Browngirl Speaks

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve shared one of my shopping trips, so here goes…

1st transaction:
6 Nivea lip balms @ 2/$5 = $15
1 Airwick mini freshmatic = $4.99
1 Softsoap body scrub = $4.99
-$4/ $20 CVS coupon
-$1 x 5 Nivea lip balm coupons
-$4 Airwick coupon
-$1 Softsoap coupon
Total = $12.45 (used a $10.68 GC from a botched trans last week and $1.77 cash)
received $5 ECB for $15 Nivea purchase and $4.49 ECB for Softsoap
saved $21.94

2nd transaction:
2 Garnier Nutritioniste towelettes @ $5 = $10
1 Garnier Nutritioniste Exfoliating gel cleanser = $5
-$1 x 3 Garnier coupons
-$9.49 ECBs from prev. trans.
Total = $2.90 (used cash)
received $5 ECB for $15 Garnier purchase
saved $15.46

Grand total OOP = $4.67
Total shelf price = $52.75

By now, we all know that first step in getting the most from our coupons is to shop the sale.  Get out your grocery and drugstore ads and match up those coupons to what’s on sale!

The next step to really getting some great bargains is to stack store coupons with manufacturer coupons.

Yes, this is legit!

For example, those coupons throughout Walgreens’ weekly ad and those in the (ESC) Easy Saver catalog (or rebate book) can be combined with a (MQ) manufacturers coupon.

Here’s how I did this on my 3/5 WAGS trip:

Curel lotion 

clearance price 3.59

ESC -2.00

MQ -1.00

subtotal= 0.59

Is this any extra work?  Not really.  Most stores extra value type books are released monthly and the deals last a whole month.  So, this can be gone through on one of your set weekly coupon days.  Yes, you need to have a set day to coupon and make a plan.  It’s all about planning and organizing.  It pays off, literally!

Go here to enter.  And be sure to check out her site The Good, True and Beautiful while you’re there.  I love my frugal junkies!

This has been the week to shop at Walgreens.  I had to go to two different stores and I still didn’t get my Coffeemate.  Here’s what I got:

1st transaction

2 Glade Lasting Impressions 15.98

-4.00ESC x 2

-4.00MQ x 2

3 Garnier Fructis Shampoo and Conditioners 8.97

-2.00ESC x 3

-1.00MQ x 3

1 Mentos gum 1.69

-1.00MQ

Total = subtotal 0.64 + tax 2.46 = 3.10

 

2nd transaction

2 Sambucol cold & flu 25.98

-10.00ESC x 2

-4.00IP x 2

PUR faucet filtration 15.00

-5.00 MQ

Total= subtotal 7.98 + tax 3.79 = 11.77

Grand total = 14.87

Shelf price = 79.89

Total savings 65.02 or 81%

 

You’ve got your coupons.  Now what?  A shoebox?  A purse sized accordion file?  A binder?

The correct answer: Whatever works for you!

I use a binder and LOVE it!

It’s a zippered binder~~nothing fancy.  I got it free from a fellow couponer.  I did have to add a couple things to make it my own.

So, what’s in a coupon binder?

Here are the basics: zippered pocket, baseball card sleeves, divider tabs, small calculator, scissors, scratch paper or notepad.

        

 

The inner pocket in the front of my binder holds my calculator and weekly ads. The clear pink folder holds my scrap paper and receipts.  While, the zippered pocket in the back holds overflow coupons or just whatever I decide to stash in there.

 

The divider tabs are for separating coupons into sections.  I only have three~~food & beverages, HBA and household.  I didn’t need to further divide these as my coupons are in an order that makes sense to me.  Some people divide by aisle or each food/health/beauty aid/household item type.  Again, do what works for you.  This doesn’t have to be complicated and time consuming.  Though initially, you’ll want to invest a solid hour if you’re just starting.  This hour is for putting the binder together and, clipping coupons and planning your weekly trip.

Happy savings!

Today’s trips were good, only dampe scored some great deals.  Here goes:

WAGS

2 Glade Scents & Spray 15.98

-4.00 ESC x 2

-4.00 MQ x 2

1 Garnier Fructis Shampoo 2.99

-2.00 ESC

-1.00 MQ

2 Garnier Fructis Conditioner 5.98

-2.00 ESC x 2

-1.00 MQ

1 Dentyne Ice 0.65

2 Trident White 1.30

1 Sambucol cold & flu 12.99

-10.00 ESC

-4.00 IP (internet print coupon)

Total= subtotal 0.89 + tax 3.69= 4.58 

 

CVS

1st transaction

1 Palmolive dish liquid 1.49

-0.50 MQ

1 Crest Pro-Health TP 2.99

-1.00 MQ

3 J & J first aid to go kits 2.97

-2.97 IP (actually a $3/2 but would scan for only exact amount)

Total=subtotal 2.98 + tax 0.52= 3.50

used GC 3.18, total OOP 0.32

received $3 ECBs

 

2nd transaction

2 Garnier Nutritioniste gel exfoliator 10.00

-1.00 MQ  x 2

1 Herbal Essence shampoo 2.88

1 Herbal  Essence conditioner 2.88

-3.00 off 2

-10.00 ECBs

Total= subtotal .76 + tax .40 = 1.16 OOP

received $7 ECBs

 

Total OOP cash $6.06

ECBs remaining $8 (same amount I started with)

Total shelf price $72.51

92% savings 

 

 

Congrats Rena and Ellie W!!!  You have 48 hours to respond to my email before an alternate winner is chosen.

Thanx again to all of my fellow coupon queens who entered my bloggy giveaway.  I’m sure I’ll host another giveaway soon.

In the meantime, this tee is available at The Frugal Tee. 

*FYI: WAGS is Walgreens in coupon lingo.*

Now, today my plans for WAGS were minimal.  The real deal is coming up next week. This was my first time trying for a register reward. The RRs act like a coupon off your next purchase.  With WAGS, you must have one Q per item, unless stacking an in-ad Q or ESR Q with a manufacturer Q.  So, unlike CVS’ awesome ECBs which act more like cash and can be combined with Qs, the RRs cannot.  This meant I had to find something I didn’t have a coupon for and did I find something.

 

First Transaction

Colgate Maxfresh TP 3.29

-0.75 MQ

Total OOP incl. tax= $2.84 received $3.50 RR (already starting off great b/c the RR was supposed to be $3.29, so this is MM= money maker)

 

Second Transaction

Aleve 24 ct. tabs 2/$5

-$1 MQ x 2

-$1/2 ESC

Reach Prevent TB $0.99 w/ in ad Q x 2=$1.98

-$1 MQ x 2

J & J waterproof tape $1.09 x 2

-$3/2 MQ

Band Aid liquid bandages $1.79

-$1 MQ

Right Guard deodorant $1.79 x 2= $3.58

-$3.50 RR

Total OOP incl. tax= $3.37

Grand total=$6.21

Total savings= $33.08

 

Basically, I only payed the two Aleve and toothpaste.  Everything else was free!

 

4/4/09 Update:  This giveaway is now closed.  Thanx to all the coupon queens who entered.  If you didn’t get a chance to enter, you can always purchase one from The Frugal Tee.

 

I’ve recently begun a new endeavor with a line of tees related to couponing.  So far, there’s only one shirt, but one awesome shirt it is.  Others to come very soon. 

So, TWO hip, happening frugal fanatics will each win one of my tees.  

                      

 

What do you have to do to enter?  Simply post a comment–something cute and relative– on this post by 11:59 pm, Wednesday, March 4. The winners will announced and contacted by email on Thursday, March 5.  I will use a random number generator to pick the winners.

Feel free to stop by my website: The Frugal Tee.

 

 

 

I cut up @ Kroger today.  My bill started @ almost $80 and after coupons was about $34.  I got lots of freebies, several were the usual though.  Here, our Krogers sale Cottonelle tissue for $0.99 and there’s a $0.50 off coupon on the Cottonelle website.  It doubles and voila!–free tissue.

Funny thing about the rice: I had a BOGO coupon for Riceland rice, it’s been on sale for $1.99 (reg. $3.09).  So, I got my two bags of brown rice thinking I’m gonna pay 2 bucks for them both, right?  Um how about the cashier entered the value as $3.09!  I got them both for $0.89!

 

My Colgate Total toothpaste wasn’t supposed to be free either but I forgot that I had a $1 coupon form Cellfire on my loyalty card.  The TP was on closeout for $1.37 and I also had a $0.75 manufacturer coupon.  Woohoo!

The best part was the young cashier staring at my t-shirt about coupons when I handed her my stack. More on the shirt to come very soon.