Fun and Frugal

I wasn’t sure if it was going to be worth it or not to head to K-Mart this week for Super Doubles–when they double coupons up to $2.  The new stricter rules definitely make it less fun and more challenging, but I decided to go for it and I brought along a family member so that we could each have a 10-coupon transaction.  Click here to read the strict rules for the K-Marts in the Cleveland/Chattanooga, TN area.  I was disappointed that Multi-Grain Cheerios was not included in the 4/$10 General Mills cereal promotion, so I wasn’t able to get any free cereal with a $.75 doubled coupon.  I was also disappointed that some of the prices in the Cleveland K-Mart were higher than those listed on the deal list at Common Sense with Money, like 10 oz A-1 Steaksauce was $4.49 at the Cleveland K-Mart vs. $3.79 at her K-Mart.  However, the Peter Pan peanut butter was cheaper.  It was $2.29 at the Cleveland K-Mart vs. $2.49 at her K-Mart, so it was nice paying $.29 for peanut butter with my $1 doubled coupon.  Oh, and the cashiers at the Cleveland K-Mart had to manually key the doubles today.  I thought they fixed it the last time they had doubles and my cashier said they weren’t able to download the program to their registers in time for this sale, so I guess it’s something they have to download every time they do Super Doubles.  So, be sure to watch the screen while checking out to make sure everything is doubled correctly and also be sure to thank your cashier.  Here’s what all I got today in two transactions (one for me, one for my family member):

Transaction 1:

1. Peter Pan peanut butter $2.29 – less $1.00 coupon (from May All You Magazine and from the Con Agra coupon book by mail with the free Hunts ketchup coupon I mentioned April 9 – no longer available) doubled = $.29/ea! (I had two $1 coupons)
2. Kraft EasyMac microwavable cups $1.09/ea – less $1/2 printable coupon from Kraft = $.09/ea!
3. Carefree original pantiliners 22 count $1.29 – less $1.00 coupon from magazine (I forgot which magazine, sorry! Does anyone know?) = FREE!
4. Kotex pantiliners 18 count $1.29/ea – less $1.50/2 coupon I think from free sample in the mail = FREE!  (Kotex has free samples by mail a lot and almost always includes coupons with them.  Click here to request a free sample of Kotex ultra thin over night with wings, while supplies last, if you haven’t already.)
5. Johnson’s Safety Swabs (by baby products) $1.59 – less $1.00 coupon from Red Plum insert 4/26 = FREE!
6. Pantene Full & Thick Shampoo on sale 3/$10 ($3.33/ea) – less $2.00 coupon from P&G insert 7/5 = FREE!
7. Cover Girl Volume Exact mascara $4.89 ($6.99 less 30% Cover Girl lip/eye makeup sale) – less $1.00 coupon from recent Sunday paper insert = $2.89
8. Cover Girl eye enhancers eye shadow $2.09 ($2.99 less 30% sale) – less $1.00 coupon from insert = $.09!
9. Playtex Living gloves $2.19 – less $1.00 coupon from 6/28 Smart Source insert = $.19!
10. After I paid my total of $4.04 after coupons, the register printed out a coupon for $5 off any Grocery and Drug Store purchase of $50 or more plus one for $5 off any Health & Beauty purchase of $50 or more (both expire 7-19-09).

Transaction 2:

1. Huggies Night-Time Pull-Ups $10.79 – less $2.00 coupons from recent inserts (and pull-ups.com will send you coupons in the mail and once a month you can print coupons) = $6.79/ea
2. Huggies Little Swimmers $7.89 – less $1.50 coupon from home mailer from huggieshappybaby.com = $4.89
3. Hunts snack pack 4-pack pudding on sale $1/ea – less $1/3 coupon (from May All You Magazine and from the Con Agra coupon book by mail with the free Hunts ketchup coupon I mentioned April 9 – no longer available) = $.33/per 4-pack or $.08/pudding cup! (I had two coupons.)
4. Pringles $1.50/ea – less $1/2 coupon = $.50/ea!
5. Scott Extra Soft 12 double rolls $6.59 – less $1.00 coupon = $4.59
6. Purex Complete 3-in-1 (new laundry detergent/fabric softener/anti-static) $5.99 less $2.00 coupon from Smart Source insert 6/14 = $1.99!
7. Juicy Juice Immunity $2.99/ea – less $1.00 coupon from 4/26 Red Plum insert = $.99/ea!
8. I redeemed the $5/$50 Grocery and Drug Store coupon I received from my first transaction above, making my total after coupons and tax $29.90.  The register again printed out a coupon for $5 off any Grocery and Drug Store purchase of $50 or more plus one for $5 off any Health & Beauty purchase of $50 or more (both expire 7-19-09).  I also got a catalina for $7.00 off my next $7.oo or more shopping order.

If I had bought everything I bought today without coupons (that would be scary!), it would be $81.75 plus tax or $89.72 after tax.  I paid $33.94 after tax and coupons for everything above, or about 62% savings! Some items weren’t the best deals, but were items I needed to buy anyway, so it helped to get my coupon doubled.  Be sure to check out the deal match-ups over at Common Sense with Money, but keep in mind that prices vary by region, as well as coupon amounts in inserts vary, too.  Lasty, if you’ll be shopping at the Cleveland K-Mart and you have a baby or toddler, check out the clearance rack of Gerber babyfood and Gerber Graduates in front of the diapers.

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