Sometimes I feel like I don’t know how to shop “like a normal person.” I have used coupons for so long I might have heart palpitations if I entered a store and actually paid full retail again. At the same time, there are lots of times that I am tired or lazy or get treated shabbily and I get so sick of coupons! I am ready to throw it all in and just go back to tossing things mindlessly into my cart at the grocery store and calling it a day.
But then I have trips like this and I simply can not believe how far you can stretch your dollars with just a few coupons and a sharp eye. I finally made it to Toys R Us to try the My Little Ponies deal I told you about HERE. And I got all four of those little ponies for a grand total of .90! So about .22 each! What a deal! I wanted to grab a few more but I felt too guilty since the shelves were pretty empty.
Then I headed over to the household items to check for clearance and guess what! Seventh Generation items were marked down to $1.98 each! I had (3) $2/1 laundry soap coupons with me- so I scored all three for .49 total! Then I spotted a nice Jumbo pack of Pull Ups marked down to $5.48- I used a $3 off Huggies coupon and scored a pack for $2.48!
So for a grand total of $3.87 I got a pack of diapers, 3 bottles of laundry soap and 4 My Little Ponies!
I headed over to Old Navy and scored a cute lightweight cardigan for $10.50 with coupon– so everything pictured was less than $15. So that is why I use coupons. Had I paid retail prices the total would have been $80.42. Yikes!
Awesome! It sounded like you needed this kind of deal to refresh and remotivate!!!! 🙂
I should have gone to Toys R Us this morning since the shelves were EMPTY when I got there around 3. I KNEW I should have went there before I went to Target. The lady in front of me in line got the last 4 My little ponies.
Okay- so it looks like I’ll be heading out to our Toys R Us tomorrow! 😉
Yeah, I “had” to do a quick trip to Raleys on Saturday to get ready to have some friends over. $90 DOLLARS LATER…. I actually gasped when the cashier said the total. And I *almost* just ditched everything and served cheerios, granola bars, fruit rolls ups, and Sargento cheese instead! ha! 🙂
Bah!! I saw three other ladies buying ponies after I paid so now I feel better for not being greedy and snatching them all up. 😉
well, you can subtract out five more dollars if you submit for the $5 when you buy 3 Seventh Generation items rebate! 🙂 !!! I love Seventh Geh!
Ryann the ponies were today only but I will be looking for more 7th Gen coupons for sure! The entire line was $1.98 at my store! Shelves and shelves of clearance.
Well, I’m kicking myself for not venturing out to try the Pony deal tonight, but a little coupon inspiration is always good to hear! Good job!
I know the feeling about being burned out about it all at times. Then again other days I get so jazzed and today was one of those for me at Walgreens. I can hardly stand paying full retail for items anymore but when I do I know I can and it is okay because I have the money and I try not to feel guilty. Thanks for the honesty, info and the motivation to keep at it.
I tried to do the my little ponies deal at toys r us but the coupons would not scan because of the BOGO deal that was going on already. They would not honor mine. 🙁
Ahhhh, I LOVE shopping trips like that! So nice to know how well you served your family.
When I went to Safeway last week, I forgot to swipe my card, so the cashier asked me for the full amount. $62.00!! Honestly, the first thing that came through my head was “My husband’s gonna be MAD!!!”. Then my card was swiped, handed over the coupons, and it was something like $2.00. I can’t believe I used to shop without coupons and paid so much money! So much money wasted. So little security.
Thank you, thank you for this blog and congrats on your awesome deal!
Did you have any issues when you tried using your coupons?
I have to be careful. I don’t need any more ponies, even though this was a great deal. I really am trying to watch what I buy to make sure I need it , not just getting because it’s on sale.
The cleaning products are always needed, so I’ll try for them this week.
Joanna
I am so irritated. I went out with all 5 of my kids just to get 4 ponies and they refused to let me use my coupons. They said that because the coupon states cannot be combined with any other offer that I couldn’t use them. I am gonna complain tomorrow and see if I can still get them.
Do the $3 Huggies coupons work on Pull-ups too? I know Pull Ups are Huggies brand but I always figured they were a separate product – not considered “diapers”. I’d love it if I could use the $3 coupon on those as well!
Genny I have always had good luck since they are diapers from Huggies but I really think it depends on the cashier. The coupons will beep so I usually have the $2 Pull Ups ones as a back up.
Really good point Joanna! I always try to just buy what we need- now we clearly didn’t need these but I have 2 little girls so they will be put to use for something.
No but I went back to get the soap since my other coupons were in the car and a cashier was refusing the Ponies coupon from another lady. So it really is just luck of the draw- those that missed this deal will likely score something else that I will probably miss out on. You just never know.
I called my local TRU a bit after 9, spoke to the mgr. She said the MLPs weren’t on sale, but then I told her I had the flyer that was emailed. She said in that case, I could go in and they would honor it. But then she had already mentioned the manufacturer coupons so she is the one that said I could use both! so when I got there, I asked to see her, showed her my stuff and she said to go for it. I just wanted to make sure before I went to pay. Got a few MLPs, they will be great for this easter and my upcoming twin nieces’ bday and an extra for them 🙂
about the couponing, I know what you ladies mean! I get tired of them too, havent been doing it way too long, but then I see how much I save… and I get motivated again, a lot more from reading everyone’s comments. yay for coupons! I hate paying full price for anything now 🙂
take care everyone!
MFA did ou go to the Toys R Us in roseville by the galleria? I dont get a chance to do many deals so i wanted to know if the clearance 7th gen was in roseville, i pay full price for thier products all the time! I would love to stock up on these if its close by.
Yup- lots of them on hand but one of the employees was talking about buying several so I don’t know how long they will last. Also they are only 16 load!
Great deals you got – yay! I feel the same way…I really get ‘tired’ of couponing sometimes, but there is SO much money to be saved (that I could use for other things besides soap & razors..lol). So, the clearance items are at Toys R Us? Totally need to go back to TRU tomorrow! I bought 2 Ponies today -maybe that was me behind you 🙂 the coupon beeped, but the cashier didn’t say anything about it & just overrode it. Thanks for your great site!
Nothing like a great shopping trip to keep you motivated!
MLP’s were all sold out at my store, but I had my Hasbro Games Q’s with me—I scored Operation, Connect 4, and Ants In The Pants for $2.35 after Rebate & a $5 Giftcard I got back for buying $20 worth of games (including $1.35 tax). Worth the trip–Now I gotta go back for the 7th Generation stuff! I think I’ll use my $5 giftcard. 🙂
Thanks for the motivation! I’ve been couponing for less than a year and sometimes it becomes a lot of work and what tends to bug me more is the way some stores treat you…like – oh no, not her again! It’s like they think your stealing things… Does anyone else feel this way? Maybe it’s just me but I don’t like feeling unwanted in stores because I’m trying to save some money for my family!
Yesterday I had to make a quick run to the store to get my free milk and some francisco buns and a loaf a bread, my husband insisted on going and the whole time kept saying “do we really need that”? After we checked out my total was $ 1.69 for all 3 items , so I told my husband “at that price , who cares” !! He was shocked , but I will still go on my shopping trips alone!
My TRU would not honor the deal, I was there with my 2 little girls and ended up buying some anyway because they were heartbroken, but it took a small chunck out of my budget for this week which I was not happy about. I even spoke to the manager and he said no way. 🙁
LOL Alyson. I always get “looks” when I hand over my big stack of coupons…from the people behind me in line, usually not the cashier though. Don’t feel guilty, they put those coupons out there so we will buy their products. My grocery bill has down considerably, but I am coming home with so much more. My pantry is so well stocked that I share with my mom too. Keep it up!
That’s a great trip, congrats! I love when I go to stores and have absolutely no problems with coupons. It makes up for those awful times.
I feel like that sometimes too Alyson, I thinks thats why I never bothered with coupons in the past . But times have changed and I’m actually really surprised at how little people use coupons now. With todays economy and alot of one income families you’d think they’d get on the band-wagon!! I’m just sooo glad I had a friend who told me about this wonderful blog that taught me how to use coupons.
Awesome! Also a great example of why we should never leave home w/o our coupons, every time I do I end up seeing an unexpected bargain and kick myself for not grabbing that binder before I went out the door.
I’m sad to say I missed the MLP deal, it was DD’s bday and she wanted to go to Chuck e Cheese.
Haven’t had the energy to go out this week yet, and I’m kicking myself for it. I need to get over and do the diaper deal, we “only” have 5 packs right now.
Reading things like this make me realize how lucky I am to have someone to show me the way. Thanks for all you do. Totally inspired and ready to shop today!
Charlene! Thank you for posting this! And thank you to all the coupon clippin mommas for sharing their stories! I am at burn out right now and its SO NICE to have this encouragement!! I was ready to throw out all my coupons and forget the whole thing and then this post came! Thank you everyone for sharing and I now know, that I am NOT alone in this adventure!
Andrea 🙂