I am not a coupon person. I want to be a coupon person and save that money but it never happens until the other day.
My typically coupon routine is to put all my coupons in this cute organizer that I have. Then I go to the grocery store only to realize I left my coupons sitting on the table at home. OK, so I have done that 100 plus times so I thought lets get smart and put it in the car. Great we can’t forget it right. Wrong! We get half way through our grocery trip and find out we have left it in the car. With two kids I am not about to go out and get it. That $2.00 coupon just isn’t worth that much pain. So I pull this stunt about every other grocery trip. Drives me crazy!!!
Now when I do remember the stupid thing, I find that my coupons are expired or I get to the check out and find I needed to buy two boxes of cereal to save a 1.00 and I only have one box. Does anyone else hate that? Seriously why do they expect me to buy two or three of something when I really just want to buy one? My house is small, kitchen has limited space so I can only store so much. I would rather they make it 50 cents off and only expect me to by one than expect me to buy two or more. I am ranting…
Well last weekend I received some really great coupons in the mail from Kroger. I decided this time I was going to do things different. I cleaned out my nifty coupon box, threw out dozens of expired coupons that I could have used and started a new. I collected all the coupons that were stashed all over the house and started clipping. I organized everything into each compartment and thought this isn’t going to be any different. So I grabbed a sheet of paper and started my grocery list (something else I always leave at home). Now as I am making my list I pull out coupons that go with items on my list. I make special notes if I need to buy two of something, I have it written on my list. By the time I am done I have this nice grocery list and all my coupons that I plan to use for my next trip.
My big grocery day comes, and I remember my organizer and go shopping. Follow my list well and then I get to the check out. My total is adding up fast and we have passed the $200 mark. This is normal for us so I got over the shock factor long ago (dog food and diapers are killers). After she finishes ringing my order I enter my Kroger card for discounts and hand the clerk my coupons. As I watch my big $218 bill drop like a rocket I am doing a little dance. My grand total was $125. Can you believe it; I saved $93. My best deals in the trip, the Iams dog food that was $21, I had a coupon for $5 off and then I had my P&G E-saver tied to my Kroger card witch gave me another $3 off the dog food. The same thing with the Huggies diapers I bought, a $3 coupon and another $1.50 from my Kroger clipless coupons. I was so thrilled by all of this and I learned that coupons really do work if you are just organized. Right now I am all pumped up over my savings but I assure you I will be back to my old ways in no time. I want to be that organized person but I never am.
Are you a frugal shopper with all your coupons or are you more like the typical me?
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November 17, 2008
I saved big….
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About Me
- Nina
- Hi I am Nina! OK Nina is a nickname but I doubt you really care. I am 35 years old, married, two wonderful boys. Luke is my sweet gentile 6 year old and Thomas is my wild and crazy 2 year old. The two of them wear me out but I love everything about them. I hope you enjoy all our crazy adventures as much as we do.
12 Comments Welcome:
*bowing down*
I manage to get the coupons to the store, all products needed to fulfill each coupon, and then when I check out...never give her the coupons. every.single.time.
I am more like the typical you. I don't have the patience for coupons. We buy mostly store brands anyway so, the coupons wouldn't do us any good.
I'm not so good with coupons either. They sit in my purse until they're expired usually. :-P
(Popping by from SITS to say Hi!)
Hahaha! Stopping by from SITS rollcall--and you and I MUST be twins separated at birth. I do THE SAME THING with coupons! I have the best intentions and the cutest little coupon organizer...for all the good it does me! Congrats on your $93 dollar savings, though. You should def buy yourself something pretty as a reward! ;)
found you through SITS....yeah for you....I am never good at coupon cutting...but hearing stories like yours makes me really want to get serious about it....
I am just like you. I get super organized and go shopping and save a ton of money, but then go back to my typical ways. I think I save a ton of money like that about twice a year.
Stopping by from SITS.
I'm a coupon moron, seriously. I forget I even have them half the time. $93 is awesome and your strategy was pretty good, I have to admit. I might be borrowing those tips. $93 is a whole other grocery trip. Good job.
Wow, congrats on your amazing savings. I was two behind you yesterday at SITS and somehow missed the comment love going on!! Have a great day today anyway.
Warning This is a long comment. Time-warp, 1981 I was the president of a refunding club on a military base in Florida. I had two children under 4 and had to shop at local Piggly Wiggly and military commissary. It was hard shopping and keeping track of coupons, boxtops, refund slips and my little "darlings", But I used the coupons/refunds to help my children learn their letters/colors/logo/brands with the coupons. Being raised in Oregon i was already a recycler and my house knew not to throw away anything till I checked it first.
Fast Forward. Live back in Oregon now and I now work for Procter & Gamble and deal with those Sunday Paper coupons from the other end of the picture. I still clip,sort,save and mail in. There are some tricks to it that I have learned. Like P&G has all their major coupons released on 1st Sunday of the month papers. Many stores will align their in-store specials to work with the Sunday paper coupons. If you really are dilligent with watching your ads and your coupons you can make some great purchases. I keep my coupons in an envelope in my purse at all times. And yes, my kids are grown now BUT I am a grandmother of 6 under 5years old, and I shop for and with them all time. And they are learning their colors, letters, Etc the same way thier parents did. Keep your kids involved in saving household money and Keep up the good work, don't get discouraged. . .it does pay off in the end.
I used to use coupons religiously because I HAD TO! Broke with two little ones you make your money stretch. Now that I don't need to, I pretty much don't. But it's always smart to save money when you can - guess I'm just lazy!
O.M.gosh. I got more into coupons lately. Bought the Couponizer organizer. Love it. I thought I was doing great...until I read your post. Man, AWESOME!
Thanks for sharing in my SITS day with me!
Wow you go girl...maybe I need to start remembering my coupons more... :)
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