I just wanted to take a break from our regularly scheduled programming of super cheap and free stuff to share this shopping trip with you.
There is no super stellar 90% savings – but I am more proud of this trip than most. We needed a few things – soda for football game, some creamer, ice tea and trash bags. It was just a routine pickup at Walmart.
My husband used a coupon on every item, by himself. He saved a total of $9.50. At first glance, it looks like it is nothing to write home about. However, it really is. My husband never uses coupons, so for him to save about 25% of his total bill is amazing. I am very proud of him.
Why am I writing this? Because… its not always about how much you save. Sometimes, it is just about the fact that you saved at all. For you new couponers who are saving $10 here and $10 there, be proud. Be proud that you are making better choices with your hard earned money. Don’t get down that you aren’t saving 90% – because that is hard work – and not everyone can do it all the time.
A penny saved truly is a penny earned. $9.50 will cover the cost of a movie ticket for this weekend – or it could have covered the cost of the items he purchased above.
If you are just starting out and want continued encouragement, I urge you to check out Natalie’s Newbie shopping posts.
I was remembering this post as we were in Target earlier today. We had stopped by to eat and I also wanted the Casting Crowns’ cd. Since I had been craving popcorn, we also bought a couple of boxes. My son asked for Chips Ahoy and since they were on sale, I bought two. Then I remembered I was low on lotion and body wash so I got those too.
I think you’re getting the drift. It was a totally unplanned shopping trip. All in all I paid $37.34. That’s a lot, esp for couponers like us, but I was ok with it. I used $4.50 in coupons. I got back $10 in gc, which I plan to use next week when my son and I eat out again, :)
:) YEP , we have been there and done that.. but think of how much you save on a regular basis :)
Great post! Totally agree! After 3 months of couponing I can say I now save 50% on my weekly grocery bill. This is HUGE for me and my family. I don’t get anything for free normally but this savings is such a great help for us.
I’m a coupon newbie and every time I use coupons and save a few bucks, I walk out with a smile on my face. If it’s 5 or 10 dollars, I’d rather keep it in my pocket than give it to the store.
I do get extra silly when I manage to snag some free stuff. I make sure to make a big deal about it when I get home!
I sent the hubby to Giant Saturday night for peanut butter. “If they have 6, buy all six in one transaction for the gas points, if they have less than 6 in stock, pay in separate transactions so each coupon doubles.”
He loves peanut butter. He hates that the prices on PB are going up. This was GREAT motivation. He came home with all 6 jars, gas points, and a massive grin on his face. He was so proud!
Hope your hubby saved his receipt – don’t forget to submit for the La Creme MIR! :)
he did! Woot! Already in the mail.
Thanks for this post! I’m a newbie to couponing and sometimes, reading these blogs, I don’t feel like I’m doing enough. I did have save $27 off an $80 trip at Target this weekend (with my husband along for the ride) and we both were pretty excited after that. Baby steps :) Thanks for the encouragement!
that is HUGE! You do what you can do and enjoy your $27.
I agree! Not only is it great to save money on any shopping trip no matter the amount or percentage its even more exciting when you get family members or husbands to join in the savings and watch them get excited about it. It’s like a smile, you smile, they smile, and you both have a warm fuzzy feeling inside! :)
I don’t have a massive stockpile were in the military so were always on the move every 2-3 yrs i only buy 2-4 items that i really need every shopping trip i usually saved 50-75% and im happy about it : )
My hubby and I are expecting our first baby next month and he will be the primary caregiver once I go back to work. I’m hoping to impart some of my newly acquired love of couponing on him so that he will be more aware and conscious of the choices he makes at the grocery store and for baby items. When I was about 6 mos pregnant it really began to hit him just how much additional money we are about to start spending as a family, and it made me stop and think about the areas we could begin cutting back on in order to make room in the budget for the new expenses. I’m glad to have found such well organized and helpful sites/blogs like yours to help us!! Thanks FTM!!
I understand the hubby & spending problem. I only ask that he be honest & KNOW what he is spending even if it is too much. When I ask and he won’t tell I feel that our marriage needs counseling…
Great info!! This is what I tell my friends who are just starting. Setting yourself up with great expectations is just setting yourself up for disappointment. Baby steps!!!
It’s also one of the reasons I’m not a fan of the TLC show…it’s unrealistic for people to expect to save 90% on their grocery bill all of the time. And of course you can save that much if you’re using loads of free item coupons…but I digress ;)
Our first shopping trip with coupons (really using coupons – we’ve always used them here and there) was a couple of years ago and we saved $15.00 on a trip to the grocery store. Not massive savings because our bill was still up there. But 15 bucks saved is 15 bucks saved. I think there’s a lot of this “get it for free” stuff going around now and that makes people think that if they don’t get it all for free it’s not a great deal. But it is! Good for your hubby! Mine is hit and miss with Q’s too but he’s always proud of any savings he does. Before I started really couponing he was the one who would save catalinas and use them (I used to let them expire every time.) and he would find coupons and use them too. I’m starting to ramble but wanted to say this is a great post and thank you for putting it on here!
Good for him!
Great info. I was thinking the same thing recently. Thinking its ok if I dont have a massive stockpile.. but I do like knowing that I am saving money for ex:the dinner I made last night was practically free after coupons and that makes me happy. I dont mind so much about not having so much saved for later — I’m making good on what I have now :)