TLC Show - "Extreme Couponing"

Did you watch this show?

I missed the original airing but saw it later.  

I have to say I am so upset and bothered by these people!

I am a couponer.  I feel like it's important to save money and use your money wisely. 

But seriously, who needs 1000 bottles of body wash?!?!  

And you can't possibly eat 250 boxes of pasta within 4 weeks!

When I taught coupon workshops, I always encouraged everyone to be considerate of others who may be picking up on the deals also.  I would sure hate to see what it would be like for these people to have to get a raincheck, the one woman would probably had an apoplectic fit.

Just remember folks, every brand goes on sale usually every 4 weeks.  

Pick up 4 boxes of Kellogg's week 1.

Pick up 4 boxes of Total week 2.

Pick up 4 boxes of Post week 3.

Pick up 4 boxes of General Mills week 4.

That's 16 boxes of cereal in a month's time.  

And it starts over again.  And again.  And if it doesn't, no worries, you can always eat oatmeal or eggs for breakfast.

And what's the deal with the whole mantra "if I buy 36 bottles of soap for free, I don't have to buy it for 3 years".  Not true.  First of all, someone who buys that many bottles of soap at one time, will NOT wait 3 years to pick up on free soap again.  And trust me, the soap is on sale at least every 6-8 weeks.  Just buy enough soap to get you through until the next sale.  

I understand if you need to purchase enough to get a store reward, like CVS or Walgreens.  They will run a sale stating you need to purchase $25 of this product and you'll receive $10 in store rewards.  Of course, by all means, buy what you need to get the deal, but be mindful of others.

At what point does stockpiling become hoarding?

It becomes hoarding when you don't USE what you get.  Some of these couponers had so much pasta they could feed an army.  Only one couponer had a child.  The others were single or only married couples.  It would take them forever to eat that much pasta.

I appreciated the thoughtfulness of "Mr. Coupon" when he donated 1000 boxes of cereal to a food bank.  That was generous and kind.  Too bad he didn't think about donating some of the 300 toothbrushes or 80 sticks of deodorant...

Sorry, I get a little fired up over this kind of thing.

Enjoy!

Basic Couponing 101

Recently, I finished up a 5 Part Series on Basic Couponing 101.  If you are new to my blog, you might benefit from reading each part in succession:

Step 1 - Stockpiling - What and Why?

Step 2 - Easy Coupon Tips

Step 3 - Being a Considerate Couponer

Step 4 - How to Organize Coupons

Step 5 - The Best Online Resources

My hope is you will not have to scrimp and save to buy groceries for your family.  Instead, you will feel a sense of relief knowing you are spending your money wisely and have a well-stocked pantry and freezer.  We all go through rough times.  Our family still operates on a very tight budget.  Some weeks we don't have as much to spend on groceries as I'd like, but I know my family will still be able to eat because I've used my coupons wisely and stockpiled when I could.  This makes me feel like the "capable wife" King Solomon referred to in Proverbs 31.  I hope, you too, feel that sense of accomplishment!

Enjoy!

Basic Couponing 101: Step 5 - Online Resources

This is Step 5 in a series about Basic Couponing 101:  

Online Resources

Did you miss Step 1 - Stockpiling?

or Step 2 - Easy Coupon Tips?

or Step 3 - Considerate Couponing?

or Step 4 - Coupon Organization? 

There are hundreds of blogs and blogs-turned-websites that do coupon match-ups for grocery stores and drug stores.  So while I might not list everyone of them out there, I do subscribe to quite a few via email.  Most of the sites I frequent, offer this subscription in their sidebar.  Enter your email address and then confirm an email to begin receiving updates.  Two of my most favorite sites are Southern Savers and I Heart Publix.  They do a wonderful job every week bringing us all the items on sale and matching a coupon to the sale item.  Southern Savers offers a variety of grocery stores in the Southeastern United States.  You can find these in tabs on her header.  I Heart Publix offers coupon match ups for Publix (I know go figure!) and lists the current booklets available in the Publix supermarket.  Michelle is in the Atlanta area and so I'm able to get the best match up with coupons from the AJC from her site.  If you are not in the Southeast Region, you might benefit from two other sites:  Bargain Briana's Frugal Map and BeCentsable's Grocery Gathering.  You can search by state and locate a blog or site which offers coupon match ups for your local grocery chains and drug stores.

(If you don't see your state listed, why not create your own blog and help others save some money?  You can learn more about blogging by reading the Probloggers Tips.)

Once you have learned the grocery game of saving more than 50-70% on your grocery bill, you'll be ready to learn the Drug Store game.  Namely CVS, Walgreens and Rite-Aid.  I personally do not shop at Rite-Aid because I'm not really interested in waiting for my rebate checks.  If you are interested in learning the ropes of Rite-Aid, you can read this Rite-Aid 101 Tutorial by Centsable Momma.  I shop at CVS and Walgreens, usually weekly.  Andrea at Mommy Snacks has a wonderfully detailed tutorial about working the Walgreens deals to your best advantage.  She teaches you everything you need to know.  Lissa at Saving Your Cents has spent hours creating this CVS tutorial.  She has listed everything from photos to ECBs, you can't go wrong reading this tutorial!  She equips you with everything you need to know.

There are other sites which can help you save money on your grocery bill.  You can visit www.shortcuts.com and www.cellfire.com.  These sites offer eCoupons which can be downloaded to your shopper's card.  Kroger is the only grocery store in our area currently accepting eCoupons.  (Kroger also offers an eCoupon service called softcoin.  Once you register you Kroger Plus card online, you'll be able to take advantage of this option.)  When you register on these eCoupon sites, you'll notice a list of stores available in your area.

Printable coupons are easy to access on your computer, but make sure you are using reputable sources.  If you visit a coupon site requesting information other than your email, DO NOT comply.  It's also a good idea to create a free email account solely for the purpose of coupons, contests and free offers that might end up with you receiving junk mail.  Here are the only sites I would recommend printing coupons from:  Coupons.com, RedPlum.com, SmartSource.com and any manufacturer's site such as Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Proctor & Gamble, etc. 

When I explained the different methods of coupon organization, I explained the Do-Not-Cut-Your-Coupons method.  If you choose to use this method, at some point you'll need to find coupons within the pages of your uncut inserts.  Hotcouponworld.com and AFullCup.com have coupon databases you can search through by typing in the name of the product.  Couponmom.com also offers a coupon database by state.  This is very helpful when trying to determine the amount of a coupon for a grocery deal you might want to cash in on.  (View this VLOG to show you how to navigate these sites.)

I have enjoyed sharing the coupon knowledge I have learned.  I hope this Basic Couponing 101 Series was helpful and helps you save a ton of money at the stores. 

VLOG: How to Navigate Coupon Database Sites

If you are viewing this in your email update, you will need to follow the link to the blog to view the video.

This is a video blog (vlog) about how to navigate through the coupon databases at Hot Coupon World, Coupon Mom and A Full Cup.  If you are new to couponing, going to these sites can be overwhelming.  Hopefully this will help take some of the fear out of these sites.

Enjoy!

This post has been linked to:

• Frugal Friday at Life as Mom

Basic Couponing 101: Step 4 - Coupon Organization

This is Step 4 in a series about Basic Couponing 101:  

How to Organize Coupons

Did you miss Step 1 - Stockpiling?

or Step 2 - Easy Coupon Tips?

or Step 3 - Considerate Couponing?

Do you sit for hours clipping and sorting coupons to file them neatly in their place?  I used to do that too!  But who has 4 hours to clip, sort and file coupons!?!  I don't know about you, but I'd rather spend that time with my family.  Here are the four most popular methods of coupon organization.  There are other methods out there, but they are all pretty similar in the end.

1.  Small canceled check file/coupon holder.  These usually have 12 or 13 slots for organizing.  You can name them anything you like.  Mine are named: Baby, Cereal, Canned/Jarred Food, Toiletries, Free/Rainchecks, CVS/Walgreens.  You can find these small holders priced from $1 at the Dollar Tree up to $5 at Target.  The more expensive ones tend to last a little longer because the sides have been reinforced.  I purchased this one at the Dollar Tree.  I figured if it lasts me a year or so, it was worth the money.  

PROS:  These are very convenient to have in your purse or backpack (or diaper bag).  You can easily find the coupon you are needing based on the 12/13 category/slots.  As you are walking through the store, you'll be able to file your blinkies and tearpad coupons right away.  You can also file the coupons you receive by mail or peelies from products you have purchased.

CONS:  When you begin purchasing more than 1 newspaper, you'll notice the time you spend clipping, sorting and filing coupons increases from about an hour up to 3-4 hours.  Because you are purchasing more newspapers, you'll start to fill up the slots more quickly.  Your coupon holder will be bulging at the seams.  

2.  Shoebox organizer.  These are usually plastic storage boxes the size of a shoebox because they easily fit into the top of your grocery cart where the baby usually sits.  When you move from the coupon holder to "the box", you're able to create more envelopes to file away your coupons. 

PROS:  Everything is very neatly arranged by product and department.  You have control over what you what to name each category and how you want to break each category down into to smaller sections.  I had about 70 different envelopes in this box.  I loved it, until it was time for me to sit down and clip, sort and file them again.  

CON:  The time involved to clip, sort and file can be too much.  As with the coupon holder, you are limited by the size of your box.  Eventually it too will be bulging a the seams.  And let's not forget about having to remove all the expired coupons from the all the envelopes...I gave up on this one and moved on to...

3.  3 Ring Binder organizer.  There are many different forms out there among couponers.  You'll see them as you are out shopping.  They range from a 3 Ring binder with baseball card or Pokemon trading card inserts to file away the coupons to large Couponizer Systems. 

PROS:  When you are shopping at the stores, you'll be able to flip through the pages to see if you have a coupon in the clear sheet holders.  If an item is on clearance, you can quickly locate the coupon in your binder.

CONS:  Again, this can be very time consuming...clipping, sorting and filing...then removing expired coupons.  Some coupons will not fit into the slots if they are too large.  That's when I moved onto...

4.  DO NOT CLIP COUPONS.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Stop clipping those coupons.  Keep your inserts whole.  When you receive the inserts, date the front of them and then file them into an accordian file or hanging milk crate file.  Most of the websites I go to for coupon match-ups list the coupon insert from which the coupon is located.  For example, you might see something like this:

Progresso Soup, Assorted Varieties, 18 to 19 oz can, BOGO $2.29
-$1/4; $.50/2 Progresso Soups, any flavor – 01-03-10 GM
-$1/4; $.50/2 Progresso Soups, Any Flavor – 12-06-09 SS

Read more: http://www.iheartpublix.com/?p=6473#ixzz0ccM69OfP

This came from one of my favorite sites I Heart Publix.  Michelle does the coupon match-up each week for the items on sale.  In the above example, Progresso Soup is on sale Buy One Get One FREE.  $2.29 for two or $1.15 each.  She has listed the coupons for the Progresso:  there is a coupon for $1.00 off 4 cans of soup or $.50 off 2 cans of soup in the January 3, 2010 General Mills insert.  OR there is a coupon for $1.00 off 4 cans of soup or $.50 off 2 cans of soup in the December 6, 2009 SmartSource insert.  

When you date the front of your inserts, you can flip through your inserts, pull it out and clip the one you need.  File it back in order and move on to the next coupon deal you are hunting.  

PROS:  Very easy, no time involved clipping, sorting and filing. 

CONS:  When you come across a great clearance deal at the store, you might not be able to pick up on the deal.  

As a side point, you will also need to use organization method #1 the coupon holder with method #4.  You will need a place to file coupons you clipped and were not able to use for whatever reason.  You will need a place to file blinkies, peelies, mailers, tearpads, printables, etc.  

I currently use method #4 and #1.  It's the easiest and most productive use of my time.  When the sales start at the stores, I head to my favorite sites and print or write down the items I want to purchase.  Then I sit down with my coupon box and begin searching and clipping what I need for the shopping trip.  Once I get my coupons in order, I put them in the front of my coupon holder and head out.  It takes me about an hour to get everything clipped and ready to go.  Much less time than before when I had to clip, sort and file for 4 hours and then search through the myriad of envelopes or plastic sheets for my coupon.  It could take me another 2 hours to get my coupons together.  

With that said, whatever method of organization you use, view the time you put into the organization as time you are paying yourself to shop.  For example, when I spend about an hour getting my coupons together, and I save $80 at the store.  I feel like I paid myself $80 an hour to shop.  That's a great job! 

Next time:  Best Online Resources

Basic Couponing 101: Step 3 - Considerate Couponing

This is Step 3 in a Series of Basic Couponing 101:  Being a Considerate Couponer

Did you miss out on Step 1:  Stockpiling or

Step 2:  Easy Coupon Tips

Have you ever purchased a new car and then you noticed everyone else on the road had the same car?  That's sort of how I felt when I learned how to coupon.  I saw fellow couponers everywhere I went.  They would have their coupon binders and folders sprawled out in their carts, rifling through coupons to see if they had that one special coupon.

One time while looking at some razors that were on sale, I found a coupon left on the shelf.  I thought that was the nicest thing ever!  AND it was a store coupon so I was allowed to use a manufacturer's coupon on top of it to save more money.  I think I got the razor for $.50 after it was all said and done.  That random act of kindness (RAOK) made me think about how I could share the coupons I had in my possession.  I currently buy four (4) Sunday newspapers to get the coupon inserts.  When there is an item on sale, I clip all 4 coupons and take them with me to the store.  Depending on the item, I'll either buy all four items (using all four coupons) or I'll leave the coupons I didn't use on the shelf near the sale item.

I think it's very important to be, what I term, a "Considerate Couponer".  Someone who shares their deals, their knowledge and their coupons with others.  But this also entails more than that.

When you start the coupon game, you will more than likely be shopping at the same stores week in and week out.  So be friendly with your store employees.  You want to leave a good impression!  You definitely don't want them to groan every time you come in because of your bad attitude.  Why not introduce yourself?  You'll be seeing them every week anyway.  Try to remember your clerk's name.  My CVS and Walgreens employees know me when I walk in (and yes, I call all "my stores" mine).  Some ask about my kids when they aren't with me.  How nice is that?  They even miss me when I don't come in that week.

Please remember not all of your clerks are educated on their store's coupon policy.  Be considerate and polite.  If you run into a problem with a clerk, and you are positive you are in the right (double check because you sure don't want to look like the fool), kindly ask for the manager to see if they can help rectify the problem amicably.  If you still feel like your problem is not being addressed to your liking, you can always contact the corporate office and make your issue known.  I hope you don't run into a problem that requires corporate intervention, but if you do, remember to be professional.

Have you ever been excited about a fantastic deal (like free toilet paper) only to be completely disappointed when you get to the store and the shelves are wiped out?  First of all, make your way to the customer service desk and request a raincheck.  Most rainchecks are redeemable for 30 days at the point of issue.  But always check with your store.  Second of all, don't be greedy!  I already wrote about that before.  But let me share with you an experience my cousin ran into at her local drug store.  She was looking to pick up an item that was on sale and there happened to be another couponer looking at the same item.  There was one item left on the shelf and the other couponer had about 6 of that item in her cart already.  My cousin asked the other couponer if she needed that 7th one and the couponer looked at my cousin like she was crazy, "of course" she told my cousin.  And she took it off the shelf and proceeded to the check-out.  I mean really!  People, it's not necessary to be greedy.  I'm not a believer in Karma, as we are Christian in our household.  With that said, Jesus Christ said to "practice giving and people will give to you". (Luke 6:38)  And Paul quoted Jesus saying "there is more happiness in giving than in receiving." (Acts 20:35)  Don't you think it might be more kind to give a little, rather than take all the time.  Remember there are others who'd like to pick up on the deals too.

Remember to be a Considerate Couponer.  When you are at the store and you see someone on the aisle with you, fill them in on the deals that day.  If you have an extra coupon, share it with them.  It's very rewarding to be able to give to others.  Share what you know with others, share what you have with others and always be kind to others in all things. 

Next time:  How to Organize Coupons

Enjoy!

Basic Couponing 101: Step 2 - Coupon Tips

This is Step 2 in a series of Basic Couponing 101:  Easy Coupon Tips

Did you miss out on Step 1: Stockpiling?

1. Keep ALL of the coupons that come in the inserts.  You never know what kind of great deal the store will have.  It's the worst feeling ever to search your clipped coupons for a great deal only to learn you didn't clip the coupon and already threw away your inserts.  
2. Start SIMPLE buying only what's on sale with a coupon and stockpiling the item if it's a great deal.  When you first start out couponing, you will still need to purchase your "regular" grocery items in addition to what's on sale.  Once you have established a stockpile, you'll be able to reduce your grocery spending tremendously.  
3. Plan MEALS based on what's in your stockpile and what's on sale at the store that week.  I confess, I didn't start meal planning until a little over 6 months ago.  And I love it!  It's much easier on your budget to plan a meal based on what's in your pantry.  I also find I am able to be more creative with our meals, even trying new recipes.  Having our meals planned out for the week bring a sense of calm to my life.  It's one less thing I need to worry about during my chaotic week.  We're able to save money on the "restaurant" front too.  Having meals planned for the week reduce the need to grab take-out on the way home.
4. Create a SEPARATE stockpile for special events.  Are you planning to attend a baby shower in a few months?  Then you'll want to pick up on the diaper and wipe deals that go on at the stores every few weeks (remember the 6-8 week cycle).  Or maybe your family is planning a camping trip or beach vacation.  If so, then stock up on items you'll need for that trip when you see them go on sale.  It's much better to pay $2.50 for a 12 pack of Coke than to pay $6.00 at the Mom & Pop gas station in the middle of nowhere.  
5. Don't have brand LOYALTY.  This is a tough one for me.  I still struggle with it, but I have found ways to creatively use my coupons and store rewards to purchase the items I really like.  For example, I love Scotts 1000 Toilet Paper.  It costs about $7 for a 12 pack.  Occasionally, the drug stores will run sales and I'll be able to get a 4 or 6 pack for $2.50.  I'll use my coupons with the store rewards and still be able to save money on the brand I love.  However, this is not to say I will turn my nose up to FREE toilet paper.  In fact, Kroger had a sale at some point for a Charmin 4 pack at $1.00.  I had a $1.00 coupon for Charmin which meant I got FREE toilet paper.  If you see an item that is FREE after coupons or store rewards, why not try it out, you might be surprised how much you love it!
6. Store brands are NOT ALWAYS the best deal.  Before I learned to coupon properly, I shopped at Walmart buying the Great Value brand thinking I was doing myself a favor by saving a few pennies.  It's interesting to note that stores can keep 100% of their profit on their brand versus having to share their profit with a National brand.  So while it might look like a good deal on the shelf, in the end we are only hurting ourselves in the wallet.  In fact, you will learn shopping for National brands when they are on sale and using a coupon will be cheaper than store brands.  Don't get me wrong, I still pick up a store brand when I need too, but it's not often. 
7. Take advantage of SEASONAL SHOPPING.  You will notice during the summer months, the stores run sales on hot dogs, pickles, buns, ketchup...etc.  When the kids go back to school, the stores run sales on snacks, cereals, juice...etc.  During the Holiday season, you will notice baking supplies go on sale.  The best part is the manufacturers get on board and offer coupons in connection with these sales.  So we get to take advantage of these specials and get products for bottom dollar.  Another aspect of seasonal shopping is purchasing fresh produce.  You'll find seasonal produce is cheaper when it's at its peak.  And it's tastier too!  You can learn more about food co-ops or you-pick farms.   These are great options when you are looking to provide fresh, seasonal and organic produce for your family.  We make an annual trip to the North Georgia Mountains in September/October to pick apples in the orchards.  Not only is it fun for the kids, but we're able to get wonderfully fresh apples!

Next time:  Considerate Couponing

Enjoy!

This link has been posted to:

• Frugal Friday at Life as Mom
  

Basic Couponing 101: Step 1 - Stockpiling

This is step 1 in a series of Basic Couponing 101:  Stockpiling - What and Why?

Stockpiling probably brings a visual to your mind of military arms in a bunker.  But we're not talking about military supplies or weapons, we're talking about food and household items each family uses everyday.

Stockpiling is buying a product at it's lowest price.  Usually when it's on sale and if possible, utilizing a coupon.

This is a pretty simple concept, but something I had never implemented before learning how to coupon properly.

Why should someone stockpile?  It might be best if I illustrate it this way:

First, it's important to note that most stores work on a 6-8 week cycle.  Meaning products go on sale or their price will reduce once every 6-8 weeks.  Sometimes a product goes on sale every other week, sometimes we won't see it on sale for 6 months.  This is usually the case for seasonal items like evaporated milk.  We see it on sale during holiday seasons when people are baking and cooking more often than other months of the year.  However, most everyday products like cereal and pasta or rice are on the 6-8 week cycle.

When a particular product goes on sale and you are able to purchase it at it's lowest price (and utilize a coupon), you will want to purchase enough of that product to get your family through to the next cycle.

For this example we'll talk about cereal:

I love Special K Blueberry Cereal.  The Publix Supermarket in our area sells a box for $3.99 each.  Publix regularly has BOGO sales -- Buy One Get One FREE sales.  When they put Special K Blueberry on BOGO, it will ring up for $1.99 each (This is not the case in Florida.  There you buy one at $3.99 and the second one will actually ring up at $.00.)  Then the manufacturer releases a coupon for Special K Blueberry, either on the internet or in the coupon inserts from the Sunday newspaper, for $1.00 off the purchase of 1 box; further reducing the cost of the cereal to $.99 each, after the coupon AND the sale.  Instead of buying a box of cereal for $3.99 each, you'll only be spending $.99 each box when the cereal goes on sale.  That's a savings of 75%.  And that's why we stockpile.

You will notice there is a brand of cereal on sale every week.  General Mills Cheerios one week, Post Selects a second week and then perhaps Kellogg's Special K varieties.  Once you see the pattern at your local store, you'll know how many boxes to stockpile for your family.  I wouldn't necessarily stockpile 6-8 boxes of Special K Blueberry cereal.  I would probably buy 2-4 of one brand and then wait to see what's on sale the next week (this would depend greatly on the number of coupons I am able to obtain for the particular cereal on sale).  Sometimes you can get a feel for what's going to be on sale at the store, by checking out what's in your coupon inserts from the Sunday newspaper.  You will notice the manufacturer's coincide their coupons with store sales.

You might also have preferences for a particular brand (we'll talk more about that later on).  If that's the case, you might be willing to pay a little more than $1.00 for a box of cereal.  We don't have any food allergies or special needs so I try not to spend any more than $1.00 for a box of cereal.  As you establish your routine, you will begin to know what's a reasonable price to pay in your area.

With that being said, please remember the products will be on sale again in a few weeks (hence, the 6-8 week cycle).  There is not need to horde up 20 boxes of Uncle Ben's Rice in your buggy when it will be on sale again in a month or so.  Remember, Uncle Ben might be on sale this week, but Knorr/Lipton will be on sale in a week or so after that.  So you'll have plenty of opportunity to stockpile 4-6 boxes or pouches of each brand within 2 months.  And then it cycles around again.


You can see the wisdom of stockpiling and buying a reasonable quantity at the time of the sale.

Next:  Easy Coupon Tips

Enjoy!

This post has been linked to:

• Frugal Friday at Life as Mom
  

Why We Coupon: Part 4

When I left off last time, I was explaining how I learned about Coupon Mom and her site. 

Because I was new to couponing, I had no idea what "V", "SS", 10/8, $1/1 and all that meant...It was like a foreign language.  So I jumped into the blogosphere with both feet and never looked back.  I Google searched site after site for couponing and coupon match ups.  I learned what stockpiling was, and why I should have one.  I learned about coupon organization, what worked and what didn't.  I learned that Publix and Kroger were my best friends and I just hadn't been properly introduced to them.  I also learned that CVS and Walgreens were my next best friends and we are still working on our relationship.  I learned that when the store says FREE it really means FREE.  I learned that I needed to be open-minded about toilet paper and shampoo and not have brand loyalty to one particular brand.  I learned that buying National brands were cheaper than buying the store brand (most of the time).  I learned that I could be creative with our meal planning and actually create a meal plan (something I had never done before).  I learned being a considerate couponer is loving and rewarding.  I finally learned what all the coupon lingo meant.  And last but definitely not least my new motto was "Why pay for something at full price when I can get it for free or cheap when it's on sale."  I still live by this motto.  It works for me and my family but it might not work for you and yours.  

Learning to coupon properly has been life changing.  And since I learned how to do it properly, I felt like I needed to help others do the same.  It took me well over a year to figure it out, but I didn't think it should take others that long and that's when I started teaching coupon workshops.  If I can go from spending $150 a week on groceries to about $75 a week, anybody can do it, they just need the know-how.  And that's why I changed the direction of this blog and that's why we coupon.


There are so many friends who do not live nearby and are not able to attend a coupon workshop.  Because I want to help as many people as possible, I've decided to share a "virtual coupon workshop" over the next few weeks.  As much as I'd love to video blog it, my camera is broken currently.  Maybe that is something we can add later on.  

My goal is to help you save at least 50% of your grocery bill over a 6 month period.  You might be able to reach that goal in the first week, but it's more reasonable to consider a 6 month period.  

Every Monday I'll be sharing with you:

1. What is Stockpiling and Why Should I Stockpile?
   
2. Easy Coupon Tips
3. How to Organize Your Coupons Being a Considerate Couponer
4. Reputable Coupon Sites  How to Organize Your Coupons
5. Best Online Resources

I look forward to sharing this with all of you and I truly hope it saves you some money.  


Enjoy!

Why We Coupon: Part 3

Last time I was telling y'all about how I thought I was doing a good job of spending money on groceries and other necessities in our house only to learn I was a complete failure.  Purchasing the same thing every week and using it up during that week doesn't allow you to build up stock in any one product.  It also doesn't allow you freedom to be very creative when deciding a meal plan for your family.  Dinners become boring since you are eating the same thing week after week.  But then when you don't have the money to do your weekly grocery shopping, you find your cupboards bare and wondering how in the world you are going to feed your family.

This is when Donna stepped in.  She lovingly brought me some groceries.  Things like peanut butter, tuna fish, soup, crackers...I can't even remember everything she brought over.  I was so grateful and yet I felt humiliated.  I'm a proud person and felt like I couldn't accept charity.  When I explained this to her she just laughed and said, "Don't worry, I got most of this stuff for FREE or pennies, practically."  I was dumbfounded.  When I asked her how she was able to do this, she said, "coupons".

She had me right there, hook-line-and-sinker.  I asked her what I needed to do, how I needed to get started.  She suggested buying 2 Sunday editions of the newspaper to get coupon inserts.  Then she told me about Cut Out Hunger and Coupon Mom.  Unfortunately, I got completely overwhelmed with all the information provided on the websites.  She gives you everything and is very thorough.  Something I didn't appreciate then, but completely appreciate now...

Part 4.

Why We Coupon: Part 2

As I was telling y'all last time, we were going through a very hard time financially during the summer of 2008.  My husband works on commission and delivers food to schools and restaurants and such.  When the schools are out of session, he doesn't work.  When he doesn't work, we don't get paid.  It's as simple as that.  (It's ironic that he delivers food and we barely had enough to eat.)  We didn't have money for groceries AND for bills.  I had contacted a couple of our debt collectors and deferred payments on some of our bills to alleviate the strain during the summer months.  But you know things are bad when you run out of shampoo and you find yourself digging through your couch cushions and coat pockets for spare change so you can run down to the Dollar Tree to buy some $1 shampoo.  That's when I knew something have to give.  My husband is a hard worker, the best provider any wife could ask for.  We prayed to decide whether I should go back to work full-time. In the end, we counted the cost (as Jesus said to do) and figured we would spend more money on childcare for two children than I'd be adding to the budget and that sort of defeated the purpose of me going back to work. 

That's when I called my "Coupon Queen" Donna.  She's been couponing for years and had been telling me for at least the last 3 or even 4 years that I needed to be using coupons.  Don't get me wrong, I did use coupons.  I had my grocery list of items I purchased every week.  I shopped at Walmart and handed my 4 or 5 coupons to the lady every week. And every week, I walked out with about $150 worth of groceries.  I thought I was doing good.  I thought I was spending my husband's hard earned money carefully.  Come to find out I was dumb as a brick when it came to couponing.  While I thought I was saving money by only purchasing the Great Value brand items, I only purchased specific brands of toilet paper and shampoo, using a coupon of course.   I NEVER shopped at Publix and rarely at Kroger.  "They were just too expensive", I'd say.  Donna would give me this crazy look and proceed to tell me why she didn't like to shop at Walmart.  I was offended!  How could she say such a thing!  But of course, I didn't realize I'd be uttering those same words nearly 18 months later...

Part 3.

Why We Coupon: Part 1

If you've been following this blog for a while, you might have noticed a few changes.  I recently re-evaluated the time I've been devoting to this blog.  In the beginning, I set this up to share events in our family's life, to share recipes and to share scrapbooking and stamping techniques with others.  Over the past year, I've sort of gotten off track with all that.  I'd like to explain a little about why we coupon and why this blog took a change a few months back...

After our son was born in June 2008, we went through a very hard time financially.  While at the hospital the nurses asked if I'd like to sign up for WIC but I declined since I didn't think we would qualify.  Six weeks later, when we had no money to buy groceries AND pay our bills, I drove down to the local WIC office to fill out a form just to be sure.  After waiting for about an hour in the hallway, I asked the administrator if there were any documents I needed to fill out while I waited and she curtly told me I needed an appointment to even be considered for WIC.  I left the office very upset (having wasted an hour out of my day) and drove back home.  When I got home I looked through our cabinets and found a can of Manwich (which I do not like at all) and some rice and a few other odds and ends.  I was trying to figure what I could make for dinner but was too upset to think about it.  I talked with a friend (my "Coupon Queen") and expressed my concern about our food situation.  Little did I know that would be the turning point for our life and this blog...

Part 2.

(By the way, I didn't try to qualify for WIC again until over a year later.  I was able to contact a different office and she confirmed my suspicion that we indeed did not qualify for WIC.  Apparently, my husband's NET Income would qualify but the GROSS Income is what they based it on and she said we would not be able to obtain WIC vouchers.)

Stockpiling: Last Minute Gifts?

This is Part IV in a series on Stockpiling solutions: Last Minute Gifts? Blessings of stockpiling. (You can read Part I: What can I freeze?; Part II: My cabinets are screamin'! Bathroom solutions; Part III: My kitchen is booby-trapped! Kitchen solutions.)

Have you ever needed a last minute gift? Maybe you forgot about a baby shower. Or maybe you have a friend who's getting married and need a last minute wedding shower gift. This is another reason why I love stockpiling. Everyone needs the essentials, whether it's for a new baby or for their new home. Stockpiling essentials at the bottom dollar saves you money and they can save your hide when you're in a pinch.

If you're a mother, you know how important diapers and wipes are. Heaven-forbid we actually run out of diapers! When the drug stores run a store reward for diapers, you can definitely be assured I'm going to pick up on it. When I hear about a great wipe deal at the department store, you can bet your britches I'll be making my way to pick up my fair share. Having these products on hand are without a doubt counted as baby essentials. But they also make wonderful gifts.

Bathroom essentials are other great stockpilable (is that a word?!?) products. How many FREE razors and toothbrushes and deodorant can one person have anyway? Don't get me wrong. I'm right there with the rest of you picking up my FREE stuff to roll my store rewards. Have you considered including some of these essentials in a gift for the new mommy? She did carry the baby for 9 months and went through who-knows-how-many-hours of labor and delivery. Wouldn't it be nice to pamper her with some of the latest toiletries? Razors, shaving gel, lotions, shower gel, nail polish...etc.

Then we have the newlyweds. This is where you can get really creative with your stockpiled essentials. Say you were able to purchase boxes of Uncle Ben's Rice or pouches of Knorr Rice Sides and cans of Campbell's Cream of Chicken soup. And maybe you were able to pick up on the Pyrex casserole clearance. You can put these items together along with a little handmade recipe card with a simple recipe for Chicken and Rice Casserole. Or you can buy an inexpensive cookbook from Amazon.com for $.01 (These are usually pre-owned in good condition and you pay a nominal shipping fee.) and include this in your gift. Another pantry related gift is to combine cake or brownie mixes with cake pans or muffin tins. Wrap in a bow with a wooden spoon attached and "Voila!" You've got yourself a great gift.

Or you can create a gift made up of cleaning and household products. A friend and I did this for a bridal shower a few years ago and it was a huge success. It went something like this:

"Once upon a time there was a SCHICK young lady who met a SUAVE and BRAWNY young man in a beautiful GLADE. After dating for a while, the CHARMIN’ young man PLEDGEd his love to his ANGEL. She REACHed for him to give him a SNUGGLE. His fear of rejection was OUSTed when it DAWNed on him that she had said yes to his proposal. He SHOUTed with JOY! He WISPed away any worries she might have with his DOWNY CARESSes.

So, bride's name, as you go through the CASCADE of marriage with groom's name, just remember ANYWHERE you are together will be like riding high on the CREST of life. ALL the bad times will go up in a PUFF of smoke, as your FANTASTIK hopes and dreams come true with BUBBLES of happiness."

or you can choose something like this:

"We gather together with you to celebrate the (dawn) of a new (era). Marriage is a journey. Some days it will be pure (joy) but let's take a moment and talk about the others.

There may come a time when you realize your big (brawny) guy isn't necessarily (Mr. Clean). When this and other little glitches occur, don't (shout) or send up an (SOS). Go (easy-on) him. Hopefully the (Tide) will change quickly, tensions will (vanish), and things will (bounce) back to normal.

We think you and "groom" are a (fantastic) couple with a (zest) for life and a sincere appreciation for each other. We fully support you as you and "groom" (pledge) to spend your lives as one.

We wish you all the best... Including love, happiness and lots of time to (snuggle)."

You can put the items in a large laundry basket with a big bow and "ta-da" you've got yourself the best gift any new bride or groom would love to have.

It's such a blessing to be able to share your stockpile with others. Knowing you are helping someone is a wonderful gift in itself. So next time you are in a pinch, get your creative juices flowing by looking through your stockpiled items. See what kind of gifts you can make from what you already have on hand.

Have you made a gift from your stockpile? I'd love to know what you used and how you did it.

Enjoy!

This post has been linked to:

• Coupon Teacher's Thrifty Thrusday
• Frugal Friday at Life as Mom
  

Stockpiling: My Kitchen is Booby-Trapped!

This is Part III of a series of stockpiling solutions: My Kitchen is Booby-Trapped! Where should I store everything? (You can read Part I: What can I freeze? and Part II: My Cabinets are screamin'! bathroom solutions.)

As I've mentioned before, we have a fairly small house and not alot of room for stockpiling. We invested in a used freezer on Craigslist and some storage containers for the bedroom to help out, but when it came to our pantry, well frankly, we didn't have a "pantry". You know the ones I'm talking about? A little closet-like room off the kitchen where the walls are lined with shelves from top to bottom and all your pantry items are neatly stored in alphabetical order with the ones expiring the earliest up front. Okay, okay, so I live in a dream land, but it doesn't hurt to dream!

When we started stockpiling I ran out of room after the first month. I literally have 2 cabinets that house pantry related items so it didn't take long to fill them up. I knew it was time to do something when I opened the cabinet door and a box of brownies tumbled out and nearly knocked my lights out! With little ones running around, I couldn't risk them getting hurt by falling boxes and cans. (Now that would be a very interesting conversation with the ER Doctors!) So again, we did some investing. I talked it over with my husband and he agreed we could spend a little money to erect some shelving units in the garage.

Yes the garage! We don't use our garage like normal people. I wish we did, but inevitably it gets filled with empty cardboard boxes, lawnmower, weed-whacker, leaf-blower, old yard sale items, old furniture, old scrapbooking supplies, the list is endless...and now it holds our pantry items too. Target put their wire rack shelving units on sale for around $30 last summer. We purchased two, one for our pantry items and the other for my husband's tools and what-nots. These shelves are very sturdy and hold alot! They have lots to choose from.
So if you have a small house and don't have a beloved pantry closet, look for creative ways to store your stockpiled pantry items. Do you have empty space above your washer and dryer? You might be able to install a couple of extra shelves above there. Do you have empty space in your hot water heater room? My in-laws replaced their air conditioning unit and it opened up a small closet near her kitchen. Do you have an enclosed garage with a spare wall? Be creative with your storage solutions. It's better to be a little organized than to have to explain to the ER Doctor why your child is unconscious from a flying can of vegetable soup!

Where do you store your pantry items?

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Coupon 101: How to Create Scenarios

I get asked when am I going to offer Advanced Classes on how to work the deals to your best advantage and how to create your own scenarios. There are several who follow this blog and buy what I buy every week. However, what I buy is not necessarily what you want to buy that week or what you NEED for the week. So here is how I do my scenarios:

If I have the time in advance of the sale (sometimes a week or so in advanced), I'll visit Iheartcvs.com to see what is going to be in the weekly ad. I also visit hotcouponworld.com to see if anyone has come up with some great coupon match ups for what's going to be on sale.

If I DON'T have the time (which has been the case lately), I wait until Friday morning when Southern Savers posts the CVS deals for the following week.

1. I literally sit down with paper and pencil in hand
2. I write down all the deals FREE after ECBs with the limit next to it (because I'll forget if I don't).
3. I write down how many ECBs I'm carrying over from last week at the top and any $ off $$ coupons CVS released or I received on my CRT (cash register tape)
4. Next I write down any other items on sale that we might need or are a stockpile price

This is sort of what it looks like for this week's sale ad:

CVS 8 + 6 ECB from last week

free after ECB this week:
4 ct Advil PM $.99 - FREE (1)
Complete contact solution $9.99 - FREE (1)
- $1/1 10/25 RP
- $2/1 IPQ - not available anymore
BIC Disposable razors comfort 3 advance or soleil 4 ct $4.99 - $4 ECB (1)

sale:
All Small & Mighty 3.99
- $2/1 12/6 RP = $1.99 each no ecbs

Once all that is written down (because I like to see what I'm doing, hence the scenarios in the first place :) I start the math, literally:

14.00 ECB (from last week)
-9.99 Complete Solution
------
4.01 ECB leftover
+1.00 Complete Solution coupon
------
5.01 ECB leftover
-4.99 BIC
------
.02 ECB leftover
+2.00 BIC coupon
------
2.02 ECB leftover
-.99 Advil PM
------
1.03 ECB leftover
-3.99 laundry detergent
------
-2.97 OOP
+2.00 ALL coupon
=====
-.97 OOP for the first order
receive $9.99 ECB, $.99 ECB, $4 ECB

Double check to make sure there are enough items for the coupons used:
4 items versus 5 coupons, means I'll need to buy a filler item, something cheap under $1 preferably. Usually you can find the caramels at the counter for $.33. If not, go over to the candy aisle to see if there are any "penny" candy on sale.

$.97 OOP + $.33 caramel = $1.30 OOP plus tax

I hope this helps you create your own scenarios.

What kind of items do you buy for filler items?

Thanks!

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Stockpiling: My Cabinets are Screamin'!

This is Part II of a series of stockpiling solutions: My Cabinets are Screamin' - Where Should I Store Everything? (You can read Part I: What can I freeze?)

When I started stockpiling kitchen and bathroom items, I was worried because we have a small house. We don't have much cabinet space for pantry items and that includes health & beauty products. I had no idea how I could have room for stockpiling. So I had to get creative without spending alot of money. That's the idea of couponing and stockpiling, right?

When we first started out stockpiling, I was purchasing everything that was FREE after coupons and store rewards (ECB or RR) and what I needed at the moment. My theory was (and still is) "why pay for it full price when you can get it FREE or nearly so when it's on sale". So needless to say over the last several months we have accumulated quite a stash of razors, shampoos, conditioners, lotions, tampons, feminine pads, hair coloring kits, body washes, toothpastes, toothbrushes, flosses, mouthwashs...My bathroom cabinets were booby-trapped! Nearly everytime we opened the door to get something out, 4 or 5 other things fell out. It got to be ridiculous and my husband finally said something needed to be done about it. While shopping for the deals one week, I noticed CVS had marked down their storage containers 75% off at the end of summer. So I snagged two of them for around $2 each. I sorted through everything and placed shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotions and soap in one container and slid it under our bed. The other container is slap full of razors of every kind imaginable. It also resides under the bed. I found another plastic container I purchased at Walmart a few years ago to hold my daughter's crib sheets and what-nots under her crib. I pulled it out and filled it with toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash and floss. It still sits behind the door in the bedroom but after this post, I'm going to move it under the bed as well. (I'm feeling a little guilty knowing it's taking up much needed space.)

As for the bathroom, my husband's side of the cabinet is full of bathroom cleaning supplies and extra bars of soap. My side of the cabinet is full of feminine products, Q-Tips and beach towels. We have a narrow wall cabinet we purchased when we first moved into our house 8 years ago to hold bath towels and knick-knacks. Now the bottom cabinet of that is stocked full of hair color kits. I store toilet paper in our garage, but that's another story for another post...

Now that our stockpile is pretty complete, I only purchase what's FREE after coupons and store rewards. There really is no need to do impulse shopping. If there is something we are running low on, I put it on a list on my fridge and keep my eyes open for sales. If worse comes to worse and we run out before a sale, I'll use accumulated store rewards to get what we need, which makes it essentially FREE.

Be creative, there's more space in your small house than you may think. Dust bunnies may not be happy you are infringing on their space, but your family will be happy they are not setting off booby-traps anymore!

Enjoy!

Coupon 101: Save Money with eCoupons!

Do you sign up for eCoupons? It's super easy!

Kroger is a great place to utilize online eCoupons. There are a few other stores where you can also take advantage of eCoupons but we have Kroger stores in our area.

Sign In/Register
Once you register, make sure you also input your Kroger Plus card number in the provided field.

Now you can click on Coupons - Print or Download
You'll see a couple of different boxes on the screen: "No more clipping coupons!..." P&G eSaver and also the one below it "Save on Groceries with shortcut$.com".

YOU MAY NO LONGER UTILIZE THIS eCOUPON FEATURE EFFECTIVE 12/31/09: Click on P&G eSaver box.
You'll need to sign up if you haven't done so before, or you can roll down and log in.
In the left sidebar, you can update My Profile and also update your My Shopper's Cards with your Kroger Plus card number. You can also start adding coupons to your card by clicking on My P&G eSaver Coupons. Now you can see what coupons are available to you for download. And you click the ones you want to add to your card. These are coupons you typically get in the Sunday inserts once a month from Proctor & Gamble (i.e. Tide, Bounty, Crest, Huggies...)

Click on ShortCut$ box.
You'll need to sign up for Shortcut$ if you haven't already done so. In the middle of the screen is a big button "START NOW" to create an account or you can log in to your account in the right sidebar. There are tabs in the middle of the screen "Home", "My Coupons", "My Profile", "Partner Stores", "Shopping List", "Help". These will help you navigate the site. Complete your profile with your Kroger Plus card information. If you don't live in our area, you can click on "Partner Stores" to see other stores who participate in this program. Click on "My Coupons" to start adding coupons to your Kroger Plus card. These coupons are found in the Sunday inserts, Print Free Coupons Online at Coupons.com, www.smartsource.com, www.redplum.com, www.bettycrocker.com, and other sources from manufacturer's online.

Another option is Cellfire. I am very new to this. I only just signed up yesterday after reading what Jenny at Southern Savers had to say HERE. I always thought you had to use your cell phone and I didn't want to have any extra charges go to my cell phone. But that is not the case at all. In fact, you can use your home phone number if you want. It works on the same principle as the other eCoupons.

I did learn that if you have more than one eCoupon loaded on your card, the one that is closest to expire will come off first. Also, only one eCoupon will be used at a time. You cannot stack two eCoupons together.

CORRECTION 12/15/2009 PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS NOT CORRECT!!! YOU MAY NOT STACK PAPER AND ECOUPONS TOGETHER. ORIGINALLY I STATED THE FOLLOWING: However, you can stack an eCoupon with a paper coupon and save even more money when the product goes on sale. And while eCoupons do not double, your paper coupons with an amount of $.50 or less will double (if your Kroger doubles coupons - to my knowledge all Krogers in the Atlanta area double coupons). So if you have a $.50 Betty Crocker coupon for frosting and the $.50 eCoupon equivalent, then you'll save $1.50. I plan on doing this at some point since I have some of these paper coupons. I'll report back the actual cost of the frosting. I'm hoping it will be on sale soon because my paper coupon expires 11/4/09. THIS IS INCORRECT INFORMATION.

I hope this was helpful!

Enjoy!

Stockpiling: What Can I Freeze?

This is Part I of a series of stockpiling solutions: What Can I Freeze?

When I started stockpiling food and pantry items, I was worried because we have a small house. We don't have much cabinet space for pantry items. We also have a small refrigerator and I had no idea how I could have room for stockpiling. So I had to get creative without spending alot of money. That's the idea of couponing and stockpiling, right?

First of all, check your local Craigslist for an inexpensive freezer. We were able to snag one for $100. It's a nice Kenmore freezer that's only a couple of years old. Thankfully it's still working! You can also sign up to local Freecycle Yahoo groups. Freecycling is a wonderful way to get rid of things you don't need anymore but are still in good condition that someone else can use. People are always upgrading or moving or downsizing and you might be able to get one for FREE!

So in your freezer you probably have a bag of ice or a tray of ice, some frozen vegetables and maybe, just maybe, if you dig around in there, you might find half a Popsicle lurking about. At least that's what I found in my freezer when I cleaned it out. I routinely deep clean my Refrigerator/Freezer twice a year. Removing old things to make room for new things.

It's important to label everything that is not in it's original packaging. You think you'll remember what is going into each bag, but trust me, you'll forget. Keep a sharpie marker in a drawer in the kitchen. You'll always know where it is and it's in arms reach from the fridge. Also keep freezer storage baggies in the kitchen cabinets. I keep mine in the cabinet where I store our plastic storage containers (i.e. rubbermaid, tupperware...) You can stockpile storage baggies when they go on sale -- you'll be surprised how often Walgreens has their baggies for $.99 a box.

Keeping food organized in the freezer, prevents it from getting freezer burn and getting too old to eat. Here are the recommendations from North Dakota State University about food items you can put in your freezer and how long each can stay in there. (I also referenced a Weight Watchers 2004 cookbook for some of this information.)

Breads, Pastries, Cakes

• unbaked rolls and bread - 1 month
• baked breads - 2 months
• baked muffins - 6-12 months
• waffles - 1 month
• unbaked fruit pies - 2-4 months
• baked cookies - 6-12 months
• freezer pie shells - 1 year
• cookie dough - 3 months
• unfrosted baked cakes - 2-4 months
• frosted baked cakes - 1 month
• angel food and fruit cakes - 6-12 months

Dairy

• hard cheeses - 3 months
• soft cheeses - 2 weeks
• egg substitute - 6 months
• egg whites - 6 months
• egg yolks - 8 months
• ice cream, sherbet - 1 month

Fruits and Vegetables

• commercially frozen fruit - 1 year
• commercially frozen vegetables - 8-12 months

Meats, Poultry and Seafood

Beef, Lamb and Veal

• Ground, uncooked and all cuts, cooked - 3 months
• Roasts and steaks, uncooked - 9 month

Pork

• Ground, uncooked, and all cuts, cooked - 3 months
• Roasts and chops, uncooked - 6 months

Poultry

• All cuts, cooked - 1 month
• Boneless or bone-in pieces, uncooked - 6 months

Seafood

• Bass, perch, trout and shellfish - 3 months
• Cod, flounder and halibut - 6 months

What kinds of things do you routinely freeze?

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