Operation Coupon

Until recently, I didn’t believe that coupons saved you much money. I have changed my tune since seeing the coupon mom on Oprah. She showed me the beauty of combining sales with coupons. I’ve been turned on to CVS deals because of a little blog called Never Pay Retail Again

Today I did some shopping and boy did I find some deals. The following are the things I bought complete with retail price, sale price, final price after coupons, and total savings. Hopefully this will inspire some of you to start using coupons!

Walgreens
2 boxes Kleenex w/ lotion
Retail Price: $6.80 ($3.40 each)
Sale Price: $2.78 ($1.39 each)
Final Price: $1.93 (after $1 off coupon)
Total Savings: 71%

HEB(local grocery store)
Total Retail Price: $53.76
What I paid: $27.92
Total Savings: 48%

Breakdown:
Strawberries: (on sale for $0.96, regularly $2.50)
Kotex Pantiliners:(paid $3.45 after instore $1.25 off coupon and $0.75 off mfg. coupon)
Kotex Tampons: (paid $1.15 after instore $1.25 off coupon and $0.75 off mfg. coupon)
Community Coffee:(paid $1.49 after $2.00 off mfg. coupon)
HEB Corn Chips: (FREE after sale and in store coupon)
Reynolds Foil: (paid $.50 after $1 off mfg coupon)
Dove Deodorant: (paid $2.25 after $1.25 off mfg coupon)
HEB white bread:(FREE after in store coupon)
HEB Balsamic Dressing: (FREE with purchase of HEB spinach)
Crab legs:(Paid $2.35 after sale)

CVS
Total Retail Price: $15.57
What I Paid: $6.01
Total Savings: 61%

Breakdown:
Excedrin Extra Strength 20 count: ( paid $.99 after sale and $1 off mfg coupon)
Dunkin Donuts Coffee: (paid $4.49 after sale and $1.50 off mfg coupon)
Dawn Dish Soap: (paid $0.49 after sale and $0.50 off mfg coupon)

Kroger
Total Retail Price: 11.98
What I Paid: $7.25
Total Savings: 39%

Breakdown:
Kroger Milk: (FREE with purchase of 3 boxes of General Mills Cereal)
Resses Cereal: ($2.67 after card savings)
Cheerios: ($1.92 after card savings and $0.75 off mfg. coupon)
Cinnamon Toast Crunch: ( $2.66 after card savings)

Grand Total Savings for the day: 51%

Now I know what you’re thinking: why drive to all these stores? Well, I don’t usually suggest driving to various stores to save, however, I’m lucky enough to live with in 2 miles of all these stores. The Walgreens and CVS are across the street from each other and the HEB and Kroger are, at most, a mile apart. This would not be a smart way to shop if these stores were further apart. So there you have it! How I saved 50% on groceries in a matter of 1.5 hours!!

About Rachel Golberg

I'm a city girl adjusting to life in a small Minnesotan town. I'm so glad you stopped by.