Okay, now that I have had my first official "splendiferous" shopping trip, I will share what I have been up to...
I decided that I needed to find a way to start spending less. It seems no matter what I did, I was always spending the same on groceries, toiletries and the "misc" items...
SO...
I started couponing.. I know, it seems so stupid and like a waste of time, but I can tell you that even my first trip to the grocery store, buying things I already use, I saved over $25! A friend got me started going to CVS, and let me tell you, I will NEVER again pay anywhere near full-price for shampoo, toilet paper, makeup, etc... NEVER... (okay, as long as CVS and Walgreen's keep having these kinds of deals). I am learning the be a brand-substituter, based on the deals at hand... sacing money is WAY more important to me than having my favorite on some things... there are SOME, however, that I will spend more on. And in that case, when there is a deal, I stock up a little.
I started with the Sunday paper. You have to buy two (or more! You DEFINITELY get your money back) of them, I found out, to get greater deals. for instance... say there is a "buy 2/$4" deal. If you have two coupons, you buy the two items, use two coupons for said items and save on BOTH! SWEET! I know I am not describing it very well, but I have found several blogs on Blogspot that help newbies like me get started on a great path of saving...
like www.couponing101.blogspot.com. She shares her deals and how to get them, and even the "101"s of CVS, Walgreens, and couponing, in general. This site can also lead you to others that are much farther along in their money-saving methods and help you learn.
I also go to www.coupon.com and print out coupons for the things I will use.
My "splendiferous" shopping trip?? At CVS yesterday, I bought over $100 worth of goods. I paid $21 for all of it! Worth the time? Heck Yeah!
Comments (8)
THANK YOU!!!
you're one of THOSE women! the ones i'm jealous of. lol! i asked someone at walgreens once if they had any women like you come in and she smiled and said that yes, they call her the "coupon lady"
i have read a lot, but for some reason get confused at the rebate/doubles/free etc. not sure why- but i have a total mental block. argh
Look at you!! Way to make shopping frugal and fun at the same time!
Wow, how awesome! Thanks for the tips, Shan. :)
I think it's great you are doing that! I have read some about it and wanted to do it, but haven't started or put forth the time. You should go to www.moneysavingmom.com. She tells you every week what the deals are at CVS, Walgreens and other grocery stores. And she has the "101's" you can click on and read about on her site too.
Lacy
U TRULY ARE AN INSPIRATION!! I'll have to do this...one day...when I grocery shop :)
I'm Soooooooo into couponing to lady! Couponmom.com is awesome! Also sometimes on the grocery store you shop at's web page they have coupons too! Yay! Another couponer!!!
@lacychambers - I have been to her site! There are SOOO many of them out there! I can honestly say I am not as good at it as most of the women I have seen online, nor do i stockpile hundreds of items, just because I can get a deal on them... then, again, I am on the front end of the whole thing... who knows what could happen, right!?!