[Thriving Despite Us] Peace Out Coupon Scout

[Kate]

I have been amazed at the questions my last post brought up about couponing. I just began to seriously coupon about 6 months ago. I have watched Extreme Couponing and there is no way I have the time, energy or patience to coupon the way those people do. While I am more than impressed with anyone who can get $1200 worth of groceries for $.50 cents, I do question their sanity. Those folks spend 12 hours in the grocery store to do that and they need another 20-30 hours to prepare for that shopping trip. I have a job, kids, a house to clean and a husband who expects at least a little attention. There is just no way I have that kind of time. Plus I don’t know a newspaper delivery person who will deliver 250 Sunday papers to me each week-end for free. 
So, I have to settle for a kinder and simpler approach. Here’s what I do (and just so you know I manage to save at least 50% on each shopping trip). I buy 5 Sunday papers each week (my couponing hero Elizabeth buys 6 – the number is really up to you). I organize the coupons from each paper by date in an accordion file. Then I go to SouthernSavers.com and couponmom.com and I see what these ladies have listed as the great deals for the week. Why should I recreate the wheel? These websites will set forth all the deals and will make special note of the freebies and super good deals. The entire process of organizing and looking through the papers to collect my coupons probably takes me 1-2 hours per week.
I live in GA so I head to Kroger on Mondays because their sales start on Sundays and Publix on Thursdays because that is when their new sales start and Thursday is the penny item day at Publix…at least here in GA…and I LOVE penny item day. Who doesn't love a box of hot chocolate for $.01? The websites I linked to above also show the great deals and many other stores including CVS and Walgreens. I avoid CVS and Walgreens like the plague because they do all of those rebate dollar things and it just confuses me. I am not the sharpest tool in the shed. I manage to save about 50% weekly at Kroger and Publix and that is good enough for me.
Often I see things I can get for free or close to free with my handy dandy coupons…but sometimes they are not things that I want or need…things like baby food (so glad I am done with those days) or poligrip (so glad I don’t need that yet). Sometimes, there are things for free that I already have so much my husband will call Hoarders for an intervention if I bring any more home- Always Pads and toothpaste for example-they can be found for free almost Always. (sorry, couldn’t help it)
My good friend, Klare, a fellow couponer had a brilliant idea…why not get those things for free, since they are well….free…and donate them to our local food pantry. I love this idea. It allows me to humor my inner bargain hunter and help others all at the same time. Just doesn’t get much better than that.
I just add the freebies or super good deals to my list each week, even if they are not things my family uses. Then I put them in a bag until it gets full. Once the bag is full it goes to the food bank….See it’s easy peasy.
To be completely honest, I don't coupon entirely to save money or to be a good person and donate things. Couponing has become a game…I have a competition with my neighbor and coupon hero Elizabeth to see who can save the most at the grocery store each week. Elizabeth usually kicks my butt but each week I keep on trying...what is the first sign of insanity?
Fortunately for me Elizabeth is competitive but still very generous :) Look at this cool gift Elizabeth gave me today. I LOVE IT!

What do you think? Wanna be a Coupon Scout and Coupon for Charity too?








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Posted By Kate to Thriving Despite Us at 12/07/2012 06:46:00 PM