I have a secret obsession that I think many moms can relate to… I LOVE to clip coupons! I look forward to Sundays when I can go through the paper (the ENTIRE paper, not just the coupon inserts… many stores and restaurants sneak their coupons where you don’t think to look!) and cut out coupons. I pull out my scissors, my coupon book (I use a $1 photo album from Walmart and I actually need to get another…) and my cup of coffee and go to work. There’s a serious feeling of satisfaction when I find a good coupon and clip it. If I find several, I go buy another paper. It’s worth the $1.40 to buy the paper and clip the coupons if they’re coupons I’ll definitely use.
I recently found a website – www.afullcup.com – that is a coupon-mom’s heaven. There’s a huge database of coupons you can go through and print before shopping. There’s a forum that has sections for each store, like Walmart or Safeway, and members post their good finds or deals that they got. If you keep up with it regularly, you can find AWESOME deals out there and you can learn a lot too about how to coupon. It never crossed my mind that just because you have a coupon, you don’t have to buy the biggest item available. For example, if I had a $1 off coupon for coffee creamer, I used to buy one of the biggest creamers available (more for less, right?). Now, I print or clip or take (when there’s blinkies in the store) as many as I can and buy multiple of the smallest items available – even trial sizes if the coupon doesn’t exclude them! Target has the best selection of coffee creamer in my area and they sell for $1.87 for the 16 oz bottles. I buy two, take two $1 off coupons with me and pay only 87 cents for each. The better deals are when you can combine coupons with sales. Walmart recently had Ban deodorant on sale for $1.89 each. I had a buy-one-get-one-free coupon AND a $1 off coupon for Ban deodorant so on that day, I walked away paying 89 cents for 2 deodorants. They also had Gerber graduates pasta-pick ups on sale for $1 each (regularly $1.19). I had a $1 off coupon so I bought two and paid only 50 cents each! Not bad, eh? It’s a game for me to see how much money I can save. I have a goal of walking out of the store saving more than I actually paid.
Here’s a good video on how a family with 6 kids saves on groceries: http://www.yahoo.com/s/940290
I never knew about price-matching! Now I need to keep the circulars too!
I love coupons! Thanks for a new site to look for them at!
I love couponing too. If you have a Kroger in your area, you can load coupons to your reward card as well. Also check out cellfire.com for more savings.
I need to be more like all of you. We are a family of 7 and I easily spend $250 per week on groceries (foo, diapers, toiletries, etc). I need to figure out how to buy better.
Like you, I am obsessed with coupons. I have more coupons in my wallet than cash – no kidding! And whenever I go shopping online, I always make sure to enter coupon and promo codes, if there are any available.
Cheers to fellow coupon mom!
Good for you! I used to clip coupons, but then promptly left them at home or in the car. I finally gave up. :>
I’m back into coupons too and I’m like a kid in a candy shop on Sundays. I’ve been putting aside the money I save from coupons into our savings account.
I have to look into your idea about using a photo album to keep my coupons. I use an envelope – what a pain!
You are not alone. I’m looking forward to Sunday as well. And I remembered one time I had a nightmare that I forgot that today was Sunday and forgot to buy my coupon. When I woke up, I was so relief to know that it was still Saturday. :)
I love coupon forum. I check out Hot Coupon World just because it passes through the firewall at my office. A Full Cup is blocked as a chat forum.. Both forums have great info.