Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Kroger Deals 6/7


I found some pretty decent Korger deals that I thought I should share with all of you! You could go in and buy these 3 items and spend less than $0.73! It can all be purchased in one transaction as well!


Suave Shampoo (or Body Wash) - Cost: $1.67
Use $0.50/1 Suave Body Wash from RP 5/22 (expires 6/19)
AND Use B1G1 Free Suave Body Wash or Lotion from RP 5/15 (expires 6/19)
Final Price: $0.67 for 2 when you use both of the coupons above


Frank's Red Hot Sauce - Cost: $0.99 (not adverstised, but is an ongoing deal)
Use $1.00/1 Frank's Red Hot Sauce from SS 5/15 (expires 7/31)
Final Price: FREE

Suave Deodorant - Cost: $1.06 (not advertised, but is an ongoing deal)
Use $0.50/1 Suave Deodorant Product from RP 5/22 (expires 6/19)
AND load the $0.50/1 Suave Deodorant Product Kroger eCoupon to your card
Final Price: $0.06

So stop look through your coupons and see if you have any of these so you can get these awesome deals today! Check out your local Kroger to see if they are in stock. Prices may vary per Kroger store.

Types of coupons and where to get started!

So many of you are asking "What do I do first?" when it comes to coupon shopping. First, you all need to get your sunday newspapers and start saving ALL the coupons you can get your hands on. Print them off the websites like the following ones:

Redplum.com
SmartSource.com
Coupons.com
Target.com

Save them up for approximately 2-3 weeks to have a good amount of coupons to start being able to show some major savings in your purchases! Once you have enough, then you'll look through the ads and start comparison shopping. Some stores might have items on sale however the others have them on a better sale! I have listed the different types of coupons below for all of you to realize that there are NUMEROUS opportunities to find amazing deals with coupons! After these, in a day or two I'll post more resources and information on coupon shopping to better answer everyone's questions.


9 types of Coupons

1. Manufacturing Coupons
These are typically found in your weekly newspapers in the coupon inserts in the middle, however many can be found via mailers and flyers.

2. Catalinas
These are named after the company that made the box they print out of (right next to the receipt printer). It's the coupons that the cashier gives you with your receipt, typically done at Krogers. These also count as the Register Rewards at Walgreens and the Extra Care Bucks at CVS.

3. Store Coupons
These could be in the ad for the store as well as sometimes they put out their own savings books and coupons will be in there as well.

4. eCoupons
These coupons are digital coupons that can be automatically loaded to your store cards (ex: Kroger and CVS cards).

5. Internet Printable Coupons
These coupons are typically found EVERYWHERE on the internet and can be printed right then and there. Most of them are manufacturing coupons however some are specific to certain stores. You can print these from redplum.com, coupons.com, smartsource.com, target.com, etc. They typically limit you to only bein able to print 2 of each within a month, then it resets the first of the next month so you can print more.

6. Tearpads
These are exactly what they sound, they are on a tearpad right infront of the product, you can tear and use them immediately on your purchase. Sometimes they can also be found at the front of the store, on displays and etc.

7. Peelies
These are little coupon stickers found directly on the products, you can just peel them off and use them immediately on your purchase.

8. Blinkies
These were more common years ago, however they are still around. They are found down the isles in little boxes with red like blinking (hence the name "blinkies") that you can pull one out and then a new coupon automatically takes its place. These are mostly manufacturing coupons.

9. Hangtags
These are typically found on anything with a neck such as drinks, syrups, detergents, dish soaps, etc. They are a hanging tag with a coupon on it that you can use immediately with your purchase.


Once you start to get the look and feel of ALL the coupons around you, you will notice there are tons of opportunities for you to be able to save a lot on your next Coupon Shopping trip! The next blog I'll post will be more along the lines of store coupon policies, stacking coupons and how to maximize your use of coupons to save the most while following the coupon policies for the stores!

Monday, June 6, 2011

Walgreens + Coupons = Love

So, I recently started coupon shopping and I am loving every minute of it. Yes, it takes a little time to plan it all out and use your brain a little to make it precise to obtain better savings... but if you can get through the planning stage, you can EASILY achieve amazing savings just like me!

I started adding the pictures to my personally facebook page to show people that coupon shopping has its perks and that ANYONE can do it! Below I will post some of the pictures I've previously posted on my facebook with the amount I've spent and my savings for the items in the pictures. You will say "WOW! There is no way that could be done!" However, I beg to differ! It is a weekly occurance and YOU can do it too! So check it out!


Walgreens Coupon Trip #1 (May 28th)
COST: $0.97 for all that is pictured below
SAVINGS: $47.20
Also received a $4.00 off coupon for my next purchase.


Walgreens Coupon Trip #2 (May 29th)
COST: $5.63 for all that is pictured below
SAVINGS: $42.47
Also purchased a 45 load SUN Laundry Detergent that is not pictured.


Walgreens Coupon Trip #3 (June 6th)
COST: $16.08 for all that is pictured below
SAVINGS: $103.48
Also received a $5.00 off coupon (not pictured) for my next purchase.


Since I have been posting my amazing finds on my facebook page many people have been asking me how I do it, or how they can do it. I am happy to share my tricks and secrets to everyone, as I would love to see others saving money and getting some great deals as well! Since many people have asked, someone brought up the fact that I should have a "class" to show people, I thought that was a great idea!

The class WILL be free and will last at least an hour! The class will be ONLINE via webcam group chat on a free website (ustreamtv.com), you wont have to download anything to view, and you can log in with your facebook to chat and ask questions!

I will be explaining coupon policies, how to find great deals, what to look for, what all the crazy coupon abbreviations mean, the great deals going on for 6/12-6/19 (the week following the chat), answering everyone's questions from the chat and MUCH MORE!



Sunday, June 12th @ 3pm Central Time!

Want to be in the chat? Go here and click "REMIND" under the big picture on the left. It'll send you an email reminder before the chat so you won't miss it!

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/crafty-savings-by-melany


Other than that I will leave you all on a good note, with Melany's Deal of the Day, happy shopping!

MELANY'S DEAL OF THE DAY:
Since it's a Walgreens post, I decided to let you in on one of my Walgreens finds (pictured in the last picture above)!

Gillette Fusion ProGlide Razor System $9.89
Buy 1, Receive $5.00 Register Reward, Limit 1

Use a $4.00/1 coupon for Gillette Fusion ProGlide Razor from PG 6/5
(this means you're going to use 1 coupon for $4.00 off from the Sunday (6/5) newspaper in the P&G coupon insert)

Pay $5.89, then you'll receive $5.00 Register Reward
The register reward can be used on your next purchase, of ANYTHING totalling $5.00 or more except dairy and alcohol. So it's like you go the Gillette Fusion for only $0.89!!! Almost free, and typically $10-$15 who wouldn't want this deal?


If you are not able to comment this blog, feel free to message the information to my facebook OR email it to me at: MelanysBoutique@yahoo.com (It seems we're having commenting issues!)

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Completely slacking....

Okay okay, I know I have been completely slacking by posting crafts and ideas for you guys! I need to start doing that more often, especially since college is out for the summer! It's EXTREMELY hot in Texas so being hectic with this heat completely drains me. However, it's no excuse for me to slack!

I also decided since I started coupon shopping and EVERYONE is excited about it always asking me how I got such great deals that I'll start posting some tips and tricks to help others out! I do not mind helping everyone get the amazing deals I find because I think EVERYONE should share the goodies! :)


So keep your eyes peeled for tons of coupons, store deals, crafts, projects and ideas coming soon! I won't let you guys down any more... promise!!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Lots of displays.... countdown for my FIRST craft show begins!

Sooo, busy week! Stressful! But at least there is a snow storm, it is like my purpose to get some displays and things done these past 2 days while we have been snowed in! Check out the pictures below and let me know what you think of my display ideas! I think they are pretty cute, and sassy, which is just what I was going for. I decided upon hot pink and zebra (so cliche) but it's sassy and boutique-like.. so that is what I'll be decorating my Craft Show booths with from now on, until I get bored with it and will be changing it up.

YES! The board above is the one I made in the tutorial from my previous blog!

Flower Pot Headband Display

2 Smaller Hair Bow Boards for the pigtail bows

Homemade Headband Displays

What is your favorite display of mine above? What do you think I could do to them to make them even cuter? I need input, as this is all for my customers and to reel people into checking out my booth while walking by.

The countdown for my FIRST craft show begins..... 10 days and counting! I am so excited! I hope to see many of my customers and NEW customers there! After this, I already have an open house lined up in March and a Craft Show at Guyer H.S. lined up in April. I am going to make 2011 my year, the year for MELANY'S BOUTIQUE! Watch out everyone! lol

Also, I got the CUTEST business card holder for my craft show booths, it's super adorable! Was only $14 from Amanda @ FlowersKissing (http://www.facebook.com/flowerskissingscreations). You guys should definitely check her out, I told her my theme and what I wanted and she definitely made it happen! I added the pink jeweled bow on the top, just to give it a more boutique look. But it's PRECIOUS! Check out below!

More stuff to upload soon, as well as a tutorial! I am excited for this craft show, and in a time crunch with only 10 days left. So I may not be posting as much as I'd like before then, but check back often for tutorials and new creations by Melany!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Snow Day!

Okay, now after reading that title "Snow Day" I'm sure no one believes me, seeing as I do live in Texas, but honestly, we're snowed in! So I finally found a little bit of time to do a lot of things I haven't been able to do the past few weeks (full time job and those 13 hours of college are really keeping me busy). Thank GOD for snow days! Definitely nice to be able to relax for one day and do a lot of things you normally wouldn't have time for!

I am going to posting a few more pictures tonight of displays I have made for my upcoming craft show, as well as POSSIBLY posting a tutorial, depends if I can find where I left my glue gun? haha I am really interested in showing you guys some new ideas I have gotten to make for the craft show booth as well as new things I made to sale in my online boutique. I am just not so sure if I'd like to give away ALL of my secrets just yet, we will see tonight!

I hope everyone stays warm and gets a little creative today! Do some crafts with your kids or find something old you'd like to "make new" again! It's always fun to see what you can do with something you never thought you could use!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Busy week means a productive week!

So, I had many things I had to do this week and most of them were for my first Craft Show coming up in February. I made the hair bow board, as you can see from my previous blogs, as well as some pricing signs. I think they turned out pretty well seeing as I had some cheap frames from wal-mart, I definitely classed them up. But I decided to take a break from Craft Show decor and display and made some super cute and adorable headbands! Check them out below.



Yes, I noticed most of the ones I made were some sort of flower, but Spring is near! So I thought I'd make some beautiful flowers for the children to wear soon! I especially love the ones with the jewels in the center, I just think it's an adorable touch and makes little girls feel more like a Princess! So that was my productive part of my week haha

I also managed to find 7 models for my Boutique!! They range from 7 months to 9 years of age, which is awesome! I love diversity! I hand selected each one of them, for different reasons, but above all they are beautiful girls that would make my products look amazing! I look forward to their shoots and the pictures that come from them. I am also looking forward to my new .com/.net website being built soon, so that I can post the beautiful pictures of the models on there as well!

Life seems to be getting better and better. I CANNOT wait to see what is yet to come for me and my boutique!