Coupon Monday!

Honestly, I wondered why people took the time to post about their coupon victories, but now I know how long it takes (2-3 hours per week, including shopping time) so it's a chunk of what I do and it makes me happy. Can I answer a couple of questions that I've been asked directly or indirectly:

I DO use all the stuff. I don't buy stuff that I wouldn't normally buy. Maybe I wouldn't normally get that specific kind of cereal (because it would ordinarily be too expensive) or that kind of shampoo (same reason) but when it's cheaper than the store brand/bulk store buy then OF COURSE I'll get it! I eat/use everything I get. It wouldn't make sense to buy something just because it's on a great deal if I weren't going to use it.

The way to make coupons work is to buy what you are going to need instead of what you need that week. I still have to go grocery shopping for my weekly menu. But I've already seen a drastic decrease in my need to go to Costco because of the stuff I buy with coupons. Besides, coupons work when you pair them with a sale-not if you just pull them out for the things you need. If you compare an average coupon brand name vs. a store brand then the store brand will always win. But if you buy what you think you'll need then you end up paying way less than the store brand.

26.56 and I paid 9.56 for it. The ziploc bags were free and the cereals were .89 cents each. The meat was obviously the expensive part but I needed it and it was still cheaper per ounce then the store brand.

This was an impulse buy (kind of). We were watching movies, I wanted a treat and I remembered that they had free Reeses at CVS with coupons. So these were all free. I don't want you thinking I ate all of them though, we shared them amongst all four of us. They would have been 2.00 without coupons.

48.22 but I paid 14.56 and got 10.00 to use at CVS next time I go. The toothpastes were free.