Technically the month is not over yet, but that is ok. There have been four Sunday's thus far and it has been a good month and I am going to break it down for you.
Remember - I cleaned out my coupons at the first of the year. Started fresh with none to work with. I had also depleted much of my stockpile in the end of 2011 diverting stockpile funds to teachers gifts, holiday spending etc. So while I had some items left on my shelves, of course, I was also in great need of re-stocking. Because of this I diverted a larger amount of my monthly budget to the stocking up fund for January and will likely do so again in February and March!!
January savings recap:
I subscribe to the Sunday Paper (get it delivered) this costs me $45 dollars a year or .86 cents a week!
I purchased an additional 8 papers this month at a cost of $12.00
So in total I spent $15.44 on Sunday papers for the coupons and ads.
Thus far from these papers alone I have saved:
WAIT FOR IT....
$117.06 just by using coupons at the grocery stores and drug stores...Subtract out the cost of the papers and I saved $101.62
Because I stack the coupons on top of in store sales the total amount saved this month is much much higher...but I wanted to share simply the dollars in coupon savings to keep it real for you.
So, I ask you my friends - what would you do with an extra $100 bucks? I operate on a very defined budget and using coupons this way helps me stay within that budget so I don't actually see an extra $100 at the end of the month what is does for me is cover at least a weeks worth of fresh veggies, juices and dairy products (oh and DIET PEPSI) at the grocery store - so I can keep the grocery part of my budget lower and have money for things like prescriptions, lightbulbs, socks etc..
I am also expecting rewards and rebates from office supply stores totaling $138.00 - this will help a ton with school supplies and keeping some of my paper products stocked for the year - it helps eliminate surprise trips to the office supply store for something one of the kids needs to a minimum and decreases the amount spent on these necessities throughout the year. Did you know they estimate school supplies cost Americans between $60 and $100 per child per year? I don't think that includes standards like backpacks, and the expensive calculators that middle schoolers need - so think of what you can save if you watch the sales through the year and purchase the anticipated items when they are super cheap...if you use the rewards programs to the fullest...and if you give a little back to the community while your at it!
This month I was able to spend it a little extra time and with diverted funds from the budget a little extra money to refill the following items in my stockpile:
Toilet Paper (full)
Paper Towels (full)
Kleenex (full)
Pasta (full)
Cereal (good for 3 months)
Snack Boxes (good for 3 months)
Hand Soap (need two more)
Lotion (need 4 more)
Avery Binders (full for at least next year, possibly the following too!)
Ink for my printer (good for 6 months)
Printer Paper (good for 6 months)
and some miscellaneous items
When my stockpile is FULL it means that if I couldn't or had to I wouldn't need to purchase those items for the remainder of the year - However it is best to keep watching the sales and when the items are at their cheapest assess your stockpile and refill as needed...
NOTE - remember I diverted my budget this month and had my eyes set on stockpiling - I do not save $100 each month! The average is closer to $50 in coupon savings per month - but remember because of my stockpile I am able to spend much less at the grocery store each month as well - so my overall savings are grand and totally worth the time spent!
My favorite deal this month: Last week Staples had a 4 pack of Bic Highlighters on sale for $1.00 (reg $4.49) I had 4 $1.00 off Bic coupons from the first newspapers I bought this month. Guess what? We now have 4 packs of highlighters that didn't cost a single penny - nope they were FREE! I put 3 packs in the stockpile (because they are always on the school supply list) and dropped the fourth pack in my donation bin! YAHOO!
I will come back at the end of February and March and recap again -
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
Helpful Tips...
Here are a few things that I do that may be helpful when trying to reduce your monthly outgo by using coupons and watching sales!
1. I meal plan for the month rather than for the week. The first trip to the store each month is a HUGE trip for me, I purchase all the staples I will need for the entire month except the fresh foods, milk etc. I wrote about this in length here, here and here. This cuts most of my trips to the store down to a mere 15 minute run through the produce and dairy sections!
2. Drug Stores aren't just for medicine! You can watch these sales for staples like condiments, household products and cereal!
3. Office supply stores aren't just for ink and toner - they sell Kleenex and Paper Towels too...
4. School supply sales are HUGE in the summer...watch your adds when spiral notes books are 10 cents each buy 20. Yes 20. Your store may have a limit so enlist your spouse to go with you and shop as a separate customer, stop by the store twice in one week - whatever you have to do...You will spend $4.00 for spirals that your kids will blow through instead of over $1.00 a piece each time you need a new one.
5. Office supply stores have amazing rewards cards. This month I purchased 12 Avery heavy duty view binders in various sizes - they cost me nearly $90 (this is where rolling your stockpile budget from month to month helps a ton) They were on 100% rewards - which means next month this store will me a credit for $90 back to spend in their store. I will use a portion of this reward each week untill I run out or it expires to purchase items that we use that are on sale - ink, paper, school supplies, paper towels etc...Ultimately I will have saved a minimum of $90 and by combining it with store sales from week to week it will ultimately be way more just the $90...
6. My favorite website for sale tips etc is Moms Need to Know she is in the know for sure and subscribing to her feed saves me a lot of time and money. She also has some great articles on coupon etiquette, coupon policies at various stores, store ads and coupon match ups, newspaper recommendations, and how to maximize your savings at the drug stores.
7. Remember once your stockpile grows a little you will not need to spend as much at the store each week. Once you start seeing your grocery bills decreasing start saving your money. If you spent $600 at the grocery store before and you are setting aside $100 for stockpile and only spending $400 at the grocery store you have $100 you can now divert to another area of your budget, savings or debt repayment! $100 bucks is a lot!
8. You will notice that some months are better than others because of your time or just what is available...some months you may spend a lot and the next month next to nothing. Once you have a decent stockpile going (not extreme) you will also be able to take a week or two off of serious spending by just using what you have in your home. Meal plan a month using your stockpile and only purchasing fresh items...you will likely save a couple hundred dollars that month.
9. Whenever possible think about others. Especially with the school supply sales. If Crayons are on sale for 25 cents per 24 pack and you can buy four at a time - buy 4 for your stockpile and stop in again later in the week for 4 more to drop in the donation box...Keep in mind regular price on crayons is $1.99 so for the same price you would normally pay for just ONE box, you just stocked your family and helped a few others! Good Karma goes a long way...
10. Start slow...keep it simple and keep it fun!
See you back here tomorrow for a tally of my couponing in January...
1. I meal plan for the month rather than for the week. The first trip to the store each month is a HUGE trip for me, I purchase all the staples I will need for the entire month except the fresh foods, milk etc. I wrote about this in length here, here and here. This cuts most of my trips to the store down to a mere 15 minute run through the produce and dairy sections!
2. Drug Stores aren't just for medicine! You can watch these sales for staples like condiments, household products and cereal!
3. Office supply stores aren't just for ink and toner - they sell Kleenex and Paper Towels too...
4. School supply sales are HUGE in the summer...watch your adds when spiral notes books are 10 cents each buy 20. Yes 20. Your store may have a limit so enlist your spouse to go with you and shop as a separate customer, stop by the store twice in one week - whatever you have to do...You will spend $4.00 for spirals that your kids will blow through instead of over $1.00 a piece each time you need a new one.
5. Office supply stores have amazing rewards cards. This month I purchased 12 Avery heavy duty view binders in various sizes - they cost me nearly $90 (this is where rolling your stockpile budget from month to month helps a ton) They were on 100% rewards - which means next month this store will me a credit for $90 back to spend in their store. I will use a portion of this reward each week untill I run out or it expires to purchase items that we use that are on sale - ink, paper, school supplies, paper towels etc...Ultimately I will have saved a minimum of $90 and by combining it with store sales from week to week it will ultimately be way more just the $90...
6. My favorite website for sale tips etc is Moms Need to Know she is in the know for sure and subscribing to her feed saves me a lot of time and money. She also has some great articles on coupon etiquette, coupon policies at various stores, store ads and coupon match ups, newspaper recommendations, and how to maximize your savings at the drug stores.
7. Remember once your stockpile grows a little you will not need to spend as much at the store each week. Once you start seeing your grocery bills decreasing start saving your money. If you spent $600 at the grocery store before and you are setting aside $100 for stockpile and only spending $400 at the grocery store you have $100 you can now divert to another area of your budget, savings or debt repayment! $100 bucks is a lot!
8. You will notice that some months are better than others because of your time or just what is available...some months you may spend a lot and the next month next to nothing. Once you have a decent stockpile going (not extreme) you will also be able to take a week or two off of serious spending by just using what you have in your home. Meal plan a month using your stockpile and only purchasing fresh items...you will likely save a couple hundred dollars that month.
9. Whenever possible think about others. Especially with the school supply sales. If Crayons are on sale for 25 cents per 24 pack and you can buy four at a time - buy 4 for your stockpile and stop in again later in the week for 4 more to drop in the donation box...Keep in mind regular price on crayons is $1.99 so for the same price you would normally pay for just ONE box, you just stocked your family and helped a few others! Good Karma goes a long way...
10. Start slow...keep it simple and keep it fun!
See you back here tomorrow for a tally of my couponing in January...
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Going Shopping
Now you have your stockpile list, you have some coupons and you have the ads from your Sunday Paper...
It is time to make a list of what is on sale your stores this week that coincide with your stockpile list or coupons you have clipped.
I use one piece of paper to start I open an ad write the name of the store on top and all the good deals under then I move on to the next. When I am done I look at my paper, if a store only has one good sale I have to determine if it is a good enough sale to make a trip to that store. I am fortunate...I pass every store on my daily driving routine making it pretty simple to do a drop in for 1 item if it is worth it.
NOTE: this is a quick process, write fast, scribble if you must - you should be able to blow through this initial list in less than 30 minutes while sipping your sunday morning beverage...
See you tomorrow for some helpful tips....
It is time to make a list of what is on sale your stores this week that coincide with your stockpile list or coupons you have clipped.
I use one piece of paper to start I open an ad write the name of the store on top and all the good deals under then I move on to the next. When I am done I look at my paper, if a store only has one good sale I have to determine if it is a good enough sale to make a trip to that store. I am fortunate...I pass every store on my daily driving routine making it pretty simple to do a drop in for 1 item if it is worth it.
NOTE: this is a quick process, write fast, scribble if you must - you should be able to blow through this initial list in less than 30 minutes while sipping your sunday morning beverage...
Once I see all the sales, I match them up with my grocery list for the week, my stockpile coupons and I make new smaller lists. One for each store, paperclip them together with the coupons and off to the store I go...
NOTE: this step I take a little more time on, I write neatly so I can see what I need, I note the coupons next to the item so I don't forget etc. I use small pieces of paper or sticky notes that are easy to manage in the stores...
What about the cash in the envelope?
Here is what I do.
NOTE: this step I take a little more time on, I write neatly so I can see what I need, I note the coupons next to the item so I don't forget etc. I use small pieces of paper or sticky notes that are easy to manage in the stores...
What about the cash in the envelope?
Here is what I do.
If I am combining some stockpile with a regular trip to the grocery store, I total the amount I will spend on the stockpile items and pull that cash from the envelope and clip it to my coupons. If you are going to pay mostly by card, just clip your stockpile cash with the coupons and when you get your total hand the cashier your cash first then finish the transaction on your card. They don't mind...people pay with multiple forms of payment all the time...This may help you see what you spend on groceries vs. stockpile too since your receipt will be broken down in cash and credit!
So, if I am NOT combining a trip with a regular trip say I am going to Walgreens for all stockpile items...I will clip my cash from my envelope with my coupons and my list and head off to the store. I always clip a couple extra dollars in case I do my math wrong!
When you get home, drop your receipts in your stockpile envelope with your change so later when you have time you can tally your savings.
You are ready to shop, to save and to stock up on those head items now...But wait there is more....
So, if I am NOT combining a trip with a regular trip say I am going to Walgreens for all stockpile items...I will clip my cash from my envelope with my coupons and my list and head off to the store. I always clip a couple extra dollars in case I do my math wrong!
When you get home, drop your receipts in your stockpile envelope with your change so later when you have time you can tally your savings.
You are ready to shop, to save and to stock up on those head items now...But wait there is more....
See you tomorrow for some helpful tips....
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Time to Clip the Coupons
Get a Sunday paper. I
subscribe to the local newspaper. On Sunday morning I determine
if the coupons in that paper warrant a trip to the 7/11 for a couple
more papers....
Keep in mind that the papers at the Sev are $1.50 each - so the coupons in the paper have to be worth extra papers! Each month I keep track of what I spend on papers and what I save using the coupons only. I also keep track of my total savings coupons and store sales combined! I like seeing the fruits of my labor!
So for example in January I ditched all of my old coupons, even if they weren't expired. I needed a clean start for the new year. On the very first weekend I purchased 4 newspapers in addition to the one delivered on my driveway! That cost $6 bucks! BUT....
Inside these papers their were coupons for $2 off Tide and $2 off Diet Pepsi - two things I KNEW I would be buying. The Tide was a great coupon because my grocer had them on sale that very week for $5.99 - Down from their regular price of $10.99 If I add my coupon for $2.00 off to that sale I pay $3.99 for each bottle saving a total of $7 dollars. I bought 4 to add to my stockpile bringing me up to where I like to be (minimum of 8 on the shelf)
OK - so I spent $6 on papers and already saved $8 using my tide coupon from that set of papers...I am up $2 - whoopie right?
Well, I also used the $2 off 2 minipacks of Diet Pepsi at my grocery store. They were on sale 2 packs for $6. I bought 10 packs total with sale price of $30, take off my 5 coupons and I paid $20 saving another $10 dollars on something I use regularly and paid only $2 per pack for!
Now I have saved a total of $12 above the cost of the papers...$12 bucks - that is something to right home about, that is 3 coffees at starbucks (if you drink that), or in my case a third of what I spend on fresh fruits and veggies each week at the grocery store!
But I wasn't done yet...Keep reading at the end of the week I will tell you the total I spent on newspapers in January and the total I saved using coupons in january!
So for example in January I ditched all of my old coupons, even if they weren't expired. I needed a clean start for the new year. On the very first weekend I purchased 4 newspapers in addition to the one delivered on my driveway! That cost $6 bucks! BUT....
Inside these papers their were coupons for $2 off Tide and $2 off Diet Pepsi - two things I KNEW I would be buying. The Tide was a great coupon because my grocer had them on sale that very week for $5.99 - Down from their regular price of $10.99 If I add my coupon for $2.00 off to that sale I pay $3.99 for each bottle saving a total of $7 dollars. I bought 4 to add to my stockpile bringing me up to where I like to be (minimum of 8 on the shelf)
OK - so I spent $6 on papers and already saved $8 using my tide coupon from that set of papers...I am up $2 - whoopie right?
Well, I also used the $2 off 2 minipacks of Diet Pepsi at my grocery store. They were on sale 2 packs for $6. I bought 10 packs total with sale price of $30, take off my 5 coupons and I paid $20 saving another $10 dollars on something I use regularly and paid only $2 per pack for!
Now I have saved a total of $12 above the cost of the papers...$12 bucks - that is something to right home about, that is 3 coffees at starbucks (if you drink that), or in my case a third of what I spend on fresh fruits and veggies each week at the grocery store!
But I wasn't done yet...Keep reading at the end of the week I will tell you the total I spent on newspapers in January and the total I saved using coupons in january!
Start clipping the coupons for items on
your list and ONLY others if they are truly for products you need and
will use!
Be careful...it is VERY tempting when you are first starting out to clip coupons for over priced items that you pry don't need or won't use. be selective and clip what you use and don't regret the ones you don't clip. You'll be saving enough money to miss a sale / coupon from time to time.
Find the best way to organize your coupons for you...I use a binder with tabs that separates them by grocery store isle.
While you have your sunday paper make sure you pull the ads for the stores near you, drug stores, grocery stores and big box stores (office supplies too).
See you tomorrow....
Be careful...it is VERY tempting when you are first starting out to clip coupons for over priced items that you pry don't need or won't use. be selective and clip what you use and don't regret the ones you don't clip. You'll be saving enough money to miss a sale / coupon from time to time.
Find the best way to organize your coupons for you...I use a binder with tabs that separates them by grocery store isle.
While you have your sunday paper make sure you pull the ads for the stores near you, drug stores, grocery stores and big box stores (office supplies too).
See you tomorrow....
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Setting a stockpile budget and course of action
Ok, you have seen my list
and you have made your list. What next? Set aside a
certain dollar amount from your monthly budget to go directly to
coupons/stockpile purchases. Be realistic. If you are
currently spending $500 per month on groceries and you have to pull
your stockpile money from this budget don't pull too much or at the
end of the month you won't have enough for groceries and you will be
bummed, because it takes time and effort to build this to work
for you.
Ultimately it would be best if you have a little cushion in your budget and can use this cushion for a couple months to get started. If you don't have a cushion and you have to rob peter to pay paul it will just take a little more patience and a little more time - but it is SO worth it!
I set aside between $60 and $100 per month for stockpile/coupon purchases - why so much? Lots of reasons - you will see most of them in the coming posts but one of them is because I am a diet pepsi addict and I also pay for my diet pepsi out of this portion of my budget - but I never pay more than $2.25 per 12 pack (reg. priced $5.99 and up in our area) more about this later.
Keep in mind, I don't always spend what I set aside each month and when I don't I roll it into the next month so that when I need more for a bigger purchase I am glad I have the budget set where it is!
I set aside between $60 and $100 per month for stockpile/coupon purchases - why so much? Lots of reasons - you will see most of them in the coming posts but one of them is because I am a diet pepsi addict and I also pay for my diet pepsi out of this portion of my budget - but I never pay more than $2.25 per 12 pack (reg. priced $5.99 and up in our area) more about this later.
Keep in mind, I don't always spend what I set aside each month and when I don't I roll it into the next month so that when I need more for a bigger purchase I am glad I have the budget set where it is!
Only use Cash when couponing. Credit cards and debit cards make
it too easy to spend more than you planned or grab that extra item that is not on your list.
Put your stockpile cash in an envelope and if possible and roll it from week to week and month to month. Also whenever possible place only smaller bills in the envelope - this will help later.
To set your course of action Please note that you may want to be willing to spend a little more now to build the stockpile knowing that once it is built you won't need to spend as much...For instance if you are willing to take advantage of a pretty good sale on TP and spend $30 bucks to get a really good start on your stockpile, you will then be able to wait and only purchase TP again when it is even cheaper than the first deal you got
Ok - so you have your list, and your budget is set be it higher or lower you can adjust this as time goes on - Take a deep breath and I will see you back here tomorrow...
Ok - so you have your list, and your budget is set be it higher or lower you can adjust this as time goes on - Take a deep breath and I will see you back here tomorrow...
Monday, January 23, 2012
How and what to stockpile
First things
first...determine the items you use the most in your home and cost
you the most money and or headaches (by headaches I mean when you run
of detergent and have to run to the store to pick it up inorder to do
your laundry even though you already went to the store this week)
those trips are rotten on the brain and the wallet!!
Once you have your list take a good hard look at the items and determine what you usually spend on them (regular retail price at your local store) note that price next to each item on your list.
These are the items you are going to regularly seek coupons for, anything else you find a coupon for that your family actually likes and enjoys is a bonus!
Over time (about 3-6 months) building this stockpile will reduce your weekly expenditures and shorten your trips to the grocery store!
Once you have your list take a good hard look at the items and determine what you usually spend on them (regular retail price at your local store) note that price next to each item on your list.
These are the items you are going to regularly seek coupons for, anything else you find a coupon for that your family actually likes and enjoys is a bonus!
Over time (about 3-6 months) building this stockpile will reduce your weekly expenditures and shorten your trips to the grocery store!
I am a self pronounced BRAND
SNOB - if you are willing to use anything at anytime you can save
even more money than I do! Here is my list of what I
"stockpile" on a regular basis - and how many I like to see
on my shelves when my stockpile is at its fullest
Tide (10)
Bounce (8)
Kleenex (20)
Finish (8)
Feminine Hygiene Products (12)
Toilet Paper (Charmin) (12 packs 9 or more)
Paper Towels (Bounty or Viva) (12 packs 6 or more)
School Supplies (this is HUGE)Windex (6)
Dish Soap (10)
Hand Soap (8)
Ziplock Bags and Containers (Hefty too) (LOTS)
Aveeno Lotion (10)
Toothpaste and Tooth Brushes (10 -12 of each)
Razors (schick intuition only) (6 refill boxes)
Chapsticks (LOTS)
Pasta and Pasta Sauce* (20-30)
Diet Pepsi (ongoing)
Fizzy Water (ongoing)
Hand wipes (6 jars)
Various Cleaning supplies (usually 4 of each)
Bounce (8)
Kleenex (20)
Finish (8)
Feminine Hygiene Products (12)
Toilet Paper (Charmin) (12 packs 9 or more)
Paper Towels (Bounty or Viva) (12 packs 6 or more)
School Supplies (this is HUGE)Windex (6)
Dish Soap (10)
Hand Soap (8)
Ziplock Bags and Containers (Hefty too) (LOTS)
Aveeno Lotion (10)
Toothpaste and Tooth Brushes (10 -12 of each)
Razors (schick intuition only) (6 refill boxes)
Chapsticks (LOTS)
Pasta and Pasta Sauce* (20-30)
Diet Pepsi (ongoing)
Fizzy Water (ongoing)
Hand wipes (6 jars)
Various Cleaning supplies (usually 4 of each)
So make your list, and I
will see you back here tomorrow!
*on the pasta sauce I buy Ragu when it is on sale for $1 or less and I have coupons I stock up and every three months I turn it into my own pasta sauce that we love and freeze it!!!
*on the pasta sauce I buy Ragu when it is on sale for $1 or less and I have coupons I stock up and every three months I turn it into my own pasta sauce that we love and freeze it!!!
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Not so extreme couponing
Yes I use coupons regularly, most readers here know that, and several blogs I read are thinking about starting or getting better at using coupons.
Just because you use them doesn't mean you have to be an extreme coupon queen. You don't have dedicate an entire level of your home to stockpiling everything from potato chips to pickles and you don't have to go dumpster diving for coupon inserts from the Sunday paper and you really don't have to spend much time on it at all...
BUT...You can save money on the things your family uses the most, you can find a small area of your home to stockpile those items and you can spend about an hour a week planning to save this money.
It is couponing not to the extreme. And I am going to blog about each step I take in detail over the week...I will tell what I do, why I do it and how much I save*...
The items pictured above cost me a total of $1.39 after coupons and store rewards...There are 4 Avery binders, paper towels, 6 boxes of kleenex, three hand soaps, and a box of envelopes
If your interested you can use what I do as a guide and change it up a little to make couponing work for your family...
To get started it does take a little more time and a little more effort than I described above, however after about a month you should find yourself in a groove and be able to quickly save time and money at the stores!
So I am going to do step by step posts this week - a post per day describing each thing I do. Grab a pencil and I will see you here tomorrow!
*many coupon users will argue that I don't SAVE as much as possible, I save what I save, how I save it and well, you can save too as much or as little as you want to!
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