First Couponing Trip - to VG's and then Meijer

I had several coupons that matched up to the VG's (local Spartan store chain) and Meijer (Great Lakes area supercenter) for this week. Plus some of the coupons were expiring on the 30th or first week of July. Some of my matchups were for free items so I figured it was a good time to go.

I went to VG's first since they double up to $1 coupons. After reading their site yesterday I saw that they have a store card so I stopped at the desk and got one. Its the type that not only lets you get extra savings on certain sale prices but also has a points earnings program that lets you trade in points for items. Plus if you sign up online for the email part it gives extra discounts. For example the sale price of Nabisco crackers is $2.37 but if I had signed up for the email before I went I'd have paid $1.87. Didn't know it was a separate sign up till I got home. I had a $1 off 2 coupon so that's $2.37 + $2.37 - $2 = $2.74 for both. Would have been $1.74. But for now $1.37 a box is good enough for me.

I was responding on a different site and I said that I think the trick is to get name brands for less than the store brands. I'm not trying to load up on just free items.

So here's my VG's list
VG's doubles up to $1 and 3 like coupons per item

Nabisco Crackers ~~~ mentioned above

Sweet Baby Rays Marinade ~~~ .97 - $1 coupon = Free

Sweet Baby Rays Dipping Sauce ~~~ .97 - $1 coupon = Free

Bar S Jumbo Franks ~~~ 2 at .78 ea - - $1 off 2 = 2 Free

Hidden Valley Farmhouse dressing ~~~ $3.29 regular price - $2 = $1.29 after $1 coupon doubled. Coupon expires 6/30

A1 steak sauce 10 oz ~~~ $2.99 - $1 Q doubled = $0.99
Expires 7/3

Kellogg's Cereal ~~~ 3 for $7 - $1 off 3 Q doubled = 3 for $5 or $1.66 ea

General Mills Cereal ~~~ 2 for $5 - $1/2 doubled = 2 for $3 or $1.50 ea

1 French's Mustard 20 oz ~~~ 2 for $3 - .30 doubled = .90

1 French's Mustard 20 oz ~~~ 2 for $3 - .30 doubled = .90

1 French's Spicy Brown 12 oz ~~~ $2 for 3 - .50 doubled = .50

Kraft Dressing 14 - 16 oz ~~~ 3 for $5 but is 3 for $4 if you get 3.
3 for $4 - $1 doubled = 3 for $2 or .66 ea

Eckrich Sausage ~~~
Ad says BOGO free save $3.99 but in store they are marked $4.29. Might be just the Shelby Twp location. I forgot Meijer had them 2 for $4 otherwise I'd have waited since I was going there next. I had 3, $1 on 2 coupons from this weeks paper that say do not double.
~~~ 6 packs at 2 for $4.29 is 3 x $4.29 = $12.57 - $3 in coupons = $9.57 or $1.59 ea.
But I'm looking at my receipt and it looks as thought the cashier doubled the coupons. It doesn't say Eckrich but scanned coupon and I saw him punching in some coupons but didn't see which ones. So I got them for $6.57 or $1.09 each.
Had I known what he was doing I might have asked if he knew it said don't double.

Lean Pockets - no coupon just needed 1. $2.14

Total before coupons = $50.03

After coupons = $25.05

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Meijer - doubles up to .50 and 2 like coupons

Frank's Red Hot 5 oz ~~~ .99 - .50 doubled = Free

Chi Chi's Salsa 12 oz ~~~ .99 - .50 doubled = Free

Chi Chi's Salsa 12 oz ~~~ .99 - .50 doubled = Free

Oscar Meijer Wieners ~~~ .99 ea limit 4
I had 2 coupons for $1 off 2 so I paid $2 for 4 packs

Aunt Millies Buns ~~~ Buy 1 at $3.39 get 2 free
I didn't realize there were 2 different AM coupons and I brought the one that said Hearth with me so I didn't get the .55 off but I got the buns anyway since I was getting a ton of hot dogs. $1.13 each is an ok price but I can get buns cheaper.

Betty Crocker Cake Mixes and Frostings ~~~ 4 for $5. I used a .75 off if you buy both so I got 2 of them for $1.75 together

Kraft Philly Cooking Creme ~~~ $2.50 - $1 coupon = $1.50

Pillsbury Toaster Strudel ~~~ 4 for $9 - .75 off 3. Got 3 for $6

Free Milk if you buy 4 select Kelloggs Cereal or Bars
I already bought cereal at VG's but I had a coupon for $1 off 2 Raisin Bran so with the milk it was like having another coupon on the other 2 items.
~~~ 2 Raisin Brans at 2 for $5 - $1 = 2 for $4
~~~ 2 Nutri Grain Bars at $2 for 5 no coupon
~~~ Milk $2.99 for free

Register said $31 and change before coupons were scanned
After coupons = $23.60
Receipt says I had 8.47 in coupons.

So I got $80 worth for under $50 between the two stores. And since I used at least $3 worth of coupons from the papers I bought I've made up their cost.

Note: The Washington Twp. MI Meijer is being remodeled so be ready for it if that's the one by you.

First Sunday Has Come

So for the first time I have multiple copies of the same inserts. I had to work today so I just bought my 2 Detroit Free Press at Kroger for $1.50 each. Plus we get one delivered that I don't pay for. So I've got 3 Smart Source and 3 Red Plum for 5/26

Thanks to a tip on a forum I learned that VG's has double coupons up to $1 and you can use 3 like. This will save me a ton of gas and planning since its 5 minutes or 2 miles to get to rather than the 24 mile round trip to other $1 doublers with policies I'm not sure of yet. If I get enough matchups I'll go check em out this week.

To Do List

On another journal / blog I started a long time ago about something else I thought I would not have much to say. But one of my first posts was a to do list and lead to me trying and posting about many things. So I shall apply my learned lesson here.

1. Get Coupon Inserts - Get some papers on sunday. In my area there are 3 different sunday papers. 2 are sold at the store I work at and the other is sold close enough to get if its different. I won't be dumpster diving.

2. Organizing - I'll need an organizing system. I don't think I'm going to have a room full of inserts. A few bins or drawers maybe.

3. What Do I Want To Buy - A list of the items I'll be trying to stock up on that are usually in the house.

4. Printer - I don't have one so I need one. But that means a big investment before I've even saved anything so I'll probably see what I can do with the inserts first. Can't spend too much money before I see if I'm going to keep doing this.

5. Exchange - I'm hoping to get together with people to exchange coupons. Already working on that.

6. Donate - Whether its expired coupons or extra purchased items.

7. Post To Blog - If I'm still posting a month from now or a year, well its a bridge I'd like to cross.

8. Add more to this list.

I'm Robert / PurpleBubba from the Detroit Area

I'm 35 years old and I work in a Kroger store meat department.
I currently live in a house with 5 adults, 5 kids, and 2 dogs.
It's my Brother and SIL's house.
At the moment the extent of my shopping is basically little bits for myself and coffee and milk for the house. After watching a TV show showing people getting huge amounts of groceries for under $100 I've got an itch to see if I can do more for the household. Unlike the show I'm not looking to clear shelves or fill rooms to show off. But if I can buy a few extra papers and stock us up on the little things, well maybe I'll figure out a way to get the rest of my life in order.