Couponing in CoMo 101: Take your Aldi's ad to Walmart!

One of the ways we saved HUGE today was price matching at Walmart for produce using our Aldi's ad from the Sunday paper. The Walmart commercials say you don't need the ad but I take it anyways because some of the price differences were big. I also put all the produce that I wanted to price match at the front of my order so I could walk through the changes with the cashier, not take up extra time in line and keep the process simple.
This is our haul from today:
Pineapple whole- .99 each, 10lbs potatoes- $1.69 a bag, Strawberries 1lb- $1.29, Cantaloupe- .99 each! And you can buy more than 1! I kept the ad and we plan to do the deal a couple of times this week to really stock up.
And trust me- I didn't rob Walmart and I did like their prices on produce without the Aldi's ad. Our Broadway Walmart had 3 lb bags of Cuties oranges for $2.50 and that same bag is almost $5 at some local grocery stores. And of course we bought WAY more than produce so the price matching is just a "Get you in the door, inhale the crazy Walmart air that makes you forget why you came to Walmart, spend way more than you planned and swear you aren't going back again but will be back in a day or so" marketing genius plan!
I know the 2lbs of strawberries we bought will be gone in a day or two so we will be doing this price matching deal all week!

Start Your Summer Garden Now with Penny's Tomatoes!

I know- I'm a total slacker but still settling, figuring out the coupon thing and trying to decide my direction here in Missouri.
The weather has been mild and I think we survived it! Now it's time to look forward to Spring and it's time to be seed starting for our first garden here in Columbia!

A few weeks ago- I ordered seeds from a website I heard about last year- it was too late for our garden in Georgia but I bookmarked the site and I can't wait to start my tomato seeds this week! What I loved about Penny's- here's the link- http://www.pennystomatoes.com/ is first of all- the tomatoes are GORGEOUS! but she had an option where you tell her where you live and she made recommendations for your plants. I'm new to the Midwest, used to dealing with hot, Georgia summers with Georgia clay so her suggestions and the variety she sent me are exciting! I have another site that suggest I start my seeds indoors this week so that's my plan. I'll report back about the tomatoes we grow but I already know we are going to have a delicious 1st summer in Missouri!

http://www.pennystomatoes.com/
Check her site out and if you are into hot peppers- her hubby has his site also- http://www.pepperjoe.com/ I have checked both sites out thoroughly and Penny and Joe are top notch!

Coupon 202: Advanced Courses When Your Coupon Course Changes Course!

I have posted a lot of tips and know how under the label, Coupon 101 so I am adding Coupon 202 to the blog. Coupon 202 will highlight the move to Missouri and how I learned to deal with new stores, new policies and rebuilt a stockpile!

Whether it's learning to coupon for the first time or trying couponing again as a 2012 Resolution- I hope you will take time to read up on all the posts under each label. Let me know if you have any questions, what you would like to see posts about and just enjoy this journey I've been through moving to the Midwest!!

Product Review: Purex Triple Action Detergent

I love being a Purex Insider so I can try Purex products and share my opinion with my readers! I tried the Purex Triple Action Free and Clear laundry detergent and loved it! My laundry was fresh, bright, clean and white! I especially loved washing our linens in the Triple Action Formula combined with the Purex Crystals for super clean, soft and fresh linens for our beds.

Purex is my favorite detergent line because Purex is conscience that we all are trying to save money but not sacrifice our laundry in the process! And be on the lookout for the "Prove It to Yourself" TV campaigns to air shortly where you can go to www.FreeSamplePurex.com and try the Triple Action Formula for yourself!

Leave a comment or shoot me an email. I've requested some free product coupons to giveaway! Tell me what is most important to you when deciding on a detergent.

Purex provided a free sample of their Triple Action laundry detergent so I could write a review. However, all of the opinions expressed here are my own.

App Review 101: Motivated Moms 2012

It's January 1st and we all are making resolutions and ways to improve in 2012. Motivated Moms is my favorite home organization/cleaning system for years now. The updated app for my Apple products is my ultimate fav for the second year in a row!
This year it's only $7.99 and it includes the ability to assign daily tasks to family members plus add/delete tasks etc.

I promise you that if you give it a try- you would be amazed at how easy it is! Just add a little discipline, guidance from Motivated Mom and the addition of the daily lists to your life! It will keep your house so clean, organized and free up your time to do what you want with your family.

TRUST ME- it works!!

Drumroll please.... our 2011 Savings Tracker Results!

Happy 2012!
Now that 2011 is over, here's a summary of our 2011 Savings Tracker and how well we did on groceries, drugstore deals, produce etc. for the year.

Shelf Price: $7534.34
Coupons Used: 1629.70 (WOW- paper $$ that added up!)
Saved: 3667.74
Spent: 4025.12 (WOW- average $335 a month)
Goal: 3150.00 (Major move wasn't factored in the goal!)
Overage: (875.12)
Percentage Saved: 48.68%

We did INCREDIBLE considering the move that came out of blue, losing our stockpile, losing our freezer, losing our garden and having to rebuild in Missouri.

Tracking our savings was a real eye opener this year. I suggest you do the same.
Click here or go to: http://thecouponproject.com/downloads/savings-tracker

3...2...1... Happy Couponing 2012!

Happy New Year's 2012!
It's time to make your resolutions and make them stick this year. If you are new to coupons or resolving to take your couponing to a new level this year- make sure you get a few papers tomorrow!
There will be 5! inserts tomorrow- 2 Smart Source, 2 Red Plum and 1 General Mills.
I buy 4 copies of the paper because I follow a general rule of thumb that I have as many coupons as I have family members in my household. When I find a great deal on an item at it's lowest price in the sale cycle plus a coupon, I can stock up on 4 for my family.

My resolution- blogging everyday again and showing how I left my "coupon comfort zone" Georgia and learned to adapt to a new region and new stores. It's easy- I hope I can help you save money in 2012! Let's coupon together! HUGS and LOVE from Missouri!

I'm BACK! Southern Coupon Belle has been MIA!

Okay- as you can see, the last post I added here was July 4th. I usually slow down quite a bit in July because the girls go back to school on August 1st and our summer is half over by this point in July. My intentions were to get back up to speed once the girls were back in school. Key word- intentions...
The girls did start school on August 1st and after PTA convention, getting our school PTA up and running for the new year- our lives were back into the swing of things "normal." Then the phone rang late afternoon on August 5th. Things would never be the same again... Mike was offered a promotion in Columbia, Missouri.
We talked, they talked, we talked some more and by September 1st- it was official. We were going and Mike had to be here by October 1st. We debated the horrible house market in Atlanta, the girls and I staying in Georgia and Mike working in Missouri, we stay back and try to sell the house but those weren't options for us. We are a team and if we were going to move then we would move together and all at once. No big deal- we just had 3 weeks to find a renter for our house in Georgia, find a house to rent in Columbia, pack, move and relocate. No sweat! My father in law even said- "If you pull this off, I will never believe it!"
Guess what- we did. Literally with just a few hours to go until we had to give the relocation company an address to take our stuff to! We rented our house on Tuesday, flew to Columbia on Wednesday, found a house Thursday, we were packed and the house empty by Tuesday. We drove into Columbia, MO with the girls for the first time on October 2nd!
So, 2 months have gone by and things are great! The transition for us all has been smooth, the girls love their new school, friends and Mike made a smart move for his career. We've got great neighbors and I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things.
One of my biggest challenges has been the coupon thing. No longer an "expert" and new stores but I figured it out and want to show you how I did it. I also had to mull in my head what Southern Coupon Belle's future was and how it would work being here and starting over. I have finally decided that the blog will live on!
Whether you are in the South, Midwest- wherever you are reading from- couponing basics apply and you just have to fine tune your strategy. Starting over in a new region also made me aware that while I had been couponing for years, when I did a seminar or helped a "newbie," I had forgotten what it's like to be overwhelmed and starting from scratch. I think this new experience for me will help me help you even more!
And I hope to gain new readers in my new hometown, Columbia! Thanks for reading and I am so glad to be back!!

Coupon Inserts This Weekend!

It's a holiday weekend so no Redplum or SmartSource inserts. However, there will be a P&G coupon insert. After a giveaway today, Herbal Essences and Aussie will have a $3 off a styler with another Herbal Essences or Aussie product purchase coupon.

Sorry I have been quiet- summer is short for us- we go back to school on August 1st and we've had a ton going on! I'm back and plan to keep you posted on deals and the back to school supplies deals!

Happy 4th of July!!

Price Matching at Walmart- Super Tip for Produce

I checked out Money Saving Mom's blog yesterday and found a GREAT tip that I haven't thought about. I'm sure everyone has seen the new Walmart Price Matching commercials. Basically, cashiers are now able to price match at their register if you show them an ad from a competitor with a lower price. Their policies say you don't have to have an ad but I think with so many different Walmart cashiers- I would have all my ducks in a row and have proof that I know the price of an item I would like them to match.

Produce is high and all across the board price wise right now. The lowest prices in the Atlanta area are coming from Aldi's. However, the quality of the produce hasn't been that great- and we checked 2 different locations this week and found the same issues. For example, strawberries were cheap but all the containers had berries that were very ripe or even some with mold in them. There is an Aldi's ad in the Sunday paper this week with deals on Vidalia onions, green peppers and tomatoes on the vine.

I've never thought to price match Aldi's since most of their brands are generic or off market but the produce isn't! So take your ad to Walmart and stock up on what produce is on sale this week. And from what I understand- you can purchase more than one of an item at the "price matched" price!

Great tip, good to know and I plan to be price matching at Walmart from here on out!

Celebrate Father's Day Traditions with Tiny Prints!

After a whirlwind late Easter then Mother's Day right around the corner, it was nice to have some time to plan for Father's Day this year on June 19th. Father's Day is one of the holidays that I am so proud to have traditions each year for my husband from the girls and I.
Father's Day gifts have to be fun, remind us of a great memory or experience we have shared and can continue enjoying as a family. My husband's 1st Father's Day, I gave him a snow cone machine and ordered his favorite flavors from Hawaiian Ice We spent a lot of time when we were dating sitting at the park with snow cones talking about our future together. This year we got Dad a SodaStream system and I know we are going to have a lot of fun with it over the summer. The girls fix him breakfast, we plan a nice dinner and let Dad relax watching golf or whatever he would like to do on his day. Our tradition every year is to make sure Dad feels special and knows how much we appreciate him.
Tiny Prints has everything you need to make your husband or dad feel special this Father's Day. Go to: http://www.tinyprints.com/greeting/shop/fathers-day-cards.htm
You won't believe the variety of cards they offer and I know you will find just the right card to celebrate the special men in your life!
Don't forget that Tiny Prints is awesome for invitations, stationery, photo books and more. I created my daughters' birthday invitations on Tiny Prints and you won't believe the compliments I have received about them.

10 Days of Deals at Redbox

Text the word, DEALS, to 727272 everyday through 5/25/2011. You will get a text back with a new deal. I did it tonight and got a one time use .50 off a first night rental that's good until 06/02/2011.

$1 Flip Flops at Old Navy this Saturday!

Saturday, May 21 is $1 Flip Flop Day at Old Navy! Get there early for the best selection and it's a limit of 5 pairs per person.

Up To 30% off at Gap Through Tomorrow!

Today and tomorrow, take advantage of a great sale at Gap online. All women's and men's regular priced items are 30% off and kids, baby and maternity regular priced items are 20% off. Some exclusions apply.

Just use the code: GAPGETSVE to get the 30% or 20% off plus orders over $50 will ship free! Sale ends at 11:59pm on Friday, May 13th.

Happy Shopping!!

Only 1 Insert in the Paper Tomorrow!

It's a holiday Sunday but there will be one SmartSource insert in the Sunday paper this weekend. There should be a Publix insert in the South as well.

If you go here or go to www.sundaycouponpreview.com, you can see a preview of what coupons are in the SmartSource insert tomorrow.

Happy Mother's Day everyone!