Money Saving, Coupon Crazed Moms Club

I have to admit, when I first heard about all this couponing and people saving 50% or more on their bills, I was quite skeptical.  I grew up in a house that never did the couponing thing, until my stepdad came along.  He was cheap  err I mean frugal and kept  a coupon box and clipped religiously on Sundays. If we didn't have a coupon we pretty much didn't buy it etc.  I am sure we saved money, but being military we did 90% of our shopping at the commissary where they do take coupons but unheard of for doubling, stacking or taking competitor coupons.  So you see I did not know of this elite club of couponers who were stacking coupons, using coupons that double, trading online etc until the last year. Even then I was to chicken to look into it, I mean really could I save 50% on my bill?

I wasn't to optimistic about any of this until the last few months, when moms in my group started posting all these deals they were getting, free things (not samples) and how much t hey had saved on groceries. I became intrigued, a member does a couponing 101 class and I was able to get some one on one time with her.  She taught me about SouthernSavers. I had looked at this website before but did not understand the lingo and was thoroughly confused. I was a newbie and did not know what RP or SS meant along with the other mile long list of acronyms. I listened and ingested what she said and decided to give it a try.

The first couple of weeks, I collected Sunday papers with coupons, read on SouthernSavers, tried to make a list etc.  I was still very overwhelmed, so I started off small, looking only at the Bogo sales at Publix and using coupons for those items. I began to save money but still not enough that I felt like I got it. I did not have enough coupons or the best deal, I was only getting 1 paper on Sunday and that just isn't enough. Now I buy at minimum 2 papers on Sunday, recently purchased a copy of All You magazine (has TONS of coupons) and am watching for good internet printables.

So all in all I have learned it takes some time to get to the point where you feel you know what you are doing and start seeing the actual savings.  My last trip to Publix I spent $300 but I saved $100 in sales & coupons, so I saved 25% on my bill. Not great, but it's a start.  I also went to CVS (that's another way to save) and bought 3 packs of diapers, 2 bottles of body-wash, and a tube of toothpaste for $27.52.  I saved $31, so a savings of over 50%! Plus I have some ECB's to use towards my next purchase.

So yes I admit it, I am a member of the Money Saving, Coupon Crazed Moms Club and proud of it.  Are you?