Started out simply enough, we had a few things to pick up on clearance...Safeway is having Tums for $1, and we have $1 coupons, Ensure for $2.99 and we have $1 coupons, etc...remodeling sale...

Dropped by Target to see if the Biotene really was cheaper there...we pay $7.50 minimum per bottle; it is regular $5.15 at Target (WOW), and on unadvertised sale for $3.99! THANKS FOR THE HEADSUP JEN!

So, I checked, yep, the sale tag is out. They only have 6 left, but HAPPY, take them to the register, get rung up, give them my last $5 g/c for Target (MUST STOP GIVING THOSE AWAY!). As we walk to the jeep, I am looking at the receipt...does not make sense...we were charged full price. Quick debate with DH on going back in, but we do...waited, were sent to CS, to a VERY grumpy clerk who said they were NOT on clearance and NO STORE IN CA has the same sales as MD and it was not possible...I did get her to walk back to the aisle and see the tag...turns out the sale expired yesterday...but since they were marked, she had to give us the price and refund the difference...but she was TICKED OFF that someone left an old tag up. Wow, hate to work for her!

Took forever, but very worth it. DH uses at least 60 bottles a year...so saving $2 - $2.50 regularly, or this, around $4.50 each, well...$120 or more saved EACH YEAR by changing stores. More if I have survey gift cards or other rewards for Target. Hmmm...

So, we dropped by the next store, which was completely backed up in check-out, so we went for the self-express. Hmmm...always a bad idea with coupons. It works sometimes, but there always seem to be problems. And of course, the clerk was NOT responsive to the computer locked up blinking light...first when a coupon got stuck, then when an item went through as unscanned and it was rescanned and then we were charged twice, and in the meantime our "buy 4 get one free" summer rebate was cashed out and lost...and Breyer's was BOGO, but the computer was not coded for my coupon, so the clerk voided the transaction, took my $6 coupon, and of course the computer then removed my free half of the BOGO...and charged me for it...and on and on...

It's just SO much nicer to work with a person.

We went to Giant, where the cashiers are friendly and know us, never mind processing loads of coupons, make sure we get a deal, even remind us to get rainchecks! Of course, we never let them get shorted. Coupons ring up twice, or they input $5 instead of $0.50, we correct them. Couponing, and saving, is only at the manufacturer's expense, only by the rules.

Still, a VERY long day, and stressful. I keep thinking I am just going to send my lot of coupons off to someone and stick to buying what we need...then I'm reminded that we do SAVE money...and we did make a donation in our friends name...the savings really help us do what WE want with our money.

So, for today

Current savings:
2006 $20 challenge: $4738
2006 grocery savings: $6502