CVS Black Friday Shopping

The only Black Friday shopping I ever do (besides online) is at the drug stores.  Seriously, you can get amazing deals on everything from toiletries to toys at CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid starting on Thanksgiving day.

This year though, CVS is starting some of their Black Friday deals early - starting this Sunday!  I'm so happy because this year I'm running (OK, that's a joke... walking) a 5k Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning, which was going to interfere with my Black Friday CVS shopping!

CVS has split up their deals in to two different ads.  These deals posted below are only good from 11/18-11/21. 

This is the way I plan on doing my transactions.  I'll spend $1.62 out of pocket, leave with $6.23 in Extra Care Bucks (ECB) and purchase over $30 in merchandise.

Transaction #1:

Command Hook Sample Pack - $0.99
Buy 1, Get $0.99 ECB (limit 1)
Use $0.50/1 Command Product, exp. 12/16/12 (SS 11/11/12)
Or use $1/1 Command Product Printable
Final Price: $1 Moneymaker! 

Starbucks Refreshers - $1.50
Buy 1, Get $1.50 ECB (limit 1)
Use $1/1 Starbucks Refreshers Printable
Final Price: $1 Moneymaker! 

Children's Advil 1oz - $2.37
a.       Buy 1, Get $2.37 ECB (limit 1)
Use $1.50/1 Advil coupon
Final Price: $1.50 moneymaker

= $1.36 (+tax) out of pocket, get back $4.86 in ECB

Transaction #2:

Kraft Macaroni & Cheese - $0.99
Buy 1, Get $0.99 ECB (limit 1)
Final Price: FREE

Scooby-Doo Fruit Snacks - $2.00
Buy 1, Get $2 ECB (limit 1)
Final Price: FREE 

Powerade - $1.00
Buy 1, Get $1 ECB (limit 1)
Final Price: FREE 

Thin Mints or Nips - $0.88
Buy 1, Get $0.88 ECB (limit 1)
Final Price: FREE 
Use $4.86 in ECB from Transaction #1
= $0.01 (+tax) out of pocket, get back $4.87in ECB

Transaction #3:

Hot Wheels - $1.00
Buy 1, Get $1 ECB (limit 1)
Final Price: FREE 

Advil 10ct - $2.99
Buy 1, Get $2.99 ECB (limit 1)
Final Price: FREE 

Use $0.99 ECB from Kraft, $2 ECB from fruit snacks & $1 ECB from Powerade from Transaction #2 (I'm not using the $0.88 ECB from the Thin Mints right now)
= $0 OOP, get back $3.99 in ECB

Transaction #4: 

ThermaCare Lower Back & Hip Heat Wrap 1ct - $1.99
Buy 1, Get $1.99 ECB (limit 1)
Final Price: FREE 

Cepacol Sensations 4ct - $1.00
Buy 1, Get $1 ECB (limit 1)
Final Price: FREE 

Charmin Basic Toilet Tissue Single Roll - $0.99
Buy 1, Get $0.99 ECB (limit 1)
Final Price: FREE

Use $3.99 in ECB from Transaction #3
= $0 OOP, get back $3.98 in ECB (I'm still not using the $0.88 ECB from the Thin Mints)

Transaction #5:

Right Guard Total Defense 5 Deodorant - $2.99
Buy 1, Get $2 ECB (limit 2)
Use $2/2 Right Guard Total Defense 5 Deodorant, exp. 12/2/12 (RP 11/04/12 R)
Or use $2/2 Right Guard Total Defense5 Deodorant Printable
Or use $2/2 Right Guard Total Defense 5 Deodorant Printable
Final Price: 2 for FREE

Glade Plugins Scented Oil Warmer 1ct - $1.25
Buy 1, Get $1.25 ECB (limit 1)
Use $1/1 Glade Plugins Scented Oil Warmer or Starter Kit, exp. 11/24/12 (SS 10/14/12)
Or use $1/1 Glade Plugins Scented Oil Warmer, exp. 12/1/12 (SS 11/04/12)
Or use $1/1 GladePlugins Scented Oil Warmer Printable
Or use $1/1 GladePlugins Scented Oil Warmer Printable
Final Price: $1 Moneymaker 

Use $3.98 ECB from Transaction #4 (I'm still not using the $0.88 ECB from the Thin Mints)
= $0.25 (+tax), get back $5.25 in ECB

Transaction #6:

Select Carmex Lip Balm - $1.00
Buy 1, Get $1 ECB (limit 1)
Use $0.30/1 Carmex Lip Balm, exp. 12/31/12 (SS 10/21/12 R)
Final Price: $.30 Moneymaker!

Air Wick Scented Oil Warmer 1ct - $0.99
Buy 1, Get $0.99 ECB (limit 1)
Final Price: FREE 

Coke 1.25L - $0.99
Buy 1, Get $0.99 ECB (limit 1)
Final Price: FREE 

(2) Kleenex Slim Pack Facial Tissue 3pk or Sparkle Paper Towel Single Roll - $1.00 each
Buy 1, Get $1 ECB (limit 2)
Final Price: FREE 

Use $4 ECB from Right Guard from Transaction #5 and $0.88 ECB from Thin Mints from Transaction #2
= $0 out of pocket, get back $4.98 in ECB

I'll have the $4.98 ECB from Transaction #6 and the $1.25 Glade ECB from Transaction #5 for a total of $6.23 ECB left to use on the ad that starts on 11/22!

This is just what I'm doing.  There are other items free after ECB, which you can check out at My Frugal Adventures!  Any of the printable coupons listed above I just printed tonight, so they should all still have prints left.

I'll be at CVS when the doors open on Sunday to hopefully pull off my plan without a hitch!

I almost forgot to mention - if something you wanted wasn't in stock, CVS does rain checks and they never expire!

FREE 8x10 from Walgreens!

Through 11/24, Walgreens is offering a free 8x10 enlargement with the code FREE2THANK at check out!

Put this in a nice frame and you could have a holiday gift to check off your list!

Thanks, Hip 2 Save!

Cardstore.com - $0.29 Cards Today Only!

Cardstore is at it again!  Today only they are offering all of their holiday cards for $0.29, PLUS they will mail them for you - for free!  That's right, you won't even have to pay for the stamps! 

So many of my readers have already taken advantage of some of the great deals at Cardstore this season and have literally saved hundreds of dollars on their cards! 

This is probably their best promotion yet, so if you haven't bought your cards yet, today is the day to do it! 

Just click the picture above to get started!  Then at check out, enter code CCN1629.

Thanksgiving Price List

 

If you are hosting Thanksgiving you're probably going to be doing your shopping this weekend.  Here is a run down of the pricing of some common Thanksgiving foods in their ads so you can decide which store near you has the best prices:

 

Aldi

(Quick funny story about Aldi... the first time I went there I knew it was all cash, but that's all I knew about it.  So I walk inside to look for a cart, they are no where to be found.  I go back out to the parking lot to see if there is a cart corral full of carts... nope.  Then I see a whole gathering of carts.  Triumphant, I walk over to grab a cart... but I can't get it away from the pack.  It was dark, so I didn't see that you had to put a quarter in the cart to get it loose.  So I stand there fighting with the cart for probably a whole minute, until I see someone return a cart and take their quarter out.  Then it all came together for me...  I seriously must have given the other shoppers a good show!)

• Stuffing mix = $0.89
• Pumpkin pie mix (30 oz) = $2.89
• Dozen eggs = $1.55
• Gallon milk = $2.99
• Spices = $0.99 - $1.69
• Pecan or walnut halves (6 oz) = $3.99
• Chocolate chips (12 oz) = $1.29
• Baking soda = $0.49
• Confectioners or brown sugar (2 lbs) = $1.39
• Marshmallows (mini or regular) = $0.89
• Evaporated milk = $0.65
• Sweetend condensed milk = $1.19
• Disposable turkey pan = $0.99
• Cooking spray (6oz) = $1.39
• Canola oil (48oz) = $2.69
• Sugar (4lbs) = $2.18
• Flour (5lbs) = $1.58
• Cranberry sauce = $0.89
• Canned corn = $0.49
• Canned green beans = $0.49
• French fried onions (6 oz) = $1.99
• Canned peas = $0.99
• Canned sweet potatoes = $1.29
• White Potatoes (10lbs) = $1.99
• Cresent rolls = $0.99
• Butter (1lb) = $1.99
• Jumbo biscuits = $1.29
• Cranberries = $0.99
• Celery = $0.69
• Sweet potatoes (3lbs) = $0.99
• Butterball turkey = $1.19/lb
• Carrots (2lbs) = $1.29
• Baby carrots (1lb) = $1.49
• Broccoli (14oz) = $1.69
• Red onions (2lbs) = $1.89
• Garlic (6oz) = $0.79
• Red potatoes (5lbs) = $2.49
• 12 Brown and serve rolls = $0.99
• Chicken broth (2lbs) = $0.99
• Gravy packet = $0.35

 

Target

• Butterball turkey = $0.99/lb
• Market Pantry Russet Potatoes = $1.49/5 lb bag
• Cool Whip topping = $0.99
• Marshmallows = $0.99
• Stove Top Stuffing Mix = $1
• 12 ct Market Pantry Rolls = $1.79
• 12 oz bag Ocean Spray cranberries = $1.99
• 15 oz Libby’s pumpkin pie filling = $1.50
• Carnation evaporated milk 12 oz = $0.99
• 1lb land o lakes butter = $3
• 5lb gold medal flour = $2.29
• 4lb market pantry sugar = $2.39
• Wesson canola oil 48oz = $2.99
• 1lb baby carrots = $1.50
• Archer Farms take and bake baguette = $2.79
• President Brie = $3.49 (8oz)
• Del Monte assorted canned veggies = $0.65
• French’s French fried onions = $2.99 (6 oz)
• 32 oz Swanson chicken broth = $1.99
• Birdseye steam fresh veggies = $1
• Heinz home style gravy jar 12 oz = $1

 

And for my local readers:

Big Y

• Birds Eye corn = buy 1 get 2 free (about $0.74 each)
• Baby carrots = buy 1 get 2 free (about $0.67 each)
• Russet potatoes 5lb bags = buy 1 get 2 free (about $1.34 per bag)
• Yams or sweet potatoes = $0.49/lb
• Campbell's gravy = buy 1 get 2 free (about $0.57 each)
• Ocean spray cranberries = $2.50
• Broccoli = $1.49/lb
• Butterball turkey = $1.69/lb
• Cool whip = $1.50
• Land O' Lakes butter = $3
• Pillsbury crescent rolls = $2
• Pillsbury all ready pie crusts = $2
• Big Y margarine = $1.15
• Ocean spray cranberry sauce = $1.25
• Big Y french fried onions = $2.50
• Swanson chicken broth = 4/$3
• Stove top stuffing = $0.99
• Campbell's cream of mushroom soup = $1
• Gold medal flour = $2.29
• Domino sugar = $2.50

Note - these are the prices in my stores/ads, they can defnitely vary region by region.  But this should give you a comparison point while you're shopping.

Entertaining for Less: Use What You Have

 

If you're hosting Thanksgiving dinner, you've probably started to think about what your menu will look like and what serving dishes you'll use.  Thanksgiving naturally lends itself to many side dishes, which means many serving dishes.  Are you looking at your serving pieces and thinking to yourself - well those don't match.  Or... do I even have enough?

 

I recently had a conversation with a co-worker who is hosting Thanksgiving.  She was really excited to use earth-toned pieces of pottery that she has as her serving dishes.  She thought they'd look great at a Thanksgiving table setting - and I agreed.  But she wasn't sure what to do about her dishes because they were stark white and she felt an off-white would go better.  I agree, off white would go better, but that's not what she had, so her options are either to buy off-white plates ($$$), or use what she has (free!).  I suggested that she does a fancy napkin in an earth tone on top of her white plates.  It would break up the starkness of the white and once people put food on their plate, they will never even notice how white the plates look against the earth-colored serving dishes.

 

Maybe you've been in that situation before, maybe you've never even given it a second thought.  Either way, here are 7 tips for you:

 

1.  If you own china, use your china.  If you're anything like me, you get to use your china maybe once a year.  You own it, you may as well use it!

2.  If you have a bowl that really doesn't match the rest of your serving pieces, try putting a cloth napkin or two in it, with the napkin overlapping on the sides and use that as your bread bowl.  The napkin will mask the fact that the bowl doesn't really match the rest of your pieces.

3.  Mix and match!  You don't have to have serving pieces of all one color, pattern or style.  Many times an eclectic mix of pieces will look the best.

4.  If you're short on plates, see if you can borrow from a family member.  If you can, then alternate the plates on the table.  It will look as though you did that on purpose to add interest to your table, not that you were short plates!  If you're only short, say two plates, then just place them at the heads of the table.  Again, it will look intentional if placed with thought!

4.  Re-use pieces if you can.  If you serve appetizers, you can quickly clear them away before dinner, wash the dish(es) and put a new side dish in it for dinner. 

5.  Just like with the plates, don't be afraid to borrow from family or friends, especially those who are attending your dinner, because you know they won't be using their dishes!  Borrow bowls, platters, condiment dishes, etc. 

6.  If you have a guest who is bringing a dish to share, ask them to bring it in a dish that can be served out of.  That is one less serving piece for you to find.

7.  Use a fancy plate setting to camoflauge mis-matched plates.  Maybe you end up with a few different patterns of plates on your table.  You can tie them all together with a uniform place setting.  Check Pinterest for inspiration or google "fancy place settings".  You'll find different ways to fold napkins, different ways to lay out your silverware and more!

 

Most importantly, remember that at the end of the day, it's the memories you make and the laughter you share with your guests that is really going to matter.  No one will remember if everyone ate off of a different patterned plate.  :)

FREE (or cheap) Sponge Bob or Dora Wrapping Paper

Coupons.com is currently offering a coupon for $1 off one roll of American Greetings Sponge Bob or Dora Christmas wrapping paper.  If you don't see the coupon, change your zip code to 77477.

Use this coupon at Dollar Tree to scoree FREE wrapping paper.  They have 20 ft rolls for just $1 and they now take coupons, so they will be FREE after coupon!  I just bought Princess and Toy Story wrapping paper there a few weeks ago and I can verify that I definitely saw Dora paper there. 

You should be able to print two copies of the coupon.

Need help changing your zip code on coupons.com?

1.  At the top, click on local coupons

2.  On the left hand side, towards the top (just under the coupons.com icon) you'll see a spot to put in your zip code

3.  Put in 77477

4.  Hit enter or hit the little orange arrow next to the zip code box

5.  Now your zip code is changed!

Come back here and click this link and it should bring you right to coupons.com with the wrapping paper coupon clipped for you.  Now all you have to do is print it!

If you don't have a Dollar Tree near you, or don't find this wrapping paper there, both Target and Walmart sell Sponge Bob and Dora Christmas wrapping paper for $3, so it would just be $2 after coupon!

Thanks, Hip 2 Save!

140 Return Address Labels for Under $4 Shipped!

On top of the 6 free items from VistaPrint that I told you about last night, they are also offering free return address labels - just pay shipping!

If you aren't ordering your holiday cards through Cardstore and having them send your cards for you, these would be great labels for your holiday cards.  I made some with little Santa's on them a few years ago and they are adorable!

Other ideas for the labels:
- A house-warming gift
- Labels on school supplies
- Labels on toys
- Gift tags (make them to say "Merry Christmas!  Love, Katie")

You don't just have to put your address on them, so get creative!

If you haven't yet ordered your Christmas cards through Cardstore, I really would encourage you to think about it.  They will send them out for you (and pay your postage!), so you don't need to worry about address labels! 

Thank you, My Litter!