The Longest Day Ever!!!

 I survived. My kids survived. I saved money. My family has food and supplies. I am prepared for the future. I am helping my family. Must keep telling myself all of these positive things after a day like today!!!
 Understand young couponers and Extreme wannabe's, it isn't all violins, fireworks and fully stocked basements! There are tough days and things that don't go our way. There are days that just never end when we are lugging our kids along to 6 or so different stores in order to make only one trip and minimize gasoline use.
 Today was a marathon in the Mojave... but now I am home and the kids are resting. The day's purchases are all happily put away and soon, after I go to the bank and get a new debit card (story to follow) this day will be but a funny anecdote in the history of my couponing career.

 Come, gather round me hearties, and hear the tale of woe and wonder!

 First stop:

Walmart

******

We went to Walmart to retrieve my $2 refund. That happened pretty quickly and while there we took advantage of Walmart's low priced clothing departments to knock a few things off of my "running list." 

Easter is fast approaching, so I grabbed some fabulous little white shoes for my daughter at just $7. My girl also needed some plain white tee's to go under several different outfits, so I grabbed these two white shirts at just $5 each. For my son's Easter outfit, I found this white polo shirt and denim shorts at $5 each. On a personal note, as I am losing weight, several bits and pieces are shrinking. Luckily, Walmart has decent quality ladies underthings at very good prices. $7 for the one on clearance and $9 for the other at regular price. Though I dearly miss the days of Victoria's Secret and my corresponding indulgent ways, I know I will be plenty happy with these lower priced substitutes, especially as my savings account continues to grow!

Stop #2

Gold's Gym

Today was the 2nd to last training session with my personal trainer. I will miss the support, education, motivation and advice, but I will certainly not miss the monthly payments!

Stop #3

    Smith's    

I had to hit the Orem Smith's while I was in the area as the Provo Smith's was all out of the $1.99 butter.

I am happy to report that the Orem Smith's was fully stocked! I grabbed 10. Unfortunately, I forgot to utilize the remaining change on my newly acquired gift card. It wouldn't have made a huge difference, but still...

Some news: For just the next few days, earn an extra 200 bonus reward points when you shop at Smith's! Great way to get cheaper gas! 

Stop #4

   Target   

Today's Target adventure was really something... Let's call it a learning experience. Learn yet again from my experience. 

Yes, I will continue shopping at Target on occasion, but I will return a wiser and more, shall we say, jaded, customer. I am seriously disappointed in their confusing and misleading ad matching policy. If it weren't for their enticing store coupons that can be combined with mfr coupons, I might not go back as it is no close to my home.

Here is what I learned the hard way today: Target does not ad match stores that have reward cards;( i.e. Smith's and Rite Aid.) Other employees at the customer service desk have matched ads for me from these stores before today but they were apparently not following policy. I missed those employees today as I missed out on my great Trident and Colgate Total deals I had planned. 

So, when ad matching at Target, which must be done with ad in hand at the service desk (can we make it any less friendly??), stick with the sale prices of stores like Macey's, Fresh Market and Walmart and Walgreen's. You should still be able to get pretty great deals this way, when combining Target and mfr coupons. I will keep you posted of any I find.

Now that I have expressed my dissatisfaction, here's what I did get and how it went down:

Jumbo Box Huggies Diapers w/bonus wipes $29.99

-$2.50/1 Huggies Disney Target Coupon

-$3/1 Huggies 60+ diapers

**note** If you buy two of these boxes of diapers, you will earn a FREE $10 Target gift card. It did not fit into my strict budget to take advantage of this deal.

(2) Slim Fast Shakes multi packs @ $5.99 ea

-$1/1 Slimfast product (excluding singles) Target coupon

-$1/1 Slimfast multi pack mfr coupon (found in Slimfast packaging)  

(2) Kandoo Flushable Wipes @ $1.65 ea

-$1/1 any Kandoo product 

**Not exactly a funny note: I forgot to use the Kandoo coupons initially and had to go back to Target and get a refund of my $2.**

Stop #5

 Wendy's  

The kids were starving by this time! We hit the Wendy's right next to Target and took advantage of their much appreciated value menu to get each of them a small fry at .99 ea.

Stop #5

Target... again

We made the quick return trip to Target to redeem my forgotten Kandoo coupons.I left the kids in the car enjoying their fries. When I got up to the service desk, I had not thought to bring the receipt in with me. Back out to the car to retrieve the receipt. Got my refund and back to the car again. *sigh*

Stop #6

     Walgreen's  

I hit Walgreen's to finally use my Purex raincheck, only to find out that the Purex was on sale again and again, out of stock! Luckily, the stop was not in vain as I also picked up 2 bottles of Acidophilus, priced $7.99 ea. On sale, B1G1 FREE. Plus I had (2) $2 off coupons. At the register, I grabbed (2) "5" gum packs @ .99 ea. I used my -$1/2 online print coupon. It was a bit of a splurge but it is my hubby's favorite gum and he hasn't been feeling so great. 

Stop #7

   Rite Aid  

Rite Aid had their Amo Complete contact Solution (see above photo) @ $7.99. There is a single check rebate available for $7.99, making it FREE. You just have to wait for the rebate to arrive in the mail. To sweeten the deal, they were plentifully stocked on a front endcap and lots of these products had $1 off coupons attached to them!So not just FREE, but I earned on this one!

I know I have praised the Provo Rite Aid for being so well stocked, but as this is Friday, I was not surprised or upset that they were out of the Gillette +UP Body Wash. Never fear, the deal will be repeated eventually. :)

Stop #8

Rite Aid... again

Another lovely mishap! I had forgotten to use my $5 in +UP rewards that I had received in the mail. (see earlier entries to know why I got these in the mail, result of an earlier mishap, not sure which post.) The cashier was empathetic and quickly took care of my situation, canceling my previous transaction, re-running it, and giving me my refund. 

Stop #9

   Macey's  

At this point, I was resorting to singing songs with my daughter to keep her from terrorizing my son, so that I would be able to focus on driving. We made it to Macey's with a short list. 

We quickly found the .99 cereal. (must purchase 4) I was disappointed with the selection and lack of non-sugary options. I went ahead and grabbed them though, as I know the family will enjoy them. I was also FINALLY able to take advantage of the 20lb box of boneless, skinless chicken breasts @ $39.99. I've been super lucky that they have had this deal available for SO LONG! So happy to have chicken again! The iceberg lettuce was just .68 a head and the Western Family Whipped Topping is on sale for .99 each. I grabbed the tomatoes though they are not on sale. They were needed for tonight's dinner. I look forward to another good deal on fresh tomatoes. Probably should have gotten more at Fresh Market last week. :(

I also grabbed the Santita's Tortilla Chips @ $1.88. It isn't the best price or the worst price I've seen. They were needed for tonight's dinner also. I hate needing an item that is not on sale. Just another reminder that you MUST stock up on items you use regularly as soon as they go on sale! I hope Macey's will repeat their Santitas sale price of 2 months ago, $1.50 ea. If so, I will buy at least 20 bags!

This was a blessedly uneventful stop until we got unloaded at the register and I couldn't find my debit card! I searched my purse frantically but it was nowhere to be found. Luckily I had my debit card from my personal account and was able to cover my purchase. Outside, I searched the car and bags from the several other stops but the card was gone. So I of course quickly notified my bank and took the necessary precautions. 

As I stood at that register, unable to find my debit card, my children screaming at me for the freebie balloons and candy that Macey's offers, carts and people moving about, registers dinging as items were scanned all around me, I got about as close to a melt down as I ever have on a marathon shopping day. Not good. I was ready to scream! 

Luckily, I held myself together and we got ourselves home and everything, including the kids, unloaded and happily settled. I revived my spirits with one of the FREE Hershey's Almond bars from my chocolate stash. 

 This was a long day. It was a tough day. I believe it will lead to changes in the way I do my work. I do consider this my "job" and have consoled myself with the fact that everyone has a bad day at "work" now and then. Even when you love what you do! 

 Hang in there newbies! Don't let one horrible experience stop you from this great work! (too melodramatic??)

 Must go rest now!