Category: Shopping/Saving

I just thought I’d continue with my previous post about coupons and thought I’d give a little homework assignment!  At Target you can purchase the single serve cup of Cheerios for $1.  Go here COUPON and print off one manufacture coupon for $1 off any Cheerios product.  Ta Da!  You just scored something for free!  If you hit your back button you will be able to print this coupon off again.

At first I never really thought that saving a dollar or .50 cents would make that much of a difference, but I must tell you that I’ve been quite proud at how I’ve reduced our monthly grocery bill by using coupons.  I know some couponers (word?) who stick to a $50 or $80 grocery/household budget a week!  A week!  I’m nowhere near that good, but I’ve set some goals for myself.   Remember-

1. Goals are important.  If you want to begin using coupons, plan on trying to use at least 5 coupons on your weekly shopping trip.

2. If you miss a sale, do not stress about it.  That toilet paper will be on sale next week or month.

3. Be aware that some cashiers are less than coupon friendly and feel you are unfairly taking advantage of the mega million dollar corporation.  Please note that stores are fully reimbursed for the face value of the coupon, plus .08 cents handling.  So don’t worry about those corporate executives, they aren’t losing any money.

4. Read the small print.  If a coupon says- $1 off any Cheerio product.  Than that means ANY.  There are no size restrictions.  Don’t be fooled with what may or may not be pictured on the coupon.

Couponing has become my hobby.  I’m certainly not as savvy as most professional savers (yes, professionals), but I’ve found it to be quite enjoyable.  I’m starting to get more of a feel for the spirit of couponing as well; as such I thought I’d share a bit of what I’ve learned (this after fielding several questions about coupons from various friends, coworkers, and family).  Here are some of my thoughts:

1. You can combine one manufacture and one store coupon per item. Yes, really you can!  For example, if you go to Target.com you can print off target coupons, than combine that coupon with a manufacture coupon, for example from your Sunday paper.

2. To get a good deal try to match your coupons with sales.  I don’t intuitively know where the deals are, I let professional do the work for me.  Mom blogs make it their business to match sales and coupons and they tell me what to do!  I’m just really good at following directions.

3.  When you find a stock up price, well stock up!  A stock up price is when you can get an item for free or 75% less than retail.

4.  Begin by buying one newspaper every Sunday and begin practicing your math.

5.   Your time is valuable and sometimes saving a few dollars isn’t always worth your time.

Tonight on the way home from work I thought of this deal at Rite Aid (pictured below).  I paid $2.80, however, I shouldn’t have paid anything (I did and redid the math after I got home, and yep the total should have been the big Zero).  I had an elderly cashier who became confused by the coupons and sales, he was very pleasant, but didn’t really get it.  I had a long line behind me and I knew my guys were waiting for me at home, so I told the cashier it was ok, and handed him $3 bucks, in the end it wasn’t worth my time to argue over $2.80.  My total before coupons was $30, so I still did ok.

Drum roll please.   I did this in two transactions.  Before coupons my total was $50.  I only paid, however, $4.50.  I will also be getting back $6 from Rite Aid, so I actually made money today!   One of my transactions came down to ZERO, so I paid nothing out of pocket!  I actually did a little dance at the store which made the manager laugh.  I also jumped into another customers order and gave her a coupon so that she could get two cover girl makeup products free, as I had an extra coupon.  She too was very excited.

Managed to run to Rite Aid while Ajax was napping.  My total was almost $20 even, but I only paid $3.  I had wanted to hit the $1 mark, but my math was a little off.  I actually went to law school to avoid math!

I realize, looking over a post from earlier this week, that I was premature in my dreaming of spring, as today was a blistery, snowy day in Michigan.  Year after year Michiganders forget that February, March and even April are still prone to winter weather advisories.  What a pain.

Today, Bev babysat Ajax at our house.  She said that he did wonderful and was quite fun (of course!).  Thank you so much to everyone who watched Ajax these two weeks, it really helped Dave and I out!

The other day I was sitting on the couch and Ajax was standing next to me.  He started off with one hand on the couch and then let that hand drift off so that he could clap and then point at the TV.  Then he got a little nervous and took two steps toward me so that he could hold onto my leg.  He looked up at me like- whew mom, I almost lost it, I wasn’t holding onto anything!  I don’t even think he realized that he had been free standing!

I ran to Target tonight to pick up a hands free set because somehow I managed to lose a thing that I use at least twice per day… I cannot live without it.  I think I’ve finally learned the secret to stockpiling (not hoarding!).  I purchased the hands free set which was $14 and spent an additional $1.20 on the body wash and soap, I am finally am getting my out of pocket costs down!

I ran to Rite Aid today (which really has turned into a Sunday morning ritual at this point.  I now know everyone in the store!).

I spent a total of $18.99 and saved $18.10.  That’s more than I  normally would have spent out of pocket, but to put it into perspective the Fusion razor refills I bought cost $27.  Also this last  purchase has now qualified me for a $35 Visa gift card!

Here’s my most recent Rite Aid shopping trip~!

My total before coupons/sales, you ask?   $40.76.   Out of my pocket, however, I only paid $6.77.   I will also be getting a check from Rite Aid for $3, so in total $3.77!

Here’s my recent Target trips:

I paid a total of $14.98 and received a $10 Target gift card.  To get my out of pocket cost that low I rolled two $5 Target gift cards (one that I earned during the transaction and one that I had earned previously).

So less than $5 for all the above items!  I’m getting better!  On a side note, some cashiers feel that it is their personal mission to discourage coupon use and make it very difficult to use them.  Honestly, the cashier at the store was so rude to me, it was tougher than going to court!

With my new organized coupon system I hit up Rite Aid like a pro!  Here’s my take-

In total I paid $14.93 (plus $2 in tax) and I will be getting $10.00 back from Rite Aid, so in total less than $5 bucks!