shopping day

We are on a very tight budget for this week. I was amazed at what all we got for so little! Total spending out of pocket today: $48.70!!! (note: I skipped Walgreens because there wasn't anything on sale that I really needed this week. I knew if I even walked in the door, I'd come out with things I didn't really need so I just skipped it)

First trip was to Wal-Mart. I didn't get much. Mostly I just wanted to pick up a couple of copies of the August All-You magazine. I spent just over $6 by also picking up Budweiser barbeque sauce (with newspaper insert coupon for $1.00 off - making it like 97 cents if I remember right) and Patio burritos for hubby's lunches at work this week.

Second trip was to HEB. I wish I still had my receipt (I think I left it out in the van and it's too late to walk out and dig for it tonight). I'd love for you to see how much stuff I got for very very little. My grand total was over $70 and with coupons I got it down to $42.08!!! Although I really considered living like toddlers and eating only pb&j and mac n cheese all week, I'm glad I didn't. I got some steak, pork chops, and other meat as well as lot of other fridge and pantry items. Our shelves are stocked again and we should be able to make it through the week no problem! It's amazing - this coupon thing.

Third trip was to CVS because I knew diapers were cheaper there as well as a few other deals. The girl behind the counter wasn't anyone I had seen before and seemed like one of those who just wanted to be there for the paycheck and not because they wanted to do their job. I think she was a little annoyed by my couponing and multiple transactions. lol In fact, during the second transaction, she forgot to ring up the coupons before I had paid. She really didn't want to return all of the items even though I was saving a lot more than what I was forced to pay out of pocket. I didn't realize she hadn't put in the coupons when I paid. I was just kind of stunned when I actually had to pay so much out of pocket. The manager on duty (who was not the manager I'm used to dealing with either) just told her to ring up the coupons as an out of sale coupon because she didn't want to take the time to return all of the items either. So I basically got cash for the value of all of my coupons. I went in with just over $25 ECBs today and ended up going through all of them I think. lol Here's how it all played out:

1st transaction:

(not pictured Gold Emblem juice)

• Gold Emblem Apple Juice $1.50
• CoverGirl x's 6 @ $5.49 each
• (I see two of them at $5.99 and I'm wondering if one of them didn't ring up BOGO?)
• Energy Drink $4.99

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• total: $40.43 plus tax
• used coupons for the CoverGirl
• used $2/$10 CVS coupon
• used $14.99 in ECBs

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• grand total out of pocket: $1.48
• got $4.99 back in ECBs and 3 store coupons.
• (saved $40.04)

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2nd transaction:

• 2 - Excedrin Migraine 24ct x 2 2/$5.00
• 2 - Oral-B Advantage toothbrush 2/$5.00
• Colate Total Advanced Whitening $2.99

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• total: $12.49 plus tax
• used $5.79 in ECBs
• paid $7.18 out of pocket because of not ringing up coupons
• still saved $13.87
• (then later I got back $9.50 cash for my coupons)
• used $2 off coupons on Excedrin Migraine
• used $1.00 off coupons for Oral-B toothbrush
• used $1.50 off coupon for Colgate
• used $2/$10 CVS coupon
• (I forget how many ECBs I got back - oops!)

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3rd transaction:

(not pictured Gold Emblem juice)

• 2 - Chex Mix 2/$3.00
• Golden Emblem Apple Juice $1.50
• Pampers Swaddlers Jumbo pack $8.88
• 4 - Pert Plus 2-1 $3.69 each (was BOGO)
• 2 - Pilot 5pk pens $4.99 each (was BOGO)
• 2 - Post Shredded Wheat cereal $4.59 each (was BOGO)

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• total: $30.34 plus tax
• used $1.00 off coupon for each Chex Mix
• used $1.50 Pampers coupon
• used $2.00 off one Pert Plus 2-1 for each purchased Pert Plus
• also used $1.00 off Pert Plus for each free Pert Plus
• used $1.00/2 Post cereal coupon.
• used $2/$10 CVS coupon
• used $18.99 in ECB

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• grand total out of pocket: $1.46
• (saved $52.13)

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total out of pocket today: $10.12
got back in cash: $9.50 for coupons later keyed in after sale
difference of 62 cents out of pocket!!!!


Total savings at CVS today: $106.04!!!!!!!!!!
(of course I blew through $25 in ECBs, but that's still excellent savings vs. out of pocket expense!)

Oh, and I should be getting back $5 for school supplies for buying those Pert Plus 2-1 shampoo/conditioner. I have a rebate form that was in this past Sunday's newspaper. Have I convinced you to get copies of the Sunday paper inserts yet?