Mar. 18, 2008 - Tightwad Tuesday! -- Use Those Catalinas!
Today was grocery day, and when I got all finished my cashier was in shock. Why? Well, because they are always required to circle your savings and tell you how much you saved. My coupon savings was over $105!!! My total savings including discounts was $162! She was in shock because she had never seen savings over $100 before. (I am re-writing this post right now, because I looked at my receipt this morning and it was even better then I thought...) I'm pretty sure most of the girls participating in Tightwad Tuesday at Mary's blog already know about combining coupons with sales. At my store (Harris Teeter), the Buy One Get One Free items ring up at half price. So, you can use a coupon on each item. Today, I was excited to get cereal for 45 cents per box. In 2 years of using coupons I have never gotten a lower price! Okay, Okay, I admit I did miss a sale a couple weeks ago where I could have gotten cereal for 25 cents a box. That is because none of my children liked that cereal. Of course, I had to re-arrange my pantry to find a place to the boxes. But, we go through tons of cereal so I am not worried. I also redeemed my Buy One Get One Bertolli Olive Oil Rain Check from a few weeks ago. So, that was $24 of the savings right there.
Do you know about Catalinas? Catalinas are those little coupons that print at the register when you buy specific products... It's like a triple play! This week, every single cereal box I got for 45 cents triggered a catalina -- $1 off my next purchase! On anything in the store!!!! Also, every box of Orville Redenbacher's popcorn I bought (at 75 cents a box after coupon) triggered a 50 cents off catalina, also good on anything in the store. I used a $6 catalina from my last trip; and got $12 in catalinas for my next trip. Woohoo!
If you get catalinas, do you use them? Aye, there's the rub! I used to forget about them all the time, but not anymore (starting right now ). I have started putting them right in front of my handy dandy coupon holder as soon as they print. No more leaving them with the receipt to remember later! I use them at the very next shopping trip too, so they don't get a chance to expire! That's my tip for today. Put those catalinas in a special place and don't let them expire...
PS. I was really bummed when I got home and saw next weeks Giant ad, I just used all my butter coupons to get Land O Lakes butter for $1.89 at HT. Next week I could have gotten them for $1.45 at Giant with those coupons! I thought you might commiserate with me...
PSS. Do you use coupons and catalinas in other countries? I realized this might be a very US centric post. My apologies.
What a terrific savings!! I am going to have to check into this a little more. I just don't think our stores offer a whole lot in this - usually what I get a coupon for I never buy.
As far as those hair cuts. My Hubby is the hair cutter of the family. I did it once and I was told never again.
Do you ever use any sites that post ads ahead of time? I have started to try and look ahead for stuff I know that can be put off for another week or so. Sometimes I dont' have time for that though..and I just buy. Can't always get it free or dirt cheap..lol
With us consuming organics, there aren't many coupons around but I definite combine coupons and sales whenever possible. We unfortunately don't get catalinas at our natural foods market. Sounds like you had a great trip.
I wish we had better cupon deals up here in Canada. A lot of times the cupons we see are things we don't buy. But just before we go into our grocery store they have a machine that spits out cupons for the week. That sometimes can be worth it. [0= I don't know if it is because I have changed my spending habits or if it is a different country issue but I don't seem to see as much cupon savings up here. ]0= I wish there was.
Thank you for sharing ! And WahOO !!! on your savings !!!!
Very few coupons and NO catalinas here in the UK. But I do have a store that will take any coupons for any item they sell even if you aren't buying the item!! So I collect any and all coupons I can get my hands on! Also, one or two stores print coupons on the back of the till receipts so sometimes I can use those, but not often. Too, we are following a very wholefoods diet so the things are the good sales tend to be the heavily perservitived and processed foods - so not much help around here!
I live in the US and still don't get catilinas. I live in the rural boonies. LOL But my mom gets them. I went shopping with her once, and almost threw them away. Hey! she said. Ü
What are catalinas? I shop at the Commissary most of the time and they don't have them there. I am pretty big coupon shopper, but have not heard of these....
I must have missed this post. Wow, you did an awesome job on your grocery bill. I use coupons, but I only save around 20.00 a week. I am still learning, I guess. Where do you find all your coupons?
Pam
The bottom line is; We try not to insist on parent-led learning or gravitate toward child-led learning. We try instead to focus on God-led learning and ask for His input and perspective on every aspect of our home school. That way, when others fuss about what Dan and I are doing and make me second guess our decisions -- I can go back to our decision process and find God's fingerprints, reminding me that this is His way.
). I have started putting them right in front of my 
