Target Brag: Easter Clearance and MORE!

I Saved About $60 Today at Target. 

What Could You Do With An Extra $60 a Week? 

$240 A Month? 

You Can Coupon. If You Do, You Can Get Some Deals Like I Did Today!

I got some great deals at Target today. I am going to spare you all the random details on my receipt and highlight the really good deals for you today.  And, Yes. Today I started Easter shopping for next year. Don't Tell my kids or in-laws! :)

*Disclaimer:  It is Target's official policy to Value Down a coupon if it exceeds the in-store value. For example, when I used a $2 off ANY Head and Shoulders coupon to buy the 97c travel size, the policy is for the cashier to value the coupon down to 97c off instead of taking $2 off.  Today, you will see in many cases,the computer took my coupons without beeping.. and took them for the full face value of the coupon amount. This hardly ever happens. AND I did tell the clerk that I had items that would need the coupons valued down on. She just scanned them and they all went through. So, instead of free, I got some nice overage today.  I did it on the up and up with integrity, so Cool! ALWAYS tell the clerks about these types of coupon issues upfront. IF they choose to take the coupon at full face value after that and not Value Down the coupon, then yippee for you. You did what you were supposed to do and if the computer didn't beep on the coupon, there really isnt a way to Value Down the coupon, anyway.  

I was prepared for a long check out as we went line by line to Value Down my coupons... lots were expiring, so I hurried and used them for travel sized freebies.  **overage refers to the amount I basically got paid to own something.

Here's what I snagged:

• Tide Single Load Detergent: 97c, used $1 off Any Manuf Coupon (P&G rebate book) = 3c overage!
• Wonka Exceptionals Eggs Candy: On Clearance for $1.99, used $1 Manuf Q= 99c
• 8 Boxes of Skittles Blenders Candies (movie theater size):  On Clearance for 49c ea.  Used 2 $1 off 2 Skittles Blenders Target Q, and 2 manuf coupons for 50c off 2 = $1 for 8 boxes, or 12.5c ea box
• Pringles: 2 cans at $1.57 ea, used a $1 off 2 Manuf Q= $1.07 ea
• 1 L Sparkling Ozarka Water: 69c ea, used a BOGO Manuf Q =  34.5 c ea
• Kraft Bunny Marshmallows: On Clearance 50% off = 59c
• Bagel Bites: $2.49- $1 Manuf Q = $1.49
• Nivea Body Wash: $3.04 - $3 Manuf Q = 4 c!
• Old Spice Deodorant: 97 c - $1 off ANY Manuf Q (P&G Brand Rebate book) = 3c overage!
• Olay Bar of Soap:  97c - $2 off ANY Olay Manuf Q (P&G Brand Rebate Book) = $1.03 overage!!
• Secret Deodorant: 97c- $1 off ANY Manuf Q (P&G rebate book)= 3c overage!
• Oral B Cavity Defense Toothbrush:  $1.59 - $1 off ANY Manual Oral B Toothbrush Manuf Q (P&G) = 59c
• Head and Shoulders: 97c - $2 off ANY Manuf Q (P&G Rebate book) = $1.03 overage!
• Herbal Essence Shampoo:  97c- $1 off ANY Manuf Q (P&G Rebate Book) = 3c overage!
• Band Aids (Hello Kitty): 97c - 50c Manuf Q = 47c
• Band Aids (Hello Kitty): 97c ea, bought 2, used a $2 off 2 Manuf Q= 6c overage to own both!
• Hello Kitty Band Aid (97c) and Travel Listerine ($1.47) : $2.43 for both, used a $2 off 2 Manuf Q = 43c for both, or about 22c each!
• Fur Real Friend Mini for Easter (clearanced to $3.49) and a Single Chocolate Peep (Clearanced to 49c): $3.98.  I used a Manuf Q for $2 off Fur Real Easter Friend WYB ANY chocolate Peep = $1.98 for both.  (really good, since the original cost on the Fur Real Friend was around $7!!)

I got a lot of good products and things I needed on the cheap today.  And, yes, I really did need that many Hello Kitty bandaids! We had about 3 Band Aids in the house prior to this.. now we have 40! Whew.

Here is the breakdown:


Total Pre Tax Out of Pocket Expense:  $7.52
Number of Coupons Used:  20
Items Bought:  30
Coupons Total Value:  $24.19
Pre Coupon, Pre Clearance, Original Value of All Items When Bought at Regular Full Price:  $45.01

Total Savings Today On The Items Above: About 83% or  $37.49 off Original In-Store Cost. 

*I did not list everything I bought, or all of my coupons.  This is my "highlight reel".  I actually saved about $60 with coupons this trip, and only spent $76.56, pre tax, on this trip.  That means I saved about 44% off my total today with coupons!  (I saved even more than that off original in-store costs, bc much of what I bought was on sale today)

**AND! Notice many of these deals were done without needing stackable coupons.  

Target Deals I Snagged Last Week

As I Get Ready to Make My Weekly Target Run, 

It occurred to Me That I Didn't Post the Highlights From Last Week's Target Trip! Oops!

The good news is that my trip last week did not really include any of the weekly deals. These were deals I snagged the old-fashioned way... by having my Bargain Binder on me and working some good coupon deals and stacked coupon deals.  In other words, you can get good deals like this without worrying about the weekly ad, too, if you coupon.

Trip Summary:  I spent $94.33 out of pocket. (My budget was $120)  

                        I saved $63.32 using coupons.

Here are my deal snagging highlights:

Good Start Gentle Baby Formula-8 ct ready to feed glass bottles-   Paid $10.59. Used $15.95 Rebate Check  ** Usually, they will value the rebate check down. The system didn't do that this time. SO, I got PAID $5.36 to own this baby formula!

2 Piece Union Style Girl's PJ Sets (Super cute!) $1.74 each set on clearance

2 Pack Baby Sleep and Play outfits $2.24 on clearance

Take and Toss Bowl set  82 cents on clearance

Shout On the Go Wipes (travel section) 12 cents after coupons(Store coupon for 50c off, Manuf coupon for 50c off)

WONKA Chocolate Bar 14 cents after coupon. (on clearance for $1.14, and I used a $1 off manuf coupon)

2 Pringles Super Stack 84 cents each stack after coupon(I bought two. They were $1.34 each. Then I used a $1 off 2 Manuf coupon)

Whole Wheat Pizza Crust pack  76 cents on clearance

Reach Icy Floss Got paid 3 cents to own after coupon (was .97 on sale. Used a $1 off manuf coupon, the system gave me $1 credit!)

Bounty Basic Paper Towel 75 cents after coupon (used a 25 cent manuf coupon)

Melissa and Doug Wooden Travel Game was $13, I paid $3.26 on clearance! 

Legos UBuild Sorry Game  $5.04 on clearance (Great for the gift closet, Ebay, or a rainy day!)

I used 5 reusable shopping bags and saved another 25 cents that way.

Now, here is a mini lesson on how to stack coupons and why order matters:

I had 4 vouchers from GE manufacturer for free lightbulbs.  My husband had written them because we were unsatisfied. The last lot we bought all burned out within a month of putting them in. All of the other bulbs we tried in the same places were fine. GE mailed us 4 vouchers as "make goods".  

Then, I found 2 $1 off GE lightbulb Target coupons, and 2 $1.50 off GE lightbulb Target coupons.  

SOMETIMES, if done in the right order, the computer system WILL let you stack a freebie coupon/voucher with another coupon, as long as one is a store one and one is from the manuf.  

In this scenario, it worked. I had to scan the freebie vouchers FIRST.  The computer prompted the cashier to enter how much the voucher was worth.  So, the cashier entered $6.99. That made the lightbulbs cost $0. Then, when we scanned the Target coupon, it took the $1.50 amount off the ticket, no problem. That meant I made $1.50 to own those lightbulbs.  BUT, I had 4 packs. SO, I got paid a total of $1.50+$1.50+$1+$1 = $5 to leave with 4 packs of CFL lightbulbs.  

So, I saved $63.32 this trip.  Out of that amount, I got paid to own products. I got paid roughly $10.39 this trip to take products home with me.  Pretty nice!

**This is with straightforward couponing. I don't buy coupons off the internet, or hook up several computers to several printers to get crazy amounts of printable coupons. I don't buy extra Sunday Papers. This was just a straightforward run with coupons I printed from one printer, and coupons I saved from Sunday Papers I got at one a week. I only make this disclaimer to say that this is what YOU can do with the resources you have on hand, and with what you have time to fit into your week.

The P&G Rebate Books are being Mailed!

My P&G Brands Rebate Book of Coupons 

Worth More than $110 in Savings Came in!

I got this HUGE padded envelop in my mailbox yesterday from P&G. I was pretty excited to see what it was. Then, I laughed. Because it was just a small coupon book in that big envelop.  That small coupon book was such a welcome sight, though! This coupon book has more than $110 worth of P&G brand coupons in it! There are several of each kind and include: 

• $1 off Any One Tide (I will use most of these for FREE 1-Load packs in the Travel Section, and keep one or two in case of a really good deal. If I don't see such a deal, I will buy more free loads right before they expire.)
• $1 off Gain Detergent or Fabric Enhancer
• $1 off any One Downy
• 50c off Bounce
• 50c off Dawn (which would make the dishsoap 50c or less during a drugstore sale!)
• $1 off Cascade
• $1 off Gain Dish Soap (Again, less than 50c or even FREE during a sale!)
• $3 off Swiffer Wet Jet
• $1 off any Duster/Sweeper (Swiffer)
• 50c off any Swiffer Refill
• $1 off any Charmin MegaRoll
• $1 off Bounty Towel 6ct or Higher
• $1 off Pampers Diapers
• $1 off Luvs Diapers
• $1 off 8pk or Larger Duracell Coppertop
• $1 off ANY TWO PRINGLES (look for the snack size, or a sale for super cheap Pringles!)
• $1 off Iams dry pet food (dog or cat)
• $1 off any one Pepto-Bismol
• $1 off Metamucil
• $1 off any Always
• $1 off any Tampax
• $1 off any CREST Toothpaste or gel 4.0oz or larger
• $1 off any Crest Mouthwash, 946mL or larger
• $1 off any Oral B Manual Toothbrush
• $1 off Olay Facial Moisturizer
• $1 off Pantene Conditioner WYB Pantene Shampoo
• $1 off one Herbal Essences or Aussie Product (Get it free by looking in the Travel section!)
• $1 off any Head and Shoulders (free in travel section!)
• $2 off Clairol Hair Color
• $1 off CoverGirl
• $1 off Olay PCC or Lotion
• $1 off Venus Embrace
• $1 off any Secret (Travel!)
• $1 off any Old Spice Deodorant (Travel!)
• $1 off Old Spice Body Wash (Travel)

These coupons are awesome. They will make for several nice freebies. But, you say, if you buy travel sizes, you have to keep buying them. What I do is I keep the coupons in case of a deal or promotion. If I don't see one to my liking, I go pay for travel sized items with them. The travel sizes come out free, or pretty close to it. Yes, I have a shelf in my bathroom dedicated to such items. Yes, I have to go to that shelf more frequently to get a new one to use than if I had bought larger sizes. But, really. When it is free, why would I mind that? Plus, the travel sizes fit nicer on my in shower shelf rack than the larger ones that always topple over.

How did I get such a lovely coupon rebate book? Periodically, P&G brands will release a rebate form. You have to spend somewhere between $50 and $100 (Pre-coupon amount!) on participating P&G Brands. Then, you circle those items and their prices on your receipts and mail those receipts in! This is one reason why it is a good thing to keep your receipts! Often, a rebate will come out for an item I recently worked a deal on. All I have to do is thumb through my receipt envelop for the right one, and mail it in! Easy! And, if you were to use lots of coupons to get travel sized items for free, you would have already had that much $ towards the rebate done.. for free! If I used 5 $1 off coupons for participating items, and the items themselves each cost $1, my out of pocket would have been $0. BUT I would have gotten credit for $5 worth!  (Pre-Coupon amount).

Did you get the rebate book? Work with a friend and swap for the coupons you each want and need! Cooperate!

Good couponing!