice
= OOP $2.50/2 or $1.25/ea
~ saved 62%

* Price Chopper paper towel  reg. $1.50
- Free catalina found two weeks ago
= OOP Free!
~ saved 100% just by looking down

* Price Chopper chunk pineapple  reg. $1.39

* Sun Lock Bamboo shoots  reg. $1.69

* Glad Zip Freezer Bag  reg. $3.89, sale $2.50
~ saved 36% without coupons

* (4) Milky Way candy bar  reg. $0.99, sale $0.79
- (2) $0.75/2 Milky Way coupon
= OOP $0.16/4 or just $0.04/ea!
~ saved 96%

* (3) Lays Chips  reg. $4.29, sale $3.29
- (1) 3/$6 in ad coupon
= OOP $6/3 or $2/ea
~ saved 54% and stocked up

Total value purchased ... $77.41

Paid out of pocket ... $41.74

Percentage saved ... 46%

In reality, I might not normally buy all of these things this week.  However, my goal is to purchase the majority of the items needed to make my five big dinner recipes this week.  So I purchased items like the pineapple at full price even though I have a can in the pantry. 


*** OK you can't do what I did because I did this wrong.  I think.  I could not figure out the PC machine coupon.  I said something about a 20 pack of Clorox.  I asked an employee, after I went up and down that aisle three full times, if they meant these wipes and they said sure, but I could tell he didn't really know either.  I asked the cashier and since no beeps happened, we both assumed yes.  But after doing some online searching, I think the coupon intended for the bleach to be free after the purchase of a 20 pack of Clorox laundry tabs.  So this was an honest mistake but a mistake nonetheless.  I think.

Stocked Up On Toilet Tissue and Bananas At Price Chopper This Week

There were some great deals at Price Chopper this week!  As I waited until late Saturday evening to actually do this shopping trip, the deals are now over.  But I want to note a few of the highlights and my overall savings.

(1) Jr. Bananas*  reg. $1.29, $99 with coupon from pharmacy counter

(2) Angel Soft Bath Tissue 12 double rolls  reg. $7.99, sale $5
- (1) $1/2 Angel Soft  3/25 RP
- (1) $2/2 PC isave
- (1) $1.50/any $6 toilet tissue purchase Catalina
= OOP $5.50/2 packs or just $2.75/pack or just $0.25/double roll or just $0.12/single roll
~ Saved ... 66%

(1) Roll Price Chopper paper towels  reg. $1.50
- (1) FREE any PC paper towel catalina
= OOP FREE

I also used the $5/$25 coupon from Dollar General.  This was my first time remembering to use this one so I was pretty excited!  And I used the $2/$10 produce PC coupon.  Both of those really helped! 

In total, here is how I did...

Total value purchased ... $45.52

Paid out of pocket ... $20.71

Percentage saved ... 54%

* I am completely, morally against buying things like bananas in plastic bags.  This has to be the dumbest packaging idea ever.  Because hello, things like bananas come pre-packaged.  It's called a peel.  However, I swallowed my own standards to get the cheapo bananas.  But please know, this was my first time buying the ridiculously pre-packaged bananas. 

Stock Up Prices: Part I

When I first began couponing (like really couponing...not just couponing...you know what I mean), I wasn't super clear on what was a stock up price.  At first, any discount felt like a deal.  Oh I was such a beginner!

Over time, I have learned a few things. 

First, my stock up price is not necessarily your stock up price.  

So don't feel like you have to compare blog prices.  I use blog prices as a guide but not an end all, be all.  Prices tend to run higher here than in say, the south.  And until recently, double coupons was a very rare treat for me.  You also have to consider supply.  Supply of stores.  For example, there is only one Walgreens in my area.  Sometimes I visit a second store (like twice a year) when I have a meeting in that area.  And my store is always out of everything.  And supply of products.  As I said, my Walgreens is out of everything.  My Rite Aid however, does an awesome job of keeping things stocked.  At least for the first few days.  My two main grocery stores, Price Chopper and eventually Shop Rite, both double coupons up to $0.99.  And both offer their own coupons that can be stacked with manufacturer coupons.  Not everyone has this luxury.  And trust me, I feel your pain.  This is a recent (and joyful) change for my area! 

Second, your stock up price tends to adjust down as you become a better couponer.  

In the beginning, I was overjoyed to pay $1 for a tube of $4 toothpaste.  Now I only buy it for free or better.  But at first, saving 75% felt amazing.  And it was!  But the more I learned, the more frequently (like every other week) I found it for free.  Same goes for deodorant.  And body wash.  And shaving cream. 

Third, just because something hits a stock up price, does not mean you need to buy it.

I have 1-2 years worth of laundry detergent.  Because at first, just as I noted with the toothpaste example, I thought 50% was an awesome deal.  And again, it totally was!  But over time, I realized I could get detergent for even less.  My stock up price now is $0.03-0.05 per load.  And I've found several deals lately.  But I am refraining from buying.  Because I already have soooo much in my stockpile.  While detergents do have a long shelf life, the are not indefinite.  I have plenty for myself and to share and I won't buy more until I really work through my stock. 

Fourth, there will always be another sale. 

Sometimes when new products debut, you can get them for free.  OK, so that might not roll around again.  But beyond that, everything else will be on sale again.  In 6-12 weeks.  I personally have very minimal space to use for storage.  I simply cannot store a year's worth of anything (other than laundry detergent- ha).  So if I find something is a super stock up price, I might buy a few month's worth.  Because I know there will eventually be another sale. 

Fifth, there are seasons for every item in your grocery store.

Everything from oatmeal to cleaning supplies to ketchup to ice cream to pencils has an "in season."  That's the month when things are at the most rock bottom prices.  So while everything does go on sale regularly, there is a short period of time each year when you can typically get items even lower.  In season groceries are always the least expensive, healthiest, and often local. 

A Quick CVS Shopping Trip

I made a quick run into CVS this week.  But they were out of a few things on my list.  Needing to use up an expired ECB, I had to find something to buy.  I opted for toilet paper as that's always a good thing to add to the stockpile list.  All in all, it was a pretty good, albeit small, shopping trip.

Purchased ...
(1) Peanut M&M's  reg. $1.19, sale $0.75
(1) Mitchum deodorant  reg. $4.99, sale $1.99
(1) CVS 4-pk double roll toilet tissue  reg. $3.89, sale $2.50

- (1) $1/1 deodorant from red machine
- (1) $1/1 Mitchum deodorant SS 5/6
- (1) $2 ECB

Total value purchased ... $10.07

Paid out of pocket ... $1.24

Percentage saved ... 88%

Earned ... (1) $0.75 ECB from M&M's

Free Soda But No Catalina At Price Chopper

I popped into Price Chopper for two things last night.  Green peppers for a sausage and pepper dinner (recipe coming shortly) and Pepsi.

I used the $1/2 coupon and the Pchop iSave $1/2 coupon so they were free.  But I only did that because I thought it would produce a catalina for a free Coke product.  Well...it didn't.  And the line at customer service was long.  I wasn't in the mood.  So be aware that this deal is not working everywhere.  Worth a try anyway.  My soda stockpile is ridiculous at this point anyway so it's not that big of a deal.

FREE Hair Color and Gum Tomorrow Only!

Deal Idea for tomorrow only at Dollar General...

* Buy (8) boxes of Clairol Balsam Hair Color  $3/each

* Buy (1) pack of gum or anything that totals $1

= $25

- (1) $5/$25 Dollar General coupon - make sure to hand this over FIRST!
- (4) $5/2 Clairol hair color coupon SS 4/15

= out of pocket FREE!  Just pay tax, baby!

There are lots of other deals to be had but I think it's fun when you can manage to get a total down to a big fat goose egg.  Great to fill up your stockpile if you are running low on hair color.  One must keep her locks naturally bright and blonde year-round!

I Heart CVS

First, I heart CVS because they are so nice about honoring ECBs that are a day or two expired.  In my experience, no other store will do that.  Not Rite Aid or Walgreens.  But CVS...as always they are totally awesome sauce!

I also realized that I had three coupons for FREE PRODUCTS that were about to expire.  Two coupons for FREE Suave Professionals products and one for a John Frieda hair color up to $12.99.  So I ran (not literally...my booty is still fat as can be....I drove thankyouverymuch) over to CVS and grabbed my freebies.

Other than the Diet Coke that was a total impulse purchase, everything went toward my stockpile.  I love buying things for free to keep me stocked.  This means that when I need them, I don't have to pay full price.  Love that!

Purchased....
(3) Hallmark Cards  reg. $0.99
(1) John Frieda hair color  reg. $13.29, sale $12
(1) John Frieda hair color  reg. $13.29, sale $3.32*
(2) Suave Professionals hairspray  reg. $3.39
(1) Bottle of Crack Diet Coke  reg. $1.77

Minus...
-(1) $12.99 - Free John Frieda Hair color
-(2) $3.39 - Suave Professionals product
- $5 ECB

Total value purchased ... $38.11

Paid out of pocket ... $2.12

Percentage saved ... 94%

Earned ... (1) $3 ECB from purchase of three Hallmark cards and (1) $5 ECB from purchase of $15 worth of John Frieda products 

* I spotted the darker hair color box on clearance and also the hang tag noting the ECB deal- earn $5 ECB with the purchase of $15 worth of John Frieda products.  I will donate this box and really only purchased it so that I could have a little money maker.  Just to clarify that my hair is not two colors.  Just one.  

Coupon Porn. Or A Pantry Overhaul.

So my home is tiny.  And I don't have the luxury of a basement dedicated to storing 200 rolls of paper towels and such.  Heck, I have yet to figure out how the folks on the TLC show are acquiring floor to ceiling toilet paper for free!

But I do have a large (well large my my 150 year old home standards) hall closet.  That until a few days ago was used for coats and linens and the vacuum and other random stuff.  And also as my pantry. 

Well I realized that I don't need all of my linens to be stored there.  I can keep a small shelf with linens I use regularly and then store the rest in a less convenient spot.  Which is OK as I don't need to access them daily.  I also keep most of my coats on a messy coat tree by the door.  Beautiful?  No.  But it's practical and where the coats land.  So I don't need this closet to be dedicated to something that lives elsewhere.

So I had my dad move a shelf from a lower section to a higher section.  That freed up space to move a different storage shelf around.  Giving me MUCH more storage space, as well as better access to the deep shelves on the side of the closet.

I will take better photos this weekend but just had to show you what I discovered in the process of pulling every single item out and moving things around.

Discovery #1:
I will never have bad breath.  Ever. 

This photo is AFTER I removed about 10 big tubes of toothpaste.  So you are looking at 18 full size tubes- that's excluding all of the travel size tubes.  If we got trick-or-treaters around here I would pass out toothpaste instead of candy.  You know you're an extreme couponer when you have enough toothpaste to last a lifetime!

Discovery #2:
I will always have clean dishes.  Always.

I know that first photo is terrible but you know, it was late and it is what it is.  I think I got those four big Finish systems for free last winter.  I've yet to use them though because they were in the waaaay back of this closet and I couldn't reach them.

In addition to the four big hang in the dishwasher systems, I also have a bag of maybe 10 three packs of Cascade.  I've used a few so I am guessing there are 10 or so in that zip top bag you see.  Then there are 10 boxes of 20 tabs and 15 boxes of the Finish Quantum tabs.  I probably paid less than $20 out of pocket for all that you see there.  I recently bought two boxes at CVS because I didn't have a clue how many boxes I already owned.  Yikes! 

I love love these Finish tabs though so this hot mess of a photo actually gives me a strange joy. 

Discovery #3:

This isn't all of my full size lotion.  It's sadly, only half of what I own.  OK so I went many months when I first started couponing where finding lotion at half off was a steal.  So I would buy lotion here and there at what I felt were decent prices.  Then I started to find lotion nearly free the last few months. 

So I have clearly bought in excess.  I counted 40 full size bottles of lotion.  And 21 mini bottles.  That's ridiculous, y'all!  Everyone is getting lotion in gifts for the foreseeable future.  And I will honestly use it too.  Of the 40 full size bottles, I only dislike one of them.  And I would totally use it if I didn't have 39 others that I like much better.  But really...this is hoarderish.  No more lotion is allowed to come into my home.  Period.


So I had several other interesting discoveries but they will have to wait until I take time to snap photos.  Even though I have an insane amount of some things, I am super low on others.  This closet re-do was not only helpful as far as organization but it's really helped me focus on what I need to scout deals on to stock up. 

Hold Me To This

So let's talk.  A real couponer heart to heart.  Between coupon-aholic besties.  It's serious. 

I re-organized my (gulp...I loathe this word) stockpile (in daily life I just call it my hall closet or stock closet so I don't start to feel like a someone paranoid about doom and gloom) and I am overflowing with a few items.  Items that at one point in time, I was sure I would never find at a good deal.  And was running low.  And paid more for the first few than I would now pay for many.  But then I eventually found them at crazy rock bottom prices.  So I stocked up.  Many times over.  Because I went so long without finding them at such great prices.

The thing is, I know SO much more now in my 10th month of extreme couponing than I did in my first and second.  So I seem to be better of course at finding those rock bottom prices.  I've learned my lesson.  And made a new list of items I am no longer allowed to purchase until I run down my stock significantly.

Ready?  Because I need y'all to hold me to this. 

* Toothpaste (this is actually a repeat)
* Floss (also a repeat)
* Dog treats (I have only have one dog)
* Lotion
* Body wash
* Conditioner
* Make-up (with a few exceptions)
* Deodorant
* Shaving cream (I was shocked at how many I now have!)
* Razors
* Cough drops
* First aid anything
* Cold and allergy meds (with a few exceptions)
* Headache meds
* Pantie liner pads
* Dishwasher detergent
* Laundry detergent
* Oatmeal (unless I find Better Oats on sale)
* Cereal
* Minced garlic
* Canned beans (mostly black)
* Gluten free flours
* Pectin (also shocked to see how much I have)
* Preserves (I make my own but have plenty to last a long while)
* Toys and games

Now of course, I have a few exceptions.  If I can find things totally free out of pocket (before tax), I may or may not still purchase them.  I do make regular donations to food banks and love being able to share on a dime size budget.  If I find items that I know will be used and appreciated, I might still buy them.  Not every week.  I go months sometimes of passing up the big deals because I know that I just don't need them.  The key there though is to hold yourself accountable.  I have a small box in my front closet and toss in donate items as soon as I come home.  Then when I go volunteer with Junior League or see the box getting full, I just drop it by a food bank or shelter.  Do a swagbucks search to find one close to you.  I was shocked at how many are actually in walking distance of me.  Call first if you have meds.  Some will accept them and some will not. 

My other exception is if I find a great deal but think an item will make a great gift.  This exception will pretty much end at the end of the month though as I am about finished doing all my holiday planning.

The nice thing about knowing what I am more than stocked up on is that I can now narrow my focus to things I would like to increase.  Want that list too? 

* Windex
* Clorox surface cleaner
* Shampoo (I only use one specific brand)
* Pasta sauce (the uses are endless)
* Chicken stock (the uses are endless)
* Salsa (the uses are endless)
* Frozen veggies (I have yet to find any truly amazing deals)
* Frozen fruit (at one point I had TONS but am about out now)
* Sugar (for holiday baked goods)
* Gluten free pasta
* Bob's GF pizza crust mix
* Dairy free milk (I try to limit my dairy)
* Ball canning jars (new or used, the uses are endless)
* Toilet paper
* Paper towels (preferably plain white)


It might surprise you to know that I don't use many canned items.  I like canned beans of all varieties, artichoke hearts and sometimes fruit.  Canned crab and clams find their way into dozens of meals.  And canned Mexican things like salsa and enchilada sauce.  But that's pretty much the extent of my canned goods.  Just a personal preference, but I just won't eat commercially canned veggies.  So I don't buy them.  And therefor do not need any fancy pants canned good storage systems. 

I do however have at least a dozen different types of flour.  That's what happens when you live gluten free and like to bake and cook.  My point is that we all have our special items that require special storage consideration.  For many it's cans.  For me, it's crazy expensive flours. 

What things are you overflowing with right now?  And what are your "can't possibly have enough in my storage" items?