A $9.98 PROFIT

Yes, you read that correctly.  I came home with more cash than when I left.  I actually didn't mean for this to happen but life is full of randomness sometimes.

So the deal is that I planned to buy a long list of things at Walmart.  And use the overage from the Similac coupons to pay for part of it.  That was the plan.  The best laid plans though...  So I went all through that wretched store, that I am sorry to say I do NOT heart, and found not a single thing on my list.  Not one.  Except the formula.  And since I was there, I decided to just get the formula and have them put the overage on a gift card to use later. 

For those unaware, Walmart has a new coupon policy that allows you to get coupon overage back.  Either to use on the rest of your order, in the form of a gift card or in the form of cold hard cash.  I am not personally a fan of the cash back senario.  Feels underhanded to me.  But sometimes in life we have to go with the flow.

First, I had two Gerber formula coupons that looked like checks.  One was for $6.95 and the other was for $15.95.  (I signed up for these a few months ago- don't remember where- sorry.)  I was nervous as they looked just like checks and knew they would be an issue.  They were.  It was uncomfortable.  But they eventually went through with the help of another employee and the manager.  Then I used my $5 Similac formula coupons.  They went through just fine.  But then the cashier was upset that I was owed cash back.  I pulled out a copy of the store coupon policy and tried to ask for a gift card.  But the cashier did not want to talk to me and was under his breath moaning about how I shouldn't get cash back- then I would say a gift card is fine- and he would ignore me.  So eventually he threw the cash at me.  $11.07 to be exact!

But when I got home, I looked at my receipt to see that the Similac was marked $3.84 but it rang up at $5.47.  I bought seven.  So I actually should have walked away with an additional $11.41.  But I was so flustered that I didn't notice until I got home.  I called and they said I need to lug all seven bottles in if I want it readjusted.  Which means that Walmart probably just profited off me.  Because they will get paid from the various manufacturers for the full amount.  But they know that their horrible customer service will keep me from visiting them again in the near future. 

All that said, I still did really well.  Here's what I purchased...


From Walmart:
(7) 1qt Similac Soy Formula  $5.47 (though marked $3.84!!)
(2) Gerber Soy Plus Formula  $4.27

-(7) $5/1  Any Similac Formula coupon from Sunday paper
-(1) $6.95  Any Gerber Formula coupon
-(1) $15.95  Any Gerber Formula coupon

Total purchased ... $46.83

Total paid ... -$11.07

Then I drove across the street to Price Chopper to use two more of the $5/10 PC items coupons and Free Cereal coupons.  Really I wanted to get some yogurt to freeze and a thing of orange juice.

Transaction #1:
(1) Price Chopper boxed cereal  $2
(2) Price Chopper Chicken Broth  $0.79
(7) Price Chopper low fat yogurt  $0.45

Minus...
(1) Free PC boxed cereal up to $2
(1) $5/any 10 Price Chopper brand items

Total purchased ... $6.73

Total paid ... -$0.27 

(PC does not give cash back but my total was in fact negative!)

Transaction #2:
(1) Price Chopper boxed cereal  $2
(1) Price Chopper OJ  $2.99
(8) Price Chopper low fat yogurt  $0.45

Minus...
(1) $0.50/1 PC brand OJ from iSave machine
(1) Free PC brand boxed cereal up to $2
(1) $5/any 10 PC brand items

Total purchased ... $8.59

Total paid ... $1.09

So in under an hour tonight, I purchased $62.15.  And walked away with $9.98 in cash PROFIT.  Though it should have been an additional $11.41, that's still pretty awesome for a quick trip.  Even if you don't have the other coupons, you still have time to do use the Price Chopper coupons.  Links are a few posts below this one...

Happy Mail

I think I must sign up for a free sample at least four days a week.  Sometimes more.  I love samples.  I love trying new products.  I love seeing my mailbox full of happy FREE treats.  And I love the coupons that usually come with the freebies.

I think this is most of what has come my way in the last 3 weeks or so.  Anything I don't want, I either give to friends or add to my donation box.  The hair samples are my favorite way to try a new product without having to buy a giant bottle.  And they're great for traveling.  Just toss them before you come home. 

What fun, happy treats have you found in your mailbox lately? 

98% Saved At Price Chopper

For the first time I am LOVING the Price Chopper coupons this week!  I did two transactions and this was my second, small transaction.  I used the $5/10 PC items coupon and the FREE box of PC cereal coupon. 

Here's what I bought...

(1) Box of Price Chopper Corn Chex-like Cereal  $2
(1) Price Chopper Fat Free Sour Cream  $1.59
(4) Clear Value Dry Onion Soup Mix  $0.49
(4) Price Chopper Low Fat Yogurt  $0.45

-$0.20 store sale on PC Sour Cream
-(1) Free box of PC cereal up to $2 coupon
-(1) $5/10 PC items coupon

Retail value of items purchased...$7.35

Total paid out of pocket...$0.15

Percentage saved...98%

I will be going back at least once more this week to stock up on yogurt.  The great thing about yogurt is that it has a long shelf life and it freezes so well.  So I stock up and then just pull a few out at a time in the fridge.  When I was in high school, I used a frozen yogurt in place of an ice pack thingy.  It kept my lunch cool and was defrosted by lunch time.  And the cereal is gluten free for any other gf folks out there.

The onion dip is a family favorite on potatoes.  Chop up your favorite kind of potato.  Toss with some EVOO and a packet of the seasoning mix.  Spread on a baking sheet and bake at 350 until they are crisp on the outside and tender on the inside.  Sooo yum-o!

Thanks I Am That Lady for the head's up about the $5/10 PC coupon!!

Print Now And Use Next Week

Of course you can use this now at any of the drug stores to score two Snickers Eggs for FREE.  But next week, Walgreens will again have them marked down to $0.29/each.  So if you print two of these coupons now and save them, you will be able to get SEVEN Snickers Eggs for $0.03.  That's three pennies TOTAL for all seven.  Perfect to stock up for Easter.

BUT...this is also a great way to add a filler to your Walgreens purchase without having to really pay anything extra.  That's what I find so tricky about Wags.  Their coupon to items ratio rule.  You cannot use more coupons than total number of items purchased.  You may use both a store and manufacturer coupon on a single item though. 

So let's pretend you are buying toothpaste.  And have a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon.  That's fine.  But as you are using two coupons, you will also need to purchase at least two items.  That's where a filler comes into play.  So this Mars coupon is a dream.  It allows you to use a single coupon on multiple items.  Solving your filler problem.  And treating you to a yummy treat at the same time.

98% Saved At Rite Aid

I had Register Rewards at Rite Aid that were expiring today.  But there weren't any deals I really wanted this week at Rite Aid.  So I decided to make sure they didn't expire and put them towards something I use daily but never find at a real steal of a price.  Peanut butter.  This was by far my most successful coupon shopping trip!

I finally figured out how to really get the biggest bang for my Register Reward bucks, my friends!  And I want to share in case there are other newbies who are just figuring things out too.  It's really a very basic theory.  Never show your full hand.  So I put all of my purchases up on the counter.  Then I pulled out my Register Rewards ONLY.  Not showing or mentioning that I also have coupons.  Because if you show the cashier your coupons, they will insist on scanning those first.  And it will work against you in the end.  So ONLY show your Register Rewards.  Have the cashier ring them all up.  T H E N pull out your coupons that you plan to use.  I also had a Register Reward for 10% off my entire order.  I made sure to give that to the cashier very first.  Then my Register Rewards.  And LAST my coupons.  Here are my crazy amazing results....

Purchased:
(2) Jiff Extra Crunch Peanut Butter  $3.29
(1) Snickers Almonds  $0.88
(2) Honey Roasted Peanuts  2/$1 or $0.59 each
(14) Trident Vitality Gum  $1.29 

Used:
(1) 10% off total purchase coupon
(7) $1 Register Rewards
(1) $0.50/1 Trident Vitality Gum RA Video coupon
(7) BOGO FREE Trident Vitality in store sale
(7) BOGO FREE Trident Vitality manufacturer coupon

$26.52  Total before store sales, RR and coupons.

$0.58  Total I paid out of pocket.

98%  Total saved!!

I actually had to buy the Snickers and peanuts in order to use all of my Register Rewards because of the 10% off coupon and the gum being totally free between the store BOGO sale and my BOGO coupons.  Isn't that crazy?!! 

Between this crazy coupon win and my BUTLER BULLDOGS heading to the National Championship game...I am on high!  Best.  Night.  Ever!

The Rumor Is True...Hurry Over To Target

I am now not allowed to buy laundry fabric softener unless it is totally FREE for the next year.  Because just look at what came home with me from Target yesterday.  It's a bit ridiculous.  But I'd be even crazier to have not taken advantage of these deals.

So the Gain wasn't amazing.  In the end I paid $1.19/bottle.  But I love Gain and my $3/1 coupons were expiring today.  That's still a good deal though.  The fancy pants Purex...all FREE!!  Let me say it again....F R E E!!!!!  My store shelf was still marked at the normal price (I think $4.49?) but I used the fabulous red scanner thingy (clearly the very technical term) and verified that they were in fact on sale for $2.99.  I used the $1/1 Target coupon and the $2/1 manufacturer coupon from several Sunday's ago to get them for FREE!  Once again, I had an amazing cashier who graciously let me do all of this in a single transaction, instead of the six that might normally be required.  And would you believe that for the first time ever, not a single thing beeped!!  The coupon gods must know I'm sick and didn't have the energy to fight a coupon battle today.

Here's what I bought and their non-sale prices....

(4) Gain Fabric Softener - $4.19
(6) Purex Crystals Fabric Softener - $4.49
(6) Sobe Life Water - $1.34
(1) Excedrin - $3.34
(3) Reynolds Slow Cooker Liner - $2 (I think?)

- (4) $3/1 Gain coupons
- (6) $1/1 Target print Purex Crystals coupons
- (6) $2/1 manufacturer Purex Crystals coupons
- (6) $0.50/1 Target print Sobe Life Water coupons
- (1) $3/1 Target print Excedrin coupon
- (1) $1/1 manufacturer Excedrin coupon
- (3) $1/1 Reynolds Slow Cooker Liner coupons

After store sales, store coupons and manufacturer coupons, I paid $12.05!!  That's a savings of over 80%!!  Hot damn, that felt good!  It is such a happy feeling to realize that I don't need to spend another dime on laundry supplies for the next year too.  Love that!  I think that I have a full year of (or more) of fabric softener and at least 9 months of detergent and color booster (Oxi/Tide) and probably paid around $30 for all of it.