Do rebate apps really save you money????

Do rebate apps really work? Do they save you money? How do you know which ones to use? Here is proof y'all.... I took screen shots of my personal apps to prove that these rebate apps work! 

Checkout 51 is an app I've had the shortest amount of time. I think I added it after coming back from our trip to Michigan. 

 Here is my Target Cartwheel app. I've had this one since June 2013 when they first came out with the app. Clearly, I've worked my tail end off racking up these savings.... I will never show my husband how much I've saved since the first thing out of his mouth will be "and how much did you SPEND???" These offers can also be combined with manufacturer coupons along with Target coupons and rebate apps which makes it soooo much better!!!

 This is my ibotta app... This was the first rebate app I downloaded onto my phone about 3 years ago. I withdraw my earnings twice a year typically; once after the new year and once after the 4th of July. Within a month I've earned back $117.30!!! 

This is my savingstar app. It's a bit harder to redeem and the wait time to receive your money but it's worth it. There are certain rebates that you need to purchase a specific amount in order to receive a higher payoff. Like the ibotta app I withdraw twice a year. 


So you tell me, do rebate apps work? 

Today's hauls from Target and Kroger

I have a problem with shopping.... especially when certain stores carries such great deals... shoppers rehab here I come! lol These are my hauls from Kroger and Target. As I've mentioned before, Kroger is known for their buy __ save $__ deals. All of their sales last for 2 weeks meaning this sale will end Tuesday night! 

1 apple juice $1
6 simple truth seltzer waters (clearanced $.39 each)
4 resource bottled waters $.79 (buy 6 save $3)
1 pack lettuce $2.99
1 bunch organic cilantro $1.29
1 package mission corn tortillas $1.59 ($.75 mc)
2 rolls mentos $.89 each
2 bags simple truth organic kettle corn (clearanced $.99 each)
3 gerber organic mango fruit squeezes $.59 (buy 6 save $3 + $1 off 3 mc)
5 beech nut natural baby food jars $.49 (buy 6 save $3 + savingstar deposit + $2.50 ibotta rebate)
7 gerber ravioli entrees $1 (buy 6 save $3 + $.75 mc)
1 cream of wheat $1.29 ($.50 ibotta rebate)
2 garden fresh salsa 2 for $5 (best salsa ever!!!)
16 powerbars $.49 (buy 6 save $3 + $2 mc + $4 catalina coupon)
1 quorn chicken nuggets $2.79 (buy 6 save $3 + $1 mc + $1.50 ibotta rebate)
2 bags kroger brand tortilla chips $1

I had a couple of catalina coupons to bring down my total under $30 out of pocket. But I am getting back $4.50 back in ibotta rebates, money towards my savingstar app to reach my $15 goal in beechnut products for a $5 rebate, and received $4 catalina coupon I can use on my next purchase at Kroger!

I had a swap to do near my Target today so I figured might as well swing in and grab a few things. First though bought Gavin a almost new Nook for $40 with a case! 

 1 box animal crackers (Gavin threw them in while I was looking through my rebate apps... sneaky little boy I've got!) $2.19
1 6pk ozarka sparkling water $1.48 ($.75 ibotta rebate)
1 bertolli pasta sauce $1.97 ($.75 mc + $.25 ibotta rebate)
1 zico coconut water $1.99 ($1 ibotta rebate)
1 high brew coffee $2.49 ($1 ibotta rebate)
2 oxy bump nasal sprays $10.99 (FREE printable mc!!!)
2 boxes celestial tea $2.33 ($1 mc)
reynolds heat & eat containers $3.99 (25% cartwheel app + $2 ibotta rebate)
1 oh my goodness soup $4.49 ($4.50 ibotta rebate)
2 annie's pizza poppers $2.82 (30% cartwheel app + $1 mc)

I also brought my own bags so I got $.05 off each bag used. I paid $20.74 since I paid with my Target red debit card. I also received $10.50 back in ibotta rebates!!! 

There are weeks where I don't step foot inside a Target. I truthfully have a love-hate relationship with Target only because it's so hard not to buy everything in sight! I know all y'all have that same problem when shopping in Target.... right???

What an eventful day...

Today has been quite eventful in the household... but first I got woken up by a 5 year old staring at me from about 2 inches away. If that isn't scary try being licked by said 5 year old on the nose first thing in the morning... hahaha

Hubby had a dentist appointment so after dropping him off Gavin and I went to the Dollar Tree nearby. Let me say I think I terrified and embarrassed him by squealing when I saw these beauties!!! Adult coloring books for only $1 each!!! 

After dropping off my homemade laundry detergent at my in laws (yes, I make my own detergent and it's just lovely), Gavin got a much needed haircut. If you live in League City, you must must must go to TGF Salon next to HEB, the Asian lady was beyond amazing!!! She took so much time with him, making sure he was comfortable. He was grinning from ear to ear with his new do! Most handsome 5 year old boy ever! Plus to top it off he received a root beer flavored sucker. 

Not only do I coupon but I also swap. Swapping has become a way of buying my kids clothes/shoes for really cheap. I also sell some of my clothes and other items and in turn get a little extra cash flow coming in. Over the last couple of years both mine and my husband's computers have really become disappointments. Neither work if they aren't plugged in, they are both super slow, and it's just a jumbled mess of cords in our living room. Happy to announce I am now the proud owner of a HP stream notebook! They sell on Amazon for $200 and I bought mine for $100 nearly brand new! The lady I purchased it from bought the laptop for her son just last month for Christmas and he didn't want it. Well one's trash is another one's treasure! 

That's all for now folks. Gotta clean up from dinner, get a load of laundry going, put the boys to bed, and get my husband ready for another 24 hours at the fire station tomorrow. Goodnight!

Kroger & CVS Haul!!!

Did a quick run through Kroger and CVS this afternoon with Gavin today. I got tons of deals and bought all this for under $40 total!!! 

4 ozarka sparkling waters received $1 catalina coupon

2 resource waters

1 tide pods $3 kroger digital coupon (on your kroger app)

6 bottles head and shoulders manager special for $2 and I used $4 off 2 mc making them FREE!!!

1 bag organic ceasar croutons on clearance

1 bunch bananas $.30 mobi rebate

2 cucumbers

1 huggies wipes mc

1 bag tortilla chips $.25 ibotta rebate

5 beech nut organic applesauce $3 towards savingstar app + $1 mobi rebate

2 earth's best fruit squeezes

10 gerber organic applesauce squeeze pouches $2.50 off 8 mc + $1 off 2 mc + received $1.50 catalina coupon

1 quorn chicken nuggets $1 mc + $1.50 ibotta app rebate

3 ahi tuna burgers on clearance (just had them for dinner and they were DELICIOUS!!!)

16 powerbars $2 off 4 mc making them FREE + $4 catalina coupon (money maker!)

1 pint blueberries

1 angus steak kabobs

2 rolls of mentos to get over the $70 mark for an extra 200 gas points

I paid just over $32 and received $6.50 in catalina coupon + $1.75 ibotta rebate + $3 towards savingstar app + $1.30 mobi rebate!!!

 3 tide free and clear detergents $2 mc
3 pantene shampoo/conditioners $5 off 3 mc
2 dawn dish soaps $.30 mc

After all coupons plus using $9 in extra care bucks I paid a little over $3 and received $10 extra care bucks for purchasing $30 worth of p&g products... 

Couponing has become my way of providing our family with all we need plus some! Even if it's only $50 a month saved for you newbies, that is still $50 for savings or gas or a special purchase... my savings will be going towards a new phone since Gavin shattered my screen this afternoon... it is being held by clear packaging tape.... owell!

Target & Kroger Hauls

I love to coupon but combine them with rebate apps, my love turns to an obsession!!! Apps to download are 

ibotta   https://ibotta.com/r/r8tba

checkout 51

savingstar

shrink referral code WELLFZ

mobisave 

snap by groupon https://snap.groupon.com/app?ref=2dd5117faac433a2

shopmium referral code GMGUAEQU

Target Haul from Saturday 

4 mossimo tank tops on clearance for $3.60 each (black one not pictured) 
1 high brew coffee $1 ibotta 
2 suja organic drinks $.1 ibotta each drink + 20% target mobile coupon
barilla pasta $.75 ibotta
cabo fresh gaucamole $3 mc + $1.50 ibotta
my goodness soup $4.50 ibotta
goddess garden organic sunscreen $4 ibotta
up&up handsoap $.50 mobisave
mamma chia fruit squeeze $.50 shrink
reynolds heat & eat containers 25% cartwheel + $2 ibotta
calendula cream $2 mc + $4 ibotta
my total came out to $36.97 and received $19.75 back in rebates from ibotta + $.50 back from mobisave app + $.50 back from shrink app

Kroger haul from this morning!!! 

2 cream of wheat $1mc + $1 ibotta for buying 2

5 ozarka sparkling waters $.50 off 2 mc + $.75 off 3 mc

1 sweetleaf tea $1 ibotta

1 avocado

1 daisy cottage cheese $.50 mc + $.50 ibotta

1 dozen eggs $.50 mc

2 birdseye full flavor veggies $1.50 mc

1 stouffer fit kitchen kroger digital coupon for free

1 package kiwis

3 powerbars

1 simply potatoes hashbrowns

1 marzetti dressing $.75 mc + $1 ibotta

my total came out to $20.92 and received $4.50 back from ibotta + $1 catalina coupon printed for buying 5 ozarka sparkling waters!!! 

My Stockpile

Although I don't go too crazy with stock piling anymore due to space and waste issues, I still do buy enough to last my family anywhere from 3-6 months in the case that I am unable to shop for awhile (except paper products, I just can't help myself when there is a good toilet paper/paper towel deal). Although our house may have zero closets, a make-shift pantry, and 1 completely unusable as a table island.... I've made due with what we have and have become pretty creative to stock away items that my family will use. The key to couponing is only buy what your family will use. 

 

our bookcase turned pantry with microwave on top 

a dvd rack I made into another pantry like storage

our juice stock is starting to run low but considering I haven't had to buy juice boxes for 2 boys since August, I guess it's pretty good

part of our storage underneath the island

my stock of hand sanitizers, sunscreen, bugspray, kleenex, razors, and the glorious stock of baby wipes 

soaps, shampoos, body wash, lotion, shaving cream, toothbrushes, toothpastes, mouthwashes, deodorants (black shoe box)

under our makeshift closet is our medicine "cabinet" mostly my prescriptions, daily aspirin bottles, first aid, and vitamins

my wonderful drawers filled with makeup, nail products, face products, and delicious smelly things

paper towel stock goes back about 2.5 feet

cleaning supplies, dusting wipes, kleenex hand towels

my yummy smelling hand soap stockpile 

I forgot to take a picture of my toilet paper stock but I doubt anyone wants to see it... it's disgusting how much I have. It's all under the boys' bunk bed and I have 4 massive packages and a few smaller packages. At least we will never run out???

Considering how small of a house we live in and zero storage space, I think it's a decent stockpile. What do y'all think???

A little back story...

On a personal note...

So for those who don't know me very well, my name is Janet. I'm married to the love of my life who happens to be a firefighter and a  US Army Reserves officer. We have 2 extremely intelligent, funny, sarcastic, and sometimes quirky boys. You probably don't know that I've had 2 open heart surgeries in my short 28 years of life, 1 very traumatic emergency c-section which caused me to flat line, and am limited physically due to my heart condition.

Growing up in a upper middle class community was probably harder due to my own insecurities. Everyone's opinion mattered to me, I did crash diets, went through bouts of anorexia, suffered from depression, lost more family/friends to death than any adolescent should, and just plain didn't feel like I fit in. Honestly, I still have a hard time with my appearance and my anxiety has grown over the years. Most people don't understand why I have issues because they just see some skinny Asian woman living the life not having to work a job outside the home and so on. 

I recently learned more about my condition, transposition of the great arteries (TGA) through a support group than I any doctor could tell me. The members in the group understand my pain, the fatigue, random heart palpitations, the limitations of exercising, the anxiety, and the sweating.... oh my lord the sweating!!!  Throughout middle school, high school, college, and even now I have been so extremely embarrassed about the uncontrollable sweating. I mean so bad that I might as well be in a sauna bubble 24/7. I hate wearing colors unless they are tank tops... I stick to black and white or something that won't show perspiration which honestly it doesn't even matter because it happens everywhere.... hands, back, face, chest, underarms... everywhere!!! It really is embarrassing but these members in the group get it. One of the members was told by his doctor that it's due to procedure we had (mustard). Our heart has to work 3x as hard and our sympathetic nervous system is compromised by it, making it over produce sweat. Truthfully when I read this I couldn't believe my eyes. Why had no other doctor given me that explanation before? Working out is a completely different story. I am only allowed to do pilates or yoga... something that is not a cardio workout.  The dental procedures seem to never end due to the horrible circulation. My lips turn blue if I get just a little bit cold. I am not allowed to lift over 35lbs. I get out of breath easily. 
The hardest part dealing with my congenital heart disease is the looks... the stares when I start sweating... the stares when I tell people I can't do something. 99% of the people I have met just have this confused look when I tell them my limitations and respond with one of 2... Well you don't look sick? OR You're too young to have limitations like that.  The first response makes me livid... Yes, I don't look sick or ill but trust me when I tell you that going grocery shopping, carrying all the groceries inside, and than putting them away tires me out to no end. I need to sit and rest for a good half hour after a big grocery haul. The stares I get when I'm out and I am sweating.... super disturbing questions come up.... I've even had health professionals laugh at my sweatyness which I cried on my drive home. I've had swaps with people asking why I sweat so much and when told why they give me this look of... "seriously you're not sick like ill but sick like disgusting" I cry on the drive home from those swaps as well. This heart condition of mine will never go away. I may even need a transplant at some point in my life. The average lifespan for people with my heart condition is 40-50 years of age which only give me maybe 20 years left. I pray daily that somehow someone will come up with a magic heart that won't need daily rejection pills and won't fail until you've reach old status like in the 80s-90s. I pray that I will be able to watch both my children graduate high school and college, watch them get married, and even become a grandma someday. I pray that I can grow old with my husband and that we travel after he retires from the fire department. I pray and pray that my heart can just stay strong... 

To divert my focus on my heart issues, my uncontrollable anxiety, and stress in general I started couponing. Living on single household income hasn't been easy. My husband and I have made many sacrifices, we've strategically planned out what our next big purchases will be, cut corners when we could on costs, make things ourselves, really anything to stay within our 1 income budget without having to go into too much debt. We eat out as a family maybe three times a month, I only buy things that are on sale/clearance (the only exception to that is produce/meat), I shop at second hand shops for clothing not just for our boys but for myself as well, and I coupon.... COUPONS are key!!! We conducted an experiment where I didn't coupon for a month a few years ago because my husband Jon didn't think I really was saving money doing this. The results spoke for themselves. We ended up spending almost $400 more that month which almost doubles our monthly budget for groceries and household which is $450 a month. No, I do not spend all $450 each and every month, sometimes I have a little extra but there are those rare months I'm extremely grateful for a understanding husband who doesn't hold a grudge for my over spending that month. I read up on the average cost of food for a family of 4 which ranges from $650.50-$1293.10 and that is just for groceries!!! Honestly when you break it down $162 a week to feed a family of 4 on the lower end of the range isn't too bad. When broken down I spend $112.50 a week on my shopping trips and about $75-$90 is on food depending on the coupons I have and what sales are going on. This is more than enough to feed my family and build a stockpile at the same time. There are times I only spend $50 one week and then $150 the following week. It all really just depends on the sales and coupons. I've had strangers in grocery stores ask how I trained my boys to not want everything in sight and ask "is this on sale?" "do you have a coupon for this?".... I guess it just happened naturally just from our grocery trips and my specific lists saying what was on sale and pairing that item with a coupon. So no, we don't have a huge house, 2 vehicles, or go out to eat twice a week... but my family has never gone without a roof over our heads, clothing on our backs, and a food in our bellies. 

Now that y'all have gotten to know me... I must now get my boys ready for bed. Goodnight!

I'M BAAAAAAAAAACK!!!!!!

Hey y'all! It's been a while since I've posted anything so thank you for being patient with me! It's definitely good to be back! 

I'll be posting ways to cut your grocery bills, share some of my recipes, pictures of my stockpiles, and random other things that I either have a strong opinion about or things that just made me laugh. 

Today I went to Kroger for their buy 6 save $3 sale. I was pretty disappointed with the low stock but I can't be too mad since I have another 12 days of this sale. 

I paid $30 + change for all that's in the picture. 
MC=manufacturer's coupon


1 massive box of Cheerios (manager's special) mc 
2 boxes of multi grain Cheerios (mega sale) mc savingstar
1 Annie's organic soup (mega sale) mc savingstar
1 simple truth organic ketchup
1 Odwalla smoothie mc ibotta
1 box Quorn veggie nuggets (mega sale) mc ibotta 
4 cans diced tomatoes (mega sale)
1 can refried beans mc savingstar
2 boxes squeezable applesauce mc
2 boxes Boca veggie burgers (mega sale)
1 Dove men shampoo mc savingstar
1 Dove men body wash mc savingstar
1 Axe men shampoo mc savingstar
2 Colgate toothpastes mc 
1 loaf private selection bread
4 powerbars mc
1 package of potatoes with scallions
1 bunch organic kale
1 container organic mushrooms
1 Huggies wipes (mega sale) mc
1 package bell peppers
1 package of medjool dates (not pictured)
3 taco seasoning packets (not pictured, oops!) mc savingstar
2 bags Halls cough drops mc checkout51 

I also had rebate apps that will give me money back into my paypal account for buying specific items. 
Ibotta   https://ibotta.com/r/r8tba   If you go through my referral you will automatically receive an extra $10 once you verify a rebate! 
Savingstar 
Checkout51 


Tomorrow I will post pictures of my stockpiles.... since we live in a house with no closets, I have had to get creative with my stockpile organization.