Couponing Update - February

Here's what I got free this month:

• 3 boxes Market Pantry (Target brand) macaroni and cheese
• 1 dozen large eggs 
•  9 cans of Hunt's tomatoes
• 3 bags of Halls cough drops

One week in February, I was sick for about a week and lived on the couch. I had made my shopping list out and cut the coupons, so instead of my hard work going to waste, J suggested that he go shopping for me. He did a great job and only splurged a little. :) 

With all my shopping trips combined this month,

I saved a little under $250  

which averaged about 63% savings!

A Steal of a Deal #5

I feel awful. I have this sinus funk that's been going around. I've been on the couch most of the day but part of me wanted to feel normal, so we ventured out for dinner and a quick run to Target. Despite how I felt, it was well worth it!

Here's the breakdown:

• Mentos Up2U gum, $1.29 - $1 coupon for each pack = $0.29 for each pack, $1.16 for all 4
• Lip Gloss $2.99 - $2 coupon = $0.99
• Lip Stick $2.77 - $2 coupon = $0.77
• Activia Yogurt $2.19 - $1 coupon for each pack - $2/2 Target coupon = $0.38 for both
• WishBone Dressing $1.89 - $0.70 coupon for each bottle - $1.50 Target coupon = $0.88 for both
• Alexia frozen potatoes $3.09 - $1 coupon for each pack - 1.25 Target coupon for each pack = $0.84 per package, $1.68 for both

Total: $7.44, saved $20.45 or 73%

Couponing Update - January

I'm trying to be more diligent in posting, especially with my couponing. However, once I spend several hours shopping, the last thing I want to do is take pictures of it all or stop and blog about all the intricate details. However, I am keeping track through an Excel spreadsheet of my savings on each trip. I figure it's not too much trouble to post about it at the end of every month.

Here's what I got free this month:

• 5 boxes Kleenex tissues (90 tissues per box)
• 4 boxes Jolly Time popcorn (4 bags in each box)
• 3 boxes Market Pantry (Target brand) macaroni and cheese
• 2 packages Kikkoman Stir Fry seasoning mix 

With all my shopping trips combined this month,

I saved over $250  

which averaged about 59% savings!

A Steal of a Deal #3

Today's success came at Target when Target paid me to take 8 items out of the store.

Here's the breakdown:

• Mentos gum $1.29 - 2 $1 off coupons, bought 2, paid $0.48 for both.
• Minute Maid juice boxes for mornings when I'm on the run $2.99 - $2 off coupon, paid $0.98.
• Planters Peanut Butter $1.99 - $0.75 off Target coupon, paid $1.24.
• Cover Girl blush $3.74 - 4 $8/2 coupons, earned $0.52 for each 2 I bought for $2.08 credit.

Subtotal: $0.68
Tax: $2.93
Total Out Of Pocket: $3.61
Total Savings this trip: $36.80 or 91%

Now I know your next question is what are you going to do with all that blush...I will probably keep 2 of them and give the rest away in goody bags or to a local shelter.

A Steal of a Deal

I've been couponing for about 16 months now. I dabbled in the art of couponing our last few months in New Orleans and when we moved to Huntsville, I really picked it up. When we moved to Huntsville, we hadn't worked in approximately six weeks and money was tight, so I didn't really have a choice as to whether to save money. While we both have good jobs in Huntsville, I continue to coupon because I enjoy it and if I didn't, I'm afraid Dave Ramsey would yell at me and tell me that this is one more way that I can help us get out of debt. When I tallied our receipts from last year, I saved $4000 last year in coupons, so I would say it's worth it for the Wilkerson household. 

I'm not extreme like those on the TLC show Extreme Couponing, but I do have a stockpile of goods but it consists of our hallway closet. And if you were to see me out shopping, I may or may not have my couponing notebook with me and if you were to look in my cart you would worry about our diet because none of the ingredients usually go together. The point of couponing is to buy items at the lowest price and buy enough of it to last until the next time it goes on sale (between 6 weeks and 2 months).

I usually shop on Fridays. I don't work on Fridays and the crowds are significantly less with everyone at work. However, in the summer, the crowds are a bit bigger and my summer schedule does not always allow me to do such on any given Friday. Tomorrow, we're headed to Atlanta, so I went shopping tonight...in the middle of a summer thunderstorm. Needless to say, I was drenched several times, but I saved lots of money and that makes everything worth it. 

I went to Publix and here's what I got:

I spent $6.80 and saved $16.36 or 71%.

Remember, I said you buy things at their lowest price and buy enough to last until the next time it goes on sale. Hershey's syrup goes on sale a little less often than other goods, so I bought four bottles just in case. Here's the breakdown:

• 4 Hershey's Chocolate Syrup, BOGO for $1.10 each and then had $1/2 manufacturer's coupon = $2.40 for 4
• 3 Chex Mix, BOGO for $1.30 each and had $0.50 manufacturer's coupon that doubled to $1 = $0.30 per bag, $0.90 for all 3 bags
• Eckrich Sausage for jambalaya (after all, we did live in New Orleans for many years), on sale for $2, had $0.55 manufacturer's coupon = $1.45
• Colgate toothbrush, on sale for $4/2 (not a great price, but it was time for new toothbrushes in the Wilkerson household - no we don't share, I already had another one in the stockpile) with a $0.40 manufacturer's coupon that doubled to $0.80 = $1.20

$5.92 + $0.88 tax = $6.80 TOTAL

I went to SuperTarget and used a lot of Target coupons printed from their website. Here's what I got:

I spent $8.77 and saved $25.85 or 75%.

Here's the breakdown:

• Sugar (not on sale but we needed it, we live in the South and sweet tea is a requirement) $3.09
• Up & Up Face Wash $2.10 - $0.75 Target coupon = $1.35
• Up and Up Nail Polish Remover $0.97 - $0.50 Target coupon = $0.47
• Pillows (standard, no frills) $2.50 - $2 Target coupons = $0.50, bought 2, $1.00
• Up and Up Liners $0.87 - $0.75 Target coupon = $0.12
• Benadryl Itch Sticks $2.29 - $2 manufacturer's coupon = $0.29, bought 2, $0.58
• Sharpie markers, 2 pack for $1 - $1 Target coupon = FREE, used 4 coupons, 8 total markers for FREE
• Papermate pens 10 pack for $1.02 - $1 Target coupon = $0.02, used 4 coupons, $0.08 for 40 pens
• Aussie hairspray $4.54 - $1 off 2 Target coupon - $3 manufacturer's coupon = $0.54 for 2 bottles

$7.60 + $1.17 tax = $8.77


Each time I go shopping, my goal is to save 70% so I met my goal on both accounts. I used to clip coupons with my Papa when I was much younger. I think he wanted me to practice my scissor skills, but it also is a chore doing all that cutting...in the end it's definitely worth it and he would be so proud of my efforts!