Centsable Saving Stories (and Struggles)

My First Attempt

Being a frugal shopper has not always been easy for me. I have tried and failed at coupon shopping before. About seven years ago, we found ourselves with three kids under three years old in a tiny apartment, and to save money I quickly became a stay at home mom. We were basically on one income thanks to child care costs anyway. My husband continued to work one full time and one part time job for us to make it.

I needed to quickly figure out how to save money at the grocery store and have it last for two weeks. I started by comparison shopping. I would take the mailers from the local grocery stores and price match at Walmart. I was very careful to make sure it was the right size and brand. I would do so well, and I was so proud of the little savings I made. Soon, I noticed the items in Walmart would be reduced to beat the local grocery store loss leaders, even if sometimes by a penny. That quickly became discouraging. I felt like I was wasting my time writing down all the loss leaders only to have Walmart beat them. So, unfortunately for my family, I did not buy the best food for them. Luckily, my children were toddlers! I had to buy the cheap stuff like a certain gloved hand helper mix.

My Second Attempt

Then my husband and I watched a news segment of a lady who bought $300 of groceries and only spent around three dollars. I was amazed at how anyone could do that! I quickly gathered as many coupons as I could. If she could do it, surely I can do it, too! But yet again, I would get discouraged because I just didn’t research enough to get the good deals. I didn’t plan my menus around the mailers, I didn’t understand the power of double coupons or shopping at Walgreens not did I shop at more than one store. My other problem was that I stuck with the products I knew and would throw away the coupons I thought I wouldn’t use. Also, I stuck with only one store: Walmart. I would save maybe five dollars on a grocery trip and never saw any real savings. I gave up. Again. I told my husband it was impossible to get those kinds of savings here.

I went back to my comparison shopping and would use a diaper coupon here and there if one came in the mail. This worked for a couple more year, and I was content in it. Or so I told myself.

Take Three

Through the years, our food budget has gone from $100 every two weeks to $250. I went back to work after five years of being a stay at home mom in 2006. We also had our fourth baby in 2007 and not only had our food costs gone up, the actual food prices in the stores had gone up. I was getting tired of spending $250-$300 every two weeks and it barely filling up the cabinets and refrigerator. Finally about nine months ago, I decided to give coupons another shot.

I was determined to learn how to coupon again. This time I was determined to make it work and do it the right way. I found BeCentsAble, which helped me learn the basics of couponing. Through them, I found other sources that helped me learn how to coupon and get the maximum savings. I kept telling my husband how much I was saving, and I’m sure he thought I was exaggerating. Right before Christmas this past year, we had to do some major grocery shopping because we were having his family visit. He came with me in the store and saw the $65 that I saved in Walmart. A few days later, he accompanied me to Walgreens where I paid $14 and saved $40.

He quickly realized I was on to something. What finally made us winners in the coupon game was a trip to Walgreens. I had about $75 in savings and spent only $12. (I think it was the Garnier shampoo deal.) I knew then I would never go back to plain ole’ comparison shopping.

We are no longer in that tiny apartment. We recently moved into our dream house. But I will still keep on with saving with coupons. While I have never spent only $3 for $300 worth of groceries, I still save between 35%-60% on our grocery bill. This is also accomplished without internet coupons; I only use coupons from inserts in the Sunday paper or through the mail. With those savings comes a pantry and fridge full of food. Now we don’t have to eat the gloved hand helper mix anymore.

Each week we feature a different shopper’s story. Centsable Savings Stories are the stories of people just like you who are working toward reducing their budgets, bargain hunting, living a more frugal lifestyle and constantly learning along the way. If you are interested in sharing your family’s successes and struggles, please contact me at centsable.katherine[at]gmail [dot]com. Blogger and non-bloggers are both welcome to participate. Click here to read the stories of shoppers featured in the past.

Now it’s time to share your great deals for the week! Leave a link or a comment below. (If Mr. Linky is not working, please leave a trackback to your grocery deals for the week in the comments below. Maybe your great deal will inspire someone else.)