It wasn't a fad....

Yes I'm still couponing & saving lots! CVS has some great deals this week. Look at what I got for $20!!!!



Notice the 2 boxes of diapers!!! First time I've bought 2 different sizes!
So for $20 I got:
-170 diapers
- 2 dawn dish soap
-1 crest pro health toothpaste
-1 contact solution
-1 Loreal blush
-2 bags of Starburst Jelly beans ( stocking up for the Easter baskets)

I walked out on a coupon high.
It's definitely not a fad.....

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Out of Control!

This is my confession. I was out of control. Now wait a minute! Before you start picturing me dancing on top of the table, it's not that kind of out of control (& those of you who know me well, know I don't need any liquid courage to brave the table top!). I was out of control with my spending! I don't have a great new pair of flats or even a new piece of jewlry to show for. Mary Stewart wasn't the beneficiary of the crazy spending. As Mr. Monk used to say, "Here's what happend....."

I over spent on grocery's! How? I coupon right? I confess, I got caught up in the "weekly deals!". If you have been reading my blogs, I have warned you about this. Before couponing I probably went to the grocery store 3 times a month. The fun and games of couponing is maximizing the weekly deal and making the most of your buck. For some reason this month every week I over spent, even though I was using my coupons.

I asked Matthew to show me some grace, as this is the first time I can really recall going over my grocery budget in 5 years (how bad you ask? well it was almost double my monthly budget!).

Going forward I have a new plan for October! I took my budget and divided it by 4 (each week of the month). Hopefully this will help me keep my goal in mind weekly, and also make me really prioritize what we need!

I don't mean to discourage any of you with your coupons and weekly deals, just to warn you it can happen to the best of us =)

Time to go look at the weekly deals at Publix & CVS.....

A Little of This & That!

Wow! Look what I bought today at CVS for $18!



Notice the diapers & Halloween candy! Out of convience I bought the gallon of milk for $4 (ms organic whole milk). Not bad..,,,



Look at this cute thing that turns 1 this week!!! Could eat her up!



Have a happy day!

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Taking It To The Next Level!

When I was a kid we would play a game sitting around the dinner table or in a restaurant called "taking it to the next level." It was a trivia type game and someone would ask a question like "How many parishes are in Louisisana?" Someone would answer, "64", then someone would replay, "Ok take it to the next level, name 30 of the parishes." I remember this exact conversation when I was probably about 12 with my dad and I'm pretty sure he named all 64 parishes!

All that to say, I am taking it to the next level, with coupons! Today I went to Southern Savers coupon class with my friends Katie & Chris (Chris is the one who got me into coupons in the first place and this is the couple who makes GREAT cakes! Check out there blog and anticipate Mary Stewart's birthday cakes (yes cakes is plural) in about 2 weeks!!).
Wow!!! As some of you know I have been couponing for a few months and have loved it for a few different reasons:

1. I no longer have to shop at Walmart. I really really dislike Walmart but always felt I was in bondage to Walmart because they had the "lowest" prices. Oh how I was disillusioned.
2. I get to shop a Publix. Publix is the mecca of grocery stores and they live up to their slogan, "Where Shopping is a Pleasure."
3. My pantry is stocked!!!
4. There is nothing like the high you get from watching your total decrease at check out!

If you are new to couponing or are thinking about getting started, visit the Southern Savers website for video tutorials and a wealth of information.
Here are some things I walked away with today.........
1. Walmart isn't cheaper. It is cheaper to take advantage of buy 1 get 1 free deals with coupons than going to Walmart; however Walmart will price match (this was sweet affirmation to my ears).
2. I will continue to stick to Publix and CVS for most of my shopping, taking advantage of Kroger during there mega sales events, but at the end of the day Publix is the better bet. If you have a shopper card, have it scanned at the very end, after giving the cashier your coupons.
3. At times I would get confused using coupons with B1G1 deals, but you can use 2 coupons on these sales and you can stack store coupons and manufacturers coupons.
4. In the Sunday paper sometimes the grocery stores will issue coupons, but how do you really know if they are a store or manufacturer coupon? The bar codes. If the bar code on the coupon starts with a 9 or 5 it is a manufacturer coupon so you can stack it with a store one!
5. Also ask for a duplicate receipt so that you will have extras for rebates.
6. Some great features of the Southern Savers website I didn't know:
* Coupon database: you can type in a product you need to buy but don't have a coupon for & the database will tell you where to find one if there is one to be found.
* The items they list each week under the specific grocery store, isn't the list of everything on sale that week, but the items that are lowest price they will be in the 6 week sale cycle.

Today during class they reaffirmed that you need to pick 1 or 2 grocery stores and probably 1 drug store to focus on. When it comes to drug stores I totally recommend CVS.

So what is my personal application? How will I take it to the next level?
Well I want to do a better job of mapping out the meals I fix each week based on whats on sale with my coupons & what I have in my pantry. I want to stock up each week on the items that are at the rock bottom low price and then the essentials (milk, eggs, bread, etc).
I want to become more hardcore when it comes to CVS and the extra care bucks. I am going to try to only buy the items that come with the ECB's that I need.

Remember it takes about 6 weeks for you to get into the coupon cycle and for you to start making a difference in your budget. It is like a game, and can be addicting, but don't be scared to take it to the next level!



** Baton Rouge couponers: Winn Dixie won't accept competitors but will let you stack store & competitor coupons. When they offer the B1G1, you do have to buy both items, but be sure to use 2 coupons. Louisiana Winn Dixie won't double coupons.

Couponing: A How To

It seems several of you have inquired about our money saving hobby!

If you haven't already been introduced to southern savers, then let me be the first to tell you this is an amazing site! They have some great tutorial videos & they do a great job explaining.

I am going to a class in September so I hope to become more coupon wise but for now this is what it looks like for me.

First of all I want this to be something I can keep up with as our lives get busier and our family gets bigger so I really focus on 3 stores (Publix, Kroger, CVS). On Sunday we buy the double coupon newspaper on our way to church (Atlanta offers a double coupon paper). I go through & cut the coupons that I think we will use & then I divide them up by category. I bought this great coupon divider to better organize with ( pets, dairy, snacks, baby, etc).

Next I check the sale papers to see the best deals at Publix, Kroger & CVS. Then I make my grocery list according to the best deals/ coupons each store has. Through coupons I have fallen in LOVE with Publix.

Check with your grocery store to see there policy on coupons. Some will double up to 50 cents, others will take competitors coupons & some even have coupons online you can load to your value card (Kroger is one of these).

CVS is kind of it's own category. I love there ECB program and generally try to focus on there sales that feature ECB's. However, CVS takes a little more thought. I could see how if you weren't careful you would end up spending more than saving.

Again the Southern Savers website will tell you what coupons are available for each store, giving you a cheat sheet.

Our monthly grocery budget hasn't really changed, but I can assure you I have a pantry and freezer full of food that I didn't have before.

I am happy to say I have already converted one friend over to couponing......Virginia!

Hope this was helpful! Will be happy to answer any questions too!

Joy of Couponing!

I had to share the joy I found today:






Kroger: $17
that's 6 body washes, 1 deodorant, candy & 2 100 calorie snack packs






CVS: case of 82 diapers, 3 4 pack wisp, pads, & 2 liquid dish soap for $8!!!

See why I'm so joyful?

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Couponing

Couponing. It's our new hobby, as lame as it sounds. This all started a few weeks ago when our friend Chris, told Matthew about this amazing deal on Old Spice body wash & deodorant. Next thing I knew, Chris is delivering 4 body washes and 4 deodorant for $4. I started to get the bug. Chris walked me through the steps (double coupons, stacking coupons, buy 1 get 1 free, etc), and though I am still very much a baby couponer, it's so much fun.

I have to admit I was a little surprised at how into couponing Matthew is. But then again it involves saving money, and he is such a competitor. Couponing really is just one big game. Where and how can I save the most money?

For the past two Sunday's we wait until Mary Stewart is taking her afternoon nap, and then it's through the newspaper. We have set up a system, and it seems to be working for us. I have to laugh because the past two Sunday's, Matt's sister Randi has been here. I am sure she is thinking, "Boy I hope I don't turn out like them!"

I think the thing I like the most about couponing is that I feel like my pantry is full. Though my monthly grocery bill hasn't really changed, I have so much more to show for it.

Today our big thrill was CVS (this is Matthew's favorite, & the store he is in charge of). We walked out with 6 air freshners (he is such a sucker for things that smell good), a new razor, 2 colgate clinical toothpastes, 5 body washes & a deodorant, & 2 big bags of sour patch kids (I couldn't resist) for $9. The best part is to look at the receipt and it says I saved $46.

So maybe our new hobby really isn't so lame!