Another great shopping trip(s)

I'm trying to really shop only once a month, then just get the fresh things. This week Kroger had a GREAT sale.  My before coupons total was $549.00! But after coupons and the buy 10/get $5.00 off deals my total was only $249!  That was a savings of over 50%.  Not quite on par with the extreme couponers, but quite a great save for our little family. Especially since I only purchase the things we actually need/will use in a reasonable amount of time.  Some of the good deals that come to mind were:


French's Mustard, $1.19, less a $0.30 coupon that doubled to $.60, and the $0.50 cents off for a total cost of 10 cents per bottle.

Hunts canned tomatoes, $1.58 ea, with a $0.50 coupon off two that doubled to $1.00 and $0.50 cents off each can for the buy 10 promotion and these were 8 cents a can!

10 boxes of kraft mac and cheese: Buy 10, get $5.00 (I know it's not so healthy, but there we do purchase the whole wheat variety, and add pureed veggies instead of butter. Besides, what's childhood without boxed mac and cheese?
My second shopping trip of the weekend was to CVS where I got all of this great stuff:

Transaction #1

Noxema Face Cream  Regular Price, 5.49, sale price 3.39 plus $5.00 Extra Care Dollars

Blistex Revive and Renew, 3.49, on sale for 2.87 with $2.00 Extra Care Dollars
Dial New Skin Lotion, 7.00, on sale for 4.88 less $1.00 manufacture's coupon and
Right Gaurd Total Defense 4.59 each, one on sale for 1.14 and one on sales for 2.29, less a manufacturer's coupon for 1.00 each make $0.71 each plus $5.00 Extra Care Dollars
Listerine Total Care, 7.49 and 4.49 less 41.00 coupon for each plus $5.00 Extra Care Dollars
Doritos Regular Price, 4.29 each, Sale Price, 2/$6.00 plus $1.00 Extra Care Dollars

Total for Transaction #1: 

$56.54
-17.46 CVS Sales
$39.08
-   4.35  Manufacturer's Coupons
   34.73
 -10.00 Gift Card from Previous Visit
$24.73
*$16.00 Extra Care Dollars to use on Transaction #2

Transaction #2:

8 2 Liter Bottles of Diet Coke, Diet Sprite and Coke Zero 4/$5 * 2 = 10.00 Regular Price $1.87, saved $4.96 Less 4 $0.99 coupons
4 12 Packs Coke Products  2/$5.00 * 2 = 10.00 Regular Price $5.99, Saved $13.96
1 can Planters Cashews Regular Price, 6.49 Sale Price, 3.00
Charmin, Regular Price 15.99, Sale Price, 9.99


Total for Transaction #2

$61.40
-24.19 CVS Sales
$37.21
-  6.00 Manufacture's Coupons
-16.00 Extra Care $ from Transaction #1
$15.21
* Earned $10.00 CVS Gift Card

Transaction #3

Colgate Toothpaste Regular Price, $4.29  Sale Price $2.09 Less $1 coupon
Natures Bounty Vitamin, $18.49 Buy One, Get One plus 2 $1.10 Coupons
Visine Allergy, Buy One, Get One 1/2 off. Regular Price, $4.39 Less 2 $2.00 Coupons

Total for Transaction #3

$47.05
-29.05 CVS Sales
$18.00
   -7.20 Manfacturer's Coupons
$10.80
-10.00 CVS Gift Card from Transaction #2
$0.80

Total Cash outlay for $164.99 worth of merchandise:  $40.74

Total Savings of $124.25 or 75.3%