Today's redbox code

Enter this code for a FREE movie rental at a redbox location near you: HG7W56

Good for today only!

Grocery Deals: NF Market and HEB

Thought I'd get a head start and post a few deals that look compelling. As always, check the store flyer when you're planning your trip!

Newflower Farmers Market:

Van's frozen waffles: 2 for$4
Kashi frozen entrees: 2 for $6
Morningstar farms, entire line: $3.49 ea.
ORGANIC Gala apples: $.99/lb.
ORGANIC strawberries: $2.50/8-oz. container
Green grapes, hothouse tomatoes, broccoli crowns, Braeburn or Fuji apples: $.77/lb.
Texas Rio grapefruit: 4 for $1
Eggplant or celery: $.77/ea.
Potatoes & onions: 2 lbs. for $1
Stretch Island fruit leather: $.39/ea. [is that a good price?]

H-E-B:

*NOTE: the deals below were in a mailer and only good at Slaughter Lane, William Cannon and Brodie Lane stores. Check your mail -- maybe you got a mailer for your local store?

Dannon natural yogurt: $2/32-oz.
H-E-B soymilk: $2/64-oz.
Breakstone's cottage cheese: $2.99/24-oz.
Haas avocados, cucumbers: 3 for $1
Ataulfo mangos: 4 for $1
Granny Smith apples, broccoli crowns: $.47/lb.
Lemons or limes: 10 for $1
Boneless chuck roast, beef ribs or pork loin chops: $1.99/lb.
Bacon, 12 oz.: $1

Today's Lesson: Walgreens

There are already a lot of great resources online to help you get started with the "drugstore game", and I'll direct you to those in a minute. But in a nutshell, I'm talking about the practice of regularly shopping Walgreens for big savings using a combination:

• sales
• store coupons
• manufacturer coupons
• Register Rewards (on certain products, a 'ticket' will print with your receipt for dollars off your next Walgreens transaction)
• rebates

Read this Walgreens 101 primer first to get the overall picture. A lot of people do the same at CVS for big savings from their "Extra Bucks" program. Here's a CVS 101 primer, too.

Here's how I do it. Every week, I check the Walgreens circular online. I take note of what is on sale, what the store coupons are, and what I already have manufacturer coupons for that is ALSO on sale. At Walgreens, you can "stack" (use both) a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon for the same item. Today, for instance, I checked the Walgreens site at the same time as I was ordering my coupons from Coupon Clippers to see if there was any overlap.

Note: you need to cut out the physical, paper coupon in the Walgreens store flyer to get the coupon price.

My coupons should arrive in the mail by Saturday, the last day to take advantage of this week's sale. Here are some items (both sale and coupon) that I thought were worthy of a trip, just to give you an idea:

• Walgreens brand diapers, Jumbo pack: 2 for $9
• Duncan Hines cookie or brownie mix: $1 (good to have on hand!)
• Revlon cosmetics: buy 1 get 1 free (PLUS, I ordered a $2 off coupon today from Coupon Clippers)
• Walgreens brand pain relievers (aspirin, ibuprofen): 4 for $4 (don't think you have to buy 4)
• Walgreens brand sunscreen: buy 1 get 1 free
• Pop-tarts, Keebler cookies, Cheez-Its, 100 calorie right bites: 2 for $5 (PLUS, there is a Pop-tarts coupon available, making for even more savings)

Disclaimer: I'm not eating Pop-tarts all the time, but on occasion, they're good! Quit judging me. :)

If the sales aren't for anything I can use, I skip that week. Now, where it really gets good is with the monthly rebate items, particularly the ones that are FREE after rebate. They are banking on the fact that people are too lazy to complete the form to get their money back. But we aren't, are we?? No! And they make it super easy to do it all online.

Here's an idea of how that works: In February, I bought several items -- make up, hair stuff, etc. -- that were free after rebate. When I got back to the computer, I entered the information from my receipt online at the Walgreens site. I chose to have my rebate in the form of a Walgreens gift card, which means I get a bonus 10%! Note: this makes sense for me because I know I will be doing more shopping at Walgreens; but you can also just choose to have them send you a check.

So, now I got some free stuff, plus I have roughly $30 on a gift card to use on my next trip. And if I get more rebate items, I can keep "rolling over" that money to my card. Or I can use it to buy stuff like toilet paper or soap or laundry detergent or peanut butter...Walgreens has useful stuff!

Does this make sense? It sounds more complicated than it is...

Shelf-Life Charts

Once you get going on this wise shopping plan (coupons, sales, etc.), you'll probably accumulate a little stockpile of some items. Check out this handy tool for determining everything from how long that shampoo will last on the shelf to how to keep asparagus freshest in the fridge.

Today's redbox code

Enter this code for a FREE movie rental at a redbox location near you: 2GR4N8

Good for today only!

For the Ladies

Here are a couple of good deals I heard about this week:

• Hanes MEN's Tank Tops, 4-pack (available in black, brown, navy, gray, white) for $8.79 at Target. My friend Kate swears by these. And she suggests you get the small, if you are normally a small-medium. Even if you are 4 months pregnant. Check your mail for a $1 off Hanes at Target coupon.
• Cabernet Bras on sale at Dillard's until March 18. Check out all the $14.99 deals! This is the house brand for Dillard's, and I can vouch for the quality. I mean, my boobs can.

Austin Grocery Deal Roundup

So, here are the highlights from some local stores. Be sure to check your store's flyer for even more deals...too much to list here! And note that I'm not a meat eater, so I rarely list those deals as I'm not sure what is a good price. Feel free to add any of those that you see in the comments section. Let's make this interactive, folks!

As always, be sure to check your coupon stash to see if you can save even more on sale items!

HEB:

• H-E-B Baby Mega Pack Wipes, 240 ct: $4.78 ea.


• H-E-B fancy shredded cheese, 8 oz. pkg: 2 for $3 (love that it's 'fancy'!)


• white seedless grapes: $.99/lb.


• tilapia filets: $2.99/lb.


• Meal deal: buy lunch meat and cheese, get FREE bread, mayo, chips, mac and cheese (see circular for details)


• Check out the coupons in the flyer as well

Randalls:

• green cabbage: $.29/lb.


• asparagus: $.99/lb.


• 48-hour sale, SAT. and SUN. only: good deals on Doritos, Oscar Mayer Lunchables/Deli Creations sandwiches, Fuji apples, Ritz crackers (see flyer)


• Coupons in flyer: Quaker Chewy Granola Bars ($.99); Kraft Mac & Cheese ($.49); Peter Pan Peanut Butter, 18 oz. ($.99); Lucerne Eggs, 18-ct. ($.97); Tropicana juice ($1.97); Smithfield bacon ($1.99); Nature's Own wheat bread ($1.69); cooked shrimp ($3.99/lb.); Lucerne string cheese, 12 oz. ($1.99)


• Chicken of the Sea, chunk light tuna (supposedly less mercury than in solid white!): $.79

Newflower Farmers Market:

• strawberries, 1 lb.: $.99 ea.


• blackberries or pineapple: $2 ea.


• red/green leaf lettuce, large celery: $.69 ea.


• all natural boneless beef London broil: $1.97/lb.


• Cascadian Farms frozen organic vegetables: 2 for $4 (TIP: use your $1 off coupon to get them for $1/bag!)


• Westbrae canned organic beans: $.88/ea.


• Knudsen juices, 32 oz.: $2/ea.


• Annie's organic mac & cheese: $1.50/ea.


• Organic kale: $1.50/ea.


• organic grape/cherry tomatoes, 10 oz.: $2.50/ea.

Sun Harvest:

• Hass avocados: 3 for $1 [Friday - Sunday ONLY]


• Kashi Go Lean cereal: $1.99/ea. [Friday - Sunday ONLY]


• Rio Star grapefruit: 10 for $1 [Friday - Sunday ONLY]


• Braeburn apples: $.47/lb.


• cukes, green bell peppers: $.33/ea.


• red or russet potatoes: $.33/lb.


• red, green, or black seedless grapes: $.88/lb.


• Boeck's medium eggs: $.99/dozen

Friday Freebies

Happy Friday, everyone! Sorry I haven't been posting this week -- have had a nasty, persistent case of bronchitis. But I'm back with some freebies and will get the grocery deals up as well.

Niki over at the blog Happy to Be at Home has done a great job of rounding up this week's free offers. There's some good stuff this week for your guest bathroom or gym bag (body wash), your toddler (sippy cup), your garden (seeds) and even your pet (pet food)! Hurry on over and check out the complete list.

The Secret Life of: Toilet Paper Rolls

I love it when people come up with ways to re-purpose common household items. The blogger on Simplyforties explains to readers how to turn cardboard toilet paper rolls into seed starter pots for your garden. Brilliant!

Another great idea for these and also paper towel rolls is to use them to wrap and store extension cords and Christmas lights without becoming tangled.

Or use for kids' craft projects, like in the picture. Happy recycling!

Austin Happy Hour Deals

Well, it's Wednesday and that certainly means it's high time to start thinking about Friday's happy hour destination!

Here's a helpful list of nightly specials from blog Austin on a Dime.

Please drink responsibly!!

Wednesday: Grocery Deals

Here are the highlights that I spotted in this week's flyers, by store:

Newflower Farmers Market:

• all natural boneless pork loin roast OR sirloin tip roast: $1.99/lb.
• all natural boneless skinless chicken breast: $1.47/lb.
• E-Z peel large raw shrimp: $2.97/lb. (41-50ct.)
• ORGANIC Romaine lettuce: $.99
• ORGANIC baby carrots or chard, assorted: $1.50 ea.
• ORGANIC Fuji apples: $.77/lb.
• Red, green or black seedless grapes: $.59/lb.
• Kiwi: 5 for $1
• Luigi Vitelli ORGANIC whole wheat pasta: $.99/1-lb. bag
• small watermelon or pineapple: $2.50 ea.
• green onions, radishes, parsley, cilantro, carrots, mangoes: 3 for $1
• navel oranges, yellow onions: 3 lb.s. for $1
• beefsteak tomatoes, zucchini: $.88/lb.
• red and yellow bell peppers: $.88 ea.
  

Sun Harvest:

• Artichokes or Cauliflower 97¢ ea
• Fuji or Braeburn Apples 77¢ lb
• Green Beans 97¢ lb
• Navel Oranges 33¢ lb
• Organic D'Anjou Pears 97¢ lb
• Pineapples 2 for $5
• Texas Grown Broccoli Crowns 77¢ lb
• Brown Cow Lowfat or Non Fat Yogurt BUY 1 GET 1 FREE 6 oz Selected varieties
• Cascadian Farm Organic Vegetables BUY 1 GET 1 FREE 8-16 oz Selected varieties
• Annie's Homegrown Bunnies Crackers BUY 1 GET 1 FREE 7.5 oz Selected varieties
• Annie's Homegrown Macaroni & Cheese BUY 1 GET 1 FREE 6 oz Selected varieties

And I think I'll skip Randalls this week, but there are some in-flyer coupons worth checking out.
And remember, last week's deals still apply TODAY ONLY for Sun Harvest and Newflower!

Free Movies, Courtesy of redbox

Did you know that soon you'll be able to "rent" free movies from redbox -- those kiosks at McDonald's and some Walgreens stores (one on Brodie/William Cannon has it) -- twice a week?

You can already sign up to get a code for a FREE rental texted to your cell phone on Mondays, and in March they are bringing back FREE MOVIE WEDNESDAYS. Lots of people also share their Monday codes, so I'll try to remember to post one next week.

The rentals are normally only $1, which is a nice alternative to NetFlix, Blockbuster, etc. Remember to also check the public library for movies to check out, also free.

Read more about redbox here. Happy watching!