Slow week for deals (for me, at least)

Sunday, 10/2/11


I wanted to share a bit of deal-age with y'all today, but didn't want to create a whole new post, so I'm just editing this one from yesterday :)


I had to run by Harris Teeter to get a few things that we needed, so I checked the coupon match-ups, made a couple of plans, and headed out.  Today I purchased:

• 4 2-L Coke products
• 2 bottles of SoftSoap hand soap
• 2 bottles of KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce
• 2 Mama Mary's pizza crusts
• Package of pepperoni
• 2 rolls of Jimmy Dean sausage (I'm going to try and make a ton of breakfast burritos so that I can grab one or two in the mornings and not stop to get breakfast every morning...)
• 18 eggs
• Lactose-free milk (which is expensive...$3.29 for a half-gallon :()

The retail price for all of this is $41.81, but I got it for $23.59, which is a savings of 43.6%, so almost half!  (These are pre-tax totals, so I can skip the annoying math on a Sunday night :))

The best deal was getting the BBQ sauces for FREE.  They retail for 2.25, but were on sale for $0.99!!!  Then I had two $0.50/1 coupons, which were doubled, making them free!  The sodas were also a great deal...retailing for $1.79, but on special sale for $0.88 each!  We try not to keep soda in the house very often, but I figured it would be a nice--inexpensive!!!--treat.  With sales/coupons, the soap was possibly free...I'm looking at my receipt right now, seeing that there was a deal I didn't even know about :)  At the most, they were $0.70/each.  The sausage was the most expensive of my "deals", but something I needed.  The rest of the stuff was full-priced.  Just proves that you can still save a lot of money even if you don't have a ton of coupons!



Saturday, 10/1/11


I'm sure there were TONS of good deals out there...but with my schedule lately, I haven't had much of a chance to score many of them.  I set out today to get some really good deals at Target and Walmart.  However, I was only mildly successful.


Target


I set out to get 3 travel size toothpastes, priced at $0.97 each.  I had 3 $1 off any size coupons, so those were free except for tax.  I also set out to get 2 travel size lotions, priced at $0.97 each.  I had 2 $0.50 off 1 any size coupons, so those were to be $0.47 each (the travel size is so convenient to carry in my purse!).


So.  I found the toothpastes no problem.  Made double (and triple) sure that the coupon didn't exclude travel size, and it didn't.  (From reading some couponing blogs online, I know that some stores/cashiers are reluctant to take coupons on travel size because they feel like we're "stealing" the item.  I don't see it as stealing when the store is getting the money back from the manufacturer, usually plus a few extra cents for handling.  Nope, not stealing)


I couldn't find the lotions in the travel size section.  But, since i really did need lotion, I looked around the lotion aisle and found a great deal on two full sized Suave lotion...2 for $5.00!  So, I got the two lotions and 3 small toothpastes for $5.57.  Not bad....


Walmart


Now, Walmart was going to be my ultimate score for the day.  My plan included:

• 4 Men's Speed Stick deodorant for $0.49 each--on sale for $0.98 each, 2 coupons for B1G1
• 4 boxes of Barilla Whole Grain Pasta for $0.78 each--on sale for $1.28 each, 2 coupons for $1/2 boxes
• 2 Airwick Freshmatic starter kits for $0.97 each--on sale for $4.97 each, 2 coupons for $4/1
• Shout Wipes (travel size) for $0.42 each--on sale for $0.97 each, 2 $0.55/1 coupons
• Tide detergent single load for $0.47 each--on sale for $0.97 each, 3 $0.50/1 coupons
• 2 12-packs of Schick disposable razors for free (and possibly with a profit)--on sale for $1.97 each, coupon for $6/2.  Since Walmart allows overage, that would have made me about $2 to apply to the rest of my order

Well, let's just say this went less than swimmingly.  The store was out of the Airwick Freshmatic, Shout wipes and Schick disposable razors.  So, I just stuck with my other items and went to the checkout.  All was going well until I handed over my Tide coupons.  The cashier said that I can't use coupons on travel sized items.  I pointed out that the coupon did NOT exclude travel size.  She called one of the managers over to check it out.  She, too, said I couldn't use it.  I tried once again to explain that the coupon did not exclude travel size, and she spouted out several different excuses, one being that "the travel size is not pictured on the coupon".  Coupons do not necessarily work that way.  (I'm looking for a link from one of the blogs I visit, but will have to find it later and update this post :))  At any rate, I just didn't feel like arguing, and just asked the cashier to please take those items off of my order.  

I did end up getting the 4 boxes of pasta, 4 deodorants and a bag of rice (that I didn't have a coupon for, but was at a good price) for about $6.50.  Not bad, but not as good as I was hoping for.

Looks like there are going to be some good coupons in the newspaper this week, so maybe I can get myself organized and actually get some good stuff this coming week :)




Edited to add picture and "stats"

The total for all of this was $12.34 and I saved at least $6.96, for a savings of about 38%.  I say "at least" because Target and Walmart don't list their "normal" price on the receipt, and I know one or two items were on sale.  Not the best, but saving something is better than saving nothing :)