Target Trip!

This Week I Took a LONG POA With Me

And I Found Some Great Deals.. Some I Even GOT PAID to Take Home With Me.

I Heart Target.

This week's Target Post is a bit different. When I post ALL the deals I found, etc, it can be a bit daunting to sift through it all and get the overall big picture.  This week, I am going with more of an inspirational (I hope) post that will highlight what I view as my BEST deals at Target this week.  Just using a 50c off manuf Huggies wipes coupon on wipes I needed that weren't on sale just isn't that special or interesting for this post.  Yes, it is essential to what we are doing.. saving money one coupon at a time.. but this post is all about INSPIRATION! You can do this! Here are some of the great deals you can get for yourself when you do!

*when you see a dollar amount and then T, that means I used a Target coupon for that amount. A dollar amount and then M is manufacturer.  To get the PRE COUPON amount, just add the coupons back into the final price, which is what I am posting here. In the first example, A&D was $3.74, then I used two coupons to make the final value 74c.   And all prices are PRE TAX.

• A&D Baby Ointment   74c ($2T, $1M)
• Circo Socks  Was Paid 30c ($1T and they were 70c on clearance)
• Mini Oreos Snack Sack   $1 ($1T off 2.. was $1.50 pre coupon on sale)
• Mini Chips Ahoy Snack Sack  $1 ($1T off 2.. was $1.50 pre coupon on sale)
• 4 Ortega Taco/Fajita/etc Seasoning Packs at 19c EACH ($1 off 2 M)
• Kikkoman Teryaki  67c ($1M)
• Kikkoman Soy Sauce  67c ($1M)
• Bisquick Shake and Pour Pancakes $1.24 (50cM)
• CoffeeMate Powder Singles Creamers 52c ($1 off 2 M)
• CoffeeMate Powder Singles French Vanilla Creamer 52c ($1 off 2M)
• Dove Men BodyWash, FULL SIZE, Was Paid 2c  ($1T, $1M, and Was On Clearance for $1.98)
• Degree Men's Deodorant, FULL SIZE, Was Paid 3c ($1T, $1M, and Was On Clearance for $1.97)
• Colgate Total, Full Size, 14c ($1.50 M, $1 T)
• Tylenol PM, 24ct AND Motrin 24ct, Was Paid 13c ($6 off 2 M)
• Visine, Travel Sized, Was Paid 3c ($2 M)
• Visine, Travel Sized, Was Paid 3c ($2 M)
• Welch's Fruit Snacks  50c (50cM)
• Welch's Fruit Snacks  50c (50cM)
• Dasani 1 L Water  39c (BOGO T)
• Dasani 1 L Water 39c (BOGO T)
• Ore Ida Tator Tots 1.66 (Buy 2, Get 1 Free In Store Promotion)
• Ore Ida Hashbrowns 1.66
• Ore Ida Country Style Hashbrowns 1.66
• Skittles Blendeds (check out counter) 19c ($1 off 2 T, 50c M)
• Skittles Blendeds (orig 69c)  19c ($1 off 2 T, 50c M)

Total for all these good deals:  13.87

To recap, for just under $14, pre tax, I walked out of Target with:

2 packs of Skittles Blended Candies, 2 Family Sized bags of Ore Ida Hashbrowns, 1 Family Sized bag of Ore Ida Tator Tots, 2 One Liter Dasani Water Bottles, 2 bags of Welsh's Fruit Snacks, 2 Travel Sized Visines, 24ct Motrin, 24ct Tylenol PM, Full Sized Colgate Total, Full Sized Degree Men's Deodorant, Full Sized Dove Men's Body Wash, CoffeeMate Powder Singles, CoffeeMate Powder French Vanilla Singles, Bisquick Family Sized Shake and Pour Pancakes Mix, Kikkoman Teryaki, Kikkoman Soy Sauce, 4 Packs of Ortega Taco etc Seasoning, Oreo Snack Sack (Family Size), Chips Ahoy Snack Sack (Family Size), a Full Sized A&D Ointment, and Super Cute Baby Socks (pink pirate ones!)

My Out of Pocket for this trip was $69.34. I saved $42.82 in coupons, etc.  My weekly budget is $120.  I bought 56 items (one of which was a $10 stroller!!!).  I used 29 coupons.  I saved a little more than 38% off my total using coupons this week at Target.  Were I to save $42.82 every week, I would save $2226.64  just in weekly groceries/necessities coupons. Keep in mind that this budget includes items such as DVDs, Gifts, some Clothes, and even my new Stroller. Also, I saved 50.66 off my weekly budget by looking for the deals that didn't necessarily need a coupon.  That savings adds another $2634.32 annually if I can keep that trend up!  That is a total of  $4860.96 projected savings for the year this year if I keep this trend going. Not bad for 3 hrs a week!! It really all adds up and makes a big difference!

*when I say I got Paid to Own an item, in this posting's case, it means that instead of undervaluing my coupon, the cashier just accepted my coupons at face value. Usually, if it is a 97c item and you have $1 off, they will override the coupon to be 97c off instead. This time, even though I was honest enough to say "Here's a $2 off, but it was $1.97", they accepted the coupon, or the computer automatically took the full value off anyway.  Thus, giving me a discount greater than the cost of the item it was being used for.  This isn't always the case, so don't get too excited. Always know your store's coupon policy and always know what the fine print and exclusions on the coupons are.  My fave managers were working today and I heart them! They know I am honest and usually take my beeping coupons no problem! 

Why Walgreens? A Serious Question. Does Anyone Do Walgreens?

I Walked Out of Walgreens This Weekend After Doing a Really Great Deal Quite Confused.

Does Anyone Love Walgreens? Why?

After My Experience and Even After Getting a Great Deal, I am Not Sure What it Will Take to Get Me to Go Back.

I really would love some feedback on this. Who shops Walgreens? Why do you shop Walgreens? Why should I shop Walgreens?  I had a bad experience the other evening that I have never had in all my dealings with Rite Aid and CVS. It was my first time to go redeem the Walgreens "bucks" I had that were expiring.  

Here's What Happened:

I realized I had $6.50 in "bucks" that were expiring on Saturday. They were to be used at Walgreens. I will admit I did not take the time to check the Walgreens coupon policy before I went to the store. I just blindly figured it was in line with Rite Aid and CVS.  I was of course wrong.

I went and saw Huggies diapers on sale for $7.99. I had a $1.50 off manuf coupon. I had that $6.50 in Walgreens "money". So... free diapers?

Only, no.

When I went to the check out, there was not a line. The clerk scanned my Huggies. Then, he scanned the first out of three Walgreens "bucks". It beeped and refused to take it. He tried and tried and tried. Then he said the problem was that his manager had already changed the systems over to the Sunday deals and that's why the bucks that expired that night, that Saturday, were not going through. So, he called the manager to come override it.  

She comes over and looks and goes "OH. You are trying to use 4 coupons on 1 item. You can use all these coupons together, but you must have 4 items in your ticket to use 4 coupons."   WHAT??!! They consider the Walgreens "bucks" to be coupons. And the computer wont take them, even if your use is legitimate, if you don't have enough items in the ticket.

That is CRAZY to me. What is the point of getting "money" back if you can't use it like you would a gift card or whatever?? I was annoyed and red faced, but still polite. But, at this point there is a line of 5 people behind me. So I am embarrassed, too.  My fault for not knowing the policy, I get that. But STILL! That policy is MADDENING. 

What is the point of allowing STACKABLE coupons if you have to go add more items to be able to use them?

I ended up still getting a decent deal. I added 3 of the Dove Chocolate bars that were on sale for 49c ea to the ticket. And, voila! That made 4 items and the computer let me use $6.50 in Walgreens "Bucks" and $1.50 in Huggies manuf coupon.  

I walked out severely annoyed and only spending about $2 for a Jumbo pack of diapers and 3 candy bars.  

I also decided not to go back and be frustrated like that again.. Unless someone can explain to me why I should give it another shot?  To me, it just felt like Walgreens has policies that SEEM coupon friendly so that they get more shoppers, when really, they are just a huge hassle.

 

My Trip To CVS This Week: I Saved More Than $37, Spent About $3

Last Night At CVS I Saved More Than 92% 

And I Only Spent  $3.10

My husband needed some hair gel, so I decided to head out to CVS. Since I was going to spend about $3 on the hair gel, anyway, I figured I might as well make that $3 go further. As in more than $40 worth of product further... Yep, I did have to do it in 4 transactions. And, Yes. I did start with $5 in EB made in last week's run to the store. (Remember? I bought a Schick Hydro Razor for less than $2 and got $5 EB back...which I used last night.)

Here's what I did:

Transaction Number 1:

• Herbal Essences Shampoo- Bought one at the 2/$5.97 price

• Aussie Hair Gel- Bought one to go with Herbal Essences 2/$5.97

           Used a BOGO Coupon and saved $2.99. Then, got $2 EB.  So, It was like paying 98c for BOTH, or   49c EACH for the Gel and Shampoo.

• Irish Spring Bodywash, 18oz- Bought one at $2.99

            Used a 50c off coupon, and got $2 EB.  So, it was like paying 49c.

Then, I paid using my $5 EB from last week.  This took my total down to 47c! After Tax, my total was $1.10 and I received $4 EB.

Transaction Number 2:  

Glide Clinical Floss-  $3.49

             Used a $1 off Manuf Coupon

             Used $2 EB from previous transaction

I paid 73c after tax, and got $2.50 EB back.  Depending on how you look at it, I got paid $1.76 to own floss.

Transaction Number 3:  

Crest Pro Health Complete Mouthwash-  $3.49

              Used a $1 off Manuf Coupon

              Used $2 EB from first transaction

I paid 73c after tax, and got $2.50 EB back. Depending on how you look at it, I got paid $1.76 to own mouthwash.

Transaction Number 4:

Dr. Pepper 2 L- $1

              Used a 25c peelie coupon I found in the store, so it was 75c.

Purex 3in1 Sheets, 20 loads-  On sale for $3.99

              Used a $1 manuf coupon, so $2.99

Chex Hot and Spicy Snack Mix-  $1 (a splurge!)

CANDY DEAL:  2 Snickers, 1 Dove. They are on sale for 99c ea, buy 2, get 1 free

               The magic coupon kiosk in store gave me 50c off 2 Snickers store coupon, and a coupon for 25c off a Dove candy bar.  At 99c each, buy 2 get one free, that made the candy bars about $1.25 for 3 after these CVS store coupons. BUT I also had a BOGO manuf coupon that took another 99c off. So, about 25 cents for 3 candy bars, or 8c a bar!

I used the $5 worth of EB I got in the Floss and Mouthwash transactions. After the coupons I listed here, and the EB I used, my pre tax total was a NEGATIVE 2 CENTS!!!!!  After tax, this transaction was 54 c for everything!

To recap:

$3.10 got me 3 full sized candy bars, 2L Dr Pepper, 20 load Purex 3in1, Chex mix, Glide Clinical Floss, Crest Complete Mouthwash, Herbal Essences Shampoo, Aussie Hair Gel, and Irish Spring Bodywash.

All items were FULL SIZED.

To those of you that think couponing is not worth it, please reconsider. I am always telling folks I cannot afford generics. This is a good example of why.