- Darlene's Plus Size Clothing  •  Darlene's eBay Auctions  •  Darlene's Examiner Articles  •  Darlene's Yahoo Articles  •  Darlene's Link City
 

I paid just $10.98 for $113.39
worth of groceries at Shaw's

(see some of my previous shopping adventures below)

See the breakdown with all coupons used below!

A note about the value of Catalina coupons

When I get Catalina coupons for $$$ off my next purchase, I do not count those as a savings on my current order.  Some people do.  Example: if I buy something for $1 and I get a $1 catalina after the transaction, I do not say that I got the item for free.  Instead, I say I got the item for $1.  Then I use the catalina on my next purchase and count it toward that purchase. Example: if I buy something for $1 and I pay with a $1 catalina, I consider that item as free.

When people use the value of the catalina to cover their first transaction, they sometimes use the value again to feel like they got another deal on the next transaction.  Example: if someone buys an item that costs $1 and they get a $1 catalina, they consider the item free.  Then they buy something for $1 and pay with the $1 catalina and consider that free too!  You don't get both free.  You actually paid $1 out of pocket for the first one.
 
 

All these items were absolutely FREE!


 

4 boxes of Cheeze-It crackers
I used (4) $.70/1 coupons which all doubled to $1.40 off each box

24 cans of Healthy Choice soup
I used (12) $1/2 coupons
Since $1 off coupons do not double, I was able to use all 12 coupons in one transaction.

4 Bailey's coffee creamer
I used (4) $1/1 coupons
And thank you to the coupon fairy who left a coupon near the Bailey's!
I looked all through the coupon boxes in the front of the store because I needed one more coupon.
I was sad that I could not find one, but someone left one in the dairy aisle!  I was thrilled!
I gave someone my extra Fresh Express salad coupon as a way to pay it forward.

4 Fresh Express salad mix
They were BOGO and I also used (2) $1/2 coupons

4 Duncan Hines brownies
I used (4) $1/1 coupons.
The small "snack" size boxes of brownies were on sale for $1 each and the coupon
did not state size so I was able to use those coupons to get the 4 boxes for FREE!

2 Duncan Hines cake mixes
I used (2) coupons for Buy 2 Duncan Hines products, get 1 free cake mix
Since I bought 4 Duncan Hines brownies, I was able to get 2 cakes mixes FREE!

2 boxes of Pasta
I used B1G1 FREE coupon, so I got one box FREE!

Big can of tomato juice
I used a FREE juice catalina, so I got the juice for FREE!

Potato chips
I used a FREE bag of potato chips catalina, so I got the chips for FREE

I also used a $5/$25 referral coupon since
my total after all coupons was just over $25.
However, for some reason 24 cents worth of tax was subtracted from my bill which
actually brought me just under $25 by 2 cents, but the coupon still went through.
I have no idea why that tax was subtracted.

I used $9 worth of catalina coupons.
 I had to get manager approval to use the catalinas and not have them count against my $25 required minimum purchase to use my $5/$25 referral coupon. That referral coupon is only supposed to be used if you are at $25 or more after all coupons are scanned, including the catalinas. The manager said the catalinas are intended to be used as payment so go for it. I insist ALL COUPONS are intended to be used as payment and I'm on a mission to get the wording changed so that any minimum purchase amount required on Shaw's coupons (like their $15 minimum purchase on their dollar doublers) is BEFORE coupons and not after coupons. If two people buy the exact same items and the total is over $25 (or $15 or whatever), both people should get treated the same, even if one pays with coupons. Can you tell this bothers me... a lot?  :O)

Now I have $8 in new catalinas to use next time!
Notice I am not counting these new catalinas toward this bill. Some people would include them now and they would consider their final total to be $2.98.  I only count catalinas as coupons for my next purchase.

Total Price:  $113.39

I paid:  $10.98
 

Previous shopping adventures
9 good items from Hannaford for only 65¢ total
First trip I was super duper happy about 'cause I got Gorton's
$125.03 for just $5.97 and that includes cream and fresh berries
$100.503 for just $3.25, first time I try sorbet!
Just a few things for a couple bucks!
 

Thank you Chrystie Corns for all the helpful tips you give your readers on your website and on facebook!

Chrystie was featured on TLC's Extreme Couponing.
Please visit Chrystie's website!
I Love to Gossip

I also want to thank Maven of Savin' for all the work she does matching up coupons to Shaw's sales! If you live near a Shaw's Supermarket, you must sign up for her emails!