Yeah, you’re curious. Just admit it. I have watched it once. Have you? I have heard all kinds of reactions about this show and about couponing in general. What is it about things that we seem to always have to take them to the extreme? I have to admit that I love deals as much as the next person, but this show had me wishing that coupons did not exist. Yeah, saving money is great, but I think we can all agree that everything can be taken “too far”. Now, of course, what that “too far” is is entirely up to you. I will say, that I do admire the passion to save money. However, at the risk of sounding terribly judge mental, I personally don’t want 56 bottles of mustard in my home. However, if there is a middle ground somewhere????? Is it worth it?
Being incredibly budget conscious and living on a cash only system, I decided to check out this coupon world a bit more seriously. If I can save some money with a couple of hours of work a week, then I am all for it. My biggest problem I have right now with the idea of couponing is that we are making radical changes in the way we eat over the last year. I do not want 24 boxes of Frosted Flakes, even if they are free. So, finding a balance of getting huge discounts on products that I not only use, but want, is my goal. I committed to check it out for a few weeks, to see how it goes. Here is my “report” after about two weeks.
First Sunday ~ Yay it’s paper day. After church, I head to the gas station to get me a paper! I put the kids to nap, sit down with a diet coke, scissors, and a sharpie for note taking. In my lap is my paper, my ticket to savings galore. I open it up and NOTHIN’. Not a coupon to be found. I text my friend and reigning coupon queen…and there apparently is no coupons on Memorial Day weekend. Alrighty then.
Mid Week ~ I have spent about an hour checkin’ out Krazy Coupon Lady. Yeah it’s informative, but more importantly it’s slathered in a mustard yellow and aqua color schemed, scrolly pattern of deliciousness. I could study all the live long day, just about anything, if it is presented as pretty as this. My eleven year old is by my side every step of the way ~ her choice. We decide not to invest in the time and expense of a binder system and just make do with this little guy I purchased awhile back at Target. We label it together. It’s ready and waiting for coupons.

Second Sunday ~ I wake up to a facebook message from my friend, the coupon queen, telling me..”the paper is good, I am buying three”. I take direction well. I will buy three too. I head to the Dollar Tree at about 1 pm to buy my three papers that WILL have coupons this time and they are out. I curse the extreme couponing show yet again. Forget it, I am not driving around town to save three bucks on papers. I have my limits. They are loose, but still there. I pull into Chevron, buy my three papers for six bucks and head home to clip.
There are three inserts apparently. Smart Source, Red Plum, and Procter and Gamble. Somehow one of my papers has 5 PG inserts. Leaving me with 7 of the health and beauty type coupons. o.k. I’ll take it. My daughter and I clip and file and see why you need a binder. My cute little file, already won’t shut.
I spend some time trying to match up the sale ads, coupons, manufacter coupons, etc. keeping in mind all the policies and fine prints. I have a head ache. I am annoyed. I call coupon queen for the quick rendition of the basics. I get lengthy email in return and feel better. I hate details.
Tuesday Night~ I have been in bed with the flu for 24 hours. I feel better. I manage to find a couple deals at Target. I head out at 10:15 to test it out. EPIC FAIL. Everything that could go wrong has. I come home with nothing except a few lessons learned. These couponing chicks mean serious business. I am further annoyed, but I have committed. I will re figure and try again tomorrow.
Wednesday Morning~ Success! for a newbie that is. $25.80 paid. $97.02 retail. That is a big savings! All stuff I use and needed.

STOP ONE
Staples currently has a $3.00 off coupon. It is good off of any purchase. I printed four of them and went in with three of my kids. We each used one.
Purchase one ~ 100 straws/12 pencils ~ total .53
Purchase two ~ 100 straws/12 pencils ~ total. 53
Purchase three ~ 100 straws/12 pencils ~ total .53
Purchase four ~ 6 Secret Deodorant off the the clearance table. It was already marked from $1.00 to .50. ~total .00
and yes I agree…”Staples carries deodorant?”
Here is where I made the choice to get what I needed rather than hoard what was free. I could have purchased 24 deodorant for free, but I need pencils and straws, so I went with those instead.
STOP TWO
Target.
Bandaids.
a couple different designs of 20 count kids bandaids are ringing up $1.70. I had a manufacturers coupon for .55 and a Target generated coupon from online for $1.00. Combine this with the sale price and I now was able to buy 3 boxes at .15 a piece.
Razors.
Target offers a $5.00 gift card for the purchase of 2 razors. Each razor comes with two additional extra blades. I had a $4.00 off coupon on the same razor. I actually had 6 of these coupons due to the extra PG inserts in my paper. So I was able to get $15 in Target gift cards and $24 savings from coupons. Voila!
These are not the razors my husband normally uses. They are actually quite a bit more expensive. However, with the discount, they ended up being cheaper than the ones I normally buy…by a lot.
So, I always wondered how this worked. It’s the perfect combination of stacking as many deals as you can together. I had to pay in separate transactions. I had all my stuff together and it wasn’t a big deal. In fact, at Target I simply put the items on the belt, already separated and told the cashier I needed to pay in separate transactions. At the end, he simply said…”very impressive, have a good day.” I thanked him and left.
Things I have learned:
1. Expect frustration. It takes a bit to figure out.
2. I like clearance shopping, not so much couponing. However, if I have the time and can save some money, it’s kinda like a part time job, right?
3. Read the fine print and then read it again.
4. Do your math~ sometimes the smaller sizes are cheaper than the bigger ones. Do not assume.
5. Everything in moderation people. Buy what you use or donate what you won’t!
I headed to one final stop to get some free toothbrushes and aspirin at CVS. They were all out. Not surprised.
I was out for 1.5 hours this morning doing this. I have probably put in 4-5 hours so far, figuring this all out. Not bad.
I will continue for a few more weeks and see how it goes. I do not want to be driving to multiple stores or stocking up on highly processed foods. However, if I can find deals like I did today on things that we use and save us money….then hooray!
