{inspiration: c.o.u.p.o.n.s.}

it's true i gave in into coupon clipping. with this baby coming along, soon i'll have to shop for three instead of two. i guess it's a good reason for me to start learning how to be smart(er) with money. today, i made a shopping trip to CVS and Safeway on Watt and Arden since they're right next to each other. Saves me some gas! Before i took off, i did some homework on myfrugaladventures.com and several other websites and printed out some coupons.

My first stop was CVS, and here is a list of what I got (and all the savings/good stuff):

4 bottles of Vitawater
4 bottles of Powerade
2 Right Guard deodrants (for Brandon)
1 Crest ProHealth Rinse

After $6.00 in coupons and $7.50 Extra Bucks back, the total came out to:
$5.75 with tax!

Next stop...Safeway (Safeway is my new Raley's :D):

6 large nectarines
2 pears
1 mango
1 bag caeser salad
1 bag burrito
1 Kix cereal
1 Almond Breeze milk
1 2L water
4 bottles of Sobe
5 boxes Lean Cuisine dinner
3 Cucumbers
4 boxes Betty Crocker's snacks (fruit rollups, gushers, etc.)
4 boxes Fiber One granola bars
1 box Smart Pop popcorn
1 Wanchai Ferry Orange Chicken dinner

After $12.30 in coupon savings + $41.73 in club card savings + $6.50 in Catalina back, the total came out to:
$28.79 with tax!

For both trips (everything you see on the picture + 2 deodrants) comes out to $34.54!!!

saving is fun, but i feel so tired after having to walk all over the store.

...I guess i missed out on some savings at Safeway the last time i was there.
I had to run some errands near by Safeway on Howe,
so i quickly dropped by to pick up the deals.

So, with the $6.50 catalina left over from my last visit,
i use that to make my first purchase.
First, i bought the Blue Diamond almond breeze milk and a box of cereal;
After $2.50 in Club Card savings+$6.00 in Coupon Savings,
i paid zero money + $3.00 catalina back from purchasing the Blue Diamond almond breeze milk!

My next purchase, i use the $2.00 catalina i have left from the $6.50+ $3.00 catalina just received from first purchase.
I bought:

4 Sobes
1 box Hostess donuts
1 Milano cookies
1 box Total whole grain cereal
5 boxes Totino's individual pizza

After both catalinas ($5.00) + $6.64 in Club Card savings + $11.83 in Coupon savings, I paid out of pocket $1.42!!!

i told Brandon about the deal i got today, and he couldn't believe it.
he freaked out and thought i did something illegal. lol.
i explained to him that all the purchases were legal /slash/ i didn't cheat the system.
that's what coupons are for...to make people want to shop and help them save!