Learning as I Go

I'm just about addicted to this couponing thing.  I still have lots to learn but I am having fun.  I have been very hesistant to do more than one transaction at a time, but you have to do it that way to make the most out of it.  Yesterday I got brave and bought the items below in 3 transactions. 

The total regular price for these items is $29.85.  I paid just

$ 5.19 out of my pocket.  I know some of you are asking how?  I will try to explain.

First of all I got this at C*V*S.  They have a program called ECB - extra care bucks where they give you bucks back to spend in the store.  So I started this week with $5 in ECB to spend ( left from last week).  My first transaction was the two deodorants and the toothpaste.  They were on sale for $2.49 (each)  and gave me $2.00 back in ECB.  I also had a $2.00 off coupon ( when you purchase two). The toothpaste was on sale for $3.50.  I had a .75 cent coupon and I earned $3.50 back in ECBs.

So the tranasaction went like this:

Deodorant 2.49

Deodorant 2.49

Crest 3.50

Tax .76

Less - 2.00 coupon on deodorant

Less - .75 coupon on toothpaste

Less $5.00 ECB

Total Due Out of Pocket - $1.49

Got back ECB $4.00 & $3.50

My second transaction:

Kotex pantyliners $4.99

Tax .49

Less 1.00 Coupon

Less 3.50 ECB

Total Due Out of Pocket - $.94

Got back $4.99 ECB

My third transaction

Huggies Diapers 40 ct - $8.49

Tax .76

Less Coupon -$1.50

Less ECB $4.99

Total Due Out of Pocket - $2.76

Got Back $2.00 ECB

So I now have a total of $6.00 in ECB to use next week.

I could have made these tranactions a little better I think.  I could have added a couple of 2 liter drinks at .88 each to the last transaction and used my $4.00 ECB and only spent about .69 cents out of pocket.  I would have gotten 2 drinks on top of all the other stuff and only spent $3.11 out of pocket. Like I said, I'm still getting the hang of it.  I do so much better if I have it figured out before I go in the store. 

Then I headed to WD to get in on their weekly meal deal.  This week it featured breakfast items. If you bought 3 GM cereals, you got a gallon of milk, Coffee, bacon and dounuts for free.  I lucked out and actually had some GM cereal coupons with me!

So this purchase looked like this

3 Cereals  $12.17

Milk FREE

Donuts FREE

Coffee FREE

Bacon FREE

Less Cereal Coupons -1.55

Tax 1.10

Total Out of Pocket 11.72

So here is a picture of both shopping trips together:

Total Regular Retail $ 54.38 (according to reciepts)

I paid $16.91

And I still believe I could have done it better! :)