I Love Saving Money!

{This post will be long so prepare yourselves}

Every week, I look forward to my coupon shopping trips! 

I used to watch "Extreme Couponing" on TV and thought these ladies were crazy for how excited they got about coupons.

But I can honestly say that I am right there with them now!

Ask my husband.

The hardest thing about couponing and eating healthy is that most of the items that go on sale are UNHEALTHY. I am usually pretty limited when it comes to food items that I get but I will go crazy on beauty products or household items. When I do buy food, it is usually semi-healthy or I have in mind that I will be donating it to a food drive or something of the like. 

I have only been couponing for 2 or so years now.

But, here are some ESSENTIAL things I have learned so far about (non-extreme) couponing:

1. You MUST buy (or obtain) 2 newspapers every Sunday. The coupons in the inserts are valuable! 

2. Cut ALL of the coupons from the inserts even if you think you will never use a product listed. I can't tell you how many times I kicked myself for throwing away a coupon!

3. Coupon internet sites are your BFF. But you are only allowed to print a max of 2 coupons per computer.

4. READ the coupons carefully. Sometimes restrictions apply in the fine print that may halt your savings at the checkout line. {and nobody wants that}

5. Make sure you know the coupon policy for the store you are shopping at. Some stores limit your savings!

6. Just because it says "10/$10" doesn't mean you have to buy 10 items. You can get as many or as little as you want for $1. But be careful. Some stores (*cough* Walgreens *cough*) make it more expensive if you don't buy the amount listed. Publix and CVS {my loves} are different in that way. 
7. Most stores allow you to use 1 manufacturers coupon and 1 store coupon in the purchase of an item.

As you "practice" couponing and make mistakes {like I did}, you will learn your own tips and tricks of the trade but those were just a few essentials.

Now, the basic rule of couponing is to find an item on SALE and match that item with a COUPON. This doubles your savings :)

Every week, I plan to post my shopping trips (as early as possible) so that you guys can get the same deals I do! 

I mainly do my shopping at Publix {where shopping is a pleasure} and CVS.

I love, love, love, love CVS! 

If you play your cards right, you can get some great deals! But be careful, if you shop at CVS without buying sale items, you will actually pay more than most places. That's how they get you!

Weekly ads for Publix come out on Thursdays of every week. CVS's weekly ads come out on Sundays. They are usually in the Sunday newspaper, but if not, you can find them at the front of the store or on their website.

Before I discuss my shopping trips, here is some lingo I will be using so it doesn't confuse you:

$1/2 = "A dollar off when you buy two of the items listed on the coupon"

4/$4 = "4 items for $4" [indicates a sale price]

MFR = "Manufacturer Coupon" {the ones you would find in your newspaper inserts/online}

BOGO = "Buy one item, get the second item for free"
BOGO50% = "Buy one item, get the second item for 50% off"

EB = "Extracare Bucks" See below for CVS.

Without further adieu, here it goes.

Publix Shopping Trip:

First Transaction

Fiber One Cereal [originally $4.45 each]

They are BOGO, so you can get 2/$4.45

Used (2) of THESE $0.75/1 MFR coupon

So it made them 2/$2.95

Wheat Thins Family Size [originally $4.49 each]

They are BOGO, so you can get 2/$4.49

used (1) $0.75/2 MFR coupon [newspaper insert 5/19]

So it made them 2/$3.74

Eckrich Polska Sausage [originally $2.99 each]

They are BOGO, so you can get 2/$2.99

used (2) of THESE $1/1 MFR coupon

So it made them 2/$0.99

International Delight Creamer [originally $2.19 each]

They are on sale for $1.67 each

Used (2) of THESE $0.55/1 MFR coupon

So it made them 2/$2.24

Cascade Dishwashing Detergent [originally $4.29]

They were on sale for $3.99 each

Used (1) $0.25/1 coupon [newspaper insert 6/2]

So it made it $3.74

Total without coupons or sale price: $32.53 (without tax)

Total with coupons and sale price: $13.62 (without tax)

That's a savings of $18.91! 

Second Transaction

{I specifically made this transaction because there is a deal going on at Publix that if you buy $25 in participating items, you get a $10 Publix gift card. If you buy the items AND use coupons, it triples your savings! You can find the form at your local Publix store with the list of participation items.}

Orville Ready to Eat Popcorn [originally $2.99 each]
Not on sale and bought 4
Used (2) $1/2 Publix coupon [newspaper insert 6/2]
AND used (4) $0.55/1 MFR coupon [found them in Publix on a tear pad at the front of the store]
Bought 4/$7.76

Chef Boyardee [originally $1.49 each] *Going to a food drive. I will NOT eat these haha*
On sale for $1.00 each and bought 8
Used (2) $1/4 Publix coupon [newspaper insert 6/2]
Makes them 8/$6

PeterPan Peanut Butter [originally $3.39 each]
They were BOGO so you can get 2/$3.39
I didn't have a coupon but they were already a good price.

Total without coupons or sales {must be at least $25} : $30.66 (without tax)
Total with coupons and sales : $17.15 (without tax)
That's a total savings of $13.51!
AND I'll be getting a $10 Publix Gift Card!


CVS Shopping Trip:

*Side note on CVS: You need to be an Extracare card member to get the sale prices and the ExtraBucks that come with some of the items. ExtraBucks is like money you get towards your NEXT purchase. A lot of time I will make two different trips/transactions so I can get the most out of the ExtraBucks I get. Also, sign up to be apart of their Beauty Club, you get $5EB for every $50 spent on beauty products.*

I got all of this for under $20! 

First Trip

Colgate Total Mouthwash [originally $5.79 each]
On sale for $4.99 each + $2EB [limit 2]
Used (2) of THESE $1/1 CVS coupon AND
(2) $1/1 MFR coupon [newspaper insert 6/2]
Made them 2/$5.98 + $4EB for next trip

Oral B Battery Powered Toothbrush [originally $9.99 each]
On sale for $5.99 each + $2EB [limit 2]
Used (2) $3/1 MFR coupon [newspaper insert 6/2]
Made them 2/$5.98 + $4EB for next trip

Softsoap Hand Soap [originally $3.99 each]
On sale for $2.99 each + $2EB [limit 1]
Didn't have the coupons but was a good deal with the EB
Bought 1 at $2.99 + $2EB for next trip

Covergirl Makeup [Buy $10 get $3EB]
Bought Lashblast Mascara at $10.49
Used (1) $2/1 MFR coupon [newspaper insert 6/2]
Made it $8.49 + $3EB for next trip

*used $5EB that I obtained from a previous shopping trip*
*used $2.50/$12 purchase of oral care CVS coupon (from machine inside store or from Extracare website*

Total without coupons or sales: $46.04
Total with coupons and sales: $15.94
That's a savings of $30.10!

*A 25% off coupon printed out on my receipt, good for only a few days. It is only good on things that are NOT on sale so I intend to use it in my second trip*

*Also printed a $5EB on my receipt for the Beauty Club*

Second Trip

*A lot of this stuff was for the Hubs*

Head and Shoulders  [originally $5.99 each]
On sale for $4.99 each
Used (2) $2/1 MFR coupon [newspaper insert 6/2]
Made them 2/$5.98

Mitchem Lady Deodorant [originally $5.49 each]
On sale for $1.99 each 
Used (2) $1/1 MFR coupon [newspaper insert 6/2]
Made them 2/$1.98

Old Spice Deodorant [originally $4.99 each]
Not on sale {which means I can use my 25% off CVS coupon}
Used (2) $1/1 MFR coupon [newspaper insert 6/2]
AND -$2.50 with 25% off coupon
Made them 2/$5.48 

MET-RX Protein Bars [originally $2.77 each, $0.99 each for minis]
They were BOGO50% AND
Used (2) $2/2 MFR coupon [newspaper insert 6/2]
Bought 4 Regular sized bars and 2 mini bars
Made them 4/$4.30 {regular} and 2/$1.48 {minis}

*Used the $18EB [$13EB from the previous trip and $5EB from Beauty Club]*

Total without coupons or sales: $46.00 (without tax)
Total with coupons and sales: $1.22 (without tax)
That's a savings of $44.78!

From both CVS shopping trips, I spent $17.16 and saved $74.88!

Doesn't that just get you so excited? It does me!