My life is full of children, family, home, land, bees, work, love, laughter and everyday life.
My Monthly Calendar. Because my life is too crazy to keep track of without it.
My husbands iphone. It's applications are really useful and easy to get too!
Our Quicken finance software. Because it's nice to remember that you actually had money before paying the bills.
Coupon ads. They are the best way to save at the grocery store and finding them is like a scavenger hunt.
DVR. Because even a homemaker needs a break when the kids are asleep.
Do you plan a menu and only buy what is needed for that week? That is one way we save a ton! Also Aldi is my friend!
We do plan a weekly menu as a family on Sunday. I typically purchase groceries around what we plan, however, I have found that you can “purchase” several items with no cost using coupons while at the grocery store…So I deviate a little.
I hardly ever use coupons. We do use tons of organics and they never seem to have coupons for them. My husband says I am hugging the tree a little too tight lately.
I am encouraged by this post! I am not a coupon clipper, but I need to start. We are getting ready to being Financial Peace and to be honest, I am scared to death. But something’s gotta change, ya know? Thanks for the great post! A binder is a great idea.
That is pure genius! I bet your binder is the envy of every other shopper at the grocery store!
Love the way you keep your coupons. I may just have to do that too. Thanks!
I am definitely a coupon clipper but I’m still in the old coupon file holder and it’s a PITA! I like your binder idea. I feel like it would need to have 500 pages in it though!
I have been hardcore couponing for 1 1/2 years now and it’s amazing how much money I have saved and I have a nice stockpile of items. For a solid year I only paid tax on toilet paper and could not even imagine paying full price. I have a 3 ring binder system like yours and I have the mini accordian file that I take to the store with me with the coupons I’m going to use. I was always trying to figure out ways to make more money to pay off debt and to save but then I starting thinking how could I save us money. I went grocery shopping last week and bought $153 worth of groceries and only spent $52. It’s such a rush. Give me a holler if you need any advice, tips, etc. I love sharing.
I’m inspired by your couponing success and system. I get lazy about clipping them (for shame, I know!) I need to pull out my scissors and get committed to clipping…
I’m so impressed! It has been on the forefront of my mind that I need to get in the habit of this, but I’ve been dragging my feet. You’ve inspired me though!
I like that you have them organized by aisle. That’s a great idea. Sometimes we buy organics, but even then, sometimes I get coupons for organic cereal or canned goods. Plus, once in awhile I get a coupon for $4 off a $20 produce purchase, so that helps!
I love my coupon binder…which coupon sites do you like to look at for your deal match ups?
I wax and wane on couponing – I’m very tempted to try the binder organized by aisle idea though. That would be helpful, I think.
We are at about 60% organic at this point, and except for the occasional kid requested blue box of mac and cheese, or cereal they buy themselves, we’re almost completely off prepared foods. Our grocery store offers their own buy this get that coupons and regularly include some of the store brand organics, so that helps considerably.
One thing I’ll say about opting for quality is that we’ve found we don’t need as much quantity. A frass-fed locally raised/butchered chuck roast cooked down minimally, as opposed to losing/cooking off nearly half of those we were buying from the chain grocery. Farm eggs taste better and are more satisfying. In general, we lose less to waste because it tastes better and we eat less because it’s more flavorful, fewer fillers and dress-ups are required. Fruits and veggies, meh, unless we get them from the farmer’s market. Organic and imported from Canada to Texas does not a fresh tomato make.
Every family is different, and I SO admire those who can get $497 worth of groceries for free and the grocery store pays them $22 besides. I try my best to copy those mad skilz for stockpiling non-perishibles, and we plan menus for a month, generally, and get more specific when we see what’s on sale and what’s shakin’ at the Grocery Game.
Very interesting post thank you for sharing I just added your blog to my bookmarks and will be back
By the way this is off subject but I really like your web page layout.
I am super obsessed with coupons and debt right now too. It’s driving my husband crazy, and I think some of my fans have stopped reading my blog because that’s all I talk about anymore (I am trying to get away from that, and back to different stuff).
I love the baseball card page idea. I have been trying to find pages for my clipped coupons. I’m using the grocery game, and they say not to clip coupons, and not to take all of them to the store, but I seem to have missed out on some really good deals by doing this. So, I think I will go back to clipping and keep my list too. Thanks for the motivation.