Coupon savy...

[ccbegay]

Ok...here is my testament...tonight went to the grocery store WITH my coupons (i usually accidently leave them at home) but went in, put the coupons to good use and the store card...well I added it all up and subtotal was $34 plus tax something like $37...so afterwards... with the coupons and store card...my whole total was 20.99...i don' t know, but i'm excited, haha...i think i could get the hang of this...

[Regina]

It is so much fun once you get started....but at first, it seems like it takes up a lot of time. Once you get use to it, you become faster, and it really isn't that time consuming at all...especially, when the register starts scanning the coupons and you see your bill go down to almost nothing.

If you have a publix near you, they have flyers at the front of the store. Right now, there is a $2.00 coupon for any covergirl cosmetic. Well, cover girl's nail polish is only 2.47, so if you wear nail polish, you get it for 47 cents. The paper had a 1.00 coupon for any revlon beauty tool; publix has a 2.00 off any revlon beauty tool (meaning nail clippers, twizzers, etc.). Toe nail clippers, slanted twizzers, etc. are 2.99....so, if you use both publix and manufactor's coupons, the items are free. I am doing a gift basket for my mom for Christmas this year of candles, beauty items, nail things (she loves nail polish), teas, etc. So, these are great ways to buy things that will fill up a cute little basket.

I really didn't see any good sales this week....some people's papers had a free 20 oz. tropicana drink....our's didn't. I love when they have buy one get one, and you have a publix and a manufactor's coupon. It makes things so cheap. Last week, I bought a bunch of deli select deli meat for 67 cents (after my coupons), and that night I made a stromboli with the deli meat. The excederin was on sale this week for 1.99 at cvs and winn dixie, and the paper had 2.00 off coupons....making it free. Nope...I didn't make any extra trips to get these things; we were already over there....so, with just the effort of cutting out the coupons, I was able to get free excederin (which we use).

I am happy to see that someone else does couponing too.

[Soccer Mom]

Regina, do you do freebie websites? Surveys? bzzagent? housepartys?

I am addicted to couponing and saving money. Always challenging myself to do better the next time. dh loves to watch me as it is like this huge game I play. LOL!

[Regina]

Soccer mom,
Actually, I am just getting into it again. When we were in Ohio, I loved to cut the coupons because they had the super double bonus...free, free, free,....! When we moved down here, I was just overwhelmed with taking care of the kids that I quit. It was too much of a bother...now, it is too much of a bother not to do it. The more I save, the less my hubby has to work. It is a game with the older kids too...great math skills learned. My oldest just started first grade last week, but he can do basic percentages, some multiplication, and some fractions. He loves to sit with me, help me cut, and figure if it would be a good deal and how we can make it a better deal. He also knows that if it is a good deal, then we can get those snacks he has been wanting! The other kids are starting to help me catagorize everything (again, good skills to learn), so we are definetly having fun with it.

My friend that I met about a month or so is the one that is getting me into couponing again. She is the best couponer I have seen in my entire life! She helps me out with the deals and such.....I would love to get into it more, and I am sure my husband would love for me to save more money! ha ha He is the youngest of 10, and his mom never used a coupon!!!!!! So, he thinks this is pretty neat how much you can save.

If you have any tips, please let me know....like I mentioned, I am still learning. By the way, what is a freebies website and bzzagent?

[BAC]

Oh... another saving technique is bottle returns.

Here in Michigan we get $.10 per can upon return. I take all the cans back from here at work. Last time I got $7.00 off my groceries purchase. Quite awesome.

[Soccer Mom]

You have to get this book, The Smart Spending Guide. My friend and couponing mentor wrote it. She is fabulous! If you order the book or anything off her website tell her you know me, the coupon book she has is wonderful, it is my bible of the grocery store! anyways the website is Smart Spending Home
I just looked at her website for the first time in a while. She has a quote from me. LOL!
Freebies website I use because it is the most organized is Phoenix Freebies - Free samples, trial sizes, coupons, swaps, friends! (I am mamax3 on there)

Another one I use is Freelancebyu-Deals, Bargains, Freebies, and more; Learn to live lavishly on a Frugal Budget you can sign up for the yahoo group that sends emails for GDA's etc...


BzzAgent Sign up to do word of mouth advertising they send you free stuff to try out and bzzz about. It is new stuff just coming on the market. I did one for Take 5 candy bars (OMG, are the good), Automatic shower cleaners, pledge dusters, dh did one for beer, and the newest one is the fly pen. Which really my kids are doing since it is for kids.

This is a couponing website. I joined it not too long ago. I find the pages to busy but some really like it. I like my other ones better but you might enjoy it. Hot Coupon World - Powered by vBulletin

Ordering coupons I use Coupons & Online Grocery Coupons | The Coupon Clippers

I just started houseparties which is really cool. houseparty.com. Basically get a bunch of people together and market new stuff for them. Having boys, I do all the kid stuff.

[Regina]

I'll have to check those sites out when the kids go to bed tonight!

Thanks for the info.

[Soccer Mom]

I forgot to mention, I also use freecycle.org and craigslist.org to find stuff free. I have received some really nice stuff. Bird stand, entertainment center, dining room table, TV's, lawn stuff, all for free. Plus I can get rid of stuff we no longer use.

[Regina]

I love's craig's list....we have denim couches (pottery barn), dressers, armoires, heavy duty bunk beds, etc. from craig's list or e-bay....since we have little ones with sticky fingers, we both agreed that we will only buy second-hand things until they move out!

We are now in search of a black iron bed; we have the nicest mattress, but I really want a headboard and footboard.

By the way, it looks like my couponing with my first grader has helped...his teacher just told me that he will be skipping a grade!

[Soccer Mom]

Congrats! My little one had his IEP today and his teacher said he was great at math. All my boys are, I wonder...LOL!

She also commented on his aviation education. He pretends he is a pilot and knows a lot of pilot jargon.

Totally understand the second hand stuff with kids. I only have 1 room in my house with my fancy stuff and they know they break it they better start packing some bags. LOL!