I’ve heard about those people who manage to get free stuff, often toothpaste, through a combination of coupons and store specials. I’ve never managed it, until yesterday.

Here’s how I got my free tube of Colgate:

Toothpaste was on my list when I went to the Giant Eagle on West 12th Street on Sunday. Several varieties of Colgate, regularly $2.79, were on sale for 10 for $10. I didn’t need to buy 10 to get the sale price but I did need my Giant Eagle Advantage Card. That knocked the price of my tube to $1.

Among the coupons in Sunday’s Erie Times-News was one for $1 off a tube of Colgate toothpaste.

Combining the coupon with the store deal, I came home with free toothpaste.