Adventures in Couponing

I have always admired those people who have a super-organized binder full of coupons that hold up the checkout line at Target. Annoying but admirable! I like the idea of couponing but I have never actually taken my coupons to the store and in the past if I did take them to the store I would forget to use them. No more passive couponing! I am learning the game and I enjoy it. I do not buy processed foods for my home and there won't ever be a coupon for fresh produce, so I scour the Sunday paper for savings on cosmetics and healthy/beauty/household items.

My first couponing adventure was a trip to Target.

 

Here are my savings:
Saved $1 on Spray and go moisturizer (I used a 50cent manufacturers coupon and a 50cent Target coupon that I printed from Target's website.) - paid $4.99
Saved $2 on Almay eye makeup remover - paid $2.99
Saved $1 on Rimmel Scandal Eyes mascara - paid $3.99
Saved $4 on L'Oreal Excess mascara (I had a mfg coupon for $2 off and a Target coupon for $2 off) - paid $3.99
Total savings: $8.00


My next couponing adventure was at Ulta.

I had a coupon for $3.50 off of a $10 purchase. I have wanted to try the Real Technique brushes and I saw that they were on sale (BOGO 50% OFF). I purchased the set for $17.99 and a single brush was 50% off of $8.99, plus I received $3.50 off. If I did not purchase anything else my total spent would have been less than $20 for 5 quality brushes!
Total savings: $8.00


The best haul this month came from Elf cosmetics.

 

I love ELF brushes! Especially for my client makeup kit. I was bored one night and decided to log on to ELF's site and I saw that they were having a 36% off sale that was ending in 45 minutes from the time that I logged on. I quickly filled up my cart but decided to edit it to ensure that I received free shipping on my order of $35 or more. I ran out of time during editing and the coupon code expired. My spirit was broken! But let me tell you how God works! I googled ELF coupon codes and found a 50% off code! Won't He do it?! My total was $35 for 23 items including brushes, lip exfoliators, brush cleaner, sealant, primer, setting mist, and a blush/bronzer duo. Most of these products are not easy to find in stores and I have seen positive reviews for these items. I was too excited. I got free shipping! Shipping would have been about $12 for these items as ELF was not offering flat rate shipping.
Total Savings: Approximately $47

 

 

 

Couponing Tips:
Get organized - Try sites like krazycouponlady.com to show you which coupons you should use at which stores in order to get the greatest savings. I print the list of items that I plan to buy and use binder clips to clip my coupons to the print-out.

Check store coupon policies - some stores double/triple manufacturer coupons so be sure to check each store's policy. Stores like Target also offer store coupons on their site so look out for those, as you can use store coupons in addition to a manufacturers coupon on individual items to score greater savings.

Check Expiration Dates - I am not going to embarrass myself by telling you guys that I had a coupon for $3 off of two or more Nivea lip butters and went to CVS to use it on their deal of 3/$10, thinking that I was going to get three butters for $7 and got up to the counter and my coupon was expired! I walked out empty-handed because the butters are $1 less at Ulta and if the coupon were valid I would have saved more at Ulta by getting three butters for $6. In real life, what is $1? But in couponing, you really don't NEED most of this stuff so $1 is all of the difference in the world!

Only buy items that you really want to try or that you actually use - I am experimenting with drug strore mascaras so I am benefitting from cosmetic coupons and I always look for coupons pertaining to my preferred brand of toilet paper/contact lens solution/household cleaners. You have to buy these items anyway so you may as well save on them!

Do any of you coupon? Do you have any advice or tips for couponing? Feedback is welcomed in the  comments section. Additionally feel free to leave questions below.