After dark

I went to the grocery store tonight because we had run out of milk for the babies. I hate going to the grocery store at night, but things were so busy today that it was my only choice. The closest grocery store to me is right next to a major mall, which I should have thought about before I left. Right before I pulled in, some scuffle happened because a woman was on the ground and two guys were fighting. When I finally got out of the grocery store, there was a fire truck and other emergency personnel there. What a way to ruin the Christmas spirit, huh? It's times like these that I secretly vow to make my Christmas less commercial.

I had a $5 RR for Walgreen's that expired today, and I've been so sick this week I haven't been able to use it. I briefly thought I'd just run in and get something, just to get the benefit of the coupon. But after seeing that scene at the mall, no thanks. It's not worth it to me!

Please stay safe as you do the rest of your holiday shopping these next few days. Let's try to give everyone a little breathing room (and do our shopping in the daylight!).

Safeway deals 12/17-12/25, P&G e-saver coupons

Welcome Grocery Gatherers! Here are the Safeway deals for Wednesday, December 17th through Thursday, December 25th.

Safeway is now allowing Proctor and Gamble e-coupons to be loaded onto your Safeway card. The savings are automatically deducted at check-out. The great thing is that they can be stacked with paper coupons for even more savings! You can only use each coupon once, however. The current coupons are good through 12/31/08. Check it out here. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm excited to try!

Coupon match-ups

• C&H Sugar, 5lb.: 2/$4. Use $0.35 coupon in 10/12 & 11/16 RP. $1.65 after coupon.
• Nabisco Snack Crackers: 2/$4. Use $1/2 printable here. $1.50 each when you buy 2 after coupon.
• Folger's Coffee: $6.99. Use $0.25 coupon in 11/30 P&G insert. $5.74 after coupon.
• Hillshire Farm Lil Smokies: 2/$6. Use $1/2 coupon in 11/16 RP. $2.50 each when you buy 2 after coupon.
• Tyson Any'tizers Chicken Selections: 2/$7. Use $0.75 coupon in 10/12 SS. $2.75 after coupon.
• Charmin Bath Tissue, 24 rolls.: $13.49. Use $0.25 coupon in 11/30 P&G insert. Load your P&G e-saver coupon onto your Safeway card for an extra 25 cents off. That's $12.99 after paper coupon and e-coupon.
• Bounty Paper Towels, 12 rolls: $13.49. Load your P&G e-saver coupon onto your Safeway card to save $0.25. $13.49 after e-savings.
• Tide Detergent: $6.99. Use $1 off from 11/30 and 12/14 P&G inserts. $5.99 after coupon.
• Keebler Mix N'Match cookies and crackers: 2/$5. Use $1/2 coupon in 11/02 and 12/14 RP. $2 each when you buy 2 after coupon.
• Progresso Vegetable Classics: 10/$10. Use $1/4 coupon in 11/09, 11/23, and 12/07 SS. Or use $0.50/2 in 11/23 and 12/07 SS. Or use $1/2 and $2/4 printables here. $0.50-$0.75 each after coupons.
• Chinet Plates, Bowls, or Cups: 2/$5. Use $0.75 coupon in 11/23 SS. $1.75 afer coupon.
• Ziploc Food Storage Bags: 2/$5. Use $1/2 coupon in 11/02 and 12/07 SS. $2 each when you buy 2 after coupon.
• Kleenex Facial Tissue: 3/$5. Use $0.50/3 in 11/02 and 12/07 SS. Or use $0.50/1 in 11/02 and 12/07 SS. $1.17-$1.50 each when you buy 3 after coupons.
• Celestial Seasonings Tea: 2/$4. Use $0.55 coupon in 11/09 and 12/07 SS. Or use $1 coupon in 10/05 SS. $1-$1.45 after coupon.
• Del Monte Canned Vegetables: 4/$3. Use $1/4 coupon in 11/16 RP. $0.50 each when you buy 4 after coupons.
• Mrs. Cubbison's Stuffing: 2/$5. Use $0.55 coupon in 11/02 RP. $1.95 after coupon.
• Robitussin or Advil: $4.99. Use $0.50 off Robitussin in 09/21 RP or $1 off Robitussin in 11/02 and 12/14 RP. Use $1 off Advil in 11/16 RP. $3.99-$4.49 for Robitussin or $3.99 for Advil after coupons.
• Kotex: $2.99. Use $1/2, $1, or $0.75 coupons in 11/09 SS. $1.99-$2.49 after coupons.
• Pampers Jumbo Pack: $9.99. Use $1 coupon in 11/30 P&G insert. Load your e-saver coupon onto your Safeway card to get an additional $1.50 off. $7.49 after coupon and e-savings.
• Pillsbury Crescent or Cinnamon Rolls: 2/$4. Use $0.25 off crescent rolls or $0.35 off sweet rolls in 10/05 General Mills insert. Or use $0.30 off sweet rolls in 10/12 SS. Or use $0.35 printables here. $1.65-$1.75 each after coupons.
• General Mills Rice Chex Cereal, 12.8oz.: $2.99. Use $1/2 in 11/09 and 12/07 SS. $2.49 each when you buy 2 after coupon.
• Coffee-mate Flavored Creamer: $3.79. Use $0.50 coupon in 11/02 RP. $3.29 each after coupon (you can get a much better deal at Walgreen's this week!)
• Pantene Shampoo/Conditioners: $6.49. Use $1/2 in 11/30 P&G insert or $2 in 12/14 P&G insert.
• Dove Skin Care: $6.99. Use $1 off bar soap or $1.50 off body wash from 10/12 RP. $5.49-$5.99 after coupon.

Super Coupons (good 12/14 through 12/20/08, must use card and coupon to get price. Each coupon can only be used once with a minimum $10 purchase.)

• Tresemme or Fructis: 2/$5
• Crest or Colgate toothpaste: 2/$4. Use $0.75 off Colgate in 12/07 SS. Use $1 off Crest in 11/30 P&G insert. Load your P&G e-saver coupon onto your Safeway card to get an additional $1 off. That's free toothpaste!
• Tide or Cheer Laundry Detergent: $5.99. Use with Tide coupon mentioned above to save an additional $1. Load your P&G e-saver coupon onto your Safeway card for an additional $0.50 off. $4.49 after coupons and e-savings.
• Duracell CopperTop Batteries: $2 off. Use $0.50 off from 11/16 RP. Or use $0.75 off from 11/30 or 12/14 P&G insert. Load your P&G e-saver coupon onto your Safeway card for an additional $0.50 off. Save up to $3.25
• Febreze Candles: $6.49. Use $2 off from 12/14 P&G insert. Load your P&G e-saver coupon onto your Safeway card to get an additional $2 off. $2.49 after coupons and e-savings!
• Cottonelle Bath Tissue or Viva Paper Towels: $5.49. Use $0.50 off Cottonelle from 12/14 SS. Use $0.35 off Viva in 10/12 SS.
• Listerine Mouthwash: $3.49
• Dove Skin Care: $5.99. Use with Dove coupon mentioned above to get an extra $1 off.
• Huggies Big Box Diapers: $19.99. Use $2 off printable here.

Safeway printable coupons (print here):

• $0.50 Safeway Signature Soup
• $1 off 1lb. deli counter turkey breast

Other sweet deals:

• Butcher's Cut Whole or Shank Half Ham: $0.99/lb. Limit 2 while supplies list. Butcher's cut Spiral Sliced Ham: $1.69/lb. Limit 2 while supplies last.
• Fresh Pork Shoulder Blade Roast: $0.99/lb.
• Jimmy Dean or Hormel Bacon, Johnsonville Links or Jimmy Dean Roll Sausage: Buy one, get one free. These are usually in the $3.99 to $5.99 range, so this is not a bad deal, especially if you are making some breakfast casseroles for Christmas!
• Tyson Grilled Chicken Breast Strips, 6oz.: Buy one, get one free (2/$3.99).
• Thomas' English Muffins: 2/$4
• Clementine Mandarin Oranges, 5lb. box: $4.99. (If these are the Cuties, there was a $1 off coupon in the 12/07 SS.)
• Beauregard or Garnet Yams: $0.69/lb. (I'm going to stock up on these as they are normally $1.69/lb.
• Crisp Celery: $0.99
• Sweet Mangos: $0.99 each. (Not too bad of a price if you are desperate for a taste of the tropics.)
• Fresh blueberries or raspberries: $2.99 each.

Counting my blessings

This weekend was rough. My baby girls both got pink eye...and so, of course, I did, too. Husband has been sick for about a week or so now. He is either getting worse or has caught a second cold/flu. I have a swollen and sore throat. And babies that don't want to sleep.

Yesterday it all came to a head when I headed out to pick up my mother-in-law (who was visiting)from church. Just as I was about to get on the freeway, my tire went flat. I was able to make it to safety and called Husband and a tow truck driver. My grandmother picked up my mother-in-law and all was taken care of. Husband reported that the tow truck driver said if I had been on the freeway when the tire had blown out, I would have been dead. See, the alignment on our van is so bad that it wore a hole right through the tire...and it was working on the other front tire, too. As our van sits in the shop getting an estimate for repair work (which I'm sure is going to be astronomical) I am filled with gratitude that that is the problem before me and not that Husband lost his wife two weeks before Christmas. Jeez. Sorry to be so heavy, but I realize (again) that I have so much to be grateful for.

My grandfather had a saying that "If it's a problem that can be solved with money, it's not a problem." That may sound cavalier to some of you who feel overwhelmed by debt. But if you think about it, it is very true. We can work to make more money or cut back to save what we have. But you can't buy happiness, love, or family. So as Christmas draws ever nearer (and I'm still not done with Christmas shopping), I'm taking a moment to reflect on the true meaning of this Christmas season as well as taking the time to count my blessings.

Frustration!

I went to Walgreen's today because I had some RR's expiring and I wanted to cash in on the spend $25, get $5 RR deal. The first store I went to, I ended up with a total of $24.94! 6 cents prevented me from getting my $5 RR! Arrgh! The problem is that when it subtotals, you don't know how much of that is tax. I did save a lot, though. My final total was $6.53 and I qualified for a $2 rebate (for the Scotch tape).

The second store I went to, I double checked my addition and ended up paying $9.31, receiving my $5 RR and getting $5 rebate for the Hershey's candy. Not bad, but it could have been better. : ( I ended up with several free items:

• 2 rolls of Reynold's aluminium foil
• 2 Sure deodorants
• 2 3pks. Scotch tape (after rebate)
• Dove beauty bar

Safeway was a great deal today. I bought 5 boxes of Kellogg's cereal for $0.49 each after savings and coupons! What a nice way to stock up!

Secret Santa

Every year, Husband and I set aside a little bit of money to play Secret Santa for a family we feel could use a little holiday help and cheer. We both nominate families, giving our reasons, and then decide together who the recipient will be. Some years it has been a family, other years, like this one, it is a single person living alone.

I really look forward to being the Secret Santa. It is so fun to look for gifts and things that will make this person or family smile...and I expect nothing in return. I bought some Christmas cards a few years ago with Santa Claus on the front and I write a note to them as though it were from Santa himself, which I think adds to the fun of it (for them and for me).

We make up the package filled with goodies and take it over to the house one night. I creep up to the house and place it on the porch. If I think I can make it across the lawn unseen, I'll knock on the door and race down the street where Husband is waiting in the car. After all, they can't know it's from us right? Even though we don't get to see their reaction, we still get that warm, fuzzy feeling that we've done something nice for someone else.

This year, with my new found couponing skills, I'm able to get some pretty great stuff to include in this basket. I'm so excited for the night we will deliver it!

How do you share the Christmas spirit? Do you have any experiences being a Secret Santa?

Safeway deals 12/10-12/16

Welcome Grocery Gatherers! Here are the deals for Safeway this week. Prices are valid from Wednesday, December 10th through Tuesday, December 16th.

Coupon Match-ups

Stouffer's, Lean Cuisine, Hot Pockets or Lean Pockets : $2.50 each. Buy 8 participating products in a single transaction and save $5, making them $1.88 each. Save even more by using $1/2 printable here. Or use $1/3 Stouffer's single serve entrees from 11/02 RP. Or use $0.50 off Hot Pockets or Lean Pockets from 09/28 RP. Or use $1/2 Hot Pocket Ultimate Sandwich from 09/14 RP. Final price will vary, depending on coupons used.

• Cottonelle Bath Tissue, 12 rolls: $6.49. Use $0.50 off Cottonelle ultra 4-pack+, $0.25 off Cottonelle 4-pack+, or $0.25 off Cottonelle with aloe & E, all in 11/16 SS. $5.99-$6.24 after coupons.
• Campbell's Select Harvest Soup: Buy one, get one free ($3.39/2). Use $0.50/2 in 09/14 SS and 10/05 SS. $1.45 each after coupons.
• Colgate toothpaste: $2.49. Use $0.75 coupon from 12/07 SS.
• Emerald canisters: Buy one, get one free (2/$6.49). Use $1.50/2 in 11/09 SS. $2.50 each, when you buy 2, after coupon.
• Rice Chex cereal: $3.00. ***The ad also says, buy 3, save $3, which would be like buying 2 and getting one free.*** Use $1/2 from 11/09 and 12/07 SS. Or use $1/2 printable here and here. Or use $1.50/3 printable here. $1.50 to $1.67 each when you buy 3 after savings and coupons.
• Knorr Lipton Sides or Veggie Plus: 10/$10. Use $0.75/2 in 10/05 and 11/16 RP inserts. $0.63 each when you buy 2 after coupons.
• Herbal Essence Hair Care: 2/$7. Use $1 coupon in 11/30 P&G insert. $2.50 each after coupons.
• Vicks NyQuil or DayQuil: $5.99. Use $1.50 coupon in 11/30 P&G insert. $4.49 after coupon.
• Aveeno Skin Care: 20% off. Use $1 printable here or $1.50/2 in 09/28 RP.
• Tums Antacid: $3.99. Use $1 printable here or $2.25 off QuikPak here. Or use $1.25 coupon in 11/16 SS. Also in 11/16 SS: $1/2 Tums, any size (24ct. or larger) and $1 off QuikPak.
• Earth's Best Baby Food: 10/$7.50. Use $1/10 printable here. $0.65 each when you buy 10 after coupons.
• Nestle Refrigerated Cookie Dough: 2/$6. Use $1 printable here or here. Or use $1.50/2 from 09/14 & 11/02 RP. Or use $1 coupon from 12/07 RP. $2-$2.25 each after coupons.
• Hershey's or Nestle packaged chocolate: 2/$6. Use $1.50/3 Hershey products in 11/16 SS insert or $1/2 Nestle jingles chocolates in 12/07 SS insert. $2.50 each after coupons.
• El Monterey Taquitos: $5.99. Use $1 coupon in 10/19 SS.
• Hefty Trash Bags: $6.99. Use $1 coupon in 11/16 RP. $5.99 after coupon.
• Fresh Express Salads: $2.99. Use $0.50 printable here or $0.75 coupons in 10/26 SS, 11/09 SS, and 11/16 SS. Or use $0.55 coupon in 12/07 SS. $2.24 to 2.49 after coupons.

Buy 5, Save $5

This promotion is back this week, with a special on Kellogg's products. The list of participating products is longer than what is shown in the ads. (If you see an item that I haven't listed, please let me know!) Use one (or all) of the three $1 off coupons in 11/09 RP with many of the Kellogg's cereals. I was able to print 3 $1 off coupons here. November's All You Magazine has a coupon for $1 off one of the three new flavors of Frosted Mini Wheats. Also, rumor has it that there will be several Kellogg's coupons in this Sunday's insert. Remember, you can mix and match any 5 items to qualify for the savings and there is no limit to how many "groups" of 5 you have in one order.

• Kellogg's Corn Flakes, 18oz. or Frosted Flakes, 14oz.: $2.29. $0.29 each when you use 5 coupons after instant savings.
• Kellogg's Special K, 12oz.; Special K Red Berries, 12oz.; Special K Vanilla Almond Crisp, 14oz.; Fruit and Yogurt Special K Cereal, 12.8oz.; Special K Low Carbohydrate Cereal, 13.5oz., Chocolate Special K Cereal, 13.4oz.; Cinnamon Pecan Special K Cereal, 12.5oz. : $2.99. $0.99 each when you use 5 coupons after instant savings.
• Kellogg's Frosted Mini Wheats, 18oz.; Frosted Mini Wheats bite sized, 18oz.; Frosted Mini Wheats Strawberry, 16.3oz.; Frosted Mini Wheats Maple and Brown Sugar, 16.5oz.; Frosted Mini Wheats Blueberry Muffin: $2.49. $0.49 each when you use 5 coupons after instant savings.
• Kellogg's Rice Krispies Cereal, 12oz.; Cocoa Krispies, 16.5oz.: $2.49. $0.49 each when you use 5 coupons after instant savings.
• Kellogg's Smart Start, 17.5oz.; Smart Start Healthy Heart Low Sugar Cereal, 15.2oz.; Smart Start Maple and Brown Sugar, 15.2oz., or All Bran Cereal, 18.3oz.: $2.88. $0.88 each when you use 5 coupons after instant savings.
• Kellogg's Raisin Bran, 20oz., or Crispix Cereal, 12oz: $2.29. $0.29 each when you use 5 coupons after instant savings.
• Kellogg's Apple Jacks Cereal, 12.2oz.; Froot Loops, 12.2oz; Honey Smacks, 15.3oz.; Corn Pops, 12.5oz.: $2.49. $0.49 each when you use 5 coupons after instant savings.
• Kellogg's Frosted Strawberry Pop Tarts, 12 count (Also, Frosted Cinnamon, Strawberry, and Frosted Chocolate Fudge): $2.49. Use $0.55 coupon in 11/09 RP. $0.94 each when you buy 5 after instant savings and coupons.
• Kellogg's Eggo Syrup (Buttery, Original, and Lite): $3.29. $2.29 each when you buy 5 after instant savings.


• Kellogg's Rice Krispy Treats: $2.79. $1.79 each when you buy 5 after instant savings.

Other sweet deals:

• Rancher's Reserve Cross Rib Roast or Boneless Top Blade Roast: $1.99/lb. This is a great price, as it is normally $3.99/lb. Try to stock up if this is something your family likes!


• Fresh Pork Shoulder Blade Roast: $0.99/lb.


• Safeway Chicken Drumsticks, Thighs or Leg Quarters: $0.99/lb. This is the lowest price I've seen for this item, so this is a good time to stock up.


• Crisp Fuji or Organic Granny Smith Apples: $0.88/lb.


• Organic Golden Delicious Apples, $0.99/lb.


• O Organics Carrots, 1lb. prepacked: $0.69 each
  

Spotted at Safeway

Although I scour the Safeway ads when they are delivered to my mailbox each Monday and despite the fact that I check Safeway.com for even more deals, there are tons and tons of "unadvertised" specials that I know I miss out on. So when I spot one, I know I need to share it with you!

Yesterday I went to Safeway to pick up some items for a church dinner I'm helping cook tonight (Swedish meatballs over noodles). I stopped to look at the canned fruit (for some reason, I'm not finding the best deals in the produce aisle lately). My eye fell on a tag that read "buy one, get one free". It was for a can of Dole peaches in light syrup (which is what I get for my babes). At $1.79 for two cans, I knew I couldn't pass it up. To make things a little sweeter, at checkout, I received a catalina coupon for $0.75 off 3 cans of Dole peaches, pears, or mixed fruit. You know I'm going to take this with me next time to get 4 cans for $0.71 each! The tag says that this price is good through December 25th. Pears were also buy one, get one free, but they were a little more expensive, at $2.19 for one can, which could still be a good deal, but I'd rather wait for the 10/$10 sale.

I also picked up a one pound bag of pinto beans for 99 cents. They were the only dried beans that were on sale. I plan on making the whole bag and then freezing the cooked beans, although I may wait until after the holidays for that little project.

Finally, 2 gallons of milk are now $4.25! Only a week ago, I bought two gallons for $5.19, so that's a nice little drop in price. My babies' organic milk has not gone down, though. It's still $5.99/gallon. Maybe with the drop in gas prices, milk prices will come down a little more.