Learning the Beauty of Couponing
I should actually be putting away all the things I bought today instead of writing about them, but heck, it's 10 pm and I'd rather type than be on my feet.
I went in with a specific list and a (partial) plan and did pretty well.
First up was Dollar General
I went in with the plan to pay $15.00.
What I Got:
2 cars for Kamden: $2.10
Dog food: $5.00
Dog treats (x2): $3.30
Bath Wash for Kamden: $1.50
Peroxide: $.60
Bandaids: $1.50
Snack Container for Kamden: $1.50
Hamburger Buns: $1.00
Bread: $1.00
Ziploc Freezer Bags (x2): $5.00
Total before coupons: $23.94
Less 1.00 off coupon on Ziploc bags $22.94
Total Savings: 22%
In addition, I was given a $5 dollar off coupon for the next time I was in store, so it was like I spent $17.94!!! Not bad when I'd planned on $15.00!
Next up was Walgreen's: One great thing to note about Walgreen's is that they not only allow you to use their in store coupon, but you can stack it with a manufacturer's coupon as well.
What I Got:
Lysol Touchless Hand Soap Dispenser (x) 2 : $23.98
Pringles (x2) : $3.00
Shredded Cheese (x2): $5.00
Mac N Cheese: $5.37
Gatorade (x5): $5.00
Dishwashing Soap (x2) $1.98
Raid: $4.99
Olives (x3) $2.97
Pull ups: $18.98 (hoping this expense is no longer an issue SOON - c'mon potty training!)
Mascara (x2) : $19.98
Total before taxes or coupons or instore savings (which are reflected in a few things above): 109.71
Less total coupons, in store savings and store coupons PLUS Tax: 73.51
Total Savings: 33%
I'd gone in expecting to spend $73.19. Only off by $.32!!! I also got Register Rewards totaling $7.00 on our next visit, so it's actually like I spent 66.51!
*Something to note, the pullups and the Touchless soap dispensers had register rewards of $2 and $5 each. This is PER TRANSACTION and NOT per item. If you plan around the register rewards listed in the ad, keep this in mind and hold out multiples for separate transactions. Had I done so, I would have actually gotten $14 worth of Register Rewards rather than $7. I know for next time now.
And finally CVS:
I went in with a specific list and a (partial) plan and did pretty well.
First up was Dollar General
I went in with the plan to pay $15.00.
What I Got:
2 cars for Kamden: $2.10
Dog food: $5.00
Dog treats (x2): $3.30
Bath Wash for Kamden: $1.50
Peroxide: $.60
Bandaids: $1.50
Snack Container for Kamden: $1.50
Hamburger Buns: $1.00
Bread: $1.00
Ziploc Freezer Bags (x2): $5.00
Total before coupons: $23.94
Less 1.00 off coupon on Ziploc bags $22.94
Total Savings: 22%
In addition, I was given a $5 dollar off coupon for the next time I was in store, so it was like I spent $17.94!!! Not bad when I'd planned on $15.00!
Next up was Walgreen's: One great thing to note about Walgreen's is that they not only allow you to use their in store coupon, but you can stack it with a manufacturer's coupon as well.
Lysol Touchless Hand Soap Dispenser (x) 2 : $23.98
Pringles (x2) : $3.00
Shredded Cheese (x2): $5.00
Mac N Cheese: $5.37
Gatorade (x5): $5.00
Dishwashing Soap (x2) $1.98
Raid: $4.99
Olives (x3) $2.97
Pull ups: $18.98 (hoping this expense is no longer an issue SOON - c'mon potty training!)
Mascara (x2) : $19.98
Total before taxes or coupons or instore savings (which are reflected in a few things above): 109.71
Less total coupons, in store savings and store coupons PLUS Tax: 73.51
Total Savings: 33%
I'd gone in expecting to spend $73.19. Only off by $.32!!! I also got Register Rewards totaling $7.00 on our next visit, so it's actually like I spent 66.51!
*Something to note, the pullups and the Touchless soap dispensers had register rewards of $2 and $5 each. This is PER TRANSACTION and NOT per item. If you plan around the register rewards listed in the ad, keep this in mind and hold out multiples for separate transactions. Had I done so, I would have actually gotten $14 worth of Register Rewards rather than $7. I know for next time now.
And finally CVS:
Mrs. Baird's Apple Pie (I needed a snack ya'll!) $.67
Vaseline Intensive care lotion (x2) : $5.00
Fiber One Brownie bites (x2): $.5.00
Gain Laundry Detergent: $5.99
Tide (x2): $11.98
Scott Toilet Paper: $7.47
2 gallons of milk: $5.98
Slip on shoes for Kam: $6.99
2 Air Wick Motion Detectors: $18.98 (had a $4.00 coupon for each)
Hand Sanitizing Wipes: $2.99
Large Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion: $5.99
Total before in store savings or coupons: $105.12
Less coupons and in store deals: 65.82
Total Savings: 37%
My average savings for this total trip was 31%.
It's definitely not where I want to be savings wise, but considering that none of the stores down here will double or triple coupons, I don't think that's too shabby. We have enough laundry detergent stocked up that we won't have to buy it for a good long while and the same goes for toilet paper so in the months to come that will be a BIG savings.
I'm trying to remember that no matter what I AM saving my family money when I go and that is what matters. I'll get better at this as I practice it more and learn more about it, so it can only get better from here.
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