Superbowl Sunday Shopping Trip: CVS, Tom Thumb, and Kroger
You may have saw my post on facebook about planning to go grocery shopping this afternoon. I left about 4:30, thinking that everyone would be at home or some party glued to their TV set. For the most part, I was correct. I ended up going not just to Kroger, but to CVS and Tom Thumb as well.
The first place I stopped at was CVS. I have been very impressed with the sales at CVS lately, because the Extra Bucks deals have been including quite a bit of actual food, which is great. CVS has helped save me a ton of money, but it had never been much help for actual grocery items. It was a little bit difficult to shop today, because they did not have all of the sale signs put up yet. I find this is a problem on Sunday's and also late on Saturday when they have already begun pulling them down. That handy little scanner machine was very helpful to me today, and my plan went perfectly. Here is what I bought:
Total Shelf Price: $31.98
Price Paid After Coupons: $26.98
Price Paid After $5/$30 coupon and $19 in ECBs from last trip and tax: $3.06 93% Savings! PLUS I got back $12 in ECBs.
I used 2 $1/1 Lindor coupons from 1/23 SS, 2 $1/1 Quaker oatmeal coupons (1/2RP, all you mag.), and a $1/1 Tums printable. I have heard reports of getting a $3/1 Tums coupon from the scanner machine. That would have made the Tums free, and my whole transaction free, actually, but I did not get one.
I was in the checkout line at Tom Thumb at 5:05. I didn't get out of the checkout line until 5:20. That place was crazy! I went through the self checkout, and there were still 3 people in all four of those lines when I got there. They were out of the yogurt I wanted (in-ad coupon for $1.77 Yoplait kids, $0.50/1 printable on allyou.com.). I found one bag of charcoal hidden in the wrong place (in-ad coupon for $3.99, had a $1.50/1 coupon from a booklet I picked up in store), and I got two Mission tortillas ($0.99 with in-ad coupon, free if you printed the coupon I told you about here (no longer available).
This stop did not go anything according to plan. If the yogurt would have been in stock, it would have been fine, but when it wasn't I didn't even give it a second though. I forgot that in order to use their in-ad coupons, you must have a $10 minimum purchase. So, when I scanned the coupons they didn't take anything off. I would have just cancelled the transaction, but I had already scanned my manufacturer coupons, and dropped them into the coupon slit. So I paid for my transaction, more than I should have. =( Then I went to grab the coupons that had been spitting out of the Catalina machine and they were gone. I asked the grumpy stressed out cashier about it and she told me she had probably grabbed them and thrown them away. =( =(
Here is what I came home with from Tom Thumb. My daughter wanted to be in the picture and pretend to be a grocery:
Sale Price (I paid): $7.57 what it should have been: $5.97
Price Paid After Coupons: $4.07 +tax what it should have been $2.47 +tax
Still 63 % Savings Could have been 77% Savings
On to Kroger! Kickoff is happening just as I arrived. It was pretty crowded but it cleared out quickly. They had stocked back up on everything that they were out of last time, so I was able to stock up on the pancake mix and hotdogs. Still didn't find the Honest Tea, but that wasn't important. My favorite cashier was even working. I use the self-check out whenever he is there. He always talks to my kid, never complains about my coupons (and at Kroger, I have to hand them all over to him), and he even helped pick up some things we dropped on the floor. Put me in a much better mood than Tom Thumb did. =)
Here is everything I came home with this time (click to enlarge):
Total Shelf Price: $71.38
Total Sale Price: $52.40
Mega Sale $10 Deduction: $42.40
Price Paid After Coupons and tax: $16.33 77% Savings
Overall, I spent $23.75 on $127.24 worth for a total savings of 81%. I'm hoping I'm all done with shopping for the week, though I will probably have to make a run to Aldi at some point for some essentials, but that shouldn't be too much.
Did you get any great deals recently? I would love for you to share them. Email me a picture, or share a link to your post below.
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7 comments:
I suggest you contact Tom Thumb, maybe contact them on their web site and tell them about your experience... They may offer you coupons - and if you don't tell them, they don't know there is a problem... I have received a free set of sheets, free dinners, etc. just because I let them know when they have a problem. Most businesses appreciate it!
In the same way, I think you should call or stop by the manager's booth at Kroger's and compliment your favorite checker... he deservers recognition!
I was planning on doing just that tomorrow! Not sure what they will do, but I agree they should know.
I think I have complimented the nice one before. I've at least told him. I will make a point to do so again though. I hadn't seen him in quite some time, so I was glad he was back.
Have you ever emailed or called Catalina to get ones that didn't print? They can take the info on your receipt and issue them--might be worth finding out. Thanks for linking up your CVS shopping trip at Simply CVS.
Cheryl, I have done that in the past when I knew that there should be a money off my next purchase coupon. They mailed them right out to me with 1-2 weeks. I don't think I had any of those this time, just random things, but you never know. Sometimes they print really good stuff, even free coupons. Sometimes, just junk. But still...LOL.
But how wonderful to still get over 60% savings even with a mix up! Great job!!
Thanks! You did very well too! I wanted some of the Kettle chips but my kroger the first time I went didnt sell the size featured and the next time there was actually a spot, but it was empty.
Oh, and Bethany..that is Bethany above in the post...lol.
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