Copps/PickNSave/Rainbow ~ Double Daze: How to get the biggest Bang for your Buck during Double Daze

[Cherryblossum7]

These are some tips I use when I shop PnS on Wednesdays:

First, I watch my total like a hawk, and as soon as it crosses the $25 mark, I end that transaction to get the most doubled q's possible as well as the least OOP. If I don't have enough items to make a second $25 purchase (or enough q's to double on the second purchase), I put back the extra items that I don't need.

Second, kinda obvious, I make sure the first 5 coupons scanned are my $1q's so they will get doubled. So in a $25 purchase, 5 $1q's doubled equals $10 off: instant $15 purchase. After that, the more coupons I have, the more my OOP is wittled down.

Third, as much as I can, I only purchase items that have coupons to go with them. Unless PnS has a sweet deal on milk, cheese, eggs, produce, etc., I still do most of my non-coupon shopping at Walmart, where their prices beat PnS significantly.

That's all I can think of for now. I'm sure there's plenty more great ideas to help save $$. What are your strategies for getting awesome deals during Double Daze?

[ahockeymom]

i try to save my frees or wt to boost my total for less oop. Or I buy the produce, deli thats on sale for the week, as we always need those.

[GJohnson39]

We get the savings flyer on Wednesday for the next week. I take the time to analyze the deals in light of my coupons and make a menu/preliminary shopping list. Then, on Sunday I look for any new coupons that would made the deals better or would provide other deals. That day I set up my transactions for Wednesday and project my totals using an excel spreadsheet, adjust them as needed to max out my savings. This may seem like a lot of work, but I have been able to double my savings each week since I started doing this - and I miss fewer savings opportunities. Savings last week $85.00 - OOP $93.00 (I did miss one savings opportunity because I forgot to bring my free Suave coupon, so had to combine two transactions - boo hoo).

[PurrMinn]

Bumping this up because I think it's a helpful thread!

Like ahockeymom said, I also save my frees to use for Double Daze to get to the $25 purchase minimum.

Also, I sometimes buy items that I have Mail-In Rebates or Try-Me-Free offers for to get to the total, then I can send in for the rebate and get some (or all!) of my OOP back. Even just walking up and down the aisles at the store, you're likely to find a TMF peelie on a product that you could buy to help reach the $25.

[PurrMinn]

Anyone have any other tips?

[CQintraining]

Since I am on the SE ad schedule I first review all the great deals everyone else did the prior Wed/Sat so for posting the deals you got so I can copy. I also save any frees and TMFs.

I use excel to preplan my trips as much as I can and I also make sure I have a few substitue items I can purchase if something is out of stock. These items may not be at my best price point but are pretty good pricing.

I always take all the clipped coupons I have with me just in case I find a nice clearance item.

Unless I am repeating a previous transaction, I use the self checkout lane so I can check out at my pace and not be rushed by a cashier or impatient shopper behind me in line.

[OurPlaceHere]

Originally Posted by CQintraining Since I am on the SE ad schedule I first review all the great deals everyone else did the prior Wed/Sat so for posting the deals you got so I can copy. I also save any frees and TMFs. I use excel to preplan my trips as much as I can and I also make sure I have a few substitue items I can purchase if something is out of stock. These items may not be at my best price point but are pretty good pricing. I always take all the clipped coupons I have with me just in case I find a nice clearance item. Unless I am repeating a previous transaction, I use the self checkout lane so I can check out at my pace and not be rushed by a cashier or impatient shopper behind me in line.

Is it a big deal for you to use coupons at the self-checkout? My stores all require the overseer to take care of coupons, so I always avoid going to self checkout.

[JLL]

I only use the self checkout. I can watch the screen more closely as items ring up, and I can bag my items the way I want them. A cashier does ring up the coupons just like at the regular checkout. I also get plenty of catalina q's left over from previous customers that don't want them!

[collectorofbells]

if at all possible go in the early morning.....no crowd, the cashiers are not as grumpy, and no line behind you to grumble

[kristinnm]

Thank you for this thread! As a newb to couponing (and we only have Copp's, WalMart and Walgreens in my small town) I was wondering about this!

I had my first couponing adventure last Saturday for Double Double Daze (limit raised to 10 coupons.) I picked 10 coupons I could use and after cross checking with the Copp's flyer I used the ones that were also on sale. My best deals were a Ban deodorant for 66¢ (after 25% off sale and $1 DD), free dozen eggs by adding Miracle Whip to my stockpile @ 2/$6, 2 free gallons of milk buying 6 boxes of on sale Nature Valley granola bars (my daughter loves them & they were cheaper than at WalMart even before the coupon), Country Hearth bread for $1.09 and Roundy's soup for cooking at 60¢ each (WalMart Good Value was 92¢ and Campbell's was on sale for 72¢, so this was a great price!) Also got Huggie's wipes for 64ct/$4.88 (they were $8 at WalMart.) My total savings at Copp's, with 8 DD coupons redeemed (they didn't carry 2 items) and shopper card was $78. I finished the rest of my shopping at WalMart (I get the Good Value products,) but discovered I could have gotten a better price on milk and bread at Copp's, though WalMart matched the milk price!

So, now I'm working on building up my coupon collection and now I know that I can break up my transaction to get the 5 coupons per transaction (can also shop Wednesdays here for DD.)

Thanks for the tips!