After taking almost six weeks off from using coupons, I’m excited to be back and at it again! I went to Dillon’s, Target, the health food store, and Bath & Body Works on Saturday and here’s what I ended up getting:
Total spent for all items shown above: $11.35
Here’s the price breakdown:
Bath & Body Works — picked up the free Chiffon lotion
Health Food Store — Bought: 4 grapefruit at $0.25 each — $1, 10 oranges at $0.20 each — $2, 5-lb. bag of organic carrots — $2.49, Organic leaf lettuce — $1.79, Rudi’s Bagel Thins — marked down to $0.99. Total with tax: $8.87
Dillon’s — Bought: 10 LUNA bars priced at $1.09 each. Used 10 $0.50/1 coupons (doubled — my mom had picked these up in some coupon booklets at the health food store). Total with tax: $1.33
Target — Bought: Fantastik — $1.97, used $1/1 coupon (no longer available) = $0.97, Reach Floss — $0.97, used $1/1 coupon (no longer available) = free. Total with tax: $1.15
I was disappointed that Target was out of almost everything I was hoping to buy–including the free KRE-O sets. Oh well! This week, I’ll try to make it there before Saturday so that I can (hopefully!) find more items in stock!
@August, Oh my! I would definitely send an email to Target corporate. That was totally inappropriate. I would have been upset, too.
I went to Target to get the KREO set, but when I handed the cashier my coupons she called the security guard over to tell me that I wasn’t allowed to use them. They didn’t match the picture, so I wasn’t allowed to use them. The security guard then told me that coupons were not meant to be used that way. Then she had the manager come over and tell me the exact same thing again. I was so upset after I left. I never said a word the whole time they were telling me this, I just nodded and kept moving. I felt like I was being treated like a shoplifter. Why is a security guard needed to tell me I can’t use a coupon? I cried on my way home. I’ll be going to Walmart, instead.
That’s awful! 🙁
I am so sorry that this happened to you. 🙁 I’ve had some pretty nasty coupon experiences at Target where we used to live, but since we’ve moved cross the state, thankfully these cashiers have been pretty cooperative.
My husbands free shopping trip:
If you shop at Kmart, we have found out that having their rewards card can be very rewarding–this is not a credit card.
My husband took our children to Kmart and shopped for free. It was fun, especially for our girls and fun for him when he had to pay $0.00!
Here’s a picture of the card and his reciept. http://swappinspoons.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-husbands-free-kmart-shopping-trip.html
if it wouldn’t be too much trouble, could you post links under your post so that others may link up…i like going through other peoples grocery buys as well..
I’ll definitely have a link-up again on Saturday for Super Savings Saturday!
So glad you are posting your shopping trips again. I enjoy seeing them!
My Kreo coupons printed with a size restriction – didn’t yours?
No, the earlier ones didn’t have size restrictions.
I’m so glad you said you took 6 weeks off of couponing and that you survived. I’ve been “off” couponing since Christmas just because things got hectic fast. I’ve been trying not to feel guilty for taking a break, but if moneysavingmom can take a break and not feel guilty, then so can I :).
There were three of the Kreo sets left at our Target yesterday, and I bought two of them. I couldn’t believe how depleted they were! Hopefully they’ll bring them back in stock before my coupons expire for the other things.
If anyone has a Meijer store nearby, you can also get the Kreo set there for free as well. I to was disappionted to find my Target store out of them, so when I went to Meijer for the things I needed to get there I checked them out and it was a score!
Where are the Luna bar coupons?
As I mentioned in the post, they were in a coupon booklet at the health food store.
Oh! Doh! I read that wrong. 😛 Sorry.
No worries!
After three months of not using coupons, I jumped back in this week. seeing my total go from $98 to $46 was all the proof I needed to realize I need to keep this up!
I also went grocery shopping this weekend. I was able to spend less than $60 for one week’s worth of groceries which is what I was hoping for. My Walmart is also out of the Kreo sets. Oh, well.
Great job! Glad to see that people are getting great deals on healthy foods rather than garbage. Keep it up!
I wish I could find some Luna coupons, the grocery store has 20 for $15, my store doubles 5 coupons but it would still be a great deal for me. I love the Chocolate Peppermint Stick and Chocolate Dipped Coconut. I can cut the bar in 1/2 and it completely satisfies a junk food craving and it’s much healthier than a candy bar.
Yes, I love to see the fruit and veggie pictures, too. Sometimes I score good prices on organic produce at my regular grocery store but it’s definitely hit or miss. I once read, though, that most other countries spend 1/3 of their income on food while here in the U.S. we spend 1/10 of our income so if I have to pay a bit more for good quality food, I try to remember that fact. It makes me feel better. I don’t buy cleaning products any more… I make my own… it’s saved a bunch of money and so much healthier for my family. Glad to have you back on a regular basis, Crystal. I really love your site… it’s one of my favorites!!!
I also find it helpful and inspiring to see how well you do with healthier foods–which is what I try to provide for my family. Glad to see these posts again.
Tacking on to Bonnie’s post … Crystal, I too am so motivated by seeing your grocery posts. Other couponing blogs publish post after post of “deals” that is mostly processed, preservative-laden junk food. You, prove that it is possible to feed your family good healthy meals on a budget.
When I first started couponing I went overboard with the junk food. It’s easy to get carried away when you can tons of stuff for next to nothing. But we were not eating as healthy of a diet, and truth be told, we didn’t really even like the cheap processed junk. So I went back to focusing on the basics — meat, dairy, fresh fruit and veggies, and simple carbs — pasta, rice, potatoes, high-fiber breads. Taste’s better, and much better for you.
BTW, I’ve read your new book cover to cover. I’m now on my second time through it, going slower and implementing some of the things you promote. Love Tsh’s new book too, which I picked up free thanks to you. Fantastic resources, both of them.
I got some great deals over the past few weeks and missed your posts too!
My favorite deals were the $.60 shirts at Target, $1.23 per jar Planters natural peanut butter at Walmart, last week I got free tuna at Meijer and Smart Balance milk for $.59 per half gallon…
of course with my savings, I treated myself to yarn at Joann’s to make my daughter an afghan and scarves for the family. I have a craft budget so really it was from my budgeted amount. But it felt like a treat to buy some yarn! The afghan will be a Christmas gift for her this year. I am working on one for my son that is about 1/3 done. I only get time to work on it when I’m a passenger in the car or when I’m waiting for the kids during swimming class.
Wow, how did you score 60 cent shirts? That’s fantastic
You’re my kinda woman–couponing for yarn! I worked my tail off to crochet my son an afghan for Christmas this year, finished it a couple of weeks before and then FORGOT to wrap it! We’re halfway through opening gifts and I remember it’s in the closet! LOL! Good for you for getting a head start on next year’s gifts!
The shirts were in the back of the women’s section against the wall, marked down to $3.60 from $12. So the coupon made them $.60 each.
I also used coupons at Joann’s for that yarn 🙂 I’m planning to make the Babette blanket in pinks, purples and gray for my daughter. My son’s blanket is striped in the colors of shirts in his dresser. My husband’s grandma made him one like it when he was a little boy.
This year, most of our Christmas gifts will be hand made which is why I’m already working on them. I’m also doing a book mark for each month of the year, embroidered scarves, felt mail & mailbox & mail bag sets, coffee cup cozies from repurposed sweaters and socks and felt finger puppets 🙂 I work on those smaller projects while homeschooling my 5yo.
The babette pattern is nice! I like that you can use a variety of yarn colors on it. I think I saw a similar pattern in the Lion Brand catalog made with Vanna’s yarn.
I love making my gifts! I haven’t had as much time in recent years (work full time and went back to school).
I looked at your blog–very nice! I like that you review books there. I tried to find an email addy to email you, but couldn’t find one there. If you want to chit-chat some more, feel free to reach me through my blog. If not, I’m sure I’ll see you here. I’m really enjoying this blog!
Just wanted to say ‘thanks’ for the pics of produce! LOL! I get somewhat discouraged when I go to ‘coupon queen’ sites and see pics of boxes and boxes of pasta, packaged junk food, and the like. Now…don’t get me wrong…I get all giddy when I find a BOGO Snickers bar coupon, but wow–just how much free junk food and low-quality carbs does one family need to eat??? We’re a family of 10–14 on the weekends with the married kids here–but there is no possible way I could justify feeding my family junk–even if it’s free or mostly free.
Anyway…thanks for showing that it IS possible to get good deals on GOOD food. 🙂
I am so glad to see one of your “regular” posts back, have missed these alot. 🙂 I went Sat. morning to our Bath & Body Works and was shocked to hear that they were already out of the free lotion! They usually have plenty, oh well, maybe next time!
And I’ve missed writing them–and using coupons! So thankful that my book launch is over with and normal life can resume. 🙂
I too am glad to see your shopping post is back Crystal. I have missed your shopping post and the savings linky. I know you are busy though – the good kind of busy! Good luck with everything!
I went to both Target and Walmart to pick up deals, and left both stores with nothing, the Kreo sets were definitely long gone.
Holy cow, that’s a good price on grapefruit! Were they marked down? I want to say our health food store has them for $1.19. Not exactly sure because I don’t buy them at that price, ha ha
They were just on sale. I was so excited because $0.25 is a price I’d thrilled to pay at Aldi, so getting these at the health food store at a great Aldi price was fantastic!
We were lucky enough to get the KREO sets at Walmart. They were marked 7.99 there and our Walmart had tons left.
Mine Walmart had these Kreo sets, but they wouldn’t take the coupon for some reason! I am not sure why the Walmart here makes so much grief! The coupon they said wouldn’t scan. I don’t know, but it is very frustrating.
Yay! I’m so glad these posts are back! It’s so good to see what someone actually buys each week. I’m glad you’re life is less hectic now. Keep up the good work 🙂
Thanks so much for your kind encouragement!
I am excited to see these back, too. Thanks, Crystal!