this weeks grocery trip

This week I saved 50% of my bill at Kroger (thanks coupons!) People laugh at me, but then ask me how I do it. I am not even that good at it...yet!

This week I bought 4 newspapers (I buy them on Saturdays at my local Kroger). I cut the coupons on products I want/need and then do some online research for the best match ups. This weekend I went to Publix and Kroger.

Publix trip -

I didn't find to much at Publix this weekend, but here is what I found. They had Wacky Mac for sale for a dollar and I had coupons to get them for 50 cents each. They only had two bags left. I also had a manufacture and publix coupon (each a dollar off) the Kraft Big Slice cheese so I got that pack of cheese for a dollar! I would of left the store paying $2, but saw the black and white cookies (my stepdads favorite) so I had to get them for him for Fathers Day. 

My Kroger trip - 

I had a much better time at Kroger this weekend. The main reason I went (well besides it being my store of choice) was the 69 cent Powerades, plus I saw a coupon online that made it about 20 cents each so I bought 15 (Michael and I both play softball so it will be consumed). Just about everything I bought was with coupons. Here is the breakdown - 

Powerades - 15 at about 20 cents each. 

Peaches - $1 a pound 

Cup of noodles - on sale for 29 cents each (such an easy snack/lunch so why not!)

Frozen veggies - on sale for a dollar a piece, we needed some more veggies (wish I had a coupon!)

Pita bread - one sale for a dollar

Carefree pantyliners - I had a $1 off coupon and they were onsale for $1.09 - paid only .09 a piece!

Air freshener cones - (I actually like these!) plus they are always cheap and I had a buy two get one free coupon (they were on sale for a dollar a piece)

Speed Stick deodorant - on sale for a dollar a piece, found a dollar off coupon = free! Bought a couple for my brother and stepdad

Hair products - my Kroger had Garnier, Herbal Essences, and Aussie products onsale for about 2.50 a piece. I had a bunch of coupons for dollar off so I bought a couple things. You can never have enough shampoo/hair products! Plus $1.50 isnt too bad. 

Viola dinner - My Kroger had it on sale and had sent me a $1 off coupon. 

I spent $31 at Kroger this weekend and it will last Michael and I about 2 weeks. I may have to make a trip for some chicken though...

I LOVE couponing! I recommend checking out Southern Savers - thats my favorite go to for couponing! 

beginning extreme couponing

I have begun to dabble in extreme couponing. I have always couponed, but never knew how to really use them to get great deals. Yes, the show Extreme Couponing on TLC did help open my eyes, but it also brought me to search the world of blogs and websites for couponing. Plus, another lady in my office does it as well so we share coupons :) I also ran into a lady at Cracker Barrel this weekend who gave me some pointers. She has been doing it for years!

I know what you are thinking - those people are crazy hoarders! But I am not a hoarder and well Michael would kill me if I did. But there is no reason not to stock up on stuff while they are cheap (like toilet paper, deodorant, soap, etc). Why not...you are going to use it eventually! 

I only buy stuff we need and/or will eat. Here is how I coupon - I buy about 4 papers every Saturday. If you wait till Sunday afternoon around me all papers are gone! I check a few websites periodically during the week - Southernsavers.com is my favorite. Really easy to read and navigate. I look at the local ads, add my Kroger coupons and see where the best deals are. Yesterday I did most of my shopping at Ingles. Spent overall about $40, saved almost $30. My goal is to save about half of my bill. I usually take Michael with me to do the math and keep track of where I am. He is really into it and encourages me (hell anything to save us money!) 

I will start posting about great deals I find. In yesterdays trip I was able to get free Nesquik (needed it for a cake) it was on sale for $1 and I had a dollar off coupon so it was free! and cheap laundry detergent. Michael is picky and prefers Purex (which is never cheap), but was on sale yesterday (2 for $5) and I had a coupon, $1 off one. So I was able to get them at $1.50 each (I only picked up 4). I went to Kroger and became subject to someone who cleaned the shelf of the free pasta! Jerk! Luckily there was still some pasta left, only fetticini, so I got 3 boxes of free fettinci. The pasta was on sale for $1 a piece and I had a $1 off coupon. And apparently so did everyone else. I still have some .50 off one coupons for that type of pasta so I will go back this week, cause hey .50 pasta is still good. You can never have enough pasta. 

A couple weeks ago I was able to get .19 deodorant for Michael (a mix of a coupon and bogo at Kroger) and like.40 cent dish soap. I got paid for razors at Walgreens :) 

What are your tips and/or secrets to couponing?