My first grocery couponing experience

I got asked in the checkout lane at Albertsons today if I was "one of those extreme couponers". Heh. I guess I am! I certainly get a lot of looks carrying around my coupon binder but for the most part I feel like people are just curious. I have yet to encounter any negative attention from other customers or clerks. Let's hope it stays that way.


Okay, down to business. I will do this one store at a time. I went to four stores. The first was Albertsons.

 They were running a promotion where if you buy 10 participating General Mills products you got $5 off instantly. I did this deal twice in two separate transactions. I also did the deal where if  you buy 5 Hamburger Helpers you got a $2 of chicken, beef or tuna catalina. This week was Albertsons double coupon advertisement. You could double 3 coupons per transaction.

Transaction #1:

• 9 Hamburger, chicken and tuna Helpers @ $0.99/ea (after $5 savings) and I had 3 $0.75/3 MQ which doubled 3 times so $1.50/3, 3 times = $0.49 per box x 9 = $4.41 for all 9.
• 1 Old El Paso Taco Seasoning $0.49 (after savings)
• 2 Minute Maid Singles $1 - $0.50 = $0.50/ea = $1 (10/$10 mix and match sale)
• 4 Seattle's Best Coffee Drink $1.59 - one free manufacturers coupon (x4) = FREE for all 4!!
• Minute Maid Light Lemonade (1/2 gal.) $1 (10/$10 mix and match sale)
• 2 Juicy Juice 8 packs $2.99 (on sale) - 2 $0.55/1 MQ = $2.44/ea = $4.88 for both
• Bananas $0.69/lb = $1.61
• Honey Maid Graham Crackers and Herseys Chocolate 6pk both $3/ea - buy grahams and chocolate get marshmallows free = $6 for all three

Total spent = $19.91, Total saved = $33.52

Transaction #2

• 4 Old El Paso Taco Seasoning @ $0.49/ea = $1.96
• 4 Yoplait Go-Gurts $2.49 (after instant savings) - 2 $0.75/2 and I doubled each so $1.50/2 (x2) = $1.74/ea or $6.96 for all 4
• 2 Chex Mix $1.99 (after savings) - $0.50/2 that I doubled so $1/2 = $1.49/ea or $2.98 for both.
• 97/3 Ground beef $4.99/lb = $6.69 - $2 managers special peelie = $4.69
• Boneless, skinless chicken thighs $1.99/lb = $4.24 - $2 catalina = $2.24

Total spent = $16.64, Total savings = $20.13
Total spent at Albertsons = $36.55, Total saved = $53.65

Target:

• Beach tote $8.99 - $2 Target Q = $6.99
• Clearance skull swim trunks = $4.98
• Kids flip flops = $2.50
• 3 beach toys @ $1/ea - 30% = $2.70 for all three
• Dove Deodorant twin pack $4 + free body mist
• Up & Up Ibuprofen $0.97 - $0.50 TQ = $0.47
• 2 Danimals smoothies $2.74 - $1/1 TQ & $1/1 MQ = $0.74/ea = $1.48 for both
• Hersey's Chocolate 6 pk $2.49 (on sale) - $0.50 TQ = $1.99
• 2 Lipton Iced Teas - 2 Free coupons = Both FREE
• Up & Up Rubbing Alcohol $1.02

Total spent = $23.38 (after $5 gift card from last trip), Total saved = $14.51

Safeway:

My plan got thrown off a little here so my total was more than I expected. They were running a promotion where if you bought 8 participating products, you got $0.50 off each item. I had read that Ronzoni pasta was a part of this deal and I have a bunch of coupons for it but OF COURSE none of the varieties I had in my coupons were a part of the deal.

• 4 boxes of Ronzoni pasta @ $0.89/ea (price when you buy 8 products) = $3.56
• 2 Odwalla @ $1.49/ea (wyb 8) - 2 $0.55/1 MQ = $0.94/ea or $1. 88
• 2 Orowheat loaves @ $2.49/ea (wyb 8) = $4.98
• 2 Classico Pasta Sauce $3.39 BOGO + 2 $1/1 peelies from pasta = $1.39 for both
• Philly Cooking Cream $2.50 - $1/1 MQ = $1.50
• 3 peaches @ 1.99/lb = $2.35
• 2 mangoes @ $0.79/ea = $1.58
• 10 lb bag of potatoes $2.99
• Blueberries $2.50
• Strawberries $2.50
• Raspberries B1G2 FREE - 2 $0.50/1 MQ = $2.99 for all three (!!!)

Total spent = $28.22, Total Saved = $33.03

Fred Meyer:

• 4 Colgate Toothpaste @ $1/ea (on sale) - 4 $0.75/1 MQ = $0.25/ea or $1.00 for 4
• 4 1/2 gal. Milk @ $1.25/ea with in ad coupon = $5
• Darigold Creamer $2.50

Total Spent $8.87, Total saved = $5.24

Total spent for all 4 trips = $97.02, Total Saved = $106.43