We are currently saving our pennies and dimes for our next IVF attempt. Could be awhile, but we are TRYING. In doing so, we have tightened our budget and recommitted to a new level of frugality. What does that mean? I've gone COUPON CRAZY.Now before I start, you must know that I was TERRIFIED of coupons and have had MANY reservations about the process. But, as I have learned from other experts, I'm feeling more comfortable and confident and I'm saving LOTS of money.
I've decided to address some of my fears and my solutions. Maybe it will help some of you overcome a hurdle you are experiencing. Coupons are not for everyone, but in these uncertain times, any extra dollar helps. Am I right? Or am I right?
FEAR #1 - Will I have to shop at multiple stores and spend hours a week?
ANSWER #1 - I put a limit to my stores. Some don't, but I have chosen this approach so that I don't go LOOPY or let it consume my life. I shop at ONE grocery store (Fry's or Walmart) and ONE pharmacy (CVS) each week. VERY manageable.
FEAR #2 - We are very healthy eaters and most coupons seem to be for junk food.ANSWER #2 - I get most of my produce from a FANTASTIC produce co-op (http://02b8ce3.netsolstores.com/). For $15 a week I get all of the produce I need for the week (and then some!). In addition, I have noticed that the coupons really do include some healthy options. I pass up quite a few because of their poor nutritional content... but there are PLENTY for me to use and save money.
FEAR #3 - Will my menu planning be affected?ANSWER #3 - YES! But believe me...this is a good thing. I used to plan my menu based on what I felt like cooking. Then I would make my LONG list and head to the grocery store. NOW, I look at the sales and the coupons for the week and plan my menu around that. In 2 weeks it has saved me almost $100. I can still do fun meals, but I have altered my starting point.
FEAR #4 - Will I be able to keep everything organized? And will this take over all of my free time?ANSWER #4 - Thanks so many wonderful women who have "mastered" the art of couponing, we can now link to their resources and save so much time and energy. I don't have any fancy box, I just keep the coupons (not even cut out) each week in manila folders. My favorite website is www.couponmom.com - they literally spell everything out for you. All you have to do is get the paper and they do the rest. They find the deals in the stores (Fry's and WalMart for AZ peeps) and then compare them to the coupons that have been distributed in the newspapers and online. They do ALL the hard part. It takes me about an hour each week to look on their websites, find the corresponding coupons and make my list. Not bad at all. Another fantastic site is www.moneysavingmom.com. I so appreciate all of their hard work.
FEAR #5 - Do I really need to get the newspaper for the coupons and is it worth it?
ANSWER #5 - I have found that the paper is really worth it. We pay $8/month for an AZ Republic subscription and I have used $25 in coupons these last 2 weeks on products that we would NORMALLY buy anyway. Sure, sometimes I have to switch to a brand that is not my normal brand... but I'm cool with that if it saves a few bucks. But a few bucks here and there add up VERY quickly. You do have to be careful that even WITH a coupon, it is still not more expensive than the generic brand. This happens every so often, but most of the time you are coupling a store sale with a coupon, which makes it EXTRA cheap.
GO FRUGAL GO!! It has been a fun game to me and who doesn't LOVE saving money?
I WOULD LOVE ANY ADVICE/TIPS FROM THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN DOING THIS MUCH LONGER AND KNOW MORE TRICKS OF THE TRADE!!
23 comments:
I love coupons! I'm with you it can be overwhelming but so worth it. Have you heard about the great diaper deal at Walgreens this week? If you want more details let me know.
I am an expert on eating and that is all. But my sister does The Grocery Game where they tell you what's on sale and what coupon to use so you get things really, really cheap. And if you're getting the newspaper already, then you'd be adding the subscription, which is really cheap.
This was a great post...almost enough to motivate me to do coupons. :) I've tried before and done it some...but I am retarded when it comes to coupons. I don't know why it freaks me out so much. I should give it another whirl. Ugh. Good for you.
This is a great post. You basically spelled out all my fears, and also told me why they are silly! I want to get on the bandwagon.
Wow that sounds pretty intense. My curiousity is peaked though. I always think I should use coupons but never make that step. I didn't know there were websites for this sort of thing...I should remember there are websites for everthing! :)
Maybe the next time you do invitro, you should have them put 8 eggs in at once. I hear it's a really good idea. I know a doctor in California who will do it. I mean, it's kind of like the coupon/money saving thing. What's 20,000 divided by 8??
i'm a big fan of saving money. i'm also a big fan of spending money. makes saving money a little hard! but i do enjoy coupons. i did the grocery game a while ago and really liked it. i saved a lot of money on shampoos, conditioners, soaps, toothpastes, etc. thanks for the post. i wish we had a great place to get produce here. with me being on a diet, i eat salad every night! i know, i'm living on the edge! thanks for the links. i'm going to check them out.
I've been wanting to use coupons more in our shopping, and I have almost all the same fears you spelled out in this post. I guess I should just bite the bullet and get that newspaper subscription! Thanks for the nudge in the right direction... :)
Another great idear for saving mula on food and other goodies... do you guys have the entertainment book? We've found some yummy new places to go out to eat too, buy one get one free! Gotta love it
I do enjoy Fry's more than anyone else for my coupons because they have so many deals all the time, they always double the coupons, and they often have triple coupon time (up to $1.00). I'm glad that you've found some websites that give you the info for free. I used to do couponsense and pay like $30/month for my subscription. I may actually consider getting going again if I knew that it was free info this time around. :)
Way to go, Tam. I do clip coupons, but I'm not very talented at the CVS thing where you get diapers, 11 tubes of toothpaste, OTC drugs and other random items for $2. My sister-in-law Jane is a coupon crazy-lady and gets amazing deals. Every time I try it I get burned, so You go girl!
I just started thegrocerygame.com this last week. Still a little bit overwhelming for me but I did save 56% at Safeway this week. I have a ways to go but every little bit helps. You go girl!
If you're ready to take the next step in the journey to black-belt-tightwaddery, I recommend a book that changed my life (seriously). The Tightwad Gazette, by Amy Dacyczyn (pronounced "decision"). It helped us get through those tight years of early med school. It's formatted like a newsletter so you don't have to read it cover to cover, and FYI the technology articles are outdated. One talks about this new-fangled thing called "e-mail". But it has some GREAT principles, especially when it comes to kid toys, peer pressure from other families and teaching kids the value of a dollar.
Seriously, can I just be you! I am so jealous of your garden, your canning, your coupons...etc. You're going straight to heaven! Just help me in. :)
I keep trying coupons, and I keep spending more money than I do otherwise. I end up buying items that I have coupons for that I wouldn't normally buy otherwise. Plus, I don't get them. I totally don't understand how to use them. I'm at a loss. Please show me the way!
can I be your best friend??!!
yah I heard about the diaper deals at Walgreen's too~ have you checked out slavetosave.com? My sis-in-law found some sweet deals: www.thetulanes.blogspot.com.
I'm on my way to Walgreen's baby!
sorry, slavetosave.blogspot.com
My advice: Don't consume ANYTHING, then you will never spend money. It is also very healthy for the environment.
PS: I'm driving through Kentucky this next week, for the first time. I will think of you the entire way. :)
I'm so scared of the coupon thing, too...mostly because of the time factor. It just seems like one more thing I don't have time for, but really want to do. Maybe if someone (like you) offered a quick little class (say for book club?? :) I would possibly consider it. Seriously, I do need to do this. Maybe this summer I will get on the money-saving, coupon-clipping, garden-growing, cannery-going band wagon. Then I'll be one of those totally cool Mormon moms who's ready for this scary pandemic we're supposedly facing in the next year!!
WHOO HOO YEA FOR FRUGAL GIRL! Ok, but on a side note... TWENTY COMMENTS? How do you get 20 comments? I am lucky if 3 people comment on my blog posts. Do just not enough people know about or visit my blog?
I started doing the coupon thing about a year ago, and it's amazing what I've been able to save. I just wish I would have started this sooner--I would have saved so much more! On theobsessiveshopper.net, she recommends that you have one newspaper subscription per member of your family so that you can take maximum advantage of the coupons. I haven't tried this yet, but once the boys get older and start eating me out of house and home, I may.
Aww! We love you guys! Not only do we catch up with you on here but we learn so much! Thanks :)
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