Store's errors not always in your favor!

So my Jewel trip #3 should have only cost me $3.25 but I paid $7.76 total. What went wrong? I was planning on using a $6 coupon but couldn't because you can pay your tax with coupons, and my tax was $2.98.

I just figured it out... it was two "problems" together that did it.

#1 - my mushrooms rang up $0.89, but they were marked $0.75 on the shelf. So being the good attentive shopper that I am, I noticed it and mentioned it. The cashier had someone check the price on the shelf. Sure enough - it was ringing wrong. Jewel's policy on this is that you get your first item free and then the rest of them at the correct price. This lowered my total by $0.75!

#2 - I bought bread for $2.25 and had a free item coupon. The cashier typed in the amount of the coupon as $2.99 instead of $2.25. So I received an extra $0.76 off my bill.

Here's how "the math" looks to get from what I actually paid to what I should have paid:

$7.76 total I paid
+0.75 should have paid for mushrooms
+2.99 (amt she took off for the bread)
-2.25 amt she SHOULD have took off
-6.00 coupon I wanted to spend
=3.25 (2.98 was tax - so I had it figured right - I would have paid tax + $0.27!!)

So even though I had this shopping trip all planned - something went wrong! But I am happy to be able to figure out what it was!

AWESOME Jewel trip - #3

6 Homelife paper towels ($1 - $1 c/o)
6 Homelife toilet paper ($0.85 - $1 c/o)
4 Homelife facial tissues ($1.50 - $1 c/o)
4 Cadbury bars ($1.99 - $2 winetag)
10 Easter candy ($0.40 - $1 winetag)
2 Suave body wash ($1.67 - $2 winetag)
1 mac & cheese topping ($1.99 - no c/o)
8 Ronzoni Bistro meals ($2.99 BOGO - BOGO c/o)
8 cream soups ($0.75 - no c/o)
2 strawberry milk syrup ($1.75 - no c/o)
2 Pace ($3.99 - $4 c/o)
1 sweet n sour sauce ($3.99 - no c/o)
2 bags coffee ($6.09 BOGO - no c/o)
10 juice ($2 - $2 winetag)
4 juice ($2 - $10/4 winerag)
4 juice ($1.50 - $10/4 winetag)
1 cream cheese ($1.79 - no c/o)
4 2 Ltrs ($0.79 - $1 winetag)
3 2 Ltrs ($0.79 - $2 winetag)
3 mushrooms ($0.75 - no c/o)
1 Sara Lee bread ($2.25 - FREE c/o)
6 Post cereals ($1.50 - $1/2 c/o) Earned $5 catalina

Used a $10 catalina & paid $7.14 using a gift card & $0.62 cash.

Preferred card savings = $39.10
Mfr coupons = $123.95
Total savings = $163.06

AWESOME trip to Jewel! Round 2!

2 Fish sticks ($5.49 BOGO - no c/o)
2 McCain french fries ($2 - no c/o)
6 bags salad shrimp ($1.79 ea - $10 winetag)
4 Wheat Thins ($2.50 - $1/2 c/o - $3 instant wyb 4)
4 Mac & Cheese crackers ($1.50 - $0.55 c/o - $3 instant wyb 4)
4 Ronzoni Bistro meals ($2.99 BOGO - BOGO c/o)
2 Homelife ziplocs ($1.35 - $1 c/o)
1 Homelife paper towels ($1 - $1 c/o)
2 Suave body wash ($1.67 - $2 winetag)
1 Suave kids shampoo ($1.66 - FREE c/o)
1 Pace salsa ($3.99 - $4 c/o)
2 2 Ltr pop ($0.79 - $1 winetag)
3 1 Ltr pop ($1 - $2 winetag)
2 Frappucino bottles ($1.67 - $2 winetag)
4 Jewel juice ($2.50 - $10/4 winetag)
2 Juicy Juice ($2.50 - $10/4 winetag)
1 2 Ltr Sierra Mist ($1.33 - FREE c/o)
2 tubs deli salads ($1.35 - $1 winetag)
1 Chex Mix ($3.00 - FREE c/o)
2 hot dogs ($3.99 BOGO - FREE c/o)
1 cube steak ($1.52 - $1 winetag)
1 Afrin ($6.49 - FREE c/o)
2 Hershey bars ($1.99 - $2 winetag)
1 milk ($1.99 - $10/4 winetag)
1 florida natural juice ($2.50 - $10/4 winetag)
2 Tropicana juice ($1.67 - $2.50 winetag)
1 Motts juice ($3.00 - $1 winetag)
1 bunch flowers ($4.33 - $5 winetag)
1 min rose plant ($4.99 - $5 winetag)
2 Cheetos ($1.99 - no c/o)
1.28 lb bananas ($0.88 - $1 winetag)
2 Sara Lee bread ($2.25 - FREE c/o)

Used (2) $6 off groceries winetags & (1) $5 c/o ($5 off $100 purchase)

Tax $2.86
Total paid $2.86 using a gift card

This is the BEST order I have ever done I think!!

Preferred card savings = $46.69
Mfr coupons = $119.33
Store coupons = $5.00
Total savings = $171.02

Week 4 March

OK, Here's the summary of my shopping this week... I won't relist the Jewel one I have below. I will also do another Jewel one after I am done with this...

Target
4 Schick Quattro razors
4 Airheads extreme
1 10 ct box Diego bandaids
Spent $12.06 using gift cards & $1.42 cash
I still have $4.82 left on gift cards (earned by buying the razors)

Meijer
4 Warm Delights
4 Ziplocs
18 Pop-Tarts
Deli salads - greek & potato
3 lb deli lunchmeat
2.5 lb bananas
1 Crest toothpaste
11 Dentek flossers
1 cantaloupe
2 lb grapes

Spent $1.51 cash & $19.39 using gift cards

Jewel
$10 gift card
1 grapefruit juice
2 orange juice
2 french fries
1 milk
6 hot dogs
20 mac & cheese crackers
2 macaroni & cheese
1 white bread
2 french bread
8# oranges
1 plant food
5 Post kids cereals

Spent $16.83 cash

Walgreens
26 Huggies wipes
1 cadbury egg
3 Soleil razor
1 Soleil refill
8 Starbucks chocolate
1 Pediasure bars
2 watercolor paint sets (1.50)
10 Planters trail mix
6 Excedrin
6 Pledge products
4 Hot Hands shoe insoles (1.96)
2 Fresh n go toothbrushes (0.98)
1 Reach toothbrush
1 Reach floss
1 Listerine
1 kids activity kit (2.59)
15 Orbits gum
2 Huggies diapers
1 toy (1.99)

Spent $65.79 using gift cards ($7.03 non budget items)
I will be receivng $6.60 in rebates as well.

AWESOME trip to Jewel!

So I know it's not time to post my weekly update - but I had a GREAT trip to Jewel tonight! I heard through the rumor mill that they will no longer be accepting expired coupons, so I want to spend the good ones this weekend. Shopping trip #1:

2 Red Baron pizzas ($3.50 ea - $3 winetags)

1 Sea Pak shrimp scampi ($4.99 – FREE item c/o)

2 TGIF BBQ wings ($3.00 - $3 c/o)

2 Pictsweet frozen complete meals ($2.99 BOGO – FREE item c/o)

2 lb large frozen shrimp ($11.98 - $10 wt)

1 veggie tray ($10.99 - $10 wt)

2 lb turkey burgers ($3.99 BOGO - $2 wt)

6 Oscar Mayer hot dogs ($3.99 BOGO – FREE item c/o)

3 Minute Maid juices ($1.67 - $2.50 wt)

1 Sunny D (1.67 - $2.50 wt)

1 gal milk ($1.99 - $2 wt)

3 cucumbers (3/$2 - $2 wt)

6 Ronzoni Bistro meals ($2.99 BOGO – BOGO c/o)

Pace salsa ($3.99 - $4 c/o)

2 cans mushrooms ($0.89 – no c/o)

1 Parmesan cheese ($4.99 - $1 c/o)

1 Sweet n Sour Sauce ($3.99 – no c/o)

1 Mac & cheese topping ($1.99 – no c/o)

1 Alfredo sauce ($2.00 - $5 wt)

1 sweet pickles ($2.29 – no c/o)

2 Apple juice ($2.00 - $2 wt)

2 Pomegranite juice ($3.19 BOGO - $1 wt - $2 wt)

8 mac & cheese crackers ($1.50 - $0.55 c/o - $6 instant savings)

3 12 pk Fresca (3/$8.88 – FREE item c/o's)

2 – 2 ltrs pop ($0.79 - $2 wt)

1 – 2 ltr ginger ale ($1.25 - $2 wt)

2 Sara Lee bread ($2.25 – FREE item c/o's)

Tax = $2.37

Used a $10 catalina coupon earned previously

Total spent = $3.69

Total saved in c/o = $132.14

Fiber One giveaway!

Give away at the CentsibleSawyer's blog for a Fiber One gift pack! Go here to enter: http://tinyurl.com/ddzdo5

Week 3 March

So I felt like I didn't shop much at all last week... until I pulled all my receipts together!

Walgreens
9 Dove soap
15 Dove deoderant
2 Starbucks chocolate
6 Glade Sense & Spray
2 Glade Lasting Impressions
1 Listerine
2 Reach toothbrush
2 Reach floss
1 Trident gum
1 Speed Stick deoderant
10 Orbit gum
6 pencils

Spent $22.94 using a gift card

Jewel
2 Nabisco Sociables
9 Ritz chips
11 Easy Mac
7 Capri Sun
2 Planters trail mix
1 Ritz bitz Munch packs
2 Bagelfuls
1 Mac & Cheese topping
2 Jewel spaghetti
5 Wheat Thins
1 Triscuit
1 Chicken In a Biscuit
5 Digiorno for One
1 California Pizza Kitchen pizza for one
1 Kraft Dressing
9 string cheese
1 cashews
3 Oreos
1 candy
2 Baldwin ice cream
2 Homelife paper towels
2 Oscar Mayer hot dogs

Spent $7.97 OOP

Meijer
8 Warm Delights
3 Lysol products
1 crock pot liners
2 lbs bananas
4 bags Doritos
6 Coffee-Mate creamer
4 lbs strawberries
2 lb mushrooms
Spent $22.91 using gift cards
I also get a $3 rebate for the Lysol products

Target
2 6pk Motts applesauce
Spent $0.29 using a gift card

Kroger
1/2 gal milk
Spent $1.26 OOP

Contest

There's an awesome contest going on at www.commonsensewithmoney.com

They're joining with A Full Cup to give away a $25 AMEX card!

Be sure to check it out!!

Week 2 March

3/7
Jewel
1 Glucose monitor
3 Tylenol PM
1 Band-aid
10 Planters Trail Mix

Spent $1.26 OOP

Walgreens
4 Orbit gum (clearanced)
2 La Cross tweezers

Paid $0.58 OOP

3/8
Jewel
8 12 pks Pepsi products
1 Doritos
Paid $2.80 using a gift card

3/9
Jewel
8 Kraft cheese
2 Oscar Mayer hot dogs
2 Easy Mac
4 Planters trail mix
Paid $2.19 using a gift card

3/10
Walgreens
10 Garnier shampoo
1 Revlon emery boards
1 Walgreens headache meds
1 Colgate toothpaste
1 Vaseline lotion
4 Huggies diapers
2 Huggies wipes
2 Starbucks chocolate
2 pencils
2 Dove soap
2 Dove body wash
4 Dove deoderant
Paid $12.79 OOP

Meijer
4 Breyers 1/2 gallon ice cream
1 tub cotton candy
Paid $2.86 using a gift card

Jewel
8 Kraft cheese
8 Planters trail mix
Paid $1.13 using a gift card

3/11
Walgreens
2 Huggies diapers
2 Huggies wipes
2 Glade Sense & Spray
Paid $10.24 using a gift card

3/13
Meijer
1 cucumber
2.2 lb bananas
1 Hostess cakes
1 head lettuce
1 box egg rolls
Paid $2.87 using a gift card

Walgreens
2 Huggies diapers
2 Huggies wipes
1 Sambucol flu meds
2 Starbucks chocolates
Paid $2.49 using a gift card

3/14
Target
4 Motts applesauce
Paid $0.59 using a gift card

Meijer
5 lb grapes
1 OreIda fries
2.2 lb ground beef
Paid $9.19 using a gift card

Kroger
3 lb strawberries
1/2 gal milk
Paid $5.34 using a gift card & $1.98 OOP

Jewel
1 gal milk
6 Kraft Bagelfuls
3 Toasted Chips
5 Kraft string cheese
4 Capri-sun
2 Munch packs
1 pasta shells
Paid $2.01 OOP & $0.92 using a gift card

Walgreens
8 Huggies diapers
4 Huggies wipes
1 Right Guard deoderant
6 Starbucks chocolate
8 Dove soap
1 Walgreens headache relief
1 pencil
Paid $57.13 using gift cards

Where do I get gift cards?

I'm sure everyone wonders where I get the gift cards I use.

• Store promotions - for example - Target often runs sales where you buy certain products and get a Target gift card
• Reward programs - such as MyPoints, My Coke Rewards, etc
• Friends/Family - I often give friends and family some of my "extras". Even though I refuse to accept cash for the items, they sometimes purchase gift cards for me as a token of appreciation.
  

Week 1 March

3/1
Jewel
8 - 12 pks Pepsi
2 Mac & Cheese
1 donut holes
6 Tostitos tortilla chips
12 Crest Pro-Health toothpaste
3 Tostito dip
2 Sara Lee bread
Paid $5.23 using a gift card

3/2
Wal-Mart
It was my hubby's birthday so he got to choose dinner!
8 pc fried chicken
6 chicken wings
1 lb coleslaw
Paid $9.82 OOP
When I got home I made mashed potatoes & biscuits to go with.

3/4
Schnucks
11 Chex Mix
2 Listerine pocket paks
Paid $0.14 OOP

Jewel
4 pizzas
2 Glucerna cereal
6 band-aids
2 J & J baby wash
4 bags Fritos/Cheetos
4 - 12 pks Pepsi
3 bags Doritos
2 One Touch Meters
4 - 12 pks bottled water
Paid $6.13 using a gift card and $0.16 cash OOP

Kroger
2 - 1/2 gal ice cream
4 Nesquik
3.77 lb bananas
2 Cool Whip
Spent $3.53 using a gift card

3/5
Jewel
11 Planters Kettle cooked peanuts
1 Bandaid
3 One Touch mini meters
12 Crystal Light On the Go packs
9 Capri-Sun
2 boxes pasta
1 Jewel shake n bake
Paid $4.64 cash OOP

Meijer
1.55 lb grapes
2.12 lb nectarines
4 Kleenex tissues
2 lbs bacon
4 Johnsonville sausages
2 lb strawberries
2 lb polish sausages
Paid $10.29 using a gift card

Walgreens
8 Dove soap
Spent $8.53 using a gift card

Target
2 Shout stain removers
4 Kotex
Spent $2.24 using a gift card

3/6
Walgreens
16 J&J baby items
2 Axe shampoo
2 Colgate Fresh Max toothpaste
2 Walgreen Headache relief
1 Wal-zyr allergy medicine
1 Viactiv calcium chews
1 Vaseline lotion
2 tweezers
4 packs gum
Paid $10.41 using a gift card & $50.68 cash OOP
I will be getting $21.95 back in rebates and also earned $39 in RR (will be less OOP later)

Frequency of Updates...

I think I'm gonna update once a week, instead of daily.... it just seems I don't get around to it daily...

So the first update for March will be on Saturday... and boy have I been shopping this week!