20 items for $16.38! YAY!

Here are my 20 items that I purchased for under $20! That was my challenge when non-couponers from my new training class gave me a list of their most wanted items, with some rules of course! We didn't want to make it impossible! Just realistic! :-)

I wanted to break down the savings for you so your could see what I did! I had a few Extrabucks to burn and luckily had 2 -$4/20 coupons to use so that helped out!

Store Item Price MFG Store Total OOP

1. CVS Colgate Total $1.99 N/A <1.85> $0.14
2. CVS Schick Hydro Razor $8.99 <4.00> <4.85> $0.14
3. CVS Schick Quattro Razor $9.99 <4.00> <5.85> $0.14
4. CVS Edge Shave Gel $2.99 <0.75> <2.10> $0.14
5. CVS Venus Breeze Razor $9.99 <2.00> <7.14> $0.85
6. CVS Fusion Razor $9.97 <4.00> <5.82> $0.15
7. CVS Biotrue Contact Sol $2.99 N/A <2.84> $0.15
8. CVS Biotrue Contact Sol $2.99 N/A <2.84> $0.15
9. CVS Pantene Conditioner $2.49 <1.00> <1.34> $0.15
10. TT Crest 3D Toothpaste $2.50 <1.75> N/A $0.75
11. TT Garnier Spray Gel $2.79 <1.00> N/A $1.79
12. TT Pinesol $1.49 <1.00> N/A $0.49
13. Wags Old Spice Fiji $4.00 <2.00> <1.96> $0.04
14. Wags Old Spice Swagger $4.00 <2.00> <1.96> $0.04
15. Target Mint Herbal Tea $2.14 <0.75> <0.21> $1.18
16. Target Fusion Razor $7.00 <4.00> <0.70> $2.30
17. Target Fusion Razor $7.00 <4.00> <0.70> $2.30
18. Target Scope $2.99 <1.00> <0.30> $1.69
19. Target Scope $2.99 <1.00> <0.30> $1.69
20. Target Listerine $3.44 <1.00> <0.34> $2.10

TOTAL: SALE PRICES: $92.73 <35.25> <41.10> $16.38

Retail price for these items were $107.72. Some items were on sale so basically, if I had NO coupons, I would have paid $92.73 for the items. Because I had coupons, I only paid $16.38 for all of these items. $35.25 were manufacturer coupons that I clipped out of the paper or printed from the Internet. $41.10 were store coupons, my Extrabucks from CVS, Register Rewards from Walgreens and 10% Target Rewards card. In the end, I have $20.98 in Extrabucks to roll into my next transaction but unfortunately, I ran out of Register Rewards. That is OK though! This was a tough challenge and I was happy that I could actually pull it off!

Thanks to all my classmates for putting up with this Crazy Coupon Mom! :-)

Challenge: 20 items = $20....

...for us veteran couponers that doesn't seem like too much of a challenge does it? Hmm...let us put some other factors into play...

...I just got hired into another department at my company so I am currently in training with 20 other folks learning this side of the business. Only 7 of us are internal transfers and the other 14 folks have never worked at my investment firm and thus never had the pleasure of meeting me! :-)

...of course my couponing addiction comes up, so I make a challenge for myself! Everyone in the class needs to come up with one item that they use on a regular basis, whether it be a toiletry or food item (just can't be refrigerated for portability purposes) and I have to keep to a $20 budget! Rules are that it can't be anything obscure, needs to be an item that can be purchased at any grocery store or drug store and cannot retail for more than $10. (I didn't think it was fair if they asked me to get them something like a box of Crest Whitestrips for $1 LOL)

...most people in my class are pretty excited about it. I mean, who wouldn't! They are getting something for FREE! Some people thought they had to pay me to do this, which was so sweet, but I said "No, this is my hobby! I love the challenge that is why I made it up!" So, on Tuesday, when we go back to work, they will all have a special treat on their chair and I will share my results along with receipts!

....Some people have already given me an idea of what they want Fusion Razors, Pantene, Gillette deodorant....things us hard core couponers should already have in stock anyway. Even if we don't, we know where to get it! For the stuff I already own, I know what I paid for it, so I will just make a separate list for that cost!

....I have been out of the major couponing loop for a while, barely participating on coupon trains, trading, etc. so I thought this challenge would help me get back into it!

...I will post pics when I have everything purchased! Let me know what you think!

....Happy Shopping!

Soleil 100 Days

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Just watched Julie & Julia

...anyone ever seen it? I would highly recommend. To me, it was a movie that inspires. "I bet I could do that....."

...my 34th birthday just passed and of course another year old, another year wiser, makes you think.....ALOT....

...When I graduated from high school in 1994...16 years ago...my whole goal was to be a Broadcast Journalist. When I failed to get into the program, I think I cried harder than when I failed my driver's license test. At the time, this was my dream. My neighbor joked that he would see me on TV and I would be the next Connie Chung.

...Ha! And what I am doing now? Customer Service for a Financial Services Company...Boring....But, you know what? It also puts food on the table and a roof over our heads. "OUR"...as in my family..that is something that was not in my Broadcast Journalist dreams when I was 18 either...who knew I would have four children, let alone BOYS...

...so I am trying not to pick on the little things in life and be grateful for what I have. Though sometimes, it is so hard when you are absolutely stuck in a job going no where. I used to think I had a job where I could get promoted but I think I have reached that crossroads where there is no more. Oh well, nothing I can do about it at the moment. I really have to just grin and bear it for at least two more years. No use in missing out on free money. (After 5 years, I am fully vested in my profit sharing and company match! WOOHOO!)

...but what do I want to do? My husband asked me that question a couple of weeks ago. I don't really know right now. I am so unsure of what kind of job would make me completely whole. Sometimes I think it would be to be some sort of party planner, fundraiser organizer, something like that. Those are the only times besides writing for a weekly paper where I have been happy with what I was doing. And weekly papers pay diddly squat so I know I will not be going back to that. It is the whole reason I left in the first place...(well that and the crappiest editor ever)

...but after watching this movie, it really made me think how blogs are like therapy for people. They get their feelings out there and project them for the whole world to see. But what is my therapy? What do I need? Even I cannot answer that question right now. If I could actually commit to writing this blog on a daily basis maybe I could answer that question myself.

...so my motivation? Inspiration? Where should life be taking me now that I am 34? What goals do I set for myself? Things I need to think about...