FIRST couponing experience

Alrighty--I did it!!! I went on my first "couponing" trip. It felt like a fiasco b/c my coupons are NOT organized enough for this mess BUT they will be soon and very soon!

First let me say that my goal was NOT to leave with tons of free stuff. I'm too new for that to be happening but I had told Jere that I wanted to at LEAST save about 50 bucks a month on "household stuff". That stuff to me is TP, paper towels, laundry detergent, toothpaste, etc. Make sense? So anyway thats exactly what I did!

I purchased:
2 bottles of arm and hammer detergent
1 package of always(new) pads
2 boxes of Kotex tampons
1 box Tampaz pearl tampons
2 bottles of childrens pain relief (1 tylenol, 1 ibuoprofen)
1 bottle colgate whitening toothpaste
1 package of 6 VIVA paper towels
1 package of 6 double roll Charmin Ultra
1 bottle of Simply Orange(not pictured...it was in the fridge)

I spent : $33.47

My ORIGNAL total was $68.49 before I gave her my coupons. AND I left with $8 dollars in Walgreens Bucks. (register rewards)

Let me break it down... I had extra coupons of Kotex, Tampax, Charmin, Viva, Arm and Hammer and the Simply Orange.

Simply Orange was on sale for $3.00 and I had a $1.00 off coupon.
I had a $2.00 off ANY tampax product and these tampons were on the "Discount isle." Don't know why...but they were already marked down. Kotex was 2 for $6 and I had a $2.00 off coupon. VIVA towels were on sale PLUS an instore coupon and I printed off an addtional coupon. Arm and Hammer was already $4 bucks off each bottle AND I had a coupon for $2.00 off any 2. SO I got those 2 bottles (normally 6.99 each) for $4 bucks TOTAL! Crest whitening toothpaste(which I NEVER buy b/c its $$$) was on sale already for $2.99 PLUS a $2.99 register rewards AND I had a $1.00 off coupon.

I can't remember it all...its a blur. :) I went in with my pile of coupons and notes and AGGGHHH!!! I found myself walking around in circles. PROBABLY would have been easier to go in for 2 or 3 items but I didn't. BASICALLY I got almost $70 bucks of stuff for $22 if you take off the "register reward" bucks that I left with. NOW the smart thing to do is head back and stock up on TP or paper towels while they are on sale. Oh and laundry detergent. What a bargain!

I didn't leave with a weeks full of groceries...no food at all. BUT I bought enough detergent to last me a while (I had already had a stock pile of 3 bottles b/c they were on sale a few weeks back) AND I added to my stock pile of tp. Don't plan on going over board BUT I am so glad that I took the time to figure this out.

Happy shopping!