Living Simply

This blog has developed into a blog about living a more simple life, as well as minimalism. Hopefully it will give you ideas how to simplify your life and get the most out of it.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Couponing - Week 3

This week I did well, but not great. Safeway didn't have too many great deals and with WalMart, you never know what you'll find for prices until you get there when it comes to groceries. I did manage to start at $184 and pay just $98, though. Not bad, saved $86.

I have a hard time figuring out by the receipt what's a store coupon and what's a manufacturer's ecoupon, but here's what I can tell:

1. I bought 2 boxes of Yoplait Gogurt. They were $2.00 ea. on sale, so that's $4. I used an eCoupon for .75/2, so now I paid 3.25 for 2 boxes. Then I used a paper coupon for .75/2 but Safeway matches the difference so it's like a $1/2 coupon. Now I paid $2.50 for 2 boxes, or just $1.25 each. That's a great price.

2. I bought Axe deodorant. They were priced at $3.99 and I got 2, so that should be about $8. I had a store flyer coupon that said I got them for just $3.49 each, so that's about $7 for both. Then I had an eCoupon for .50 off one, so now total cost is $6.50. Then I had a manufacturers coupon for $1 off 1. Now cost is $5.50. I then had another manufacturer's coupon for Buy One, Get One Free (up to $5.99). The cashier, Chris, our favorite, gave us the full $5.99 credit instead of just the $3.99 sale price. Final cost...NEGATIVE 50 cents! They paid me to take 2 Axe deodorants home! Can't beat FREE!

3. Pillsbury Crescent Rolls - I got 2. They were on sale for $1.99 ea. (so $4 total). I had a flyer coupon to get them for 1.69 ea. so now cost is down to $3.38. I used an eCoupon for .50/2, so now we're down to $2.88 for 2. I also had a paper coupon for .50/2 but Safeway matches to make coupons up to $1, so it became $1 off 2, so final cost was 1.88 for 2, or just 94 cents each. I used this same combination for 2 Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls too. I paid a grand total of $3.76 for 4 rolls/cans.

4. Toaster Strudels, $2.50 each, I got two, so $5. Flyer coupon made them just 1.99 ea. so now I was paying $4 for both boxes. I had an eCoupon for .50/2, so total cost was down to $3.50. Then I had a paper coupon for .50/2 which became $1 off 2, so now I paid $2.50 for 2. It was like Buy One Get One Free, or just $1.25 each.

5. Wishbone Dressing was $3.79. I got 2. What should've cost $7.58 (which I'd NEVER pay for 2 bottles of dressing!), got reduced immediately by the paper Buy One, Get One FREE coupon I had, so cost was back down to $3.79. I also had an eCoupon for $1 off, so now it was $2.79. Then I had a paper coupon for $2 off any bottle, and since I was paying for that 1st one, I got to use this coupon too. Now cost for 2 bottles was down to 79 cents. Final cost...just 39 cents each for the big bottles!

6. I was heading out of the store and saw my kids' favorite gummy snacks in the Clearance cart at 50% off. The clearance price made them .99 each. I had a paper coupon for $1 off 2 boxes, so final cost on those was just .50 each.

7. At checkout, I also received 2 - $1 off your next shopping trip coupons because I bought the fruit snacks and there was a buy more, save more type of program running.

I also got some okay deals, like Almond Milk for $1.99 instead of $3.69. I got SnackWells 100 calorie snacks form $1.75 a box instead of $3.79, their regular price.

Oh, I forgot, on the way to get groceries, we stopped at Walgreen's. They had Edge Gel on special for just $1.49 and I had a paper coupon for $1 off. I paid just 50 cents for the big 7oz can. I had to get a rain check for another brand of deodorant that they had on sale. It was on sale for .99 ea. and I have coupons for $1 off so they're FREE when they replenish their stock.

Not bad for a week without great sales to start with. Ready to come to a class in November to learn how you can save too?