Thanks to Truewoman.com for the picture.
Our week has not gone has planned. What I mean by that is that it has been a great, but busy week! We have been getting ready for a new school year, working on projects around the house, getting ready for a garage sale and finishing up summer plans – in addition to the everyday tasks.
Our shopping plan for the last week was to get to Smiths, our local Kroger affiliate and pick up .48 and .98 boxes of Cheerios (among a few other things). We have just not seemed to find the time this week to do it! We still have a few days left on the sale (maybe we will try later today after a birthday party – only time will tell ;)).
At any regard, we have a tradition in our family that when one of our kids reaches a milestone – we let them pick family dinner night out (with thrifty recommendations to them). Well, our 6-year old completed her entire Master Reader course this week (that we got for over 75% off – this week this course is over 85% off!!).
She really wanted to go to Burger King as it has a real kickin’ play area! She also had been wanting to go as last month she was disappointed when we pulled up in the parking lot to get a bunch of those Pampers coupons for us that made the wipes FREE last month from my mom but had forgot to tell the kids we weren’t there for a surprise Burger King trip.
Thus, our 6-year old has had the thought for the last few weeks that this is where she wanted to go to celebrate her achieving this next level. And honestly – this was the only day that we adventured out of the house and we thought it would be fun! Did I mention it has been crazy around here?!
While we were eating at her celebration we decided to fit in a shopping trip afterward. We had printed a few Target coupons (we print as soon as we see them before they are gone – hint, hint :)) and we had our big coupon binder with us and thought we should spend a couple of hours in Target and coupon it up! It is usually exciting for us.
We got there and all was going well – but then I (not the kids!!), became exhausted within just a few minutes! I was trying to figure out why I was not motivated to do what I love to do!!
Then I remembered the cleaning, organizing, basement clearing, going through the house finding treasures to sale, getting ready for a new year of school, cooking and I looked at Thrifty Al and said – “I am tired – I want to go home.” He grabbed the coupons off the top and the girls and I window shopped in the clothing and household departments, he had the baby and toddler and grabbed a few things with the coupons on the top of our pile – we met up front with our little pile of stuff and checked out and went home – and to bed I went to wake up early for another day of projects.
With all of that being said, Thrifty Al did manage to snag a few deals before we left Target.
Here is a picture of what he got:
Here’s the breakdown:
- 2 Jenni-o Turkey Sausage normally $3.39 on sale for $2.00 each = $4.00. There was a peelie coupon for .55 of each – $1.10 = final is $2.90 for 2 or $1.45 each
- 2 Juicy Juice sale normally $2.29 each on sale for $2.00 each = $4.00. Then use $1.00/2 manufacturer’s printable and 2 $1.00/1 Target printable – $3.00 = final is $1.00 for 2 or .50 each
- 1 bag of carrot chips on sale for $1.67 = final is $1.67
- 1 Tom’s of Maine natural toothpaste adult toothpaste normally $4.19 on sale for $3.59. Then used $1.00/1 6/13 Smart Source Insert and $1.00/1 Target printable – $2.00 = final is $1.59 (the kid’s Tom’s of Maine is $2.59 on sale and only .59 after the above coupons, our Target was out – but this price for the adult full-size is great!)
- 2 Chef Boyardee whole grain sale for .99 each = $1.98. Then used two $1.00/1 Target printable = final is FREE plus .02 OVERAGE
- 3 cans Campbell’s Select Harvest soups sale for $1.79 each = $5.37. Then used 3 $1.00/1 manufacturer’s printable and 3 .50/1 Target printable – $4.50 = final is .87 for 3 or .29 each
- 3 travel-size Band-Aids for .97 each = $2.91. Then used one $3.00/3 8/1 Smart Source Insert = final is FREE plus .09 OVERAGE
- 2 Pillows on sale for $3.00 each = $6.00. Then used $1.00/1 Target printable = final is $4.00 for two or $2.00 each
Summary: The total BEFORE coupons (AFTER sale prices) was $29.52. We then used $17.60 in coupons and this made our new total of $11.92. So just in coupon savings (not taking sale prices into account) – we saved over 60%.
The moral of the story: it is okay to not be Mr. and Mrs. deals and coupons each week. And yes – I (and Thrifty Al) do lose our motivation and drive to use coupons and score deals. Sometimes it is a very exhausting and overwhelming thought! This week it was. I did not have the drive to go and pick up .49-.98 Cheerios even though this is our number one cereal and there is none left in the Thrifty store. Maybe we’ll get there today, possibly Monday, but we’ll see.
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