I’ve always loved looking at the coupons in the newspaper every Sunday, but not until recently have I begun to save them. I’ve heard about those people who go into the grocery store and walk out with a basketful of groceries for under $10, but I’ve never understood how they do that. I talked to my friend, Emily, about it because I knew she did it and she gave me some good information and resources to help me with my couponing. I’m still a beginner but today I did my first real coupon shopping experience and it felt great!
Emily told me to just save all the coupons each week and write the date on the front page. Then when you see deals come up from the websites she gave me, you can go back and clip them. Honestly, I’ve been too lazy to just shop for the things that are on special, but I did go through them yesterday and clip all the coupons that were over $1 and less than $1.98 for Harris Teeters’ Super Double Coupon Week that has been going on this week. I don’t like to eat processed food so I just went though and clipped things I actually use: toothpaste, Fish Oil vitamins, Ziplock bags and containers, shampoo for Elton, deodorant, contact solution for Elton, laundry detergent etc. I then wrote down all the items I needed to purchase so I wouldn’t spend too long in the store.
It did take me a lot longer to find all the items and I was definitely thinking, “Do I really need all this stuff?” As I approached the checkout counter I was nervous about some of the coupons not working and looking “stupid.” (Those who know me know what a freak I am about things like that.) Anyways, she scanned all the items I got and the total was $155.82. Yikers! Then she scanned my VIC card and I got $25.31 marked off. Then came the scanning of the coupons. That was fun to watch! My total came down to $66.22. So… I saved $25 with my VIC card and $66 with coupons - pretty awesome!
To sum it all up, I’ll definitely do this again the next time they have a Super Double Coupon Week. I saved the coupons for under $1 for the Triple Coupon weeks because they only triple the coupons under $1 for that. The one thing I think I'll do differently next time is ONLY get things that are also on VIC special so I'm really getting the bottom of the barrel price for each item.
Happy Couponing!
Now that we started getting the paper on the weekends(& quit my job) I've been collecting coupons too. You should get the Day Runner coupon organizer book. I've been using one of those plastic sorting envelope kind but found the Day Runner brand at Office Max last week and LOVE it!! It fits easily in your purse too so you'll always have it on you.
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