Super Couponing

As many of you know, I have delved into the world of couponing. In fact, I saw a segment on Nightline about a week ago called, "Super Couponing". While I don't think that I have quite arrived at that juncture, I have been using coupons up the wazoo lately, trying to save my family a bundle of money.

And it is working to say the least. I started couponing mid-March, and in two weeks, I bought $442.38 worth of products for just $154.95. Not all of that was using coupons. Some things, like cantaloupe, are just bought because they are on sale at Walmart. And I wouldn't say that regularly, I would buy $442.38 worth of products in just two weeks. But the fact that I have enough Windex to last me a year, nearly 20 boxes of cereal in my pantry, and enough pasta to feed a local football team is a good trade off. Many items, like my Ronzoni pasta, I actually got paid to purchase, due to a sale, a manufacturer coupon and a store doubler coupon. Not bad. I like free.

So, here is a picture of my last shopping trip, which did include regular shopping at stores like Walmart and the Grocery Outlet, where I didn't use coupons:

 

And here, a picture of Baye with the really nice photo book that I scored for free online (paid just $8.99 for shipping and it was done and delivered in 3 days).

 

All in all, on this trip, I spent $74.63 and purchased $206.29 worth of products. I got a sweet deal on the diapers and cereal and the pasta was free.

Now, there is a trade off. I dream in coupons. Seriously. I think about couponing all day long, and when I finally get to bed, I dream about it there too. I am going through ink on my printer faster than ever before, printing online manufacturer coupons. I only want to buy something if I have a coupon for it. Tonight, I used the last of our wheat bread. We are almost out of peanut butter and dish soap. But since I don't have a coupon, I don't want to buy these items anywhere that I have to pay full price. This is not necessarily a good thing. I don't HAVE to drive to Redmond just because there is a good deal, though I am planning on going tomorrow because there is a REALLY GOOD DEAL...and who doesn't need a year's worth of shampoo, conditioner, and vitamins for merely $8.00? (That's at Walgreens, by the way) Plus, I need to learn the ropes of Walgreens, and have my couponing friends willing to go with me to show me how to do it right. It is a science, you know...

Couponing is addicting, and I need to make sure that I come up with a way to have some balance with it.