I wrote this (in a Facebook note) on November 24, 2009 but I wanted to add it to my blog so you can see what I have learned (and still am learning) about my new favorite hobby- COUPONING! I hope it encourages you!
The Evolution of my Shopping Habits
In October of 2009 I began "couponing." It has changed everything about shopping for me. It has changed how I shop, when I shop, where I shop, and how much I spend shopping! I wanted to share my transformation with you.
When I moved out of my parents' house about 2 years ago I was hit with the hard reality that when I was hungry and went to the frig to grab something to eat nothing would be there...unless I bought it and put it in there! I realized that food wouldn't miraculously appear on the table as it had for the past 21 years. Thus I began grocery shopping.
I've always known that it makes sense to get the most for your money so I did what I thought would save the most money. I shopped at “low price stores” such as Wal-mart and Aldi for everything. Aldi has some great prices- even better than Wal-mart; so I'd shop there first. Whatever Aldi didn't have, I'd get at Wal-mart. I never looked for sales or coupons. I just bought what I needed (and occasionally wanted).
Over a year later I realized that the local newspaper I had been receiving (free of charge) every Wednesday on my front door contained sale ads for Bi-lo and Publix (and sometimes Ingles). I had been throwing the paper away for over a year without ever opening it! My wonderful mother informed me that stores such as Publix have sales every week and when you buy most items that are on sale for "buy one get one free" it's like getting it 50% off (for each item). And a lot of times that 50% off price was cheaper than Wal-mart...and even Aldi! Wow. I had never considered shopping at Publix before because I always thought Publix was “too expensive!”
So thus began my second phase of shopping. I would patiently wait for my "Tribune Times" newspaper to appear on my door on Wednesday mornings. (I have since learned that all the weekly sale ads are also online on the store's website). I would open each ad and make a list of what was on sale that I needed and I would go shopping and buy what was on sale. That started saving me money...AND TIME! I live less than a mile from a Publix, Bi-lo, and Ingles! Shopping at these stores saved time and money from having to drive 15-20 minutes to get to Wal-mart and/or Aldi.
When I moved out of my parents' house about 2 years ago I was hit with the hard reality that when I was hungry and went to the frig to grab something to eat nothing would be there...unless I bought it and put it in there! I realized that food wouldn't miraculously appear on the table as it had for the past 21 years. Thus I began grocery shopping.
I've always known that it makes sense to get the most for your money so I did what I thought would save the most money. I shopped at “low price stores” such as Wal-mart and Aldi for everything. Aldi has some great prices- even better than Wal-mart; so I'd shop there first. Whatever Aldi didn't have, I'd get at Wal-mart. I never looked for sales or coupons. I just bought what I needed (and occasionally wanted).
Over a year later I realized that the local newspaper I had been receiving (free of charge) every Wednesday on my front door contained sale ads for Bi-lo and Publix (and sometimes Ingles). I had been throwing the paper away for over a year without ever opening it! My wonderful mother informed me that stores such as Publix have sales every week and when you buy most items that are on sale for "buy one get one free" it's like getting it 50% off (for each item). And a lot of times that 50% off price was cheaper than Wal-mart...and even Aldi! Wow. I had never considered shopping at Publix before because I always thought Publix was “too expensive!”
So thus began my second phase of shopping. I would patiently wait for my "Tribune Times" newspaper to appear on my door on Wednesday mornings. (I have since learned that all the weekly sale ads are also online on the store's website). I would open each ad and make a list of what was on sale that I needed and I would go shopping and buy what was on sale. That started saving me money...AND TIME! I live less than a mile from a Publix, Bi-lo, and Ingles! Shopping at these stores saved time and money from having to drive 15-20 minutes to get to Wal-mart and/or Aldi.
In late September of '09 my mom told me to check out a website called "Southern Savers." I told her I would and I forgot about it. A couple of weeks passed and my mom reminded me again. So finally I checked out the website (http://www.southernsavers.com/). I wasn’t really expecting much. However, I was SHOCKED! I couldn’t believe how much money other people were saving!
This brings me to my newest and most cost-effective way of shopping. Basically I print and cut out coupons from the internet (red plum.com, smartsource.com, coupons.com etc.) and I buy a Sunday paper every week at Walgreens for $0.88 and cut out the coupons and organize them into my special coupon book with categories (Breakfast foods, dairy, meat, etc). I then check the sale ads on Sunday (for Ingles) and Wednesday (for Bi-lo and Publix) and see what I need and what coupons I have that match up with the sales. However, Southern Savers matches most of the sales and coupons for you (there are still deals I find on my own). I use Southernsavers.com to create a printable shopping list of the items I need and the coupons that go with each item. I have 4 envelopes each labeled with a store name (Bi-lo, Ingles, Publix, and Bloom). I put the list and corresponding coupons in each envelope and then make my way to the stores. I can’t even tell you how many items I get for free or just pennies. Almost every item I buy is under $2. I could go on and on but I just wanted you to hear the story of how I shop. You’re welcome to ask questions if you want more details. I recommend Southernsavers.com and simplesavingsecrets.net to get you started if you are interested in couponing to save LOTS of money. I spend about $120 a month on food for our family. It really doesn’t take that long to get organized and save lots of money. It is so fun and so worth it!
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