What do I do with ALL THIS STUFF???

If you've been reading and working the deals each week- you are probably noticing that your stockpile is starting to take over! It's important to stay organized so you know what you have, how much and what you need to purchase next.

Here are a couple of tips to keep your pantry, bathroom, linen closets etc. neat!

1. How high is the ceiling in your pantry? I have a closet pantry with a 9 foot ceiling. Plenty of room to add an extra shelf or two. Mike added an extra shelf and I bought wire "risers" to set in the floor of the pantry. I keep extras of cake mixes, brownie mixes and other items on the top shelf with a couple within reach. I keep cleaners, paper towels and things like juice on the risers on the floor. Don't put anything edible directly on the floor. You could also put a lower shelf in.

2. Pay attention to expiration dates. Almost everything today has a long shelf life but when you buy in quantities- take a second to see when something is expiring. I noticed one time that a product I just bought was expiring in a couple of days. I took it back to Publix and they immediately sent someone to go through and pull the items with the same expiration date. Same thing in the frig- keep yogurts and other items with the closest expiration in the front.

3. Get creative- there's a lot of wasted space under the sinks in your bathrooms. The girls have 1 cabinet that I could easily combine the towels under one sink and use that space for health and beauty items. I have an armoire in the bathroom which gives me tons of space in the top area for shampoos, deodorants etc. and then 4 drawers to store razors, soap, makeup etc.

4. I don't recommend storing food items like the cake mixes in basements or garages. Critters can easily get into anything packaged in cardboard and even pouches. If you need to utilize that space- store these types of items in rubbermaid bins.

5. You have to get in the mindset that you will be constantly re-organizing when you bring home each week bags and bags of groceries in. But, if you keep your pantry and other storage areas neat- it's a quick and easy process.

6. I've read that some people keep H&B items in bins under beds.

Get creative and I guarantee you can find space. The irony?? You'll be organizing your home even more than you might think it already is!

Toy Clearance at Walmart

It's a great time at Walmart to stock up on birthday presents! We were in the Windward Walmart last night and they had 2 1/2 rows of toys on clearance. I was amazed at how many of the "HOT" toys from Christmas that were marked down.

My oldest has a birthday in March and one thing I've done the past couple of years is check Walmart about this time and see if some of the presents she wanted for Christmas but didn't get are marked down. Last year, we got 2 huge Hannah Montana sets for less than 1/2 of what they were in December!

We had a birthday party to go to today for a classmate that is into Hot Wheels. We got a Hot Wheels alarm clock for $9.00! PERFECT

I know the selections and quantities will vary from store to store but it might be worth a quick trip to see what you find!

Is it even possible to do a "quick trip" at Walmart? :)

Deals at CVS 2/8-2/14

Slow week at CVS but there are a handful worth mentioning!

ECB DEALS:

Buy 1 Gillette Fusion Gamer, Venus Embrace, or Spa Breeze razor (1 ct.) at $7.99, Get $4 ECBs (Limit 1)
Use $4/1 Fusion Razor coupon from 02/08 P&G insert
Free after coupon and ECBs

Buy 1 Garnier Nutrisse or 100% Color Hair Color at $5.99, Get $2 ECBs (Limit 1)
Use $2/1 coupon from the 12/07 RP insert
$0.99 after coupon and ECBs

NON ECB DEALS:

Colgate Toothpaste--on sale B1G1 (2 for $1.99)
Buy 2 and use 2 $1/1 from the 2/1S insert
Free after B1G1 sale and coupons

Keebler or Nabisco (select varieties 4-5.25 oz.)--on sale 5 for $5
Buy 2 and use $2/2 Ritz,Wheat Thins or Triscuits from the 1/25S insert
Free after coupons

Click here to see the ECB deals for February!

SCORE!! 89% Savings at Publix today

Had a great shop today at Publix. Crazy number of items- 39! for $8.86 with a mile long receipt.

If you are new to reading- my shops are different. I'm taking advantage of the 12 week sales cycle and stocking up on items when they are on sale. Because I have an established stockpile- I am doing what is called cherry picking- only shopping for the items at their rock bottom price and stocking up until they come back around on the sale cycle.

Second, there are some "convenience" box items in this shop. These are used sparingly in our house. There are also fruit snacks. I've posted before that I have 2 little girls that ask for brussel sprouts so giving them fruit snacks as an occasional treat is fine with me. Most of our dinners are made from scratch, include a salad, fresh or steamer vegetables and a side. Mike likes the Knorr sides bought today for his lunches. He takes leftovers everyday and they build up our dinners so he has plenty. My great eaters also eat like linebackers! :)

Third, I've already done my weekly shop for the week for salad, meat, milk, bread and fruit.

In this shop, we got:
11 Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks and Fruit Roll Ups
4 Knorr Sides
4 Uncle Ben Wild Rice
1 Del Monte Diced Tomatoes No Salt Added
2 Land O Lakes Margarine
1 Hidden Valley Original Ranch Dressing
16 Pillsbury Reduced Sugar Cake Mixes

39 items for $8.86 or 89% off!

Check out your local Park and Recreation Department for kid's extra-curricular activities

Do a Google search and find your local Park and Rec's website. They have great activities and sports programs for kids- adults too! They are reasonably priced and some are much more cheaper than gyms and dance studios. They have classes for toddler and preschoolers. I think this is a great way to introduce your children to an activity or sport to see if there is true interest.

For example, my daughter takes tennis through our P&R. Four 30 minute lessons are $25! They are indoor, equipment is included and the lessons are conducted by a big tennis coach in the community. She can take until she's 7 and the class age starts at 3. I think by age 7, we will see what her interest level and skill level is and decide to pursue further.

Check out the programs available in your area!

Might want to check out Office Depot

Don't go running because I can't verify they will have them but people are reporting huge clearance sections at Office Depot and Staples. Someone got Crayola Color Wonders kits for $2.32! That would be a great birthday present to stockpile for all those parties your kids get invited to!

Wii Game under $10 at Amazon.com

Go here and you can get the Samba de Amigo Wii game for $9.98 and it qualifies for Free Super Saver shipping if you spend over $25.

Hurry- prices like this go quick!

Good Deals At Publix this Week!

Used CouponMom to generate my lists this week and this is what caught my eye!

Toufayan Pita Bread 12 oz package B1G1F
Sale price .65 off or 50% off

Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing, 16 oz. B1G1F
Sale price $1.82 or 50% off

Pillsbury Cake Mix B1G1F
Sale price .85 Coupon in 1/11RP for .40/1 Final Price: .05 or 97%
The coupon is for the Reduced Sugar mix so check if this is on sale.

Uncle Bens Country Inn Rice B1G1F
Sale price is .75 Coupon in 1/11RP for .50/2 Final Price: .25 or 83%

Crest Toothpaste assorted varieties 8.2oz
Sale price is $2.00 Coupon in 1/18PG for $1.50/1 Final Price: .50 or 83%
Some packages have bonus toothpaste or floss on them!

Knorr Sides 4-6.4 oz (not Veggies style) B1G1F
Sale price is $.75 Coupon in 1/18RP for .30/2 or .60/2 Final Price: .45 or 70%

Land O Lakes Spread, 2 count 7.5oz tubs, 15 oz tub or Soft Margarine B1G1F
Sale price is .90 Coupon in 1/25S for .50/1 Final Price: FREE or 100%

Pillsbury Rolls or Biscuits
Sale price is $1.00 Coupon in 1/25S for .35/1 Final Price: .30 or 77%

Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks B1G1F
Sale price is $1.30 Coupon in 2/1S for .50/1 Final Price: .30 or 88%

11 items for a total price: $4.92 Total % Off: 76%

New way to reach me!

I've had several people make some great suggestions the past couple of days.

First, cards to pass out when people ask how readers are getting great deals in the stores.
I ordered them today so I'll let those that are interested in having some to pass out when they arrive.

Second, a new way to reach me. Very few comment but I get tons of emails. I've created a new account to keep separate and it's pretty easy to remember.

southerncouponbelle@comcast.net

Feel free to email and ask questions!

Thanks for the wonderful support and ideas to help improving the blog.

75 FREE Prints from Kodak Gallery for new members

Go here and register if you are new to the Kodak Gallery. You'll receive 75 free prints for registering! Offer is good through 02/13/09.

Enjoy!

Betty Crocker Online Coupons

Go here and register to have access to over $15 in printable coupons.

Enjoy!

Free Toilet Paper!

Did you know you don't ever have to pay for toilet paper?

Click here and a 4 pack roll of Cottonelle TP at Kroger (or your affiliate) is .99 cents. You can print 2 coupons from one computer and the coupon is for .50 cents which will double to a $1.00.

If you have multiple computers to print from- you can stock up. The coupons in the inserts have changed that you now have to buy 2 which is still cheap but you definitely want to take advantage of the ones that make TP free!

I've talked about the download coupons you can save to your Kroger Plus Card. Read about this here. There is always another .50 cent out there for Cottonelle.

Who doesn't want FREE TOILET PAPER??? And there is a box top if you have a child in school.

A quick easy roll of ECBs at CVS this week

Here's a quick deal to do at CVS and get some great products for free or almost free this week.

Buy 2 Loreal Revitalift Cream Cleanser or Towelettes at $5.99 each. This will generate a $10 Extra Care Bucks making them .99 cents each. In the 1/4 RP inserts is a coupon for $2.00/1. If you have 2 coupons, then that's $4 off. You will pay about $8 + tax out of pocket but generate a $10 ECB.

Now, you've made $2, gotten 2 great products for free and now have $10 in ECBs.

Now do the Yours+Mine deal, use the coupon for $5 off from 2/1 RP inserts and the price is $14.99. Use your $10 ECB and you get this $20+ product for $4.99 plus tax.

And you get $10.00 ECB back so the product is free and you've got another ECB to use on the next deal! You are spending a total of about $14 or so out of pocket if you don't have previous ECBs to roll but you re-couped $10 back and gotten 3 expensive products for almost free!!

Surefire way to get your SO OB with couponing! :)

SO= Significant Other OB= On Board!
Okay, Southern Couponbelle is blushing as she types but got a CVS ECB deal for you just in time for Valentine's! Actually, I'm laughing and I told you before that there is a deal on just about everything!!

KY Jelly Yours+Mine is on sale this week for $19.99. There is a coupon in the 2/1 RP for $5.00 off. This will generate a $10 ECB giving it a final price of $4.99! And if you have ECBs to roll then you can get this product for free, close to it and have another $10 ECBs back.

Remember, if you don't have ECBs to use then the final out of pocket price is $14.99. But you get the $10 back to spend on something else or the next deal.

Just another way to add fun to already free entertainment! And it's all in the name of saving money!! HAHAHA I bet if you brought this home, told your significant other how much it cost you, they may start paying attention to this couponing thing!!

$10 Shop at Kroger- 60% off!

Good shop today and got 13 items!

4 Kroger Dressings
2 Cheerios
1 package of chicken wings
2 Hillshire Farms lunch meat
4 Manwich sloppy joe sauce

Total: $10.08 or 60%