Now that Curtis and I are experiencing a new adventure in life, we've had to make some changes. We both went from full-time jobs (mine w/ benefits), to part-time work and no benefits...we've added to our monthly expenditures (starting a business isn't easy)...and life as we knew it in Boise (being financially comfortable), no longer exists. So, I've decided to try "couponing." No...not crazy, extreme couponing! (I watched that show and I don't think I could be that hard core.) But, I figure, if you don't have to pay full price, you shouldn't. And, it never hurts to save a few bucks here and there. In my mindset, every little bit counts! :)
I'm following a few couponing blogs that are supposed to help you find the good deals...and the great deals...and it tells you what coupon insert the coupon was in and when. They also say that realistically, saving 90-95% isn't normal. You have to be EXTREME to do that! They encourage stocking up when the prices are good (not wiping out the store). Then you have supply/storage until the next cycle of good deals comes along (typically every 3-4 months). And, the church encourages food storage in case of an emergency or life change. So, why not?!
I've made some rookie mistakes w/ my first few trips, but still feel I did alright compared to our normal grocery bills. You tell me if it was worth it. :) (Keep in mind, my totals also include the 9+% sales tax for AZ.)
My first and BEST find was ONLINE! I was able to get (7) 9.1 lb boxes of Arm & Hammer w/ Oxi-Clean Laundry detergent for $15.39!! I was able to get free shipping too! This made the detergent $2/ea (plus tax)! Original price: $8.99/ea! I basically got 7 for the price of 2!! Total savings of $53.20!!! That's 78% savings! And I won't have to buy laundry detergent for a long time! (Why 7 you ask? Because that was the maximum weight they could ship in one order, otherwise I probably would have gotten more and shared the wealth!) ;)
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| Minus the 10 lbs of chicken and some cinnamon rolls |
Albertson's: (This was my first couponing trip at a store)
Original total: $123.93
After coupons/savings: $57.73
Amount saved: $66.20
Total savings: 53%
*Here's where I made my rookie mistake: The chicken
was Buy 1, Get 2 free (limit 2 per transaction). I picked
out 3, $9 packages; then 3, $6 packages. They don't separate them like I did in my head.
They charge you for the 2 highest priced ones, and the other 4 were free! So, I paid for 2
of the $9 packages and got the rest free, instead of paying for one $9 package and one $6
package, like I thought I was!
Best deals: 1 gal milk $1.57; Chicken came out to about $2.01/lb (instead of $4.99/lb);
Hamburger Helper $0.99/ea.; Cereal $1.49/ea.; Betty Crocker Cake Mix &
Frosting $0.69/ea.; Pillsbury Cookie Dough $1.49/ea
Fry's (like a Fred Meyer): Original total: $155.88
After coupons/savings: $97.44
Amount saved: $58.44
Total savings: 38%
Dr Pepper Ten 2L - FREE (both of
them)!; Schick Extreme 3 Razors Buy 1, Get 1 free + $2 off coupon =
$2.16/pack 4 (normally $6.33/pack 4 - I bought 16 razors for less than you
can buy 1 Gillette ProGlide razor or Venus Embrace!); Eggs Buy 1, Get 1
free; Shredded Cheese 8oz $1.79
My FAVORITE save: Large DiGiornio Pizza & Breadsticks Combo for
$3.99 (usually $8.49)!! YUM!
Safeway: Original total: $31.51
After coupons/savings: $19.02
Amount saved: $12.49
Total savings: 40%
The soda was Buy 1, Get 1 free, came out to $0.25/can!!!
Safeway: Original total: $49.00After coupons/savings: $22.10
Amount saved: $26.90
Total savings: 55%
Welch's Juice $1.99 (normally $3.49); V8 Juice $1.99
(normally $4.29); Powerade $0.59 (normally $1.49); Lay's
Potato Chips $1.99 (normally $4.29)
I took pics to give you an idea of how much I got for the price. I didn't think about taking them until after I had frozen things and of course, we've eaten some of it. So, not everything is pictured. Most of the Fry's shopping trip is refrigerated or frozen goods, so I only pictured my non-perishable awesome finds (there was a lot more before I put it all away)! :)
And so goes my adventures in couponing! I hope to get better as I go.
Does anybody else coupon? Let me know!!!
