My PSA

Please do not lose hope if things aren't going your way right now.  I've only been couponing religiously for a few months and couponed for fun before but nothing serious.  I never SAW couponing as a way to save money until I saw the difference it has made, especially recently.  In TWO days I have saved around $700.  Yes $700!  It is TOTALLY possible for you to do the same.  It takes you devoting your time to saving money.  My household budget has dropped from $1100 in toiletries and food (I took a break from couponing and that was a bigggggg mistake) and got my total for necessities to about $400 and I'm trying to get it lower than that. We found a few things that were very interesting.
1. Statistics show if you go to the store without a list you spend on average 40% more.
2. If you have someone (usually husbands) run in on the way home to “grab a few things” they buy on average 60% more than what they came in for.
3. You re-buy many of the items that you already have at home because you don’t know that you have them.
I have made the decision to make my own mini mart in my home.  Why?  Because I HATE shopping for items multiple times a month.  The idea is to have food and other items stockpiled in your home that you have got for free or near free.  Every 3-4 months, stores cycle the sales and some items go to the lowest possible price you can get, and it's for NAME BRAND items too!  The idea is to buy as many as you can with as many coupons as you can so that you DON'T have to buy anymore till they go on sale again.

1. The first thing that you need to do is start collecting coupons. You have to have coupons to coupon right?! Where do you get them from:

1. Sunday Newspapers (Houston Chronicle)
2. Printable Sites (I don't prefer printing but sometimes it's the only way to get the coupon)
3. Manufacturers Websites
4. In-Store (Peelies, Blinkies and Tear Pads)
5. In the Mail (I get a lot of baby coupons this way)
6. Magazines (PARENT magazine is the best for coupons in magazines)
7. E-Coupons or Loadable coupons (Randall's and Kroger)
8. Coupon Clipping Sites (You will be paying for each coupon individually so last resort this)

It takes about 6 weeks of consistently collecting coupons to really make a difference so don’t give up. Just keep looking for them everywhere around you and get at least 2 Sunday papers each week.

2. Now you need a way to store them so that you know what you have. It is important to be organized, although I am normally not an organized person but I am with my coupons, I hate missing a deal because I didn’t know where a coupon was or that I had it at all.
There are a few different methods of coupons organization.

1. Binder Method (Clipping everything, time consuming!)
2. Whole Insert Method (I choose this way)
3. Coupon Box (Not the best, but I'd do it over binder)

You need to find a way that works for you, you might even come up with your own system.

3. Next, this is what really is the key to couponing and saving the “Big Bucks”. If you did nothing else but just pay attentions to sales, and every now and then use coupons you can still make a big difference in your families budget. But “stockpiling” is what is really the key to taking your grocery budget from $1100 to $400 like I have.
The idea is that you buy the items that you use the most at the lowest possible price and buy as many as you can or have coupons for. This way you do not have to purchase them again until they are at their lowest price. This is how to spend the least amount of money shopping for food.
For example, sales are cyclical in a grocery store. Every three months or so every item in the store will be on sale at one time or another. Because I buy 6 papers a week I have anywhere from 6-12 coupons. Lets say that soft soap goes on sale at Kroger for 10 for $10. I have 12 coupons for $.50 each, making the soft soap .50! Because I have 12 coupons I get 12 things of soap. Now I do not have to purchase soap again until it is at the lowest possible price (which for me is under a dollar!) I can hold out until it is on sale again within that 3 months.

The question is how do you stockpile?

1. Like I said above you buy at the stores lowest price, combined with a coupon and get as many as you can.
2. Realize that coupons are cyclical just like store sales. I am going to find that I get a lot of baking coupons and canned good coupons in the fall and around the Holiday’s, I want to stock up on these things at this time.
3. Where am I going to store it? EVERYWHERE! I have a small house, 7 people.  You do the math.  Under beds, in the laundry room, bath room and soon to be front room.  I'm excited for my mini mart!
4. Have a budget. In the beginning some people spend more couponing. They are buying things that they normally would not have bought. Set aside a little extra money and spend on building your stockpile, this will save you money in the long run. Once you run out of budget, only get those things that are free after coupons. (Taken from mylitter.com)

Like I said, the key is dedication to saving money.  It takes time to have enough inserts to do anything with.  I promised though, once you start seeing a difference in your household budget you will not want to pay retail for anything!!

Diaper Deals this week.

The Best Diaper Deals This Week!
Target:

Lot’s of deals on the big value packs of diapers and wipes this week!

Huggies Wipes, 448 or 512 ct $10.99
Get $5.00 Target Gift card wyb 2
Use (2) .50/1 Huggies Baby Wipes, 40 ct or larger from SS 6-23 (exp 7-20)
Final price: pay $20.78 – get $5 gift card = $15.78 ($7.89 ea.)

...

Pampers Wipes, 448 or 504 ct $10.99
Get $5.00 Target Gift card wyb 2
Use (2) .50/1 Pampers Wipes, 64 ct or higher PG 7-7 (exp 7-31)
Final price: pay $20.98-get $5 gift card = 2/$15.98 ($7.99 ea.)

Huggies Super Pack Diapers $24.99
Get $10 Target Gift card wyb 2

$3.00/1 Huggies printable OR printable
$3.00/1, or $2.00/1 Huggies Little Movers, Little Snugglers or Overnites Diapers SS 6-23 (exp 7-20)
$2.00/1 Huggies Slip On Diapers

Buy 2 Huggies Super Packs $49.98 total
Use (2) $3.00/1 Huggies printable OR printable
Final price: pay $43.98 – get $10 gift card = 2/$33.98 ($16.99 ea.)

Pampers Super Pack Diapers $24.99 ea.
Get $10 Target Gift card wyb 2
Use (2)$1.50/1 Pampers Diapers or Pants Box OR (2) Bags P&G 7-7 (exp. 7-31)
OR use (2)use $1.50 off ONE Pampers Baby Dry Diapers
Final price: pay $46.98 – get $10 gift card = 2/$36.98 ($18.49 ea.)

Luvs Diapers Value Packs $24.99
Get $10 Target Gift card wyb 2
Final price: pay $49.98 – get $10 gift card = 2/$39.98 ($18.99 ea.)

 

Up & Up Diapers Bulk Pack $24.99
Get $10 Target Gift card wyb 2
Use $1.00/1 Up & Up Purchase $3.00 or More, Target Mobile Coupon – Text FRESH to 827438
And use 5% off Up & Up Diapers, Target Cartwheel Offer
Final price: pay $46.53 – get $10 gift card = 2/$36.53 ($18.27 ea.)

 

 

Walgreens:

Huggies Baby Wipes, 168-216 ct $5.99
Use .50/1 Huggies Baby Wipes, 40 ct or larger from SS 6-23 (exp 7-20)
Final price: $5.49

Huggies Big Pack Diapers $18.00 each wyb 2 with in-store coupon

$3.00/1 Huggies printable OR printable
... $3.00/1, or $2.00/1 Huggies Little Movers, Little Snugglers or Overnites Diapers SS 6-23 (exp 7-20)
$2.00/1 Huggies Slip On Diapers

Buy 2 Huggies Big Pack Diapers $36.00 total
Use (2) $3.00/1 Huggies printable OR printable
Final price: 2/$30.00 ($15.00 ea.)

Pampers Jumbo Pack Diapers $9.75 each, when you buy 2
Use (2) $1.50 off ONE Pampers Baby Dry Diapers
Or (2) $1.50 off ONE Pampers Easy Ups Trainers
Or (2) $1.50/1 Pampers Diapers or Pants Box OR (2) Bags P&G 7-7 (exp. 7-31)
Final price: $8.25

CVS:

Huggies Little Swimmers 17-20 ct., ANY Huggies Jumbo Pack, Pull-Ups or GoodNites $9.99
Get $5.00 EB wyb 2 – limit 1

$3.00/1 Huggies printable OR printable
$3.00/1, or $2.00/1 Huggies Little Movers, Little Snugglers or Overnites Diapers SS 6-23 (exp 7-20)
$2.00/1 Huggies Slip On Diapers
$2.00/1 Goodnites Underwear, Jumbo Pack or larger from 6-23 (exp 7-20)
...
Buy 2 Huggies Jumbo Packs $9.99 ea.
Use (2) $3.00/1 Huggies (scroll down to coupon link) printable or printable
Final price: pay $13.98 – get $5.00 EB = $8.98 ($4.49 ea.)

Buy 2 Huggies Little Swimmers $9.99 each
Use (2) $1.50 off one HUGGIES LITTLE SWIMMERS Swimpants
Final price: $16.98 – get $5 EB = 2/$11.98 ($5.99 ea.)

All Pampers Jumbo Pack Diapers $9.50
Get $3.00 EB wyb 2 – limit 1
Use (2) $1.50/1 Pampers Baby Dry Diapers (P&G site)
Use (2) $1.50 off ONE Pampers Baby Dry Diapers
Or (2) $1.50 off ONE Pampers Easy Ups Trainers
Or (2) $1.50/1 Pampers Diapers or Pants Box OR (2) Bags P&G 7-7 (exp. 7-31)
Final price: $16.00 – get $3.00 EB = 2/$13.00 ($6.50 ea.)

School Time!!

Right now Office Max and Staples are having an AMAZING deal on school supplies.  Most of the time they have a limit of two so bring your husband, wife, friend, family. Whomever.  Just bring enough people to get your school supplies or just go multiple days.  I PROMISE if you hunt for cheap school supplies the next few weeks, you will find everything you kiddo needs for school and then some for UNDER $20.  Sounds nice huh?  Especially since most of this stuff is a PENNY here if you have a minimum purchase of $5!

Here’s my price points for school supplies:

• Crayola Crayons 24pk : 1¢-25¢
• Crayola Markers 10pk: $1  (Awesome price especially for the kids that go through them fast!)
• Poster Paints: $1
• Pens 10 ct: 1¢-50¢ (Sometimes FREE when we get a coupon!)
• Pink Erasers: 1¢-25¢
• Loose Leaf Notebook Paper: 25¢-50¢
• Color Pencils 12pk:  50¢
• Composition Books: 25¢-50¢
• Dry Erase Markers 4pk: $2
• 3 Ring Binders 1 inch: 50¢-$1
• Notebook 1 subject: 10¢-25¢
• Notebook 5 subject :  $1-$2
• Elmer’s Glue or staples brand glue: 1¢-25¢
• Glue Sticks 3pk: 50¢
• Highlighters 6pk: 50¢-$1
• Pencil Box: 25¢-50¢
• No. 2 Pencils 10pk: 1¢-25¢
• Small Pencil Sharpeners: 1¢-25¢
• Ruler: 1¢-25¢
• Pencil Bag: 25¢-$1
• Scissors: $1
• Liquid White-Out: 25¢-50¢
• Tabbed Dividers: 25¢
• Folders (with or without prongs): 1¢-10¢

 

Make sure to check out Office Max and Staples!  I know I'll be going there tomorrow! 

Happy couponing!

Don't forget this coupon if you're shopping for multiple kiddos!!

You can get this on the Office Max website!!

Where to start?

Welcome to the world of never having to pay retail price for anything again!  No, seriously. Once you make the commitment to coupon, I promise you will never go back. 

What  a lot of people don't realize is that there is coupons for everything these days. Toiletries, food, clothes, car maintenance, hotels..and the list is endless.  Honestly, there is no reason why people are paying retail or full price for ANYTHING anymore with everything manufacturers send out.  The trick is acquiring these coupons. 

Before I start rambling on about my minor kind of major obsession, I will let you know that couponing is somewhat time consuming. I'm not talking like thirty hours a week, that's just insane! Maybe five to ten at most depending on how you choose to coupon. There are so many websites and Facebook pages that post about coupon match ups it's not even funny. These pages will be your life line!  I've used my litter, Houston coupon moms, and Houston coupon Lovurs to aid me on Facebook. They are all constantly posting coupon match ups, deal scenarios and what's coming out this week in the inserts. I use southernsavers.com as a coupon database to look up what items have coupons, it saves you a TON of time.  There's also a new website out called texassmartbuys.com that matches the items on sale to the coupon for maximum savings. It's really easy to use, I highly recommend it. 

So if you're still reading, obviously minor time consumption isn't an issue. Yay!  First step in couponing....ready?  Get a Sunday newspaper!!  You can find newspapers in gas stations and a lot of grocery stores.  In these newspapers, there are coupon inserts which is the equivalent of money in your hands. There are three coupon inserts that show up in the Sunday paper. Sometimes all three are in a paper one weekend and the next there's one, so if your paper doesn't have three one weekend..it's ok.  

First there's proctor and gamble (PG). PG comes out once a month and they have some valuable coupons for items that every household uses that you will mostly get dirt cheap or free.  Then there's smart source (SS), it's an every week insert. And then red plum (RP).  All of these inserts are valuable. You can find these inserts in Houston Chronicle (HC), La Voz (LV), and I've recently found them in Semana.  There is a downfall to getting a LV versus a HC and that is the type of coupons. Unfortunately LV doesn't carry a lot of the good coupons everyone needs when sales come out, but they still have coupons and that's important. 

So now you may be asking, "Well how many papers do I need?"  It's recommended that for every person in your home, you buy a newspaper. If you're just starting, one will work or two. Don't go buy a million papers at first because there is a high chance you will get frustrated or feel confused and then you'll just be angry that you blew tons of money on something you have no use for.  I have four papers delivered to my door every Sunday even though I provide for nine to eleven people depending on the day. I get only four because well, papers are kind of expensive and I don't like spending money hence this blog..  I get a lot of my inserts from papers I find. Last week I managed to get my hands on ninety papers just from my neighborhood. 

    See? Pretty. :)

These papers have a tendency to sit on the sidewalk for a while because no one claims them.  Again, most people have no idea that there are coupons in here.  Forshame!  

Once you acquire the inserts, you might have the itch to get cut happy.  Dont!!  Why you ask?  Well, it's simple. Do you really want to spend your entire weekend cutting coupons and then having to put them away and hope you remember how you organized them?  I know that's not how I spend my weekends. Instead of clipping, file it away!  The most important part of couponing is being organized.  So people find it easier to clip, while i personally cant stand the thought of clipping so many coupons especially since I get fourth plus inserts a week. When you get a paper, write the date on the front and put it away. That's it. So where do you find the date?  Either the newspaper it came out in will have it on the front or to be on the safe side you can check on the spine of the insert. The print is really tiny and sometimes hard to read but it's there!

That's pretty much all there is to starting couponing.  I promise this isn't it, but I feel as though this is enough for you to take in for now!  Especially since there's actually more to learn. Your brain may need a break. :D