Fall Break Shopping

It's fall break which means we all get a much needed break now 9 (long) weeks into the school year. I spent the first day of fall break shopping at the outlet mall in Edinburg, IN with my best friend and godson. It was so much fun! Here are some of the awesome deals I managed to find while at the outlet mall.

Gap

3 cardigan sweaters (black, brown, gray) $11.99 each-10% discount from Edinburg coupon book=$10.79 each

1 white wrap cardigan $17.99-10% discount=$16.20

Long sleeve blue strip t-shirt $5.99-10% discount=$5.39

V neck blue sweater $34.99-50% discount-additional 10% discount=$15.74

Gray ballet flat shoes $15-10% discount=$13.50

VF outlet

2 pairs of Lee No gap waist band dress pants- $21 each

1 pair of dark wash Lee wide leg jeans- $21

Bass

One pair of platform sandals in brown-$14.88

Yesterday my mom and I hit up Super Target where the deals kept coming! I was fortunate to receive an awesome coupon booklet from Target in the mail. I have no idea why they sent it to me, but it was filled with fantastic produce and food coupons. My normal coupon collection along with some coupons printed from the Target website made for a great trip.

Head of lettuce $1.29-$1 off produce coupon from website=$.29

Bananas (2.18 lbs) $1.04-$1 off fruit coupon from booklet=$.04

French bread $1.49-$1 off bakery coupon from website=$.49

Whole chicken (3.8 lbs) $3.49-$1 off meat coupon from booklet=$2.49

Dannon Activia $1.42-$1 MF coupon=$.42

2 packages of Caesar dog treats $2.99 each- (2) $2 off MF coupon=$.99 each

Chef Michael's wet meal $.75-Get it free Target coupon=Free

Campbell's V8 soup $2.29-$1 off MF coupon=$1.29

Herbal Essence travel size shampoo $.97-$1 MF coupon=Free

2 Merona Sweaters $15 each -(2) $3 off Target web coupon=$12 each

6 Xhiliration panties marked down to $1.98 per pair

Not pictured:

Gallon of skim milk $2.00

Oscar Meier Deli Creations $2-$1 off MF coupon=$1

The best part of the whole fall break has to be that after working all day today refereeing, I have made enough money to pay for all my fall break purchases, my garage door repair last week, and a tall pumpkin spice latte. You sure can't beat it when it isn't even putting a dent on the monthly budget :)

What awesome deals have you found lately?

Deals from this week

As I stated in my first post, I am a self proclaimed penny pincher. This translates into all aspects of my life. So often, I skimp and save for the future. Back in February, I was told that I was being RIFed (reduction in force) for next school year and the panic began. Let me also say that I bought a house in January 2009 and my biggest fear in life is that I will lose my house. While I've never been a huge worrier, this send me into a tizzy. From this point, my super savings plan began. I cut my monthly budget to allow an extra $400 a month to go into savings on top of what I was already saving. The first things to go were dinners out and extras that weren't essentials. I began to take my penny pinching to a whole new level by utilizing coupons and planning my meals. I took my grocery budget down to the bare minimum while also allowing my to eat healthy foods. I have since been offered my job back (WHEEEEEW!!!!) and have continued these tips! They have allowed me to continue to save at a SUPER level. Here are just a few of the deals I got this week at Target.

-Nivea Touch of Sparkle bodywash-$3.99-$4.00 off coupon=FREE

-Nivea for Men body wash-marked down to $3.54 because they were our of Dove for Men body wash-$3.00 off Nivea for Men bodywash=$.54

-Tide Travel size-$.99-$1/1 Tide coupon=FREE

-2 pkgs of BIC grip pens-$.99 each-2 $1/1 BIC product coupon=FREE (These will be great for my classroom since my kids are always taking...I mean borrowing my pens!)

-Vaseline Sheer Infusion Lotion-$4.79-$1/1 Vaseline Target coupon + $3.75/1 Sheer infusion lotion=$.04 (Plus it came with a 1 oz. sample size lotion too)

-Downy Wrinkle Releaser (travel size)-$1-$1/1 coupon=FREE

-2 Arm and Hammer travel toothpastes-$.99 each-$2.50/2 coupon=FREE + $.52 overage

-2 Benadryl Anti itch sticks-$2.29 each-$4/2 Benadryl coupon=$.29 each

-Frizz Ease Mousse (trial size)-$.97-$2.50/1 John Fredia product=FREE +$1.53 overage

-Dove deoderant (trial size)-$.97-$1/1 Dove coupon=FREE +.03 overage

-Carefree pantiliners-$.97-$1/1 Carefree product coupon=FREE +.03 overage

-Shout Wipes to go-$.97-$.55/1 Shout product coupon=$.42

-Johnson and Johnson First Aid kit-$.97-$.75/1 J&J first aid product=$.22 (This will go into my soccer coaching bag for all those bumps and bruises 11 year olds get)

-Yoplait Yo-plus Strawberry Yogurt-$1.42 on clearance-$1.00/1 Yo-plus coupon=$.42

Total from my trip: $.17+1.73 in tax=$1.90

-Sounding off with my sounds good: We are down to 7 days until summer break and my desk is clean, my grades are finished (except their final), and I still have a job! Sounds good to me!