I started a new little hobby this summer-
couponing. What started out as an innocent search on
google one day has now taken on a life of it's own. So, as
Jana offered some retail tips the other day, I am going to attempt to add a few coupon tips to the blogging world.
The best coupons are in your Sunday paper. The Charlotte Observer was PACKED this weekend with over $194 worth. (so the ad says, I didn't check the math) Tip #1- shop around for the paper. I was happy to pay $1.60 at On the Run until discovering WalMart sells it for.99!
Now the key to saving here is Tip #2- ONLY cut out coupons for things you already buy. It's not a good deal if it isn't something you would ordinarily purchase. Organize your coupons so they are handy and not a hassle. I picked up this organizer at the $1 spot at Target.
The greatest savings I have found is Tip #3 combine ads from stores with the manufacturer coupon. Drug stores have tremendous deals if you look for them. For example, at Walgreens this week you can get 4 boxes of Kellogg's cereal for $10. Combine this with the 2 Kellogg's coupons from the newspaper for $1 each bringing the price down to $8. Now watch this...at check out, Walgreens gives you $5 in rewards bucks for the cereal. So...simple math...4 boxes of cereal costs you $3!!!
Now, if you get into rebates...it gets even sweeter because Kellogg's has a $10 rebate out there by submitting 10 upc codes. If my math is correct...you can buy 12 boxes of cereal for $9 and get a check back from Kellogg's for $10. Free breakfast...for a month my friends! This would require usage of Tip #4- on really good coupon weekends, buy multiple copies of the paper. You would need 3 copies of yesterdays paper to make the above work. Yes, that could potentially mean you end up paying $2 for 12 boxes of cereal but that is only if you didn't use ANY other coupon in the paper.
Tip #5 Rather than buyint items when you need them, stock up when they are at their lowest price and paired with a coupon. By the time you need it again, it should be back on sale. Storage is the only issue here. We did some rearranging under the stairs and now have a second pantry area.
Tip #6 Buying in bulk isn't always cheaper. Check the price per unit. And when buying medication- the generic is almost always cheaper- even if you have a coupon for the brand name version.
I am far from the coupon queen. If you check out
Coupon Mom you will learn there are many deeper levels to this thing that I have yet to
conquer. Honestly, I am probably not
willing to put in the amount of time it takes to go store to store to save the most but
just from what I have started, the savings has been DRAMATIC. Yesterday alone we bought $95.83 worth of groceries and back to school items. We only paid $51.01- immediately saving $44.82.
Shop on!
Every. Year. I. Forget. I forget how little they are. I forget how needy they are. I forget how weepy they are. I truly believe this is the same type of forgetfullness that gets you through childbirth more than once. Because if I really remembered these first days of Kindergarten, I'm not sure I could come back each year.
We are off to the races. 4th and 5th grade. Unbelievable!!! I chose Chris Tomlin this morning to play (loudly) while we are getting ready. This particular song is my prayer for the kids and for me not just for today but all year. Lord we want to sing, dance, live the way we were made- in Your image. I pray we bring honor to You Lord, place a hedge of protection around my children like You said in Your Word. Calm their spirits. Ease their fears. Shine through them.
So while I can pretend that I just happen to be going to a workshop tomorrow morning and then that I am choosing to spend a few hours working in my classroom, I can't even pretend that I would ever willingly set the alarm clock to the ungodly hour of 5:45 am. I haven't seen 5:45am since that glorious day in June that we celebrated the last day of school.
Give me a break. Even Maci and I know enough about gymnastics to tell these judges are quite bias and inconsistent in their gymnastics scoring. Combine that with stories like this and you've got scandal my friends. I think I will boycott Chinese food for awhile to show my disgust. Think a week will do the trick?
I've started and deleted a zillion posts tonight. I'm having trouble putting a string of coherent thoughts together about any particular subject. So...I'll just be random...I am often accused of being random (look, a chicken!) anyway. 
I started a new little hobby this summer- couponing. What started out as an innocent search on google one day has now taken on a life of it's own. So, as Jana offered some retail tips the other day, I am going to attempt to add a few coupon tips to the blogging world. 
