My Couponing Perserverance and Pitfalls

 This coupon thing can be tricky tricky! I'm not a pushy, outgoing person by nature so I don't like to question the cashiers, but I've quickly learned that's just going to be part of it. On my last post about couponing, Coupon Queen in Training, I lamented my 2/$5 off formula coupons that the cashier couldn't get to work and reassured me even a manager couldn't type in by hand. It bothered me so much I just had to go back a few weeks later and try again. That cashier had problems getting them to ring too and without batting an eyelash she checked the coupon to the formula and typed it in manually! In the same purchase I discovered a pitfall...I am prone to the buy one get one free, hence the Crush sodas that I never would have purchased and could have gone back to the soda aisle and paid a ton less for a 2 liter of store brand. Lesson learned.

In spite of those little lessons and pitfalls, I'm quickly rising in the ranks towards that coveted Coupon Queen crown! Last week I saved $92.49 on groceries that should have cost me $238.52, nearly 40% savings! Today I went to Walmart after my first freebies and money makers. Learned another lesson, hit the store early in the week because the real queens have cleared the shelves by Friday. Still super excited. What I acquired should have cost $11.48 but cost me $.98 before tax, yep, that's right! And I even discovered the toothpaste deal on my own! That's why the binder must come with me always. Woohoo!

Here's the breakdown for interested coupon nerd hopefuls like myself. Toothpaste on sale for $.97 ea., $.75 off coupon, final cost to me $.22 ea., panty liners on sale for $1.24 ea, coupon for $1 off, final cost $.24 ea. Bic pens on sale for $.97, coupon for $1 off, profit $.03 Razors on sale for $1.97, coupon for $2, profit of $.03. Total $.12 profit goes toward the other purchases, sweetness! Another place where I had to be persistent and have her get a manger. She didn't think I could use a coupon for more off than the cost of the item. I am just having way too much fun with this!

Coupon Queen (in training)

I feel an obsession coming on, a coupon obsession! I'm definitely taking baby steps (teehee, get it, baby steps...ok sorry) but I'm really excited about it. Above is the result of my first outing specifically for the purpose of using all of a certain coupon to get a good deal. It's no Extreme Couponing feat of savings but I did get $23.16 worth of baby food and baby cereal for $14.06! Sweetness! I was so disappointed that two of my coupons didn't scan for an unknown reason, those would have gotten me $24 in formula for $14. Still learning the rules and regs! In the pic below are some batteries from Office Depot that I will get 100% back in gift cards just by using my free rewards card when purchasing them, that made me happy!

You know the saying it takes money to make money? That would be my binder below. Not that it was hugely expensive but it was sort of hard to spend money when you're going into this thing to save. My binder makes me too happy, I'm sure it's a sickness. I keep telling my husband "everything in life should be like this binder, everything neatly in it's place, labelled, clean and tidy. Mmmmm."

My first grocery shopping trip with my binder felt like a disaster. Between store card, coupons and digital coupons I saved about $30, fine except that my total bill was about 2x's the usual, wowza! For a family of 5 with three pets you can imagine that would be a large amount. I felt a little better about it later when I took a good look at it. Turns out attention to detail equals big grocery bill...but hopefully no small trips in addition to the big one, tricking me into thinking I spend less on groceries. Ok, off to hunt some bargains and try to keep the reigns on this potential addiction, moderation in all things right?