Another shop at Meijer....
I am continuing to add to our stockpile. This shop's savings was not great because we were in need of items that weren't on sale and I didn't have coupons for them. My husband was in desperate need of razor blades. We had also run out of our laundry detergent!
Meijer promotions $7.48
Meijer items on sale $31.98
Total coupon savings: $6.60
Total SAVINGS: $46.06
Spent: $165.44
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Still on the coupon wagon....
I am still couponing. I did take a break this last week because the sales weren't enough to bring me into the stores. I managed to squeek through what we had in the house. I was down to the wire and had to purchase a gallon of milk and some chicken tenders at Target but we made it through eating what was in the house.
My shopping at Meijer continues to help me build my stockpile.
5/25/2011
Saved - Meijer mealbox coupons = $4.00
Saved - Buying items on sale =$41.46
Saved - Coupon savings = $24.55
Total SAVINGS: $70.01
Spent: $98.20
My shopping at Meijer continues to help me build my stockpile.
5/25/2011
Saved - Meijer mealbox coupons = $4.00
Saved - Buying items on sale =$41.46
Saved - Coupon savings = $24.55
Total SAVINGS: $70.01
Spent: $98.20
Thursday, May 19, 2011
How to Organize your coupons
Date the circular was in the Sunday paper
Each Sunday's insert goes into a sheet protector in my binder
All of my inserts with the dates on them before I put them in sheet protectors in my binderI thought that some of you might appreciate seeing pictures of how I organize my coupons.
Back on the wagon....(Spent 94 and Saved 62)
Well, I am back on the wagon again! I went to Meijer after work tonight with my grocery list and my wad of coupons. Another reason I love to coupon shop is that I am in and out of the grocery store in such a short amount of time. I don't browse the aisles; I shop with a purpose.
In this trip, I was able to get many items that I will be able to stockpile. Stockpiling means buying more than you need but what will get you through the next sale cycle. The key to stockpiling is making sure that you don't over buy and you pay attention to expiration dates. Today I bought 6 boxes of cereal, 4 marinades, and 6 garlic bread. I bought a variety of items today. In this total, I have toiletries such as razors, deodorant, dental floss, Paul Mitchell shampoo and face cleanser. The majority of these items were on sale and I was able to apply coupons to the sale price. A few of these items I had to buy because I was out of them. I hate when I have to pay full price but if you have to I recommend that check out the coupon database on www.hotcouponworld.com . You can enter the item that you want to purchase...for example coffeemate creamer. They will tell you date of when the coupon was in the circuluar. For example, 5/22 PG. This means that you would be able to find a coupon for coffeemate creamer in the 5/22 proctor and gamble insert. Of course, it is better to buy this item when it is on sale and then add a coupon to the total price but sometimes you just need the item and can't wait for it to go on sale.
Today's shopping trip cost me $94.19 (with tax)
I saved $62.35 with coupons and buying sale items.
($33.35 Sale savings; $29.00 COUPON savings)
I love COUPONS!
In this trip, I was able to get many items that I will be able to stockpile. Stockpiling means buying more than you need but what will get you through the next sale cycle. The key to stockpiling is making sure that you don't over buy and you pay attention to expiration dates. Today I bought 6 boxes of cereal, 4 marinades, and 6 garlic bread. I bought a variety of items today. In this total, I have toiletries such as razors, deodorant, dental floss, Paul Mitchell shampoo and face cleanser. The majority of these items were on sale and I was able to apply coupons to the sale price. A few of these items I had to buy because I was out of them. I hate when I have to pay full price but if you have to I recommend that check out the coupon database on www.hotcouponworld.com . You can enter the item that you want to purchase...for example coffeemate creamer. They will tell you date of when the coupon was in the circuluar. For example, 5/22 PG. This means that you would be able to find a coupon for coffeemate creamer in the 5/22 proctor and gamble insert. Of course, it is better to buy this item when it is on sale and then add a coupon to the total price but sometimes you just need the item and can't wait for it to go on sale.
Today's shopping trip cost me $94.19 (with tax)
I saved $62.35 with coupons and buying sale items.
($33.35 Sale savings; $29.00 COUPON savings)
I love COUPONS!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Getting organized...
This is lots of wasted savings....These are all of my coupons that have expired and haven't been used! Uggh! I went through my huge pile of coupons and got organized again.
Clipped my coupons and ready to go to the grocery store tomorrow.
It only took 40 minutes, and I did it while watching last nights' Glee with my daughters.
Back on the wagon again!!
Getting Ready...to start again
I am already behind my plan for this week, but I am pushing myself to follow through. So, tonight I printed my grocery list from the grocery game and I am going to match my coupons to the items on my list. In the past, this took at the most 3o minutes. Most days it was less than 20 minutes. But......since I have neglected my organization I am going to have to spend some time getting my coupons in order.
If you have read other posts by me in regards to organization, I recommend using sheet protectors and a 3 ring binder for your coupon inserts. Each week when you receive a coupon insert you write the date on the outside of the insert and then stick that week's insert in one sheet protector. I continue to do this every week. Then, when I am ready to find coupons you go to the date and the type of insert and then cut out the coupon that you need. This way you are only cutting the coupons when you need them. The Grocery Game will list the week and the type of insert...for example it might list SS 5/15...This would mean that the coupon you need can be found in the Smart Source insert from May 15th.
Off I go to organize and clip...I will be sure to note in my next post how much time it takes me. I am planning on grocery shopping tomorrow after work!!
If you have read other posts by me in regards to organization, I recommend using sheet protectors and a 3 ring binder for your coupon inserts. Each week when you receive a coupon insert you write the date on the outside of the insert and then stick that week's insert in one sheet protector. I continue to do this every week. Then, when I am ready to find coupons you go to the date and the type of insert and then cut out the coupon that you need. This way you are only cutting the coupons when you need them. The Grocery Game will list the week and the type of insert...for example it might list SS 5/15...This would mean that the coupon you need can be found in the Smart Source insert from May 15th.
Off I go to organize and clip...I will be sure to note in my next post how much time it takes me. I am planning on grocery shopping tomorrow after work!!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Uggh!!! Still not back on the wagon
I know that I have expressed many times that I just can't seem to make couponing a priority. I am going to try again....
I have been keeping a spreadsheet on my grocery and eating out for the last 3 months. I just crunched the numbers and I am frustrated with myself.
Month Groceries/Savings Eating out
February $767/$108 $311 = $1,078 for the month on food
March $1,065/$23 $346 = $1,400 for the month...UGGH!!
April $848/$7 $525 =$1,373 for the month....Uggh!
We are an active family of 4 with 2 teenagers. Expensive items like Gatorade, Power bars, Vitamin Water also add to our grocery bill. Our grocery shopping has become Sam's Club and Fresh Market. Although, I know that we save money shopping at Sam's; I save more money when couponing is a priority.
I also include the amount that we spend on school lunches in our eating out budget.
Even though I am spending more on food than I have in the past, I still have to cut our spending in other areas. It isn't like new money is there to make up for my lack of coupon savings. I have 2 children that will be in college soon and other bills that need to be paid.
As I have stated in other posts on my blog, I am also not able to provide as much to our local food pantries when I am not couponing. I need to coupon for my family's savings as well as helping my community.
So, I have said it again...I am going to give it another try....
Here is my plan for this week...
Tuesday, create my Meijer grocery list and clip matching coupons. (I am anticipating this taking awhile because my coupon organization has become a BIG MESS!! Uggh!!)
Wednesday, shop after work with my coupons.
Thursday, make my list for Aldi
I will post my savings and what I spend this first week back on the wagon!!
Wish me luck!!
I have been keeping a spreadsheet on my grocery and eating out for the last 3 months. I just crunched the numbers and I am frustrated with myself.
Month Groceries/Savings Eating out
February $767/$108 $311 = $1,078 for the month on food
March $1,065/$23 $346 = $1,400 for the month...UGGH!!
April $848/$7 $525 =$1,373 for the month....Uggh!
We are an active family of 4 with 2 teenagers. Expensive items like Gatorade, Power bars, Vitamin Water also add to our grocery bill. Our grocery shopping has become Sam's Club and Fresh Market. Although, I know that we save money shopping at Sam's; I save more money when couponing is a priority.
I also include the amount that we spend on school lunches in our eating out budget.
Even though I am spending more on food than I have in the past, I still have to cut our spending in other areas. It isn't like new money is there to make up for my lack of coupon savings. I have 2 children that will be in college soon and other bills that need to be paid.
As I have stated in other posts on my blog, I am also not able to provide as much to our local food pantries when I am not couponing. I need to coupon for my family's savings as well as helping my community.
So, I have said it again...I am going to give it another try....
Here is my plan for this week...
Tuesday, create my Meijer grocery list and clip matching coupons. (I am anticipating this taking awhile because my coupon organization has become a BIG MESS!! Uggh!!)
Wednesday, shop after work with my coupons.
Thursday, make my list for Aldi
I will post my savings and what I spend this first week back on the wagon!!
Wish me luck!!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
2/12 Meijer Shop (Spent $127 and Saved $48)
There is nothing better than grocery shopping when the store is dead! Just got back from the grocery store on a Saturday night, I am sure you are all so jealous and wish you lead an adventurous life like me! The family all had plans this evening so I chose to casually stroll the aisles at Meijer with no concern about racing home to run someone to their next activity. I forgot how quiet grocery stores are in the evenings. I remember when my twin daughters were infants I was a frequent customer at Walmart after 10 or 11 pm as I tried to find a time to get to store when it was quiet and without screaming children.
Today's shop and browsing proved to be worthwhile. As you know Valentine's Day is on Monday. I had been looking for something to get my daughters. On Friday, they went to see Justin Bieber's Never Say Never movie with some girlfriends. I think every single teenage girl in America saw this movie this weekend. I stumbled upon giant sized poster of Bieber. They will be thrilled as they have Bieber fever. I also got them nailpolish that was on sale with coupons. They will be thrilled!!
Anyways, I also found a great deal on a coat for a 24M old boy. This time of year, I am able to get winter coats to donate to the church coat drive in the fall. The coat was 50.00 and I got it for 7.00. It will be a great coat for a needy child.
So, today's grocery shop contains items other than groceries but they were also purchased on sale and with coupons!
Spent $127.49
Saved: $1.75 with Meijer coupons
Saved: $34.61 for purchasing items that were on sale
Saved: $11.98 with coupons
Total Savings: $48.34
Hope everyone has a wonderful Valentines Day with someone they care about...their children, friends, family, boyfriend/girlfriend, or spouse.
Today's shop and browsing proved to be worthwhile. As you know Valentine's Day is on Monday. I had been looking for something to get my daughters. On Friday, they went to see Justin Bieber's Never Say Never movie with some girlfriends. I think every single teenage girl in America saw this movie this weekend. I stumbled upon giant sized poster of Bieber. They will be thrilled as they have Bieber fever. I also got them nailpolish that was on sale with coupons. They will be thrilled!!
Anyways, I also found a great deal on a coat for a 24M old boy. This time of year, I am able to get winter coats to donate to the church coat drive in the fall. The coat was 50.00 and I got it for 7.00. It will be a great coat for a needy child.
So, today's grocery shop contains items other than groceries but they were also purchased on sale and with coupons!
Spent $127.49
Saved: $1.75 with Meijer coupons
Saved: $34.61 for purchasing items that were on sale
Saved: $11.98 with coupons
Total Savings: $48.34
Hope everyone has a wonderful Valentines Day with someone they care about...their children, friends, family, boyfriend/girlfriend, or spouse.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
2/5/2011 Meijer shop and Stockpiling
Well, I have been back on the coupon wagon for about a month now. However, this is the first post I have regarding my savings.
Today at Meijer, there were so many great deals! When I do my grocery shopping, my total savings is based on all purchases. Sometimes I will have household items, cleaning products, and tolietries as well as groceries.
As I work on building up my stockpile again, I know that my grocery bills will be higher than my goal. For those of you that aren't sure what stockpiling is it is when you buy as much of an item as you can to get you to the next sale cycle. Every item in your grocery store goes through a sale cycle. A cycle can vary from 6-12 weeks depending on the product. Many items in your store will go on sale again but there is a time when the item will be at it's lowest price. This is the time that you want to stockpile. Now, this doesn't mean you have to turn a spare bedroom into a pantry. You need to determine how much of that item your family really eats. For example, if pasta was on sale and your family eats pasta on average once a week you would want to buy 10 boxes of pasta to get you to the time that this item is on sale again.
Since I haven't stockpiled until just the last 2 weeks, I still have to buy items that are not on SALE or are on sale but not at their cheapest sale price.
Summary of today's shop at Meijer
Spent: $101.53 (including tax)
Saved: .50 (do to a Meijer promotion)
Saved: $26.19 (by buying items on sale. This is the sale price savings)
Saved: $21.42 (by matching my coupons to the sale items. This is the total savings of all of my coupons once they doubled them. Our Meijer doubles up to a $1.00.)
Total SAVINGS $48.12
In this total I bought shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, and food to donate for our church's food drive tomorrow. As I begin to add more to my stockpile, I know that I will be able to provide more for others while still saving money for my family.
Today at Meijer, there were so many great deals! When I do my grocery shopping, my total savings is based on all purchases. Sometimes I will have household items, cleaning products, and tolietries as well as groceries.
As I work on building up my stockpile again, I know that my grocery bills will be higher than my goal. For those of you that aren't sure what stockpiling is it is when you buy as much of an item as you can to get you to the next sale cycle. Every item in your grocery store goes through a sale cycle. A cycle can vary from 6-12 weeks depending on the product. Many items in your store will go on sale again but there is a time when the item will be at it's lowest price. This is the time that you want to stockpile. Now, this doesn't mean you have to turn a spare bedroom into a pantry. You need to determine how much of that item your family really eats. For example, if pasta was on sale and your family eats pasta on average once a week you would want to buy 10 boxes of pasta to get you to the time that this item is on sale again.
Since I haven't stockpiled until just the last 2 weeks, I still have to buy items that are not on SALE or are on sale but not at their cheapest sale price.
Summary of today's shop at Meijer
Spent: $101.53 (including tax)
Saved: .50 (do to a Meijer promotion)
Saved: $26.19 (by buying items on sale. This is the sale price savings)
Saved: $21.42 (by matching my coupons to the sale items. This is the total savings of all of my coupons once they doubled them. Our Meijer doubles up to a $1.00.)
Total SAVINGS $48.12
In this total I bought shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, and food to donate for our church's food drive tomorrow. As I begin to add more to my stockpile, I know that I will be able to provide more for others while still saving money for my family.
Back on the wagon...
I have decided to put coupons back on the priority list.
We all know how expensive groceries are. For the last year, I have been relying on Sam's Club to feed my family. Although, I know we can save money by shopping at Sam's Club I know the savings are not as great as when couponing was a priority for me. Even though Sam's is a stock up store, it seemed like my pantry was never as full as when I shopped with coupons at Meijer and Kroger. When our church would have a food drive, I could always pull from my stockpile and not make much of dent on our food supply. Because of this, I hadn't helped out our food pantry as much as I could have.
In 2009, I was able to save almost $1500 in groceries!
I need some accountablility for myself as much as an opportunity to share my savings with you. Because of this, I will continue to update this blog with my weekly purchases and savings. My goal is to get back to my $400 a month grocery budget.
I admit I have used a lot of excuses as to why I stopped couponing. But the real reason is that I just became lazy. Many of us say how busy we are but when things become priorities it happens. Couponing only took me 30-40 minutes a week to prepare my grocery list and to cut my coupons. I use to do this while watching TV with my family. It didn't take any time away from family time. I could still engage in conversation as well as talk to them about what they would like to eat this week. Saving almost $200 a month should be a priority for me... not sure why I let this get away from me.
So if you are interested in following me on my journey again, please feel free to follow my blog. You can subscribe to receive any updates via email or RSS so you won't miss a moment of savings journey.
We all know how expensive groceries are. For the last year, I have been relying on Sam's Club to feed my family. Although, I know we can save money by shopping at Sam's Club I know the savings are not as great as when couponing was a priority for me. Even though Sam's is a stock up store, it seemed like my pantry was never as full as when I shopped with coupons at Meijer and Kroger. When our church would have a food drive, I could always pull from my stockpile and not make much of dent on our food supply. Because of this, I hadn't helped out our food pantry as much as I could have.
In 2009, I was able to save almost $1500 in groceries!
I need some accountablility for myself as much as an opportunity to share my savings with you. Because of this, I will continue to update this blog with my weekly purchases and savings. My goal is to get back to my $400 a month grocery budget.
I admit I have used a lot of excuses as to why I stopped couponing. But the real reason is that I just became lazy. Many of us say how busy we are but when things become priorities it happens. Couponing only took me 30-40 minutes a week to prepare my grocery list and to cut my coupons. I use to do this while watching TV with my family. It didn't take any time away from family time. I could still engage in conversation as well as talk to them about what they would like to eat this week. Saving almost $200 a month should be a priority for me... not sure why I let this get away from me.
So if you are interested in following me on my journey again, please feel free to follow my blog. You can subscribe to receive any updates via email or RSS so you won't miss a moment of savings journey.
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