Deals & Steals - Meijer, VS, RiteAid

Have you seen the show "Extreme Couponing" on TLC yet? I found it on-demand over the holiday weekend and had mixed reactions.  My first reaction was "oh great, the secret's out and this is the end of my freeloading of groceries and beauty products!" My second reaction was that I no longer feel bad for handing my cashier a stack of 10-20 coupons. It could be worse!

I'm getting back in the swing of couponing after a long winter hiatus.  As my favorite Rite Aid cashier said to me, "it's like a part-time job!"  This week I had some decent deals at Rite Aid, as well as grocery shopping at Meijer and a quick stop at the mall.  Here are my freebies and steals for this week...

Meijer -- Match-ups from BargainsToBounty.com

(2) Thomas English Muffins @ $3.99 each
     - BOGO sale
     - (3) $0.50 Meijer coupons (cashier added one by mistake?)
     Total: $1.25 each

(1) Package of organic raspberries @ 2/$5 sale
      - $0.50 MQ doubled
      Total: $1.50

(2) Green giant frozen boxed veggies @ 10 for $10 sale
      - (2) $0.50 MQ doubled
      Total: Free!

Total OOP: $68.43
Total saved: $29.47 (30%)
Slightly higher than my $50/week goal, but we stocked up on in-season produce -- organic lettuce, organic brocolli, organic raspberries, cherries, bell peppers, mango, organic carrots... couldn't resist!

Victoria's Secret

(1) Cotton Hiphugger @ $7.50

     - Coupon for free pair from VS mailer
     Total: Free!


Rite Aid -- Match-ups from SouthernSavers.com
(1) Blink Tears @ $7.99
     -$7.99 Single-Check Rebate
     -$1.50 MQ
     -$1 MQ (on the box; casher scanned it on her own)
     Total: $2.50 overage
(2) Oral-B Crossaction Power Toothbrushes @ $5.99 each
    - (2) $2.99 UP+ rewards
    - (2) $3 MQ
    Total: Free!
(2) Oral-B Pulsar Toothbrushes @ $4.99 each
    - (2) $1 UP+ rewards
    - (2) $3 MQ
    Total: $0.99 each
(2) Gillette @ $9.97 each
    - (2) $4 UP+ rewards
    - (2) $4 MQ
    - $3 off $15 Rite Aid survey coupon
    Total: $0.47 each
(2) Veet Kits @ $4.49 each
    - (2) $2 Rite Aid coupons
    - (2) $2 MQ
    Total: $0.49 each
(2) Crest Toothpaste @ $2.57 each
    - $1/2 MQ
    - (2) $1.60 UP+
    Total: $0.97 each
(2) Neutrogen Naturals Body Bars @ $3.49 each
    - (2) $1.50 Rite Aid coupons
    - (2) $1 MQ
    Total: $0.99 each
Total merchandise value: $78.98
Total OOP: $5.32
Total saved: $73.66 (93%!)

So, the moral of this story?  You don't have to be the star of an "Extreme Couponing" episode to get some decent savings.  If nothing else, I highly suggest playing the drugstore game with Rite Aid, Walgreens, or CVS... it's so easy to take home freebies and steals!  Just as long as you don't mind cashiers starting to refer to you as The Coupon Lady ;o)