couponing high

you know how i'm all about stretching our dollars, right? another way i do this is by couponing. and no, it's nothing like extreme couponing and no, i'm not hoarding stockpiles of canned soup and yogurt in my garage. anyway, the coupon rules in california are so different from other parts of the country, there's really no way to coupon aroudn here like the hoarders you see on tv. i just coupon to buy the things that my family needs for the cheapest price possible. 

every week, i get a pretty good "couponing high" from some nice purchase i got at some store for next to nothing. today's coupon high was courtesy of every woman's happiest place on earth, target.

all of that stuff above cost me $2.38. i did a little jig in the parking as i walk back to my car.

here's how:
MFR Q = manufacturer's coupon
TQ = target coupon

welch's 4-pack fruit fizz drinks $2.99 - $2.00 MFR Q - $1.00 TQ = FREE
activia 4-pack yogurt $2.19 x 2 = $4.38 - $2.00 MFR Q - $2.00 TQ = $0.38 for both
yes to carrots body butter $1.99 - $2.00 MFR Q = FREE
up and up foam scrubbers $0.99 x 2 = $1.98 - $1.98 TQ = FREE
mio beverage enhancer $3.84 - $1.00 MFR Q - $1.00 TQ = $1.84

$1.84 + $0.38 + $0.16 tax  = $2.38. WIN!

the most "expensive" thing i bought was the beverage enhancer. it's this tiny package of super concentrated liquid and you add a few drops to bottled water to make a sports drink like gatorade. the boys can use that during sports practice and i can even use it when i go to the gym. $1.84 for 24 servings of gatorade? yes, please!

believe it or not, this trip to target was inspired because i needed dish scrubbers/sponges. the one i used this morning was all raggedy (and smelled) and i didn't have anymore stashed away. if i went into target and bought just those two packs of sponges without using coupons, i would have paid $2.14. but because i invested a few minutes of coupon research right before i left the house, i paid $2.38 and got a bunch of other stuff, too. i basically just stretched my $2.38 into $15.34. the mister is very proud. ;)

it pays to be diligent and resourceful, my friends. it really does.