Ireland Vacation Brag::: Huge CarePackage, Coupons & My Waterfront View *PICS*

[canirishmum]

Hi all! <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
I wanted to post a small update to let everyone know how my trip to Ireland went. Its been very interesting comparing prices and coupons, in another country, to how we do it in Canada. Three things Id like to post about. <o:p></o:p>
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1) BRAG: The view from my house in Ireland. <o:p></o:p>
2) BRAG: My FABULOUS box of goodies I sent to Ireland, (from Canada), by stacking all my coupons and stockpiling before I left. <o:p></o:p>
3) BRAG/UNBRAG: The cost of items in Ireland.<o:p></o:p>
4) UNBRAG: Couponing in Ireland. <o:p></o:p>
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So without further ado, here it goes!<o:p></o:p>
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1) BRAG/MY WATERFRONT PROPERTY VIEW<o:p></o:p>
I just had to post a picture of my view, out the front door of our house in Ireland.


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2) MY FABULOUS CARE PACKAGE & BOX OF GOODIES<o:p></o:p>
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<o:p></o:p>TOTAL: $132.69
+ Various Taxes (as they were all bought at different time, places etc.)
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THEN I REDEEMED MY SDM POINTS FOR:
<TABLE style="MARGIN: auto auto auto 4.65pt; WIDTH: 163pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt" class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=217><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 163pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=bottom width=217 noWrap>4x Ricola Cough Drops</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1"><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 163pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=bottom width=217 noWrap>2x Dove Antipersperant</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2"><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 163pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=bottom width=217 noWrap>2x Tums Smoothies</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3"><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 163pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=bottom width=217 noWrap>3x Polysporin Lip Treatment</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4"><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 163pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=bottom width=217 noWrap>2x Visine Drops</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5"><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 163pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=bottom width=217 noWrap>Oral B Stages TB</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6"><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 163pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=bottom width=217 noWrap>Colgate 360 TB</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 7; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 163pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=bottom width=217 noWrap>Poof Sponge <o:p></o:p>


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(And other things, but they didn’t go into the box)
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= FREE + Taxes ($25 ish)
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I had already stacked a LOT of diaper coupons, so 10 x Pampers Mega Pack Diapers went into the box, for roughly $25.
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ALL TOLD:
$132.69
$25
$25
$187 (for Surface Delivery Shipping – Canada Post)

= $369.69
For 7 months dry goods, delivered to my doorstep in Ireland
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PICTURES OF MY BOX:























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3) BRAG/UNBRAG: Prices in Ireland
Just to give a few small comparisons:
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Sensodyne ProNamel Toothpaste: EURO 5.75 = $7.67
Pampers Wipes 2x 4 pack: EURO 10.00 = $13.35
Pampers Diapers 2x Mega Pack: EURO 18.00 = $24.00
Aptimel (Like Enfamil, infant formula): EURO 10.49 = $14.04

I cannot believe how CHEAP formula is here. $27.99 for a can of Enfapro A+ in Canada when we left... $14 here!!!!
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4) UNBRAG/COUPONING IN IRELAND
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Bascially, there are few to no coupons. Like, none really. I once found a booklet in a package of frozen burgers, which had some GREAT coupons in them. And there was EURO 1 coupons inside the formula we use here (Aptamil) but that was it. A few companies have points programs similar to SDM, or give out vouchers (think CT money) but that is all. Below are the only coupons I managed to scrape up in 7 months. Boooo










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Thats all folks, just wanted to Brag/Unbrag about this adventure in my life, before I come back to Canada to STACK! STACK! STACK!
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[Cheapnik]

Excellent brag..awesome beach!

[scbpooh]

Yes welcome back! Would love to see pics

[Perogie]

Wow, what a brilliant idea 7 months in Ireland??? Lucky you!!!!!!!!! Did you have work there??? Never been but it's on our list of places to visit someday

[rhiannon1891]

Cool! I can't see the pic of your house.

Where are you staying? DH has tons of family in the Belfast area. We went to Ireland for a weeks vacation 3.5 yrs ago. Stayed in Belfast and went on a 3 day driving tour of the west coast. Absolutely gorgeous. I adored it!

[canirishmum]

Fixed the glitch, should be able to see the picture of my view now. And no, not working, just vacationing

[Litesandsirens911]

Snoopy question...but do you own a home there too or just rent it? The reason I ask is my Aunty loves renting houses in other countries for her holidays, and she lives in West Vancouver too, lol...she often goes to Paris or Turkey,Italy, etc...Ireland would be so beautiful to go to...

2) Excellent idea on spending a little to send a lot, the prices there seem so extreme!

Welcome back to Canada

[kazm-l]

Things are cheaper in England than in Ireland...you should've popped across

[canirishmum]

My mum's actually from England! But yes, things are definately less expensive in England. That is, NOW, that the Euro has come closer to the pound in worth.

We did head to Northern Ireland for a little roadtrip, and I was SHOCKED to see the prices there. So much cheaper than in Ireland!

[Boo Radley]

Welcome back
Beautiful view from your house!
Did you rent the house? or buy it? and how much did it cost if you don't mind me asking

Aren't coupons in the UK called vouchers?
My favourite UK deals website (which I used to use when I stayed in England in the summer a few years ago) has loads of vouchers
http://www.hotukdeals.com/groceries/vouchers/discussed

[canirishmum]

To answer all the questions...

We are in the 'Aran Islands', on the Island of Inis Mor. We own the property that we live on, and are building a house here at the moment. Didnt buy the property, it was in DH's family

BUT Lites, there are TONS of rental properties here on the island! Seriously, we have about 1,000 tourists a day in the summer time. A lot of which end up renting a flat, or a mobile home. Google Inis Mor... you'll love it :p

Thanks Boo! Am going to check that out for sure. I've been on the lookout for a 'Smart Paddys' website And yes! We have vouchers, but the only place I have seen them is at Boots. I posted a picture of one for EURO 7.50. But the other coups I found were just that... MFR coups.

[Boo Radley]

Thanks Boo! Am going to check that out for sure. I've been on the lookout for a 'Smart Paddys' website And yes! We have vouchers, but the only place I have seen them is at Boots. I posted a picture of one for EURO 7.50. But the other coups I found were just that... MFR coups.

I find Boots and Shoppers Drug Mart to be very similar in style

The fact that Ireland uses Euros and not Pounds anymore is annoying me

Did you get me any Thorntons ice cream with you? <3


Anyways one thing you can do to save a lot of money on grocery is to shop half an hour before the store's closing time. Unlike the stupid "Best Before" labels we have, they have clear Expiry Dates on products after which it is illegal to sell the product. So a lot of stores sell fruits, vegetables, flowers, bakery, meat, etc. for pennies (fine, cents ) right before closing time and you can end up with loads of bargains regardless of whether or not you use vouchers. This would apply at Tesco, Asda (now Walmart?), Waitrose, Sainsbury's, etc.

[ahatt]

Wow what a gorgeous view!! DH is part irish (his grandparents immigrated here over 50 years ago), and he has always wanted to go to Ireland. It looks absolutely beautiful there! That's too bad that Ireland doesn't have many coupons, I wonder why...

That's fantastic that you were able to buy all that stuff and ship it over to Ireland very inexpensively! Great job!

[canirishmum]

OMGosh Boo, such good advice I never realized that about the shops here... good to know! Yep, the Boots is very similar to SDM except the ladies in Boots are always made-up to the nines, and smiling

I am desperately seeking some Thorntons treacle toffee, but cant seem to find it

And yes. The pound/euro controversy. Lol. It is irritating. We drove down to Dublin from Northern Ireland the last day, and all we had was Pounds. Think the lady at the toll booth wanted to take them? NO. So we just said we had no cash lol. Then she took them It is handy though when we travel to other countries, like a few years back we went to the Canary Islands, and didnt have to change currency. Which was nice. You always lose at the currency exchange counter. They need vouchers lol.

[Kayla]

OMG I would LOVE to Visit Ireland! it's on mt list :D I love the picture of the view from your home! it's beautiful!!!

I'm....soo....jealous!! ....lol! hahah!