Why?

Ok...I hear it a lot..."why coupon?" I also hear "it takes too much time" and "You can't save that much"...well, I'm here to explain why I do it and give a few great examples of how you can save big in the long run!! First lets discuss...Time. Yes, it does take time to research coupons, print, clip, sort etc....BUT it doesn't have to. You can get just a Sunday Paper and use only those coupons. It comes once a week and you can sit on a Sunday morning look at the ads, clip the coupons, match them up...all at once. While drinking coffee or eating breakfast. You will eventually start to remember what coupons you have and be able to match up older coupons with newer deals. Also if you follow a website like KCL you will be able to get tons of helpful info on matching up coupons and what stores are having good sales. Personally, I recommend getting online coupons b/c you have more of a variety. I really takes no longer than checking you email....especially if you are just looking to save a few bucks and not go totally crazy and have a stockpile that overtakes your house. :) Not that there is anything wrong with that! :)

Ok....it surprises me how many people don't think they need/could save money with coupons...let me go over a few examples:

Paper Towels:
Let's say you go through a roll of paper towels every week. = 52 Rolls a year. Bounty Paper towels were on sale today for $12.99 for 12 double rolls (or 16 regular rolls) = $.81 a roll. = $42.22 a year
I bought paper towels the other day at Walgreens. Scott Naturals select a size (and yes I know thats not the same brand...this is just an example) They were on sale a 6 pack for $5 = $.83 a roll. Not much more than Bounty BUT Walgreens had a $1 off store coupon AND you could print a $1.50 coupon from Scotts website. So $5 - $1 - $1.50 = $2.50 or $.41 a roll = $21.66 a year Just by spending 5 minutes printing a few coupons!

Toilet Paper:
Lets say you go through a roll in each bathroom every two weeks and you have two bathrooms in your house. 2 rolls in 2 weeks or 1 roll per week or 52 rolls a year. Charmin is usually on sale somewhere around $8 for 12 double rolls = $.66 a roll or $34.66 a year
Angel Soft was on sale at Dollar General for $5 for 12 double rolls = $.42 a roll....they also had $.50 coupons you could print online AND was having a deal that if you spent $25 you could get $5 off....so I bought 5 packs for $18!! Thats a total of 60 rolls of TP at $.30 a roll....

So in less than FIVE minutes I printed a total of 8-10 coupons....went to TWO stores and got enough paper products for ONE year and saved $37.22....thats dinner out for us!!

Thats just two examples.....of saving some money...there are TONS of ways to save even more!! You would be amazed how often you can get FREE toothpaste, food, candy, makeup, medicines, bath products, baby items, and many, many, many other things....just by clipping some coupons and paying attention to the sales!!

More to come...but a certain little girl who hasn't napped today just fell asleep on my shoulder!! :)

Allergy Relief....for FREE!!

I read on KCL that Target had Zyrtec on sale for $5.25!! My hubby has been suffering Allergies the last few days and thought this was perfect timing!! I literally jumped out of bed, got dressed, and headed out!! The closest Target to me is not my fave...but it was rush hour and did not want to get out in it!! So I chanced it and went to the one closest...not only did they have them BUT they were only $4.76!! Here's my total Trip: 4 Zyrtecs: $4.76ea used 4 $4 off Target coupons and a $6/2 manuf coupon = FREE and $2.96 MONEY MAKER Excedrin: $3.59 used $3 Target coupon and $.75 manuf coupon = FREE and $.16 MONEY MAKER Rimmel Mascara: $2.24 used $1 off coupon = $1.24 Oral B Stages Toothbrush: $2.34 used $.50 off coupon = $1.84 Gummy Bears: $.79 (fillers) Total OOP: $.75....98% Savings

March Savings

This will adjust "some" since I know I will be hitting the stores Wed for a few things we need for dinner this week but overall should be about the same!! I only started keeping track of my receipts this month. I found a great spreadsheet to use here and have been entering all my receipts...here is March breakdown: Before coupons: Weekly Budget: $75 (realistically was prob way more) Monthly Spending: $325.93 After coupons: Weekly Budget: $61.09 (actual since I have been entering receipts) Monthly Spending: $265.49 Monthly savings OFF OF BUDGET of $60.44 or $725 a year...I like!! Actual March: Spent: $235.64 Saved: $495.77 or 68% So basically I bought $730 worth of groceries for $235.64...if I repeated this monthly I will save roughly $6000 in ONE year!! :) I am getting to the point where I am 1) Running out of room...LOL and 2) Really have almost everything stocked up I need (except paper towels)...to last awhile!! :) Not too bad for a beginner...not too bad at all!

61%....not bad at all!!

This weekend I went and hit Albertsons, Tom Thumb, Kroger, Target, and Walmart!! :) Its much easier going shopping without a child, thank goodness the hubby can watch her!! I also found out that Walmart will take competitors Catalina coupons (and possible Walgreens RR, but not sure on this one) AND they allow overage (any extra amount from the coupon over the sales price) so SCORE!! Here's a quick break down:

Albertsons:

20 Suave Deodorants (not shown): $1 ea with $.50 coupons that doubled = FREE!!

4 Planters Trail Mix: On sale for $1.38 ea with $1/2 coupons = $3.52

2 PB Twix and 6 PB Snickers: On sale for B1G1 Free and I had two B2G1 Free at $.99 ea means I paid for 2 and got 6 free =$1.98

Peanut Pan PB: on sale for $.99

2 boxes of Lucky Charms: Part of the buy 4 get $4 off promo making them $1.50 each then used $.55 off coupons = $1.90 total and got a $1.50/3 catalina

2 GoGurts: Part of the buy 4 get $4 off promo making them $1.50 each then used $.75/2 coupon = $2.25 total

Nail clippers and nail files: $1.99 ea used $2 off coupons = FREE AND got another $2 off Revlon tool coupon printed.

Tom Thumb:

Shallots, Garlic, and Cilantro (No coupons)

2 DiGiorna Pizza w wings/cookies: $7.49 and $8.49 with $2 off tear pad in freezer case and $5/$15 Tom Thumb coupon = $11.26 TT Total

Target:

2 Circo Socks: $1 ea with $1 coupons = FREE

Soft Scrub: $2.49 with $1 Target and $1 manuf coupons = $.49

Up Tissues = $1.04

Up Allergy Meds = $1.97 with $1/$3 up purchase

Clipper and Tweezers: $1.59 and $2.34 with $2 off coupons = FREE AND got 2 $5/2 Revlon tools and 2 $2/1 Revlon tools!! :)

Excedrin: $3.59 with $3 Target coupon and $.75 manuf coupon = FREE

Kroger:

Buy 10 get $5 off:

-Chips Ahoy: $2.48

-Danimals: $2.29 with $1 off coupon: $1.29

-Activia yogurt: $1.99 with $1 off coupon: $.99

-4 Capri Suns: $1.90ea

-2 Sunny D: $1.39ea with $.25 coupon tripled: $.64 ($.14 after $.50 savings ....CRAZY)

-Powerade: $1

Take off $5 or $.50 for each item!!

Kelloggs Promo: Buy 4 at $2.69 get 2 FREE gallons of Milk

-Honey Smacks: $2.69

-Raisin Bran: $3.79 (didn't pay attention and grabbed the bigger more expensive box)

- 2 Nutri Grain: $2.69 each used the $.75/2 coupon

-1 Gal of Whole Milk and 1 Gal of 1% Milk= FREE

I also used the $1/2 Kelloggs Cereal coupon

Tortillas: $.89

2 Yakisoba Noodles: $.89 ea used $.50 coupon that doubled = FREE

Walmart:

No Coupons: Bananas, Organic Celery, Carrots, Onions, Avocados, Limes, tomatoes, Green chilles, Mexican Sour Cream, Fajita Seasoning, Tortilla Chips

15 Kool Aid packs: $.16 ea with 2 $.50 off 5 and Buy 10 get 5 Free = $.15 each since the cashier gave me credit for the whole $1.25 allowed max!!

Lunchmeat: $3.98 used the $1 off coupon from the Joy of Football book = $2.98

3 Nail files, 3 Tweezers, and 1 nail clippers: $1.87 for the file and tweezers and $1.96 for the clippers used 2 $5/2 and 3 $2/1 Revlon Tools = FREE with $2.82 overage

Totals:

Albertsons: $19.83 saved $58.02, 75%

Tom Thumb: $11.26 saved $7.16, 39%

Target: $2.17 saved $13.75, 86%

Kroger: 21.04 saved $21.87, 51%

Walmart: $24.02 saved $19.25, 44%

Total: $78.32 saved $120.05, 61%

:)

Completely FREE!!

It's been awhile since I updated anything...really its been slow shopping and slow coupons!! I have also been out of town for the most part of the last two weeks and just haven't had time to do much!!



I did manage to come across some GREAT deals on pasta and a few other things I got rainchecks on!!





Kroger and Tom Thumb:
40 Yakisoba Noodles $1 at TT and $.99 at Kroger w 40 $.50 coupons doubled = FREE lunches for Lee for a long, long, time!! :)


Walgreens:

4 Motrin PM normally $5.29 rainchecked to $3ea w two $6/2 coupons = FREE Motrin
2 Right Guard Deodorants B1G1 Free Walgreens promo w a B1G1 Free coupon = 2 FREE deodorants


Walmart:
10 Ronzini Pasta price matched with Albertsons 2/$1 sale with 5 $1/2 coupon = FREE pasta


Not Pictured:
Albertsons is special ordering me 50 boxes of Pasta for the 2/$1 promo. Normal price is $2.08-$2.80 depending on the type, after my 25 coupons they will all be completely FREE


Walgreens is rainchecking me for 20 Right Guard Deodorants with the B1G1 Free promo and with my 10 coupons will make them completely FREE


CVS 2 Dove Deodorants on sale 2/$4 with two $2 coupons = FREE

Total Savings:
39.60 Yakisoba+10.80 Walmart Ronzini+140 Albertsons Ronzini+109.78 Right Guard+21.16 Motrin+11 Dove= $332.34.....All completely FREE!!

Thank you....

Thank you Krazy Coupon Lady I really would have never even tried to use coupons, had it not been for you!!

:)

Totally Stocked up

I had originally said I wasn't going to "Stock Pile"...well....I've changed my mind!! I still can't see stock piling things like salad dressing, or pasta sauce (we don't eat it anyway) but things I KNOW we will use and won't go bad for a very long time, if ever. I can see getting a bunch when there is a good sale. We are getting new shelves for our closet and garage. I am planning on putting cleaners and personal care stuff in our closet and paper goods, drinks, and anything that wont be affected by the heat in our garage.

So what's in my stockpile?

Here is what I have a year+ supply in:
Toothpaste (all FREE)
Toothbrushes (all FREE)
Floss (all FREE)
Advil (children's and adult)
Maalox (all FREE)
Tums
Dayquil/NyQuil
Mascara (all FREE)
Body Wash
Shampoo
Lotion
Hair Dye
Deodorant
Laundry Detergent (more like a few years)
Dryer Sheets (all FREE)
Household Cleaners (All in ones, toilet, kitchen, wipes)
Bleach (all FREE)
Waters (all FREE)
Hand Soap (more like a few years)
Fruit Chews (most FREE)
Candy (all FREE)
Lightbulbs (all FREE)
Room Sprays

Here is what I have 6mth+ Supply in:
Noodle Lunches for my Hubby (all FREE)
Dishwasher Detergent
Toilet Paper
Dog Food
Apple Juice
Canned Veggies
Shredded Cheese

I also have a good amount of cereal, pasta, tomato sauce, rice sides,

It's kind of nice to ONLY have to buy meats, fresh produce, and things like Milk and Bread every two weeks. It actually throws me off when my bi-weekly trip comes in under $40 instead of $100-$150. :)

What can I say, I'm hooked!!