Where did the savings come from in 2008?

In 2008, I set a goal to save $10,000 using coupons, rebates, store loyalty cards, store sales, and tricks of the trade. I met my goal! In fact, I went over my goal......$10,971.17. So, where did the savings come from?


Manufacturer's Coupons: $2,786.37
Rebates: $264.27
Store Sales: $2,010.95
Gift Cards Earned: $210.00
Rx Gift Cards Earned: $240.00
Gift Cards Earned in Trade: $45.97
AC Moore Coupons: $4.00
CVS Card: $1,030.21
CVS Coupons/ECBs: $522.30
Food Lion Card: $226.80
Food Lion Coupons: $1.00
Game Stop Card: $20.00
Harris Teeter Card: $1,861.48
K-Mart Coupons: $9.00
Kohls Coupons: $25.00
Kroger Card: $755.36
Lowes Foods Card: $217.41
Michaels Coupons: $5.60
Office Max Recycling Ink Cartridges: $78.00
Rite-Aid Coupons: $6.30
Staples Coupons: $25.00
Target Coupons: $59.42
Target Rewards: $9.35
Walgreens Coupons: $4.38
Miscellaneous: $553.00

Other things that I did in 2008 to make a little extra money ~

e-Rewards: $40.00 (I complete surveys. The money is transferred into the children's Upromise account and then into their NC 529 Accounts.)
e-Trends: $10.00 (I complete surveys. Company sends me checks by mail.)
Pine Cone Research: $24.00 (I complete surveys. Company sends me cash via PayPal.)

I'll add in the gross amount that I earned completing Mystery Shops after I have a chance to calculate it.

Not too shabby!