Coupons 102

To gain a better understanding of (and to keep me hyped up about my coupon/sale savings), I searched for some older sales receipts from Meijer to compare them to the last two trips.

I was very excited last night after my shopping trip. Not only did I have coupons, but Meijer also had their 10 items for $10 and get the 11th item free (I took advantage and got 33 items) AND if you used your Meijer card, you saved 15% off general merchandise. I knew it could mean big savings.

Since the newspapers from last weekend did not have any coupons due to the "holiday", I had to dig into my still very meager supply of coupons. Not for long though ~ I am due to receive 400 coupons in the mail here sometime within the week. I bid on them on ebay. Wa-hoo! I paid $10 for all of them and plan on saving a bundle.

Anyhow. Armed with a serious list of this week's menu, sale items and coupons, I headed out.

When my shopping was near the end, I felt like a hit the jackpot. Two tall stands full of reduced produce came into sight. Strawberries, blueberries, red peppers and mushrooms, even dog bones, all marked anywhere from .23 to $1.29.

Then. Then! My Dad goes through the checkout and GUESS what he got? Go ahead, guess.

You got it, another $8.00 coupon to be redeemed when you spent over $105, and he practically jumped for joy as he handed it to me. That was a large part of our conversation on the way home. Two weeks in a row? Sa-weet.

So all this to say, I am really starting to get a good handle on the "savings today" section at the top of my sales receipt. I gathered a few old receipts to compare. This is what I found:

9/22/08

Total Meijer Promotions 13.14
Total Non-Coupon Savings 17.02
Total Coupon Savings 9.25
Savings Total 39.41

10/07/08

Total Non-Coupon Savings 25.94
Total Coupon Savings 5.10
Savings Total 31.04

12/15/08

Total Meijer Promotions 1.59
Total Non-Coupon Savings 27.11
Total Coupon Savings 8.50
Savings Total 37.20

**You can see the pattern, not much in coupons**

Now here is where it gets fun.

2/09/09

Total Meijer Promotions 8.00 (my coupon from my Dad)
Total Non-Coupon Savings 48.84
Total Coupons Savings 37.13
Savings Total 88.97

2/16/09

Total Meijer Promotions 21.13
Total Non-Coupon Savings 61.37
Total Coupons Savings 27.45
Savings Total 109.95

Now THAT is exciting.

If I could only be as excited about my treadmill, which is hollering for me as we speak.