MGR Monday: February 22, 2010

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When you post to another MGR member or link back to our site, www.mygreatretreat.com ,  use #mgr or #MGR in your tweet. It will help create a bit of buzz and will help us find each other on twitter.

Money Saving Monday: Stretching that dollar at Target

Would you believe me if I told you that I think shopping at Target (or Super Target) is actually cheaper than Wal*Mart for your groceries and household goods? Probably not. But more often than not, it's true. In fact, I find it so true, I no longer shop at Wal*MArt, for anything.

At the beginning of my coupoing journey, I dragged my mom along for the ride. My mom, mind you, was a die-hard Wal*Mart shopper. Every Friday we'd load up and head to FIVE different grocery stores for "the best deals". (Of course my argument was if Wal*Mart is so great, why are we spending hours driving to all these other places??). It was all this crazy running around, and my being immensely pregnant with baby #3 that made me say "Enough!" and I learned how to coupon the right way. Within a couple weeks I stopped going to all those stores and forced my mom into going alone. Two whole months later I *finally* convinced her that we could get our groceries for cheaper at Publix (and the occasional trip to Super Target) than Wal*Mart or any of those other places. She now never shops at Wal*Mart. Hooray!

Now during the time I was teaching/convincing my mom we did a little recon at Super Target. I am like a human price book when it comes to the things we frequently buy (yes, as in I remember the prices not only for my families items, but my moms as well, lol). So she would point out something there, look at the price, and I'd tell her Wal*Marts price. But that's not all. It's not just the everyday pricing that has me loving Target more (or the cleaner stores, or the friendlier service....) but it just so happens that Target has a *fantastic* coupon policy. (You can check out their policy HERE) They allow you to not only use a manufacturer coupon per item but you can also use a Target coupon AND manufacturer coupon per item! Wal*Mart has no coupons folks, so right there alone Target has them beat.

There are now 2 great ways to get Target coupons. You can either print them from HERE or you can now receive Mobile Coupons that you can sign up for HERE.

I wanted to show you how great some deals can be with these Target coupons.
Gillette Venus Embrace Razor (purchase 2)
Sale Price: $6.99
Use: (2) $2/1 mfr q (2/7 PG) AND (2) Free Olay Body Wash wyb Venus Embrace or Breeze Razor (2/7 PG)
Receive: Free $5 giftcard with purchase of any 2 Gillette products listed
Final Cost, OOP: $9.98
Final Cost after GC: $4.98. or $2.50 each
*Sweeten this deal and save an additional $2/1 if you've signed up for Target Mobile coupons. *

Gillette Fusion Razor (purchase 2)
Sale Price: $6.99
Use: (2) $4/1 mfr q (2/7 PG)
Receive: Free $5 giftcard with purchase of any 2 Gillette products listed
Final Cost, OOP: $5.98
Final Cost after GC: $0.98
*Sweeten this deal and save an additional $2/1 if you've signed up for Target Mobile coupons. *


I have also already taken the time to do some manufacturer coupon match ups with the current Target mobile coupons:
$2/1 Gillette Fusion Razor
Pair up with: $4/1 Gillette Fusion mfr q from 2/7 P&G insert

$2/1 Gillette Venus Razor
Pair up with: $2/1 Gillette Venus mfr q from 2/7 P&G insert
AND
with: Free Olay Body Wash when you purchase a Venus Razor mfr q from 2/7 P&G insert

Yesterday I got these:
$1/1 Kraft Cheese (chunk or shredded)
Pair up with: $1/2 Kraft mfr q from 1/24 Smart Source insert (or check here or here)

$1/1 Planters food products (5oz or larger)
Pair up with: $1/2 Planters mfr q from 1/24 Smart Source insert

$0.75/1 M&Ms Premium chocolate candies (6oz or larger)

$3/1 The Fragrance Collection by Glade (excludes 2 oz mini candle)
Pair up with: $3/1 The Fragrance Collection any product mfr from 2/7 Smart Source insert
OR
with: $3/1 The Fragrance Collection any 10oz Candle or Reed Diffuser mfr q from 1/24 Smart Source insert

Quite a few good deals! The Razors would be wicked cheap (especially with the current Gift Card deal going on) and using the $3 off mfr q for any Glade should mean a free or very cheap candle!

I hope I have opened your eyes to stretching your dollar when shopping at Target!!

Please feel free to check out my blog, Saving Obsession, and become a follower to see hot deals and coupons every day!

                 Happy Savings!

Calling All WAHM's! We'd Love Your Help!

MGR would love to help you get your products out there!

Calling All WAHMs!

My Great Retreat needs your help!

This is growing into such a wonderful and loving community, which is just what we want! The problem is love alone doesn't cover the cost of running a board, and this is where we need your help. My Great Retreat is going to be offering a host of different raffles and/or auctions to keep this site alive and well! We are currently looking for any WAHM who is willing to donate one (or more!) of their items to be raffled or auctioned here on the site. It doesn't have to be anything large, or high dollar (although a minimum of $10 value would be appreciated).

Just think, not only will you be helping out our great community, but you'll be getting your business out there as well! And we all know that WAHM's can use all the advertising they can get.

So please, I hope you'll consider helping us out. If you would like to, please just shoot me a PM! Thank you!

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We've decided we'll do 1-2 auctions/raffles per week as donations allow. If you're going to donate, please PM me the following info:

Item(s) to be donated (if more than one please let me know if you want them auctioned together or separate)
Retail Value
Shipping Costs to winner
Website (if you have one)
Picture of item(s)
When the items will be available

Weekly Deal Wednesday: Publix Shoppers!

Let's just get to it shall we? There are some great deals this week!

Acronyms found here
Order extra mfr coupons from here or here
And remember, if your store doubles coupons, your final cost will be less than what I've stated (lucky you!)


 
Chapstick Medicated
Price: $1.49, Buy 2
Use: (1) $0.50/2 mfr q (12/13 RP) AND (2) $1/1 Publix q (Green Adv. Flyer)
Final Cost: $0.48, or $0.24 each

Chapstick Original, Cherry, or Moisturizing
Price: $1.49, Buy 3
Use: (1) $1/3 mfr q (1/31 RP) AND (3) $1/1 Publix q (Green Adv. Flyer)
Final Cost: $0.47, or $0.16 each

Classico Pasta or Alfredo Sauce
Sale: BOGO Price: $2.49
Use: (2) $0.75/1 mfr q (1/10 SS)
Final Cost: $0.99, or $0.49 each
OR use (1) Free Pasta Sauce wyb Alfredo Sauce (1/10 SS)
Final Cost: Free (if you live in FL)

Nestle Coffemate Chilled Creamer
Sale: BOGO Price: $2.19
Use: (2) $0.75/1 mfr q (Print IP) OR (1) $1/2 mfr q (Print IP)
Final Cost: $0.69, or $0.34 each OR $1.19, $0.59 each
*If your store accepts Food Lion as a competitor use (2) $1/1 FLIPs combined with either of the above mfr q to get free creamer! Or use them alone to get creamer for $0.19!

For the rest of my Weekly Deals, click the button below to check them out on my blog!

Win It Wednesday: MLK Designs

Come check out the awesome giveaway on Meghan's blog at Tuckers Take Tennessee

This week, get a FREE design by MLK Designs! Enter now through 9pm CST tonight!

Intro to Money Saving Monday

Hi! My name is Micael (or The Deal Diva as they call me over on My Great Retreat)! Each Monday I'm going to be bringing you a little slice of what I talk about on my blog: saving money...and a lot of it!

A little about me: I'm about to be 26 (!), I have 3 lovely daughters, and I am a busy busy busy stay at home mom to them. I love to sew, craft, create, bake, sleep, be outside, and wouldn't you know... I love coupons too. ;) I got into couponing in November 2008. But I failed miserably at it. I did all the common mistakes most newbies make and ended up spending way more than I normally would, so I quit. But in March 2009 I took another stab at it, and by George I got it! It took countless weeks of research and loads of trial and error, but I got it. (Don't worry, I'm currently putting finishing touches on my couponing E-book that simplifies couponing by giving you detailed information all in one spot so you don't have to waste all that time!) From March - December 2009 I was able to save my family just over $6,000.00! That's no typo, I really saved 6 thousand dollars in 9 months! I always get asked "But can you get stuff you really need?" And the answer is a big fat YES! Do you use household cleaners? Do you use toiletries such as shampoo, razors, and toothpaste? Do you eat things like Kelloggs, Post, or General Mills cereal, fruits and veggies, crackers, soups? If you answered yes to any of those, then I've proven my point: you can use coupons for things you use. (Please note: that is a ridiculously small list in comparison to things you can indeed buy with coupons and smart shopping!!)

On Money Saving Mondays I'm going to post on several different topics. It could be a tip for when shopping with coupons, tips for maximizing your dollars, hot deals, or anything else that I can come up with the help save you money!

Here's what I'm going to tell you today to prep you for the beginning of your saving journey:
1. Where ever it is you do your grocery shop, find out their coupon policy. (And in most areas I will tell you that you can save more at your local grocery store than even Wal*Mart. Yes, I'm serious.)
2. Start making sure you receive at least 1-2 Sunday newspapers (the best source for your coupons!). If you live in Central Florida, click here for discounted rates I can give you!
3. Join in on our Savings Challenge! All you have to do is set a personal goal for your family for the year, and post each month how much you've saved. Sign up here and I'll be answering any questions you may have here. (If you're not a member of My Great Retreat yet, come join us! It's free, and lots of fun. In the referral box let them know Micael sent you!)
4. Start reading things on my blog to see what types of things I'll be teaching you!

Alright, so who's excited to start saving money?!

Scrappin' Sunday: 2/14/10

Book Of Me Prompt For This Week:

Scrap about your favorite color and post it here for us to see!

Some of the ones that have already been submitted are: