Target: Round 2 for the $10 gift card with $50 food purchase

I went to Target tonight after work to take advantage of the $10 gift card with a $50 dollar grocery and beverage purchase. I did this yesterday, spent a bit less than $30, and got $25 back in gift cards. What better way to spend them is on more food. I did a similar transaction to meet the $50 threshold. My goal was to spend about $25. I had a great trip that I planned out last night, but my Target in Woodinville was out of stock on several of the higher ticket Kid Fresh Frozen Entrees and Oreo minis, so I had to think on my feet to devise a new plan. I spent 15 minutes aimlessly rolling through the aisles, looking for sales and trying to recall the thousands of coupons I might have in my stash to save 50% or more. It was a bit of a test, and a little stressful. I parked in an aisle, pen to paper, for about 10 minutes, calculating, adding, checking coupons, and double checking my list. Then I went and filled my cart!

My transaction breakdown was as follows:

4 Nutrigrain Fruit and Oat Bars $2.50 each
4 100ct Lipton Tea Bags 2 for $6.00, $3.00 each
2 Lipton 20 ct flavored Tea Bags, $2.19 each
2 Betty Crocker Cake Mixes $1.00 each
2 Betty Crocker Frostings 2 for $3.00, $1.50 each
4 Ortega Seasonings $0.69 each
2 Betty Crocker Instant Potato Pouches $1.12 each
1 Purevia 40ct Sweetener $1.79 each
2 Keeber Cornbread Crackers $3.19 each
1 Best Foods Mayonaise $3.50 each
1 Oreo Cookies $2.99 each
1 M&Ms $0.89 each

The total was $51.93 before store and manufacturer coupons. I used the following coupons in this order:

***The Nutrigrain bars were on promotion for a $5 gift card for every 4 purchased, so my purchase triggered $5 in Target gift cards ***

Target in-ad coupon for $10 GC with the purchase of $50 in grocery items, the cashier should then scan and hand you a $10 Target gift card

Then hand the cashier the remaining coupons, Target coupons first, then manufacturer coupons:
$1.00/1 Best Foods TQ x1
$0.50/2 Betty Crocker Froster TQ x1
$1/1 Purevia TQ x1
$0.50/1 Nabsico MQ x1
$1/1 Nutrigrain Fruit and Oat Bars MQ x4
$3/2 Lipton MQ x2
$1/1 Lipton MQ x2
$0.75/2 Betty Crocker Cake or Frosting MQ x2
$1/2 Betty Crocker Potatos MQ (peelie) x1
$1/1 Purevia MQ x1
$1/2 Ortega Products MQ x2
$0.50/1 Best Foods Mayo MQ x1

Then scan your cell phone for the Target Cartwheel for:
50% off Keeber Cornbread Crackers
10% off Betty Crocker

After coupons and discounts, my total was $27.48, and I used my gift cards from yesterday's transactions and got back $15 in gift cards, so the net cost was $12.48, or less than $0.47 for each item. And so begins my transaction plans for tomorrow. On the docket is Glade, slow cooker liners, chapstick, and more! Details to come tomorrow!!!

Great Target coupon for a $10 gift card with $50 food purchase

Since I started couponing 2 months ago, I have amassed a huge stockpile of toiletries, home goods, laundry care, and make-up. I have accumulated a few great deals on food items, like chewing gum, pasta and pasta sauce, hamburger helper, and cereal, but have to say that my food stockpile is puny in comparison to my personal items stash. Most likely because we go through food items more than household items, so the stock depletes much more quickly. Since we are going into the holiday season, which typically includes large dinners, potlucks at work, and lots and lots of baking, I am looking forward to increasing my food surplus, and Target is a great place to start this week.

They have an in-ad coupon for a $10 gift card when you spend $50 or more in food and grocery items. I also plan on rolling my coupons to do multiple transactions over the course of this week (I have to pace myself when shopping with a 3 year old). I also hesitate doing multiple transactions after work because I never know how long the lines are going to be, if my first transaction doesn't work it, the rest of my transactions may not work either (because typically, I roll my gift cards from transaction to transaction), and how much I can shop and entertain the toddler.

Today, I did my first of 3 transactions planned for the week. And yea, I plan my week out in advance on Sundays, especially if multiple transactions are involved. I love to match-up ads to coupons on my own, but I also really enjoy reading some of my favorite blogs, and Facebook group posts (I have actually received some wonderful insights and tips for people on Facebook pages that are very clever). Once I have my transactions planned, I will make sure I have all my coupons together. Today I used over 20 coupons in one transaction, which is a record for me.

My transaction breakdown was as follows (at Target in Woodinville, WA, other store prices vary):

4 Nutrigrain Fruit and Oat Bars $2.50 each
6 Kelloggs Special K Bars $2.50 each
2 Nurtigrain Bars $2.50 each
2 100ct Lipton Tea Bags 2 for $6.00, $3.00 each
2 Barilla Pasta Blue Boxes $1.44 each
2 Betty Crocker Cake Mixes $1.00 each
2 Betty Crocker Frostings 2 for $3.00, $1.50 each
4 Swiss Miss Simply Cocoa Boxes $1.38 each
2 Betty Crocker Instant Potato Pouches $1.12 each

The total was $51.64 before store and manufacturer coupons. I used the following coupons in this order:

***The Nutrigrain and Special K bars were on promotion for a $5 gift card for every 4 purchased, so my purchase triggered $15 in Target gift cards ***

Target in-ad coupon for $10 GC with the purchase of $50 in grocery items, the cashier should then scan and hand you a $10 Target gift card

Then hand the cashier the remaining coupons, Target coupons first, then manufacturer coupons:
$0.75/2 Barilla Pasta TQ x1
$0.50/2 Betty Crocker Froster TQ x1
$1/2 Kelloggs or Nurtigrain MQ x4
$1/1 Nutrigrain Fruit and Oat Bars MQ x4
$3/2 Lipton MQ x1
$0.40/1 Swiss Miss MQ x4
$0.75/2 Betty Crocker Cake or Frosting MQ x2
$1/2 Betty Crocker Potatos MQ (peelie) x1

Then scan your cell phone for the Target Cartwheel for:
10% off Swiss Miss
10% off Betty Crocker

Total Out of Pocket: $34.25 (no tax, all food items), got back $25 in gift cards ($10 for meeting the Target Grocery threshold), and $15 for the Kelloggs Bars. I rolled my gift cards from last week's purchases towards this purchase too, which was great because I didn't pay anything out of pocket. Total net out of pocket was $9.25, or $0.35 per item!! That's pretty incredible!

Keep those gift cards rollin'. Its a great way to accumulate a stockpile when things go on sale, I am sure that there are more to come this week as I lay out my plan for Round 2.