I really must have been inspired after my Southern Savers workshop. After several weeks, I think it's starting to click for me at Harris Teeter... now I want to learn how to save at other stores. CVS and Lowes Foods are next. Afterall, I don't want those stores to think I'm neglecting them. I know so many offer great savings for their customers, but I've had to build up my brain power and confidence to even consider moving on. First of all, there is a disclaimer. My brother-in-law and his family have great careers at Nestle-Purina, based in St. Louis. When they found out we were buying another brand (a more expensive brand allegedly suited for my big-breeded-sensitive-stomached fur baby), they told us we were wasting our money and convinced us to switch because of the ingredients in Purina's big breed formulas. Oh, yeah... and they gave us coupons. (And this was WAY before I even thought of using coupons.) So, this week we got an awesome stack of coupons in the mail. It was for a FREE bag of Purina, up to $31... so that is what makes this shopping trip a little more impressive. Aside from that, here's what else I got: frozen veggies ($.24) each, Oil of Olay face wash ($.83), FREE toothpaste, toothbrushes and Starkist tuna. I had to pay $2.33 in taxes, which was more than my subtotal of $1.55) The best thing? I literally spent 15 minutes in the store. I knew what I wanted, I brought in only the coupons I needed (so no binder - though I really love mine) and it was like an undercover couponing trip! I bought meat last week on sale and have produce already, so I'm pretty good for next week!
TOTAL SPENT THIS WEEK (From 1-7 to 1-14) = $17.46 on $162.67 worth of stuff! That's a little more than a tenth of the retail value! **Not everything will be on sale when you go shopping, but you won't feel as guilty for buying when you make up for it like this!** Also... please be ethical when couponing. Know the store policy, don't clear a shelf just for a good deal, don't do anything illegal like dumpster diving, and don't tamper with your coupons. I feel like I owe it to people to share that for a while since a lot of people who are reading this are new to whole coupon concept. Happy shopping!
35 Comments
Sandy
1/14/2012 11:54:55 am
That's awesome, Michelle! You don't realize how much it helps until you start doing it,and by the time you get everything figured out, you want to almost kick yourself for not doing it sooner! At least that was MY experience, haha! :)
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Michael T
1/14/2012 12:02:03 pm
Michelle, teach me how to shop like that, pleeze!
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Michelle Li
1/14/2012 12:03:31 pm
Start small... go get 2 Sunday papers tomorrow and check back with me. If you can do that, let me know. If not, we can work on getting internet coupons, but that's kind of a lot of work.
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Dale B
1/14/2012 12:02:29 pm
which papers are the best to get?
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Michelle Li
1/14/2012 12:03:06 pm
Well, I would get either two Star News or two from Raleigh or Charlotte. Sometimes it's advantageous to get the papers from the bigger cities, but there will only be one insert in either. So, just get two!
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Daisy
1/14/2012 01:24:29 pm
Id still get the bigger papers even though there is only 1 insert the one from the bigger cities often have more coupons in it. I can remember in sep. last year the starnews had an insert and it was mostly ads and very few coupons and the bigger paper had a lot more in it. HTH
Joy
1/14/2012 12:12:16 pm
That's great! Oh just wait once you start doing the drug store loop you'll ask yourself why I didn't start sooner!
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Carla Edstrom
1/14/2012 12:15:17 pm
Great job! I saved $23 today at HT! I had to go in and get the Evic K-cups for $4.47. By the way, my cats were on expensive prescription food for overweight cats that just made one of them throw up. My vet said, "Get purina. Its cheaper and they dont have all these recall problems." so I did two years ago switched them to Purina One. Cats don't throw up anymore!
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Michelle Li
1/14/2012 12:25:42 pm
I'll make sure to tell my brother in law and his parents. They all have careers at Purina and stand behind the products. They love them!
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Charlene D
1/14/2012 12:26:27 pm
How did u find out about the workshop? WOW! That is great! Where was the wkshp held?
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Michelle Li
1/14/2012 12:45:04 pm
I found out through Southern Savers. I've been posting about it all week on my facebook page: Michelle Li TV and on Fox Wilmington's FB page. We've also announced it on the News at 6:30 and 10... so, if you're not following those, start! We'll help you the best we can. It's going to be a new thing around here, I feel! The workshop was at the First Baptist Church in Shallotte this morning. Southern Savers is amazing, but I know Delly's Deals will be equally awesome! Her workshop is next Saturday (the 21st) in Wilmington - details on her blog: dellysdeals.blogspot.com
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Robin
1/14/2012 12:56:53 pm
Look out CVS! Here comes Michelle! CVS is the best for couponers!
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Jerrie
1/14/2012 01:11:42 pm
Please help out. I will get two papers tomorrow.
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Polly L
1/14/2012 01:12:47 pm
thats awsum Michelle.....I need to learn how to do that !
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Mylissa Tate-Oakley
1/14/2012 01:13:09 pm
Wanna go shopping for me? I'm soooo serious lol I'm on bedrest. :(
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Jennifer G
1/14/2012 01:13:37 pm
Did u have to spend lots of time couponing? I'd like to get into it but discouraged at the amount of time.
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Charles S
1/14/2012 01:14:05 pm
My sister in law got into it an ended up devoting a room to it to store the stuff she has gotten deals on.
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LuCinda
1/14/2012 01:14:30 pm
Great job!!
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I Got It Free With Coupons
1/14/2012 01:15:10 pm
Fantastic!
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Robin H
1/14/2012 01:15:34 pm
Awesome! Sounds like you are really getting the hang of it- it's addicting!
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Ashley S
1/14/2012 01:15:59 pm
heres another heads up if you shop at walgreens but dont want to buy anything from their with your rewards you can use them a lowesfoods to take the final price down thats how i get my meats cheaper i go to walgreens to get my rewards and then go get meat from lowes foods '
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Annett
1/14/2012 01:16:34 pm
Me too
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Alyson
1/14/2012 01:17:01 pm
U have to teach me!
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Teresa
1/14/2012 01:17:25 pm
Hi I'm out of work I need to safe all the money I can
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Jessica
1/14/2012 01:18:37 pm
I so need to learn how to do this.....
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Ajah
1/14/2012 01:19:02 pm
Mehh 2!!!
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Joan
1/14/2012 01:19:38 pm
Me 3! :) Most I've ever done was 1/2 of my grocery bill and then today My order totaled $84 and I paid $52.
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Tiffany D
1/14/2012 03:48:21 pm
Sweet
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Amanda
1/14/2012 03:51:48 pm
Please tell me where to get coupons.
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Julie B
1/14/2012 03:52:20 pm
I love couponing!!
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Lisa O
1/14/2012 03:53:01 pm
I loved that extreme couponing seminar today. That was fantastic and very informative!!! I took 10 pages of notes!!!
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Diane Lee
1/14/2012 03:56:14 pm
girl you rock
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Paula
1/14/2012 03:56:52 pm
I live in greenville and try and coupon as much as I can right now printer is out of ink however I usually can cut my grocery bill in half or more . simple tricks B1G1 are great with coupons and stacking manafacture coupons with store coupons are great especially if its b1g1
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Heather
1/14/2012 05:18:32 pm
I would like to learn more-I've always clipped coupons....never saved like this though. I ALSO Get coupons & freebies from freebie sites. My favorote is www.heyitsfree.net-they have links to others which are legimate also.:-)
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