Welcome to Centsable Savings Stories and Struggles! I love reading the other people’s stories of how they became frugal shoppers. I find encouragement and motivation in every story. This week, Heather from Pinch That Penny Til It Screams is sharing her story.
If you’d like to share your story, I’d love to hear from you. Please email me at centsable.katherine[at]gmail.com. More details are at the end of this post.
About Me
I’m a 26 year old stay at home mom of two kids under the age of four. I’ve been blessed financially to be able to do so. I try to be a good steward of what God has given me. I’ve been married to my best friend for five years. We enjoy being outdoors, working on our ranch and watching movies.
How I Started Couponing
I started couponing when my husband was in the Marine Corp. We were faced with the challenge of living off of the wonderful military paycheck. We were also down one income since I had just had my son and decided to stay at home. I starting clipping coupons and searching sale ads and just wasn’t saving a whole lot. We were blowing the whole grocery budget and having nothing left at the end of two weeks.
Then I ran across a lady online who was teaching about stacking coupons with sales and stockpiling. The lights came on, bells went off, horns were blowing! What an awesome idea! Why didn’t I think of this? It only makes sense to purchase all you can for as little as possible. I quickly caught on to this and starting scanning the ads and matching my coupons up. THEN, I discovered Harris Teeter and Lowes foods. I thought these guys were expensive until I realized they double/triple coupons! I thought I was saving the most by shopping at the Commissary. WRONG! I was saving more on meat and produce, but all the coupon related items were so much cheaper in the long run at the other stores. I started stockpiling anything and everything, trying to make it fit in our little two bedroom apartment. I cut our budget in half in no time. I continued this until we got out and moved back to Texas. Then I made a big mistake.
I stopped couponing. I didn’t need to anymore. We were living with the in-laws, and I didn’t have to buy groceries any more. We were back to two incomes and just blowing and going. Bad move.
Then about five or six months ago I got really into it again. I ran across a frugal site that had just the most amazing deals I’d heard of in a long time. I got my coupons together, went to Kroger and left with OVERAGE! I bought $60 worth of groceries and was given $5.27 back! There went the lights, bells and horns again! “How much fun is this?” I thought to myself. I forgot how it felt to leave a store with a basket full and still money in my wallet. I then got really motivated to get our grocery bill cut in half again. Not only did it get cut in half but my average savings for the year is at 70%. This will continue to increase as I finish my stockpile restocking process. I have gone from spending $200 per week for a family of four to $100 per week with 50% of that being stocking. I would say about 75 % off my purchases are for stocking or giving away. Most people are surprised to find out that we do not buy processed, microwaved junk food. We also include all of our toiletry, formula, diapers, pet food and supplies and cooking supplies in our grocery budget.
How I’ve Helped Others
My family and friends just love to come over and go “shopping” in my pantries! My father-in-law is always telling me to find this or that or free for him and in no time it seems that I do. I’m also working on a new project called Operation Orphanage. My cousin’s youth group visits a local orphanage each summer. They fellowship with them and entertain them with skits and such. This year I am taking donations to send the kids care packages. These kids have nothing and truly appreciate everything they get. I will be donating most of my stockpile of toiletries as well as gathering clothing, toys, books and other items. I feel that when you are blessed you have to be a blessing.
Each week I 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. Bloggers and non-bloggers are both welcome to participate. Click here to read the stories of shoppers featured in the past.
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