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 $1/2
- 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!
You could even do chicken fajitas w/ the taco shells! YUM!
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
I say it doesn’t count
Hi – thanks for the work in the Phila. area – first I have seen. I have a question as to what you mean by “catalinas”
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
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..
NO WAY. Free is free.
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?)