My Vons and Ralphs Shopping Trips

Today at Vons, I spent $17.23 and saved $22.84, which is 57%. Here's what I bought:
3 Bryers ice cream $2.49 = $7.47
1 Farmland Bacon $2.99
1 General Mills Brownie Crunch Cereal $1.79 - $.75 coupon(doubled) = $.79
1 Ritz Crackers $1.99
1 Lucerne 16 oz. String Cheese $3.99


At Ralphs, I spent $5.05 and saved $5.31, which is 52%. Here's what I bought:
1 Dozen Ralphs eggs $.99
1 Danino Yogurt $1.88
Caulflower $.99/pound = $2.18

Winner of the 250 Personalized Stickers Giveaway

True Random Number Generator
Min: 1
Max: 20
Result:
18
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#18 is MarthaSweeps said...
I'm a GFC follower.

I will be sending MarthaSweeps an email to let her know she won, as soon as I publish this post.

Thank you to all of my 20 entries! Thanks for making my giveaway a success. I really enjoyed reading all of your comments about how you would use the stickers. I hope all of you continue to read my blog, and will enjoy it.

My Albertsons, Fresh & Easy, & Ralphs Shopping Trip

Today at Albertsons, I spent $12.44 and saved $13.95, which is 53%. Here's what I bought:
3 - 8 ct. Pop Tarts $5.00 - $2.00 coupon - $1.00 doubled coupon = $2.00 + $1 coupon to use on my next shopping trip
5 Michelinas Frozen Entrees $.79 each = $3.95
2 Malt-o-Meal Cereal(I will give these away) $3.00
1 French Bread(this wasn't on sale, but I need it for dinner tonight) $1.49


At Fresh & Easy, I spent $4.00 and saved $.98, which is 20%. It doesn't look like much savings, but the juice is cheaper than anywhere else this week. Here's what I bought:
2 Fresh & Easy Juice Blends $4.00


At Ralphs, I spent $10.92 and saved $15.88, which is 60%. Here's what I bought:
2 Rice-a-roni/Pasta-Roni $.75 each = $1.50
7 Pringles $.99 each = $6.93
1 Kraft Mayonnaise $2.49

My Vons Shopping Trip

Today at Vons, I spent $12.00 and saved $15.34, which is 57%. Here's what I bought:
3 Refreshe Soda 12-pack $1.88 each = $5.64
2 Breyers Ice Cream $2.49 each - $.75 coupon(which was doubled to $1) = $3.98

250 Personalized Stickers for One Giveaway! - CLOSED!!!!

I have always loved stickers, and so do my children! So, these stickers are such a great idea for promoting my business. My kids can put them on their school binders, and anything else they bring to school, and when other kids see the sticker and ask about it, my kids can give them one and tell them about my business. Also, while I'm waiting for my daughter to get out of dance class, I'll often work on making my products. The other dance kids always sit next to me and wonder what I'm making. I can give them a business sticker and then they can pass the info. along to their parents and anyone else who sees the sticker. When someone orders one of my items, I will put one of these stickers on the outside of my package, and it will be a great advertisement to anyone who sees the package - postal workers, neighbors, etc.

Uprinting is a great place to meet all of your business needs. You can see the personalized stickers, for yourself and the standard label templates. They have standard stickers and roll stickers available in lots of different sizes.

So, here is what you can win:

250 Personalized Stickers for One (1) Winner
2" x 3.5"
70lb Label Matte, Front Only Printing, 4 Business Days Turnaround

Mandatory entry:
Please leave me a comment below, letting me know what you would use these stickers for.

After you make the mandatory entry above, you will receive one entry for each item below.

*1 Extra Entry Per Method:
- Like Uprinting on Facebook, and leave me your Facebook name.
- Follow Brendashandmade publicly through Google Friend Connect
- Like Brendashandmade on Facebook, and leave me your Facebook name.
- Subscribe to Brendashandmade via email(please leave email you subscribed with).
- Follow Brendashandmade on Network Blogs.

Giveaway will end on July 21st at 11:59pm PST. This giveaway is open to US residents 18 and older. Please include your email address in your comments, unless it's public on your profile, so I can contact you if you win. The winner will be chosen by random.org and will be announced here and emailed. You will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I will be receiving 250 personalized stickers from UPrinting.com for hosting this giveaway.

My Walgreens and CVS Shopping Trip

Today at Walgreens, I spent $23.65, and saved $38.28, which is 62%. Here's what I bought:
6 Big Roll Toilet paper(I will give it away) $.50 each = $3
1 Walgreens Women's razor $3.99 + $3.99 register rewards for next time
1 GUM Floss $2 + $2 register rewards to use next time
6 Medium Gloves $.50 each = $3.00
3 Soft Soap(will give away) $.99 each = $2.97
3 Composition books $.69 each = $2.07
3 Packs of 100 Index Cards $.39 each = $1.17
4 Packs of Notebook Paper $.50 each = $2
1 Hylands Teething Gel(will give away) $5.00 + $5.00 register rewards to use next time

I also had $3.50 in register rewards to use from last time to help pay for this purchase.


At CVS, I spent $1.41 and saved $27.88, which is 96%. Here's what I bought:
3 Bumblebee tuna $.69 each = $2.07
1 Extra dessert gum $.99
1 Maybelline Eyeliner $6.49
1 Maybelline Mascara $5.89, buy one get one half off - $1 coupon = $1.94
1 Bic Soleil Shimmer shaver $6.99 - $3 coupon = $3.99 + $3 extra bucks for next time
1 Balance Bar $1.69 + $1.69 extra bucks to use next time

I also had $16.79 in extra bucks to use from last time to help pay for this purchase.

My Garden

These first two pictures are of my garden box that has zucchini and yellow squash in it.



These 3 pictures are of the basket of goodies we picked from our garden on Sunday. There are apples, nectarines, grapes, zucchini, and yellow squash.

I love having a garden. It's so much fun to be able to go in the backyard and pick some fruit to eat for snack, or some vegetables to have with our dinner. We really have an overflow of zucchini, yellow squash, and zucchini this year, so we've shared our bounty with a variety of people. We've shared with our neighbors, our neighbor's gardeners, people attending our neighbor's garage sale, and with my husband's co-workers. I also have made several zucchini bread to eat and freeze, and every week at least one meal has zucchini or yellow squash in it. I also haven't had to buy any fruit from the grocery store for a couple of weeks because we have plenty of our own to eat. I love being able to save money and to share with others!

My Stater Bros. and Albertsons Shopping Trips

Today at Stater Bros., I spent $17.72 and saved $11.80, which is 40%. Here's what I bought:
3 Mothers Cookies $1.99 each = $5.98
2 Stater Bros. sundae cups $2.50 each = $5.00
3 Stater Bros. 4 pack pudding cups $.75 each = $2.25
1 Romeros Tortillas $.75
1 Stater Bros. long grain rice(will give this away) $.75
1 Stater Bros. ketchup $.75
2 Valutime sliced cheese $.75 each = $1.50


Today at Albertsons, I spent $15.64 and saved $39.45, which is 72%. Here's what I bought:
4 Dryers $2.50 each - 2 $1 coupons = $8.00
3 Ronzoni pasta(will give away 1) $.88 each = $2.64
4 15 oz. Chex Mix(rain check from last week) $2.50 each - $5 store coupon = $5.00

My Vons and Ralphs Shopping Trips

I wasn't able to take pictures of my shopping trips today and I'll tell you why in just a minute. First, I'll share my savings with you.

Today at Vons, I spent $18.30 and saved $11.70, which is 39%. I thought I got good deals, so I was surprised when the percent saved was so low. Here's what I bought:
2 Nabisco Vanilla Wafers $1.99 each = $3.98
4 Lean Pockets $1.69 each = $6.76
2 Lucerne Shredded Cheese $1.99 each = $3.98
2 Dole Juice $1.99 each = $3.98

At Ralphs, I spent $6.12 and saved $4.93, which is 45%. Here's what I bought:
1 Dozen eggs $.99
2 Dannon yogurt $1.88 each = $3.76
Broccoli $.99/pound = $1.37

So, here's why I wasn't able to take any pictures of my shopping trips. Ralphs was the last store I shopped at, and when I was picking out my broccoli, they announced that in 2 minutes, they would be giving away some brand new products for free. Since other stores, like Walmart and Costco, often have these same promotions, I didn't have any doubts. So, I went to the aisles they said to go to and the guy came and said the presentation would take 30 seconds and we would get at least 3 free items. Right away, he briefly demonstrates a tool that he says normally retails $7 - it's used to take the eye out of potatoes, zest your orange, etc. skins, and cut a decorative shape out of fruit. Then, he hands one to all of us, for free. He takes out the next product to demonstrate it, and it's a mandoline slicer that's not sold in stores yet. The product looks great, but he's taking a long time to demonstrate it, so a lot of people leave and only 4 of us are left. I'm constantly checking my watch since I've already shopped at 2 stores and don't want my cold items to get warm. I'm about ready to leave, when he finishes his demonstration, and says since we hung on so long for the free item, he will give us this mandoline slicer for 1/2 price $20 something dollars, and if we buy 5 of them, he will give us the 6th one free! I was so mad! I stormed off and only bought a few of the things I intended to buy. When I checked out, I saw a couple of the other ladies that had stayed and they did say he gave out some cheap kitchen shears, but he kept trying to convince them to buy a slicer - no one did - thank goodness! So, as soon as I got home, I told the kids to help me get the things in the freezer and refrigerator fast. Luckily, everything was still cold.

I was so mad, that I was misled! When the cashier asked how everything was - I told her not good, that that guy took advantage of us and they shouldn't have him in their store. I normally don't go for stuff like that, like at a fair or the mall, but because he was in a reputable store and other stores have legitimately had similar giveaways, and because he started off giving us something, I thought it was real! Well, never again!

Have any of you ever been misled like that?

My Walgreens and CVS Shopping Trip

Today at Walgreens, I spent $.46(which is only the sales tax) and saved $9.46, which is 96%! Here's what I bought:
3 Ajax for $1
1 Purex fabric softener $4.99 - $4.99 coupon = $0 + $1.50 register rewards for next time

I also had $1 register rewards to use from last time to help pay for this trip.


At CVS, I spent $1.05 and saved $4.54, which is 82%! Here's what I bought:
1 Dawn $.99 - $.25 coupon = $.74
1 Oral B toothbrush $3 - $2 coupon = $1 + $1 extra bucks to use next time

I also had $1 in extra bucks to help pay for this trip.

Pink Bouquet Tissue Box Cover

I just listed this tissue box cover on Etsy: click here to see it in my Etsy shop. My daughter and I saw this pattern in one of my craft books and couldn't wait until I had time to make it. Since there isn't any holidays between Fourth of July and Halloween, I decided to make it now. It also fits in well now because it would be a great bridal shower or wedding present, and a lot of people get married in the summer.

Are you working on a project you've always wanted to make?

My Stater Bros. and Albertsons Shopping Trips

Today at Stater Bros., I spent $17.93 and saved $15.58, which is 47%. Here's what I bought:
2 Nestle Drumsticks $2.50 each = $5.00
6 Wheat Thins $1.49 each = $8.94
1 Stater Bros. Bacon $3.99


Today at Fresh and Easy, I spent $8.02. I didn't really save any money, I just bought some items that are at an every day low price:
1 Romero's flour tortillas $.98
2 Fruit Jellies $2.99 each = $5.98
1 160 count Allegro napkins $.99(will give these away)


At Albertsons, I spent $17.62 and saved $21.20, which is 55%. Here's what I bought:
1 Kraft Miracle Whip $1.99 - $.75 coupon = $1.24(I meant to buy mayonnaise, and even had it written on my list, but out of habit, picked this up instead - it's o.k. because we'll use it)
1 Children's Ibuprofen $5.99(I had to buy this for my daughter's oral surgery tomorrow, lucky for me it was on sale)
1 Whipping cream $2.99(unfortunately, Walmart doesn't carry this and it wasn't on sale)
5 Gatorade $.50 each = $2.50
5 Green Giant can vegetables $.49 each = $2.45
1 Albertson's Cool Juice $ 2.99 - $1 coupon = $1.99

My Ralphs Shopping Trip

Today at Ralphs, I spent $23.68 and saved $35.00, which is 60%. Here's what I bought:
2 Ralphs sliced cheese $1.99 each = $3.98
1 Caprisun/2 Koolaid Jammers $1.49 each = $4.47
4 Bryers $2.69 each - 2 $.75 coupons, doubled = $8.76
2 12 count Poptarts $2.49 each = $4.98
1 Country Crock $2.49 - $1 coupon = $1.49

I didn't buy anything at Vons today because they had Hot/Lean Pockets on sale for $2 and so did Walmart, so I just bought them at Walmart. I only had one other sales item that I was going to buy at Vons - boneless round steak on sale for $2.69/pound, so I decided to try what Walmart has been advertising, that they would price match any ad. Sure enough, they did! Their meat was priced at $14 something and I got it for $7.32.