RETIRED: Target Chit Chat

And slightly on topic - had a couple good runs at local T's the other day.

First run - got lots of groceries and some toys. When I got to checkout I had a difficult choice but went with who I hoped would be an accommodating cashier. Made some smalltalk and started to feel confident that I had chosen well. All of a sudden another cashier walks up and says to the first, "do you want me to take back over now?" It turns out my first choice was just covering the register for girl #2 while she went to do something else!?!?!? So now I have BOTH of them standing around checking me out one scanning, one bagging. The total pops up ($12x or so) and I hesitantly pull out my Q's. Girl #2 looks at me kinda funny and then blurts out, "Oh, you're the coupon guy! I remember you - you always got lots a coupons!" At this point I remember her from the Glade Candle GC deal (she was very good to me and my MANY transactions) and start forking the coupons over with a big sense of relief (and wishing I had carried in more coupons). Total came down to $5x and girl #1 says, "That's good, but nowhere near as good as the other lady from the other day - she had a couple hundred worth of stuff and paid like 30 bucks."
This store used to be soooooo hard to find a good cashier at - I am very happy they have hired some "competent" people.
(for sweetsouthern - Northlake, look for the big black lady with blonde cornrow hair)

Second run - different store, different day. DW (shopping with me for the first time on a real BIG haul) & I went to re-stock the fridge that died last recently (thanks C4 and others!!!). We went on a Monday night around 6pm Loaded up the cart with groceries, deli stuff and assorted other "neccessary" items. When I entered the store, I saw a good cashier from the other day but when I was ready to check out with my massive pile o' swag he was stuck at the 10 items or less lane! I flipped a coin and got in line with the tired looking girl. Total before Q - $22x, after Q's $7x.21 - paid 7x with GC, paid $0.21 in cash . As we were leaving the cashier commented to my wife how much money we saved and I got major hubby points for "shopping so well" and DW even paid for dinner out afterwards.

Hello all,

I have just started couponing, just Target and Rite Aid, in the past month or so. I now have every coupon that I can get my hands on. The pile is starting to grow and I have 2 little file folders to keep them in. It's beginning to get overwhelming... I don't know what I should keep and not keep. I see the advantage of keeping those that I don't need for overages or trading. But how do I know I won't need them? I can't keep track of what will be expired and what the best way to sort them. How do you, seasoned folks do it?

There are certainly things that are needed around the hosue. But DH doesn't believe in paying for gas or tax just so we have excess of anything. He's just not as enthusiastic when I bring home $30 worth of free stuff just so I can give some away to MIL or my mom. He said this is too time consuming.

Any advice for me?

That's cause the CVS coupon expired 6/30 and everyone is out of peelies. Except me who found 4 lying around the other day!!

Jen2882-explain your overage deal at BRU with cleanteam, we want to know

Stormy-get the parents remote control car, it's so much fun

Bet he'd like it if you sold some of this excess at your next garage sale.

And furthermore, really, since when is it your husband's decision whether you waste your time collecting excess crap. I mean, seriously, if my husband put restrictions on what I do with my time there'd be a problem around here.

That's cause the CVS coupon expired 6/30 and everyone is out of peelies. Except me who found 4 lying around the other day!!

Jen2882-explain your overage deal at BRU with cleanteam, we want to know

Stormy-get the parents remote control car, it's so much fun

Bet he'd like it if you sold some of this excess at your next garage sale.

And furthermore, really, since when is it your husband's decision whether you waste your time collecting excess crap. I mean, seriously, if my husband put restrictions on what I do with my time there'd be a problem around here.

Hello all,

I have just started couponing, just Target and Rite Aid, in the past month or so. I now have every coupon that I can get my hands on. The pile is starting to grow and I have 2 little file folders to keep them in. It's beginning to get overwhelming... I don't know what I should keep and not keep. I see the advantage of keeping those that I don't need for overages or trading. But how do I know I won't need them? I can't keep track of what will be expired and what the best way to sort them. How do you, seasoned folks do it?

There are certainly things that are needed around the hosue. But DH doesn't believe in paying for gas or tax just so we have excess of anything. He's just not as enthusiastic when I bring home $30 worth of free stuff just so I can give some away to MIL or my mom. He said this is too time consuming.

Any advice for me?

I'd like to see her in action too! I'm amazed at what she gets and how often. I know that if I walked into my Target with a fist full of coupons each one would be scrutinized. I'd love to do all the BOGO Dove coupons, but I'm sure they'd count each one! One of these days I'll be in Chicago for a soccer tournament.......



I understand your concern. I work as a teacher at a small private school. I teach K-8 physical education and health. I though my full-time job would always be secure. Well, I got my contract for next year and the principal said that the board had considered making me part-time. They thought I could teach all classes as a part time positon! I was shocked! Now, I'm worried that next year will be my last as full time and there aren't many jobs available in my area right now. As a single mom I won't be able to make it on a part time salary. Good thing you're a frugal shopper and sounds like you're prepared! Good luck.

Seriously guys.. thanks for the support. I honestly didnt think I would have to worry! I got a great performance review and got a 2.93 out of 3 score for my review so I was confident.. I guess this was a wake up call that ANYTHING can happen at any time with this economy

I...and the rest get cut up eventually and i separate them into envelopes by category and put the envelopes in a shoebox....when i see a deal on here i grab the q and put it in my organizer....you can also keep the shoebox in your car. I try to be discreet with my coupons b/c my T's are not the most friendly when it comes to coupons...come to think of it none of my stores are lol.

okay that's good but in the meantime, if it has already hardened scrape off any excess. dilute it with water a bit. or try some tide with bleach in an inconspicuous (spelling? LOL) spot. its late
another option might be Greased Lightning cleaner. or zout cleaner that we all got earlier this year.

the zout has worked for me on blood, raspberries and all kinds of stuff I thought would never come out. Zout rules the world.

Bet he'd like it if you sold some of this excess at your next garage sale.

And furthermore, really, since when is it your husband's decision whether you waste your time collecting excess crap. I mean, seriously, if my husband put restrictions on what I do with my time there'd be a problem around here.

I agree w Smrtshppr42, my hubby knows better. If he started saying anything about my Targeting, I would have to say something about the 2 online games he plays, for which I buy his game time cards at Target w overages.

We only have 1 car, so I usually only go out maybe once during the weekday with my SD buddy and go out more on the w/e's or after the baby goes to bed.

I am a sahm, so this helps supplement our income, by getting good deals

To the OP of this conversation, If you're just starting, give it a while, he will come around. Mine was the same way initially, now he has piles of stuff we need and lots of new PS3 games.Plus whenever he needs something, say a tarp, he just tells me and poof it shows up within a week. He's lovin it now, especially since we donate lots of the stuff. Right now we have a huge pile of gatorade we are trying to drink fast

From now on when I go shopping with Steph, I'm giving her the gatorade I buy that day.