How To Use Coupons To Get The Better Sale

I recently noticed the price of Huggies Slip On Diapers in the BIG BOX at Walmart.

So the price (before any coupons) at Walmart is $24.94 for 64 diapers= $.35 per diaper.

Then, there is this weeks price at Walgreens (Thanks, Wild for Wags!)

The Jumbo packs of Huggies Slip-On diapers are on sale for $8.99 at Walgreens this week.  There is a $2 off coupon in the Walgreens February Coupon Booklet (located by the ads inside the store).  That makes them $6.99 (before coupons) for 20 diapers=$.34 per diaper.

SO, here’s how to show how to get the cheapest price:

There was recently a $3 off Huggies Slip-On diapers coupon available at Walmart.com.   It has already reached the max number of prints, but in this weeks newspaper there was a $2 off Huggies diapers coupon.  (I bought 5 extra papers this week.)

If I bought the BIG BOX at Walmart I could only use one coupon, but if I bought several smaller Jumbo sized packs at Walgreens the price would be less. Here’s what I did:

4 Huggies Slip-On Diapers (size 5): $8.99 each

use 1 $2 off coupon from the Walgreens February coupon booklet (found in stores) (will deduct $2 off each pack purchased)

use 4 $3 off Manufacturer coupons for Huggies diapers

Cost: $15.96 for 80 diapers=$.19 (almost $.20) per diaper!

 

If you only have the $2 off Manufacturer coupons here’s the cost:

Cost: $19.96 for 80 diapers=$.24 (almost $.25) per diaper!

 

So, my point is: calculate the cost per diaper (or ounce, or whatever the size is you are buying).  It is important because sometimes buying the smaller sizes will pay off (with the right sales and coupons).

 

(I know that may be a bit confusing, so if you have a question, post it in the comment section below & I will try to help.)

 

Happy Saving!

P.S.: Why is it called a Jumbo pack of diapers if it is so small?

 

 

Ad Matching (Walmart)

I am SO looking forward to Coke being on sale at CVS starting tomorrow! Their price will be $2.50 per 12 pack. This is a “stock up price” to me. Normally they are on sale for over $3 each. So, this is a great price (for my husband who is addicted to Coke)!

BUT, I am going to do an ad match at Walmart so that I can use my Walmart gift card.

How to ad match at Walmart:

Tell the cashier you are ad matching. (They usually want to know where & the price.)

According to the Walmart ad match policy, you do not need to have the actual ad.

*HOWEVER, I always take my ad with me to save time.

Yes, ad matching at Walmart is really that simple!

(Ad matching is also allowed at Target, but you must have the ad & also check out at Customer Service.)

Today’s grocery shopping trips (with kids!) & other savings

This morning I went to Shop N Save & got 3 Hunt’s chocolate puddings, 12 Jack’s pizzas, & 8 (free) Sierra Mist sodas. I only spent $20.10! Woo Hoo!!

Then I went to Walmart & got the rest of the groceries for the next 16 days (except bananas) for around $160! That was WAY under budget!!

I have been saving our leftover grocery money for Christmas. I have decided that we need a second washer & dryer for all this laundry! I’m about 1/2 way there and I’ve only been saving for 6 days!

Also, last weekend on our date, Todd & I went to Lowe’s to look at kitchen cabinet handles. I had expected prices to be over $3 each, but was quite surprised to see some on clearance for only $1.07 each! Then, at checkout they rang up for $.52 each!! I got all 20 for $10.99!!! It turns out the rack they were on was 50% off clearance prices! I was excited to have saved so much! Now I don’t have to ask for them for my birthday!

Shopping Report 8/28/2011

Office Max: $1.89 (I think)

CVS: $1.52 after using $5 ECBs & a raincheck, recieved $3 ECBs back:

Office Depot: $.03

Shop N Save: $.91, used $4 Catalinas from last week & got $2 for purchasing Swiffer dusters (the salt & pepper shakers were $1.13 each, but we were out of salt after I think our 1 3/4 year old threw away our old one)

Target: Ad matched Walmart price & used $3 Target coupon & $3 Mfr coupon: Total $3.44 ($2.97 before tax)

This week deals 8/28/2011

As I was looking through the ads in the Post-Dispatch today, I made these notes of deals this week:

Shop N Save

It’s a $10 off $50 purchase week (with some restrictions)

My favorite deals include:

Swiffer Duster Kit 1 ct. pkg $2.98 each, buy 1, get $2 coupon off your next shopping order!  Use this with the $.50 coupon in today’s Parade Magazine making it only $.48!  (I have some $2 off your next shopping order Catalinas that expire on Wednesday and I am hoping to “roll” them into new ones that I can use on Thursday!)

Save $5 on your next shopping trip when you buy 10 participating Kraft items in a single transaction

Oscar Mayer basic lunchables or cracker combinations $1

 

Office Depot

Office Depot Brand slider pencil box $.01 (limit 5)

Fiskars 7” student scissors $1

 

Walgreens (I don’t need any of these things, so I’ll be skipping again this week) (I got these from Coupon STL)

 

Estroven Dietary Supplement (28 ct. Maximum Strength ) – $10.00

Get a $10 Register Reward (i-Health Inc)

$3/1 Estroven Product printable coupon

= $3.00 Money-Maker after coupon and RR

 

Carmex Moisturizing Lip Balm (.15 oz. Lime Twist or Vanilla) – $1.50

Get a $1.50 Register Reward (Carma Laboratories)

$0.50 Carmex printable coupon (no longer available)

= $0.50 Money-Maker after coupon and RR

 

Crest Complete Deep Clean Toothpaste (5.8 oz) – 2/$5.00

Get a $3 Register Reward when you buy 2 (P&G)

$1/1 Crest Toothpaste – 8/28/11 P&G

$0.75/1 Crest Toothpaste – 7/31/11 P&G (expires 8/28)

= 2 FREE to $0.25 each wyb 2  after  coupons and RR

 

Hershey’s Candy Bar – $0.59 with in-ad coupon

FREE Hershey’s Air Delight wyb Hershy’ Milk Chocolate Bar – 8/28/11 SS

= $0.30 each after coupons

 

CVS (I’ll probably just go for the Money maker.) (These are from Coupon STL)

St Joseph  Enteric Coated Aspirin (81 mg, 36 ct) – $2.00

Get a $2 ECB (limit 1)

$1/1 St Joseph printable coupon  (coupon no longer available)

= $1.00 Money-Maker  to FREE after ECB

 

Oral-B SuperFloss, UltraFloss or Satin Floss  – $1.99

Get a $1 ECB (limit 2)

$1/1 Listerine, or Oral-B Floss – 4/17/11 SS

$0.75/1 Oral – B Floss or Floss Picks – 8/28/11 P&G and 7/31/11 P&G (Hurry! expires 8/31!)

= FREE to $0.25 after coupon and ECB

 

Visine B1G1 50% off – online prices start at $3.99

$3/1 Visine 1/2 oz or larger printable coupon

= 2 FREE after coupons

Part of Buy $30 get $10 Gas Card deal. Check out Living Rich with Coupons‘ scenario for this deal.

 

Office Max (I’ve already been there today and got what I needed.)

$.01 Metal compass

$.01 6” plastic protractor

$.50 Westcott 5” scissors 2 pack

$.15 Schoolio Classic Fineline or Broad markers 10 pk (I didn’t see these at my store)

$.30 1” or 1.5 “ Poly Binders

$.01 Schoolio 2 pkt folders

$.01 12” ring binder rulers

 

Walmart

Boys Rustler Jeans sizes 4-18 $7.92

Men’s Faded Glory Original or Relaxed fit sizes 30-42 $9.96

 

Target

I will be ad-matching Walmarts price of $8.97 for Huggies Slip On diapers.  I have a $3 off Target coupon and a $3 off Mfr coupon to use so they will only be $2.97!

 

Deals

Sheet sets are priced so low!  We always need extras for camping or accidents around our house.  Twin $5, Full $8, King or Queen $10!  WOW!

Quilt sets $10 twin, $15 full, king, or queen

 

What deals have you found?

In Case You Didn’t Know:Store Prices

Just a quick post about one thing you may not know about store pricing. Did you know that the price at one location may be different than another?

Yes, it’s true. I have found this to be true at Walgreens, Walmart, Dollar General, & Target just to name a few. It’s all about location when it comes to pricing. So, don’t assume that the unadvertised price is different at every store.

How to use this to your advantage:

I remember being laid off from my job shortly after the twins were born. It was my first pregnancy and I was unable to breastfeed. So, we used shake and pour formula. At the Alton Target, the price was $4.99 usually, but at the store in Florissant, the price was only $3.89! $1.10 each! This was HUGE because at one point we were using 2 cans per day. So, my step-mom and I would go to Florissant and buy 12 cases at a time.

So, be careful when shopping. Don’t assume the price will be the same at every store. Also, take gas mileage into account. Try to plan your trips to get the best prices.

Shopping this week (8/7/11)

Well, I’m out of coupon money to spend this week, but I thought I should update everyone on what I found & didn’t find.

Walgreens
Crayons $1, get $1 rr
I found these with no problem.

2 pkt folder $.09 limit 10
I couldn’t find these at the stores I went to.

Pencils/hilighters $.09
I found these in 4 different colors & bought 3.

Ruler $.19
I found these in the office supply isle on Monday and bought 3.

Carmex–use 2 coupons
I didn’t try this deal.

Expo dry erase? 4 pk $1.99
I am waiting to get more dry erase markers next week with the mfr & store coupons to make them free.

Huggies wipes $5.99
I found lots of these & the deal worked without any beeps at the register.

Keri $1.01 mm
I couldn’t find any of these on my trips on Monday or Wednesday.

Cvs
Pampers $8.99, get $3 ecb
I found the size 4 I needed with no problem on Wednesday.

Target
$1 sharpie 2pk
I found these no problem on Monday.

Rose art glue $.20
The Alton store was out of stock & I couldn’t find them at Walmart to ad match. 😦

Binder pouch $.50
I got 5 of these on Monday.

Index cards $.50
I found these Monday, but the price was incorrect on the display. At checkout, they rang up correctly.

Office depot
$.01 glue limit 5
The manager knew that my husband and I were together & said he could have overridden the limit of 5. We also bought 3 $.50 binders each (mentioned in the ad).

Kmart
Elmers glue $.25
I ad matched this at Walmart & got 20 bottles.

Office Max
$.01 filler paper

When we went to the store yesterday and they said they could override the limit, so we bought 20 packs! They were already out of the glue stick/bottle combo packs. They were out of the $.10 pens too. I also grabbed some poly folders on sale too. (I think those were $.50 each.)

Overall, I’d say this was a great week to stock up on school supplies!

Shopping Today 7/31/11

Well, I’ve been shopping. I only spent $26.13 after tax! Here’s a picture of what I got. I LOVED the $.05 items at Office Depot & Walmart’s price match of K-Mart’s $.24 Crayons. 🙂

Coupons vs. Generic?

Yes, I did it.  I asked “THE” question that many people ask when coming to coupons.  I find that for our family, buying the generic often saves us more money than buying the name brand with coupons.  In fact, we do most of our grocery shopping at Walmart and we buy a LOT of Great Value products.  Sometimes, however, we just prefer the name brand…like Ritz for instance.  I have even found that buying apple juice concentrate saves even more than the premade kinds.  However, be careful at Walmart.  Their endcaps are VERY tempting, but they are not always the best deal.  My favorite way to use coupons for name brand products is when I can get paid to buy them or can get them for only a few cents.

So, what do you think?  Coupons or generic?  Personally, I do a mixture of both.