Spent $25 on groceries. Saved $40. Boo-yah!

Today I spent $24.62 on these groceries. 

I saved $40.05.

Yes, this is $64.67 worth of groceries for $24.62. 

Can't believe it?  Here's a scan of my receipt:

I took home:

2 half-gallons of Silk Almond Milk

2 large jars of Kraft Mayonnaise

4 Glade candles (I LOVE these--they're an economical choice if you like scented candles)

2 pouches of Bumble Bee Albacore Tuna

2 3-bar packs of soap

1 box of Playtex tampons

10 cans of Del Monte Tomatoes

1 8 oz. tub of Rondele spreadable gourmet cheese (YUM!)

Interested in saving money?  Check out my Coupon Basics for more information!

P.S.  Yes, I do buy produce, but not at my grocery store.  I purchase produce at local produce markets because they often have a better selection and they always have better prices--hands down!

Are you a coupon-clipper yet?

Here's a good reason to be a coupon clipper:

The Cheerios were originally $4.99 a box.  I paid $2.00 each.

The Cole's Garlic Bread was originally $1.79 each.  I paid $ .80 each.

The Organic Valley Milk was originally $3.99.  I paid $2.50.  (Rarely do you get a break like that on milk!)

The Starbucks Ice Cream pints were originally $3.79 each.  I paid $. 90 each.

The Chavrie Goat Cheese was $5.89.  I got it for $ .39.

(FYI, I did my shopping trip at Publix--the best grocery store around!)

So are you interested in couponing yet?  Are you letting deals slip away?  "Couponing" takes about an hour a week or so, once you get the hang of it and get organized.  I spent about 1/2 hour getting organized for this particular shopping trip.  Would you say that a 1/2 hour investment is worth $20?

I'm a busy woman--I stay home with my active one-year-old, keep a (somewhat) clean house, have an active social life, go to church services 3x a week, I blog and work part-time in the evenings.  But I have time to set aside for clipping coupons.  Do you?  You can do it while you watch your favorite TV show!

If you missed my "coupon primer" guest post on Sew Homegrown, here's what you missed:

I used to think that coupons are for suckers who will purchase a product they generally don't buy just for the sake of "saving money” and a company’s way of conning people into trying their new products.  I have learned, however, that coupons can save consumers (yes, even ones like me) money if used correctly. What is correctly? Well, here are a few basic strategies to get the most out of your coupons.

1. Buy the Sunday paper. Not only are there great comics (which I am a sucker for), crossword puzzles, and of course news--it is chock-full of coupons.

2. Only use coupons for items that you actually use, or products that you are not brand-picky about. (For instance, if there's a great deal on dishwasher detergent but it's not the one you typically use--it may be worth trying the brand that you can get a deal on. Why not?)

3. Study the ads for your local store. I am not all about going from store to store in search of a deal, honestly, so I stick to just my favorite store--Publix. I know that they announce the weekly specials on Thursdays. I pull the ads up online and use my coupons in conjunction with the weekly specials.

4. Use printable online coupons. I use coupons.com and smartsource.com. Many grocery store websites offer printable coupons, and surprisingly the Target.com website always has a generous supply of coupons available.

5. Use coupons with your store's promotions. A few weeks ago, Bic Soleil razors (normally $3.99/4-pack) were BOGO at my local grocery store. I happened to have two $2.00 off coupons (you can apply one manufacturer’s coupon per item, regardless of a BOGO sale at your grocery store). So, because the razors were buy one get one free and I had $4 in coupons, I walked away with 2 4-packs of razors for free!

6. Stack those coupons! Stacking coupons is using multiple coupons per each item you purchase. Most stores will allow you to use a manufacturer’s coupon in conjunction with a store coupon—and some will even allow a competitor’s coupon, too! I have saved SO much money this way-I can easily save 50% on “big ticket” items like diapers by stacking coupons.

7. Don't feel like you're being cheap! If you can save money, save it! Think of all the other wonderful things your money can do for you and your family.  People behind you in the grocery line may roll their eyes when they see your stack of coupons, but believe me, when they hear your final total they'll perk up and start asking questions!

Being the skeptic that I am, it took me a long time to come around to using coupons. However, the first time I made out a list and shopped according to the sales at Publix, I saved $29.07! The kicker? I only actually spent $26.51! For a bill that could have added up to $55.58, I paid less than half at the small amount of $26.51--and that was only my first coupon experience!

Recently I spent $22 on $60 worth of groceries! (In this purchase was a $20 case of diapers, too—so for only a little over the cost of the actual diapers I brought SO much more home!) Your savings will increase as you get used to “couponing”.

One bummer about "couponing" is that there are not many coupons for produce or meats, which I would estimate that I generally spend 70% of my grocery money on. However, you can still significantly save on produce and meats by shopping with the specials. If broccoli is on special, incorporate it into your meals for the week. If whole chickens are on sale, roast a chicken! Shop and cook with the specials!  In addition, frequent your local farmer's markets, if they're available. Produce is much cheaper through these venues because of low overhead and minimal mark-up. And as a bonus, you can feel good about supporting the "little man" and your local economy.

Here are some of my favorite coupon websites:

Living rich with coupons

 
Money Saving Mom

 

the Krazy Coupon Lady

 

Have questions?  Need help?  Feel free to leave a comment or email me.  I'd be happy to help you save money!

Free 8x10 Collage Print at Walgreens

Walgreens.com is offering a free 8x10 collage print on Friday, 2/12/10. All you have to do to redeem this $3.99 value is to use the coupon code VDAY. This item can be picked up at your local Walgreens store.

I made one for Elliott to give to James for Valentine's Day! Suh-weet.

Cost Analysis: Spaghetti Squash with Spaghetti Sauce

As promised, here is a price breakdown of a meal from this week's menu.

• 2 cups mozarella cheese $2.52
• 1/2 lb. ground beef $1.30
• 1 jar spaghetti sauce (bought on a BOGO offer) $1.29
• About 2.5 lbs spaghetti squash $1.58

Total: $6.69

There are 4 servings for this recipe, so for each portion it will cost you:

$1.67!

I didn't stick to the menu exactly, so James and I had corn with this meal rather than a salad like I had intended. The cost of the corn (because I bought it on sale WITH a coupon) was only 30 cents. So, I am adding fifteen cents per serving, rounding each meal out at a cost of $1.82!

Trying to use coupons?

I know I have been focusing a lot on coupons these past few weeks, but trust me when I tell you there is good reason! Obviously, it's the money saved. I know from experience that starting out with coupons can be a daunting task, and I found a wonderful tool called Grocery Guide. It scans the ads of your local grocery stores so that you can match up your coupons.

If you're just learning to save on your grocery budget with coupons, Grocery Guide can be a great tool for you!

Spartan Monday

"We can tell our values by looking at our checkbook stubs."

-Gloria Steinem

I did my weekly grocery shopping tonight since I was unable to do it this weekend. James went with me and we had a great time together, and we had some GREAT savings! Let me preface my savings by reminding you that we only purchased things that we use and need.

Tonight we spent $36.26...

and SAVED $65.73!

• We spent $. 97/box on Lucky Charms that normally costs $4.79.

• We spent $1.74/16 oz. bottle on Olive oil that normally costs $5.49.

• We spent $. 99/Lysol Mold & Mildew bathroom cleaner that normally costs $3.49.

• We spent $. 98/50 count Advil that normally costs $6.49.

• We spent $. 99/bottle of Pert Plus that normally costs $3.39. (There's also a mail-in rebate I will send in!)

• We spent $ .45/bottle of A1 Steak Sauce marinade.

• We spent $ .29 on Cover Girl nail polish that normally costs $3.29.

All of these great deals were combinations of coupons and BOGO sales, except for the nail polish.

See what you can accomplish with a little work each week?

I sure hope you're inspired! Please share your great deals... I'd love to hear about them!

Sunday Savings: Blast from the Past

I am sharing a post that I wrote on 1/22 of this year, when I had just discovered the art of clipping coupons. It's the perfect reminder as to why we spend time cutting out these little money savers!

"This week, I once again spent about an hour clipping coupons and researching
the Publix sales ad. I went grocery shopping and bought sixteen items that I
needed. Now, some of these items were staple items that there are not coupons for, generally speaking. Milk and eggs, for instance, you rarely get a break on.

Anyhow, This week I spent $16.44 on $38.67 worth of groceries! That's a savings of $22.23 (thankfully, this is broken down on my receipt!) and I ended up saving more money than I actually spent. I actually got 2 huge boxes of delicious and healthy Total Raisin Bran for only $1.34 per box--the regular price of these is $4.79. It's kind of exciting to save so much money."

Now tell me that isn't crazy exciting! To spend more than you save on groceries (something you have to buy anyway) is wonderful--and once you realize the money you can save it's something you'll be excited to keep up with.

So, have you bought your newspaper today? Get those scissors out and get clippin'!

Sunday Savings

Did you buy a newspaper today? You need those coupons! The savings can be dramatic!

If you recall, last Thursday I got Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal for $. 07 a box! You can often get things you need for pennies or if you're lucky-for free! Clipping coupons is definitely worth the time!

You have to know where you're going.

The funniest/most coincidental thing happened this evening. James and I went to Publix to pick up a few items (I spent $15 and SAVED $10!) and went through the line of one of my favorite cashiers, Roxanne. Amidst our chatter, she called me "the organized one" and commented on the fact that I always have a list with me. James and I shared a smile, remembering yesterday's post about the importance of a list. You see folks, I really do the things I blog about!

The deal of the evening? That would definitely be the two boxes of Cinnamon Toast Crunch (normally $3.99 for each box) that I spent a total of 14 cents on! That's 7 cents each! I love specials, and most of all I love coupons!

Tonight I'd like to talk about the reason that I go to such trouble to save money. It's very important to have goals and to know the reason that you are changing your lifestyle. If you don't have a purpose for it, then you may not see the benefits of the work you're doing.
My primary financial goals are:

1. Most importantly, to reshape my financial mindset. I don't want to always max out my income with cost-of-living expenses. I want to live below my means so that I can have a "cushion". Living paycheck to paycheck is not for me!
2. Pay off our second mortgage in 2 years. James and I are really committed to this. My whole paycheck goes to its own separate account, and we use every paycheck of mine to pay off that loan. Why? It's money we can count on getting back if we sell the house and we're not throwing away money on interest. As soon as we finish this goal, we will be working on the other loan. Because the money goes into an account separate from our normal banking, the adage "out of sight, out of mind" really does prove true.
3. If we ever have kids I'd like to be a stay-at-home mom. I just can't imagine adding kids to the mix of working and maintaining a sane home. Even though both of us are working now, we are able to live on just one income- so we know that we can do that. However, if we continue to pay down the mortgages and reduce our monthly bills, this dream of staying home with possible kids can be realized even more easily.

You see, having defined goals makes saving money easier because you are aware of why you are doing it. So, why are you changing your habits? What are your goals?

Great Deals!

This evening, I bought both a tube of Cover Girl Mascara and a vial of Cover Girl nail polish for a total of 20 cents! I used some store coupons and manufacturer's coupons to achieve this-pretty rad, huh? Also, I got two tubes of Colgate Total toothpaste for 32.5 cents each by simply adding some coupons to a CVS promo. Can't beat that!

The best money I have ever spent was the $350 for my dog, Brian. That is a purchase I have never regretted. I hate to call him a "purchase" though. I guess it's about the same as how families spend money to adopt children-not really a purchase as much as proof that you have the capital to support another living being. Anyhow, Brian brings so much joy and happiness to my husband and I, not to mention many many laughs on a daily basis. As he bugs me for attention as I write right now, I can't help but smile and appreciate this precious addition to our little family.

I'm like a proud mom whipping out photos from my collection! I hope you enjoyed Brian's photo gallery. If you have a pet, go give them a hug and take a moment to think of all the great ways they bless your life.

Sunday Savings

I hope that you bought a newspaper today!

I did, and it is already saving me money! I have a few stores to visit this week so that I can get some "freebies". This week, I'll be able to get

two FREE tubes of Colgate toothpaste and two FREE Lady Speed Sticks

by combining specials and coupons! Investing a little time to peruse the sales ads pays off because you learn where your coupons can best be "spent". This week Walgreens has 28 oz. cans of Hunt's Tomato Sauce for only 29 cents! You can bet I'll be stocking up on those, and you'll see them worked into the following weeks menus. With some crafty combining, I will also be able to get 2 bottles of Dawn dish soap for 75 cents each- a steal. Hamburger Helper is BOGO at Publix this week, and although I don't use the product, I am going to take advantage of some coupons I have to get 4 boxes for a total of about 20 cents-and I plan to donate this to a local food bank.

You see, the point of being frugal and stocking up is not to "hoard"- it's to make our own lives simpler and the lives of others richer!

Facing the Facts: You can save money with coupons.

So, from a marketing standpoint, coupons are for suckers who will purchase a product they generally don't buy just for the sake of "saving money". It's also a company's way to con people into trying their new products.

I have learned, however, that coupons can save consumers (yes, even ones like me) money if used correctly. What is correctly? Before I share my advice on how to use coupons, I would first like to give credit to a few others who actually made me re-think the concept of "coupon-ing". My sis-in-law, Angie, first told me about how people save money with coupons. I wasn't interested at the time because I pretty much shopped exclusively at Whole Foods and was more concerned with organics than price. These days, I am really pinching pennies, so I have new motivation, I suppose. Also, the websites Grocery Game and Coupon Mom are helpful resources if you're trying to learn to use coupons. And yes, you do have to learn how to use coupons in order for them to actually save you money.

Ok, ok, so credit has been given where credit is due--now, on to my savings tips.

1. Buy the Sunday paper. Not only are there great comics (which I am a sucker for), crossword puzzles, and of course news--it is chock-full of coupons.
2. Only use coupons for items that you actually use, or products that you are not brand-picky about. (For instance, if there's a great deal on dishwasher detergent but it's not the one you typically use--it may be worth trying the brand that you can get a deal on. Why not?)
3. Study the ads for your local store. Truth be told, I am not interested in going from store to store in search of a deal, so I stick to just my favorite store--Publix. I know that they announce the weeks specials on Thursdays. I pull the ads up online and use my coupons in conjunction with the weeks specials.
4. Use printable online coupons. I use Coupon Bug and non-store specific coupons found on the Albertson's website of all places.
5. Use coupons with your store's promotions. For instance, this week Publix is having a buy-one-get-one-free promo on Betty Crocker muffin mixes. Score, right? But even better--I have a coupon for $1 off when you buy two! I get the two muffin mixes for the price of one, less one dollar. Ultimately, I spend $1.50 total on two Betty Crocker muffin mixes--only $ .75 each!
6. Don't feel like you're being cheap! If you can save money, save it! Think of all the other wonderful things your money can do.

Being the skeptic that I am, it took me a long time to come around. However, the first time I made out a list and shopped according to the sales at Publix, I saved $29.07! The kicker? I only actually spent $26.51! For a bill that could have added up to $55.58, I paid less than half at the small amount of $26.51!

...And I only bought staple items that I actually use and need.

*The bummer is that there are not coupons for produce or meats, which I would estimate that I generally spend 70% of my grocery money on. However, you can still significantly save on produce and meats by shopping with the specials. If broccoli is on special, incorporate it into your meals for the week. If whole chickens are on sale, roast a chicken! Shop with the specials!
Also, frequent your local farmer's markets, if they're available. Produce is much cheaper through these venues because of low overhead and minimal mark-up. And as a bonus, you can feel good about supporting the "little man" and your local economy.