I am still having a ton of fun couponing and saving our family more than I ever thought possible.  Last week was the most fun yet as I had planned my shopping trip really well and hit three stores on Tuesday.  As it was the first Tuesday of the month, at Save-On Foods, it was 15% off my purchase and at Sobey’s, it was 10% off my purchase.

Save-On Foods allows coupon stacking, so I was able to get some incredible deals.  Some of the ones I was most happy with included:

-Quantum Finish tabs…regular $6.99 – savings $5 – paid $1.99 (this was by stacking 2x $2 off coupons and 1x $1 off coupon)

-Kraft Shredded Parmesan, Asiago, and Romano Cheese…regular $6.99 – savings $4.50  - paid $2.49 (.50 cents off with loyalty card and stacked 4x $1 off coupons)

-2x Old Spice Deodorants…regular $3.99 each – savings $3.49 each ($6.98 total) – paid .50 cents each (on sale 2 for $4 and coupon save $3 when you buy 2 Old Spice products)

Total before sales, 15% discount, and coupons at Save-On Foods = $477.63

Total paid at Save-On Foods = $294.22

Total savings at Save-On Foods = $183.41

-4x Maple Leaf Prime Cooked Chicken or Turkey…regular $7.99 – savings $5 each ($20 total) – paid $2.99 each (sale and coupon)

-1 lb. strawberries for .99 cents

-family size Cheerios…regular $8.99 – savings $6 – paid $2.99 (sale and coupon)

-2x Purex toilet paper 24 rolls…regular $9.99 – savings $6 each ($12 total) – paid $3.99 each (sale and coupons) Yeah for cheap toilet paper!

Total before sales, 10% discount, and coupons at Sobey’s = $206.21

Total savings at Sobey’s = $97.94

Total paid at Sobey’s = $108.27

Then I headed over to WalMart to get just a few things.

2x Kraft Ranch dressings $1 each

3x Old Spice Body Wash $1 each

Colgate Total .38 cents

Crest toothpaste .13 cents each

Crest Extra Whitening $2.36 (not on sale, but my favourite!)

2x Pure Protein Power Bars FREE

Total paid $8.57 (total coupon savings $8.09 not including sales)

It’s great that Canada Post isn’t on strike anymore because getting the mail makes me smile.  This week…some great coupons, free mini shampoo and conditioner, and a free pack of gum!

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I never thought that I would be a couponer, but I think it is safe to say that I have been converted!  I have to introduce you to my favourite part so far of couponing:

It’s a bit of a dark picture, but it is of my Blessing Room.  That is what I have renamed the extra storage room in the basement as I am now filling it with things I have gotten for free (been blessed with) and can now bless others with!  I love this!  I have been able to get FOR FREE:

-12 cans of shaving cream

-8 deodorants

-2 tubes of toothpaste

-4 small shampoos

-4 cat foods (no, we do not have a cat!)

- 1 can of formula

-13 samples of laundry detergent

-8 bars of soap

-2 jars of barbeque sauce

-2 mustards

-4 Ziploc sandwich bag boxes

-6 boxes of pain medication

-Pull-Ups

These are all items that I have been able to get for free with coupons that I will be giving away and blessing others with!  I plan on making up hygiene bags of shaving cream, razors, soaps, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc. for the homeless and donating packages of food and household items to families in need.  This is by far my favourite part of couponing!

Another fun thing about couponing is getting great mail.  Here is an example of what now comes in the mail on a regular basis:

post-it note samples, laundry detergent sample and coupon, stacks of coupons – getting the mail is way more fun now!!!

Getting great deals and stretching the dollars is the other bonus of shopping this way.

Since WalMart will give overages, these 4 small shampoos and tube of toothpaste came to them owing me 2 cents and then me paying the tax less the 2 cents, so $0.63!  Not a bad deal!

This morning’s mini grocery trip:

2 boxes of Chocolate Cheerios (because I had 2 coupons for a free box), 2 Cheemo pyrogies, 2 frozen wild blueberries, 8 Gala apples =

Total before coupons = $36.13

Total paid after coupons = $9.67

Total savings = $26.46

Not bad for couponing in Canada!!!  My biggest savings was over $300 by combining coupons and sales with 15% off day on the first Tuesday of the month.  So far, I love couponing and can’t image going back to paying full retail price.

Here is where I learnt a lot of my coupon tricks:

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I had watched a few episodes of TLC’s Extreme Couponing and thought “good for them” or “Hoarders may have been a more fitting show”!  It didn’t occur to me that I could save by couponing because in Canada, stores don’t double or triple coupons and I assumed that there were less coupons available here.  Then, there was an episode where the lady held up coupons and said that throwing them away was the same as throwing away cash.  I had myself a little “aha” moment!

It brought me back to what I had learnt during The Grocery Challenge about how much the small amounts add up and I realized that I had been throwing away savings every time I passed on the opportunity to use a coupon.

Another thing said on an Extreme Couponing episode that struck me is that only 3% of all coupons printed are used.  Armed with that statistic made it easier for me not to feel badly asking people to pass on their coupons and fliers to me since I knew that chances were, they were just going to throw them straight into the recycle.

I am the type of person who doesn’t like to do anything halfway (well other than housework and laundry!!!) and so I began to research if it was possible to do Extreme Couponing in Canada.  It is.

Though I have yet to find a store in my area that doubles coupons, there are a few stores that stack coupons and one that offers overages.

What is coupon stacking?

Coupon stacking is using two or more coupons on one item.  This can only be done by using coupons that have different codes and the coupons must not state “cannot be combined with any other offer”.

What stores in Canada allow coupon stacking?

Currently, London Drugs and Save-On Foods allow coupon stacking.

What are overages?

Overages is a term for when a coupon is for more than the price of the item.  Most stores only allow you a discount up to the price of the item, but stores that allow overages will pay you the extra money or apply it to your other purchases.

What stores allow overages?

Currently, WalMart is the only store in Canada that I know of that gives overages.

Where do you get the coupons?

I live a few minutes out of town and don’t get fliers or coupons in the mail, but I have asked several friends and family members if they would set them aside for me.  I have also found the following sites that will mail you coupons for free:

www.save.ca

www.brandsaver.ca

www.websaver.ca

www.gocoupons.ca

Is it possible to do Extreme Couponing in Canada?

In short, yes.  Last Tuesday, I saved over $300 between sales, store loyalty cards, and coupons.  I also recently made a purchase of five items at WalMart where THEY owed ME $0.02 at the end!

There are certain items such as pain relievers, cough medicine, allergy medication, hair colour, make-up, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, paper towels, toothpaste, and diapers that you should always be able to get at a steep discount by combining store sales with coupons.  Coupons for food items are a bit harder to come by, but still available and add up over time.

Just remember, every penny saved is a penny you can apply towards paying off debt or saving for a vacation or retirement.

Follow along on my quest to practise couponing in Canada!

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