Well, watching the show was definitely interesting. They weren't lying about the extreme part. They showcased people spending hundreds, even a thousand a couple times, and after their coupons only spending $50 and less!! Almost everytime their savings were over 85% of their bill!!!
The "Extreme Couponer's" homes were completely cluttered by their stock of items. Some had to use their children's rooms for storage. One lady was in the dumpster searching for coupons with her young son!
Before today, my only savings at the grocery store were the discounts the store offered by using your shoppers card. A while back, I learned you can register at your grocery store online and add their coupons to your shoppers card. I did this most weeks and figured I was doing enough. I definitely wasn't.
Here's the deal, I don't have the extra hours to dedicate my time to dumpster jumping for coupons, cutting coupons and shopping the stores ahead of time for their deals. I'm also not going to start shopping at 5 different stores every week to use a $0.50 coupon. It's not worth it when you are toting a little one around with you. I'm also am not interested in buying an absurd amount of items just because I have a coupon. If it is an item we actually use, then of course, but I'm about to become a hoarder of Maalox just because I have a coupon.
With that being said, I'm a stay at home mom, and I want to help save anyway I can. The show inspired me enough to try a shopping trip with coupons, and I'm glad for this!
Here's what I did:
- Bought a paper for the coupons and weekly ads (only $2.00)
- Added my store's coupons to my shoppers card online
- Searched the ads for the best deals
- Found a site online for free manufacturers coupons
- Made my grocery list (My goal was to only use coupons for items on my list, items I actually needed!)
- Made a list of my coupons (To make sure I used all I had and to make sure they got it right at the register)
As a side note: This did take some time, but I only used a couple "naps" on my "couponing".
Here's the idea: You can't double your coupons or use two manufacturers coupons on a single item. However, you can use the store deals, paired with a manufacturers coupon, store coupon, and competitors coupon. So, that's the trick, see how many different coupons you can get on one item!
Below is how I was able to workout some of my savings!
I usually shop at Fry's (Dillions in other states). This week, they were accepting all competitors coupons and rounded any manufacturers coupon to $1.00. For example, if you have a $0.50 manufacturers coupon, they match it another $0.50, making it worth $1.00. They are doing this until Tuesday, April 12th.
Dawn: $2.99
Fry's Store coupon: $0.25
Safeway, competitors coupon: $1.00
Manufacturers coupon: $1.00
Total after coupons: $0.74
Bread: $2.00 (Already discounted price when using your Fry's Card)
Fry's Store coupon: $0.55
Manufacturers coupon: $1.00
Total after coupons: $0.45
Bounty Paper Towels: $4.99
Fry's Store coupon: $1.00
Manufacturers coupon: $1.00
Total: $2.99
French's Mustard: $2.10
Manufacturers Coupon: $0.30 + $0.70 (Bonus from Fry's)
Total: $1.10
Pickles: $3.69
Fry's Coupon: $0.50
Manufacturers Coupon: $1.00
Total: $2.19
Mayo: 2/$5.00 (Already discounted price when using your Fry's Card)
Fry's Coupon: $0.75
Manufacturers Coupon: $1.00
Total: $0.75
Store Price: $6.97 (Already discounted price when using your Fry's card)
Total Before Coupons: $13.94
Fry's Store Coupon: $3.00 off Gillette Razors
Manufacturers Coupon: Buy one Gillette Razors get one Free
Total After Savings: $3.97
Total Savings: $9.97
Huggies: $19.99
Huggies Wipes: $2.54
Total Before Coupons: $22.53 + Tax
Fry's Store Coupon: Free wipes with the purchase of Huggies diapers
Safeway, competitors coupon: $2.00
Manufacturers Coupon: $3.00
Total After Coupons $14.99 + Tax
Total Savings: $7.54
I saved $66.57 today!! If I would have only used my Fry's card my savings would have been $25.89! I saved an additional $40.68 with coupons!! Not bad for my first try!
Click here for your online coupons! All you have to do is register your email!
Click here for your online coupons! All you have to do is register your email!
