So, I cut coupons. I shop the sales. I subscribe to Grocery Game.com (thank you, Heather). You feel like you beat the system somehow.  Here’s a post from last year. (For my family, who might be reading, just click on the underlined word “here’s”.)

Today, not only did I beat my record, I had the strangest encounter at the grocery store that I frequently visit. The cashier seemed really irritated with all my coupons; she is also not the cashier I regularly “visit”. I like that I have a “favorite” cashier, and certain check-out lines we like to go to. Maybe she was having a bad day, but here I was, just looking to pay for my goods and there she was telling me (with an angry European accent), “You have too many coupons…” Then she continues to say something to the affect that I’m practically paying nothing… and sounding mad?! That’s right, lady! And I’m proud of it. Hey, mind your business, scan them in and get me out of here. Why are you getting upset with my shopping habits?

Sometimes, during the car ride home, I’ll calculate in my head how much I saved, but I waited until I could sit with a calculator this time. Retail cost: $112. I paid about $62 and some change. 43% savings, hooray! I had $23 in cut coupons, and another $26 in “store savings” like those preferred card deals, buy 1/get 1, and non-advertised price drops. I only wish I had my coupon organizer with me, because I would’ve bought more… lots of non-advertised deals/price drops/clearance deals for the next week.

Anyhow, things I got for free: 2 boxes of Wheat Thins-Artisan, 24 oz. Hunt’s ketchup, Wholly Salsa, 1 lb. Italian Sausage, bag of Tostito scoops, Breyer’s Ice Cream, Soft Scrub liquid cleaner