Treat Your Coupons Like Cash – A Small Re-Introduction and News of an Upcoming Giveaway – My First!

I saw the title of this post on another blog a couple of years ago. I wish I could remember which one, so I could give them credit, but I just can’t because my blog roll has since exploded!

A little over two years ago we had just brought our son home from Russia at the age of 21 months. I was home with him for six weeks before I was expected back to work. The six weeks was unpaid and after the expenses of the adoption, I was looking for ways to earn a little money on the side, or at least start saving some money. Shortly after starting back to work full-time, both my husband and I felt that I was needed at home more so I transitioned to part-time work, which meant a part-time check.

Before then I had never bothered to cut coupons, never got a newspaper, and just bought what we wanted and needed.

A friend and fellow adoptive mother (thanks Jackie!), started a blog and once I read it I realized there were so many ways to save money. I started reading other frugal blogs. I saw how some were playing the drugstores games (like working CVS ECBs) and how some were listing items they could get free at many local stores by using coupons. I was introduced to internet printable coupons, survey sites, points programs and I was thrilled. I could do this stuff, while being at home and with a 2-3 hour nap time (I know – I was lucky) I could read deals and learn to come up with my own!

I posted my first frugal adventure into CVS on my other blog here as part of another post, but because I was so proud of myself I had to get it posted somewhere. I came out of CVS with way more than the one bottle of conditioner I had to buy for less than the actual price of the bottle itself! I couldn’t believe it when the cashier gave me my total.

The rest is history. I started this blog, started shopping with coupons, requesting free samples of products, and saving money. Since then I don’t think I’ve once actually paid out of pocket for a tube of toothpaste, razors, shampoo, conditioner, etc.

While I tend to stick to only a few stores, CVS, Kroger, and Target mainly, I’ve found that just by matching coupons with sales, stacking coupons (where allowed) and making smaller shopping trips, has saved us a ton. I’m thinking now about venturing into a few new stores (like Rite Aid), but I try to be careful about how much time I spend shopping. I make most of my trips quick by laying out my deal and coupons ahead of time and only going in after those items. My husband supports me a great deal and can never believe the deals I come home with. In fact, every Sunday he lets me venture out on my own to shop CVS by myself. He knows even though I have the deal laid out, that sometimes it takes me a bit longer than necessary ;) especially since I love listening to books on CD!

Getting back to the initial title of the post, remember to treat your coupons like cash. Isn’t it fun to watch your total tick down?! I always ask the cashier, if the screen doesn’t show it, to subtotal the items so I can watch the coupons at work. When it’s done I think about how much extra cash I would have to pull out of my pocket to pay for the items had I not used the coupons. They really do work like cash! That one simple sentence changed my life!

Finally, (what you’ve been waiting for) in a few weeks (maybe sooner) I’ll be hosting my first blog giveaway! It has to do with CVS, so if you’re following along with my series on shopping CVS, or even if your not, you’ll want to enter. It’ll be easy (I promise) and hopefully you’ll win!