First, we thank all of you that have followed us here at Thoughts Awry, but  unfortunately, between families, full time jobs, and TOAMWD growing a rapid pace, it has become to difficult for us tomaintain both sites. So we feel it is important to focus ourselves onTOAMWD. 
So again we thank you and hope to see you over at TOAMWD.

As you will see I am still learning this couponing process. One thing I learned this past week is that when other blogs post that they got something for FREE that statement may or may not be true. Now let me explain that, coupon policies and sales tax policies vary from state to state and also store to store. So that maybe where that last statement may be true or false. It also may be that when they are sharing their purchases with you that what was OOP (out of pocket expense) may or may not be with sales tax.
To explain this better to you I will break down my last couple of shopping trips and what I learned. All of my OOP will include my 6% MD State sales tax.


Walgreens:


Trip 1     2-12-12

(6) cans of Got 2 Be hair care products @ 2/5.99 = 17.97 (w/o tax)
     (5) 3.00 mfg coupons = 15.00
 Total OOP = 4.05 (2.97 + 1.08tx)

Now here with this trip I learned that it is always important to READ your coupons before using them. These Got 2 Be coupons had a limit of 4, which I overlooked, on them. I got lucky though and it took 5 coupons, but refused to take the 6th one.  So, sometimes you may have to make more than one trip to the register. I was in a hurry, so I ended up going back later, which you will see below. As you see though i bought 6 cans for 2.97(w/o tax). Not bad!

Trip 2    2-16-12

(2) cans of Got 2 Be hair care products @ 2/5.99 = 5.99
    (1) 3.00 mfg coupon = 3.00
Total OOP = 3.35 (2.97 + .38tx)

I had 2 coupons, but here in MD you are not allowed to take any of your savings out of your sales tax. Just because you save money on the product, here at Walgreens, your sales tax is based on your original purchases, so your tax does not change. They would have owed me .03 cents, but again because it would have come out of my sales tax I was not allowed to use that second coupon. So that goes to show that here in MD you will always have an OOP, even if it is your sales tax.

CVS:


Trip 1    2-12-12

(1) 4pk of Olay soap = 7.78 now @ 50% off = 3.89
  (1) 1.00 mfg coupon
Total Cost = 2.89 (w/o tax)

(2) Colgate Advance Toothpaste @ 2.75 = 5.50
  (2) 1.00 mfg coupons = 2.00
Total Cost = 3.50
Earned $4.00 ECB (extra care bucks) on these products

Total OOP = 6.78 (6.39 + .39tx)

Here at CVS, your sales tax is based on what I spent after my coupons. Also I am not showing my ECB's as a savings because they can not be used until your next purchase.

Trip 2  2-18-12

(2) Kotex 36ct. Tampons @ 2/10 = 10.00
  (1) 1.00 mfg coupon
Total Cost = 9.00
Earned 3.00 ECB on this product

(2) Kotex U Pads = 9.58 now 50% off = 4.78
  (1) 1.00 mfg coupon
Total Cost = 3.78

(1) 4pk Olay soap = 7.78 now @50% off = 3.89
  (1) 1.00 mfg coupon
Total Cost = 2.89

Total Cost after coupons = 15.67
 (1) 4.00 ECB coupon

Total OOP = 11.91 (11.67 + .24tx)

Rite Aid:


(4) bags of M&M's @ 2/5.00 = 10.00
   (2) 1.50/2 mfg coupons

Total OOP = 7.60 (7.00 + .60tx)

Rite Aid is like Walgreens and bases your tax off of original purchases not discounted.

So now for all trips:

(8) cans of Got 2 Be hair care products
(2) 4pk Olay soap
(2) Colgate Advance Toothpaste
(2) Kotex 36ct. Tampons
(2) Kotex U Pads
(4) bags of M&M's

Total OOP 20 items: 33.69 (31.00 + 2.69tx)

Even though I was disappointed in Walgreens, due to thinking I would have NO OOP, I am very pleased with my savings and my total OOP. Next week I am hoping to be able to show you each receipt and the savings from each along with the total OOP.

I thought I would share with all of you that our Tiny Prints Valentines Day Cards have arrived.
My daughter opted for these instead of the SpongeBob. She was so excited to see these. They have been personalized with her name, so she thought that was just so cool.

I have been enrolled in their new V.I.P program and they have offered me a code for the first FREE perk of being enrolled Super Rush Delivery. Because I won't use it I am offering it to you. It expires 3/31/12, so you will need to use it soon.

Code: VMPFZ98D83 

 So now that this is the new home for the Coupon Adventures I figured it was about time I start updating them.
I must say that I have still not learned all the ins and outs to couponing, but still I am happy at some of the savings I am beginning to see with some of them. So here are the latest trips I took.

We have made a button,but google will not allow me to change my TOAMW&D profile so that we can follow eah of you from Thoughts Awry. So please know that even if you do not follow TOAMW&D we are following you with that button.
Also I hope that tomorrow I will be able to post some of my coupon adventures for you.

Thanks
cissy