Results Week: Week of 4/28-5/4

This week was an interesting week for me, especially at Rite Aid.  I felt sooooo bad for the store manager.  I went when they first opened Monday morning, usually the only one in there.  Well she was the only one there and because of my gold status, I needed a ton of coupons marked down.  I felt bad about it because all at once everyone and their cousin decided to come into the store and ask her a ton of questions.  In her frustration, I guess she didn't notice that she missed some coupons that she needed to mark down.  I didn't question why this happened.  Instead, I got a pack of diapers with my +up rewards that was set to expire that day because my first transaction was way cheaper than expected.  Until that evening, I had no idea why it was that cheap until I was able to sit down and review my receipt. I went in and talked to her the next day and she said it was nice of me to notice it, but it was her mistake and congrats! CVS went smooth and I got everything I wanted and was thrilled to have had to 25% off e-mail :).

You Saved How Much
Results Week 4/28-5/4

Couponing Tip: I think I am going to hit home on Ethic Couponing this week.  It bothers me when I go to the stores and here how people abuse the system by having multiple cards for one store for the them, their husband, their children, and others.  When I went shopping last month before going on TV, the lady at the Altoona CVS said it has gotten so bad they have to ask the person, if they use another card, that the cardholder has to be present. When I was in Rite Aid Monday, the store manager told me that people get around the limit of 4 by having those extra cards.  If you do it, I will say kudos because I am unsure if I could  keep multiple cards straight all the time.  Other than that, I think it's a bit shameful to do that.  It just gives couponers, who already have a bad stigma, and even worse one! As much as I love freebies and good deals, I feel it's a bit wrong to clear the shelves.  Apart of couponing is to not only get a good deal, but to also share the deals and help fellow couponers out! We all are out there for the same goal, which is to save money by having a stockpile that fits our family needs.  When I see how big the extreme couponers stockpiles are, unless you have a family that will eat/use all of it before the expiration date, then it's not saving, it's hoarding.  You aren't saving money if you aren't using it!  The only way that rule doesn't apply is if I am donating.  Usually then it is a freebie or moneymaking item!  I just wanted to stress the importance of not abusing the store policies or couponing rules!  Mix that in with a little common sense and you can't go wrong! Happy Deal Hunting!


Rite Aid

Transaction #1

Bought 4 Zyrtec, 5 count, $6.00, Sale Price
**20% off Gold Status was applied**
Used 4 $6.00/1 (SS 4/28)
Final Price: $1.64 Moneymaker (Manager forgot to price down coupons)

Bought 1 Schick Quattro Titanium Razor, $10.49, Regular Price
**20% off Gold Status was applied.**
Used $10.00/1 Men's Schick Razor (Coupon off of Previous Rite Aid Receipt)
Final Price: Free

Bought 1 Schick Hydro Silk Razor, $12.49, Regular Price
**20% off Gold Status was applied.**
Used $10.00/1 Women's Schick Hydro Silk Razor (Coupon off of Previous Rite Aid Receipt)
Final Price: Free

Bought 1 John Freida Luxurious Volume Shampoo, $6.99, Regular Price
Bought 1 John Freida Full Repair Volume Conditioner, $6.99, Regular Price
Buy One, Get One 50% off
**Buy 2, Receive $3.00 +Up Reward. Limit 2.**
Used $2.00/1 Luxurious Volume Hair Care Product (Printable)
and used $5.00/1 Full Repair Conditioner (Coupon off of Previous Rite Aid Receipt)
Paid: $3.49, Received $3.00 +Up Reward
Final Price: $0.25 each

Bought 2 Mike & Ike, $1.00, Sale Price
**Buy 2, Receive $1.00 +Up Reward. Limit 2.**
Paid: $2.00, Received $1.00 +Up Reward
Final Price: $0.50 each

Bought 2 Haribo Gummy Bears, $1.00, Sale Price
**Buy 2, Receive $1.00 +Up Reward. Limit 2.**
Paid: $2.00, Received $1.00 +Up Reward.
Final Price: $0.50 each


TOTAL FROM #1: $0.95. I am unsure how I got that total, but that is what the register told me!  I also received $5.00 +Up Rewards from this transaction.


Transaction #2

Pampers Dry Diapers, $12.49, Regular Price
**20% Gold Status Discount Applied**
Used $1.50/1 (Printable)
Final Price: $8.49

TOTAL FROM #2: $8.49. I used my $6.00 +Up Rewards that was expiring that day, making my total $2.49. I still had $2.00 +Up Reward from last week &my $5.00 +Up Rewards from the last transaction for next week!

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Rite Aid Summary: Spent: $3.44                 Saved: $74.04
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CVS

Bought 1 Hershey Chocolate Single, $0.99, Sale Price
Bought 1 Hershey Air Delights Single, $0.99, Sale Price
Used $1.00/2 (Expires 6/1)
and used $0.99/1 (CVS Coupon Machine)
Final Price: Free

Bought 2 Oral B Battery Toothbrushes, $5.99, Sale Price
**Buy 1, Receive $3.00 Extrabucks.  Limit 2.**
Used two $3.00/1 (Expired 4/30)
Paid: $5.98, Received $6.00 Extrabucks
Final Price: Free

Bought 2 CVS Travel Toothbrush Holders, $0.37, Clearance Price
Final Price: $0.74

Bought 2 Gillette Venus Razors $7.29, Regular Price
**Buy 2, Receive $5.00 Extrabucks. Limit 1.**
Used two $3.00/1 (PG 4/28)
and 25% off Regular Price Coupon
Paid: $4.94, Received $5.00 Extrabucks
Final Price: $0.06 Moneymaker

Bought 1 Febreeze Candle, $4.29, Regular Price
Bought 4 Febreeze Car Clips, $4.19, Regular Price
**Spend $20.00, Get $10.00 Extrabucks, Limit 1.**
Used one $0.50/1 Candle (PG 4/28)
and used four $1.00/1 Car (PG 4/28)
and used 25% off Regular Priced Coupon
Paid: $11.23, Received $10.00 Extrabucks
Final Price: $0.25 each


TOTAL FROM #1: $23.53.  I used a total of $20.00 Extrabucks from last week, making my total $3.53. I then received a total of $21.00 Extrabucks to use for next week!

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CVS Summary:  Spent: $3.53            Saved: $56.33
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2013 Coupon Journey Summary

                                           Spent           Saved          Spending Goal

THIS WEEK:                    $6.97           $130.37        $20.00                 

MONTH OF  APRIL:      $37.84         $426.30        $80.00

YEAR TO DATE:            $230.17       $1861.91      $340.00

Results Week: Week of 4/21-4/27

This felt like a great week of couponing!! Sunday I was able to get my Target bag and did an excellent couponing trip!!  I headed over to Walgreens that day and did a great job there.  Luckily, I noticed the mistake on the last transaction.  Somehow it didn't give me the sale price or the Balance Points.  So I readjusted the last transaction.  It won't make much sense, but that is the math I figured out.  Then  a day or two later to CVS, Target, and Rite Aid.  CVS trip went amazingly well!  Rite Aid sales were a huge disappointment.   Then my second trip to Target was okay, but I wasn't thrilled my phone internet decided not to work and I couldn't get the deals that I would have with the mobile coupons.  Hopefully I can go back and get them some other time before they expire!

Results Week 4/21-4/47
You Saved How Much

Couponing Tip:  One of the biggest mistakes beginning coupons do is not pacing themselves.  They get the thrill of the deals and then before they know it they are chasing every deal out there.  Not that it's a bad thing, but it's not great!  In the long run you are going to end up burning out.  After you burn out, you can lose interest in couponing and end up not saving anything whatsoever!  So it commit yourself to complete savings in your life, pace yourself and you deals.  To begin, choose one grocery store, drugstore, and supercenter and only go ONCE!  Unless you feel like you want to only do one, then commit yourself to that store until you master their couponing policies and go forward!  So my tip for this week is pace yourself and avoid the burnout!




Walgreens

Transaction #1

Bought 1 U by Kotex Click Tampons, $3.99, Sale Price
**Buy One, Receive $2.00 Register Reward**
Used $2.00/1 (Printable Not Available)
Paid: $1.99, Received $2.00 Register Reward
Final Price: Free

Bought 1 Planters Nutrition Peanut Butter, $2.99, Sale Price
**Buy 1, Receive $2.99 Register Reward.**
Use $1.00/1 (Expires 5/15)
Paid: $1.99, Received $2.99 Register Reward
Final Price: $1.00 Moneymaker

TOTAL FROM #1: $3.98.  I recevied a total of $4.99 Register Rewards for my next transaction.


Transaction #2

**Somehow this transaction ended up happening wrong.  I was charged without sales price and my Balance Points didn't work.  After the fix, I ended up with some money back and my balance points.  I am going to do it the way it was suppose to be.*

Bought 1 Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste, $3.00, Sale Price
Bought 1 Crest Pro-Health Mouthwash, $3.00, Sale Price
**Buy 2, Receive 4,000 Balance Points.**
Used $1.00/1 Crest Toothpaste
and used $1.50/1 Crest Mouthwash (both Expires 4/30)
Paid: $6.00, Received 4,000 Balance Points

Bought 2 7up Ten, $0.50
Paid: $1.00

TOTAL FROM #1: $7.00. I used to $4.99 Register Rewards, which made my total $1.72.  I also gained 4,000 Balance Points, which I am saving for Black Friday!
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Walgreens Summary:  Spent: $5.70           Saved: $12.86
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CVS

Transaction #1

Bought 1 Natural Instincts Hair Color, $5.99, Sale Price
**Buy 1, Receive $2.00 Extrabucks. Limit 1.**
Used $2.00/1 (Expires 5/31)
Paid: $3.99, Received $2.00 Extrabucks
Final Price: $1.99

Bought 1 Physician Formula Concealer Rx, $9.29, Sale Price
**Buy 1, Receive $7.00 Extrabucks. Limit 1.**
Used $1.00/1 (SS 4/21)
Paid: $8.29, Received $7.00 Extrabucks
Final Price: $1.29

Bought 2 Oral-B Pulsar, $2.87, Sale Price
**Buy 1, Get $1.00 Extrabucks. Limit 2.**
Used $5.00/2 (From a previous package)
Paid: $0.74, Received $2.00 Extrabucks
Final Price: $2.26 Moneymaker

Bought 2 Crest Pro Health Toothpaste, $2.99, Sale Price
**Buy 1, Receive $2.00 Extabucks. Limit 2.**
Used $1.00/1 (Expires 4/30)
Paid: $3.98, Received $4.00 Extrabucks
Final Price: $0.02 Moneymaker

Bought 1 Brookside Chocolate, $0.67
**Buy 1, Get $0.67 Extrabucks.  Unadvertised Deal.**
Paid: $0.67, Received $0.67 Extrabucks
Final Price: Free

Bought 2 Softsoap Hand Soap, $1.67, 
Buy One, Get One Free
Used $1.00/2 (Expires 4/27)
Paid: $0.67

TOTAL FROM #1:  $18.36.  I used my $18.00 Extrabucks, which made my total $0.36. I then received $15.67 Extrabucks to use for next week!  I should also have some beauty bucks waiting on me too!

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CVS Summary:  Spent: $0.36   Saved: $44.21
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Rite Aid

Transaction #1

Colgate Advanced Total Zx, $2.99, Sale Price
**Buy 1, Get $2.00 +Up Rewards. Limit 4.**
Use $1.00/1 (SS 4/14)
Paid: $1.99, Received $2.00 +Up Reward
Final Price: Free

Purex Detergent, $5.99
Buy One, Get Two Free
Use $0.50/1 (Printable)
Paid: $5.99 or $1.83 each

TOTAL FROM #1: $7.78.  I used $6.00 +Up Rewards that was expiring, which made my total $1.78. I then got $2.00 +Up Rewards. Add that to my remaining rewards, making my total $8.00 +Up Rewards.


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Rite Aid Summary:  Spent: $1.78        Saved: $20.28
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Target

Transaction #1 (1st Trip)

Bought 4 GE Reveal Light Bulbs, 4 pack, $3.79, Regular Price
Used four $1.00/1 (SS 4/14)
AND Used two $5.00/2 (From Target Earth Day Booklet)
Final Price: $1.16

Bought 1 Schick Hydro Silk Disposable Razors, 3 count, $8.06, Sale Price
Used $4.00/1 (Expires 5/15)
AND used $3.00/1 (Target Printable)
Final Price: $1.06

Bought 1 Tom's Of Maine Children's Toothpaste, $2.50, Sale Price
Use $1.00/1 (Mailer Coupon)
AND used $1.00/1 (From Target Earth Day Booklet)
Final Price: $0.50


Bought 3 Oral B Dental Floss, $0.97
Used $1.00/1 (Expires 4/30)
Final Price: FREE

Bought 1 Almay I-Intense Liquid Eye Liner, $4.99, Regular Price
Used $4.00/1 Almay (SS 4/30)
AND Used $1.00/1 (Target Printable)
Final Price: Free

Bought 1 Almay Liquid Simply Foundation, $6.98, Clearance Price
Used $4.00/1 (SS 4/30)
AND Used $2.00/1 (Target Printable)
Final Price: $0.98

Bought 1 Stove Top Stuffing, $0.98, Clearance Price
Final Price: $0.98

Excedrin Extra Strength $2.89, Regular Price
Used $1.00/1 (Expires 6/30)
AND used $1.00/1 (Target Printable)
Final Price: $0.89

**Got $0.05 off for using a reusable bag.**

TOTAL FROM #1: $6.38.  



Transaction #2

Bought 4 Poise Cooling Towelettes, $2.99, Regular Price
Used four $3.00/1 (Expires 4/27)
Final Price: Free

Bought 1 Schick Hydro Shaving Gel, $2.54
Used $1.00/1 (SS 4/21)
AND Used $0.75/1 (Target Printable)
Final Price: $0.75

TOTAL FROM #1:  $0.80.


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Target Summary:  Spent $7.18                     Saved: $54.82
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2013 Coupon Journey Summary

                                    Spent         Saved          Spending Goal

THIS WEEK              $15.41        $132.17        $20.00

MONTH OF APRIL  $30.87       $295.93        $60.00

YEAR TO DATE      $223.20       $1731.54     $330.00

Results Week: Week of 4/14-4/20

  Monday morning, I hit CVS & Rite Aid on my way to join up my son's class, which was on a field trip.  Rite Aid didn't have the Diabetic Meter I was after and I almost had a heart attack at CVS.  My list became screwed up because other couponers raided the shelves on Sunday!  That messed me up because I had to grab some items, as in razors, at a higher price ranger than I was planning.  Before coupons, the cashier rung up my order and I saw the total at $50.  I was panicking thinking I majorly screwed up my transaction.  Thanks for a 20% off coupon, beauty bucks, and the B1G1 Venus Coupons taking the complete $11.99 off (score!), my total was lower than I originally figured!  Whew!  I wanted to go back this week, but I never found myself walking into any store!! Dang!!  I just tell myself next week, I am heading to Target to make up for it!

Results Week of 4/14-4/20
You Saved How Much

Couponing Tip: Have you ever heard of the Endorse app?  This is my most favorite app.  It's better than Ibotta in my eyes!  Endorse doesn't matter where you bought the items as long as you have receipt!  Even better, they give you a percentage back on what you paid out of pocket.  They take the product's price and the coupons you used, then give you the money.  You can get it back by either check or PayPal. It updates every Thursday!  There are some things you even get 100% back on!!  So please check out this really awesome app!  You won't be disappointed.


CVS

Transaction #1

Used 20% off regular price items coupon.  The 20% is taken off in the paid portion.


Bought 1 Revlon Diamond Eye Shadow, $5.29, Regular Price
Used $1.00/1 (Expires 4/21)
and used $3.00/1 any Revlon Product (CVS Coupon Machine)
Final Price: $0.23

Bought 2 Crest Pro-Health Mouth Rinse, $5.49, Regular Price
**Spend $10.00, Receive $5.00 Extrabucks. Limit 2.**
Used two $1.50/1 (PG 4/30)
Paid: $5.78, Received $5.00 Extrabucks
Final Price: $0.39 each

Bought 2 Venus Simplify Disposable Razors, $7.99, Regular Price
Bought 1 Venus Ocean Disposable Razors, $10.99, Regular Price
Bought 1 Venus Breeze Disposable Razors, $10.99, Regular Price

**Spend $30, Receive $10.00 Extrabucks. Limit 1.**
Used two Buy One, Get One Venus Disposable Razors (Up To $11.99) (Expires 4/30)
--Luckily, I got $11.99 taken off of each coupon!!--
Paid: $6.38, Received $10.00 Extrabucks
Final Price: $3.62 Moneymaker!!

Bought Crest +Scope Multipack, $6.29, Regular Price
**Buy 1, Receive $3.00 Extrabucks.  Limit 1.**
Used $1.00/1 (PG 4/30)
Paid: $4.03, Received $3.00 Extrabucks
Final Price: $0.51 for each tube!


TOTAL FROM #1:  $19.57.  I used $16.00 Extrabucks making my total $3.57.  I then received a total of $18.00 Extrabucks to use for next week!

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CVS Summary: Spent: $3.57         Saved: $57.12
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Rite Aid

Transaction #1

Bought 2 Arm & Hammer Laundry Detergent, $3.50
**Buy 2, Get $3.00 +Up Reward.  Limit 2.**
Used $1.00/1 (RP 4/14)
Paid: $5.00, Received $3.00 +Up Reward
Final Price: $1.00 each

Bought 2 Almay I-Intense Eye Shadow, $7.79
**Buy One Get One 50% off**
**Spend $10.00, Receive $3.00 +Up Reward. Limit 1.**
Used two $4.00/1 (SS 4/14)
Paid: $3.69, Received $3.00 +Up Reward
Final Price: $0.34 each

TRANSACTION #1: $8.74.  I used only $6.00 +Up Rewards and paid $2.74.  I received a total of $6.00 +Up Rewards, add that to my other $6.00 +Up Rewards from last week and I have a total of $12.00 +Up Rewards to use for this week.

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RITE AID SUMMARY: Spent: $2.74    Saved:$23.82
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2013 Coupon Journey

                                 Spent                   Saved                  Spending Goal

THIS WEEK:           $6.31                   $80.94                    $20.00

MONTH OF MAY:  $15.73                $163.76                  $40.00

YEAR TO DATE:      $208.06             $1599.37                $300.00

Results Week: 4/7-4/13

This week there was a lot of really great deals.  However, I didn't snag a whole lot of them this week.  They either were something I wasn't interested in or the store didn't have the product.  I did my weekly small grocery shopping at Weis to find some hair clips on clearance.  I snagged up two packs!  Then I went to CVS to find that my local store didn't get in the Brookside Chocolate that would've been free after reward.  I was also disappointed that I didn't get the 20% off e-mail.  If I did, I would have only spent $0.09 for everything!! Then I went to Rite Aid and they were out of stock on the Bic Razor moneymaker deal.  I was wanting to leave, but I had $10.00 +Up Rewards that expired that day, so I had to freestyle!! Didn't turn out bad at all!  If you are near the Everett, PA Rite Aid, they have a ton of Easter items at 75% off!  Thought I'd throw that out there!  Since my week seemed a bit daunting, I was happy to snag items that were on the higher end retail price wise for basically nothing!! I was glad to grab the Dr. Scholl's, DermaSilk, and Sally Hansen Deals!

You Saved How Much
Results Week: 4/7-4/13

Couponing Tip:  Couponers and Couponing seems to have so many misconceptions!!  Beginners seem to have TLC's Extreme Couponers in their head.  First off, wipe out that image!  That is not what a true extreme couponer is!  Extreme Couponers buy within their household limits.  Yes, they have a stockpile, but not one that would qualify them for an episode of hoarders!  They slowly stockup by only buying items at extremely low prices!! This is what I do with My Coupon Journey and I hope this is what you are learning along the way.  You don't need dozens of hundreds of inserts!  You only need a couple to get the job done! I buy for a family of four and if I get items that I don't use because they are free or moneymakers, I donate them or give them to someone!  Another image you need to wipe out of your head is that you will not get everything for free or close to free!! Somethings just don't work that way!  I hope this helps wipe out those mental ideas of what extreme couponers are!




Weis

Transaction #1

Bought 2 Scunci Hair Clips, $0.55, Clearance Price
Final Price: $1.10


TOTAL FROM #1: $1.14.    Saved: $2.28

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Rite Aid

Transaction #1

Bought 1 Dr. Scholl's For Her High Heel Insoles, $12.49, Regular Price
25% off
Brought 1 Dr. Scholl's For Her 16 Hour Insoles, $12.49, Regular Price
25% off 
**Buy 1, Get $3.00 +Up Reward. Limit 2**
Used two $3.00/1 (RP 4/7
Paid: $6.36 each, Received $6.00 +Up Reward
Final Price: $3.36 each

Bought 1 Pink Peeps Bunnies, $0.49, Clearance Price
Paid: $0.49, Submitted $0.50 Ibotta Credit
Final Price: $0.01 Moneymaker

TOTAL FOR #1: $13.21.  I used my $10.00 +Up Rewards that was expiring this week, making my total $3.21.  I then submitted my $0.50 Ibotta Credit, making my final total $2.71.  I received $6.00 +Up Rewards from this transaction and add it to my rewards from last week, making it a total of $12.00 +Up Rewards to use for next week!

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RITE AID SUMMARY:  Paid: $2.71              Saved: $ 24.26
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CVS

Transaction #1

Bought 2 Stride Gum, $1.00, Sale Price
**Buy 2, Get $1.00 Extrabucks. Limit 1.**
Used $1.00/2 (SS 4/7)
Paid: $1.00, Received $1.00 Extrabucks.
Final Price: Free

Xtra Laundry Detergent, $1.99, Sale Price
Used $1.00/1 (CVS Coupon Machine)
Paid: $0.99, Submitted 10% Endorse Credit
Final Price: $0.90

DermaSilk 1 Minute Eye Wrinkle Eraser, $19.99, Regular Price
**Buy 1, Get $10.00 Extrabucks. Limit 1.**
Used $10.00/1 (Printable)
Paid: $9.99, Received $10.00 Extrabucks
Final Price: $0.01 Moneymaker

TOTAL FROM #1: $11.98. I used $11.99 Extrabucks from last week making my total FREE!!  I received a total of $11.00 Extrabucks for my next transaction.


Transaction #2

Bought 4 SoftSoap Body Wash, $3.50, Sale Price
**Spend, $12.00, Get $6.00 Extrabucks. Limit 1.**
Used four $1.00/1 (RP 4/7)
Paid: $10.00, Received $6.00 Extrabucks
Final Price: $1.00 each

Sally Hansen Insta Gel Strips, $14.99, Regular Price
**Spend, $12.00, Received $5.00 Extrabucks. Limit 1.**
Used $5.00/1 (Printable)
and used Get $4.00 off when you Spend $12.00 on any Cosmetics (CVS Coupon Machine, Week of 3/31)
Paid: $5.99, Received $5.00 Extrabucks
Final Price: $0.99

TOTAL FROM #2: $16.29. I used my $11.00 Extrabucks, making my total $5.29. I then received $11.00 Extrabucks for next week!


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CVS SUMMARY: Spent: $5.29    Saved: $56.28
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2012 Coupon Journey Summary

                                            SPENT       SAVED    SPENDING GOAL

THIS WEEK:                      $9.14           $82.82          $20.00
MONTH OF APRIL:         $9.14           $82.82          $20.00

YEAR TO DATE:               $201.75     $1518.63        $280.00