Turning Addict . . . .

I have always considered myself to be a very frugal shopper - especially when it comes to groceries.  I had my system and it worked for me.  I rarely buy name brand items and don't have a lot budgeted for "extras." Our grocery budget was always less than others and managed to come in under a lot as well.  However, lately, it seemed like groceries have gone sky high and there is nothing we can do about it - until now!!!! My friend, Leah, gave me the book Pick Another Checkout Lane, Honey! I had not even gotten past the first few chapters and was hooked.  I mean, 

WHO DOESN"T WANT TO SAVE MONEY?

I got the newspaper for a few Sundays - one Sunday I bought two!!! Cut the coupons out.  Went to Southern Savers.  Got the weekly ad to Kroger and was ready to go.  This is how I did it my first time.  I am sure I will find easier ways to do this, but for the time being - this is how I did it.

1. I cut all the coupons I had.  I even searched online for printable coupons and ecoupons (coupons I can automatically download to my Kroger card).
2. I went to Kroger and looked at the sales ad for that week.  (For my Henderson friends - our Kroger runs from Wednesday to Tuesday.)  I wrote down anything that we could possibly use that was a good deal.  I know I lucked out big time because my first time doing this was during the Mega Sale they have.  On my list, I wrote the item I wanted and the price that was listed as the sale.  I also listed if it was a 10 for 10 or a Mega 10 sale.
3. I went to Southern Savers.  At the top of this website you will see Kroger. I clicked on it and looked for that week's sale ad (her's will be listed as Sunday-Saturday).  This is where it gets great!  When I found her weekly sale ad for Kroger, I went down the list.  For every item that was on sale at Kroger, she would list under it every coupon - from the newspaper, printable, ecoupon - that was available and then the final price you would pay.  She is even great and gives you the link - RIGHT there!!!!!
4. I would print any coupons for things that were on my list and then write on my grocery list what coupon I had to go with each item.
5. Then I took the coupons I had cut and looked at which ones I could use that went with my grocery list.  I paper clipped all the coupons I was going to use to my grocery list and was ready to go.

I went to Kroger with my friend, Leah, who gave me the run down.  For the Mega 10 sale, you can mix and match the items that were listed in the flyer as part of the Mega 10 Sale.  When you get any 10 of those items, you automatically get $5 back on your purchase, and you can use coupons on top of that!!  The best trick for this is to take reusable bags.  Place 10 items in the reusable bag that go with the sale, and move it to the bottom of your cart. This keeps you from having to count continually!!!  So, we went. We bought. We couponed. And we SAVED!!! This is a picture of what I bought . . . 

56 items.

7 of which were Kroger brand items.

1 of which was bananas.

Everything else - name brand.

Take a closer look.

See the pasta - 6 things for FREE!!!!

See the tomatoes - 4 cans for $1.

See the new Philadelphia Cooking Cremes - 50 cents each.

See the deoderant and body wash - B1G1 = $1.50 for each!!

It was just unreal.  Now, I will be honest.  When my total came up on the register as $137 and some odd cents, I about threw up.  I thought, I will still pay over $100 for all of this.  However, after the Kroger card was scanned, after my coupons were scanned (and the some were doubled), my grand total was $55 and some odd cents!!!!!  Yes, you read that right!!!  I am believer now.  I am grabbing coupons like there is NO TOMORROW!!  I am finishing the book and I even bought card page protectors.  I am going to do this and it will be great!!!!! I am so excited - I have become an addict.

Hello, my name is Becky.

I am a coupon addict!

If you have questions, let me know. I don't have all the answers, but I will be more than happy to find them if it means saving more $$$.