Coupons-You don't have to go EXTREME to save hundreds and thousands!

When money is tight and prices are high, it’s easy to complain and wallow in a pity party- a pity party that’s pretty large in numbers with this economy! So where is the positive in all this? What can we learn or improve on now, that will better us in the future when money isn't so tight....COUPONS!

Many of us have seen stories on extreme couponing....many of us drool at the thought of walking out of the store with 3 overflowing shopping carts with the store owing us money! I admire those than can extreme coupon, but in the back of my mind it doesn't seem so honest or good for business or the future of couponing. However, for someone who wants to put in simple effort and save on their grocery bill enough to save on average 50% equaling to hundreds and thousands of dollars saved-its easy and this site will show you how to do it!

Coupons.....

I've learned it, I'm mastering it, and I'm never going back!

One day I was searching for printable coupons online and came across this website:

http://www.couponmom.com/

I checked it out....at first I thought the format of the website was a bit jumbled and not so eye-appealing but it’s my favorite website by far! Why? Because is saves me hundreds and soon to be thousands of dollars, and with minimal effort!

What is couponmom.com: It’s a websites that matches grocery and drugstore sales with newspaper, magazine and online coupons. By doing so you can save a ton of money!

BEST PART! 

COUPONMOM.COM  is  FREE!!!!!

There are many couponing sites out there that charge a monthly fee for exactly what this website does!

NAVIGATION

Okay, so my first experience with this website was confusing because I didn't have the patience to watch their How-to videos on how to use their website. I was to proud and thought "I'm Internet literate, I can find my way around!" HA! Yes, you can find your way around but it will take you forever. Just take the 5 minutes and watch their How-to videos and you will be a pro.

I could explain everything about the site but it’s just easier to say CLICK on the "how to coupon" link, watch the videos and you will be hooked like me!

DO YOU REALLY SAVE?
You tell me- here is my last shopping trip:

NOTE: Most, if not all of the items purchased are name brand items, and for these 2 stores I used only coupons from the newspaper and a couple that could be loaded onto my store card from the store's website (also very easy).

Here we go.....

Safeway (similar to VONS) these are the things I bought:

5 boxes of Betty Crocker meal helpers (great for quick meals for the kids!)
1 Betty Crocker cake mix
1 frosting
8 bags of goldfish crackers
2 bags of goldfish graham cookies
2 pounds cheddar cheese
2 pounds mozzarella
2 packs of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls
2 packs of crescent rolls
3 cans of Whole grain chef Boyardee
3 boxes Lucky Charms Cereal
1 box Honey Nut Chex Cereal (gluten free)
3 boxes Golden Grahams cereal
2 boxes of Nature Valley Granola Bars
5 Boxes of Fun-da-middles Cup cake mixes (good for lots of church activities or play date activities, or just because they are fun and yummy!)
2 Packs of all beef Ball Park Franks
2 bags of Hot dog buns
7 POUNDS of Pasta
1 package Pillsbury cheesecake bites (99 cents after coupon can you blame me :)
1 speedstick deodorant
1 Gillette men’s Body wash
5 ears of corn

Total: 177.45

After my store card: $110.00 (you can load coupons on your store card as well)

After my coupons

I PAID ONLY:  $60.23

I saved: $117.22

I got all of that for a grand total of $60.23- my boys will have cereal and snacks to last for months I hope!

Now for Wal-Mart!

2 pounds Strawberries
1 Package ball park angus beef franks
1 Large Hidden Valley Ranch dressing
Bleu Cheese Dressing
Fabric softener
Clorox toilet bowl cleaner
2 loaves Natures own bread
1 Gallon of milk
Dawn Dish soap
Soft Scrub
Kids Crest toothpaste
4 boxes of Colgate Total Advanced toothpaste
2 Colgate 360 toothbrushes
Oral B Floss
3 pack of Ivory Bar soap
32 Pack of Pampers (normally $10, I got them for $3.99)
Pampers wipes 64 count
Schick Hydro Razor (normally $10, I got it for $1.49)
Schick Hydro Refill pack (normally $10, I got it for $1.49)
Proglide Razor (normally $13, I got it for 1.99)
Keri Lotion (normally $6, I got it for $-1.01)
Herbal essence Conditioner
Ban Deodorant
3 pounds of chicken

My Total: 137.73

After coupons 

& Price matching: $54.73

I saved: $83.00

Note: I have to price match with competitor’s ads because their competitors are an hour away and I'm saving gas money-otherwise I would just go to that store directly.

So I saved $200 total from just 2 stores!

Need I say more, you don't have to go extreme, just go simple and save a lot!