My Weekly Savings: Coupons, Costco & Price Matching

There were a number of really great deals this week that I wanted to be sure I got before Shabbat, so I braved FOUR different stores in one day. And at three of them, I was accompanied by my very “busy” two-year old.

This many stores in a week, let alone in a day, is really unusual for me. Usually I shop at one or two stores a week (or better yet, make my husband go!).

CVS

I didn’t have any ECBs to roll, so I just divided my trip into two transactions. When I scanned my card at the Magic Coupon Machine, it spit out a lovely $2 off ECB for my birthday (be sure to update your details online!).

1st Transaction:

Aspirin – $2, Get $1 ECBs, use $1 off coupon from All You Magazine
Toothpaste – $2.49, Get $2 ECBs, use $2 off coupon from newspaper insert
Allergy Medicine – $3.69, Get $3.69 ECBs
RepHresh Brilliant Tampons – $6.79, Get $6.79 ECBs, Used $1 off printable coupon
= $10.97 + tax out of pocket

2nd Transaction:

4 12-packs of Coke ~4/$13, Get $3 ECBs, Used $1 off coupon from Recyclebank (wish I had had more of those)
= $12, paid with $11.79 in ECBs
Out of pocket: $.21 + tax

Total out of pocket ~ $10.98 + have $6.69 in ECBs for next time.

Costco

Here’s a prime example of why I need to build margin into my budget. I bought five items and spent $33! Of course, two bags of cheese cost $19 alone!

Milk, shredded mozzarella cheese, shredded “Mexican Blend” cheese, 3 dozen eggs, and 60 waffles (don’t judge me, mornings are hard in our house) = $32.64 + tax

Target

My main goal at Target was to return something (wrong-size lightbulbs) and get the Kashi deal. While there, I picked up a few other freebies and found a clearance lamp for my boys’ desk for just $2.48.

4 boxes of Kashi cereal ($2.99 each) + 2 boxes of Kashi cookies ($2.79 each)
Used (3) $2 off coupons from Recyclebank
Used (1) $1.50 off coupon from a recent free sample
Used (1) $1/2 Target coupon for cookies
Used (1) $1/3 Target coupon for cereal
= $5.05 ($.84 each) after coupons and 6th box free

4 bags of Pup-Peroni – my store took all four coupons, so I paid just $.95 per bag (normally $2.99)

2 Whiskas cat treats – FREE after coupon

Bayer Aspirin – FREE after coupons (wish Target allowed money-makers)

Lamp – $2.98 (50% off)

Newman’s Own Organic – $1.89 (regular price – I didn’t have it with me, but there is a $.50/1 coupon in last week’s insert)

Bamba – $2.19 (ha – you can see it in my daughter’s hand off to the left of the picture… impatient little thing)

Total = $14.85 + tax (I saved an additional 5% by using my Target Debit Card)

Walmart

I actually did this trip a bit later in the day with my 6 year-old, who is so much easier than the toddler!  I used a couple of coupons plus did some price-matching to Aldi.

9 avocados – matched to Aldi ($.49 each, regularly $1.79 each at Walmart)
green & red grapes – matched to Aldi ($.79/lb, regularly $1.89/lb at Walmart)
2 packages of Waverly paper plates (for Sukkot) – on sale for $2.50, regularly $2.88, used 2 $.75/1 printable coupon
Purex laundry crystals – FREE after coupon that was about to expire (not sure where I got it?)
Ricotta cheese & cottage cheese for stuffed pizza – not on sale, no coupons
Resolve Stain Stick – $2.50 – $.65 coupon from peelie = $1.85
Mint chocolate cookies – not on sale, no coupon (not pictured….)
= $19.17 + tax

Total for the day: $77.64 (Retail: 157.44)

How’d you do this week? Anyone else score some Kashi at Target? What were your best finds?