I Just Have to Share

[purplefdu]

This week's shopping trip was a dream. Lots of coupons for things we buy plus rebates/coupons for our next purchase from buying those things, and free stuff. I was so pleased I was glowing the rest of the evening and my husband kept showing off our receipt to random strangers.

8 Purina cat food @ 2/$8
1 BC cokie mix @ $2
2 BC fruit snacks @ 3.33
2 Toaster Strudel @ 2/$4
2 Grands Biscuits @ 2/$4
2 Yo Plus Yougurt @ 2/$5
1 Pie Crust @ $3
2 Prego @ 2/$3.29
2 Coke 2liter @ $2
2 Fuze @ $2
1 Hansen 6-pack @ $3.29
2 Kidney Beans canned @ $1.38
1 Diced Tomatoes @ $1.79
1 Campbells Low Sodium soup @ $1.43
1 Bertolli frozen dinner for two @ $6.99
1 frozen mixed veggie @ $1
1 Singles Select Cheese Slices @ $3.59
1 Chili Seasoning Packet @ .99
1 BC potatoes @ $2
1 Skippy Chunky @ 2.29
1 Shaws Cheese @ $2.50
1 Shaws Giant bread @ $1
1 Oscar Mayer Bacon @ $3.99
1 iceburg lettuce @ .99
1 Froze chicken breast @ $8.99
subtotal=$102.84

$4/1 Purina cat food IPs (8)
.21/1 lettuce (shaws special)
$5/1 chicken (shaws special)
.34/1 giant bread (shaws special)
$1.30/1 skippy (shaws special)
$2/1 bacon (shaws special)
$1.21/1 shaws cheese (shaws special)
.60/2 fruit snacks IP
$3.29/1 Hansens soda (team coupon book)
.50/1 Fuze (2)2.50/1 bertolii frozen dinner IP
.50/1 Toaster Strudel (2)
.50/2 Grands Biscuits IP
.40/1 BC potatoes IP
.60/1 BC cookie mix IP
.55/1 toaster strudel IP (2)
$1/1 Yo Plus IP (2)
subtotal=-59.45

Total=$43.40 + $10 produce and $10 meat OYNO catalina and a .20/gal off gas at Irving.
IP=internet printed coupon
OYNO=on your next order
catalina=register printed reward coupon

So we essentially paid $23.40 minus what we save on gas when we fill up next (about $3 last coupon we used). Plus the cat food is donated to charity and each coupon for it donates $1 to a charity. We have some coupons for some other stuff they were out of and more Fuze so we will be going back later this week for some free stuff after coupons.

[Megan]

Great work! I'm always pleased when I can get out of the store having successfully used coupons and sales.

[jkuo13]

Pretty impressive. We've managed to knock off good chunks of money by timing sales and double coupons, but I don't think we've ever managed to knock off 60+ percent like that.

[indieretailer]

Very inspiring! Thanks for sharing your list. It's great to show others that major savings are possible with a bit of planning.

I know some people are skeptical about saving until you show them proof.

Keep up the good work.

[gt0163c]

On a recent purchase I saved 97%. It's less impressive when you realize that I bought a container of soft soap - on sale for $1.00 and a bag of Green Giant Steamers Frozen Broccoli - on sale for $1.25 plus an extra 10% off all frozen food so $1.125.
I had a $0.35 coupon for the Soft Soap that was tripled and then rounded down to the price of the soap, so $1.00 which made the soap free.
I had a $0.35 coupon for the veggies, tripled to $1.05. By the time everything was rung up and rounded and such, I owed $0.06. The cashier was impressed.
And, on the way out, I picked up a nickel on the ground!

[Milehimama]

My "best" was getting $55 worth of stuff at CVS and I paid one penny. I don't think I'll ever do that well again!

[khorrell]

I tend to be an all-or-nothing shopper...If I'm going to the grocery store with a menu, a list, and a short amount of time, I don't use coupons at all. When I have the blessed opportunity to do some "recreational grocery shopping," I usually save at least 90%. Of course, this entails going to a store I don't usually shop at and spending several hours going through every coupon I know. Many of the items go to the food bank, or are items I would never purchase at full price (or even half-price.) This is also a great way to stock up on certain toiletries, such as toothpaste, and condiments, like mustard.

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who actually enjoys it!

[lvngwell]

Originally Posted by gt0163c

And, on the way out, I picked up a nickel on the ground!

I am amzed at how many people wont do that these days! So your trip cost you 1 cent - fantastic!

[rstlne]

Triple-coupon week is when I do the best at coupon savings. In my area, A&P and Pathmark do that a few times a year. I can typically get 80-90% off on a grocery shopping trip in a week like that. There were a few times when triple coupons actually made the total negative but the supermarket wouldn't let me get away with that so I had to get a few more items.

[purplefdu]

We only get triple coupons on special occasions and it requires a coupon from the flyer which is good for one out of your entire order. Not worth it for the most part.

We went "recreational shopping" to pick up some stuff they were out of on the weekend when we returned movies last night. 6 bottles of Fuze and two boxes of Totinos pizza rolls (snack food for hungry husband) made us .20 and we bought the pizza toppings we forgot as well. We also learned how to enter coupons ourself in the self checkout without requiring the manager.