Monday, March 16, 2009

CVS & Target Savings


Let me start by saying that I didnt intend to ever post this much about coupons and shopping. However, the main goal of me doing this blog is to write about my journey and thoughts and life. Being debt free is one of my top goals. If you are ever going to be free, you have to become very frugal. I think couponing fits in here, that is if you are truly saving money. I think I am, and it can be exciting to know that there are ways to really save some money out there in the world.

Let me point out that I , the Dad, usually do all of the shopping for our family of three and our three dogs(we have two pointer mixes and one miniature daschund). I usually do our shopping for groceries and toiletries(if necessary) about once a week to a week and a half(if we can stretch it that long)at Walmart. They are usually fairly cheap and everything is in one place. So you get to knock it all out at once. We spend app. $100 a week. I kept up with our receipts last year and figured out that we spent this amount which figures out to be $5200 a year. That amount is fairly good. But when you hear that others have bigger families and spend less, you have to wonder if you can do better for your family.Also, I like the idea of just going to one place, but when trying to use coupons I have made sure that the places are near where I need to go anyways.

In the above picture you can see the items I bought at CVS and Target this evening. At CVS I bought these items and spent the following:
  1. Two Right Guard Deodorants- Each were $2.99 a piece(normally at Walmart I spend $1- $2)--However I had a coupon for $1 off two-CVS gave $4.00 extra bucks back
  2. Xtra Washing detergent---on sale for $1.99 (Any comments?--Ive never used it before--we mainly use Gain powder
  3. Glade Air Freshener- buy one $1.89- had buy one , get one free coupon(Not that great of a deal-saw later at Target for 99 cents each)-- oh well
  4. Colgate toothpaste was $2.99-CVS gave $2.99 Extra Bucks--so free

I also had a CVS Extra Bucks coupon for $3 which I used--My total came to $9.14 I received $8.00 back in Extra Buck coupons----essentially I spent $1.14 if you look at it like the other coupon bloggers do.Heres one of the problems I have with couponing...if I qualify my order here with the coupons received back, you cant count the coupons received back towards your next order , right?

I plan on using all of the $8.00 extra bucks coupons plus a $4 off manufacturer coupon off purchasing some razors next. By the way, have you seen the price of RAZORS lately? The refill cartridge prices are ridiculous! Makes a guy want to grow a beard! I think I read somewhere that razor prices are tied in with the price of petroleum.

I went to work out and then I decided to go to Target. I had been hearing how you could save $5 each on Huggies diapers with a coupon. I printed two( I really needed 3) of those coupons off of Coupons.com. A great deal had been running at CVS, but I "missed" that one. Plus, I saw the specific kind it called for were too small for my son.Let me note here that Ryan will be 3 on April 7th and he does great with potty training here at home. He goes when he needs to with no problems, and he wears underwear while home. When he naps or goes to sleep at night or when we leave the house, we will put a pull up or a diaper on him--whichever we have. I try to get him to tell me if has to use the potty when we are out, and he usually will.

Anyway here is what I bought at Target:

  1. 2 Huggies wipes-- $5.99 each --had the 2 $5 off coupons(diapers were too small for him)- I wish I could give them credit, but on one blog I read in the comments that the coupons would ring up on any Huggies product--so I tried it and sure enough, the computer took them
  2. 2 Goodlife 3lb cat food-on sale for $3.99 each, normally$4.49-- used 2 $3 manufacturer coupons-oh yeah I dont have cats, but my girlfriend said that dogs would eat it, and sure enough Bailey liked it---saved total of $17 there

So with tax I spent $5.31 --That's right only 99 cents each item and $1.35 in tax ! The trick is you need to catch the items you want or need on sale(checking your fliers is the easiest way) and add your coupons in. That is were you can save the big money!


8 comments:

  1. funny question for you...because I am like that...why did you buy cat food if you have dogs?

    You will learn that with CVS and Walgreens you can always get toiletry items for free after ECB or RR which is a great money saver right there.

    What I do when I have extra ECB or RR from deals and can't find other items to roll them into, I buy food items with them.

    Start watching your Walgreens frozen food section, many stores are revamping and the frozen items will be marked down greatly.

    You are doing a great job, I love to see men get in on the savings instead of just letting the women do all the work and then complain that they keep bringing so much stuff into the house. Luckily I don't have to worry about that.

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  2. I am a bit concerned that you are feeding your dogs cat food. Dogs and cats have very different dietary needs and you could risk setting yourself up for a large vet bill later by doing this.
    I hear rumors that Iams Smart Puppy food is on sale cheap at Walmart and some $5 coupons came out in the last big P&G insert. You say you do most your shopping already at Walmart so might be worth a look.
    Also, not sure if you know, most Walmarts will price match other area stores if you bring the ads with you. Might make some of your produce or other purchases a bit cheaper.

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  3. Thanks Jane4Girls for commenting. I bought the cat food because it was on sale and I thought it was ok to feed to dogs. This is the first time I did that.I guess I will not be doing that anymore-seems it does matter, as Zoeys Mom has noted.Thanks again, RyansDad

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  4. Zoeys Mom, Thanks for your comment as well. This is the first time I have bought the cat food. I thought it was ok. My girlfriends mom has cats and dogs.When she runs out of dog food, my gf said that she sometimes uses cat food until she can get to the store. Thanks again for the comment and the tips on Walmart--I tried to shop there last week with coupons and I didn't have any luck at all--I felt like using coupons was a waste there. I used a couple of coupons, but I guess I need to get them to price match other competitors.
    RyansDad

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  5. that is okay most people might not know about the dog food vs cat food thing.

    You have three good things going for you though:

    1. you have a wiener dog (the best kind to have)
    2. your birthday is in April (all the good ones are)
    3. you are not afraid to ask for help or guidance.

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  6. Hi Ryan's Dad, great to see a man get in on the deals! One more thing about the cat food, it is more fattening then dog food. LOL. The razors, I have gotten 3 Fusion Gamer men's razors free after Register Rebates at Walgreens in the last month. Regulary 8.99! Are you aware that at Walgreens you can use the coupon they offer in their ads or in the monthly rebate book PLUS one of your own! That adds up when and item is on sale already! Good luck to you, you are off to a great start!

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  7. Hello Angie, I havent shopped at Walgreens yet. They are around here, but not as convenient for me.I know about the coupon stacking though. Yes, about the razors, my plan was to buy one at CVS. That's because I have $8.00 in register rewards. I also have a $4 off manufacturers coupon, but only on Fusion refill blades, not the razor itself.BTW, blades are like $27 for 12 blades-ridiculous! Thanks for your comments, Ryan'sDad

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  8. Jane4Girls, I take it you have an April Birthday? lol

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