Charitable Giving

I stood behind an elderly woman at Walgreens and watched as she pulled out a battered coin purse to pay for her meager purchases of a few cans of tuna and some raisins. She was searching for a dime and couldn't find one and I offered her one. She took it gratefully and with some embarrassment. I kicked myself afterward, wishing I had done more. I spoke with the cashier again about the fixed incomes of seniors and how the economy has made dire straights for so many. She mentioned how many she sees like this weekly. It has bothered me and I have decided to start doing something about it! I am going to find an organization that accepts personal care products for seniors and if I can't find one I am going to have to start my own. Off my soapbox and back to coupons. Blush...

Walgreens had their Tena Ultra Thin pads on sale this week for $9.99 with a RR back of $10. I found some coupons on the Tena site; one for $2.50 off and one for $2.00 off. I did the transaction twice and actually made back a bit of money and now have some valuable items for donation!

Total spent on these transactions; I paid $8.41 and received back $10 in RR which is a surplus of  $1.59.
On the second transaction I paid $8.91, got back $10 in RR and made $1.09.
YTD to spend is now $1.02 ( at least I have a positive cash flow again!)
I received products worth $29.98
YTD savings is $573.24

Updated deals

Although it has been over a week since I posted, that does not mean that coupons weren't used!
I hit a big Olay bodywash/soap haul. At after Christmas sales, I purchased several shampoo and conditioner sets at 50% off or better and they all had $2 off coupons inside of the packs. I saved them and have been watching for a good deal. I was able to do the transaction six times over since the shelves were packed. I even shared coupons with a fellow shopper I met along the way so that she was also able to take advantage of the deal.  My surplus was shared with my Mom and Mother in law. My own portion of the body wash and soap will go the shelf  for my family's use and the rest is going to be donated to a local charity.

The bodywash and soap was on sale for 3 for $12, with a $3 RR, so the cost was $9 for three bottles. I used 3-$2 off coupons for each transaction, bringing the total out of pocket cost of the soaps to $3 plus tax.

Total spent on these six transactions was $7.17 and I got back $3 in RR; so total spent was $4.17 times 6 transactions or $25.02
YTD to spend is Negative $1.66-EEK
I received products worth $125.82
YTD savings is $543.26

In the coming weeks, watch how I get that negative balance up into a positive one!

Free items at Walgreens after paying the tax!

Total spent on this transaction was $25.32 and I received back RR worth $24; so total out of pocket was $1.32

Total left to spend for the year is $23.36
I received products worth $35.63
YTD  is $417.44