Couponing is NOT easy

Couponing is NOT easy
Written By Lillian Watson
July 31, 2014

      The phrase "OMG My hands HURT" has never rang more true than today.  Yesterday was our first time in a very long time to coupon.  We have used them here and there before, but never to the crazy extent we tried it yesterday.  It started out as a way to save some money on groceries, but went well beyond that yesterday.  I clipped over 200 coupons from the internet and our newspaper (oh and we get a version of SS and Red Plum here at the house in the mail).  My hand was killing me.  Then, I learned that you are supposed to get online and see the best sales at some of these couponing sites.  OMG I was comparing prices and coupons for over 5hrs yesterday.  It was CRAZY.  I have some real respect for those of you who do this all the time.  There are still coupons not cut and not filed because I gave up.  BUT, I did get the coupons matched up to the major sales that were listed. 

     We hit up Target, Walmart, and Publix last night.  We started with Publix because their sales were not supposed to switch until today, we were wrong.  Our Publix changed their prices yesterday morning.  So, we were a bit shocked and didn't get a few of the things on the list because they were no longer on sale.  Target was interesting, but I'm not sure I really like the way their sales were done, but hey we were learning.  At Target we got 2 Head and Shoulders with a coupon down to $8 and combined it with an Old Spice deodorant for a little less with another coupon.  That together gave us a $5 gift card at check out.  We used that on Dennis's body wash and deodorant combo pack with a coupon to only cost us a whopping $0.25.  So, not a horrible trip, but it was only a 50% savings on it all.  Not what some of you all are coming out with for like making money.  Walmart was our bigger savings.  Here we ended up getting razors for $0.13 (2 packs) and making money on other things.  We learned about Ibotta and Checkout 51.  They are apps that you download to your phone and after you are done shopping you can get rebates on some of your purchases.  We did this and got $1 back off of juice we spent $0.75 on, $2 back on a plug in we spent $0.38 on, and $1.00 on soap I spent $0.75 on.  So, that was enjoyable.  There were other purchases we got of things we needed and we had coupons for also.  We ended up saving an average of 50% everywhere we went with the coupons.  That was not the main part of the grocery shopping though.  This was just extras we saw on the couponing sites.  Tonight I will actually grocery shop.  LOL. 

     While it was fun, it is a lot of work.  Those of you who have the patience and knowledge of how to do this a lot and not pay but 10% of what the normal cost is I commend you.  You must have awesome patience!!!!  Also, feel free to leave comments sharing how you did it.  I'm all about learning this thing.  Well, I am going to get off of here and get ready for the yard sale I'm having this weekend.  Oh speaking of sales.... check out some of the items at http://lillianwatson.avonrepresentative.com on sale this campaign!!!!