I'm all in!

Okay, when people post about couponing, I click "mark as read" and go on to my next blog in google reader! BUT since I started staying at home, we put our main expenditures (groceries, eating out/entertainment, and clothes) on the envelope budget. I love it and take our money out weekly so it's worked pretty well except for groceries -- we include diapers, shampoo, makeup, etc. in with that envelope and that one is always tight! So since this week's envelope had to last till next Wed (end of March), I decided no time like the present to figure out couponing.

I have an out of town friend doing Southern Savers and swearing by it. I could not understand how it could be cheaper than WM/Sam's. After buying four items at Kroger today for $0.88...now I do! My groceries today averaged about $1 an item from Shout to cereal to organic milk! With a little effort, I am SHOCKED at how much I can save, and I'm totally hooked.

See Exhibit A: The Coupon Binder

I promise to not post about this ALL the time, but I may do my big deasl find of the week! Like Connect Four for free! Go HERE for one coupon from Hasbro and HERE for the coupon from Target for Hasbro games -- use both and just pay sales tax!! Till 3/27 while Connect Four is $7 at Target. And don't judge me if your child receives a Connect Four game from us one day! :) Stash one to use for giving trees at Chrismtas!

At Kroger we got 6 Pillsbury items and I had coupons for all of them -- some HERE, then the cash register spit out a $4 off your next visit at Kroger for getting those 6 Pillsbury items. Immediately, I bought two boxes of butter and two bottles of coffee creamer for $0.88 total -- the guy behind me asked me to call his wife and fill her in! :) Other big Kroger deal this week was 8oz blocks of Kraft cheese for $0.99 this week (these freeze!), or $0.50 if your Kroger still has $1 off 2 coupons in the machine next to them.

Then at Winn Dixie, Windex is $2.50 this week, I had a coupon for $1 off HERE, then if you buy 4 SC Johnson products you instantly got $2 off (ex: Windex, Shout, Ziploc), then I filled out this SC Johnson $5 rebate form, and I will MAKE MONEY. Okay, some effort but still!!! Did the same thing with Shout and Ziploc bags to get my 4 items twice.

There is a little bit of embarrassment paying two (or three) times, but we (yes WE -- me and both kiddos -- it's an outing!) go early in the morning and no one cares. I now have coupon friend cashiers at Kroger and WD. :) We checked out 3 times in CVS buying Pamper's the other day. I am amazed at how much super cheap stuff she gets CVSing! I even filled out THIS and sent in Pamper's receipts to get a $100 coupon booklet -- I'm pretty sure everyone reading has a receipt or two that totals $50 in Pamper's or one of their brands!

I love how Southern Savers has the lists/work done for you -- you just check the boxes for what you want and print/find your corresponding coupons. Her Buy Price List is amazing to see what her goal prices are for things. So between printing a few coupons and keeping the newspaper inserts, it's really saving a lot of money that we can spend on something a lot more fun than Windex!! And I'm trying to only stockpile items I normally use...though Kirkley will be trying Vanilla Almond Milk this week! :)

I know you Publix people get your groceries for free...ours opens soon! Go HERE for free bowling for your kids all summer -- a fun way to beat the heat!

What's your favorite money-saving tip??