Addicted to coupons I think.

[java]

I have never ever used coupons before this year. Really not much at all (maybe one or two here and there) Nothing major.

Now I get a rush when the cashier is ringing up my sales. When I get the tally and see that I saved $60 in coupons I am actually giddy. And it's not junk food. And I have learned that by using coupons- you get more at the check out lane! I have been getting lots of save $5 off your next order.
It's like free money.
Boy I wish I was doing this all along.

My goal is to save more than my bill. That's coming!
So a great big thank you for my inspiration! THE BUDGET BOARD!

 

[SandrA9810]

the other day at Publix, we saved 55$ and spent 66$, and one product came with a mail in rebate to try the product free, so an additional 7$ off the total once I get the check back.

My best purchase, publix had coupons at the front of the store for 2$ off TGIF frozen snacks. Plus buy 1 get 1 free, and there was a manufacturer coupon on the box of one for 1$ off. So I paid 25 cents a box, that are normally 3.50$.

 

[trixkid89]

I know what you mean. My family survives on coupons! I have fun saving money. My best one was saving $46.00 at Target IN COUPONS!!!
A little bit a work really pays off!

 

[jemgumby]

Yep know the feeling!!! I had used coupons a while back but then kind of got away from it. Now I am back full force and luvin it!!! I don't think I will ever shop without my coupons again!!!!

 

[cjnix29]

I know what you mean. I feel crazy when I have gone into a store and don't use a coupon. Feel like I shouldn't have bought it if I didn't have one!!

 

[santa's surpriz]

It's like free money...I felt kinda dorky but I went shopping this weekend, I went to all the websites I knew that I wanted shop at signed up and got my coupons. It's not just for grocery shopping anyomore!

 

[vickiemariko]

Coupon clippers unite! I have been a coupon user ever since I got married, but this year I've really jumped on board with blogs and discussion boards. It's great to see really how far you can make your budget stretch. I always thought that I was spending as little money as possible, but after becoming more coupon savvy I've found out it's possible to save even more. And I second the fact that not all coupons are for junk food. My favorite coupons are the ones for yogurt, pasta (whole wheat), canned/frozen veggies, meats, and bread.

 

[hanutedmansionmomma]

hey java - are you on a coupon train? you know that feeling when you save a bunch w/ coupons? imagine that coupled w/ xmas when you get a huge envelope of coupons once a week from your train buddy!

 

[eyor44]

hey java - are you on a coupon train? you know that feeling when you save a bunch w/ coupons? imagine that coupled w/ xmas when you get a huge envelope of coupons once a week from your train buddy!

Christmas comes once a week in my mail box.

 

[java]

Can someone explain coupon train to me?

 

[beachbaby]

Have the same disease

 

[~disneydiva~]

I love coupons!! One of our grocery stores had a day last month and they doubled coupons up to $1.00!! It was awesome!!

 

[cjnix29]

Can someone explain coupon train to me?

You sign up, get a train buddy. You get coupons sent to you, you then take out what you want, add some, and send on to your train buddy. You have to get a paper each week, and add coupons to the pile. It's great!! Love my coupon train! There are a couple on this board. You have to post when you send and when you receive, so that the "conductor" knows things are working well. Highly recommend it!

 

[java]

You sign up, get a train buddy. You get coupons sent to you, you then take out what you want, add some, and send on to your train buddy. You have to get a paper each week, and add coupons to the pile. It's great!! Love my coupon train! There are a couple on this board. You have to post when you send and when you receive, so that the "conductor" knows things are working well. Highly recommend it!

Thank you- so Person A sends me an envelope of coupons- I take out what I need -adding in some and send it on to Person B? Are internet coupons allowed or just newspaper printed ones? We do both here at our house(although the internet ones seem to be the best bargains to us. I have a bunch of magazine coupons too.

So the ? are they newspaper only?

 

[mindyd]

I am horrible with coupons even when I try. My Sunday Paper is horrible and none of the grocery stores around me will take the Internet ones. Walmart was taking them but last two times I went they won't anymore.

 

[here757]

a friend of mine has taken coupons to a whole new level
heres a link to her blog. she has lots of tips to offer

http://becominghousehold6.blogspot.com/

 

[mrsboz]

Can you please share your insights. I try, try, try and am not that good at it at all. I did well a couple of times at Target when I followed someone else's plan. I would LOVE to save some money on groceries as I spend entirely TOO much. Please share.

 

[mskayjay]

love love love my coupons!!!!!!! Very active member at weusecoupons.com and I am actually teaching a coupon class this Sunday afternoon! Anyone is welcome to join us at WUC. I use the same handle (name) there as I do here and I am Forum Leader for Random Acts of Kindness (RAOK).

Enjoy the savings everyone! It is a great feeling!!!!

 

[eyor44]

Thank you- so Person A sends me an envelope of coupons- I take out what I need -adding in some and send it on to Person B? Are internet coupons allowed or just newspaper printed ones? We do both here at our house(although the internet ones seem to be the best bargains to us. I have a bunch of magazine coupons too.

So the ? are they newspaper only?

Yes, you can include any coupons. The ones from the magazines are the same as in the newspapers, and not everyone can use internet coupons. But the two things you have to do, is 1: promise to buy a newspaper and clipped coupons every week and 2: send an envelope to your train buddy every week.

 

[java]

Can you please share your insights. I try, try, try and am not that good at it at all. I did well a couple of times at Target when I followed someone else's plan. I would LOVE to save some money on groceries as I spend entirely TOO much. Please share.

I'm no expert by a long shot- but here's a couple things I do. We are a family of 6. What jumped started me into this was the eat out the pantry challenge here on the dis.
For one week we had meals made out of what was in the pantry. I mean if I bought it at one point I must have wanted to make something with it.

Let go of Brand loyalty. Try out some store brand products. It's hit or miss- I LOVE the store brand oatmeal ($1.99) compared to $3.99 for quaker- oats are oats.
Bakery goods- not so much- the store brand here fell apart- so I don't buy them anymore.
I also bake a lot of breads now.

Then next step was going to my supermarket's website- my store actually has a way for you to download your coupons onto your shoppers card from their site- So you don't even have to clip them!

Every week I look at the circular. I look for things we like that are on sale. Then I go to the coupon stack. I really try to only use a coupon if something is on sale. This week I was able to get another HUGE box of Rice crispies for free! (Got that coupon from Vocal point I think)

BRING A CALCULATOR!- I go with the $100 limit. I start with my must haves- like milk- and then once I get to $80 I start thinking about meat.
Some weeks I don't buy any.
Other's I stock up on meat.

I want to buy another freezer but I am looking for an inexpensive one and have not found the one yet.

Also I signed up at P&G for their coupon email. They send out some great ones.

Instead of going into the store without a list I walk in knowing what I am going to make based on what's on sale.

I have discovered my family loves skinless boneless chicken legs(some brand is always on sale)

Bacon as a FLAVOR adder vs. just a strip of bacon. My kids could easily polish off a pound of bacon if it's just bacon. But if I cut up 4 slices cook it up with some chopped tomatoes. Add some cayene and then throw that over pasta- They get that "taste" and eat a ton of tomatoes this way!My store has one brand a week on sale. That's the one I buy. (unless it's the store brand their bacon stinks- so that week I won't buy it.) Usually I buy 2 packs a week.

Meatless is cheaper. We started with one meal meatless we are now up to 2 meatless a week. I have found ones that everyone likes.

Good luck and I don't want to overload you with all the junk I do. Hope I didn't scare you.