Central Market Coupons

If you live in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Plano, San Antonio or Southlake, Texas then you probably already know about Central Market and if you know about it then I am willing to bet that you love it, just not the prices. Did you know that you can fill out a form in the store and be added to their coupon mailing list? The coupons are sent out about every 2 months and mostly you get a $10 item or items FREE with a $40 purchase, and the $40 total includes the items that you will be getting FREE. This weeks (02/09 - 02/22/09) coupon is for 1-lb (up to $8.99) of Atlantic Salmon FREE with $40 purchase. So you are probably thinking $40 is a lot to add into my weekly budget but really there are deals to be had at Central Market and they accept Manufacturers Coupons as well. Every Monday morning you can find me at Central Market getting in on those deals.

First, they are almost always sampling something yummy in the test kitchen and through out the store, sometimes in the mornings there are samples out but not as many as the weekends or evenings. Our favorite sampling is the Chocolate Festival that is the first week of February each year and my kids ask about it each time that we visit Central Market! Second, if you see something interesting that you would like to sample, like an unusual piece of fruit, just ask and unlike the typical grocery store there is always a knowledgeable associate close by more than willing to help you. The stores are always clean and orderly and I love the paper sacks they put your groceries in, I use mine as a recycling sack and then when it's full the sack and it's contents can go straight to the recycling cart! It really is the little things in life that make me smile!

Now for the deals, Central Market Organic Milk half-gallons are $2.99 and sometimes there are coupons taped to the milk for a FREE item (i.e. truffles) or $1.00 off something else (i.e. cereal). They have Frozen 5 Cheese Garlic Bread for $0.99 each and it is really the best one that I have ever eaten. The Central Market brand organic whole wheat pasta is the best pasta hands down and for $1.85 a package I think that it's a real steal. I love the Central Market brand of organic jellies, they are so good and not as sugary sweet as commercial brands, of course I have found the commercial brands way cheaper than $2.75 a jar but never as good. In the Seafood/Butcher Department they have little containers of fresh crushed almond or pecan crust that I love to press into chicken and fish then bake - so yummy, super easy and for under $2.00 a container it can't be beat! The Organic Broccoli bunches are fantastic and at $2.99 for 2, it a real deal. I love the selection of fresh produce they always have and the wide variety of seafood and meats in the Butcher Department. Bison is my latest find at $5.99/lb, now I know that is really high for ground meat but click here to read about how much better it is for you than typical red meat or even chicken! Ask your local CM butcher for a sample of bison to take home and cook, you just might get hooked like I did. For more weekly specials click here.

Central Market could never be your one-stop frugal grocery trip but they are not claiming to be instead they are offering the best selection, taste and customer service I have ever received in a store. Anytime that I buy something at CM and it doesn't live up to my standards, I take it back. Just a few weeks ago I purchased 2 1-lb. packages of Bison and while I was cooking it I noticed small bits of white plastic in the meat, I was horrified and scrambling, "Now what's for dinner?" I saved a few pieces of the plastic and the package label in a zip-top bag and placed it in the freezer along with the other lb. of meat. When Monday rolled around the following week I took the unopened lb. and the zip-top bag to Customer Service and with their deepest apologies I received a gift card for the full amount of both items and then the CSM called the butcher up to talk to me and he gave me 4 lbs. of bison FREE to try and make up for the problem! We never did find out what the white stuff was but accidents happen and at least they were willing to make up for their error.


For locations click here

Happy Couponing!

Tom Thumb trip 02/13/09

I scored a great deal on the above items today at Tom Thumb, here is what I got:

(4) 2-ltrs. of Mountain Dew (for the hubby) $0.99 each
(8) packs of Trident Gum +$0.04 Money-maker
(4) boxes of Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks $0.25 each
(4) boxes of Frosted Mini-Wheats $0.75 each
(2) boxes of Lipton Tea Bags $1.48 each
(5) Coke 12 packs (for my Mom) $2.29 each
(1) bag of Mission Tortilla Chips $0.99
(3) pouches of StarKist Tuna $0.39 each
(1) 4.29 -lb package of Ribeye Steaks $18.46
(1) bag of Ocean Spray Craisins $0.44


Total before coupons or Reward/loyalty card: $139.90
Reward/loyalty card Savings: <$65.09>
Total before coupons: $74.81
Super Coupons: <$9.70>
Safeway Printable coupons: <$4.00>
10% Savings that was added to my card, IDK <$7.48>
Manufactures coupons: <$14.24>
Double/Triple coupons: <$1.00>
Catalina Earned on Fruit Snacks: <$2.50>
TOTAL SPENT: $35.89 that's a savings of 74%!

For coupon match-ups for the above items click here

So that how I did, how did you do??? Leave me a comment and share your deals & steals.

Happy Couponing!

FREE All You Magazine

Click here for 2 FREE issues of All You Magazine. You can select Bill Me Later and then if you are not satisfied you can just write cancel on the bill when you receive it, own nothing and the 2 issues are yours to keep! All You is found at Wal-Mart and is almost always full of great coupons. This is a great time to give it a try!

Happy Couponing!

E-Coupons

E-coupons are the newest way to save, no clipping, no printing and no fuss, just savings! Also since you load the coupons right to your card you can still use "paper" coupons for even more savings! I get a lot of items for FREE or almost FREE by stacking e-coupons with "paper" coupons. It is very simple to get & use e-coupons, set up an account at each of the below sites, enter your loyalty card numbers then load the coupons that you want, buy the items that you have e-coupons for, scan your loyalty card and watch the savings add up!

Cellfire

Shortcuts

P&G

UPromise is different than the above 3, instead of getting savings at the register you get money deposited into an account that can be used to pay for college for you or your children.

Tip: At Kroger when I don't have my actual loyalty card and I enter my phone number on the self-checkout touch screen, it is hit or mostly miss on getting the e-coupons to work. I have found that if I enter my phone number on the credit/debit card machine I can get the e-coupons to work a little better for me.

Happy Couponing!

Tom Thumb 02/11 - 02/17/09

* Tom Thumb is a division of Safeway therefore these deals are the same or almost the same at their partner stores, Carrs, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Pavilions, Randalls or Vons. The printable coupons at Safeway’s website are also accepted at the above listed stores and the coupons that say “Safeway Coupon” can be stacked with Manufacturer’s coupons as can Super Coupons. To find out more about “stacking” coupons, click here. Don’t forget to load P&G e-saver coupons to your loyalty card, you can do that and print your Safeway Coupons here. To find out more about e-coupons click here.

My Tom Thumb (Fort Worth, Texas on Hulen & Belaire) has a very, VERY strict coupon policy so make sure and check your stores policy (with a manager & get their name) before you shop. Below are the policies that I got from Safeway Corporate.

They will only double/triple ONE of like coupon per transaction
(PERIOD!)

They will not take expired coupons, even by a day
(PERIOD!)

They will only accept ONE of like coupon per transaction
(I have had them accept more than one of the same coupon while only doubling/tripling one of the same so look for a friendly cashier if you want to use more than one of the same)

They will not accept coupons for the Free item(s) on Buy “X” Get “X” Free
(I have gotten my store to accept coupons on the Free item(s) when certain managers are there but it is the Tom Thumb policy to not accept them, which I think is ridiculous since they get reimbursed by the manufacturer for an item that they are losing money on by selling for free)

They will not accept Printable Internet Coupons (IP), excluding the ones at Safeway.com
(Again this is a hit or miss policy)

They will only allow 1 transaction of same items, per customer, per day
(Another hit or miss policy)

Here are the best deals that I see going on at Tom Thumb this week:

Ad running from 02/08 – 02/15

* Super Coupons *
(In order to use you must make a minimum $10 purchase, they can be found in the ads)

~ Ocean Spray Original Craisins, 6 oz. - $0.99 (limit 1)
<$0.55> 12/07 RP
$0.44

~ Signature Café Sandwich, regular size - $3.99 (limit 1)
<$1.00> Safeway Printable here
$2.99

Ad running from 02/11 – 02/17/09

* Okay Deals *

~ Tyson Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, 2.5 lb bag, frozen - BOGO FREE
(At my store they are $11.99 each, so buy 2 use 2 coupons and get each bag for $4.99)
<$1.00> 01/04 SS (use 2 if your store will allow for more savings)

~ Hunt’s Canned Tomatoes, 14.5 oz. - $1.00
<$.40>/2 01/18 SS or <$1.00>/3 here
$0.60 each or $0.67 each

~ Pepsi Brand, 2 ltrs - $0.99 each wyb 4 or more

~ Pillsbury Crescent or Cinnamon Rolls - $2.00 each
There are several crescent & cinnamon rolls q’s but the best deal is
<$0.35> 12/07 SS = $0.95 each crescent rolls
<$0.30> 01/04 & 02/08 GM = $1.10 each cinnamon rolls

~ Red Baron Single Serve Pizza – 2/$4.00 (with Super Coupon, limit 2)
<$1.00>/2 01/11 SS
$3.00 or $1.50 each

* Great Deals *

~ Rancher’s Reserve Ribeye Steak, bone-in - $4.77/lb
<$2.00>/$20 purchase Safeway Printable here

~ Hormel Marinated Pork Tenderloins - $4.99 (with Super Coupon, limit 1)

<$1.00> 02/08 SS
$3.99

~ Lipton Tea Bags, 72 – 100 ct. – BOGO FREE
<$0.50> & <$0.60> 01/18 RP
- My scenario:
2 @ $4.55 each
$9.10
<$0.50> Q
<$0.50> Tom Thumb Double
<$0.60> Q
<$4.55> BOGO Sale
Total $2.95 or $1.48 each!

~ StarKist Tuna Pouches, 2.6 oz. - $1.25
01/04 RP & All You, February 2009
<$1.00>/2 Safeway Printable here
$1.50 or $0.50 each

~ Powerade, 32 oz. - $0.88
<$0.40> 01/04 SS (expires 02/15/09)
$0.08
(most of the time this is on sale for $0.80 or less and you get it for FREE but if you still have the coupon $0.08 is a great price)

~ Coca-Cola, 12-Pack, 12 oz. cans - $2.49 each when you buy (wyb) 5 or more
<$1.00>/3 Safeway Printable here for Diet Coke
$2.29 each wyb 5 with 1 coupon, $2.16 each wyb 6 with 2 coupons

~ O Organics Milk, 64 oz. - $2.50 each

~ Listerine Mouthwash, 500 ml - $1.99 (with Super Coupon, limit 1)
<$0.50> 02/08 RP or <$1.00> Blinkie
$0.99

* Total Steals *

~ Gala Apples - $0.77/lb. (4 day sale, 02/14 – 02/17)

~ Fresh Green Asparagus - $1.28/lb

~ Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats, 16 – 18 oz. – 4 for $6.00 (with Super Coupon, limit 4)
<$1.50>/2 01/18 RP
$3.00/4 or $0.75 each with 2 coupons

~ Betty Crocker Cake Mix – B2G3 FREE
~ Betty Crocker Cookie Pouches – B2G3 FREE
.<$0.40> 02/08 GM or <$0.50> here or here
~ Betty Crocker Frosting – B2G3 FREE
<$0.50> 02/08 GM or <$0.55> here or here (If you have multiple coupons try giving the cashier your coupons before you let them scan your Reward/loyalty card, it’s worth a shot!)
(At my store they were all $1.79 each)
- My scenario:
Buy (2) Cookie Pouches & (3) Frostings for $8.95
Use (1) <$0.40> & (1) <$0.50> Cookie Coupons, which will both double
Use (1) <$0.50> & (2) <$0.55> Frosting Coupons, which the <$0.50> will double
3 Free Sale <$5.37>
+$0.32 Money Maker, if you store will let you do this

~ Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks, 4.5 – 9 oz. – 4/$6.00 (with Super Coupon, limit 4)
<$0.50>/2 01/04 & 02/08 GM & <$0.50> 02/01 SS or <$0.75>/2 here or here
$3.50/4 or $0.88 each with (4) of the above 02/01 SS coupons
PLUS there’s a Catalina promotion running right now that gives you $2.50 off your next shopping trip, so after that it makes them $0.25 each!

~ Mission Tortilla Chips, 16 oz. - $0.99 (with Super Coupon)

~ Trident Gum, 18 ct – BOGO
<$0.75> 01/18 SS
- My scenario:
2 @ 1.49
$2.98
<$0.75> Q x 2
<$1.49> BOGO Sale
Total FREE or $0.01 Money-maker

~ Hershey’s Single Candy Bar, 1.4 – 2.5 oz – B2G2
11/09 & 01/25 SS
Use 2 coupons and get all 4 Bars FREE

Click here to view the weekly ad online

Happy Couponing!

Valentine Candy for FREE at Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart has the small heart shaped boxes of Russell Stover candies on sale for $1 until the 15th of February, pair that with the coupon from 12/14 SS for <$1.00> (expires 02/14/09) and get you some FREE candy!

Happy Couponing!

Wal-Mart Trip 02/10/09

Holy Cow, did I score at Wal-Mart today!! Here is a rundown on what I got:

~ 21 Pop-Tarts, 8 ct. boxes
$1.00 each (used Wal-Mart's Price Matching Policy with current Tom Thumb ad)
Used 21 <$1.00> Pop-Tart Peelies I found at Wal-Mart & Kroger
All FREE!!

~ 7 Well-Patch, Single Patch
$0.97 each
Used 7 <$1.00> Well Patch, any - 11/02/08 SS (expires 02/28/09)
Thanks to Denise at The "Cent"sible Sawyer
All FREE plus $0.03 overage on each one for a total of $0.21 overage for me!!

~ 1 Leap Frog Tag Activity Cards, Birds & Sea Animals (clearance aisle)
$5.00
(I can't wait to fill Lawson's Easter basket with this!!)
Used 1 <$4.00> Leap Frog Tag - click here
Thanks to Denise at The "Cent"sible Sawyer
$1.00

Sub-Total $32.79
Coupons <$32.00>
Total $0.79 plus tax!

Not too shabby, huh??

Happy Couponing!