Since I started extreme couponing there are several household items that I don’t have to pay for anymore. Others I pay just pennies for when in the past I would have paid full price out of necessity. Now I get these items for free or almost free when I combine sales with coupons.
* Toothpaste- Almost weekly the drug stores have a deal that will get you free toothpaste. Just keep an eye out in your Walgreens, Rite Aid or CVS circulars.
* Shampoo- I picked up two bottles of John Freida shampoo for a total of $.99 last week at Target. This would normally cost over $10. I used to buy pricey shampoo, but honestly I couldn’t tell the difference. In the past I have scored multiple bottles of free organic shampoo by using coupons, sales and mail in rebates.
* Body Wash- My husband is well stocked up on body wash. By keeping an eye on drug store sales and using valuable coupons I’ve been able to pick up several brands for free.
* Deodorant- This is another product I rarely pay for anymore. Both my husband and I have small stockpiles of deodorant.
* Yogurt- I used to think I was getting a great deal if I bought a four-pack of yogurt for $1. Now I either get it for free or I pay about $.25 for a four-pack. I combine “buy one get one free” sales with coupons.
* Snack Foods- I’ve scored free granola bars, trail mix and crackers. In the last couple of weeks I’ve picked up bags of chips for a quarter and dip completely free. Since this is the season for backyard BBQs and gatherings with friends I usually like to keep a small stash of stuff like this so I can bring something easy to share at the party.
* Cereal- I remember before I started couponing I would complain about the high price of cereal. I couldn’t understand why a box cost $4 or more. Now I rarely pay over a dollar for a box. A couple of weeks ago I bought five boxes of Fiber One cereal for about $.74 each. I no longer have to buy generic. In fact, I get name brand cereal for much cheaper than the store brand products.
* Coffee Creamer- Just yesterday I picked up four bottles of coffee creamer for about 19 cents each. Our fridge is usually stocked with several different flavors that I was able to pick up at a deep discount.
* Frozen Vegetables- For some reason deals on frozen vegetables are plentiful. Typically I combine a coupon with a half-off sale to get a bag of them for about a dime. It’s great for a quick side dish at dinner.
* Cleaning Supplies- I donate a lot of my extra purchases to local shelters and a lot of what I end up donating are cleaning supplies. I’m able to pick up glass cleaner, shower cleaner and laundry products for pennies. I also have a nice stockpile of back up cleaning supplies so that we never have to run to the store and pay full price at the last minute.