Amelia's just opened in YORK

I am so excited that finally Amelia's grocery Outlet has opened a store in York. It just opened on Wednesday. I stopped by on Friday which maybe wasn't the smartest thing to do! The store was just packed with shoppers due to Super Bowl weekend, it being a new store, normal Friday shoppers and the snowstorm of biblical proportions was headed our way!! So, I did't get to look for bargains as well as I liked but I did come out of the store with a cart of groceries for about $45. The best part of the trip was when the cashier asked if I HAD ANY COUPONS!!! I will be back and next time with my coupon bag with me. They will be just giving me food to take home!! There are 13 locations in Southeastern PA- Allentown, Coatesville, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Manheim, Mechanicsburg, New Holland, Pottsville, Reading, Rohrerstown, Royersford, Woodlyn and now York. If there isn't one close to you it is worth a drive for some REALLY CHEAP groceries. Amelia's is the area's only authorized manufacturers outlet for many national and regional grocery manufacturers. The following is a list of some of these manufacturers and their brands: Dannon, Kellogg's, Campbell's, Heinz, Hershey and many many more brands that we all know and love.

My Valentine's Day "mantel".

I have gathered what I could find through out my house to make my sideboard  look like "LOVE" Day. I don't have a mantel so it will have to work. Here is what I have come up.

I found these cute vintage Valentine cards online and printed and stuck them where I wanted. 

The silver tray I have had forever. It was a lucky find at a thrift store! The pic is of my husband and I lighting our unity candle at our wedding. The heart shaped box was given to us at our wedding.

The gift I received from my husband last year for Valentines Day was the simple silver heart you see below. It was the best Valentine's Day gift I was ever given. He had it laying on the kitchen counter when I woke with a cute note saying how "sorry" he was that this was all he could give me (because we NEVER have money).

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!

How to make the most of CVS

First thing is to get your CVS ExtraCare Card. 

You can do this at the store by asking the cashier to help you or go online at CVS.com to sign up. The benefit in the store is you get the card right then opposed to waiting for it to come in the mail. The card needs to be scanned for every purchase. Once you have your card go online and register your card and sign up for emails. You will receive great deals and coupons by email.

Start earning your Extra Bucks.
The Extra Bucks will be printed at the bottom of your register receipt for use on your next purchase.
Extra Bucks are earned at every CVS store and online at CVS.com when you use your CVS card.
Earn 2% back with every purchase in -store or online.
Earn 1 Extra Buck for every 2 prescriptions filled at CVS.
Earn Extra Bucks from promotions. Like buy $15 work of Hershey candy get $5 in Extra Bucks.
Look in your local flyer to find all the weekly Extra Bucks promotions. You can always go online to view your flyer too.
To reach the required amount of $$ to get your Extra Bucks is always before coupons are deducted. Also, you do not need to buy all the $$ amount or products in one transaction or at the same store. CVS keeps track of it for you!! It is printed on the bottom of your receipt- if you have reached the offer limit or how much more you need to reach the Extra Bucks.
The more you use your card the more Rewards you will receive.

Scan your CVS ExtraCare Card at the CVS coupon scanner before you start shopping. Do it every visit for more coupons!!

Spending your Extra Bucks.
First keep them safe just like cash. You can use them on everything in the store except-alcohol, tobacco, lottery, gift cards, money orders, stamps, pre-paid cards, prescriptions and special order home health items, including footwear.
You WILL NOT receive change back from your Extra Bucks. So, make sure you use them ALL on your transaction.
For my visits to CVS, I purchase the items that are going to get me Extra Bucks FIRST. Then I do another transaction and use the Extra Bucks towards other items. Make sure you let the cashier know you have coupons and how many transactions you are going to make. I have found the NICER I am the better it goes, especially if I have A LOT of coupons.


Pick up your copy of the lasted CVS magazine Reinventing Beauty.

The magazines are usually  located close to the door with the weekly flyers. The magazine does cost $1.00 but there is usually $20 or more coupons inside. I purchase at least 2 or more. This magazine is packed with coupons. The best part is you can stack or use these coupons with a manufacturer coupon for the same item!! Just check to make sure you are buying a recent magazine by checking inside to see if the coupons have expired. I have found that they don't pull the old copies!!

Pick up the montly CVS Extra Value Book.

This flyer is packed with Deals and Extra Buck promotion for the month. Look for it with the weekly flyer and the Reinventing magazines.

Don't forget to pick up a CVS Green Bag Tag.

Just put the "TAG" on your reusable bag and get $1 Extra Buck for every 4th visit!! It's just that easy to earn Extra Bucks!

Sign up for your Extra Bucks online with your CVS ExtraCare card or in store with the coupon from the weekly flyer.

Double Bucks Program Details

The program runs from January 17th through March 15th, 2010. Individual earnings start from the sign-up date. Extra Bucks will not be rewarded retroactively. Your Double Bucks earnings will be combined with your quarterly Extra Bucks payout, beginning April 1st.

4% BACK ON CVS/PHARMACY BRAND ITEMS*

Instead of earning 2% back on CVS brand items, your earnings will Double to 4% back.

$2 EXTRA BUCKS FOR EVERY 2 PRESCRIPTIONS PURCHASED**

Instead of earning $1 Extra Buck for every 2
prescriptions, your earnings will Double to $2 Extra Bucks for every 2 prescriptions purchased.

Where to find coupons

Here are some great websites to visit to print out coupons. Most of the coupons found on the website you can print twice. Check the websites frequently because coupons are added and they can also reach their print minimums daily.
coupons.com
smartsource.com
redplum.com
allyou.com
eatbetteramerica.com
bettycrocker.com
kelloggs.com
kraftfoods.com
Simpleanddelicious.com


Visit the websites of your favorite stores to print out their coupons. These can be stacked or used together with manufacturer coupons.
target.com
cvs.com

Pick up your Sunday Paper or maybe a couple depending on the size of your family because it is filled with your best resource for coupons. Don't be afraid to ask family or friends for their extra coupons from the paper as well.

When you are going through your magazines keep a look out for coupons! The best magazine for coupons is ALL YOU.

Look on the products that you use! They will print them on the inside and outside of the packages. The manufacturers will also put coupons in the product like fish for instance. Peelies or hangtags may be on the products too.

Peelies- coupons that can be "peeled" from the product you are buying.

Blinkies- coupons that can be found in the isles of the store you are shopping at  in a machine usually with a "blinking" red light.

Tear pad-coupons that can be "torn" from a pad at the store

Hangtag or Winetag-coupons that are found "hanging" around the neck of the product.

Go to the website of the products you buy most often. If there isn't coupons available, contact the company by email or by phone. Mention how much you love the product and request coupons. In most cases the company will gladly send coupons.

Sign up for freebies online. Usually, when you receive your freebie coupons are with it.

Coupon Lingo

SS- coupons found in the Smart Source newspaper insert and website
RP-coupons found in the Red Plum newspaper insert and website
PG-coupons found in the Proctor & Gamble newspaper insert
UL-coupons found in the Unilever newspaper insert
IP-coupons found and printed from the internet
Bricks-company who provides most of the coupons found on the internet
IE-coupons printed from Internet Explorer
FF-coupons printed from FireFox
BOGO or B1G1-buy get one free
OOP-cost of product "out of pocket"
ECB- CVS Extra Care Bucks 
WYB-when you buy
OYNO-on your next order
Catalina or Cat- coupons printed from the white coupon printer at the register -like if you buy $20 worth of this product get $10 back with your receipt.You will get a Catalina coupon with your receipt.
MIR-mail in rebate
Blinkies-coupons found in the isles at the store at a machine with a "blinking" light
Peelies-coupons found that are "peeled" from the product
Hangtag or Winetag- coupons "hanging" from the neck of the product
Tearpad-coupons the are "torn" from a pad