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.  

Trial/Travel Sizes- Don't Pass These Freebies Up

Change Your Perspective:

"Buy" Trial/Travel Sizes

Many times I have come across folks, in conversation or otherwise, that seem to have an automatic aversion to buying Trial and Travel sized items.  The arguments are usually the same:  They run out faster. They aren't good value for the money. They are hard to store versus a traditional sized item that stands on its own more easily. ETC.

I say those of you that automatically dismiss the travel/trial sizes are missing out on some really nice deals in the long run. Should you waste that $1 or $2 off coupon on the smaller size? Sometimes, yes. It is totally to your advantage to do such a thing.

Why You Should Buy Travel/Trial Sizes:

• They can be moneymakers. If the trial size is 97c, and you have a $1 off coupon, most stores have the policy to "value the coupon down" to 97c, making the item free.  However, a lot of time, I have found clerks that don't care or pay attention (even after I make sure to point it out to them. I like to coupon with integrity.) and they accept the $1 off. You just got a 3c moneymaker.  Ok, so 3c doesn't do it for you? I just bought 2 Secret Clinical Trial sized, and one 1 load Tide. I used manuf and store stacked coupons worth $7.25. The items cost $6.12. The clerk accepted the coupons' full amounts, and these items ended up to be moneymakers for me.
• They fit more neatly on your shower racks or in drawers. You can also get bins to put in your closet to hold them.
• If you find yourself with an overstock of these items, shelters, etc accept them easily as donations to hand out to those in need.
• Certain kinds of product have readily available coupons without size exclusions that make getting them free every week a reality. This means you may never have to pay for deodorant again.
• When you are too tired to work a drugstore deal, or your coupons you have been holding "just in case" are about to expire, turning them into actual product by buying trial/travel sized is quick and easy.

When to Use a Coupon on a Trial/Travel Sized Item:

• When the item is free or a money maker, use the coupon.
• When you are working a rebate deal that does not exclude trial/travel sized items, use the coupons. For example, I recently worked a rebate offer that said "Buy $50 worth of P&G product, get a $20 rebate check." The rebate took the full pre-coupon amount towards the $50 you had to purchase. I bought TONS of trial/travel sized items for FREE.  If it was a 97c item, it took 97c off the $50 I had to purchase, even if I got the 97c item free after coupon. I spent less than $5 out of pocket working that deal, and got my $20 rebate check in the mail.
• When you have a decent coupon without size exclusion and it is about to expire, go ahead and buy a travel/trial sized item.
• When you do the math and it is really cheaper. For example, when I am stocked up with laundry detergent.. enough to last two months... I will take every $1 off any Tide coupon I can find and go buy Tide 1 load in the travel area.  Sometimes, this sized Tide is $1.12. The couponer's stock up price on detergent is 20c or less a load. $1.12 is WAY too pricey. But, if you have enough laundry detergent on hand already, go ahead and "burn" those $1 off Tide coupons on the travel size. That leaves about 12c or less, depending. 12c a load is an AMAZING stock up price! 
• When you can get nicer products that last a while FREE... and you would have to pay for generics. Every time I get a $1 off any Olay Bar, Wash, etc coupon, I take it to the travel section and get 1 bar of Olay Soap for free. Soap lasts a while, so this is one of my fave finds in the travel section.

Things to Consider When Buying Travel/Trial:

• Make your life easier:  point your travel/trial sized items out to the clerk when they are checking you out.  Most coupons "beep" when you try to use them on trial/travel sized items. Pointing the items out can save you time and aggravation later when the coupon beeps and the clerk has to verify whether or not you have the item(s) on your ticket. They have to verify by scrolling through your purchase on the computer, or they (you) have to dig through all the bags to find those small items to prove you bought them.  Most clerks are so happy that you saved them time and aggravation that they will usually just automatically accept your beeping coupons after this.
• Make sure you KNOW what the coupon states in the fine print. Make sure it does NOT exclude the trial/travel sizes or specify a larger size.  
• Know and carry the store's coupon policy with you.  When you are using coupons on trial/travel sizes, it is very important to know the store's policy ahead of time. Most stores will value the coupon down if it is worth more than the cost of the trial/travel item.  Some stores, like Walmart now, will allow coupon overage, thus ensuring a few moneymakers in your buggy. When I was really green at couponing, I went to use a $1 off Johnsons coupon on a 97c Johnson's Buddy Soap.  The clerk REFUSED my coupon, stating that the purchase had to be MORE than $1 to use the coupon. I was annoyed, but didn't know the policy for sure. So, I went and grabbed another Soap and bought both for 49c ea after the coupon. Still a decent deal. But when I got home and called my coupon mentor, she laughed at me a teensy bit.  I should have known the policy and stood my ground. Their policy was to value the coupon down and give me the item free at 97c off. The clerk was wrong. Often, especially since then, I have found that the clerks really don't know their own policy. 

WHEN YOU GET A CLERK THAT DOESN'T KNOW THE POLICY AND/OR GIVES YOU A HARD TIME:

1. Explain their policy to them nicely. THEN
2. Offer to SHOW them their policy. THEN
3. Politely Beg to Differ when they say they know the policy. THEN
4. Ask for a manager to come clarify the issue so you know the actual policy for in the future. (See, you are being nice and putting it on yourself. We all know YOU know the real policy. While the manager is walking over, pull out your copy of the policy. The manager will come get the story on the issue. 9 times out of 10, they will tell the clerk you are right. Because we know you are. Couponers study the policy better than clerks most times. If you stay nice and pleasant, it will be easy to get your coupons accepted. Or easier, anyway.  You do coupon with integrity, after all.  If you get an attitude, no amount of being in the right will help you. The manager will go along with the clerk if you tick them off.)

So, give Trial/Travel sizes a chance!
I haven't had to pay for Head and Shoulders, Secret, Olay Soap, etc in a very long time!

My Less Than $1.50 Brag for the Week

This Week, I Got Many Items Less Than $1.50 or FREE. Some Items I Even Got Paid to Own.

In lieu of a large item by item description of my weekly trip to Target, I decided to make this post about items I got for less than $1.50, Free, or even got Paid To Own.  Sometimes, it is hard to see why it is worth it to clip coupons or deal seek. It can be tedious at times.  But, items like the ones listed below are why I do this.  Last year, I saved my family more than $4000 working one deal at a time.

Here's what I did this week: 

In the mail so far, this week, I received FREE: Being Girl Tampax/Always sample pack, Secret Flawless Berry scented deodorant, a FREE Parents Magazine with a $10 off Any Baby Item Amazon.com coupon, and the week is still going on...

At Target, I got the following deals (after coupons, etc. Not going to break it down this week..)

•   Huggies Travel Wipes for the diaper bag, 47c
• Huggies Travel Wipes for the diaper bag, 72c
• Finish QUANTUM Dishwasher Tabs, 10ct (reg $5), FREE
• Shout Wipes(we use these all the time), 7c
• Tide 1 load Detergent, 12c
• Tide 1 load Detergent, 12c
• Planters Peanuts, 3oz, 24c
• Colgate, 6 oz, 44c
• Travel Size Herbal Essence Conditioner, Got Paid 3 c to own!
• Kraft Shredded Cheese, $1.29
• Kraft Shredded Cheese, $1.29
• Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs, $1.50
• Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs, $1.50
• Kraft Deli Sliced Cheese, $1.30

Rite Aid was pretty wonderful this week. The prices below reflect the +Up Rewards added back into the original cost.

• Colgate Sensitive, got Paid 50 c to own!
• Colgate Toothpaste with FREE Toothbrush, got Paid $1 to own!
• Gain Apple Tango Dish Detergent, Reg. Size, got Paid 13 c to own!
• Gain Apple Tango Dish Detergent, Reg. Size, got Paid 13 c to own!
• Gain Original Dish Detergent, Reg. Size, got Paid 13 c to own!

CVS deals were pretty nice too. Again, the prices below reflect the Extra Bucks added back in as reimbursement.

•  Listerine Total Care Mouthwash, Full Size, FREE

• Colgate Toothpaste, FREE
• Colgate Toothpaste, FREE

I do this weekly deals brag just to show you that you can do this! The deals this week were pretty straightforward.  The Gain moneymakers were using a $1 off coupon.. I got paid to own these instantly since they were only 87c on sale, and the computer took the full $1 off coupon amount without beeping. 

It takes a little time and effort.. but not having to pay for toothpaste, dish soap, dishwasher detergent, etc?? Totally worth it!

$12.74 for 5 Coke Fridge Packs and MORE at CVS!

I Spent $12.74, Out Of Pocket at CVS.

I Got 5 Coke Fridge Packs, $3.99 in EB, and MORE!

There really was nothing extra-fancy or special about my CVS trip last night. It took less than ten minutes to plan out, and only a couple of coupons to pull off.  Plus, I was able to grab a copy of the circular that starts on Sunday, Jan. 30- Feb 6.  (For a sneak peak, view it HERE.)

Here is what I did:

Transaction 1:

*12 pk Coke   $2.49

*12 pk Coke  $2.49

*12 pk Coke  $2.49

*12 pk Coke  $2.49

*12 pk Coke  $2.49

Total:  $15

Used $10 EB from Last Week's Deals

New Total:  $5 plus Tax! (for 5 fridge packs!)

AND, I received $5 EB from the "Buy 5 Coke Fridge Packs, get $5 EB" deal.(so, it is like I got these for FREE if you are a fan of "fancy math")

*Post tax total was $6.05, my receipt says I saved $22.45 after sale prices, EB, and coupons!

Transaction 2:

*Crest Pro-Health Rinse   $3.99

Secret Flawless Deodorant  $1.49

Stayfree    $6.49

Stayfree  $6.89

Coupons used:

$2 off Secret Flawless (got credit for full amount, so got PAID 51 cents to buy Secret!)

$6.49 off with BOGO Stayfree

$5 EB from previous transaction

Total:  $6.69 after Tax

I got $3.99 back in EB from doing the Crest Pro-Health Rinse EB deal.

"So it's like paying $2.70" If you like fancy math.

The receipt says I saved $14.99

Summary: I spent $12.74 out of pocket to get: 5 Coke fridge packs, 1 Secret, 2 Stayfrees, 1 Crest Rinse.  I saved more than $37.  I got PAID to own Secret. And, the Crest and one of the Stayfree came out free.

* refers to EB deal attached

**BUMMER confession. I had a $1 off Crest Rinse coupon at home on my dresser. Darn. I could have gotten PAID $1 to own that, had I used the coupon. Shucky darn. Oh Well. It doesn't expire until 2013.  Can't win them all.. even if you have a Bargain Binder. Don't think that $1 won't haunt me the teensiest bit though. LOL! 

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!