Well today was Super Bonus Redemption day, which meant that my optimum points were worth even more than usual.

Here is the breakdown:

Any random day: 95,000 points = $170

Bonus Redemption Day: 95,000 points = $200

Super Bonus Redemption Day: 80,000 points = $200

More free stuff for spending less points than I would normally need to.  Excellent deal, I had to take advantage.  I was actually surprised how difficult it was to spend $200, I think mostly because I have a really hard time buying things that aren’t on sale.  This is what we ended up with though:

(Poorly lit picture, I know!)

1 x Eco Light Bulbs @ 7.49

2 x Finish Powerball @ 13.99 ea

1 x Finish Quantum @ 13.99 – 2.00 coupon

1 x Royale Toilet Paper @ 5.99

2 x Dr. Oetker Pizzas @ 5.50 ea

2 x Tostitos @ 3.00 ea

1 x Kleenex 6 pack @ 5.99 (unfortunately got left on the counter, grr)

4 x Dempster’s bread @ 3.00 ea

1 x Animal Cookies @ 2.49

1 x Epsom Salts @ 6.99

1 x OFF! @ 9.49

1 x Lipton Soup @ 0.99

1 x Twinings Tea @ 4.99

2 x Dental Floss @ 2.79 ea

2 x Pasta Sauce @ 2.99 ea

1 x Burt’s Bees Scrub @ 13.99

4 x Bandages @ 1.99 ea

1 x Travel Tissues @ 1.99

1 x Sunscreen @ 10.99

2 x Burt’s Bees Hair Care @ 10.99 ea

1 x Headband @ 4.99

2 x Tostitos salsa @ 3.00 ea

2 x Organic Coffee @ 4.99 ea

1 x Oasis Juice @ 3.49 – 3.49 Free Product Coupon

Total Value: 203.11    Total Paid: 3.11

1 x Kashi Pita Crisps @ 2.50 – 2.00 coupon = 0.50

4 x Dempster’s Bagels @ 2.97 ea – 4 x FPC’s = 0.00

1 x Triscuit Thin Crisps @ 3.29 ea – 1 x FPC = 0.00

1 x Newman’s Salsa @ 4.64 ea – 1 x FPC = 0.00

1 x Liberte Yogurt @ 4.99 – 1 x FPC = 0.00

1 x Smart Food Popcorn @ 3.50 – 1 x FPC = 0.00

1 x Tostitos Multigrains @ 4.47 – 1 x FPC = 0.00

1 x Twistos @ 3.69 – 1 x FPC = 0.00

1 x Schwepps 6 pack @ 4.87 – 1 x FPC = 0.00

1 x 7up @ 1.50 – 1 x FPC = 0.00

1 x Crest Mouthwash @ 1.00 – 1 x 1.00 coupon = 0.00

Total Paid: 0.50      Total Value: 37.42

We wanted to get out of the house when it started raining today, so we took a trip to good old Wal-Mart to do some couponing as I needed to use some of my free product coupons before they expire.  We came very close to not paying for anything aside from taxes and deposits (which I don’t count towards my total).

As a product tester for BzzAgent, I recently received two full size product samples (a moisturizer and a cleanser) from the new Burt’s Bees Sensitive Skin Care line to try out. I am a loyal Burt’s Bees user, so I was very excited that I was chosen to be a part of this campaign and get that I got to give these new products a try. They did not disappoint. They moisturizing cream was perfect for my skin, which usually gets pretty dry in the harsh Alberta winter. Most creams irritate my eyes with their fragrances, but that was not the case and there was barely even a smell. The cleansing cream was gentle, and perhaps not the best choice for a deep scrub, but it left my skin feeling smooth and moisturized.

It is safe to say that these products lived up to the high quality I tend to expect from Burt’s Bees, and I would definitely purchase them in the future. Like all Burt’s Bees products these are also paraben and phalate free, and are not tested on animals. If you struggle to find products that work well for your sensitive skin, you should definitely give these a try!

9 x Oasis Juice @ 1.68 ea – 9 x FPC’s = FREE!

3 x Kashi Cereal @ 3.99 ea – 3 x FPC’s = FREE!

3 x Kashi Granola Bars @ 3.27 ea – 3 x B1CerealG1GranolaBarsFree  = FREE!

3 x YOP’s @ 1.00 ea – FPC good for 3 Yop’s = FREE!

Total Paid: 0.00      Total Value: 39.90

It was great to get out today and use up some of my free product coupons, including my precious coupon for three free Yop’s that was about to expire.  Free product coupons are the simplest way to get free stuff while couponing, much easier than trying to stack or match other coupons up with sales.  If you are wondering where I get so many free product coupons, the answer is mostly off of other products.  For instance I got coupons for those Oasis juices by purchasing boxes of Nature Valley granola bars on sale for 1.99.  In my mind, 1.99 for a box of granola bars + a free carton of juice = great deal!  The yop’s I got with a free yogurt coupon from a box of cheerios – General Mills and Kelloggs *always* have free product promos on their cereal boxes, right now there is a great one for free movie tickets that you should watch for!  Cereal coupons are great, as it’s often possible to get more back in free product than what you pay for the cereal.  Anyways, this may be the last you hear of me for awhile as I’m starting a “real” job next week and will be a busy bee with it!

We have to switch to disposable diapers next month when Adrian starts daycare, so I’ve been looking for clever ways to get cheap diapers.  Today, by combining coupons with Shopper’s bonus points promotions, I was able to be oh so very clever.  I am ridiculously proud of myself right now.

Oh yeah, I’m blogging again.  I’ve been off work lately due to some unfortunate events, so why not start this up again eh?  Go me.

4 x Huggies Diapers @ 9.99 ea = $39.96

2 x Huggies Wipes @ 5.99 ea = $11.98

8 x Lays Chips @ 2.50 ea = $20

2 x Magnum Bars @ 5.00 ea = $10

Total Value: 81.94

Optimum Points Accumulated: 31,000

18,500 points when you spend $75

8000 points when you spend $40 on baby products

3000 points when you buy Huggies Diapers

1500 points when you buy Huggies wipes

Subtract:

$20 Mail-In-Rebate when you spend $20 on Lays/Pepsi products

$8.50 in various Huggies coupons

$65 (cash value of 31,000 points on bonus redemption day)

Total Rebate: 93.50

Total Expense: -11.56

7 x Glad Recycle Bags @ 8.04 (reg. 11.39)
Paid: 0.28/7 – Used various coupons found in the Examiner, with sample at Heritage Days, and from back of Shreddies box
8 x Live Clean Baby Products @ 4.96 (reg. 6.99)
Paid: 0.00 – Used various coupons from tear pads and online sources
4 x Arm and Hammer Toothpaste @ 1.99 (reg. 2.99)
Paid: 0.00 – Used various coupons from past editions of the Red Plum coupon booklet found in local newspapers

Total Paid: 0.28      Total Value: 147.61

This was my last big week of shopping before I go back to work, and I got some great deals.  I am quite happy that for 28 cents we got enough recycle bags to last us at least two years.  It takes some patience and a bit of effort, but there is no excuse why ANYONE couldn’t benefit from couponing to some extent.  The deals you get will depend on your personal preferences and lifestyle,  but there are coupons for so many products out there that unless you are making absolutely everything from scratch and growing all your own food you are almost sure to come across some coupons you could use.  A little effort can go along way in saving you money!

4 x Live Clean Body Wash @ 4.99 (reg. 7.99)
Paid: 2.96/4
2 x Live Clean Hair Spray @ 4.99 (reg 7.99)
Paid 1.48/2
4 x Live Clean Shampoo and Conditioner @ 4.99 (reg. 7.99)
Paid: 2.96/4
1 x Live Clean Leave-in Conditioner @ 4.99 (reg. 7.99)
Paid: 0.74
1 x Live Clean Argan Oil Smoothing Cream @ 7.99
Paid 3.74

Used $8.50 in coupons per two products purchased from tear pads in various stores and online printable from here. 

Total Paid:   $11.88      Total Value:   $95.88

I was excited to see both Live Clean hair care and body wash on sale for $4.99 at London Drugs this week!  It’s been advertised elsewhere at this price in recent weeks, but since you are sometimes limited in how many quantities you can buy when price matching, it can be a bit of a headache to stock up.  This in-store sale made my life much, much easier!

I’ll be getting a hair cut before I go back to work, so it will be nice to have the hair spray and smoothing cream to keep my curls looking decent and keep the frizz under control.  I didn’t realize until I got to the check-out that the Smoothing Cream wasn’t on sale, but this stuff works wonders on my hair so it’s worth it!

We love Kashi and I was very excited to learn about the promo today for a FREE granola bar!  Act fast, I am sure they will only have a limited amount.

Click here to get your FREE Kashi bar!

McGavin’s has another great coupon out where you can pick up a loaf of bread at any of the Bread Basket locations for only $1.00! Okay, it’s not as good as the $0.06 bread that came out in June, but still not bad!  I won’t be taking advantage of this one though, we still have a ton of bread from the June promotion!

Click here to “like” McGavin’s on Facebook and get your coupon for $1.00 bread!

There are great shopping deals to be had every week, but for a big stock-up trip I think the best savings come by timing your shopping with a promotion that puts something back into your pocket – either a discount or a gift card.

Do you shop on discount days or take advantage of special promos?