Digital Nicotine-Update!

I'm pleased to report that my "digital nicotine" (thank you, Brendan) is really paying off. My daily reading of several couponing blogs is really saving us a lot of cash.

I should warn you-I'm addicted to this. You might get addicted, too. Saving money is FUN!

Brad went to Meijer today for our weekly grocery run (yes, seriously, this is what he does! I'm so lucky!) Between coupons and in-store savings, we shaved $100 off our total! Granted, our out of pocket costs today were $191, but that was including some Christmas gifts and more expensive items (like hair color) for me.

Had I not been privy to these couponing blogs we would've saved some off our total, as we always shop the ad and buy what's on sale & try use coupons where we can. Where these blogs have paid off is showing me where to print additional coupons for items that are on sale so I'm paying rock bottom prices on things we would already buy. The blogs also align the ads to past coupon fliers, telling you the date and which flier to get the proper coupon. It's all about maximizing the coupons and sales.

For example, Kellogg's cereal were 5 for $10, plus you got free milk ($2). That's a good deal, BUT the blogs gave me a link for $5 off 4 boxes of Kellogg's cereal! So that meant 5 boxes of cereal were $5 PLUS THE MILK WAS FREE.

I did spend about 2 hours yesterday during Bryce's nap going through the blogs, printing coupons and making a list. Saving $100 off our total means that 2 hours was worth $50/hour. I think I'm worth $50 an hour!

Today I did a small Kroger run, buying diapers, laundry detergent and Diet Pepsi. I spent $16.09 out of pocket and saved $14.00-that's amazing savings for stuff we already use and will need.

Then I got another blog update with coupon links for free orange juice at Meijer. I printed the coupons and handed them off to Brad, as he was going to Meijer (again) anyway, to make some returns. So we actually saved $102.50 today at Meijer. WHOO HOO!