Solar Shower

I think I mentioned that we were putting in a solar shower. Well here it is! We just finished it Monday, so it is still in it's testing faze. I am just so excited about it and I can't wait until a hot day of working outside to run over and jump in. I have kinda thrown around the idea of putting a water trough with it so that I could actually have a combo shower and bath. That idea is still in the planning stage. LOL

Couponing 101 - a tutorial - part 2

Ok, I told ya I was gonna get to it. Now I'm gettin to it. I sure hope that you have been learning the lingo.
Now on with Couponing 101 - a tutorial - part 2...

Since you are now savvy and can talk the talk, let's see if you can walk the walk.

I visit a couple of websites that I get info from. I visit them from time to time almost every day to get helpful hints. I'll be sharing the links to them here with you.

On Sunday our local newspaper has what is called "inserts" in them. These "inserts" can be anything from sale papers to advertisement to COUPONS. Yeah - you read it right - COUPONS.

You need to buy at least 4 newspapers on Sunday that have COUPONS in them. It's gonna cost you less than $10 but you will save so much more than that.

This is going to allow you to stock pile your coupons. I love to use coupons at Publix because you can stack the coupons. Here is an example...now you gotta remember this...

Every week Publix has BOGO
Use 2 coupons on both items

If you have a competitor coupon for the same item then you can also use 2 competitor coupons. That would give you 2 coupons per item.

Before you run off, let me see if I can break it down a little better.

Publix BOGO
Smithfield Bacon, 16oz @ $3.99
let's say that you have this...
-$2 off Smithfield Bacon printable

You would print 2 of those coupons (or more if you could), because you can use 2 coupons on them. You use a coupon for the one you buy and a coupon for the one you get free. You 2 coupons together is for $4 and the bacon cost $3.99 for 2 packs. Now you just got 2 packs of bacon free with 1 cent overage. Did you see FREE for 2 packs of bacon?!


It really is so much better explained over at this website...

Couponing 101 - a tutorial

Sometime back I mentioned something about a tutorial on couponing. I have been following several blogs and/or websites and I have been trained by the "One and only - Coupon Fairy".

I really have to forewarn you that I am not the best nor do I claim to be.

With that said: I have saved lots and lots of money on our grocery bill and you can too!

Step #1 - Learn the lingo. In order to know what couponers are talking about, you are going to need to know how to speak couponese. This should be enough to get you started.

$1/1 = One dollar off one item
$1/3 = One dollar off 3 items
B1G1 or BOGO or B1G1F = Buy 1 Get 1 Free
Blinkies = Coupon found near a product in the store usually from a “blinking” red box
IP = Internet Printable - a coupon you print off the internet
MFR = Manufacturer
MQ = Manufacturer coupon
OOP = Out Of Pocket
Peelie = Coupon that you peel off a package
Tear Pad = Pad of coupons found hanging from a store shelf or display
WYB = When You Buy

Extras you will see...
PG = Proctor & Gamble Sunday insert coupons
RP = Red Plum Sunday insert coupons
SS = Smart Source Sunday insert coupons
FLIP or FLIPS = Food Lion Internet Printable


Stay tuned...

My Savings Today

I have a few grocery shopping trips that I need to post but I wanted to tell you about the trip I made today. I'll post pictures a little later. My savings was a little more than 50%. I feel really good when the total I pay is 50% or less of what I buy.

The total of my order before coupons was $217.50

Savings = $111.51

Grand Total = $105.99 = this is what I paid

One of the neatest things to me was the fact that I bought 3 Bottom Round Roast. Ok - actually I bought 1 and got 2 free. Albertsons had a coupon for buy 1 get 2 free and yes, Publix takes their competitors coupons. Awesome deal!

My second trip to Publix

When I first really started figuring out this coupon thing, I was able to buy Campbell's soup for 9 cents a can. I was just all wooohooo about it and had to post about it and brag about it and so on. I am to the point right now that I just want to clip coupons, print coupons and buy all this BOGO (buy one get one free) stuff and show off all the coupons that I printed and the minus sign on my register receipts. Yes, I am fully aware that was a run on sentence. LOL

My second trip to Publix...today. Yes, I went with Lisa. She helps me so much! I need to get all the info I can from her. I'm gonna jump out of the nest one day and do something better than 9 cent soup. LOL

I promise to show the proof later. I have the pictures to prove it and I intend to do just that.

Oh yeah! Today we had dinner on the grounds at church. We do that every 5th Sunday of the month. One of our friends said that they saved lots of money on the coupons too. They went on their own but they did a great job.

My first shopping trip was the best all around. Maybe because I saved the most money. Ha ha ha... But then again - maybe because me and the boys were so excited!

Yes, I'm planning another one!

The Proof

I promised to show you pictures from my shopping trip with Lisa yesterday. Well here they are!

My first coupon trip

My first coupon trip was today. Right now I am so amazed that this can be done. I am so amazed that you can actually buy $300 in products and only pay $1. It is not a joke! Oh sure...I've used coupons before. I've even saved $20 or a little more by using coupons on my purchases. That part was easy!

My wonderful, wonderful friend Lisa has shown me the light. Friends and neighbors - I'm here to tell ya...Shoppin at my house will never be the same again. Right now I'm really just in AWE. I have the receipt to show you all and I promise that I will take care of that tomorrow. Let me rest a bit and get rid of this 2 day headache and I'll get back with you. Just to give you a heads up, here is what I saved and what I spent...taken from the actual receipt...

Your Savings at Publix $230.94

Payment $1.07

I can now say OOP (out of pocket)!

You are...

You are...

so not going to believe this! I won! I won! I won!

Giveaway of The Week !!!

I so love to follow Lisa's advice about getting products for next to nothing. Now that I can afford.