A Real Mom’s Savings

Like most people I enjoy saving money. For a while I’d clip the occasional coupon or catch a nice sale at a store but I never got into the so called “extreme” couponing until I became a Mom! Well O.K I’m not really Extreme couponing but for a family of 4 with only one income I’m doing what I like to call “Controlled” Couponing or Smart Shopping!

Where do I get my coupons?

I will occasionally buy a Sunday paper for the weeks coupon inserts. I will only use the coupons for items I know I will buy . In my household there is no room for hoarding…I mean “Stock piling”!
Register coupons from previous shopping trips, these are usually for a brand you didn’t buy. Like one trick I use to get extra Gerber coupons is to buy one Beechnut snack and when I do that the register spits out all sorts of Gerber coupons for my next trip!

My next stop is the good ole Internet. Facebook is my #1 source of info for my couponing and shopping. There are so many awesome couponing, freebie and shopping help sites that I “liked” on Facebook. They are easy to find and have helped to explain couponing and saving more on all my shopping trips. I will check a few of them for the comparing they do for me, which saves me the time of doing it, cause trust me with a 6 year old and an active 1 year old I just do not have the time to match which stores have what on sale to coincide with the coupons I have… Just typing that made me dizzy! So I’m grateful for site’s such as http://www.facebook.com/commonsensewithmoney and http://www.facebook.com/supercouponlady?ref=ts for doing the hard work for me!
After I get all the coupons I am sure I will use I’ll make up my list for the stores, most likely Target and Stop N Shop. I then write a List, if I didn’t follow my list I’d spend more money than I intend too. I don’t know why or how it happens but if I forget my list I may buy 3-4 things from the list and about 20 things not mentioned on my list…Which I kinda did today but in my defense it was somethings for my kids! So that doesn’t really count 😛

Next I’ll organize my coupons, this step is super important if the coupons are a mess you’ll forget to use it. I tend to organize my shopping list and coupons to go along with the set up of the store. So I’m not wasting time back tracking! When you have kids time is of the essence and you never seem to have enough of it! Also a great way to save time and have your groceries bagged just the way you like is to use the Scan It and self check out at the store. I get my cart all set up with my reusable bags open and ready to scan and bag! When you are done shopping all you do is scan the bar code at the register then scan your store card, scan your coupons, pay and leave!!! If you have any coupon problems they staff is never to far to help you!

While shopping I look for other savings around the store for instance: I had a coupon for spray air freshener but there was another brand on sale and it also had a coupon on the product to “save $1 now” So I saved more by using the store sale with a coupon!

The most I’ve been able to save on one item is when I’m able to “Stack” store sales with store coupons, internet coupons and manufactures coupons. Today I had 3 coupons for Yoplait Yogurt. They were on sale for .50 a cup. (A great Deal) my 1st coupon was a coupon from the Sunday insert for $1.00 off ten, my next coupon was an internet coupon for .50 off eight and finally my other coupon was for .40 off 6 also from the internet. So I picked up Ten yogurts 3 different styles and 6 different flavors cause in my family no one really likes the same exact thing…I tend to make 4 different meals 3 times a day! Ten yogurts which would have been $5 without the coupons came to $3.10 with the coupons. A great save!!!

Besides coupons I also save a TON using Amazon.com/Mom!! I can’t say enough about it! Amazon’s subscribe and save program is amazing! I use it for so much more than just your Typical “Mom” Stuff like household cleaners and baby stuff! When you sign up you save 30% Off Diapers 30% Off Wipes 15% Off Household Supplies 15% Off Grocery 15% Off Personal Care & Beauty All Subscribe & Save all comes with FREE 2 day Shipping.
I buy my baby’s Luvs Diapers with my Amazon/mom account! I get a huge case of her size 3 Luvs, 234, diapers for $26.59. Doesn’t sound like a great deal to you? Lets compare. If I joined a Whole sale shopping club store I’d have to pay for a membership then I’d have to drive to that store push around a ridiculously large shopping cart then find my Baby’s diapers then get mad that I went through all that to pay $1.40 more (not to mention the membership) and get 20 diapers less!!!! WTF????
Once you join the subscribe n save which essentially means you subscribe to the item you buy to have it shipped out to you ever 1, 2, 3 or 6 months, you can change your subscription or cancel it at anytime, you also get to become a Prime Amazon Member for free which renews when you purchase qualifying items.
If you sign up for a free subscription to American Baby Magazine they have Amazon Coupons in them occasionally, that’s how I discovered it!
What’s better than shopping and saving money without leaving your Home?

On average I save 30% to 45% on my shopping trips. I’ve done better and I’ve done worse but any time I can save money for my family I’m happy!!!

Happy Shopping!!!!

Lora Roy is a Mother of 2 Daughters ages 6 and 1 and is homemaker in Burrillville RI.