Ok, Folks! I ventured to Walgreens this morning to try my hand for the first time at their savings. Well, I don't think I did excellent, but I think I did pretty good for my first try. Here goes:
Total Out of Pocket: $57.70
Total Savings: $47.71
RR to be redeemed later: $6.50
I made 4 purchases (tax not included because it's different everywhere):
Purchase #1:
Prilosec $22.99 ($1 MFG Coupon)
Herbal Essence $2.99
Spa Breeze Razor $7.99 ($2 MFG Coupon)
Glad Trash Bags $6.99
WAGS Coupon $5 off $25 purchase
Total Product Price Before Savings: $40.96
Total out of pocket: $32.96
Total Savings: $8.00
Earned RR: $12.50
Purchase #2:
Apple Juice $1.67
Dawn $0.99 ($0.50 MFG Coupon)
Renu $5.99
Swiffer $3.99
Pampers Wipes 2/$5 (2 X $1.50 MFG Coupon)
Cascade $3.99
Kellogs Pop Tarts $3.99
Halloween Tumbler $0.39 (filler item)
WAGS Coupon $5 off $25 purchase
Total Product Price Before Savings: $26.01
Total out of Pocket: $4.76
Total Savings: $24.95
RR Redeemed: $12.50
Purchase #3:
Herbal Essence $2.99
Total Out of Pocket: $2.99
RR: $2.00
Purchase #4:
Pampers 2/$20 (Jumbo Pack)
Dixie Plates $1.99 (WAGS Coupon)
Theraflu $4.00 ($4 MFG Coupon, $2 WAGS Coupon)
Theraflu $4.00 ($2 WAGS Coupon)
$5 of $25 Purchase
Total Product Price Before Savings: $31.79
Total Out of Pocket: $16.99
Total Savings: $14.76
Ok, so lesson learned here. No matter how many times you have to check out, in Alabama, you can reuse your $5 off $25 purchase coupon over and over. Therefore, I would have saved more if I would have broken my purchases up into several $25 purchases. Also, it is best if you redeem all of your RR in the last purchase (I did it in the second purchase). Also, you want each purchase to produce a RR of some kind.
Walgreens Trip 9/29/09
Coupons 101
Okay, so I am beginning my journey to save money for my family. I am clipping coupons from the Sunday paper and paying real close attention to the weekly sale ads for stores I shop. I am also paying attention to stores that are close by my area, but not IN my area. Some of their sales are worth the gas to get there just because the savings are so phenomenal. While clipping coupons this past weekend, I found a wonderful site (thanks to my Aunt Sue). It is all about how to organize your coupons to get the most out of them. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to organize, so I love this site.
I also learned that for me, it is best to clip the coupons for products that I know I'll use, but to save the entire circular. So, to begin my coupon saving, I have gotten a portable file box from Wal-Mart. I then have a hanging file folder with the dates for the week on there (i.e., 9/20-9/26/09). Inside the hanging file folder, I have a manilla file folder for each different circular (i.e., smart source, etc.). That way, as I am reading other money saving blogs, when someone posts of a great deal in a circular from a certain date, I can go back and find it! Never, never miss a great saving opportunity!!!
Another useful tidbit of information: You can stack coupons. I mean, I knew you could go to Walgreens and stack their store coupons with manufacturer coupons for added savings, but now I know that you can use one product for each individual item you buy. For example, if say Walgreens is running a BOGO add for soap for $5.99/each, and you have 2 manufacturer coupons for the said soap for $1 off. When you get to the cash register, you get the two products BOGO for $5.99 total. You use your TWO $1 off coupons (because you bought TWO items), therefore, you get the soap for $2 each!! What a deal!! I must show my coupon-ing ignorance here, I thought you could only use one coupon per trip to the store, but OH NO! you use one coupon per individual item you buy! No wonder you can save so much if you just put a little time into planning your trips to the store.
Check back each week for more coupon-ing tips! I plan to post "What I Get for the Money" each week with my coupons and local sales. As I am learning, hopefully, you will learn too.
I am totally open to any suggestions you may have for your local sales, etc. Please leave your comments to help everyone out!!
Welcome to Momma-Versity
First and foremost, I am a mom to two beautiful little girls! Caleigh is 3 years old and Peyton is 2 months old. I am well versed in being a mom, but I am still learning new things every day! I also have my master's degree in exercise physiology. I worked in the healthcare field for 5 years before I decided to be a stay at home mom with my oldest daughter.
This blog is devoted to several different things. First, I am in the process of learning how to use coupons to save money for my family. This economy is horrendous!! I think we all can use some extra cash back in our pockets! As I learn how to make the most out of my coupons and store sales, I'll post my tips.
Second, is exercise! My first love, before I got married and had children, was exercise. So, in an effort to take some of this "baby weight" off, I am going to post different exercises that I am doing at home to help this issue. Also, again, since the economy is horrendous and it's hard to go to a gym if you're a full-time mom, I'm going to offer some different exercises targeting specific "mom-related" problem areas that can be done at home while your kids are napping!
Lastly, but maybe not totally last, I am going to tell of my adventures with stains! All families experience stains of some sort! If you have small children, you probably experience stains more often than not. We will discuss products, as well as home remedies for removing some of the most common stains, but also some of the most annoying and stubborn ones as well.
Hope you enjoy my blog! Please leave me some comments, and enjoy the reading!