This has all changed in the last 3 weeks and I have to say it is so exciting to see how it is already improving our monthly budget! Now, don't get me wrong, I am definitely not a full bargain shopper yet, but I have made some big changes and thought I would share one huge one here.
The first thing I did was start following some blogs that deal with coupons, online deals, and freebies. I started with a mother who is on my Grand Rapids' mom message board, Grand Rapids Thrifty Mom, and after reading some of her entries, I felt inspired! I was amazed at how much money she could save in just one shopping trip and can not even begin to thank her for the time she spends to share her finds with the blogging world. Through her blog, I came across these other saving blogs:
Baby Cheapskate
Hip to Save
SwagGrabber
A Thrifty Mom
The women who do these blogs are amazing and I can not imagine the time they put into finding deals and then to actually share them with everyone in such clear detail. Lets just say, without their help, I know I would not be saving the money I have been and be receiving all of the free goodies I am getting in the mail!
Over the last three weeks, I have been religiously cutting coupons, printing them from offline, and trying to get organized using the tips on these blogs. Clipping coupons is the easy part and it does keep my hands busy at night so I am not eating which is an added bonus! Organizing and actually using them to get the best deal is the tricky part!
I had my first real moment today where I was just amazed at what I saved by printing off a couple coupons! It happened to be cereal and we now have 10 boxes stocked up and I only spent 89 cents per box when I was done! Okay, so some of you are probably thinking, "What are you going to do with 10 boxes of cereal?" and I was in the same mind frame when starting this, why buy so much in bulk, no matter the price? Well, I now feel differently! I will probably not have to buy cereal for 2 months, if not longer, and I spent less than $10 on it!
It felt good and I have to admit Pat and I bought the first 5 boxes while grocery shopping this morning and then I convinced my cousin, Steph, to stop at Meijer after a run to the mall to grab some cereal. (I did get a weird look from her but she knows I am crazy) I felt very good walking out of Meijer with my additional 5 boxes of cereal. Steph and Pat shared some laughs staring at our large stack of cereal on the counter but they had to admit it was a great deal!
So, here is to the ladies who blog to save me money and hopefully I can pass along some of the deals in between trying to keep track of them myself!!!
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