Extreme Couponing~Every Little Bit Helps

I’ve written several articles reviewing TLC’s show, “Extreme Couponing”.  I’ve even written a few “Reality Check” articles about my experiences and tips using coupons.  This past week highlighted a woman from the Toledo, Ohio area and the Kroger store she shops at only doubles coupons up to $0.50.  That really got me thinking:  If Joni can save more than $3,000, I should be able to do better! No, not better than $3,000, I’m no guru, but better than I have done.

I do have to give myself a small disclaimer:  She did spend over $1,000 on yogurt and cat food by purchasing 570 yogurts and 300 boxes of cat food in her mega charity shopping trip.  The nearly $400 spent on yogurt netted her over $67 in free money by way of catelinas the register spit out at her.

Now, with the goal in mind: buy things you would use and spend as little as possible, I headed off to Meijer and then Kroger’s, both of which were in Findlay, Ohio and both offer doubling coupons up to 50¢. 

The Kroger trip was just for a few specific things.  Well, actually it was for two specific things, but I got a little more.  The trip was for toilet paper and pineapple, both which were on sale.  This trip ended up with a 54% savings.

The Quilted Northern double rolls were normally $7.99, but on sale for $5.99.  On their website I signed up for an e-coupon and the discount goes right onto my shopping card.  The e-coupon for this item was $2.00 bringing the tp down to $3.99.

Originally the make-up for my daughter was $5.69 and the store had it on sale for 20% off.  I had a $1.00 off coupon so that packet of blush was now $3.55 plus tax. 

The store had pasta pouches 10/$10.  I had gotten two e-coupons for this product of 25¢  each and a paper coupon for 50¢ /2 packages, which was doubled.  Therefore, the pouches of pasta cost 25¢  each.

There was a closeout on Suave deoderant that left them priced $1.06 each, but after taking off the 75¢  coupon, that left each one with a cost of 31¢  plus tax.  I had four coupons so I got four deoderant. 

I also bought four pineapple that were priced $1 each and a couple packs of donuts that were on sale.

The Meijer’s trip was more expensive, but then I was doing more shopping there.  I had never shopped at this store before so I had no feel for the layout, nor the general prices.  Overall, I felt most of the prices were higher than Krogers, but I would definitely come here for cleaning supplies and any advertised sales.

Meijer Online Vitamin Finder | Mommiedaze

: Vitamin D and calcium help build strong bones.

I could print the recommendations directly from the site or have them sent to me by email. I had them emailed. There was a coupon for buy 3 vitamins or supplements get one free included with the email.

The Vitamin Finder was simple to use, and gave me a lot of information. Having the print out with exactly what I needed to buy with me at the store made shopping easy.

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias . Thoughts and opinions are my own.

Most people living where we do need far more vitamin D than what is provided with that calcium supplement OR available through food consumption & sun exposure. I suggest asking your doctor for a test with your next appointment or physical (it’s a simple blood test).