Time and time again, I hear from people how they just don’t have enough money to eat healthy.  Or, it just costs too much money to shop like I do.  Or that $15 just doesn’t buy much anymore.  Well, I’m here to prove that wrong!

Most of us will receive an extra $13-$15 a week from the recently passed stimulus package.  I know it is a few weeks till the stimulus bonus starts reaching our paychecks, but I thought I’d roll out the new series, Stretching Your Stimulus.

My goal is to show people just how far that extra $13 a week can really go!  This week brings 32 items totaling $122 for under $13!  For coupon match ups on specific sales I mention, check out our partner Nickels-N-Dimes or over at MoneySavingMom for details.  See the footnote to see some assumptions made when making this list.

Walgreens

• 4 Revlon Nail Clippers or Tweezer–Free after coupon
• 4 Ritz crackers–Free after coupon
• 4 Reach toothbrush–Free after coupon
• 4 Colgate Total–Free after coupon
• 4 Sambucol–Free after coupon

Kroger

• 2 Glucerna cereal–Free after $5 IP & get a $2.50 Catalina off your next order (reported on MoneySavingMom)
• 3 Kroger Deluxe Ice Cream–$1.50 after in-store savings
• 5 Lean Cuisine–$5.45 after coupons and in-store savings
• 2 Freschetta Pizzas–$5.98 after coupons and in-store savings

Total before coupons:  $122.xx

Total after coupons: $12.93

That’s a 90% savings!!

Now, these are only a few of the deals this week.  There are great deals at Walgreens and CVS too, but they require more money up front, with a payback on the back end when you receive mail in or instant rebates (RegisterRewards or ECB’s.)  Nickels-N-Dimes has a good rundown on those!

Footnotes:

1. I assume with printable coupons that you have access to at least two computers, and therefore can print out four of each internet printable.  Some have more, some have less, but that is an average.
2. I assume you are buying at least 4 papers per week, and therefore have at least four of each coupon.  (I recommend buying at least 6 each week there are coupons in the paper.)
3. I recommend that you get familiar with one or two coupon clipping services, like the ones I have listed in my side bar.  That will allow you to obtain multiples of the same coupon for the best deals.