Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Couponing Crazy

I'm sure many of you have seen that show, "Extreme Couponing" on TLC.  Well, a few weeks ago, I watched it and I got motivated.  I consider myself a relatively intelligent person (unless you are asking me a history question, in which case my eyes tend to glaze over and I may or may not pretend that a bug bit me in order to change the subject), and came to the conclusion that I'm sure many other have while watching the show.... I can do that.

I am not a toe-dipper when it comes to a new hobby.  Instead, I tend to just cannon-ball my way smack into the middle.  In this case, I didn't say that I'd like to start off by clipping a few coupons.  Oh no.  I immediately started blazing through coupon websites, then hopped on Amazon and ordered a binder, baseball card protectors (a.k.a. "coupon pockets"), detailed tab dividers, you-name-it.  When Sunday rolled around, I didn't just buy a single paper.... I bought seven.
I felt like a crazy mad scientist or some kind of villian plotting a robbery while I scoured the coupon websites and came up with my list and plan for my maiden coupon voyage.  I finally had a plan and hit the stores.
Goodies from my first trip out last Wednesday. 

First trip was Rite Aid.  Broke it up into 3 transactions.  (It was going to be 2, but then I forgot the diapers and had to go back.  Oops!)

Trans 1-
8 CG items (7 blush, 1 bronzer). Buy one get one 50% off sale.  Coupled with 4 $8/2 MQ.
Scope Icy Mint Blast mouthwash. $4.  Used 1 $1.50/1 MQ.  Got $2.50 reward.
Dove Shampoo and Conditioner.  On sale 2/$7.  Used BOGO MQ and then $2/1 store coupon.
Oral B Toothbrush. $5.99.  Used $3.00 MQ. Get $2.99 rebate.
Crest Toothpaste. $2.59.  Used $1 MQ.  Get $1.60 rebate.
Paid $5.11 OOP.  Submitting for $4.59 rebate and got $2.50 reward.

Trans 2-
6 CG items.  BOGO 50% off sale.  Used 3 $8/2 MQ.  Earned $10 rewards (Pay $30, get $10 promo.)
3 Gatorades. $1.89  No coupon.  (Covergirl coupon overage.)
1 Energy Drink.  $1.99.  No coupon.  (CG coupon overage.)
Paid $2.51 OOP. (Used my $2.50 reward somewhere on those drinks.)  Earned $10 rewards.

Trans 3-
Pampers Easy ups.  On sale for $10.49.  Used $10 rewards from CG.  Paid $1.22 OOP, earned $2 rewards for Pampers purchase.

At this point, I was freaking out.  The cashier was laughing through the whole thing and whooping like you wouldn't believe.  There were no other customers so the two cashiers were both cheering as the total came down.  Think that I shocked my husband to the core.

Went to Target and did two transactions.
Trans 1 & 2.  (Identical transactions)
Transformer toy.  $9.99.  Used $5.00 MQ and $5.00 Target mobile coupon.
Olay- $5.99.  Used $3 MQ and $3 Target mobile coupon.
Colgate- $0.98.  Used $1 MQ.

All in all, the stuff was free, AND I got rebates on top of it, so I ended up getting paid in the end.  I just about had a heart attack during the process, but it was a lot of fun.

Since then, I've gone out and picked up a few more things with coupons.  Got five big bottles of Dr. Pepper at Wal-Mart for free (holding onto them for company or social functions, we don't drink soda), deodorant, gum, pantiliners, cold/flu stuff, and 5 bottles of laundry detergent.  I had to pay for the detergent, but it was only $1.97 a bottle for the super-concentrated stuff so I was happy.

Another random trip.  Gotta love free stuff!

My coupon binder is already exploding and I think I'm going to have to upgrade to something more capable of handling my coupon stash.  This is a little more fun than I thought it would be.  It is possible that I may be hooked, or it could be like many of my other hobbies and fall by the wayside after a few months.  We shall see.

In the meantime, I'm working on my kids' Halloween costumes.  Anyone else ready for Halloween?  What are your kiddos going as?

6 comments:

  1. I remember you posting the pic of your first overhaul! Which websites do you recommend to get started? :D

    ReplyDelete
  2. My absolute favorite is http://thekrazycouponlady.com/ They break it down, give you tips, and alert you to freebies. AWESOME! http://coupondivas.com/ is good too. Both sites have links for printable coupons (that have been verified so you don't have to worry about printing fraudulent coupons). The KCL website has also published a book that is super informative. You don't have to buy the book, but I did. (Cannon-baller, remember?) :-D

    ReplyDelete
  3. Well, it’s a nice one, I have been looking for. Thanks for sharing such informative stuff. get coupon

    ReplyDelete