Walmart Trip Breakdown

Here's a breakdown of what my shopping trip was today:

6 - Eckrich smoked sausage- Wiseway had these on sale for $1.79, so I price matched at Walmart and used a $1.00 off 1 coupon for each. Total for all 6 was $7.74.

4- Johnsonville Italian Sausage - Wiseway had these on sale for $2.99, so I price matched at Walmart and used a $1.00 off coupon for each. Total for all 4 was $7.96.

2 - Sweet Baby Rays - Wiseway had these on sale for $0.69 (limit 2 @ Wiseway, so that's what I got), so I price matched at Walmart. Total for both was $1.38.

2- Dean's Dips - Wiseway had these on sale for $1.39, used 1 -$1.00 off 2 coupon. Total for both was $1.78.

2- Bar-S Hotdogs - Wiseway had these on sale for $0.99, but I actually found them cheaper at Walmart, so no price match, just a better deal. Used 1 - $1.00 off 2 coupon. Total for both $0.50.

6 - Pert Shampoo - Walmart has these in their trial section. I used 6 - $1.00 off coupons, and the actual price of the shampoo is $0.97, I got paid $0.03 for each one theoretically, but since I have to pay taxes, I paid $0.22 for all 6.

1 - Zyrtec 5ct. - Regular price was $5.27.  I got a coupon in the mail the other day for a FREE Zyrtec 5ct or $7.00 off another count, but I don't remember what it was. I opted for the FREE! Katie is on this stuff almost all year round it seems, so I'll take whatever I can get because even the generic is expensive.

1 - Great Value Cream Cheese - No coupon, so I just got the GV brand @ $1.72

1 - GV Bluberry Pancakes - No coupon, but Alyssa LOVES these and we were out, they were $3.00

1 - Cool Wip - This was on rollback for $1.00, regular price was $1.53. Not too bad, since I didn't have a coupon.

1 - Chips Ahoy cookies - $1.98, no coupon

3 - Carefree panty liners - $0.94 each, and I used 3 - $0.50 off coupons. Total for all 3 was $1.32.

1 - June "All You" magazine - $1.88

Total: $62.97
OOP: $33.23
Savings: 47%

I also stopped in at Walgreens to pick up two more packs of Huggies Little Swimmers since today was the last day they were on sale. They were on sale for $6.99, plus I used 2 - $2.00 off coupons, and 2 - $2.00 off Walgreens coupons, so the price for each pack was $2.99.

Total: $17.98
OOP: $5.98
Savings: 67%

Walmart Trip

Shopped today, but didn't take a pic since most of it was cold items that needed to go into the freezer, but I wanted to write an FYI post:


Walmart price matches other stores' sales/ads and you don't have to have the ad with you per Walmart's policy. They also take competitors coupons!! 

Also, if you live in NWI, Strack&VanTil takes expired coupons up to 30 days past their expiration, and finally, also if you live in NWI, Wiseway has a coupon doubler EVERY WEEK! They will double coupons up to .90 cents meaning a .90 cent coupon is worth $1.80, they will only double up to $5 though and you have to spend at least $10 to use the doubler.

Walgreens, CVS, and Walmart Trip

First stop: Walgreens

Huggies Swimmers were on sale for $6.99 this week, plus there was a coupon from the paper a few weeks back for $2.00 off a pack, PLUS, the Walgreens booklet had a coupon in it for $2.00 off, making each pack $2.99! I picked up 4 packs. 

Retail (before sales and coupons): $35.96
OOP:   $13.92
Savings: 61%.  

With a pool going in tomorrow, I'm sure Kevin will appreciate no poopy in the pool :)

Next: Walmart

I price matched at Walmart for the first time and I have to say, with a VERY patient cashier, it went very smoothly!

I got 6 - First aid kits (travel section), they go for $0.97 a piece, and used 3 - $1.00 off 2 coupon, making them $0.47 each, for a total of $3.22 after taxes.

I price matched 4 - Duncan Hines brownie mixes, (Jewel-Osco flyer 10/$10), with the price match this made them $1.00,(they're usually $1.64) and used 2 -$0.50 off 1 coupons for each, for a total of $2.00.

I got 6 - KC Masterpiece BBQ sauces, they go for $1.67 at my store, (others have reported them at $1.39), I used 6- $1.00 off 1 coupons, making them $0.67 each, for a total of $4.02.

I picked up 3 - 10LB bags of Tidy Cats litter, they have been going for $1.87 per bag, but they have raised the price on them and they are now $1.97 a bag. I used 3 - $2.00 off coupons, and with taxes taken out from the overage, I got all three for $0.32.

I price matched 6 - Oscar Meyer Lunchables, (Jewel-Osco flyer 10/$10), with the price match this made them $1.00, (they're usually $1.58) and I used 6, $1.00 off 1 coupons, making these free, since there's no tax on food in Indiana. 

I also picked up 1 - Nexcare box of bandaids that are on Rollback at Walmart right now for $1.00, and I used $1.00 off 1 coupon, making them only $0.28 after taxes.

Finally, I picked up a FREE bag (regular price $2.76) of Oreida Sweet Potato Fries with a coupon that I received in the mail, and I can't wait to eat them!!

Retail: $41.55

OOP: $12.28
Savings: 70%

I was going to price match Ronzoni Garden Delight pasta as well, since I found those other 6 coupons, but my Walmart does not sell that kind, they sell the Healthy Harvest and the Smart Taste, so I will have to wait for another time to use those.

Final Trip: CVS

CVS had a GREAT deal on Purex laundry detergent this week, and as soon as I found out how good a deal it was, I ordered some extra coupons, since I only had 1 - $1.00 off 50oz+ Purex coupon. The Purex at my CVS is usually priced at $6.29 for a 32 load/50 oz bottle. This week's sale, had them for $1.98 a bottle (limit 4). I picked up 11 bottles, and did three transactions, and used 11 - $1.00 off coupons, making them $.98 each, a total steal! (I was really surprised there were even any bottles at my CVS)

Retail: $69.19
OOP: $12.30
Savings: 82%

Tidy Cats

If you aren't subscribed to Tidy Cats you should be! (at least if you have cats, and even if you don't, consider printing this one out, picking up the litter and taking it to your local shelter, since it's FREE!)

An email was sent out this morning with a $2.00 off ANY one package, ANY size, ANY variety! FREE litter plus overage if you go to Walmart and buy the 10lb bag!

If you "like" them on their Facebook pace, you can still get this coupon, but consider signing up for their newsletter, since you'll be directly notified when new coupons come out :)

Pillsbury Sweet Moments Coupon

Head on over to the I Heart the Mart website for a $1.10 off coupon for Pillsbury Sweet Moments Refrigerated Desserts!

**UPDATE** My Walmart (Portage) no longer carries the item pictured, only the little brownie bite ones, and those were $2.50.

Apparently these are at Walmart for about $1.50, with a $1.10 off coupon, this makes for some VERY cheap munchies! :)

Vlasic Pickles

Katie LOVES pickles, and we typically buy Vlasic when we do, so this will be a coupon that we'll definitely be using, and quickly!

**UPDATE**  We used these coupon, and were able to get 2 of the 46oz jars of the "Ovals" for $1.38! These jars are HUGE and they were on the bottom shelf for the same price the 24oz jars were! We also got 2 24oz jars of the "Spears".

The coupon is for $0.55 off ANY Vlasic Pickles. Apparently they're at Walmart for $1.88, which after the coupon would make them $1.38. Keep in mind, store prices vary by area! If you're lucky enough to have a store that doubles, we'll it will make for some cheaper pickles!

Thanks to Maven of Saven' for this deal!

Cheap Cap'n Crunch

While I was at Walmart the other day, I remembered that I had Cap'n Crunch coupons.....at home. So I took a look around at prices to see what I could see, and I found some $1.00 boxes! I knew that my Dollar General had them, so that was my secondary store. The boxes are smaller, but if you use the $0.50 off ANY box of Cap'n Crunch, you're going to save yourself 50% just like that!

Walmart

Quick little trip today, was out and about anyway. I started seeing a chiropractor last week so I'll be out and about when I go see him YAY!


Tylenol Precise - $5.97, bought 3 and used 3 - $5.00 off coupons, making these $0.97 each. 
Carefree panty liners - $0.94, bought 3 and used 3 - $1.00 off coupons, making these FREE!
Sensodyne toothpaste - $0.97 (trial size), bought 2 and used 2- $1.00 off coupons, making these FREE!
Box of 100 ct paperclips - $1.37 - which I will NEVER buy again. I counted them, and almost half were missing, so they're going back to the store!


Retail - $24.04
OOP- $5.90
Savings - 75%

Free Dial Lotion

If you're on Facebook, head on over to the Dial page, like them, fill out the information and print out your $1.00 off 1 dial lotion product coupon. Go to Walmart or Target, find your trial sized items (usually in the health and beauty section) and get this for FREE!


** 5/9/11 - I could not find the trial size in my Walmart. I did find the 3oz size for $1.97 (if I'm remembering correctly). So if you use your coupon, it would still be half off. I have not checked the Merrillville store, but will if I'm out that way.

Meijer

I have been wanting to price match (PM) at Walmart for a little while now, but anyone who knows me, and REALLY knows me, knows that I'm timid and I don't like any kind of confrontation. Price matching, at least the first trip, will have to be one when Kevin can go with me, just in case there are any problems. Kevin is the bargainer in the family and I literally have to leave the stores sometimes when he gets to doing his thing. 

I went to Meijer tonight for baby food. Beech-Nut is on sale, 10 for $4.00. I had 3 - $2.00 off 20 jars coupons that I used and bought 60 jars of food, 2 boxes of baby cereal, which I had 2 - $1.00 off coupons for and 6 extra jars of baby food, which I had 2 - $1.00 off coupons for. The last time I went for baby food, I ended up getting a jar free because the lady at the register rung something funky up, and I told her, but she said not to worry about it. Well, they got that money back tonight! 4 of the 7 coupons that I had, didn't scan into their system right, and because there was someone in line behind me, I walked out of the store without even looking twice at the receipt to make sure that it was right. Lesson learned! Two of the $1.00 off coupons scanned in at $0.40, and two others scanned in at $1.20 instead of $2.00. All together, it cost me an extra $3.60, which like I've said before, I'm not out to save millions, but as much as I can. So, I'm chalking it up to a lesson learned and will be more vigilant the next time I'm at the register and I hand over my coupons, even if someone IS behind me.

Walmart Coupon Swap!

Thanks to the I Heart the Mart blog (click the image) for this information. Keep on the lookout for this at your local Walmart!

I have not seen this in MY Walmart (Portage, IN), but I will keep my eyes peeled! What a great idea :)

 

Walmart and Walgreens

Walmart

Transaction 1

4- Mr. Clean Magic Eraser twin packs - Reg. $1.97 per pack. Used 4 - $1.50 coupons.  Final cost - $1.88

2 -K-Y - Reg. $2.62 per pack - Used 2 - $2.00 off coupons. Final cost - $ 1.24

8- Old Spice Body Wash twin packs - Used 4 BOGO Free coupons . Reg. $6.47. Final cost - $25.88

4- Ivory soap 3 bar packs - Used 4 - $1.00 off coupons. Reg. $0.97. Final Cost - made $0.18!

 Final cost for everything - $34.72
Savings = 50%

Transaction 2

3 - Mr. Clean Magic Eraser twin packs - Reg. $1.97 per pack. Used 3 - $1.50 coupons.  Final cost - $1.41

4- Old Spice Body Wash twin packs - Used 4 BOGO Free coupons . Reg. $6.47. Final cost - $12.94

2- Old Spice Body wash (singles) - Used 1 BOGO Free Coupon. Reg. $3.47. Final Cost - $3.47

2- Ivory soap 3 bar packs - Used 4 - $1.00 off coupons. Reg. $0.97. Final Cost - made $0.06!

Final cost for everything - $17.61
Savings = 57%

Walgreens

1 - Gillette Fusion Razor - On sale for $9.89. Used $4.00 off coupon. Final cost - $5.89 + $5.00 back in Register Rewards.

10 - Speed Stick (mens) - On sale $2.99 BOGO Free. Used 5- $0.50 off coupons.
3 - May 2011 Walgreen's coupon booklets (free at the front)
Final cost - $11.95

Final cost for everything - $20.08
Savings = 56%

If you haven't done so, sign up for P&G's Home Made Simple book. You can do it every 12 weeks and it's full of great coupons! 

Walmart

Kevin made a trip out for me today! I ordered some extra coupon inserts from last weeks paper, they have SUPER GOOD Nivea body wash coupons, that made them free at Walmart! I ordered 3 inserts from CouponDede and received them in a few days. So here's what we got with those!


6 - Degree deodorant (travel size) $0.97 each, used 6 - $1.00 off coupons - FREE!
6 - Nivea body wash - $3.00 each, used 6- $3.00 off coupons - FREE!


Retail - $23.82
OOP - $1.49 (taxes only)
Savings - 94%

Now if he would only give me a proper place to store all of this! ;)

Walmart

After Easter sale although I didn't get much for next Easter, I still saved a good deal on what I did get.


1 - Finish Quantum 10 ct dishwasher tabs - $2.77 regular price, used 1 - $1.00 off coupon
3 - PAAS Egg dying kits - $0.94 reg, got them for$0 .33 each
3 - Easter grasses - $1.33 reg, got them for$0.33 each
6 - Tidy Cats litter (10lb) $1.97 each (This was at the Portage store. My last post with the Tidy cats, the price was $1.77 at the Merrillville store) Used 2 - $1.00 off coupons and 4 - $1.10 off coupons
2 - Air Wick - $0.97 each, used 1 - B1G1 Free coupon
2- Wisk detergent - $4.97 regular price, used 2 - $2.00 off coupons
3 - Tylenol Precise - $5.97 each, used 3 - $5.00 off coupons
1 - Hershey's coconut kisses - $2.68, got them for $1.34
2 - Snuggle dryer sheets 40ct - $1.87, used 2 - $1.00 off coupons
1 - 18 month planner - price checked at $5.97, rang up for $3.97
1 - Black pen (2ct) - $1.00
1 - U by Kotex panty liner (18ct)- $1.24, used 1 - $1.00 off coupon


Retail - $75.17
OOP - $39.33
Savings - 48%

Sorry, no picture! :(

Walmart

Short trip to Walmart tonight, again, some nice savings!

3 - Tidy Cats litter (10Lb) - $1.77 (this was the Merrillville store) Used 2 - $1.00 off coupons and 1 - $1.10 off coupon.
1 - Ken's Dressing - $2.32 regular price, used 1 - $1.00 off coupon
1 - Classico pasta sauce - $1.98 regular price, used 1 - $1.00 off coupon
2 - Good Value 1 gallon milk - $2.68 regular price (not pictured)


Retail - $14.97
OOP - $10.24
Savings - 32% 

Walmart trip:
1 - Trial size Degree deodorant - 0.97
2 - Reach floss - 0.88 each
Total: 2.97
Coupons:
1 - $1 off Degree deodorant
2 -$1 off Reach floss
Final cost: I made 8 cents and yes, they actually gave me 8 cents lol
Saved: 103%

 

Walmart

Head & Shoulders - 6 - Used 3 - BOGO Free Coupons - 4 of them were priced at $4.72 and two were priced at $4.97 - Final cost for all - $9.44 + $4.97 = $14.41

Similac Advance - 8 - Used 8 - $5 off coupons - $5.50 before, .50 each after - Final Cost - $4.00

Airwick Room Freshener - 2 - Used 1 BOGO Free Coupon - .97 before, .97 after- Final Cost $0.97

Nivea Body Wash -3 - Used 3 - $3 off coupons - Final Cost - FREE! (Paid Tax)

Hydra Shave Gel - Used 1 - .75 off coupon - Final Cost - $3.22

Schick Intuition refills - Used 2 - $2 off coupons - Before 10.84, After -$8.84- Final Cost - 17.68

Sandles - $10.00

Tax - 5.05
Total Before Coupons - 118.41
Final Total - $55.37
Savings - 53%

 

Walmart

Got all of this for only $11.49! Thank you Ashley for your post - - about your last grocery shop to Wal-mart or we wouldn't have pulled this off! :)

The original bill came out to $63.99, we used
6 - $5 off coupons for the Similac ($5.50 each before, after .50)
Used 1 - $1 off the sandwich meat ($3 before, $2 after)
Used 1 -buy 3 get $.75 off, plus they were on sale ( .42 each before, .17... each after)
Used 1- $10.75 coupon for the Good Start formula ($12.97 before , $2.22 after)
Used 2 - $5 off Enfamil coupons ($6.88 before, $1.88 each after)
Taxes - 0 since they were all food items

 

My First Time

I have to say, that over the years, I've clipped a few coupons here and there, but most of the time before I remembered to use them, they would expire. So my first REAL coupon experience started with about a month ago with 10+ coupons that were good for $5 off Similac formula. My husband and I had our son in January, and we got coupons in the mail and others from friends, but the formula was so expensive, that I didn't think that we would every actually use them, so I just set them aside.

I have a friend, Ashley, who I've watched save probably tons of money with coupons and I've often read her blog about her "finds" for a few months now, and I came across a great deal she had posted, which happened to be for Similac formula and I thought that I thought I could pull it off. Walmart was (maybe still is) selling Similac ready to feed formula for $5.50 each, and with my coupons, that meant that I could buy each bottle of formula for $0.50 each! What an awesome buy I thought. So my husband and I set out with our formula coupons, and a few others in hand, which is how our couponing journey started.

So that's what this blog is about! A compilation of my shopping trips that I take with coupons, and how much money that I'm able to save my family. Since I'm a stay at home mom with three growing kids, it's important that we are able to save as much money as we can and I feel that if I'm not outside of the house working, the least I can do, is carefully plan with the money we have.

I have linked to other people's blogs about couponing so that you too can find out how easy it really is. I'm not out to save 98% every shopping trip and although that would be nice, I know it's not realistic. My best advice so far would be to start small! If you're anything like we were, you'll probably feel a rush after your first trip, and want to do it over and over again! Starting small allowed me to figure out the process on how to use coupons to my advantage. If you're just starting out, take a look at other blogs about how to coupon and have fun!


Let the journey begin..........