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Home > First Couponing Shopping Trip!

First Couponing Shopping Trip!

February 12th, 2011 at 10:30 pm

I had my first couponing shopping trip. I thank everyone who gave me advice on this. That SouthernSavers.com website has GREAT advice and also links to coupons which is very nice. I planned my trip based on couponmom.com which puts together the sales from your local grocery store with the recent coupons. It is really neat because I have learned that it is very possible to buy toothpaste and deodorant FREE or for $.50 or less, if you aren't brand loyal. I have told DH that we are both going to stop caring so much about which brand we use on our armpits!!

That being said I carefully only bought things we use and combined that list with coupons and what was on sale. Even so, though, I was kind of underwhelmed when I got to the checkout counter at Walmart. I paid just over $39 and with the coupons it was reduced to $33. It was NOT the incredible savings I see on the morning shows. That being said, though, since I was mostly buying things on sale I think I probably got about $60 of groceries for my $33 which IS good.

One bad element of the day though was that I LOST my coupon keeper filled with coupons somewhere between the Walmart parking lot and my house!!! I now need to go purchase another coupon keeper! BUT I did get my toes wet on this thing and tomorrow morning I plan to get a couple of extra Sunday papers to get at least three of each coupon. Plus my mother in law says she will save them for me.

Fortunately, although I did lose some good coupons when I lost the coupon keeper, since the website recommends that you keep the coupons in their circulars (dated) until you need to use them, I still have most of the coupons I have saved from the last month.

I do need to remember, though, that couponing can be addictive and NOT buy things I won't use.

5 Responses to “First Couponing Shopping Trip!”

  1. snafu Says:
    1297552016

    Good on you for being flexible about brands, making some changes and trying a new system of coupon matched to sales & stores. Most of all, Gold Star great that you plan your shopping and use a list! For several months I noted the savings/cost avoidance in my daytimer since the store listed the credit at the bottom of the tape. I was totally shocked at how much it all added to.

    Rather than buy x-tra papers, can you ask your neighbors or colleagues at work for their Sunday inserts? The ladies on TV dumpster dived! I wonder what the library does with their inserts.

    If you already do menu plans kudos, if not, it only adds a few minutes to work out a plan from store flyers for outlets on your normal route. I can tell you from experience it dropped my stress level by 50% to know what I needed to do to get dinner to table for the hungry mob. My food bill dropped more than 30% and we were eating healthier, less processed stuff.

  2. FrugalTexan75 Says:
    1297563581

    Walmart isn't generally a place you'll save big at with coupons. To get the savings of the "coupon queens" you generally need to go to stores such as Safeway, Kroger, etc. that double and triple.

  3. Savings Queen Says:
    1297563873

    Thanks girls! Really good tips. Frugal you are right about walmart. Since they don't double them, it doesn't seem all that great. Plus with our Krogers here you can apparently use a manufacturers coupon plus a Kroger e-coupon. Thanks for the tips!

  4. mjrube94 Says:
    1297564407

    Colgate toothpaste is on sale everywhere beginning Sunday. Rite Aid has it $3.50 and get $3.50 back in Up rewards (limit 2), and CVS has it $3.79, get $3.79 ECBs back (limit 2). In both cases, you can use the $.35 coupons that are out and make it a money maker! Shoprite also has Colgate toothpaste and toothbrushes for $.68 each (lim 4). The $.35 coupons can be doubled to make that a freebie as well. I'm definitely planning on stocking up!

  5. Savings Queen Says:
    1297733076

    mjrube, Thanks for the colate tip!!! I will o buy some toothpaste!

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