Okay, I got sucked into the world of crazy-couponer-blogs, but I’m back now. If you want to see some people who are FOR REAL SERIOUS about this, especially CVS and Walgreens, just google “CVS game” and prepare to be amazed. They also link you to all their online coupons they used for all items and what Sunday’s insert the coupons came from–I am not quite that cool. My deal is that I’m just trying to save money on what we need to buy anyway, and I see no need to buy a snazzy glucose meter, even if it is FREE and will give me a hundred imaginary CVS dollars (I made that up). My whole point is to simplify, right?
I have bought 2-3 Sunday papers for the past few weeks and started a coupon stash. I have also printed a few coupons online, but very few. I obsessively read blogs to see what others were doing, picked out the things I thought I could actually apply, and tried it. I’m still learning, but here are some highlights.
Walgreens, 1st trip:
When you get there, pick up the sale ad and these little blue booklets (called Easy Saver Catalogs). They all have coupons you can use right then, and you are allowed to use 2 coupons per item (1 manufactuer’s coupon + 1 Walgreens coupon). The only trick is that you can’t have more coupons than items, so you might have to throw in a little candy item or something to up your item count (it doesn’t matter how much it costs–I bought $0.50 Skittles to do this, for example).
(I’m not going to list everything I bought because I’m lazy)
Electrasol Dishwasher Tabs, 3.49 (used 2.50 mfg coupon, and submitted 1.50 rebate, so eventually free)
Loreal lipstick x2 on clearance, 2.39 (used 2.00 mfg coupon on each, so .39 each)
Aquafresh toothpaste, 3.79 (used 2.00 man coupon, not a really great deal because I thought it was marked cheaper)
Garnier Fructis Shampoos/Conditioners x4, 2.99 (for each: used an EasySaver Catalog coupon for 2.00, + mfg coupon for 1.00, so free)**even without my other clipped coupon, they would be .99, so great deal
Garnier Fructis Hair Putty, clearance 2.19 from 4.99 (used 1.00 mfg coupon, so 1.19)
Walgreens sale savings, 19.50, Mfg coupon savings 13.50, Total savings 33.00
ETA: The Reese’s whips are also 2/$1 at Kroger, so you can use the coupon from Sunday’s paper to get those free there, too.
Kroger:
Kroger doubles all coupons up to .50 cents. As far as I can tell, no other major hoops to jump through, though I suggest you select a nice-looking cashier just in case one of your coupons beeps (some are friendlier than others).
Okay, that receipt is really hard to decipher (I don’t read register), so here are the few things that were really cheap:
Coffee-mate liquid creamer, 2.15 (used .50 man coupon, so 1.15 final price each)
Holiday Cinnamon Spice Quaker Oatmeal x3 (the only kind BG will eat, of course), .99 on back clearance rack (and I found a 1.00 coupon today, so they could have been free
Powerade Zero 32 oz, 1.60 (used 1.00 man coupon on each, so .60)
Snapple Green Tea, individual size 1.00 (used .75 coupon, so .25 each)
Tyson Chicken Quarters, 8.25 (manager’s special markdown 5.40)
Small Suave lotion x2, 1.00 (used 1.00 man coupon, so free)
Suave body wash, 1.67 (used 1.00 man coupon, so .67 each)
Softsoap hand soap, .99 (used .35 man coupon, so .30)
Lightlife vegetarian “meat slices” 1.29 managers special (used 1.00 man coupon, so .29)
Colgate toothpaste x2, 2.00 each (used 1.00 man coupons, so 1.00 each)
Kroger Plus savings 17.68 (doesn’t really count–we all get that!), Mfg coupons 10.65, doubled coupons 3.15, Total Savings on 51 items 31.48
Walgreens, trip 2:
One of my coupons “beeped,” so I didn’t push it (the register wouldn’t accept it). I realized later this was a mistake and it should have applied, so I’ll be more careful next time. This cashier was really nice and cheered for me when it showed I saved so much!
Did the whole Garnier Fructis Shampoo again for 3 more bottles free, ended up paying .99 for one that beeped
Reynolds Wrap 20 ft, 1.69 (used Walgreens coupon to make it 1.00, then used 1.00 Mfg coupon to make it free)
Walgreens brand TP, .89 (used Walgreens coupon to make it .50 each)
Two Reese’s candy bars (used a coupon for those, but I can’t read the receipt!)
Bag of Skittles for filler to make my # of items equal my number of coupons
Walgreens coupon savings 1.48, Walgreens sale savings 2.90, Mfg coupons 8.00, Total savings 12.39 (paid 3.14 out of pocket)
Okay, and just a little tip for you for reading all that garbage…go to coupons.com and look at the household coupons. There is a .50 coupon for Cottonelle toilet paper. You can print it twice from each computer. When it doubles at Kroger, you can get the 4-pack of Cottonelle TP for free! That’s my favorite so far. No muss, no fuss.
Whew! That was much harder to write than my regular ramblings. Stay tuned for more mundane details on potty-training, Dora panties, and my current life.
), but would obviously love it. She said she loved kids and didn’t have grand-kids to spoil. I think I said it was okay, and then I was deaf from BG’s happy reaction. She hugged it, declared it her best friend, and hugged the lady’s knees. Diego went to church with us, obviously. It was a very sweet thing to do, and a 75% off Diego made this little girl very happy. Now I need to watch for a chance to do the same thing (but not that violently tantruming kiddo I saw last night at Walgreens).
