Just a quick refresher about couponing at Tops...We are in a gas points earning period where you can earn 10 points per manufacturer coupon with a limit of 100 gas points from coupons per transaction. Since I use so many coupons and Tops is very close to home, it is worth it for me to visit the store multiple days throughout the week to take full advantage of their gas points.
This week's ad also features 4 Dollar Doubler coupons that will double 4 $1 manufacturer coupons with a $20 purchase (after Bonus Card savings, before tax, and before coupons). I will be honest -- I try to abide by coupon policies and rules, but Tops has me a bit stumped. Their last policy posted online mentions that when Dollar Doublers are issued, there is a limit of 4 per household per week. However, the Dollar Doublers themselves make no mention of this and state a limit of 4 per customer. Since they seem to be contradicting themselves, I made the decision to follow the rules printed on the Dollar Doublers. Depending on your comfort level, you may or may not agree with this.
Below is the run down of my Tops shopping trips so far this week...
Trip 1:
On sale 10/$10, used the $1 off 2 coupon from the 9/16 SmartSource coupon insert and a Dollar Doubler
2 boxes Quaker oatmeal cookies - $1.00 each
On sale 5/$10, used the $1 off 2 coupon from the October issue of All You magazine and a Dollar Doubler
2 rolls Bounty Basic paper towels - $0.29 each
Priced at $1.29 each, used the $1 off 2 coupon from the 9/30 P & G coupon insert and a Dollar Doubler
6 bags Banquet chicken nuggets - $2.49 each, see notes
On sale for $3.99 each, used 6 $1.50 coupons inside boxes of previously purchased Banquet frozen dinners
Notes: These are part of a gas points promo where you earn an extra 200 gas points when you buy 6 select items. Also, I did not check at the store to see if any Banquet frozen dinners are still labelled as containing coupons inside, but if they still have them, there are several really good coupons printed in the box and they dinners are on sale this week for $1 each.
1 package refrigerated Jell-o mousse pudding - FREE
On sale 2/$4, used the $1 coupon from the 9/16 SmartSource coupon insert and a Dollar Doubler
The retail cost of this trip was $44.97 and I paid $17.57 after coupons and discounts, for a savings of approximately 61%.
Trip 2:
On sale 2/$4, used a $0.55 coupon (doubles to $1.10) printed from here
2 boxes Apple Jacks - $1.00 each
On sale 5/$10, used 2 $0.50 coupons (double to $1) printed from being registered here (but they don't seem to be available now - sorry!)
2 boxes Frosted Flakes - $1.00 each
On sale 5/$10, used 2 $0.50 coupons (double to $1)also printed from here
4 boxes Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta - $0.50 each
On sale 10/$10, used 2 $1 off 2 coupons printed from Facebook (note: you could use Dollar Doublers with these 2 coupons, but I didn't have any with me on this shopping trip. I did have a $2 Catalina coupon that was expiring, though, so I used that instead to bring down my total out-of-pocket cost).
2 cartons Bailey's coffee creamer - $0.17 each
On sale 3/$5, used 2 $1.50 coupons no longer available from their Facebook page (sorry!)
The total retail cost of this trip was $31.49 and I paid $5.36 after coupons and discounts, for a savings of almost 83%.
Trip 3:
Priced at $1.29 each, used the $1 off 2 coupon from the 9/30 P & G coupon insert and a Dollar Doubler
2 boxes Frosted Flakes - $1.00 each
On sale 5/$10, used 2 $0.50 coupons (double to $1) printed from here
4 cans Goya beans - $0.44 each
On sale for $0.69 each, used the $1 off 4 coupon from the 9/16 Red Plum coupon insert
8 cans Campbell's cooking soup - $0.50 each, see notes
On sale 10/$10, used 2 $1 off 4 coupons (no longer available to print -- sorry! -- but there is a $0.40 off 3 coupon now available here, which makes them $0.73 after the coupon doubles) and a Dollar Doubler
Notes: If you need a deal on boneless skinless chicken breasts, the big packs are on sale for $1.99 per pound. In addition, you can earn an additional $2 off the chicken instantly when you also buy 6 select items. The soups and the pasta below were part of the deal, but I unfortunately wasn't paying close enough to the ad on this trip (I did on the next one, though!). This purchase also triggered a $1 off 4 Campbell's cooking soups Catalina coupon.
2 boxes Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta - FREE
On sale 10/$10, used a $1 off 2 coupon printed from Facebook and a Dollar Doubler
3 Healthy Choice Baked entree - $0.50 each
On sale 5/$10, used 3 $0.75 coupons (double to $1.50) printed from here
The retail cost of the third trip was $43.09 and I paid $9.89 after coupons and discounts, for a savings of 77%.
Trip 4:
8 Nabisco Go-Packs - FREE, see note
On sale 10/$10, used 4 $1 off 2 coupons printed from here and 4 Dollar Doublers
Note: The coupon excludes single serving size. I was half expecting to get hassled by a cashier not wanting to accept the coupons on these (for the record, the cashier put them through without question) but for reference the packages state they are 2.5 to 3.5 servings depending on the variety.
4 Campbell's cooking soups - $0.50 each
On sale 10/$10, used $1 off 4 Catalina from my previous trip
1 box (10-ct.) Brillo pads - $0.89
On sale for $1.99, used a $0.55 coupon from the 9/30 SmartSource coupon insert (note: the coupon states "do not double" on it, but it automatically doubled when scanned)
2 boxes Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta - $0.50 each
On sale 10/$10, used a $1 off 2 coupons printed from Facebook
1 bag Earthbound Farms organic carrots - FREE, see note
Priced at $1.49, used a $0.75 coupon ("doubles" up to $1.49) from being registered on their website
Note: The coupon is good for any Earthbound Farms product. I noticed they also had some Apple Crunchers (I think that 's the name) snacks on sale 10/$10, which would also be free with the coupon, but I needed carrots.
1 Healthy Choice Baked entree - $0.50
On sale 5/$10, used a $0.75 coupon (doubles to $1.50) printed from here
4.04 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts - $6.04 ($1.50 per pound)
On sale for $1.99/lb, plus I had $2 taken off my bill automatically for buying 6 select products (the Campbell's soup and Ronzoni pasta)
The retail cost of the fourth trip was $47.35 and I paid $11.47 after coupons and discounts, for a savings of almost 76%.
Overall, this was great week for me. I paid $44.29 for $166.90 worth of groceries, which is a savings of 73%. It certainly made getting back into the couponing game very rewarding and fun for me. :-)
Happy shopping!
My checkout clerk asked if I had doublers for each of my two orders. When I said no only for one order she added them to the first order. Apparently you can have doublers for each order. I split the order to take most advantage of the gas points for coupons.
ReplyDeleteInteresting! I have a feeling this policy varies greatly between stores and cashiers.
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