Coupon Update (whew!)

Ok, so I couponed this weekend...I made my list, got the coupons that COULD apply to my purchases and drove my happy little money-saving self to the store. (The Neighborhood Wal-Mart Market). I've noticed that they truly do have the lowest prices, but not always the best produce (compared to my new and special holy place, Sprouts). Anyway, I get everything I need in the cart. I double check my list, I double check to make sure I have the coupons for almost EVERY item in my cart. (Nope, not sweating yet!)

While unloading my groceries onto the conveyor belt, I am adding up what I think my bill will be without having to use the coupons. (I am a horrible estimator. Weight, age of babies, distance, and even worse when it comes to the fundage.) The chick is scanning my stuff. She makes no small talk (thank goodness) and keeps bagging. Scan. Bag. Scan. Bag. My eyes are fixated on the screen. We're up to $50. And $60. And $70. And $80. What? I seriously thought I had like $12 worth of stuff in my cart. (Not including the $5 sunflowers I splurged on to make the kitchen a little more bearable whilst picking up shriveled up grapes, hot dogs and other fine dining foods a la Luke.)

Final total without coupons: $81.63

I hand over my fat wad of coupons. Clipped perfectly on the dashed lines. They are organized and none of them are expired. What in the heck does this chick do? She pulls out a binder. A BINDER, people. And it has every single brand they carry in the store with EVERY. SINGLE. COUPON. CODE. LISTED. (Note: the Jewish lady behind me, buying a series of goodies for her obvious Yom Kippur meal is a gem. She gives me a look of, "oh honey, not another coupon clipper!" and proceeds to hold her tongue. Shalom.)

So the cashier chick is literally looking over my coupons like a hawk needing some roadkill on a sweaty day in Texas. I am embarrassed. She starts putting my beloved coupons into piles. Work. Won't work. Work. Won't work. HUH? What is she doing? I seriously bought 2 boxes of Ritz Lightly Salted crackers so I could save $.40! Bring it sister. I want to know WHY my coupons are not going to "work" "won't work." (BTW, all of them worked...I even got a Desitin FREE because it was buy 1 get one...what a deal!)

She starts scanning. The pennies are flying off my total. I am feeling the coupon love. The gem behind me is glowing- money is being SAVED right before her very eyes. It's a Christmas, errrrr, Yom Kippur miracle!!!

New total: $75.46

Is it worth it? $6.17 is my savings...I am going to keep using the coupons that are for things I truly need or use. However, I may need to check out Tom Thumb or Kroger because I've heard they DOUBLE or TRIPLE the coupon...Here we go again!