Round 1

Let's be honest. Couponing takes a lot of time. And occasionally sucks the sanity from you (what little we have left). While the main reason I coupon is for my family, it is also trying to juggle my family responsibilities while planning, clipping, printing and searching that makes it so difficult.


When I started couponing I dove in head first and didn't look back. I went from oblivious shopper one day, to die-hard couponer the next. And for months I slashed hundred of dollars off of my grocery budget. But then life got in the way and I began to feel overwhelmed. Inserts began piling up. I began to ignore major sales. I stopped contributing to this blog. I put my couponing ways on pause.


And that is completely okay. Sometimes you have to take a breather. Walk away if you will. It can be stressful and difficult, and a few months away might be just what the doctor ordered. But you want to know the best part about my couponing vacation? Because of my adequate stockpile, I was able to just purchase meat and produce and essentially live on what I had in my pantry. That is the beauty of couponing. Creating a food storage for a fraction of what it would have cost in my former non-coupon life, allowed me to maintain my newly trimmed budget. But...


Breaks over. I'm back. And what a sale to come back to. Here is what my first trip looked like tonight:

32 Boxes of cereal

3 boxes of pancake mix

5 bottles of syrup

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$42 after sale discount

-$24 (8) $3/5 Quaker coupons purchased on ebay

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GRAND TOTAL $18

I saved $156.40.

Now that's just fabulous!!

It's good to be back! And it's just day 1!


ps. No, I do not plan on keeping all of the cereal for my family. My kids would be on a perpetual sugar high and mommy might lose her mind. I'm sharing it. No, I did not clear shelves. I special ordered- but honestly they are so well stocked there was no need to. And yes, my daughter is wearing panties under her leo. It's what I get for leaving my husband in charge of dressing her before gymnastics.