Couponing

A couple of months ago, my sister Katie and I went to a meeting here in Ogden where a lady taught us about different ways to save $$ in your grocery budget. It included getting more than just one copy of the local newspaper for multiple coupons, and establishing a stash of coupons to choose from. The lady who taught us told us about a website called pinchingyourpennies.com that has women who post lists of great deals EVERY WEEK at local grocery stores. You get better savings on using coupons on things that are already on sale. You can price match as well to help with not having to go to EVERY damn grocery store in your area to get great deals.

The lady said that using multiple coupons on sale items might seem like you were spending more money, but if you stocked up on things, it would save you money in the long run when you went to make your shopping list and realized you didn't need to buy more of something when there might not be a deal happening on a particular item that week.

She stated that since she has started "couponing" she has been able to bring an estimated $1000 dollar monthy budget down to $250 dollars a month (she has a large family). She says that she NEVER buys anything at full price.

She warned us that we wouldn't see near that big of a price reduction immediately. She said that it would take up to 6 months. Initially you spend what you normally do, but maybe you start getting more bang for your buck. I found this to be true.

Every Sunday I sit down and go through the 3 copies of the newspaper that we get and cut out the coupons for products I know we could use. I then organize them into the FOOD and NON-FOOD categories. I like to make the first part of my grocery list with things I already have coupons for, then add the things that you don't get normal coupons for i.e. milk, bread, eggs etc. I have been doing this for about a month now. I find that I don't price match and I don't shop at the local grocery stores. The lady told us that we should support local food stores, but after a week or 2 of shopping at Smiths, or Family Fresh, I just knew that I would save more money at Wal-Mart. What used to take me 45 minutes to grocery shop now takes a little more than an hour, but it's worth it.

In the last 4-5 weeks alone of doing this I have saved $35 dolllars a week, except this last week due to the coupons not being as good as usual, thus I saved $20 dollars. For example, if our weekly budget for groceries is $100 dollars, and since I have just started this, I will still spend that $100 but get groceries worth $135 dollars. One week I saved the average $35 but ended up only spending $85.

So yes, I am that lady in front of you that you have to wait for in line at the cash register because they have to scan my coupons.

Go ahead. Roll your eyes, and exaggerate your sighs of annoyance. I don't care because I am saving money and you're not!

There's just something to be said about the first time you get to the cash register and you find out the total of $139 grocery bill is then brought down to $105 (this is with tax)! Then you realize that you can get toothpaste for free, and soap for 7 cents a bar.

Take that Uncle Sam! You already get enough of my taxes.