A Penny Saved.

I get a certain kick out of saving money. I'll admit it... Before I was a wife, Before I was a Mom... I had no CLUE of what the average price of a gallon of milk was. Ask me how much a certain Vera Bradley bag was retailing for currently, and I could rattle that info off in a hot second. Food prices? Not a chance. Nowadays, I'm able to tell you the average price on pretty much anything in our local grocery store. I get a real sense of pride out of that. I get a real boost out of knowing that I may not be bringing a dollar TO the table, as far as a paycheck is concerned, but the least I can do is keep the dollars we do have IN our pockets.
I've learned a lot from online gurus that tout their expertise about shopping with coupons... Getting hundreds of dollars of groceries for cents on the dollar. I'm SO not there yet. However, I'm getting there. It takes me a long time in the grocery stores, and I thank GOD that my kids love to go there with me. I don't always take them, but sometimes I need to!
Here was today's shopping trip. It wasn't my best trip by any means... However, I'm amazed still that I can save so much money without THAT much effort!!
In my order, I had:

• 1 Kix Cereal 12oz.
• 2 Contadina Tomato Paste 6oz.
• 6 Dole Mandarin Oranges
• 5 loaves of Bread
• Filipo Berio Olive Oil 51oz
• 2 Welch's AquaJuice
• 6 Friskies Cat Food
• 2 V-8 Fusion Juice
• Snyders MultiGrain Chips
• Giant Pureed Tomato
• Bleach 96oz
• 2 SoBe Water 20oz
• 2 Dole Lettuce Blends
• 2 International Delights Creamer
• 2 Johnsons Baby Soap
• 1 Jumbo Huggies Diaper
• 10 Flowering Bulbs for Garden 
• Triaminic Nasal Spray
• Giant Brand Nasal Spray
• Giant Brand Tylenol 24ct.
• Vicks Soothing Vapors Plug In
• Vicks Soothing Vapors Pads
• 5 Smart Ones Meals
• 2 Breyers Ice Cream 48oz
• 2 Bertolli Oven Baked Meals

The total for all of this...$146.69

I paid...$74.90

A savings of almost $72. I did this with a combination of deals going on in the store, as well as nearly $25 in clipped coupons. The hard work is totally worth it... Totally Totally worth it...

Comments

[Sandy]

I love the coupons too!!!!!!!! And sales are soooo much fun. ;-)

[Mindy]

I've been doing this too. Have you checked out this blog:
http://www.frugalcouponliving.com/
I've found a lot of great deals and coupons there plus she has a lot of links to blog that tell where more deals are. It makes grocery shopping almost fun!

[Jill Bartlett]

You know, if you saved over $70 in one week, that's a WHOLE LOT of FREE cherry limeades that you can get! Woo hoo! :)

[Dorinda]

Good for you! That's awesome - isn't it fun to save so much money??

Have you tried www.thegrocerygame.com? I use it all the time and save a TON of money.

[Beth]

You have just inspired me to start cutting coupons again... and actually remembering to take them to the store! :o)

[Helene]

I am right there with you...and now my vice is buying the kids' clothes on sale with coupons, having them wear them for a season and re-selling them on ebay for more than I paid for them new.

Don't start that though, it is a total high and you should stick with groceries it is less dangerous.

Good work Mama

[Heather Gantt]

That is awesme savings!!! WOW!

[Cynthia]

Inspiring! I have always been lax about coupons but lately they are becoming my new addiction. It's a game I play with myself: how much can I buy for $xx.xx. I guess I'm channeling my former shop-a-holic, handbag obsessed ways into something new!

[Elizabeth]

Totally impressive.

[Jessica]

I got the Olive Oil on sale at Martins. It's on sale for $8.99 I think. I had a $2 coupon for the felipo berio oil. There's a coupon out now for $1. I know the 17oz bottles were on sale for $4.99. The larger bottle was just a better deal. And no...I can't do your shopping for you...its a full time job doing my own!

[Nita]

Dude - where did you get the giant bottle of olive oil on sale? I neeeeeeeed that!

Can I just pay you to make out my meal plans and grocery lists every week? I guess that would defeat trying to save money but at least you would be getting it instead of the stores.