If you’ve ever wondered how I came to be a “deal-a-holic” you can go HERE to BeCentsAble and read my story. It is honestly hard to remember my life before becoming a frugalista 🙂
I’d love to hear your stories or even why you started couponing–feel free to tell us in the comments section!
7 Comments
My story is not as dramatic as a lot will be. Two years ago I walked out of a Belk’s store after buying more perfume that I did not need just to get a “free” gift of make-up. I realized how I was throwing money away so I decided to start saving. But I knew that if it showed I would not do it and dear hubby would rebel. I searched the web and found a site on MSN that was dedicated to “frugal living”. I read this and learned how great coupons were so I started searching for more details. After a while it became fun, how low could I get our weekly budget and still eat good. Then I learned about stockpiling. I still remember the first deal in which I left the store and called all my friends, The Clairol Perfect 10 at Target with a gift card. I had enough haircolor to color my hair for a year and at the small cost of $20.00 max, a little more than a one package.
The stockpile helped to see us through a layoff last April will no problem (short term thank God). Now my family can eat better than ever, I am less stressed since I can throw nythng together from the freezer or pantry, I can help family/friends and donate more. The principles I learned have been applied to other areas of my life and I can now realize my dream of taking a sabbatical or continue to save for another year and pay off the house.
My story starts with a body that would not produce breastmilk. I had my son in November 2007, but, by January, he wasn’t gaining weight because I was not producing enough milk. I have no idea why, but, after several visits to an LC and a lot of herbal remedies, I finally had to supplement with Similac to help him gain weight. With that came the shocking price tag of formula and thus a couponista was born! I started trading for Similac checks and coupons, which then turned into coupons for diapers and it snowballed from there. At this point, in six months, I have saved over $4000 in sales and coupons from stores as diverse as Publix (thanks, Michelle!), Ann Taylor LOFT, Old Navy, Staples, and more.
My next challenge is to get my weekly grocery bill to under $50 and maybe less once the holidays are over. Thank you for everything! This site is the key to it all. If you had business cards, I would be handing them out right and left. Everyone asks me how I do it and I always tell them about your site.
In fact, I am using all of the great deals and coupons you let us know about here to collect food to donate to a food bank this holiday season. My husband and I always choose a charity to donate to during the holidays. I thought a food bank would be a great fit this year since I am able to get such great deals on food stuffs. Not only do I thank you, but I am sure that many families in our area here in northern Alabama will thank you as well.
Thanks for sharing! We are glad you found us!
Chrissy
Becentsable
Thanks for your story. I have always been one who enjoyed getting something on sale or saving a few dollars on something. I too have seen the news programs featuring families that spend very little on their groceries, but couldn’t understand how it was possible. I was using coupons every week, but my savings at Wal-Mart never amounted to more than $10.00. What was I doing wrong. A Publix was built in the city I live in not to long ago, and my husband wanted me to start shopping there. I told him that stores like that are too expensive and I would continue to shop at Wal-Mart. Little did I know I would have to eat those words. I started going to just get the B1G1 items and I would use a coupon if I had it, but would continue to got to Wal- Mart for everything else. All that changed in July of this year when I got behind a woman who spent less than $3.00 on a cart of groceries. I asked her how she did it, and as soon as I got home I started researching the sites and have been hooked ever since. My weekly budget before was $120 a week. Now I am sepnding about $50 a week on groceries. As much as I hate to say it my husband was right. Good bye Wal-Mart!
As a stay at home, homeschooling mom of 3, and wife to a deputy, money is hard to come by at times.
I started out by hearing people on yahoo groups talking about getting groceries for next to nothing each week by coupons! Since I began couponing in April, we have saved countless dollars from being wasted on groceries and household items. A typical shopping trip takes me about 1-2 hours to prepare. By preparing, I know exactly what I’m getting, where I’m getting it, and have my coupons ready to go. The 1-2 hour preparation time may seem like a long time, but when I go in to shop, I know where to go and am in and out of the stores at lightening speed. This is a MUST when shopping with 3 kids ages 6 years to almost 4 months. They are great helpers at finding coupons hidden throughout the stores.
By couponing, I have ventured into previously uncharted territories, shopping at better quality stores than before. I used to just say “Oh their prices are much to high”, but thanks to couponing I can buy name brand items in Target and Publix for much less than the discount stores.
My favorite part of couponing is the cashiers at the stores. It is very enjoyable for me to hear them to announce the price and then hand over the stack of coupons. When they get to the final price, they are always amazed and bug-eyed at how much I got for such a low price.
Saving money is now a hobby of mine. My husband couldn’t be more proud and I am thrilled to be able to save some of his hard earned money instead of throwing it away at full-priced groceries.
I became frugal in college becuase I wanted to spend all my money on clothes and not food. But I never started couponing becuase I found this site about 3 life-changing weeks ago!!
whoops I meant, I never starting couponing UNTIL I found this site, and that I coupon BECAUSE of this site