About two months ago, I was sitting down with the hubby and kids after homework was done and we did something we don't usually have time for in the evenings during the school week. We watched TV! That night we stopped on TLC's Extreme Couponers show. My boys were flabbergasted!
How in the world can they save that much money, Mom?!
You know, Mom, you should try that.
Oh! Their basement is a grocery store!!!
Yeah, that was a funny night. So, the boys just could not get over what they saw. One Sunday we went to breakfast and hubby stopped and got a few Sunday papers just to see what we could do. We have been at this for just over a month and life has been interesting.
In the beginning I was organizing everything in an accordion wallet and hoping I remembered what I had. Then B, my almost-13-y/o son, got an assignment in computers that dealt with Microsoft Excel. He spent a week teaching me how to use the spreadsheet program from his class stuff and looking up instructions online with me. We now have all our coupons in a spreadsheet organized by department and expiration date. I print it out every week and take it with me. When I need to print the updated version, I print on the opposite side so I don't waste paper too much.
I have since moved everything into a 3-Ring binder with a little accordion file in the front for my circulars and rain checks. I use baseball card pages in each department section and have sheet protectors in the back for new coupons that have been clipped but need sorted.
Oh, and I just did all this for my MIL a few days ago! I plan on taking her shopping on one of my days off this week!
I have just a few odds and ends to buy for Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinners (frozen bread rolls, potatoes, broccoli and cheese, pie crusts, veggies) but I have the major bones of the two. I have enough VitaminWater to last the next few months (thank you, KROGER! $1.25 each, MegaEvent sale price $0.75 if you buy 10 participating items, and THEN a coupon - several actually - for $2 of 10!!! Final price? $5.50 for 10!! Lol!). I have body wash for me and the guys for the next several months, deodorant that will last us til spring and mouthwash taking up an entire shelf. Plus, I have a rain check for Crest toothpaste that will get me free toothpaste!!!
Am I going to create an entire room? Heck, NO! I don't have room for that! These are items that I normally would spend too much money on and got for dirt cheap or free. I don't have to buy these now. I can take care of other things that need attention without worrying.
Let's put it this way, I bought almost $200 worth of groceries a few days ago and took 63% off my total bill. That money I saved paid my water bill.
