Summer 2010/Winter 2011
Isn't it amazing what a few months can do?
In February I focused a lot on the 'saving more money' resolution. The library's budget is on the chopping block this July and there's nothing like the threat of losing more hours, or your job, to make you open your eyes and get yourself on the right financial track. How much further ahead could we all be, in any aspect of life, if we'd only stay on track no matter how good things are going in life?
I did a lot of the standard unplugging things that are only occasionally being used. For example, I brew one pot of coffee in the morning so why does it have to stay plugged in the rest of the 23 hours, 54 minutes of the day? I also turned the thermostat down from its comfy 72 degrees to 70. I then even braved turning it down to 68 degrees one day too! But the hubby got chilly and cranked it back up three degrees. I wasn't complaining!
However there are only so many of those kind of changes you can make, and truthfully, you don't see dramatic savings either. (except for our electric bill after taking down all our Christmas lights. A $50 savings in one month alone!! In case you weren't aware, we're kinda Christmas freaks with lights covering almost every inch of wall space available) But the one expense that we all have, that we have complete control over how much we pay, that we can see mega savings by spending a mere 15 minutes of planning is our grocery bills. That's right, I've rediscovered couponing.
Throughout our marriage I've gone through phases of using coupons. But back in the day when we were both working full time, didn't have kids and our house payment was only $357 a month, we were "made of money" so why did we need to use coupons? How much can you really save? I mean really? Fast forward a few years to a larger house, part time hours and two kids later, the desire and need for couponing takes on a whole new meaning. And I'm very proud to say that in my first month back at it I scored some serious deals. Its such a thrill, a rush, a motivation to see your savings add up and up and soon you find yourself snickering at the lady in front of you just paid full price for her item when you just bought it last week for a fraction of the cost. Then out of nowhere you notice you start getting mad at yourself for thinking you just bought something on a good deal and used a coupon only to discover it went on a better sale at another store and if you would have just waited and used the coupon now it would have been an even better score and... Couponing, although fun, can really bring out the aggressive competitiveness you never knew you had.
This month I did all my shopping at Walmart. Yup, thats right, I scored all these deals right here in my own hometown. Saved money on gas already. All I did was snag the grocery ads from the Toledo paper and price matched them at Walmart. It was that easy. This month I purchased:
4 - Excedrin Migraines
3 - Colgate Toothpastes
2 - 120 count Gain fabric softener sheets
Excedrin Migraine is a brand that's preferred in this household. And it just so happened that when I was at the doctors office last month, I noticed a stack of $2.00 off Excedrin Migraine coupons. Knowing that at some point this next year (experation dates was 12/31/11), I helped myself to four of them. It just so happened that a few weeks later Rite Aid had Excedrin Migraine on sale for $1.99 a box!! $1.99 minus my $2.00 coupon equals free. Yes, F-R-E-E migraine pills. Had I paid full price for them, I would have had to fork over $14.08 ($3.52 each) for four boxes. Just by price matching alone I would have saved over $1.50 per box. Thats a six dollar savings for just flipping through a few ads while on my lunch break. Then subtract my awesomely scored coupons and they were free. Free, free, free!!!
When it comes to toothpaste I'm normally a Crest girl. No real reason for it. Its what my dad always bought so its what I used. But on that same lunch break I happened to notice that Kroger had Colgate on sale for 98 cents a tube. I didn't put much thought into it until I found a 75 cent and two 50 cent off Colgate coupons from the same sunday paper. If I would have paid full price, I would have spent, $5.19 ($1.73 each) for the three tubes but by price matching them down to 98 cents each, it came to a total of $2.94. Subtract my three coupons and I only paid $1.19. That's only 40 cents per tube of toothpaste. And for that price, I'll bend on what brand I use. Wouldn't you? And you know what? My teeth haven't noticed that I switched toothpastes!!
Ah, fabric softener. A necessity for doing laundry, but as far as I can tell, they all work the same. So for me, fabric softener is more about smell and price than brand. I'll buy any brand as long as it smells good and doesn't cost too much. Well imagine my elated couponing happiness when I noticed that Rite Aid (they really have some awesome sales) had 120 count Gain fabric softener on sale for $3.99 the same week that there was a $3.00 off one Gain product coupon in the paper!! You better believe I drove my little butt over to my mom's house and stole her coupon too! I price matched 2 boxes of Gain down from $4.28 to the $3.99 and used my coupons. Meaning I paid $1.98 for 240 sheets of fabric softener. Awesome!
Had I paid full price for the 4 Excedrin, 2 Gains, and 3 Colgates, I would have paid a whopping $27.98. And considering what was bought (medicines, fabric softeners, toothpastes), that doesn't seem like such an outrageous price. But by taking 10 minutes on my break to flip through a few ads I was able to price match items I needed or would need down to $18.88, a near ten dollar savings alone! Then by taking a few extra minutes to flip through and clip a few coupons, I only paid $3.17!!!
So to anyone who does not believe couponing is worth it, look at the numbers. I saved $24.81 for roughly 15 minutes worth of work. I think only doctors make that kind of money! And if you still don't think its worth it, then I have a proposition for you. Give me a list of products you use. I'll search the ads, clips the coupons and go to the store for you. And as payment, I keep the savings. Your wallet would never know the difference anyways, right?
