How To: The Best Way to Calculate Your Total and Present Your Coupons

[seedlady]

Originally Posted by shandy59 I was curious, do you figure out these savings for fun - or do you do it to track how much you save? I would like to find an easy way to track my savings over time. Thanks, Sandy

at cvs? the easiest way is to read it off the bottom of each receipt.

[feyzanour]

in my stores in NJ/NY ecb never pays the tax. i am always tld i have topay the tax with cash or a GC

can someone living in my area let me know what they experience?

tia

Originally Posted by poetangel Yup, ECBs are store discounts thus reducing your taxable amount

[ladycat00]

Just an FYI for people in Texas- as far as sales tax is concerned, it doesn't matter what order you do things in. All store and manufacturer coupons are treated exactly the same, and tax is paid on only the final amount after all discounts are applied.

More info here:

Sales Tax Update - First Quarter 2009 (scroll down to where it says Discounts, Coupons, "Free" Meals and Rebates)

That page is dated April 2009 so it's very much up-to-date.

[Lurkergirl]

Not sure how ILL sales tax works because I am still a newbie here .But I usually give them my card to scan ,then my man q's and then the ecb .I never have the $x/xx so thats never factored in .I think I usually have to pay sales tax but maybe only because I am doing it wrong .

[poetangel]

Originally Posted by Lurkergirl Not sure how ILL sales tax works because I am still a newbie here .But I usually give them my card to scan ,then my man q's and then the ecb .I never have the $x/xx so thats never factored in .I think I usually have to pay sales tax but maybe only because I am doing it wrong .

Nope, you should use ECB and store qs first (CRT or e-mail, etc) for sure in Illinois! I always do that. Store coupons (which is what an ECB is considered as well, since it is a store discount) reduces your taxable amount. BUT they will not pay for tax. Manqs do not reduce your amount, but DO PAY for tax.

Example:
ItemA is $2.49 and ItemB is $4. If you had no q, taxable amount is $6.49. (or $6.49 + tax)

If you had a $4 ECB and a $1 manq, and gave ECB first:
$6.49 - $4 = $2.49 + tax, minus $1 manq

It only varies by cents, and gets nit picky when you are spending very close to your bucks. LIke if you had $6.49 worth of items, and a $2.50 manq and $4 ECB. If you gave them the manq first, then your total would be $3.99 + tax on $6.49 and the ECB will not work. The store will either not accept it, or ring it for $3.99 and you 'lose' that penny. But if you give them the ECB first, your total is $2.49 taxable, and the $2.50 manq WILL scan, because it can pay for tax.

Hope that helps and isn't more confusing!

[jenn1fer]

Clarification needed here please. I think this is right but just want to check.

I have a $10/$50. I always try to hand these first but if for some reason the cashier scanned my manufacturer coupons first, reducing my total to say $20, then scanned the $10/$50 it would still take it right? Even though my total at that point in time would be $20?

[Lurkergirl]

Originally Posted by poetangel Nope, you should use ECB and store qs first (CRT or e-mail, etc) for sure in Illinois! I always do that. Store coupons (which is what an ECB is considered as well, since it is a store discount) reduces your taxable amount. BUT they will not pay for tax. Manqs do not reduce your amount, but DO PAY for tax. Example: ItemA is $2.49 and ItemB is $4. If you had no q, taxable amount is $6.49. (or $6.49 + tax) If you had a $4 ECB and a $1 manq, and gave ECB first: $6.49 - $4 = $2.49 + tax, minus $1 manq It only varies by cents, and gets nit picky when you are spending very close to your bucks. LIke if you had $6.49 worth of items, and a $2.50 manq and $4 ECB. If you gave them the manq first, then your total would be $3.99 + tax on $6.49 and the ECB will not work. The store will either not accept it, or ring it for $3.99 and you 'lose' that penny. But if you give them the ECB first, your total is $2.49 taxable, and the $2.50 manq WILL scan, because it can pay for tax. Hope that helps and isn't more confusing!

Ok lets see if I got this .Next time I go if I have ecb's you give them after your card then any manu q's you have .(I never get x/xx type coupons so that I never have to figure in .

[rrpate]

Originally Posted by poetangel Nope, you should use ECB and store qs first (CRT or e-mail, etc) for sure in Illinois! I always do that. Store coupons (which is what an ECB is considered as well, since it is a store discount) reduces your taxable amount. BUT they will not pay for tax. Manqs do not reduce your amount, but DO PAY for tax. Example: ItemA is $2.49 and ItemB is $4. If you had no q, taxable amount is $6.49. (or $6.49 + tax) If you had a $4 ECB and a $1 manq, and gave ECB first: $6.49 - $4 = $2.49 + tax, minus $1 manq It only varies by cents, and gets nit picky when you are spending very close to your bucks. LIke if you had $6.49 worth of items, and a $2.50 manq and $4 ECB. If you gave them the manq first, then your total would be $3.99 + tax on $6.49 and the ECB will not work. The store will either not accept it, or ring it for $3.99 and you 'lose' that penny. But if you give them the ECB first, your total is $2.49 taxable, and the $2.50 manq WILL scan, because it can pay for tax. Hope that helps and isn't more confusing!

yes thats the way it works here in fl. too... all cvs crts and ecbs first then mfcs... and pay next to nothing or nothing oop! not hard to work it out.. once you add and subtract them like poetangel stated...

[rrpate]

Originally Posted by thecoop most cashiers will say iit is negative and you have to get the amount positive. So I just start ading candy bars until it is in the plus column.

yup thats my go to for fillers when needed..i look for the 2/1.00 reeses

[ayenbe]

If I'm negative by .01 or .02 (or some other ridiculously small amount), my cashiers/managers will let me add in a .01 (or whatever) taxable item. That way my total goes to 0.00 and they get a free penny or so. Check with your store manager before you go this route as I'm sure it will vary from store to store.