I'm back people!

Back form where you ask? Well, it's an expensive place with less food and more supermarket trips. It's call a couponing hiatus.

For probably a month now, I've been a major slacker when it comes to couponing... and by that I mean I haven't couponed at all. Honestly, I've been so frustrated at myself. Trips that used to cost $30 were costing me $70. Every time I shopped I would think "Hmm, I wonder how much money I COULD be saving with this trip?" leaving me with  a disappointing feeling and a lighter wallet.

The thing is, is couponing is hard work and takes lots of time and energy and anyone with a 15 month old, or child at all for that matter, knows sometimes there's not any extra time or energy to spare. So, I let myself slack. And on top of that, the deals hadn't really matched up with our needs so there was extra incentive to not do it.

So what sparked my couponing craze again? I'll tell you: It was the very well timed "X amount of dollars off your purchase" coupons in this weeks paper, coupled with my "X amount of dollar off of your purchase" coupons that I just got in the mail! Who could resist saving $15 per $50 transaction? Not me. So, it's lit the fire in me and I went for it!


In the past few days I've spent probably 3+ hours planning this one trip. From making my list, to printing online coupons, to clipping paper coupons, it's taken up a large chuck of relaxation, er, cleaning time while Lovebug sleeps. But, I can now say it was worth it! Check it out!

I got all of this for $52 and saved $121!! Now, some will say spending $52 does not equal a great couponing trip, but to me it does. Unless I make 2 trips to the store, one for couponing deals and one for our fresh items, I'll always spend above the Ex.treme C.ouponing's standard of free or nearly free. But, that's ok. I still saved $121 and spent $48 under my weekly budget!! Woohoo!

So what did I get? Well, I got 3 boxes of cereal, a box of Triscuts, a box of Wheat Thins, 3 boxes of pasta, 2 jars spaghetti sauce, 1 gallon organic milk, 1/2 gallon organic milk, 4 bags frozen veggies, frozen sweet patato tater tots, 2 boxes of Ritz, 4 dish sponges, whole wheat bread, 2 bottles of syrup, 4 cans Del Monte tomatoes, 2 cans beef broth, 2 cans evaporated milk, Nutella, 2 bags shredded cheese, 2 containers of gourmet (oh, lala!) spreadable cheese, 2 bottles of mouthwash, 2 bottles of Lysol, 2 containers of icecream, 2 12 packs of La.Croix, yellow rice, 1 lb organic ground beef, 1 lb organic chicken, 4 green bell peppers, 1 onion, 2 apples, 2 pears and 2 containers of sour cream! Whew!

Now most of the non fresh items were both BOGO and I had coupons for them (anywhere from .50 off to $1). But, the biggest money saver by far was the fact that I had both $5 off $30 Publix coupons and I had $10 off of $50 competitor coupons! So, I split my haul up into 2 transactions, both over $50 and I was able to save $15 on each transaction just from those coupons alone! All I can say is... score! :)

Couponing can really be a great thing. It can save loads of money and leave you with a sense of sticking it to the man accomplishment. But, it shouldn't become burdensome or interfere with family life. So my advice is, if it's a good week and your feeling it, go for it! If not, give yourself a break and and shop as wisely as you can. I've come to realize that deals come and go, but maintaining your sanity is a must!

Frugal Fanny

I wont be featured on the next "Ex.treme Couponing" show and I'm sure there are plenty of people out there that would blow my socks off with their couponing success, but yesterday I kicked some major couponing butt! Now, I should say that I'm not trying to create a huge stock pile where I have 600 rolls of papaer towels and enough mustard to last us through the apocalypse. I actually think shows like the aforementioned are a bunch of bunk and only create unwanted attention to couponing from "success" stories that are staged and only allowed to happen by bent rules. I coupon because, as a stay-at-home mom, it's my way of helping with our finances. With a toddler, home expansion plans and not too far off 2nd adoption plans in the works, if I can find a way to stretch a dollar the by golly I'll try!

Ok, so here's how yesterday went. I went to 2 stores: Publix and CVS. I ended up at Publix twice, which I try not to do, but the 2nd deal was way worth it and only for that day (They actually PAID me .02 to take $20 worth of cereal out of their store!!). So, what did I end up with and how much did I spend? Well, first I'll tell you what I got:

I got 2 24ct bottles of Advil, 2 bottles of Childrens Advil, 2 boxes of Thermacare Heat wraps, 2 bags of Cascadian Farms frozen fruit, 3 Jumbo packs of Huggies Slip On diapers, 8 packs of Gatorade Energy Bites, 2 packs of Band-aids, Gain dish soap, 2 boxes of Kleenex, 4 boxes of cereal, $10 in ExtraCare Bucks (money at CVS) and a $10 gas card! 

So what was my grand total for the day? 

Well, before you count the money I recieved back I spent a whopping $34 for everything listed, but after you count the $20 I made back my grand total for everything bought was only $14!!!! My total savings? $101.90(121.90 counting the $20 made back!)!!!

Here's a picture of the loot!

Crazy right?! I'm hooked. I love getting stuff for free and I love being able to do this for our family! Plus,  I have the sweetest  little couponing companion... what more could I ask?!