So if you have been following my posts about my sister Natalie – she is a newbie learning to coupon. She isn’t interested in becoming a “true stockpiler” and only has a little bit of time to clip coupons each week. She is taking baby steps and sharing them with you. If you want to start small, be sure to check in for Nat’s Newbie Shopping Trips.
Natalie’s trip didn’t go quite as planned. Irene thwarted her plans to go to CVS yesterday morning. So, she headed out today. A few things went wrong. The first CVS had nothing in stock. The second CVS was slim pickings. Natalie inquired about rain checks for the Oral B and Dawn.
The manager of the store told her they were all out of Dawn Renewal and would accept her coupons on the regular Dawn. Technically, those coupons are not good on the product — but the manager adjusted the amount. I explained to Natalie that she really shouldn’t have been able to use the coupons on the regular Dawn.
She did a great job by asking for the raincheck. This is something many new couponers don’t do. A raincheck is valuable. She will get the deal hopefully in a week or two – while her coupons are still valid.
The last thing that went wrong, Natalie didn’t check her receipt before leaving the store. The cashier accidentally entered her free coupon as $.39 instead of $3.99 – she had to call the store when she got home to get her $3.00 refund. I reminded her to always check her receipt at the store (of course kids & time permitting).
I am happy to report that she is not at all discouraged — remember, just a few weeks ago she was paying full price for everything!
So onto the actual deal:
She started with a $4.00 ECB that she earned on her transactions here. She also had her free Aussie Coupon she requested here. When she scanned the Magic Red Coupon Machine, she got the Buy 1, Get 1 Free Skittles, Lifesavers, or Starburst Coupon.
Here is what she did
(3) Dawn Plus Detergent $2.97
(2) Life Saver Gummies $7.00
St Joseph’s Aspirin $2.00
Aussie Shampoo $3.99
used (3 ) $1/1 Dawn Product, exp. 9/30/11 (P&G 8/28/11)
used $1/1 St. Joseph Aspirin, exp. 12/1/11 (ALL YOU Aug ’11)
used free Aussie Product Coupon
used buy one, get one free Skittles, Lifesavers, or Starburst CVS Coupon (took off $4.29 automatically)
used $4.00 ECB from 8/21 Transaction
Pay $.47 + tax to cashier
Got $2.00 ecb
Update: So Natalie is going to kill me, but some of you asked to put a face with her name. This is my lovely little sister Nat:
Check here for more CVS Deals.
Linda says
I was lucky enough to get the B1G1 candy coupon too but I also had 2 $1/1 internet printed coupons for Starburst, Lifesavers coupons. My Starbursts were 2 for $6.00 so with the $4.29 credited for the CVS coupons and my 2 internet prints, I had a moneymaker. I was over the top excited. I credit you and your site for all I do :)
heather says
she’s adorable!!! How old is she?
Jennifer says
I’m a newbie to!!! Love it, I did really well today at CVS and Walgreens!!! Yay!
Heather says
She’s beautiful! I’m not quite as much of a newbie, but I make mistakes all the time, too. I’ll come home, with thirty or forty dollars worth of stuff, pouting because I paid 4 dollars instead of it being completely free.
Hubby laughs at me.
Nancy says
Shannon, you have a very cute little sis. I’m glad she is trying and every penny saved certainly is a good thing. I tried showing quite a few people over the last year or so and they’ve all given up. I don’t know why. They love my stockpile but won’t take the few minutes to at least try to do a few small deals every week. Don’t know what else to do to show them the errors of their ways.
Jessica S. says
Can you scan your card at the machine more than once per visit?
Shannon says
Jessica, yep just keep scanning til it says no more coupons for you! LOL
jen says
lovin the natalie posts!!!
on a recent walmart trip w/my boys i ran into my best friend (that i coupon with) and her husband. later as i was checking out, dealing with the boys, and making sure my coupons got credited correctly i happened to look up and notice that my friend and her husband were headed out of the store. i waved and said to have a fun trip as they were headed camping. what i failed to realize was that she had my cart of groceries w/my coupon book and purse in it. she said i was so into the transaction that i didn’t even notice my stuff was gone for 5 minutes!! it’s funny, but a huge reminder that i actually have to pay attention to more than just the transaction.
also… as i looked over my receipt, i noticed that there was 1 coupon that was not applied so i went right to customer service and had them fix the mistake! i have learned to count the # coupons that i am using BEFORE i check out.
Judy Berry says
Loving the Natalie posts. She’s going just my speed. I started about the same time as she did and I seem to be following her lead..making the same mistakes and all LOL :)
I’m learning all this just with CVS too to make it easy. Keep up the inspiration Nat!
Shanta says
Us newbies are with you Natalie, keep up the good work!!!!
Susan says
I know how she is felling. Atleast she has someone to help her. I was totally on my own will the only help being this website. I have learned much and have even found some of my own deals. As for the mistakes? It is all trial and error in the beginning and after 4 months, I still have that problem from time to time…especially when the kids are with me (thank goodness they start back to school next week). But I think the mistakes is what makes us better. You become more cautious about what you are doing to make sure you get it right. I have done many boo boo’s…lol….but all a part of the learning process. If we all did them right the first time there would be no fun in it…lol.