My First Couponing Shopping Trip!

Well, I'll start off by saying my first couponing shopping trip was pretty successful...hit a few bumps during the check out process, but overall successful.  Since this was my first time, I figured I'd concentrate on one store.  I chose Walgreens.  I scoured through the Walgreens ad from the Sunday paper, looked for items I needed, or will be needing soon (you see, I don't have the space to stock pile, so for now I'm just purchasing items I use), searched through the coupon inserts to see if there were any I could "stack" on top of the items I was planning to purchase that were on sale, and made my shopping list.  I found that in order to have a smooth shopping trip, it's best to plan your purchases before you even get to the store.  I spent a couple of hours doing this.  I have a notebook specifically for my couponing shopping trips.  I wrote down each transaction I was planning, each item I was planning to purchase, and each coupon and/or Register Rewards (RR) I was planning on using.  My list looked something like this:

Transaction #1

Dove hair care products           4 for $15.00

(4) $2.00 off 1 coupons                (  8.00)

Earn $5.00 RR for next purchase

AquaFresh Kids Toothpaste               $ 2.00

In Store Coupon                          (1.00)

Manufacturer Coupon                      (1.00)

1 "filler" item  (I will discuss these in a later post)

Transaction #2

Coppertone Sunscreen                    $9.79

Manufacturer Coupon                     (1.00)

RR from prior transaction               (5.00)

Earn $3.00 RR for next purchase

AquaFresh Kids Toothpaste               $ 2.00

In Store Coupon                          (1.00)

Manufacturer Coupon                      (1.00)

1 "filler" item

Transaction #3

Lysol Disinfecting Wipes           2 for $6.00

Manufacturer Coupon                      (1.00)

RR from prior transaction                (3.00)

Earn $2.00 RR for next purchase

Lysol All Purpose Cleaners         2 for $6.00

Manufacturer Coupon                      (1.00)

Earn $2.00 RR for next purchase

Lysol Disinfectant Spray                 $3.00

Manufacturer Coupon                      (1.00)

Earn $1.50 RR for next purchase

Transaction #4

Purex Laundry Detergent  B1G1           $5.00

RR from prior transaction               (5.50)

Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner          2 for $3.00

Manufacturer Coupon                      (1.00)

Ban Deodorant                            $3.99

In Store Coupon                          (2.00)

Manufacturer Coupon                      (0.75)

Remember that those transactions written out above were my plans....now for what I got and the transactions that actually happened....

Transaction #1

Transaction #2

 

Transaction #3

 

Transaction #4

 

So, there you have the outcome of my first real couponing shopping trip!  Not too shabby for the first time...hope to increase my savings as I continue to learn how all this couponing works!

Stay tuned for future posts explaining all the coupon lingo.

I love feedback and comments on my posts, so post away! 

Have a GREAT day!

~ jenn ~