Grabbing deals when other things fall through

Missed out on the movie preview of How Do You Know tonight, because Hubs had to work later than we expected. So instead, we did some "bargain" shopping.

At Randalls, I spent $32.96  but I saved $48.94. Out of my total spent, I don't think that $20 should count, because I earned the splurge. They had Coca Cola on special, 4 for $10.

My BIG savings of the day came at Target, where I went coupon STOOPID! First stop, NYC In A New York Minute nail color, which run $1.74. I grabbed 2 because I had 2 sets of manufacturer coupons and store coupons (which can be combined), each one worth $1. That took $4 off the total, even though the polish onnly came to $3.58. Then on to candles. I grabbed an Airwick candle, which was on clearance for $2.54 and used a $3 coupon (all overages are taken off my total. Hey, I don't know how it works, but it does, so I am going to use it!). Then I grabbed my frozen veggies, 2 BirdsEye and 2 Green Giant, each supposed to be $1, and I had coupons for 50 cents off each item. (The Green Giant rang up for $1.34, and I am going to get my 64 cents back tomorrow. It's the PRINCIPALITY of the matter!) Then CoffeeMate for $1.48, minus a $1 coupon. Then we grabbed three 79 cent Betty Crocker Au Gratin potatoes, minus 55 cents off each one. Our last stop before the checkout was Planters dried, shelled sunflower seeds. Two jars of them for $2.74 each. But you know I used coupons for those too, right? I used 2 Planters coupons for $1 each, and a Target coupon that was buy 2 get $2 off Planters. So can you guess my total? Give up? I initally spent $2.09 for all of my purchases. But remember that I said that they owe me 68 cents? That brings my total down to $1.41!!!!

I consider this to be a major victory, since this is not only the trip that I used the most coupons, but also the one that I spent the least and got the most.

Did you know that you can print out manufacturer's coupons and add them to the discount that store coupons give you? Print out a coupon from Target, WalGreens, or CVS, and then find a coupon that is for the same brand form the manufacturer (try http://www.coupons.com/). Then go use them! Target, Walgreens, and CVS all let you do this, but Walgreens and CVS have their coupons in the sales ad, so it makes it easier on you.

Hope that you have learned something tonight, and that you now want to try your hand at some bargain shopping.