1) Signed up for Procter & Gamble's Everyday Solutions today. They are sending me free samples of Pantene, Pampers, and Head and Shoulders. And, also coupons for Tide. I added the link to the right. You can request samples once per quarter so make sure they are things you are really interested in.
2) Added the cellfire & coupons.com apps to my iPhone. It will make it alot easier to manage offers and coupons from these sites (especially cellfire since they are loaded directly to my Kroger card from my phone.) The same offers that are on the website are also on the app so I'm not missing out on anything. If I had a wireless printer I could print coupons.com coupons directly from my phone, but since I don't they email the coupons I have 'clipped' to my email.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Wow...could I save that much?
I read on one website that extreme couponing could save anywhere between 50-70% off of your monthly grocery bill.
So, just as a general number to go on, I decided to see exactly what my average grocery expenses have been over the last 3 months.
Our Average Grocery Expense Jan-March was $643. So let's assume over the next 12 months I would spend $7,716 if I kept spending at my current rate.
If I could save 50% on my grocery bill that would be a savings of $3,858 in a 12 month period. This would go well above my "save a paycheck" goal!
Since I have started mid-April I won't be able to have an accurate # of what couponing is saving me a month until the end of May. And, I actually expect it to take several months past that to get an accurate savings amount, because being new to this it will take me a long time to learn all the ropes.
Plus, I am not sure how extreme I am willing to go. I think you have to be very flexible on name brands, and you have to be willing to plan your meals around coupons/sales, not cravings to save this type of money. Maybe I am wrong, but I think it has to be all about the savings, not the taste buds.
Another thing, I am a pretty timid personality, and I don't like to do anything to draw attention to myself. Mild couponing has never been embarrassing to me, but causing a line to form behind me at checkout while the cashier takes off $50 worth of coupons....now that is an "embarrassment" hurdle I will have to get past.
Guess we will see if the savings are worth the time and 'embarrassment' as I go.
So, just as a general number to go on, I decided to see exactly what my average grocery expenses have been over the last 3 months.
Our Average Grocery Expense Jan-March was $643. So let's assume over the next 12 months I would spend $7,716 if I kept spending at my current rate.
If I could save 50% on my grocery bill that would be a savings of $3,858 in a 12 month period. This would go well above my "save a paycheck" goal!
Since I have started mid-April I won't be able to have an accurate # of what couponing is saving me a month until the end of May. And, I actually expect it to take several months past that to get an accurate savings amount, because being new to this it will take me a long time to learn all the ropes.
Plus, I am not sure how extreme I am willing to go. I think you have to be very flexible on name brands, and you have to be willing to plan your meals around coupons/sales, not cravings to save this type of money. Maybe I am wrong, but I think it has to be all about the savings, not the taste buds.
Another thing, I am a pretty timid personality, and I don't like to do anything to draw attention to myself. Mild couponing has never been embarrassing to me, but causing a line to form behind me at checkout while the cashier takes off $50 worth of coupons....now that is an "embarrassment" hurdle I will have to get past.
Guess we will see if the savings are worth the time and 'embarrassment' as I go.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
My New Project
Okay, so I am AMAZED by the amount of money I could have been saving the last 6 years of marriage if I would have only given in to the coupon craze!!! In fact, I am ashamed of myself. I always knew I could save money, but I always had a number of excuses for not doing so. Any of these sound familiar?....It's too confusing. I could never concentrate on that while the kids are little. The amount of money it would save would be minimal compared to the time it would take. I would end up spending money on things I would never use, so that isn't really saving.
But, I am starting to realize we could have been saving a boat load of money over the years (on things I would really use) if I would have only tried. And, I am starting to think it might not be that confusing once I get the initial system figured out and the organization down.
So, my new "job" is to SAVE MONEY! I figure I have to have a goal so my goal is to save the equivalent of a paycheck over the next 12 mos. I am a SAHM who doesn't provide a paycheck, so I figure the least I can do is to try to save one.
This blog is dedicated to my journey of learning, and a way to track my progress from saving novice to apprentice...hopefully. :)
But, I am starting to realize we could have been saving a boat load of money over the years (on things I would really use) if I would have only tried. And, I am starting to think it might not be that confusing once I get the initial system figured out and the organization down.
So, my new "job" is to SAVE MONEY! I figure I have to have a goal so my goal is to save the equivalent of a paycheck over the next 12 mos. I am a SAHM who doesn't provide a paycheck, so I figure the least I can do is to try to save one.
This blog is dedicated to my journey of learning, and a way to track my progress from saving novice to apprentice...hopefully. :)
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