The first question is, since I paid nothing out-of-pocket, do I have to count this towards my $25 for the week? My husband says yes, I say no....what say you?
I ran to Acme this morning (along with the kids to swim lessons and a mystery shop - it's why I haven't posted anything yet today) and got the following for ZipZeroZilch out-of pocket (and I still have $1.40 left on my gift card that I got last week)
- 3 bags Purdue Perfect Portions: on sale for $4.99, used a $2/1 for each
- 4 Old El Paso Taco shells & flour tortillas: on sale 10 for $10, used 2 $½
- 2 Chex Mix: On sale BOGO at $2.19, used a $.55/1 (doubled)
- 2 Trix cereals: on sale $2 each, used a $.55 on each (doubled)
- 1 Cocoa Puff Doubles: on sale for $2.50, used a $.75/1 (doubled)
- 2 Betty Crocker Warm Delights: on sale $1.66, used a $.55 (doubled) on each
- 2 Edys ice cream: on sale 3 for $10, used my Avenu savings to get an additional $2 off each
Paid with: the $3 & $6.50 catalinas from last week and $8.40 on the gift card from last week's transaction (from the register not taking off my $5 instant savings on each of the 2 transactions.)
According to my register receipt, the total savings were $60.17 (although that is not including the gift card amount....it's a little wacky, but last week instead of walking out paying $11 and getting $9.50 in catalinas and a $10 gift card, I should have paid $1 and walked out with $19 in catalinas. But if I had all catalinas today, I would have had to buy another Warm Delights and a Cocoa Puffs to have enough to cover the Catalinas and then I would have had to pay about $.60 out-of-pocket! And can I ramble on, or WHAT?). The actual total savings, or value of my free food today, is $68.67
Oh yeah - and I got a Catalina for 2 free movie tickets (maximum value of $25...it's part of their Batman/Dark Knight promotion) for buying 10 General MIlls products.
Oh - and as for the $25 limit for the week? I still have $14 left in it (unless I have to count this...please don't make me do it!) and I only need to buy another gallon and a half of milk, the corn on Sunday and maybe some more grapes.
I guess we're having chicken next week!
Jessica
You could even do chicken fajitas w/ the taco shells! YUM!
JessicaB
I feel if you paid nothing then you don't have to count it. It is just the rewards of frugal living.
JessicaBs last blog post..Attention Target Shopper
DianeScraps
I say it doesn't count 😀
Marigene
Hi - thanks for the work in the Phila. area - first I have seen. I have a question as to what you mean by "catalinas"
Mindi
Hi Marigene!
A Catalina is one of those additional coupons that prints out of the machine in addition to your store receipt. It is called a "catalina" because that is the name of the company that makes the machine 😉
Catalinas sometimes print at random, but more often are tied to something in your order. For instance, last week when you bought 5 Planters products in 1 transaction, it triggered a $6.50 coupon that I could use for anything on my next purchase.
"Rolling a catalina" is the process of using one catalina to purchase another item that also produces a catalina. For instance, last week I bought 3 Jet-Puff marshmallows at $1 each and it triggered a $3 catalina. I then turned around an used that $3 Catalina to pay for another 3 packs of marshmallows, which gave me ANOTHER $3 catalina. If I wanted to, I could have continued to do this until the store was out of marshamallows and walked out of the store with a cartload of marshmallows, $3 out-of-pocket, and a $3 catalina...
except I'm not THAT insane....but I did end up with enough marhmallows to make a whole bunch of rice krispie treats and s'mores 😉
Daisy
Is your darling husband mathematically impaired? If you pay nothing out of pocket then how can it count?? 😀 Im with you on this one, girlfriend!
Daisys last blog post..
Michelle
NO WAY. Free is free.
Mindi
My husband's logic is that I should look at the Gift Cards and Catalinas as "cash", since I add them to the grocery kitty that I created with $550 on Memorial Day Weekend and still have $320 left in.
Then again, he just hates the idea of spending ANY money, unless it is on electronics (seriously - did we really NEED a BluRay?)