The food budget's a tricky place to cut. For one thing, these kids insist on eating, demanding bugers that they are. And for another, you could really cut things to decrease the budget but then you're eating a lot of junk. Let's face it, fresh fruit and veggies can be expensive. Throw in some organic milk and you've blown your budget before you've even bought very much. But lately something has caught my attention: coupons.
I've never been a big fan of coupons. I used to clip them years ago, file them in a cute little pouch and never use them. For one thing, they were often for things I never used. Even when I used that $.25 coupon for Gillette shaving cream, buying the generic brand was still cheaper. What was the point?
But Brandy from I'm Not Your Average Soccer Mom has got me interested in them again, and not just coupons. There's a whole different outlook in shopping. Brandy has another blog, Craving Savings, and she blogs about what she saves and how she saves. One of her favorite places to shop is CVS Pharmacy. Who knew? This year alone she has spent $39.88 at CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens. Big deal you say? But she's saved $1911.35. Yeah, you read that right. She's bought over $2000 worth of items at CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens and only spent a little less than $40. How can that be? I admit, I'm still learning and I haven't tried it yet but you have to start somewhere. I am her eager pupil.
A couple of weeks ago I was at the grocery store and realized that I left my meager pile of coupons at home again. And then I saw something spectacular. There was a display of Kellogg's cereal with a $1.00 coupon attached to the boxes if you bought 2 boxes AND the cereal was on sale! I ended up buying 2 boxes of Kellogg's cereal for about $3.00. Let me tell you, I was excited! I was so proud of myself that once I left the store I decided that my little over $1 savings deserved a reward. I was going to Starbucks! Saved $1.00/ spent $3.50. Okay, so maybe I need to give this savings idea a little more thought.
20 comments:
Great post - I'm just now learning to be a responsible adult with my finances unfortunately...and from India as well! See, I have the same outlook... "ouh I saved money....hellooooo Starbucks!" It's lethal. Ah! & now I miss it there...it's been over 4 months! =] Happy Tuesday
Ahhh Starbucks...yummy...
Okay back to the savings..you are so right..it is money in our pocket...just got take the time and the effort to do it.
You are too good to me!
Ok my friend is a CVS nut she is so good they are usually giving her money back explain that one. She is going to teach me this summer of her wise ways!!! The stinky part is all the time it takes her to get these bargains 8o(. She has coupon websites that have name brand coupons on them. She has a blog for that as well let me know if you want her shopping blog. She tells of all her deals and where to find the best. She has the time right now with no kiddos but if Ethiopia and China would hurry up that problem could be eliminated!!
good for you! i'm a coupon lover too... and we use craigslist to sell our stuff :-)
Ok, this is something I need to get cracking on. I use coupons if I have them, but I don't seek them out...and I am DEFINITELY doing CVS and Walgreen's wrong... off to read up on what Brandy has to say about that...
Yay for your find! I am a big coupon clipper but I have to admit also that I tend to let them expire before use sometimes too.
There are tons of great websites that offer printable coupons and you just select the ones you want and print away!
I tell the kids on a REGULAR basis if they did NOT EAT we would be RICH! I am trying to use coupons too...I definitely have seen savings...they still eat a lot though!!
I use coupons, but I don't do them right because I still think CVS and Walgreens are more expensive than Target on most things. I'll have to read your friends' blog.
Starbucks, yumm, but so expensive...ugh
Ha!! You sound like me.....if I save money with my coupons, you can bet I'm headed straight to Starbucks and then I don't feel so guilty! :) LOL!!
Hey Denise, one thing I try to do is go over my list before I go to the store w/ all my coupons, I attach them right to my list, and mark coupon next to the list item, so I make sure I get the right item. It helps to take the time to look through the coupons if you can to see what's in there, because mine too expire.... Good luck, off to save and read Brandy's other blog.
OOHHH yeah, forgot to tell you...do you have a BJ'S near you, they send out monthly coupons and you can also use another coupon at the same time....DIAPERS!!! I refuse to spend more than $.19 on diapers, and so far, so good, for Pampers or Huggies...the generics don't hold for Amelia, and I know you need to buy them for 2.
My hubby had the audacity to ask me why I needed so much money for groceries...'Food can't cost that much!' I was so mad I told him I wouldn't do the grocery shopping anymore. Now I find him clipping coupons out of every Sunday paper so that he can afford to fill our list. It's not cheap to feed a family of three....I can't imagine feeding 7!!
check out hotcouponworld.com for great tips.
also, check out http://jane4girls800dollarannualbudget.blogspot.com/.
this women has a family of 4 and an ANNUAL grocery budget of $800.
since money is tight did you hear about the triple/double coupons over at Kmart? This is from now until the 25th. :) I'm going today.
Coupons...starbucks...my kind of combination.
sandy toe
denise, as far as walgreens goes, my local walgreens girl gave me this tip..
just get the circular when you walk in the door. there are coupons and 2 for 1's all in that.
other day I needed some things at walgreens that ususally run me about 40 bucks and I belive my total was 14.50 or so. ALL FROM THE CIRCULAR!
So don't worry about forgetting the coupons there!
Hmmm....interesting. I always thought that drug stores were more expensive than supermarkets. I will be revisiting that misconception. And Denise....Puh-leaze stay away from Starbucks. Once you get it out of your system, you won't miss it so much. Kind of like me and food in China...I starved for so long I now don't even worry about eating until my stomach starts sounding off in protest. [probably wasn't a very healthy weaning, though]
You know Denise, great minds think alike ! I have done exactly the same thing about coupons as you have for years. I could still save more by buying the generic or store brand so what was the point!!! You have insired me too, I am going to these other blogs so I can start learning too, because times are more difficult than they have been in a long time.
Love ya,Kristy
I haven't figured out the walgreens thing yet either. we don't have a CVS close that would make it worth while to go. Plus the rebate stuff I see is stuff I don't or won't use. I am trying though.
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