05 November 2013

Gaming, Coupon-Style

Today I scored $18.50 in FREE money, just for putting Call of Duty on layaway, at Kmart.  Here's the breakdown.

$6.00   [in points to open a layaway contract]
$2.50   [in points for payment #1]
$2.50   [in points for payment #2]
$2.50   [in points for payment #3]
$5.00   [in points at completion of contract]
---------------------------
$18.50 in FREE money to use later, just for putting the game on layaway, today.  To open this contract, I had no fees, but was required to pay $15 toward said purchase.

Did I reach in my pocket to give them straight cash????

Noooooo.  First, I went to the cashier and handed her $25 in green for a $25 Kmart gift card BECAUSE, that gift card is part of a promotion that gave me an additional gift card worth $5 PLUS, $2 in points on my rewards card.

I did that transaction twice.  Brings me to $14 + $18.50 = $32.50 in free money to use another time.

And that's how I coupon.

I don't deduct the rewards or points until I use them.  I paid $50 out of pocket for gift cards, to pay for his game.  But instead of putting it all on the game today, we'll wait until NaNo is over for Tim, and I've collected all my points.

And believe you, me.  I will not be paying out of pocket, for the next round of paper towels or crapper paper.


34 comments:

  1. Thanks for reminding me! I pre-ordered Call of Duty for Genius Kid, and I need to pick it up today. However, I did not do such a fantastic deal as you did, Whisk!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's that fun time of year when stores run neat promos to get your money. Normally, we would have bought his game somewhere else, but with the free money, how could I resist?

      Couponing, Gamer Wife Style.

      Delete
  2. Your are a smart shopper! Will Tim be able to wait until December for his game?

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    Replies
    1. I asked him before doing this sale. He said it would be too tempting to have Ghosts around when he's gotta work on NaNo.

      Delete
  3. LOL Tim needs to suck it up until he hits 50k! I did my first 1k of the day before 10am...Tim is a slacker! :)

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    Replies
    1. Hahaha, you guys are funny with this NaNo stuff.

      Delete
  4. Wow. You are simply amazing. You are really, really good at taking advantage of corporate America's attempts to take advantage of us. Like, you totally flip it on them so you win and they lose.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you. I enjoy the puzzle. And hopefully wrote it in a way that makes sense to newbie couponers. Because doing the sale is one thing, but then writing it all out so that it makes sense, is a little more trickier for me. Sorta like writing out a bake, all the details and steps without being too wordy or confusing.

      It's hard. But I have the time to figure it out, now that I'm home resting, writing, couponing, baking and cooking.

      Do you play Call of Duty?

      Delete
  5. Replies
    1. It's fun game motivated further by my need to get this silly spine of mine healed up but good.

      Delete
  6. Super freakin' cool. You are the Couponing Queen!!

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  7. We play the gift card/bonus card game this time of year, too. Just gotta watch the expiration dates!!

    I guess that game is something special? I see ads for it everywhere. Just seems kind of violent to me, but hey, I never did get into gaming.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Call of Duty. Yeah, it's a big deal for those who love the game. I can't play because each time I try to turn left, I turn right and hit something and I am just the worst at it.

      Agreed on the expiry dates. Only seven days for the $6 in points that I earned today. But they will be gone faster than you can say, flapjackflipemdipempancakes.

      Delete
  8. You are a shopping guru, girl! I am in awe. We used to have Kmart in Canada, and I enjoyed shopping there. Too bad they're gone. They have interesting products and great prices.

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  9. Call of Duty: one of those things I've heard about, but because I don't play video games, I could see it on a screen in front of me and have no idea what it was....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tim really enjoys gaming on the xbox. No games for you, eh? Don't like them?

      Delete
  10. I've got to wait until Father Christmas gives me my copy of CoD Ghosts, will I be able to survive until then??? Probably not!

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    Replies
    1. Oh no, not until Christmas for you. That's a long long long loooooong time from now. You might not make it.

      Delete
  11. I'll have to wait on Ghosts, the reviews scores are coming in not so pretty.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tim just told me, it hit ONE BILLION on launch day. Dang. That's some serious green.

      Delete
  12. Replies
    1. Coupon Gaming. Good title for something. I like it. You getting Ghosts? Poor Rayolla said he has to wait until Christmas.

      Delete
  13. Is it THAT scary?

    Love that you managed to get it this way

    Ian

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    Replies
    1. I dunno, I am interested to see the game when he gets it home. I can't play, as I run into everything and am not good at it.

      It was exciting to get something we were going to buy anyway, this way. Thanks.

      Delete
  14. What a smart way to buy a game. We have a chain up here that has a points card that you can redeem for free stuff in their store. Sometimes there are promotions if you buy a $50 gift card you earn lots of bonus points. If you spend the points you earned on "double points" day they are worth even more. If you are buying stuff anyway, buying a gift card for yourself first is an awesome way to get extra points.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love that points system. And I agree, if we're buying the stuff anyway, why not do it gift card style. Love that.

      Do you and John play xbox games?

      Delete
    2. We've been borrowing our friend's xbox for the past few months and some of the games are pretty cool. We will probably get one of our own at some point.

      Delete
    3. That is cool. We don't have cable TV, instead we watch NetFlix through the 360. It's fun.

      You guys have NetFlix?

      Delete
    4. We have it in Canada, but we don't have it at home yet. At some point we will, I'm sure. The selection of movies/tv is different in Canada, but still lots of great stuff to watch.

      Delete