Preschool Wednesday Shopping Day

I put together my list of places that I had to go to get everything while my son was in preschool but the list kept growing.  I stopped at CVS to get Children's Advil but they were out so I left quickly. 

I drove across the street to Giant to get chapstick which was on sale for $1 and there was a $0.25 printable coupon (previously available on coupons.com) which doubled and the $0.05 bag credit.  My total was $0.95 which was still on my gift card so it was free.  On the way out the door, I grabbed the local paper which is free to get the coupons so I got four copies of the Smart Source coupons :)  I was hoping for next weeks coupons but I seem to miss them so I either have to go tomorrow or later tonight to see if they have this weekends coupons.  (pictured in the middle-minus papers)

Third stop was Harris Teeter to make a quick return and get a few groceries (seen on the right side of the picture).  I got a loaf of bread, two Halls Defense, Top Ramen noodles, Quaker Oats, Rold Gold Pretzels, and 6 packages Ortega Taco Powder.  All of that was $2.08 out of pocket after return. 

Then I went to Babies R Us to use a $5 credit that I had from all the Christmas shopping on pears and "purple bananas" so the total cost for 5 baby food was $0.97 OOP. 

Then a fast stop at Dunkin Dounuts to get a free mint hot chocolate (value $2.09) and travel mug (value $4) which is pictured in the back.  I got coupons from the paper a few weeks ago and this was the last hot chocolate one left.  I shared with my parents when they were here running errands with me.  I love the mint one and they didn't have it last time because the machine was broken so I saved it and got it this time.  If you haven't gotten a taste of the mint hot chocolate, I highly recommend it.  I am going to get a few more travel mugs before they expire at the end of the month.

Then was the next CVS to get the last of the list done.  I got Children's Advil for my son and Carmex lip balm in one transaction and with the coupons, they were $0.67 which I used a gift card.  Then, I did another transaction with two medicines for my husband and a Revlon eyeshadow and I paid with the rest left on the gift card and $7.06 oop.  The great thing is that the Carmex was on sale for $1.19 (regular price $3.39) and there was a $1.50 CVS coupon from the red box machine and $0.75 which made a profit to pay for the rest of the medicine.  The Revlon eye shadow was on clearance for $1.37 and I got a red box coupon for $3 so the addition paid for some of the medicine. 

For all of the stops in total, the total spent on the above was $10.11 actually out of my pocket (just in case you want the big picture).  It is always hard to look at the small amount on the counter and figure out how much it is all worth- aka what I would have paid before I started couponing.  I "saved" $5.25 with the return, $5 with the Babies R Us credit, $1.83 in store savings and coupons at Giant, $0.95 from Giant gift card, $11.66 store savings and coupons at Harris Teeter, $15.57 in store savings and coupons at CVS, $1.03 in gift card at CVS plus $6.09 at Dunkin' Dounuts.  That all adds to $47.38 savings for just one day of shopping.  It is hard to say that I saved all that money because I probably wouldn't have purchased some of those things but it does being the total down a lot. 

The monthly budget is up to $169.90 but that includes lots of medicine for both my sick son and sick husband.  It is hard to figure out what the medicine costs since I used sales, coupons, gift cards and lots of bargins to get them but I think that I only spent $7.06 oop so far.  It is a little over where I wanted to be for the month but I still have one more return to do but I just have to find the receipt.    Sadly, there are still 13 days left in the month.  Here is hoping that anything we need can be purchased with my Panera gift card and Kohl's store credit :)  If only they had groceries and other stuff like tissues, we would be all set.  Hope you are on track for your monthly budget better then I am!