This past weekend the stockpile gave some of my family members gifts. This is the second year “gifting” stockpile goodie bags….and the same questions occurred, asking how I could possibly be getting all of these things for free {or for so little}.
Everyone was amazed with my couponing the day after Thanksgiving {the ultimate Black Friday trip to Walgreens}. This year I scored $170 worth of products, spent $4.43 {I was literally just paying tax}, and walked away with thousands of Balance Reward Points and $56 in Register Rewards to use on my next few shopping trips…..basically, I got paid to shop that day!
If you aren’t sure what Register Rewards or Balance Reward points are {at Walgreens}, check out this information on “Wild for Wags”…the site I use to gather coupons and find the best deals at Walgreens. I also use “The Krazy Coupon Lady’s” website, so read more on couponing at Walgreens here.
One thing I think that everyone had a misconception about was that every week {the day after Thanksgiving was definitely NOT an example of my normal process}, I was going out and buying cart loads full of product. Spending hundreds of hours planning and shopping. Nope, not the case….I am not like those that you see on “Extreme Couponing.”
Each week I visit the couponing sites mentioned above, and make a stop at Walgreens for just a couple of items….the items that are at a really good “stock up” price for the week. That’s it.
Now that I have been couponing for a while, I have grown a good little stockpile filled with all of the items that I pick up each week. We are now to the point that along with milk, bread, and other weekly perishable food items {fruits and veggies mostly}, I do most of my “shopping” and “meal preparation” at my stockpile. Plus, we will never go a day without deodorant, toothpaste, detergent, or shampoo!
However, just to emphasize {and clear up another misconception}, I do not have a thousand tubes of toothpaste just hanging around. I only ever buy items that I do not already have on my stockpile, that I know I will use, and have no more than six months to a years worth. The only time I would ever buy more than that would be if I planned on giving it away.
Based on reactions this weekend, however, I thought it might be nice to share some of the items I planned on stocking up on for the week {making it really easy to get the coupons and out the door to saving}. Now that I have been couponing for a while, I have built up a mental price list on items that Graham and I frequently use. I have also learned when items will go on sale at the greatest discount {ie, canned pumpkin is usually the best price right before Thanksgiving}. Therefore, when an item gets down to a certain price, I know it is stock up time! I would only ever buy more of it throughout the rest of the year if I find it for free, or my supplies have dwindled faster than expected.
The “stock up” items I will be sharing here will more than likely always be a deal at Walgreens. Although I do coupon at other places, this is where I do 90% of my couponing!
Hopefully these posts will entice at least some of you {especially my family members} to at least give couponing a shot.
{even if you save just $5 with couponing, that is still money saved on something you would have purchased anyways…you can buy Graham a bacon cheeseburger as a thank you}
Here are the items I will be stocking up on this week:
Buy (2) Simple Facial Wash @ $7.99 {they are B1G1 50% OFF this week}
Total = $11.98
(2) $1.50 off Simple cleansers and moisturizers
Total = $8.98, Get Back 6,000 balance reward points (~$6)
= $1.49 EACH!
{I am so happy to see this deal this week. I literally just opened my last bottle of face wash!! For some reason, face wash has been the hardest item to stockpile}
Buy (1) Goody Colour Collection Contour Clips 6 pk {these are great items for goodie bags to give away!} Total = $2.00, Get Back $2 in Register Rewards {no coupon even needed!!}
= FREE!
I will also be making a stop at Menard’s this week as my favorite floor cleaner is free after rebate…I fill my Rubbermaid Reveal mop with this stuff and clean all of my floors pretty quickly {and for free}!
That’s it, just a couple of items this week!
No comments:
Post a Comment