My Walmart/Family Dollar trip this week.

I was able to save over $70.00 on this trip.  The cans of Similac, the covergirl products, the Taco Bell seasoning, Duck packing tape, the floss, and most of the Nabisco cookie cups were FREE. With the overage from some of these items I was able to buy a new pack of pacifiers for my little girl and a new book for my son.  NOT pictured here are the perishables that had to be put away immediately, like frozen veggies and milk.  My total purchase was over $150.00.  In the picture, these items only, had a retail of $109.05, my OOP (out of pocket) was $39.87. 

Here is a mini-breakdown of my trip:

Nabisco to-go cups $1.00

used $2.00/3 Nabisco particpating brands.  Essentially it was Buy ONE get TWO free. :)

Final Price: $0.33 each.

White Cloud Toilet Paper $3.98

used $2.00/1 printable coupon.  Final price: $1.98 (I <3 cheap tp)

Kraft Mayo (2) $3.42

used BOGO printable.  Final price: $1.76 each

Similac condensed cans (5) $4.97

used (5) $5.00/1 Similac infant formula checks.  Final Price: +$0.03 MM! (money maker)

Cortaid (2) reg $4.87 on sale $4.00 ea
used $3/1 Cortaid product.  Final price: $1.00 each

Taco Bell taco seasoning packet $0.64
used $0.75/1 taco Bell productprintable Final price: +$0.11 MM!

Duck Brand Packing Tape $1.00
used $1.00/1 Any Duck brand packing tape printable (no longer available)
Final Price: FREE

Cover Girl Queen Collection (4) (tweezers and nail clippers) $1.00 ea
used (4) $1.00/1 Covergirl product
Final Price: FREE

You get the point. :D
So do you still have questions about why I do this? I hope not.  Do you have questions about how YOU can do this? I will GLADLY help out in any way I can.  I have a new Couponing Class on February 18, 2012 at 11:00 am at the Fellowship Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.  Yes, it IS a little out of the way, but this class is totally free, no cover charge or seat charge, it is strictly an outreach project and requires no fee to attend.  If you want to attend please email me at amber_laddie2@hughes.net so I can reserve your seat.  If you aren't in my area, and have questions you think I can answer, please feel free to comment on my blog or visit Coupon Gems on facebook.  I share that page with a wonderful friend who has been couponing much longer than I.
Happy Couponing Ya'll!

This is an example of the kind of couponing I have done.  This pic is only half of a Target trip I made late last year in which I saved over $100!  I m continuing to coupon and have classes starting soon!

Many times as I have been out shopping, binder in tow, I get strange looks from employees and other shoppers.  I've heard whispers about "look there's ONE" and in general many people don't understand why I do it.  YES, it takes time and YES, it takes planning!  If you want to seriously save some money, you have to SERIOUSLY put in the time to do it.  The number one question I have heard is: "Where do you get the coupons?" This question kind of shocks me.  Our society these days is so foreward thinking that we have forgotten that there are savings tucked away inside the Sunday paper!  Almost all of my coupons come from Sunday coupon inserts, of which I DO buy in multiples, and usually no more than 4 papers each week (let's don't be too greedy now).  There are also, many resources online in which you can apply for and even print coupons from your printer.  This is OLD NEWS to some of our more seasoned couponers, but this info really isn't supposed to be beneficial for you, it's to help all those struggling newbies out there.  The ones I see in the supermarket comparing prices on brands and shelling out big money for things everyone NEEDS.  True, not every trip can you walk away having spent nothing, but if you can save $1.00 on every $10 you spend how much would you have saved on ONE TRIP?  I know I used to go to Walmart at least once a week and spend hundreds of dollars a month in that store alone.  Now with coupons and careful planning I can walk out of a store having saved at least 30%, and there have been a few times where I have walked out with a cart full and a few more dollars in my pocket than I walked in with.  (Those kinds of trips take a lot more planning).  My opinion is: "If you can save ANYTHING, you've accomplished SOMETHING"

Don't be fooled by that silly show, remember that TV is for entertainment first, shock value second, and information is last on the list.
HAPPY COUPONING

Stay tuned....

I'm a new blogger so bear with me.  I will be here to share coupon deals and general coupon help.  So stay tuned....