Becoming an Extreme Couponer, Part 1

So, I caught a bug when J and I were recently visiting friends and family in Toronto - I caught a couponing bug, specifically from Miss A of the Trash-Cat and Eat with Andrea fame. She had all her coupons arranged in a spreadsheet - an OCD move after my whole heart (I'm the girl who made a spreadsheet for her wedding organization, and for our move so we would "know what had to go on" and "know where everything was").

It started innocently enough with her giving me a few coupons for the Old Spice Bodywash that my DH loves. I had a few coupons in my wallet, and we promptly traded a couple back and forth.

We went across the street to Dollarama and she promptly argued with the cashier about using coupons and scored some travel-szed Purell and tossed me one for my diaper bag. I was impressed, awed.

Fast forward to coming home, I decided I could use coupons more effectively, and since I'm on maternity leave and money is decidedly tight - I could start price comparisons. In our small rural town, we don't have many stores but there's enough - Walmart, IGA, Shoppers Drug Mart, Safeway, Canadian Tire.

I started out small, my first haul I reduced our grocery bill by 46%. My 2nd haul, I bought 2L Coke for $1, and the Old Spice Body Wash for $1.47/bottle (a huge savings, normally like $4-6).

My third haul, I got fancy - it was double coupon day at IGA.....all my coupons were worth, double. I spent a few hours in there a day or two before writing down prices to compare with the little that I knew to get some steals. Here's how I did:

Christie's Rice Thins 3.27@7 ($1.50)= $1.77/ea $12.39
Cold FX $11.99@4 ($4.00)= $7.99/ea $31.96
Crackers, Premium + $2.99@6 ($1.50)= $1.49/ea $8.94
Ivory, Bars $3.77 ($4.00)= -$0.23 
Kellogg Fibre Plus 5.99 ($4.00)= $1.99
Listerine 1L $9.99( $6.00)= $3.99
Mayonaise, Hellmans $5.47@2 ($1.50)=$3.97/ea $7.94
NeoCitran, Warming $8.99@2 ($6.00)= $2.99/ea $5.98
Oasis Smoothies $1.79@6 ($2.00)= $1.58/ea $4.74
Oasis Smoothies 300ml $1.79($1.00)=0.79
Bottle Deposit $0.10 7 $0.70
Enviro Fee $0.01 7 $0.07
Purina, Busy Bones $4.99($3.00)= $1.99/ea
Purina, Chew $4.99($4.00)= $0.99/ea
Snuggle, Liquid $5.99@7($3.00)=$2.99/ea $20.93
Swiffer, Dry Cloths 2@$6.99($3.00)= $3.99/ea $7.98
V8 Fusion $4.00@2( $1.50)= $2.50/ea $5.00
Bottle Deposit $0.25 2 $0.50
Enviro Fee $0.06 2 $0.12
Vicks, BabyRub $6.99($4.00)= $2.99/ea
Motts Apple Sauce $2.49@2($2.00)=2.98/ea $4.98
Dove Body Wash $2.99@4($4.00)=$1.98/ea $3.96
Lady SS $3.49($4.00)=-$0.51 
Crest Pro Health $1.99 (1.00)=$0.99
Lever 2000 Citrus $4.99 ($2.00)=$2.99

No Coupons
Baby Carrots $1.00 1 $0.00 $1.00 $1.00
Broccoli $1.00 1 $0.00 $1.00 $1.00

Grand Total (Retail) = $261.67
Paid = $130.78
Refundable Bottle = $1.20
49.98% savings

Found out afterwards, there were a few items, I could have done better on, namely:
Listerine (1L) $1-2
Lever $1.99
Swiffers are usually 2/$9-10

I may return the Listerine for this reason, but all in all, I think I did a great job. Next post, I'll explain my process so if you're interested, you can be a couponer too!