Mega Sale Methods from Kroger Mega Sale

I have already shopped the Kroger Mega sale on Sunday when it first came out, but after checking some of the websites I use to find deals (Southern Savers) I realized more items were added that I had coupons for! Some of the coupons from 3.13 that I received were not on the list originally when I checked Sunday, so it was worth another trip out for me. Also, I had an awesome $1.50 off purchase of any chicken when you buy Philadelphia cooking creme (which I had another $1.50 coupon for :) Publix had been out of this, so when I saw the same deal and price could be done at Kroger, I was pumped!

TIP: Throughout the week, check the blogs and forums to see if any new items and coupons were added to the lists. For this purchase, I had no clue the cooking creme and dog food were a part of the Mega Sale until Fri because it was not on the original list. I like to shop Publix and Kroger deals the first day of the sale, but sometimes I will go back again for a great deal.

How I did this:

Note: All items on this list were Mega Sale items except the chicken. 

(4) 3.5 lb Pedigree Dog Food: $5.69 on sale for $3.99 with Mega sale price. Used $3 off any Pedigree Dog Food coupon from Red Plum 03.06. Paid 99 cents a bag. Saved $18.80.  28 cents a pound for dog food! I used to pay at least $1 a pound. 

Philly Cooking Sauce: $2.49 on sale for $2, used $1.50 off so 50 cents, saved $4. Here is why I bought this: A) It was a part of the Mega Sale and only 50 cents B) I had a coupon from chicken that said take $1.50 off any chicken when you buy Philly Cooking creme. So by spending 50 cents on cooking creme, I got $1 off chicken. So I found some chicken on sale and bought it!

TIP: Occasionally, there are items you may not need or typically buy, but if you buy them (cooking creme) you save on something you want (chicken). So use a coupon on the item you do not need or want (and donate to friends or shelters if you won't use it) and then get the discount on the necessity, in this case- chicken!

Chicken: $2.11 and $2.31. I used the $1.50 off chicken when you buy Philly Creme, so I paid 61 cents and 81 cents for chicken!

TIP: Most non-couponers say you can NEVER save on produce or chicken. They must not know there are coupons like this for chicken and produce. A lot of stores have "take $1.50 off produce when you buy Kraft cheese" or something similar. 

 (4) Rozini Pasta: $2 on sale for 50 cents with Mega sale price. Used 50 cents of 2 box = FREE. Saved $4.

TIP: I have an absurd amount of pasta right now because it has been free. Although it expires in 2013 and we eat a lot of pasta, next time my church asks for food for the local pantry, I will donate this pasta. One of the many benefits of stockpiling- you can donate for free or pennies! You get to use your talent to help feed someone else. :)

(2) Smart Balance Peanut Butter: $3.69 on sale for $2.29, used $1 off printable coupon. Paid $1.29, saved $4.80.

Red Gold Tomatoes: $1.09 on sale for $1. Used 50 cents off 2 printable, which Kroger doubles so $1 off 2 = FREE! Saved $4.36. 

Heluva Dips: $2.25 on sale for 99 cents, used 50 cents off 1 which doubled to $1 so FREE. Saved $6.75. 

TIP: We do not eat much dairy or dip, but this is nice to have occasionally and for when we have guests over.

Motrin PM: $6.79. I messed up on here. I grabbed the 40 count and not the 20 count, so this is why my bill was way more than it should have been. These should have been 49 cents each and I realized even with coupon it ended up being around $4... See update 3.20.11 below on how this was corrected

TIP: Pay attention to quantity! I made the mistake of looking at the sign (which the boxes were right behind) and not the box label. I had my list but did not verify quantity which I usually do.  Kroger is not as good as others about sale items being where they need to be so I lost out on about $4. I will use this medicine anyways, but it made my total higher and I did not realize it until I was typing this up.

Total: $12.62+ tax 

Note: this should have been $8.62+ tax, don't make the same mistake as me :)

Total Saved: $59.88

Percentage Saved: 82%

UPDATE  3.20.11
I went back to Kroger today to buy my 4 newspapers for the week. I was still bothered by my Motrin PM mess up of paying $6.79 for 40 count when it was supposed to be 49 cents with my coupon and Mega sale. So I brought my receipt with me and the box. They let me return the Motrin PM, asked if I had used any coupons, I said "yes, I used a $2 off" so in the end I received $5.49 back in cash, which I used to buy my papers and still had some money left over. It has been bothering me for 2 days that I messed that up... but now, all better! :)

New TOTALS: 

Total: $7.83+Tax

Total Saved: $65.37

Percentage Saved: 87%
 

If you make little mistakes like I do, you live and you learn. It can be frustrating, but in the end, I saved 82% so I have to be happy.

Happy couponing!