Couponing 101

At work last weekend we had a picnic for all of our matches and at the picnic we had a parent/volunteer group and it was about budgeting your money.  The main focus was on couponing.   It motivated me so much!   I always grocery shop at walmart....and of course when I pull in the parking lot I start to get frustrated.    I've always loved publix and thought that their sales are good but on other things they are more expensive.  Melanie from 2 Boys + 1 Girl = Crazy Mom came out to talk to the group.   I have always heard people saving a lot of money by couponing but I thought that it wasn't worth the time of finding the coupons...cutting them out..and all that.   But Melanie made it sound so easy and worth it!  She said that she got all of her Christmas shopping done...worth over $1000....all for not even $25 out of pocket!  :O  Whoa!   When she said that I definitely start listening.    She said that she stockpiles up on items so that she doesn't have to shop for them for months...even a year!  Check out her website here and she has tons of awesome ways to save money and giveaways!

So i have decided that I am going to give it a try!  I am definitely learning as I go...but I got the paper last week and the ads at publix.   Today I went to the store and here is what I got.   Of course everything wasn't on sale and I didn't have coupons for everything either.   I thought about how much more I could have saved if I a printer.  So next week on black Friday that is what I plan to get :)

• Scott Toilet Paper 12 rolls
• Loaf of Wheat Bread
• 2 breakstone sour creams
• 1 thing of Cheese singles
• Shredded cheese
• 4 boxes of Kellogg's cereal
• 1 bag of ghirardelli chocolate chips
• 2 things of zip lock bags
• 2 boxes of Swiss Hot Chocolate mix
• Aussie Hair spray
• 2 refills of Airwick fresheners
• 2 cans of tomato paste
• 2 cans of chili beans
• 2 containers of planters nuts
• can of corn
• 2 boxes of Ritz crackers
• Chili Powder
• & 2 boxes of Betty Crocker Potatoes

I ended up spending $50.03 and saved $35.37.   I was happy about it especially when I thought of what I could really save if I had printed off some more coupons!  I also got the best service from the cashier...she explained some things about the coupons to me and told me which competitors coupons Publix uses.  I can't wait to see how much more I can save :)  I have been telling everyone about it too ...so I figured I would tell you too!  I have a feeling I'm going to be addicted!