[Coupon Shopping] Do You Coupon Shop?

If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know I love coupons! I love to eat with coupons, and I love to shop with coupons. TLC has this show called Extreme Couponing. People are able to get $1,000+ grocery down to $100 with coupons! It's amazing. I've always shopped with coupons, but I don't nearly save as much as those extreme people. I learned that to get things for the best price, you have to combine a sale with a coupon. So it's necessary to spend some time to organize your coupons, study store ads, and figure out the best combination to maximize the saving. When price is low, you can stock up on non-perishable items. These were my results of 3 weeks of coupon shopping.


5/12/2011 Walgreens Shopping Trip ($27.24 $1.27 ~ 95% Saving)

First week I just did a small purchase to test out this coupon shopping thing. I bought:

• Nexcare Bandages


• Pantene Shampoo


• Pantene Conditioner


• Almay Makeup Remover Towelettes x 2

Guess how much I paid? Subtotal was $5.47, with tax I paid $7.26. Nexcare Bandages has a $2.99 mail-in rebate so that brought it down to $4.27. I also got $3 Register Rewards (which is like Walgreens cash) to use toward next purchase. So it was like I got everything for $1.27. $1.27!!!! And that was with tax!!!!!!! Isn't that amazing? The receipt told me my total saving that day was $19.98.



5/12/2011 CVS Shopping Trip ($32.30 $4.45 ~ 86% Saving)

I also went to CVS. (We have a Walgreens and a CVS in the same shopping plaza. Lucky me!) At CVS, I bought:

• Xtra Laundry Detergent x 2


• Herbal Essence Shampoo


• Herbal Essence Conditioner


• Sobe Lifewater x 5


• Carefree Pantyliner


• Colgate Toothbrush 2-pk

Subtotal was $8.37. I paid $9.45 with tax, and got $5 Extra Bucks (it's CVS cash) back. So all that was only for $4.45! Total saving was $22.85 as shown on the receipt. I can't believe how much stuff I could get for $5! After trying this coupon shopping thing for one week, I was hooked.


5/16/2011 Walgreens Shopping Trip ($76.15 $11.74 ~ 85% Saving)

Went back to do my drug store coupon shopping the following week. This time at Walgreens I bought:

• Nova Max Blood Glucose Monitor


• ActivOn Joint Cream


• Sally Hanson Nail Polish x 2


• Old Spice Body Wash x 4


• Dove Mens Deodorant


• 3M Magic Tape x 3


• Dentek Floss x 2

Total paid was $19.73. There's a mail in rebate of $7.99 for ActivOn Joint Cream. So my grand total was $11.74 that day, and total saving was $56.42 as shown on the receipt. I studied the receipt when I got home, and realized there was a mistake. Sally Hanson Nail Polish was on clearance sale for $1.09, but I was charged $1.99/each. So I overpaid $1.80. So I learned from this trip that it's best to check your receipt right there in the store or in your car before leaving.


5/16/2011 CVS Shopping Trip ($75.88 $20.99 ~ 72% Saving)

Week 2 at CVS, I bought:

• Fellipo Berio Olive Oil x 2


• John Frieda Hair Color


• Finesse Moisturizing Shampoo


• Neutrogena Sunscreen x 2


• Lady Speed stick Deodorant


• Physician Formula Concealer x 2

Total paid was $24.99. With $2 mail in rebate for Finesse Shampoo, the total was brought down to $22.99. I still had $4 Extra Bucks to use for next time. So my grand total for this purchase was $20.99. Total saving was $50.89!


5/23/2011 Walgreens Shopping Trip ($103.90 $28.15 ~ 73% Saving)

I didn't do too good at this week's shopping trip at Walgreens. I didn't plan out everything throughly beforehand like last week. Walgreens has a coupon policy that you can only use the same number of coupons as the items purchased. So If you buy 5 things, then you can only use 5 coupons. Their store Register Rewards also count as coupons. Since I didn't plan out how to do different transactions to maximize coupon use beforehand, I couldn't use all the coupons I had. But that's ok. You have to make mistake to learn. This week I learned that you HAVE to plan out beforehand. This week I bought:

• Infusium 23 Hair Care


• Tone Body Wash x 2


• Coppertone Sun Care


• Scunci No Damage Hair Elstics 18 pk


• Advil


• Thermacare Heatwraps


• Cottonelle Fresh Wipe


• True2go Blood Glucose Monitor


• Bayer Aspirin


• Tylonol Precise Pain Relieving Patches


• Pure Silk Shave Cream


• Oscar Mayer Wiener x 2


• Butterfinger


• Crunch


• Schick Hydro Razer System x 2

Total paid was $41.64. After $9.99 mail in rebate for True2go Blood Glucose Monitor, it will be $31.65. I still have $3.50 Register Rewards to use for next time. So total for this trip was $28.15. Total saving was $62.26. I studied the receipt when I got home, and realized I was missing a $5 Register Rewards I was supposed to get. Again, I failed to check my receipt again right there, which cost me $5. I won't make the same mistake next time. :-(


5/23/2011 CVS Shopping Trip ($52.18 $11.94 ~ 77% Saving)

I did better at CVS. I bought:

• Thermacare x 2


• Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer x 2


• Irish Spring Body Wash x 2


• Thermacare x 2


• Cesar Dog Food x 2


• Stride Gum x 3

Total paid was $12.93, still have $0.99 Extra Bucks so my total was $11.94 with total saving of $40.24.

So what do you think? Are you eager to try coupon shopping, too? From now on I will post sale items with price with coupon matching weekly so you can do coupon shopping and save money with me! Who's in?

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