12/15/08 - Meijer - Saved $23.71

I went for another Meijer run (my family goes through Kellogg's cereal like there's no tomorrow so I decided to stock up). There were a bunch of $1.00 off coupons in the Sunday paper, so here's what I bought:

6 boxes of Kellogg's cereal (Corn Pops, Frosted Flakes, and Shredded Mini-Wheats) on sale for $1.88 each - I used a $1.00 off coupon for each box - net cost $0.88 each!

Bertolli Frozen Meals (originally priced at $7.49 each - on sale for buy 2, get 1 free) - net cost was $4.99 each.

Pepsi 2-liters (priced at $1.49 each - bought 4) - I used a $1.00 off coupon on the purchase of 4 - net cost was $1.24 each.

I also used a $5.00 off of a $25.00 grocery purchase from a previous Meijer visit.

So, according to my receipt, my overall savings was $12.00 in coupons and $11.71 in-store savings for a total of $23.71!

12/14/08 - Meijer - Saved $42.47

I ran out to get a couple of things at Meijer and saved on the following:

Scrubbin' Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner (originally priced at $23.49 each - on sale for $14.99 each) - I bought 2 and used a $10.00 off coupon for each - net cost was $4.99 each!

Kellogg's Shredded Mini-Wheats (originally priced at $3.35 each - on sale for $1.88 each) - I used a $1.00 off coupon - net cost was $0.88.

Ziploc Big Bags (priced at $6.29 each - not on sale) - I used a $3.00 off coupon - net cost was $3.29 each.

Overall, I used $24.00 in coupons, had in-store savings of $18.47, for a total savings of $42.47. My total after coupons was $14.15!

Check http://www.smartsource.com/ and http://www.coupons.com/ for printable coupons!

12/12/08 - DOMO77 - Saved $75 off dinner

Last night, we decided to celebrate Jim's birthday early by having dinner at DOMO77 (a Japanese restaurant). Usually entrees there range from $15-$30 per person. The kids have never been there before (except for Ava), so we thought it would be a treat for them to see the chef cook our dinner right in front of us.

By going on their website beforehand, http://www.domo77.net/, I was able to print out a $10 off coupon for Jim's birthday dinner. Then, since I signed up for their rewards card (free) the last time we were there, they sent us a $20 gift certificate for Sebastian's birthday, a $20 gift certificate for Jim's birthday, and a $20 gift certificate for a holiday gift. We also had a $5 gift certificate from when they opened.

We ordered 4 drinks, a Filet Mignon + Shrimp + Scallops entree, a Filet Mignon + Shrimp + Chicken entree, a Chicken + Shrimp entree, and a Kid's Shrimp meal. They also came out and sang "happy birthday" to Jim and gave him a huge pineapple wedge. Before the discounts, the total was $107.88 (with tax). After the discounts, the total $31.91 (with tax). We even had enough leftovers for another meal.

Also, our dinner will count towards my reward card to earn more gift certificates! So, I encourage you to sign up for customer loyalty rewards programs when available so you can receive these fabulous deals also!

Lastly, there is a feedback section on their website where they will send you a $10 gift certificate just for giving feedback on your visit.

Why I Started This Blog...

I've always enjoyed getting a good deal, whether through sales, coupons, or using customer loyalty cards. I decided to start sharing with others how I do that and to keep myself on track with making a conscious effort to save money. I titled my blog "A Coupon A Day" because I love to use coupons and my goal at the end of 2008 and into 2009 is to try to use at least one coupon a day (only on days I actually buy something). Then, I would like to track my savings.

I hope you find some of the things I share useful....