With the new program on TLC called "Extreme Couponing", I wanted to give my readers a real perspective of how to do couponing. The show makes you think that you can go into any store and get thousands of dollars worth of groceries for nothing or in some cases have the store pay you. This is not true at all! In fact, most grocery stores do not allow to have overages on coupons or give you money back. So for those of you who have maybe tried to do what is being done on the television show, and have gotten discouraged because you can't do it, this blog is for you. Again, I will say the show does not let you in on the amount of work involved with couponing and the women are also using unethical ways to get their groceries. Do not be discouraged if you can not do this the first time you go couponing. It takes almost two months to get your coupon inventory up, and probably another three months to stock your pantry. I now go shopping about once a month, if that, to get groceries that Allen and I need, and most of the time I am just restocking what we have already used. Most months, I only buy meat because I have the ingredients to do everything else. So here goes last Thursday's shopping trip.
Kroger
6 packages of Bar S hot dogs- The hot dogs were on sale for $1 a package- $6 total- Coupon: $1 off two packages of hot dogs, making each package of hot dogs- $.50
6 bags of Knorr Pasta sides- The pasta was on sale for $1 a package- $6 total- Coupon: $.50 off when you buy two packages of Knorr Pasta sides. Coupon doubled making each bag $.50.
3 bottles of All laundry detergent- The laundry detergent was on sale for $2.99- $8.97 total- Coupon: $1 off when you buy any All laundry detergent making each bottle $1.99.
2 bottles of V8 Juice- The V8 was on sale for $2.29- $4.58 total- Coupon: $1 off two bottles of V8 juice making each bottle $1.49.
Total price of groceries before coupons: $35.33
Total after coupons: $16.81. However, I had a $5 Kroger gift card bringing my out of pocket expense to $11.81.
Now you are probably asking why did her $.50 coupon double? Kroger allows you to double any coupon $.50 or less. Therefore making my $.50 coupon a dollar off.
Harris Teeter
This was my biggest grocery store purchase with the least amount of out of pocket expense.
6 tubes of Degree deodorant
Sale Price: 2/$5.00
Total before Coupons: $15.00
Coupon: Buy 1 Get one Free, and I used $.75 off one tube of Degree deodorant
Total after Coupon- $3
3 bottles of KC Masterpiece BBQ Sauce
Sale Price: $1.50
Total before Coupons: $4.50
Coupon: $1 off when you buy KC Masterpeice Suace or Marinade
Total Price after Coupon: $1.50. 3 bottles for the price of one.
1 tube of Colgate toothpaste
Sale Price- $1.99
Total before Coupons- $1.99
Coupon: $. 75 off one Colgate Toothpaste
Total Price after Coupon: $.50
2 bottles of Gillette body wash
Sale Price- $3.99
Total before coupons- $7.98
Coupon: Buy one get one free, and I used $2 off manufacturer coupon when you buy 1
bottle, and I used $2 off store coupon when you buy one bottle of body wash.
Total after Coupon- FREE
1 tube of Crest 3D White toothpaste
Sale Price- $2.49
Total before coupon: $2.49
Coupon- $.75 off one Crest toothpaste, and $.75 off store coupon
Total after coupon: $.24
1 Tide to-go pen
Sale Price- $2.99
Total before Coupon- $2.99
Coupon- $1 off one Tide-to-go pen, and $1 off store coupon
Total after Coupons- $.99
1 Colgate toothbrush
Sale Price- $1.99
Total before coupon- $1.99
Coupon- $.75 off one toothbrush
Total after coupon- $.49
6 bottles of Classico Pasta Sauce
Sale Price- 2/$4
Total before Coupons- $24
Coupon- $1 off two
Total after coupons- $18
2 boxes of Tampax Pearl
Sale Price- $6.49
Total before Coupons- $12.98
Coupons- $3 off when you buy 2, and $3 off when you buy 2 store coupon
Total after Coupons- $6.98
2 Freschetta Pizzas
Sale Price- $3.97
Total before Coupons- $7.94
Coupon- $1 off one
Total after Coupons- $5.94
2 packages of Chicken Leg Quarters
Sale Price- $.47 a pound
Total Price- $5.82
1 bottle of Finesse Shampoo
Sale Price- $2.50
Total before Coupon- $2.50
Coupon- $1 off
Total after Coupon- $1.50
1 bottle of Finesse Conditioner
Sale Price- $2.50
Total before Coupon- $2.50
Coupon- $1 off
Total after Coupon- $1.50
1 bottle of Finesse Mousse
Sale Price- $2.50
Total before Coupon- $2.50
Coupon- $1 off
Total after Coupon- $1.50
I also have a $2 rebate on this item, so after I get my rebate it will be a $.50 moneymaker.
2 tubes of Lysol Wipes
Sale Price- $1.69
Total before coupon- $3.38
Coupon- $1 off two
Total after coupon- $2.38, making them $1.19 a piece
3 bottles of French's Worcestershire Sauce
Sale Price- $.99
Total before coupons- $2.97
Coupon- $.75 off one
Total after coupons- FREE
2 bottles of Clorox 2 Laundry treatment
Sale Price- $1.99
Total before coupons- $3.99
Coupon- $1.50 off one
Total after coupon- $,99, making each bottle $.49. I also have a Saving star account that
gives you money when you buy certain products that you choose. After that is added to my
account it makes both bottles FREE.
1 bottle of Dawn dish detergent
Sale Price- $2.50
Total before Coupon- $2.50
Coupon- $.50 off one
Total after coupon- $1.50
4 half gallons of Turkey Hill Tea
Sale Price- $1.25
Total before Coupons- $5
Coupon- $1 off when you buy 2
Total after Coupons- $3, making each half gallon $.75
1 bottle of Crest Pro-Health Mouthwash
Sale Price- $3.99
Total before Coupons- $3.99
Coupons- $2 off when you buy one, and $2 off when you buy one store coupon
Total after Coupons- FREE
Total of this trip before coupons and savings- $163.45
Total after coupons and savings- $53.58
That's right, I saved $109.87.
Lowes Foods
2 tubes of Crest toothpaste
Sale Price- $1.99
Total before coupons- $3.98
Coupon- $.75 off one
Total after coupons- $.98
2 Colgate toothbrushes
Sale Price- $.89
Total before Coupons- $1.60
Coupon- $.75 off one
Total after Coupons- FREE
2 Crab Classics Crab Meat
Sale Price- $1.50
Total before Coupon- $3
Coupon- $1 off one
Total after coupons- $1 for both
5 bottles of Old Orchard Juice
Sale- Buy 2, get 3 Free
Total before coupons- $5.70
Coupon- $.50 off one
Total after Coupons- $3.70, making each bottle $.74
1 Cascade Complete Action Pacs Dishwasher Detergent
Sale Price- $3.99
Total before Coupons- $3.99
Coupon- $.25 off one
Total after coupon- $3.49
1 Cascade Action Pacs Dishwasher Detergent
Sale Price- $3.99
Total before Coupons- $3.99
Coupon- $.50 off one
Total after coupon- $2.99
1 Febreeze Set and Refresh
Sale Price- $2.50
Total before Coupon- $2.50
Coupon- $1 off one
Total after coupon- $1.50
1 Febreeze Air Effects
Sale Price- $2.50
Total before coupon- $2.50
Coupon- $.50 off one
Total after coupon- $1.50
1 Dawn Dish Detergent
Sale Price- $1.99
Total before Coupon- $1.99
Coupon- $.50 off one
Total after Coupon- $.99
1 Fusion Hydro Gel Shaving Cream
Sale Price- $1.99
TOtal before Coupon- $1.99
Coupon- $1 off one
Total after coupon- $.99
2 bottles of Old Spice body wash
Sale Price- $2
Total before coupon- $4
Coupon- $1 off two
Total after coupon- $3
2 cartoons of Lowes Foods Grade A Large Eggs
Sale Price- $.99
Total- $1.98
Total before coupons and savings- $74.89
Total after coupons and savings- $27.82
Some of you are probably wondering how did she get some of her money off when her coupon may have been for only $.50 or $.75. Harris Teeter and Lowes Foods allows you to double any coupon that is $.99 or less everyday.
There you have my entire days shopping trip and how I did it. Some of the coupons and prices may be wrong for Lowes Foods, but I could not remember everything. I hope you have enjoyed reading about my coupon trip. Be sure to look for more blogs to come. :)
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