This Girl Loves a Bargain!

I've been trying to get into coupon-clipping for awhile now. I've heard from so many people who swear by this method of discount-shopping, but have to admit that it's a little intimidating, especially when they try to explain "piggybacking" coupons and price-matching, etc.

But I gave it a pretty decent shot this week, and was so impressed with my bargains that I had to share 'em! I mean, this is free money, people! Yes please, I'll take some.

Here's the loot from my first trip of the week, to CVS.

I was completely out of shampoo, hairspray, and mousse (and you were wondering what I have been trying to do with this mop lately!) so saw that CVS had  Pantene hairspray and mousse on sale for $2.99 ea. Then I used my $1.00 off coupon, so got each for $2.49 (regularly $4.99 and $4.49 each).

The Dawn dishsoap is regularly $1.99 each, but they were on sale for 12 for $10.00. (Who would stock up on 12 is beyond me... obviously someone who lives in a very different house than ours). But that made them $.84 each. On top of that, I had two $.25 off coupons and a $.50 off coupon - so each of them rang up at under $.53 cents a piece! (And they are yummy too. Green Apple, Orange, Pomegranite and Lavendar!)

Total Spent: $7.74

Total Saved: $10.35

I felt really encouraged by my first stop! I think the trick is to go in with your list and not steer from it - I was tempted once or twice but am so glad I didn't. There wasn't anything else I needed, anyway.

Then I went to CashWise grocery store. They're notorious for giving away free items with specific purchases or with a certain purchase amount. I took advantage of their coupons and my manufacturers' coupons to get a bunch of sweet deals.

I picked up

• 5 boxes of General Mills cereal
• 10 packages of Knorr Sides
• 4 boxes of store brand mac'n'cheese
• 4 avocados
• 2.5 lbs tomatoes on the vine
• lettuce
• a lemon
• butter
• croutons
• 2 frozen pie crusts
• 3 cans of mushroom pieces and stems
• Country Time Lemonade mix
• 1 bag of pretzel sticks
• 2.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts

All for just $36.57! I saved $16.03. Here's how I did it:

• Cereal: advertised 4/$10, plus get $4.00 off when you buy 4. I got 5 boxes because I was able to use my $.55 off coupon on the Cheerios, too.
• Knorr Sides: advertised at 10/$10.00, with coupon they were 10/$8.00 AND I got my chicken breasts for free!
• On-the-vine tomatoes: Regularly $1.99/lb but on sale for $.98/lb
• Avocados: $.88/ea
• Mushrooms: 3/$1.00
• Lettuce: $1.28
• Pretzels: $1.99
• Lemon: $.58
• Pie crust: $1.88
• Butter: $2.99
• Mac'n'Cheese: $.25/ea
• CountryTime Lemonade: FREE because I spent $25.00

And, I got a coupon for $.04 off per gallon of gas so I filled up at their pump just around the corner. It ended up being about $.11 cheaper per gallon than at the gas station closer to my house!

I can't even explain how much I loved buying all the things I was going to buy anyway, but for way less money! It did take a little time to make my lists based off the Sunday ads, and to clip the coupons from the manufacturers' circulars, but in these three trips alone (including the gas station), I saved almost $30.00! And it was all for things I use, including a few items that I needed right away, so I couldn't wait for a sale or coupon. Knowing that, I could have done even better - and will! You just wait and see...