Saturday, August 6, 2011

Extreme Couponing

My Coupon Book
Organized in sections like the isles on the store
Zoey loves to help with the coupons and deal hunting
I left the table for just a moment, when I came back this is what I saw. She climbed up and started looking at deals and playing with coupons, just like mommy!
This is one week of grocery shopping deals with coupons
I spent 70.00 and got:
4 gallons of milk
2 pounds bananas
6 1bs of pork ribs
2 pks of yoplait smoothies blends
2 6pks of danimals drinks
3 lbs plums
1 pk of top ramen
1 hillshire farms polish sausage
1 miracle whip
1 large bag of cereal
1 bottle of Kraft BBQ sauce
4 loaves of Grandma Sycamores bread
1 pk Oscar Mayer turkey deli meat
2 tubes colgate toothpaste
2 bottles of multi surface Windex
2 bottles of active scrub Scrubbing Bubbles
2 lbs of Roma tomatoes
1 pk of 30 eggs
1 pk of Hamburger Helper
2 pks of UP2U gum
1 pk Carefree panty liners
1 pk of butter
2 lbs of Grapes
1 Romaine lettuce
2 96 oz bottles of Juice
In this Particular Week with Coupons and watching deals I saved 16.59!
I go to Wal-mart with my deals from other stores and price match. I only use coupons when something is on sale and get the item for 30-60% off! In the month of July I saved $57.00
In the first week of August I have already Saved $23.00.
Nick and I used to laugh at this method because we knew how cheap Costco can be, but we found some tips and now we are sold. I love to see how much money I can save each week.
Each week varies from week to week. The worst savings I have had in one week was 6.95 and the most I have saved in one week is 23.00. Like most Families we are on a tight budget with trying to stay completely out of debt and also pay bills while raising a family. Because of that we only give ourselves 70.00 a week for food or cleaning supplies. That may seem like a lot, but after you get a few items there isn't a lot left over for toiletries or unexpected week to week items.
I can buy 7 nights worth of diners, plus all of my cleaning supplies, lunch food, snacks when we got out on weekends and still have extra to buy Popsicles for a hot day. I was NEVER able to buy as much as I can now, in fact I even get a few items for free!
There are a few people I have talked who also agree in price matching but don't care as much for the coupons, that they are not things they would but often for there family. That's what I said only because I thought even with a small deal I couldn't afford it. I am sorry to say but that is not true. I have seen coupons for everything from condoms/KY jelly to potato chips and pens. This week I got 4 10 pks of BIC pens for Free with a deal and coupons. Everyone uses pens. Or if you are still not convinced, I get two papers so I had two coupons for a $1 off tide, the first week of August the 2x 50 oz tide was on sale for 4.99 (reg. 7.57) I used my dollar off coupons and of each tide for 3.99! That is a great deal!
Every one has there own way of cutting back and trying to save money for their family. Along with a few others tips this is one I have found to help us on a very large scale.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Cloth Diapers and Cloth Wipes



She does great in the cloth diapers!

Over a month ago I decided we needed to switch to cloth diapers.
I initially wanted to make the switch because we only spend 70.00 each week at the grocery store, and when you buy diapers you take a HUGE cut over other items.
I spend 84.00 to get my supplies and started, and all of the supplies will last from 8-36 with all of our kids! I did the math and in the one year bought diapers for Zoey we spent over $420.00 on diapers and wipes. $84 vs $420 seems like a no brainer to me to switch, but I understand when others say they can't wash all of those messy diapers. Yes, it can be hard if you do it the cheapest way like I do (soak, soak, and more soaking followed by minor scrubbing) but I have to admit now that we are fully switched I don't care how bad her diaper is I know I am saving Hundreds by just washing it my self. I figure Zoey has spit up, thrown up, pooped, peed on me so many times I might as well clean all of it up and save my family tons of money.
I am not trying to suede any one to cloth diapers but tell that they are not as bad as they were once (cloth diapers have changed and come along way since your mom used them).
I took the prices down at Costco (typically the cheapest for quality in bulk) and this the tally..
Huggies Kirkland
Size Quantity Price Quantity Price
1 -- -- 216 29.99
2 258 39.59 216 29.99
3 228 39.59 212 37.99
4 200 39.59 186 37.99
5 176 39.99 108 37.99
6 144 39.99 135 37.99
I hope this information was of value to you. This switch to cloth diapers and wipes has been a very real benefit to us, and Zoey does so great with cloth diapers. I can see more advantages that just cost such as children tend to potty train earlier and on their own!!!