All told, I did five transactions at Albertsons over a few trips. Here's what I ended up with.
First the shelf cost. These items would've cost me $196.17 had I bought them at Albertsons' regular prices. Coupons – including doublers and Catalinas – saved me $56; sales saved me anohter $55.78. After the $20 Catalinas I have leftover and the $15 Olay rebate I qualified for my bottom line is $49.39 for everything! That's a 75% savings rate!
I won't need to buy detergent, facial cleanser, or toothpaste for a good while, and the diapers and toilet paper should see me through at least a few weeks.
I also hit up Rite Aid yesterday to continue some stock-up shopping. Here's what I got for FREE after rebates and coupons. A really simple trip too, I might add:
And it's not too late to get in on most of these deals – see my Albertsons and Rite Aid posts for the scoop (plus the Rite Aid light bulb deal).
I love how I'm able to store items my family uses and needs without breaking the bank. And I love knowing I have enough to see us through weeks and months. I didn't used to always shop this way. Remember, your goal is to buy items when they are at low prices BEFORE you need them. If you're new to couponing, you're going to have to shift your thinking on how to shop.
Ah, the simple things that make me smile. Here's my army of Tide bottles, waiting for their proper place in my laundry room.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Great job with your deals this week! I am heading out this afternoon to do my big exciting shopping spree. Or maybe I should call it my “Savings Spree.” I’m glad you showed your Stayfree picture. I’ll have to look out for those larger package sizes. I’ve also printed off the Rite Aid coupon policy to keep with me just in case.
Those bonus packages are always…well, a bonus!
Incidentally, I had my coupon policy printed and handy just in case the BOGO coupon on the BOGO sale presented a problem. It didn’t at all. I heart Rite Aid! The light bulbs are also awesome b/c they save energy cost so it’s like a save-save on that one.
Have fun, Katrina!!
Angela, What are Catalinas?
Alissa, sorry for using Couponese without an explanation – that’s one thing I try to avoid around here. Catalinas are coupons that you receive at the end of your transaction. You’ve most likely received these before. They print out on a machine separate from your receipt and are handed to you with your receipt.
Most of the Catalina coupons you see are for specific products and are triggered by your purchases. For instance, if you buy diapers, you might receive a $0.50/5 Gerber baby food coupon. The Catalina coupons I primarily refer to on my site are “off-your-next-order” coupons. For instance, right now at Albertsons when you spend $25 on qualifying Procter & Gamble products (as listed in the ad), you’ll receive a Catalina coupon good for $10 off your next order. These are essentially store credit that you can use to purchase virtually anything in the store.
These are essentially processed as coupons – they are issued by manufacturers, not the store. Catalina Marketing is the third-party that is responsible for the machines in the stores. (Hence, Catalina coupons.) You can always call them at 1-888-8COUPONS if you have trouble.
HTH!