Cooking with Coupons! - 9/30/11

I guess the more accurate term for this post would be "Baking with Coupons", but I don't like the way it sounds from an alliterative point of view.

Using coupons encourages me to try new products. Usually companies will put out a pretty decent valued coupon when they're introducing a new product. Combine that with a store sale, and cha-ching! Good savings. 

Let me just say I'm not the world's greatest cook. I think the domestic gene pretty much skipped over me completely. I don't like cooking, cleaning, or any of that stuff. Sometimes I do enjoy baking. Sometimes my baked goods are pretty awesome. I can make a mean homemade cheesecake (no, I'm not talking about a JELL-O instant one.) I've made some delicious cakes and brownies. But cupcakes? I struggle with those. Even if they taste okay, they're usually not-so-easy on the eyes. My frosting is always a little lopsided or the batter spills over the top of the baking cup. 

So when I saw a coupon for Fun da-Middles baking mix by Betty Crocker, I decided to give it a try. The point of Fun da-Middles is to bake the icing inside the cupcake. Imagine a Twinkie in cupcake form--that's how I view Fun da-Middles.

I also had a coupon for Hershey's S'mores Dessert Icing. Mmm-mmm-good! I haven't tried that before either, but I do love me some s'mores. I even had a coupon for Kraft Jet-Puffed StackerMallows. 

An idea was formed.. I'm going to make S'mores cupcakes! Yes, I realize the icing is already in the Fun da-Middles. But a little more icing on top won't hurt a thing, right? So I picked up a box of graham crackers (no coupon!) and put my idea into action. 

Here's a breakdown of the ingredients.

Fun da-Middles cake mix $2.00 on sale
Used -$0.50 mfr coupon DOUBLED
Cost: $1.00

Hershey's S'mores Icing $1.78
Used -$1.00 mfr coupon
Cost: $0.78

Kraft Jet-Puffed Stackermallows $1.00
Used -$0.75 mfr coupon
Cost: $0.25

Graham crackers $1.34 

Total: $3.37

The first step: Bake the cupcakes. I gathered all the ingredients--cake mix, eggs, oil, water. I preheated my oven to 350 degrees and placed baking cups in my cupcake pan. My cupcake pan has seen better days. It's pretty old and I could really use a new one. I combined all my ingredients together and then mixed according to the directions. And like any other time I've use a hand mixer, I managed to make a mess. No worries, though! 

Next step: Spoon one-third of the cupcake batter into the baking cups, making sure the bottom is completely covered. Then came the fun part--putting the icing in the batter! I had to squeeze the pouch several times before cutting off the corner. This is to make sure the icing comes out smoothly. 

The directions say to squeeze icing in the middle of each baking cup, making sure NOT to touch the sides. The first few were pretty easy, but then I accidentally got a little sloppy and got pretty close to the sides on some of them. Oops! 

Now I had to put the rest of the batter in the baking cups, making sure all the icing was covered. 

Finally they were ready for the oven! The directions said to bake for 24-29 minutes. I set my timer on 27 minutes. 

While they baked, I did the dishes and cleaned up the mess I made while mixing the batter. I also went ahead and crumbled up some graham crackers. I did it the old-fashioned way--put three in a baggie and then beat it with a spoon. (I couldn't find my rolling pin or I would've used it.) 

I took my cupcakes out to discover a nice golden brown color. I hoped they weren't a little TOO golden brown. I'm always afraid I'll burn them. I let them cool for about 20 minutes, then took the cupcakes out of the pan. Then I let them cool for about 20 more minutes before I frosted them. See the cracks on the top? I guess I did not achieve baking perfection.

Time to give the S'mores icing a try! The directions said to knead the package, twist off the cap, attach the decorator's tip, and then frost the cupcakes. Um... small problem. No decorator's tip! I guess I thought it came with it. WRONG! So, I first tried squeezing it out of the regular tip. I'd hoped I'd still get the pretty, swirly effect. Instead I got this:

Hahaha! Now does that look appetizing, or what?!?! Click on the picture to make it larger. That will give you the full effect. 

Needless to say, I had to spread the frosting across the cupcakes. That looked better. 

Next, I sprinkled the crushed up graham crackers on top of the frosting. That was a pretty messy project. 

 

Next I added the marshmallows. I totally underestimated the size of those stackermallows. They were huge! They'd cover the entire cupcake if I left them whole. 

So, I cut them into 6 pieces. That means I used only 2 stackermallows for my 12 cupcakes. 

Voila! All finished. It was time for the moment of truth. 

They were pretty good. The icing in the middle was fabulous! The cake was nice and moist. The stackermallows were fresh. The graham cracker crumbs were perfect. But the s'mores icing was just meh. It had a little bit of a weird taste. Maybe it would be better on just a regular chocolate cake or something like that. 

Baking these cupcakes was fun! It sure did take awhile and there were a few mishaps along the way, but overall, I give them a solid B. 

Sales tax

You know what stinks? Sales tax. Sure, I know that it's used for good things--schools, roads, government. I know that it's necessary. I know that we're fortunate not to have an income tax in Tennessee. Plus, I know that our price of living is pretty low in comparison to other places. Check out this Huffington Post link. It has the 10 U.S. states with the most sales tax (current as of July 2011.) Guess who is # 1? Hint # 1: Starts with letter T and ends with letter e. Hint # 2: It's the state where I live.

My county's 9.75% sales tax rate adds up super fast! Check out this receipt. 

My subtotal (circled in blue) was $0.15. YES! The original cost of those items before coupons was $24.45 + tax, so that was quite the savings. Probably one of my best transactions ever. 

Now look at the sales tax (circled in orange). I paid $1.93 in sales tax on non-food items and $0.12 in tax on my food items. That's $2.05 in sales tax. Not bad for over $24.00 worth of merchandise. It's just a bummer seeing that 93% of my total out-of-pocket was sales tax.  

In most cases, you still have to pay sales tax, even when items are completely free. There's even a blurb in the fine print of most coupons that states consumer pays sales tax. 

A little bit of sales tax is no big deal, but when you're buying a LOT of items, it can add up. Last week's shopping trip cost me a total of $48.97 out-of-pocket. Only $27.79 of that was the cost of actual merchandise. That means I paid $21.18 in tax. That's 43% of my total in sales tax alone. The original retail for all my items was $238.53. I saved 81% INCLUDING sales tax or 88% WITHOUT sales tax. See how sales tax can really put a damper on your savings?

I know sales tax is necessary. I also know I shouldn't complain when I'm saving so much. If an item costs $2.00 and I have a $2.00 coupon, I still pay about $0.20 for sales tax. However, I once got two bottles of soap at K-Mart for free. They were $1.00 each and I had store coupons for $1.00 off. When the cashier scanned the coupons, it took off tax and everything. My guess is because it was a STORE coupon and not a MANUFACTURER coupon. I've also gotten drinks or food items at restaurants for completely free. For example, Dunkin Donuts will sometimes send coupons for a free coffee or whatever. If that's all I order, I don't have to spend a dime. Those instances are rare exceptions, though.

Is anything I get completely free? Not usually. That's another reason not to go overboard when purchasing items.

Keepin' it Real

As much as I'd like to, I'm probably never going to achieve a 90% savings on every shopping trip. It would be foolish of me to expect it.

I watched two episodes of TLC's Extreme Couponing show last night. I cannot imagine shopping the way those people do. Who would even want to spend 30+ hours a week clipping coupons and planning shopping trips? Not me.

I saw this great article on A Full Cup earlier this week. It has some great info about keeping realistic expectations and a list of myths and facts about extreme couponing. Check it out-- Extremely Unrealistic Expectations - Let's Get Real About Couponing.

The point of using coupons is to save money! Plain and simple. It's not to walk out of one store with hundreds of items for free. Though you'll never hear me complain about a freebie or two... :)

Coupons for clothing and accessories?

You betcha! I always look for a bargain, no matter where I'm shopping. I check out the clearance racks before I look at the regular-priced items. I can usually find some good stuff. For example, right now summer clothing is marked waaaay down. You can probably find super cheap tanks, short-sleeved tops, sundresses, skirts, sunglasses, flip flops, etc. As someone who constantly dresses in layers, the tanks and short-sleeved tops are year-round necessities for me. Sundresses or skirts? Solids or a non-summery print can be paired with tights or boots for a fall look. The sun shines all year long, so sunglasses are a must. If you work out, you might need some flip flops for your post-workout shower at the gym. Plus, you could always just save the items until next year. End-of-season sales are often the best time to buy. 

Lots of clothing stores will offer coupons each week. They might be in the weekly ads, in emails from the company, or even come snail mail. Others will print on the register tape AFTER you make a purchase. The most common ones I've seen are for money off a certain purchase amount (ex: $10 off $30) or a certain percentage off (ex: 20% your entire purchase.) Read the fine print carefully! Some coupons exclude clearance and sales items. If I get one of those, I usually toss it because I rarely buy anything that's not on sale anyway. 

If you do online shopping, ALWAYS check for promotional codes before you checkout. You can just Google something like "Old Navy coupon codes", and you'll get tons of hits. The one site I regularly rely on is RetailMeNot. Search for a store, and you'll usually find codes for things like free shipping, $ of your purchase, or even % off your total purchase. Be sure to sign up for your favorite stores' mailing lists. You'll regularly get coupon codes sent right to your inbox. 

I think the best day to shop for clothes is Saturday mornings. Some stores offer doorbusters or early bird specials until noon or 1:00 p.m. You often get special, lower prices during those hours. Many stores also offer Friday night owl specials, also with lower prices. 

Some stores offer programs that reward you for shopping with them. One example is JCPenney. You register the credit or debit card that you usually shop with on their website. This allows JCP Rewards to track and award you points for your purchases. If you earn enough points in the monthly earning period, you'll get a $10 reward you can redeem on a future purchase of $10 or more. I think you get additional earning opportunities or bonus points if you're a JCP credit card holder. (I'm not, but my mom is, and I know she gets more perks and coupons than I do. The extra savings hasn't convinced me to open up a JCP charge account, though.)

Here's an example of how I saved money at JCP on two separate shopping trips.

Transaction # 1

JCP was having a Saturday morning promotion--15% off your total purchase or 20% off your total purchase if you use your JCP credit card. I also had a "Fast Cash" coupon--a coupon that printed on the receipt of an earlier purchase. 

Crossover bag - regular price $19.99 (gift)
Clearance markdown -$14.00
15% discount -$0.90
Net Sales: $5.09

Twill pants - $19.99 (gift)
Clearance markdown -$12.00
15% discount -$1.20
Net Sales: $6.79

Scarf - regular price $25.00 (for me!)
Clearance markdown -$20.03
Fast Cash -$5.00 off accessories purchase (adjusted to $4.97)
Net sales: $0.00 (completely free!) 

Regular Retail: $64.98 + tax
-$46.03 clearance discount
-$4.97 Fast Cash
-$2.10 15% discount
My OOP: $11.88 + tax
Savings: $53.10, 82%

Transaction # 2

Mom received an JCP email with a $10 reward off any $10 or more Liz Claiborne purchase. We had no idea if we'd even be able to find any reasonably priced Liz Clairbone items. The clothing items were way too expensive, even on the clearance racks. I had a thought to check the jewelry department, and I'm so glad I did! 

Liz Claiborne boxed jewelry set - regular price $18.00
40% doorbuster promotion -$7.20
Liz Claiborne reward -$10.00
Net sales: $0.80 

Regular Retail: $18.00 + tax
-$7.20 doorbuster
-$10.00 reward
My OOP: $0.80 + tax
Savings: $17.20, 96%

See? Coupons aren't just for groceries and personal care items! You can score clothing and accessories at deep discounts, too.

Mail call!

Going to the mailbox is a treat since I've started couponing and ordering free samples! Some blogs and Facebook fan pages I follow list them when they become available. If it's for a product I'll use (or someone I know will use), I'll go ahead and request it because it's free. Free samples often come with high value coupons, too. 

Since I've started requesting free samples, I've usually been getting one or two a week. Last Wednesday was amazing, though! Look what I received all in the same day.

I received a Crest Complete sample kit with mouthwash, toothpaste, and coupons, a Kashi granola bar and coupon, a coupon for a free chocolate bar, a sample pack from Poise with a coupon, a tiny sample of Burberry's new perfume, and (my favorite) a $22.98 rebate check from Rite Aid. 

Check out the Helpful Links on the right side of the home page for some of the sites I follow to find coupons and samples. Sometimes you can even get full-sized products! I always read the fine print because I never want to commit to subscribing to something or paying for something after a trial period. If it's not completely free, I'm not interested. 

I'm going to gather all the free samples and coupons I receive in the mail and take a picture each week. Sometimes the samples aren't much--teeny, tiny packages that aren't even enough for one full usage. They're good for travel, though. It beats having to visit the travel bins at Walmart or a drug store to buy toiletries for an upcoming vacation.

Shopping Trip - 9/25/11

Today's haul was huge! I bought a lot of items at my three favorite stores--82 items to be exact! The majority of my finds came from Walgreens, though I got a good amount from CVS and Rite Aid, too. Here's a picture of all my loot. 

Click on the picture for a larger view. These 82 items cost me $27.79 plus tax with $44.79 in rewards remaining for next week! Items purchased today include 4 Softsoap body wash, 2 Softsoap hand soap, 1 Oral B toothbrush, 1 Crest Pro-Health toothpaste, 3 Colgate Optic White toothpastes, 1 G-U-M Periobalance 28-ct dental lozenges, 2 Yardley bar soaps, 2 U by Kotex, 2 W by Walgreens Maxis, 3 Schick Quattro for Women 4-ct razor refill cartridges, 2 Schick Quattro for Men Titanium razors, 2 Remington King of Shave razors, 1 Zantac Maximum Strength 24-ct, 2 Thermacare heat wraps, 2 Zarbee's Nighttime Cough & Sleep drink for kids, 3 boxes Theraflu, 1 bottle Theraflu, 4 bottles Excedrin 8-ct, 2 bottles Renu multipurpose solution, 2 containers Emerald almonds, 4 cans Progresso soup, 1 4-lb bag Domino sugar, 2 Balance Bar energy bars, 2 packs Wrigley's 5 gum, 3 packs Trident gum, 4 packs Mentos Up2U gum, 4 Russell Stover chocolate pumpkins, 4 packs Haribo Gummi Bears, 8 Halloween tumblers, and 8 Halloween bags. 

I know that this is one of my greatest trips, savings-wise, EVER. You know what the only bummer is? The ridiculously high tax rate! I had to pay $21.18 just in tax today. Boo hiss. Even with tax included, I saved 81%. The total retail with sales prices for these items was $238.53 plus tax. That means I saved $210.74 today. That's pretty awesome! The savings does not reflect the $44.79 in rewards I had leftover from today's purchases. I'll use those next week. 

This trip took a lot of planning, especially for my transactions at Walgreens. I'd never attempted that many transactions at one store, but with so many freebies and cheapies this week, I decided to give it a try. The stores were well stocked and my cashiers were friendly. Overall, it was a pretty great shopping day. Here's a breakdown of my transactions per store. 

Rite Aid

 

I started with $14 UP rewards from last week. 

Transaction # 1

4 Softsoap body wash @ $2.99 = $11.96
Used (2) -$1.00/2 mfr coupons
Cost: $9.96, earned $8.00 UPs (making these $0.49 each)

Colgate Optic White toothpaste 4 oz. $3.99
Used -$2.00 Rite Aid coupon
Cost: $1.99, earned $2.00 UP (making this FREE + $0.01 profit)

Oral B 3-D White Vivid manual toothbrush $2.69
Used -$0.75 coupon
Cost: $1.94, earned $2.69 UPs (making this FREE + $0.75 profit)

Crest Pro-Health Sparkling Mint toothpaste 4 oz. $2.69
Used -$1.00 mfr coupon
Cost: $1.69, earned $2.69 UPs (making this FREE + $1.00 profit)

Transaction # 1 Total before coupons: $21.33 + tax = $23.36
-$5.75 coupons
-$14.00 UP rewards from last week
My OOP: $1.58 + tax = $3.61, earned $15.38 UP rewards

Transaction # 2

G-U-M PerioBalance Lozenges 28-ct $24.99 (dental probiotic that promotes healthy gums and teeth)
Used -$5.00 mfr coupon
Cost: $19.99, earned $20.00 UPs (making this FREE + $0.01 profit)

Transaction # 2 Total before coupons:  $24.99 + tax = $27.36
-$5.00 coupon
-$15.38 UP rewards from Transaction # 1
My OOP: $4.61 + tax = $6.98, earned $20 UP rewards

Rite Aid Total before coupons: $46.32 + tax = $50.72
My Total OOP: $6.19 + tax = $10.59, with $20 UP rewards remaining
Savings: $40.13, 79%

CVS

I used two cards and shopped for two families again today because my mom ALWAYS works on Sunday. I started with $10.99 ECBs on mom’s card and $3.99 ECBs on my card. 

Transaction # 1

Bausch & Lomb Renu Sensitive multipurpose solution 12 oz $8.99
Used -$2.00 mfr coupon
Cost: $6.99, earned $7 ECBs (making this FREE + $0.01 profit)

Thermacare heat wrap $3.79
Cost: $3.79, earned $3.79 ECBs (making this FREE)

2 Excedrin 8-ct @ $0.99 = $1.98
Cost: $1.98, earned $1.98 ECBs (making this FREE)

Transaction # 1 Total before coupons: $14.76 + tax = $16.20
-$2.00 coupon
-$10.99 ECBs from last week
My OOP: $1.77 + tax = $3.21, earned $12.77 ECBs

Transaction # 2 

4 cans Progresso soup 4/$5.00
Used -$1.00/4 store coupon
Used -$1.00/4 mfr coupon
Cost: $3.00 (making these $0.75 each)

2 containers Emerald Almonds 2/$6.00
Used (2) -$1.10 mfr coupons
Cost: $3.80 (making these $1.90 each)

2 Softsoap hand soaps 8.5 oz 2/$6.00
Used (2) -$0.70 mfr coupons
Cost: $4.60, earned $4.00 ECBs (making these $0.30 each)

2 Kotex 2/$7.00
Used -$2.00 store coupon
Used (2) -$1.00 mfr coupons
Cost: $3.00, earned $1.00 ECB (making these $1.00 each)

Transaction # 2 Total before coupons: $24.00 + tax = $26.18
-$9.60 coupons
-$12.77 ECBs from Transaction # 1
My OOP: $1.63 + tax = $3.81, earned $5 ECBs

Transaction # 3 

Schick Quattro for Women refill cartridges 4-ct $8.99
Used -$5.00 mfr coupon
Cost: $3.99, earned $4.00 ECBs (making this FREE + $0.01 profit)

2 Excedrin 8-ct @ $0.99 = $1.98
Cost: $1.98, earned $1.98 ECBs (making these FREE) 

Transaction # 3 Total before coupons: $10.97 + tax = $12.04
-$5.00 coupon
-$3.99 ECBs from last week
My OOP: $1.98 + tax = $3.05, earned $5.98 ECBs 

Transaction # 4 

3 packs Trident gum @ $1.00 = $3.00
Used -$1.00/3 mfr coupon
Cost: $2.00, earned $1.00 ECBs (making these $0.33 each)

Thermacare heat wrap $3.79
Cost: $3.79, earned $3.79 ECBs (making this FREE)

2 packs Wrigley’s 5 gum @ $1.57 = $3.14
Used BOGO coupon -$1.57
Used 25% off coupon -$0.79
Cost: $0.78 (making these $0.39 each) 

Transaction # 4 Total before coupons: $9.93 + tax = $10.82
-$3.36 coupons
-$5.98 ECBs
My OOP: $0.59 + tax = $1.48, earned $4.79 ECBs 

CVS Total before coupons: $59.66 + tax = $65.24
My Total OOP: $5.97 + tax = $11.55, with $9.79 ECBs remaining
Savings: $53.69, 82% 

Walgreens

This was done at two different stores. I started out with $4.00 Register Rewards from last week. 

Transaction # 1 (first store) 

Schick Quattro for men razor w/ bonus cartridges $8.99
Used -$5.00 mfr coupon
Cost: $3.99, earned $5.00 RR (makes this FREE + $1.01 profit)

Zarbee's Nighttime Cough and Sleep drink for kids $5.99
Used -$1.00 mfr coupon
Cost: $4.99, earned $6.00 RR (makes this FREE + $1.01 profit)

Balance Bar yogurt and honey energy bar $1.50
Cost: $1.50, earned $1.60 RR (makes this FREE + $0.10 profit)

Russell Stover chocolate pumpkin $0.59
Used -$0.20 in-ad coupon
Cost: $0.39 

Transaction # 1 Total before coupons: $17.07 + tax  = $18.65
-$6.20 coupons
-$4.00 RRs
My OOP: $6.87 + tax = $8.45, earned $12.60 RRs

Transaction # 2 (first store) 

Bausch & Lomb Renu Sensitive multipurpose solution $6.99
Used -$2.00 mfr coupon
Cost: $4.99, earned $5.00 RR (making this FREE + $0.01 profit)

W Maxi 14-ct $2.00
Cost: $2.00, earned $2.00 RR (making this FREE)

Remington King of Shaves men’s razor $4.99
Cost: $4.99, earned $5.00 RR (making this FREE + $0.01 profit)

2 Haribo Gummi Bears @ $1.49 = $2.98
Used -$1.60 in-ad coupon
Used (2) -$0.30 mfr coupons
Cost: $0.78 (making these $0.39 each)

Russell Stover chocolate pumpkin $0.59
Used -$0.20 in-ad coupon
Cost: $0.39 

Transaction # 2 Total before coupons: $17.55 + tax = $18.57
-$4.40 coupons
-$12.60 RRs from Transaction # 1
Cost: $0.55 + tax = 1.58, earned $12.00 RRs

Transaction # 3 (first store) 

Schick Quattro for Women cartridges 4-ct $8.99
Used -$5.00 mfr coupon
Cost: $3.99, earned $5.00 RR (making this FREE + $1.01 profit)

2 Colgate Optic White toothpastes 4 oz 2/$7.98
Used (2) -$1.50 mfr coupons
Cost: $4.98, earned $6.00 RR (making this FREE + $1.02 profit)

Zarbee’s Nighttime Cough and Sleep drink for kids $5.99
Used -$1.00 mfr coupon
Cost: $4.99, earned $6.00 RR (making this FREE + $1.01 profit)

8 Halloween tumblers @ $0.25 = $2.00
Used -$1.00 in-ad coupon
Cost: $1.00 (making these $0.125 each)

4 packs Mentos UP2U gum @ $1.49 = $5.96
Used -$2.00 in-ad coupon
Used -$2.00 Walgreens monthly savings booklet coupon
Used (2) -$1.00/2 mfr coupons
Cost: FREE 

Transaction # 3 Total before coupons: $30.92 + tax = $33.57
-$16.00 coupons
-$12.00 RRs from Transaction # 2
My OOP: $2.92 + tax = $5.57, earned $17.00 RRs

Transaction # 4 (second store) 

W Maxi 14-ct $2.00
Cost: $2.00, earned $2.00 RR (making this FREE)

Remington King of Shaves men’s razor $4.99
Cost: $4.99, earned $5.00 RR (making this FREE + $0.01 profit)

2 Yardley bar soaps @ $1.49 = $2.98
Used -$1.60 in-ad coupon
Used (2) -$0.25 mfr coupons
Cost: $0.88 (making these $0.44 each)

2 Haribo Gummi Bears @ $1.49 = $2.98
Used -$1.60 in-ad coupon
Used (2) -$0.30 mfr coupons
Cost: $0.78 (making these $0.39 each)

2 Theraflu (one 6-packet box and one 8.3 oz liquid) 2/$10.00
Used -$3.00/2 mfr coupon
Cost: $7.00, earned $5.00 RR (making these $1.00 each)

Balance Bar cookie dough energy bar $1.50
Cost: $1.50, earned $1.60 RR (making this FREE + $0.10 profit)

Transaction # 4 Total before coupons: $24.45 + tax = $26.50
-$7.30 coupons
-$17.00 RRs from Transaction # 3
My OOP: $0.15 + tax = $2.20, earned $13.60 RRs

Transaction # 5 (second store)

8 Halloween bags @ $0.25 = $2.00
Used -$1.00 in-ad coupon
Cost: $1.00 (making these $0.125 each)

Schick Quattro for men razor $8.99
Used -$5.00 mfr coupon
Cost: $3.99, earned $5.00 RR (making this FREE + $1.01 profit)

Zantac Maximum Strength 24-ct acid reducer $7.99
Used -$2.00 Walgreens monthly savings booklet coupon
Used -$5.00 mfr coupon
Cost: $0.99

Domino sugar 4-lb bag $3.59
Used -$1.10 in-ad coupon
Used -$0.50 mfr coupon
Cost: $1.49

Transaction # 5 Total before coupons: $22.57 + tax = $24.53
-$14.60 coupons
-$7.00 RRs from Transaction # 4
My OOP: $0.97 + tax = $2.93, earned $5.00 RRs

Transaction # 6 (second store)

Schick Quattro for Women refill cartridges 4-ct $8.99
Used -$5.00 mfr coupon
Cost: $3.99, earned $5.00 RR (making this FREE + $1.01 profit)

2 Theraflu w/ Lipton 6-packet boxes 2/$10.00
Used (2) -$2.00 mfr coupons
Cost: $6.00, earned $5.00 RR (making these $0.50 each)

2 Russell Stover chocolate pumpkins 2/$1.00
Used -$0.22 in-ad coupon
Cost: $0.78 (making these $0.39 each)

Transaction # 6 Total before coupons: $19.99 + tax = $21.92
-$9.22 coupons
-$6.60 RRs from Transaction # 4
My OOP: $4.17 + tax = $6.10, earned $5.00 RR and $5.00 gift card (They gave me the gift card because my Theraflu RR didn’t print.)

Walgreens Total before coupons: $132.55 + tax = $143.75
My Total OOP: $15.63 + tax = $26.83, with $10.00 RRs and $5.00 gift card remaining
Savings: $116.92, 81% 

Here's a picture of all the rewards mom and I will have leftover for next week. Woohoo! Hopefully that means I'll pay very little out-of-pocket--maybe just that horrendous tax of ours. 

Organizing Coupons

Organization is key! If I'm organized, I'm able to match my coupons to weekly sales easily. Better yet, I feel much more confident going into the store to purchase items using coupons. Here's what I do to organize.

• Sort coupons by category: How many times have you been in a store that has the shampoo shelved right beside the milk? What about cat food beside the toothpaste? Probably not very often because those items are totally unrelated. That's why it doesn't make sense to just throw all your coupons together. You'll have much better luck if they're sorted! 
  
  I don't have a big coupon binder like so many of those extreme couponers. It's just not practical for me. I don't think I'd feel comfortable walking into a store with a big notebook. However, if that's the way you want to go, The Krazy Coupon Lady website has a great video to get you started. The website also has a downloadable table of contents and categories list for your binder. This might be worthwhile if you have thousands and thousands of coupons, but as someone who doesn't take it to that level, it's just not worth it to me.
  
  Here's what I do. I have a small accordion file and regular white envelopes. I keep them in my purse when I go shopping. My accordion file has 12 different compartments. I use it for non-food items only. The tabs are labeled cosmetics, bath and body, cleaning, pet, paper, health, dental, laundry, clothing, miscellaneous, restaurants, and Hardees. (I have the Hardees one because my aunt works for their home office and often gives us free coupons.)
  
  
  
  
  I really need a larger accordion file, but I don't want to get one that's too big for my purse. This has caused me to add a few more envelopes for other categories. The additional envelopes are labeled dish washing liquid, men's, feminine products, razors and shaving cream, and shampoo and styling products.
  
  I organize my food coupons a little differently. I thought about the layout of the grocery stores I visit. I pictured the various aisles and how the items were grouped together, then labeled the envelopes based on that. The categories I use are: 1) peanut butter, canned fruits, salad items, rice, canned veggies and soups, 2) sandwich meats, hot dogs, buns, and refrigerated items, 3) dairy, 4) frozen food, 5) frozen desserts, 6) beverages and coffee, 7) cereal and breakfast items, 8) snacks, chips, and popcorn, and 9) candy and baking items.
  
  I keep my envelopes in a little zippered pouch that fits inside my purse. I try to keep them in order by the layout of the store. That makes it easy to pull out the envelope for that section and search for coupons as I push my cart around the store. I also have an envelope labeled Using Today. I put the coupons I plan to use in there so I don't lose them before I'm ready for checkout.
  
  
  
  
  
• Sort coupons by store: Sometimes I'll get coupons that can only be redeemed at certain stores. They might say manufacturer coupons at the top, but have "Redeem only at Store XYZ" in the fine print. They might be catalinas, or coupons that print out at the register. Or they might be rewards for buying certain items, such as Register Rewards, ExtraBucks, or UP Rewards. Whichever type they are, I want to keep those separate from my regular manufacturer coupons.
  
  I have an envelope for each store I visit often. Those stores are CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, Ingles, Kroger, Walmart, Food Lion, and Target. I also use the envelopes for specific stores when planning my shopping trips for the week. When I get to the store, I just pull out the marked envelope, and all the coupons I need are there. I don't have to spend time sorting through them at the cash register. (By the way, sorting through coupons at the cash register is a big NO-NO. You'll aggravate the cashier and people waiting in line behind you.)
  
  I keep my specific store envelopes in the front of the zippered pouch inside my purse. The little compartments on the front hold paper clips and receipts. I often paper clip my coupons together by transaction, so I end up having a lot of paper clips leftover at the end of the day. (Overlook the random ink-mark on the front. That little mishap occurred when marking off a shopping list in the store.)
  
  
  
  
  
• Pull coupons that are about to expire: I take about 15 minutes each week to go through my coupons and pull out the ones that will expire in the next week or so. I put them in two different envelopes--Expiring Soon: Food Coupons and Expiring Soon: Other Coupons. I make a priority of using those coupons before any other like coupons with later expiration dates. I also check to see if stores have any great advertised deals on those items.
  
  I always have several coupons that I can't use before the expiration date. Instead of throwing them out, I put them in a large envelope at my house. About once a month, I'll send them to my cousin. She's stationed overseas because her husband is in the military. Military commissaries overseas will take expired coupons up to 6 months after the expiration date. Living Rich with Coupons has a list of guidelines and links to three websites that give addresses and more information.

Am I a pro at organization? Nah. But as someone who doesn't have thousands of coupons or who doesn't want to buy items in bulk, my simple system works perfectly in me.

Shopping Trip - 9/18/11

It's Sunday, so you know what that means--a new week of couponing! I shopped at CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens today. Here's a picture of my finds. 

Click on the picture if you want a larger view. This shows my purchases from all three stores. I purchased these items for $30.27 plus tax with $29.98 rewards remaining for my next purchases. That isn't even including the $3 in unused rewards from last week. This wasn't my greatest savings out-of-pocket, but hopefully I'll make up for that next week because I have so many rewards to start with. 

Today's 27-item haul includes 2 Kleenex 8-pack pocket packs, 3 small bags of cough drops, 5 bags of candy corn, 1 bag of starlight mints, 2 tubes of Crest toothpaste, 2 boxes 100-ct Excedrin PM, 3 packages Kotex, 1 Samy Fat Foam hair color, 1 bottle Hyland's Cold & Cough medicine for kids, 2 Blistex Cold & Allergy Soother lip balms, 2 bags of Reese's Fast Break candy bars, 1 box Lipton tea 100-pk, 1 Scott Choose-your-Size paper towels 8-pk, 1 Scott Ultra Soft bath tissue 12 mega rolls, and one caramel candy (not pictured). 

The total cost for these items before coupons was $90.44 plus tax. That reflects the sale prices. Regular retail would've been much, much higher. I saved $60.17 using coupons and rewards. That savings does not reflect the $29.98 I have leftover from today's purchases because I'll include those when I calculate my savings on a future purchase. 

Here's a breakdown of each store.  

Rite Aid

 

I started out with $12 UP rewards from previous purchases. My goal today was to take advantage of the Kimberly-Clark promotion--$10 UP rewards wyb $30 KC products. You could earn $20 wyb $50 or $40 wyb $70. I wasn’t feeling THAT extreme, though. 

 

2 Crest 4.0 oz toothpastes @ $2.99 = $5.98
Used (2) -$1.00 mfr coupons
Cost: $3.98, earn $4 UP rewards

 

Samy Fat Foam hair color $8.99
Used -$2.00 in-ad coupon
Used -$3.00 Video Values coupon
Used -$3.00 mfr coupon
Cost: $0.99

 

Scott Choose-a-Size paper towels 8-pk $7.99 (Kimberly-Clark promo)

Used -$1.00 Video Values coupon
Used -$1.00 mfr coupon
Cost: $5.99

 

Scott Ultra Soft bathroom tissue mega rolls 12-pk $7.99 (Kimberly-Clark promo)

Used -$1.00 mfr coupon
Cost: $6.99

2 Kleenex 8-pk pocket packs @ $2.00 = $4.00 (Kimberly-Clark promo)
Used -$1.00/2 Video Values coupon
Used -$1.00/2 mfr coupon IP
Cost: $2.00 or $1.00 each

 

2 Kotex @ $3.50 = $7.00 (Kimberly-Clark promo)
Used -$1.00/2 Video Values coupon
Used -$1.50/2 mfr coupon IP
Cost: $4.50 or $2.25 each

 

U by Kotex $3.50 (Kimberly-Clark promo)
Used -$1.00 mfr coupon IP
Cost: $2.50

 

(Total for Kimberly-Clark items before coupons was $30.48.)

 

Rite Aid total before coupons: $45.45 + tax = $48.06
-$18.50 coupons
-$12.00 UP rewards from previous trip
OOP: $14.95 + tax = $17.56, with $14.00 UP rewards remaining
Savings: $30.50, 63% 

Walgreens

I didn’t have any Register Rewards to start with this week.

 

Transaction # 1:

 

Blistex Cold & Allergy lip balm $2.00
Earn $2.00 Register Reward

 

Hyland’s Nighttime Cold & Cough 4 Kids medicine $4.99
Earn $5.00 Register Reward

 

Transaction # 1 Total: $6.99 + tax = $7.65
Earned $7 Register Rewards

Transaction # 2:

 

Lipton tea 100-pk $2.99

 

Blistex Cold & Allergy lip balm $2.00
Earn $2.00 Register Reward

 

3 Brach’s candy corn (2 caramel apple, 1 caramel) @ $0.79 = $2.37
Used -$0.50 mfr coupon and -$0.75/2 mfr coupon
Cost: $1.12 or $0.37 each

 

Transaction # 2 total before coupons: $7.36 + tax = $8.02
-$1.25 mfr coupons
-$5.00 Register Rewards from Transaction # 1
OOP: $1.11 + tax = $1.77, earn $2 Register Rewards

 

Walgreens total before coupons: $14.35 + tax = $15.67
-$1.25 mfr coupons
-$5.00 Register Rewards
OOP: $8.10 + tax = $9.42, with $4 Register Rewards remaining
Savings: $6.25, 40%

CVS

I was shopping for two families again this week. I used my mom’s card for some deals. I started with $10 ECBs on mom’s card and $6 ECBs on my card. We both had 25% off email coupons.

 

Transaction # 1 (mom’s card):

2 Excedrin PM 100-ct @ $11.49 = $22.98
Used (2) -$1.00 mfr coupons IP
Used 25% email coupon -$6.00
Cost: $14.98 or $7.49 each, earned $10 UP rewards

Gold Emblem Autumn Mix candy $0.99
Earned $0.99 ECBs

Reese’s Fast Break candy bars 11.39 oz bag $2.00 (They were marked 5/$10 but rang up $3.99. The cashier and I checked the sale sign and it said through 10/31, so she manually entered the price.)
Used -$1.00 off any Reeses CRT
Cost: $1.00

Transaction # 1 total before coupons: $25.97 + tax = $27.92
-$3.00 coupons
-$6.00 from 25% coupon
-$10.00 ECBs from last week
OOP: $6.97 + tax = $8.92, earned $10.99 ECBs

Transaction # 2 (my card):

 

Reese’s Fast Break candy bars 11.39 oz bag $2.00
Used -$1.00 off any Reeses CRT
Cost: $1.00

 

3 CVS brand cough drops 10-pks @ $0.12 = $0.36 (clearance)

Gold Emblem Autumn Mix candy $0.99
Earn $0.99 ECBs

 

Gold Emblem starlight mints $0.99

 

Caramel candy $0.33 (I bought this because everything else I had rang up as “sale”—I’ve heard that if you don’t use your email coupons, CVS will eventually stop sending them. I don’t want that to happen!)

Transaction # 2 total before coupons: $4.67 + tax = $5.08
-$1.00 coupon
-$0.42 from 25% coupon (no clue where that amount came from)
-$3.00 ECBs from last week
OOP: $0.25 + tax = $0.66, earned $0.99 ECBs (plus I have $3.00 leftover from last week’s purchases)

CVS Total before coupons: $30.64 + tax = $33.00
-$10.42 coupons
-$13.00 ECBs
OOP: $7.22 + tax = $9.58, with $11.98 ECBs remaining (plus $3 unused ECBs from last week) 
Savings: $23.42, 71%

Here's a picture of all the leftover rewards mom and I will have to start with next week! The $3 from last week is not pictured.

 

TLC's Extreme Couponing

It's baaaaack! The outrageous show that sparked a craze around the country has returned to TLC. I admit that I watched the first season. I admit that I'll probably watch this season. It's incredible to see how those people get $1,000 worth of groceries for $50. That said, I have a few thoughts:

• I think the show is mostly staged. Unless store coupon policies differ greatly in other parts of the country, I don't see how it's possible to get items for that cheap.
  
• I can't imagine spending 9 hours at a grocery store, nor can I imagine spending 30 hours per week clipping coupons. Those people are nuts.
  
• Is a stock pile that large really necessary? Doubtful. Who could use all that stuff before it expires anyway?
  
• It's people like that who will cause stores to get even stricter with their coupon policies.

If you've never seen the show, check out this link: TLC's Extreme Couponing. Here's a clip. 

If you've watched the show, what do YOU think about it? 

 

Shopping Trip - 9/11/11

Each Sunday I usually check out my three favorite stores for great bargains. Here is my shopping trip from today. I went to CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid. I doubled up on some deals at CVS because my mom wanted me to use her card to purchase some things since she had to work today. 

You can click on the picture for a larger view. This is a picture of all my purchases combined. I'll include individual store purchases with the breakdown of transactions. I purchased these 40 items for $26.78 plus tax with $16.69 rewards remaining for my next purchases. Here's a list of what I bought: 5 Campbell's soups, 2 bottles of Bayer Advanced Aspirin, 6 bags Chex Mix, 3 Russell Stover chocolate pumpkins, 8 Coca-Cola product 12-packs, 2 boxes CVS allergy medicine, 2 bottles St. Joseph's aspirin, 2 Soft Soap body washes, one Bengay cream, one box of Ritz Crackerfuls, one Newton Fruit Thins, 3 bottles Dawn dishwashing liquid, one 20-pk Finish dishwasher tablets, 2 Air Wick iMotion compact starter kits, and one large Air Wick Ultra Freshmatic starter kit.

The retail for those 40 items was $93.87 plus tax. That's with the sale prices--it would've been much more if the items were regular price. I saved $67.09 today using coupons and rewards. I didn't include the $16.69 in rewards I have leftover because I'll include those when I calculate my savings on a future purchase. 

Here is a breakdown of what I purchased at each store and how I did it. My savings would've been much greater without the soft drinks, but those are a necessary evil in our households.  

Rite Aid

 
5 Campbell’s Soups 5/$3.00
Used -$1.00/5 mfr IP
Cost: $2.00 or $0.40 per can

2 bottles 20-24 ct Bayer Advanced Aspirin @ $2.99 = $5.98
Used (2) -$1.50 mfr IP
Used -$1.00 video values Q
Cost: $1.98 or $0.99 per bottle

Rite Aid Retail: $8.98 + tax = $9.79
Used -$3.00 UPs from previous visit
OOP: $0.98 + tax = $1.79, earned $2 UP rewards from Bayer
Savings: $8.00, 82%

Walgreens

 
6 bags Chex Mix @ $0.99 = $5.94
Used (4) -$0.50 mfr IPs
Used -$1.00/2 mfr IP
Cost: $2.94 or $0.49 per bag

3 Russell Stover chocolate pumpkins @ $0.39 = $1.17

Walgreens Retail: $7.11 + tax = $7.71
Used -$4 RRs from previous visit
OOP: $0.11 + tax = $0.71
Savings: $7.00, 91%

CVS

 
This is where my big spending took place since I was shopping for two families today.

Transaction # 1 (my card):

Newton Fruit Thins $2.50
Used -$2.50 free CVS coupon
Cost: FREE

Finish Powerball Tabs 20-ct $2.99
Used -$0.65 mfr IP
Cost: $2.34

2 Air Wick iMotion compact kits @ $4.99 = $9.98
Used (2) -$4.00 mfr Qs
Cost: $1.98 or $0.99 each

Air Wick Ultra Freshmatic kit $7.99
Used -$2.00 mfr IP
Cost: $5.99 
(Air Wick and Finish Total: $20.96 - $10.65 Qs - $10.00 ECBs = $0.31 for all 4 items)

CVS Allergy Medicine $3.69
Earned $3.69 ECBs

Total Retail: $27.15 + tax = $29.28
Used -$5/25 email coupon
Used -$4 ECBs from previous purchase
Used -$13.15 Qs
OOP: $5.00 + tax = $7.13, earned $13.69 ECBs

Transaction # 2 (my card)

4 Coke Products 4/$13.00
Earned $3.00 ECBs

Soft Soap Body Wash $2.99
Used -$0.75
Cost: $2.24
Earned $2.00 ECBs

St. Joseph’s Aspirin $2.00
Used -$1.00 mfr Q
Cost: $1.00
Earned $1.00 ECBs

Total Retail: $17.99 + tax = $19.55
Used -$1.75 Qs
Used $13.69 ECBs from Transaction # 1
OOP: $2.55 + tax = $4.11, earned $6 ECBs

Transaction # 3 (mom’s card)

4 Coke Products 4/$13.00
Earned $3 ECBs

Ritz Crackerfuls $2.50
Used -$2.50 FREE CVS coupon
Cost: FREE

CVS Allergy Medicine $3.69
Earned $3.69 ECBs

St. Joseph’s Aspirin $2.00
Earned $1.00 ECB

Bengay cream 2 oz $5.49
Used -$3.00 mfr IP
Cost: $2.49

Total Retail: $26.68 + tax = $28.61
Used -$5/$25 email coupon
Used -$5.50 Qs
OOP: $16.18 + tax = $18.11, earned $7.69 ECBs

Transaction # 4 (mom’s card)

Soft Soap Body Wash $2.99
Used -$0.75 mfr IP
Cost: $2.24
Earned $2.00 ECBs

3 Dawn Plus dishwashing liquid @ $0.99 = $2.97
Used (3) -$0.75 mfr Qs
Cost: $0.72 or $0.24 each bottle 

Total Retail: $5.96 + tax = $6.54
Used -$1.00 ECB from Transaction # 3
Used -$3.00 Qs 

OOP: $1.96 + tax = $2.54, earned $2 ECBs

CVS Total Retail: $77.78 + tax = $83.98
My OOP: $25.69 + tax = $31.89 with $14.69 in ECBs remaining
Savings: $52.09, 62% (Since I only started with $4 ECBs from last week, that’s like paying $21.89 and saving $62.09.)

Where can I find coupons?

Coupons are all around you! Here's a list of where I most often find my coupons:

1. Newspaper: Newspapers often have a coupon insert or two in the weekend edition. My small town newspaper leaves a lot to be desired in the coupon department. It comes with a Red Plum (very limited--usually less than 15 coupons total). It also comes with a Procter & Gamble insert once monthly. In addition to the local paper, I usually buy a Knoxville News-Sentinel each week. It tends to have higher quality AND a larger quantity of coupons. It often contains a Smart Source coupon insert, as well as Red Plum and the monthly Procter & Gamble.
   
   A newspaper subscription for my local paper costs $8.95 per month. The Knoxville News-Sentinel costs $2.00 for the Sunday edition. Occasionally I buy more than one when I know great coupons are included. I also get the inserts from my grandparents. If you don't want to buy any additional papers, ask a non-couponing friend if they'll give you their inserts. Be sure to also check those little magazines that come in the weekend edition of the paper, like Parade. Sometimes they contain coupons, too!
   
   
2. Internet: I also print coupons from the Internet. This requires a one-time installation of a coupon printing program on your computer so a scannable barcode will print. Websites I often use for printable coupons are: Coupons.com, Smart Source, and Red Plum. There's also a number of blogs you can follow that post updates as new printable coupons become available.
   
   You can find printable coupons directly on some manufacturer websites. You can subscribe to their mailing lists and get coupons sent directly to your inbox. Some stores let you register your loyalty card online and send valuable coupons electronically. Facebook is also a great place to find coupons. Almost every company has a fan page you can "like" and information about coupons or savings events will be posted directly in your newsfeed.
   
   Word to the wise: Coupons from the Internet are free, but you still have to pay for paper and ink. If your printer is anything like mine, ink is EXPENSIVE! Be sure that you'll use the coupon before you print it. I learned that lesson the hard way when I got a bit print happy last month. I had literally 100+ coupons go to waste because I couldn't use them all before the expiration date.
   
   
3. With your receipt: Ever been to the grocery store and have a cashier hand you a coupon that printed along with your receipt? Those are called catalinas. Make sure you check them out before you throw them away. I've gotten some great ones for money off your next purchase, money off a specific product, or even FREE products.
   
   
4. On or in the products: You've probably seen coupons stuck to items at the store. Those are called peelies. Make sure you read them before you take them off the products because sometimes they're only valid if removed by a cashier.
   
   Take a look at the packaging after you purchase products. Sometimes coupons are included inside the box. For example, I bought a tube of toothpaste a few weeks ago for $1.00, but it had $10.00 worth of coupons inside the box.
   
   
5. At the store: Sometimes stores have those little red or black coupon boxes with the flashing red lights near specific products. Occasionally they're store-specific coupons, but often they're manufacturer coupons you can use at any store. For example, I saw a coupon for dog food at the dollar store. The dog food wasn't on sale, but I got one of the coupons because it was a brand I normally use. I saved the coupon until a good sale came along (at a different store), and I ended up scoring a 5-lb bag of Pedigree dog food for less than $2.00.
   
   Some stores also have coupon booklets at the front of the store near their weekly ads. Be sure to look for those when you walk in. Occasionally store coupons can be combined with manufacturer coupons (example: Walgreens) and that equals double the savings.
   
   Some stores (CVS) have a coupon machine. You scan your store loyalty card and coupons print out for you. Those coupons can also often be combined with manufacturer coupons.
   
   
6. Magazines: You can occasionally find coupons inside magazines. I buy All You magazine each month because it is FULL of coupons. It's only available at Wal-Mart or by subscription. I find it to be well worth the $2.49 cover price.
   
   
7. Mailbox: Ever get free samples mailed to you? I love them! I often check Wal-Mart and Target sample centers for freebies. It's a great way to find out if you like a product and get some high-dollar coupons. You can also check the webpages and Facebook pages of specific products for samples.
   
   I also get coupons in the mail every couple of weeks or so. They're usually for fast food restaurants, but there's the occasional manufacturer coupon stuck in there.
   
   
   You can find coupons in a number of places!