Not Bad...

So tonight we headed out for a last minute shopping trip to Safeway.  There were a couple of deals and we had some coupons that would help make some items free.  Since starting to coupon, we have discovered that NONE of our stores double coupons consistently.  We will never be like those fantastic couponers that walk out of the store paying only $20.00 for $1000.00 worth of groceries.  It is kind of heart breaking and truthfully, I am very very jealous!  WE have searched and cannot find any stores withing 1 to 1 1/2 hour drive.  We would drive, it would be worth the gas money if everything was free, or close to it.  Well, anyway, we went to Safeway tonight with very little time for planning and a relatively short list.  So after buying 98% of our items only if they were on sale, we went to the register.  $190.00!  After our club card, and coupons, we only paid $101.00!  We had a 48% savings!  I know that many coupon experts are probably falling over dead spending that much, but for us, that is a great savings!  Still on the lookout for stores that double without an item limit, or only certain days of the week. 

no coupons!

I had to run out to the store yesterday to pick up a few last minute ingredients for our last minute dinner plans with family.  I checked, no coupons for any item that we needed.  Mushrooms - fresh, cherry tomatoes, sweet onions, and bell peppers.  I have yet to find any coupon that says, "Onions, buy one get one free with this coupon."  I know, there are always the "10 for 10 deals" but there were none of those near us right now.  I nearly stuttered out a protest when I saw the total and realized that it would not go down.  After just 3 coupon filled grocery trips, my first without coupons was in fact painful. 

Our first shopping trip...

Tonight, after clipping at least one hundred coupons last night, we have ventured out for our first coupon assisted shopping trip.  The kids are asleep and my husband went to Safeway.  I am really excited to see how much we saved.  We are using the double coupon on our Newman's Own Pasta Sauce.  So.... husband is home and the total was $131.15.  Then using our club card the new total was $88.23 and finally, after using our coupons our grand total was $74.11
Our total savings was $54.04, we saved 44% on our very first coupon trip!  YEAH for us!!

Slow Start

So, my husband and I are always looking at our bank account, trying to justify each purchase, guess the cost of groceries, plan plan plan until finally we are so burned out from looking at the finances with a microscope that we go a little nuts and spend spend spend.  Tonight, we subscribed to the weekend paper in hopes to start couponing.  I have been reading up on how to coupon, watching the new show, Extreme Couponing, and talking to family that already clips coupons.  I am really excited to start to save our family money and hope that we get it right!