How I saved over $60 using coupons

I've blogged before about how I coupon for groceries (and other things) and I thought I would share a little refresher since it's the beginning of the year.  I know one of the most common New Years goals people have (after trying to lose weight) is trying to save money/get rid of debt/get financially organized.  I'm by no means an expert, but this is my little part to help our family achieve our financial goals.

I really started couponing after we had Elizabeth.  Diapers, wipes, and formula can add up very quickly and I was looking for a way to not spend $12/bag on diapers.

I started by picking up the Sunday newspaper (it has the coupon inserts).
After awhile, we order a subscription for the Sunday paper only (to get the coupons).
Now, I order one year of the Sunday paper subscription during Cyber Monday (its $40 for the entire year) AND I print coupons from www.coupons.com.  You can print two copies of each coupon from coupons.com and I do this so I can "buy in bulk" or "stock up" on commonly used items.

Here is a look at a trip I made last week to Harris Teeter during their Super Doubles special.  Super Doubles is when they double and coupon valued up to $2.  So my $2 coupon turned into a $4 coupon.

These are some things I grabbed during my shopping trip.

All National, Brand-name items, that we will use daily (or weekly).

#1: Simple Orange OJ.  It was regular priced at $3.99.  I had $1 coupon that doubled to $2 off.

So I paid $1.99 for the orange juice.

#2: Crest tooth paste.  It was on sale for $3.49.  I had a $2 coupon that doubled to $4 off.

So I paid nothing for the Crest tooth paste (normally $4.99)!

#3: Tide laundry detergent.  It was on sale for $4.88.  I had a $2 coupon that doubled to $4 off.

So I paid $0.88 for the laundry detergent (normally $7.99).

Right there, those three items, I saved $14.11 by using two coupons from the newspaper (tooth paste and laundry detergent) and one from coupons.com (the orange juice)

#4: Pull-ups.  Caroline wears them to sleep in.  

They were on sale for $7.99.  I had a $2 coupon that doubled to $4.

So I paid $3.99 package (normally $11.99).

#5: Go-Gurt yogurts.  My kids LOVE these.

They were on sale 3/$5 ($1.66/each).  I had $1 coupons that doubled to $2.

So I paid NOTHING for the box of Go-Gurt (normally $3.99).

#6: Cheerios, Lucky Charms, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch.  Who doesn't like cereal?

They were on sale For $1.97/box.  I had $0.50 coupon that doubled to $1.

It made each box $0.97 (normally $3.99).

One of the pull-ups coupons came from the newspaper, all the others came from www.coupons.com
On those items, I saved a combined $40.07 on 3 bags of pull-ups, 4 boxes of cereal, and 1 box of yogurt

That bring my total savings for six items to $54.18
I used coupons for all of the other items I purchased as well.

I want to talk a little bit about "stock-up" items as well.

Stock-up items are items I buy as many as possible when they are at their lowest price.

"As many as possible" is usually 2-4 depending on how many coupons I have.

Grocery store sales run every 4-6 weeks

Meaning those pull-ups won't be $7.99/package again for at least 4-6 weeks and sometimes longer.  

The Tide laundry detergent won't be $4.88 (or less) again for 4-6 weeks. 

So when I am "stocking up", I am trying to buy enough of a product to get me through those 4-6 weeks when those products are not on sale.  

Below are some of my stock-up items.  They won't go bad anytime soon and we will use all of them:

A) Lysol toilet cleaner (on sale for $2.50, $0.50 off doubled to $1 off to make it $1.50)

B) Lysol wipes (on sale buy 1, get 1 free, $1 off doubled to $2 off to make is $1.39 for both)

C) Puffs tissues (on sale for $1, $0.25 off doubled to $.50 off to make it $0.50)

D) Tide laundry detergent (on sale for $4.88, $2 off doubled to $4 off to make it $0.88)

E) Ragu pasta sauce (on sale for $1.98, $1/2 doubled to $2 to make it $0.98 each)

F) Crest tooth paste (on sale for $3.49, $2 off doubled to make it free)

G) Luden's cough drops (regular price $1.99, $1/2 off doubled to $2 to make them $1 each)

H) Easy-ups/Pull-ups (on sale for $7.99, $2 off doubled to $4 off to make them $3.99 each)

That's a little bit about how I coupon.

Does it take a little time?  Yes.

Probably more time in the beginning while you try to figure out which coupons you have and match them up to sales.

Is it worth it?  I think so or I wouldn't keep doing it.

I spend about 1-2 hours a week.  That is cutting coupons, looking at store ads, and making my grocery list.

Do I save $60 every week?  No, sometimes it's more and sometimes it's less.

Just using your store loyalty card will usually save you 5-10%. 

Hope you enjoyed this little info on how I coupon.

Happy Tuesday y'all!