Josh and I had a "budget meeting" the other night to update our monthly budget and to set some new spending/saving goals for 2010. To be quite honest, I dread these "meetings", but it was really good for us to take a little time out of our normal evening routine and really get on the same page regarding the money that is coming in and going out! The biggest line item in our budget that we tend to blow each month is on food/toiletries/household items....we group all of these items together because we usually purchase them at the same time at the grocery store, Target or Walmart. So, our new budget for these items is $400/month. Since I'm usually the one purchasing these items, it's now my job to make sure that we stick to this proposed budget. I'm not a coupon girl....BUT I'M ABOUT TO BECOME ONE! I posted a "request for coupon help" on my Facebook status earlier this week and I got some great comments! Beginning April 1st, it's all about coupons baby in the Rives household! I'll keep you posted on how it goes. I'm really hoping that I can finish the month under $400. Is that realistic? I hope so! Here is my game plan thus far....
1) Follow the Krazy Coupon Lady Blog....it's amazing! I've been browsing it a little each day and I'm really loving it so far. I think it will be very helpful.
2) Purchase the Sunday paper and start clipping!
3) Purchase a mini file folder and get organized with my coupons and shopping lists.
4) Pray that I don't drive myself crazy.
If you have any advice/suggestions, please leave a comment. I need all the help I can get!
9 comments:
Hey Mindy! This is Jennifer..Courtni's roomate from A&M. She showed me your blog and when I saw this topic I couldn't help but comment. I have become a pro at couponing (pro is a relative term) :) Anyways, if you really want to save a lot using coupons I would say you really need to shop at Kroger. Doubling a Tripling the coupons makes the biggest difference and on average I save between 30-45% every week! There are also electronic coupons you can download straight to your Kroger card or print them out. You can find those really easily by googling it! Good luck!
What a great idea! I think you are going to find that it forever changes you once you start, but in a good way. I know you can get your budget down, can wait for updates
You and I are going to have a meeting and you're going to teach me once you get the hang of it. I've researched "The Grocery Game" and understand her ideas but my problem is that I don't know that I buy a lot of things that have coupons. So, I have just been shopping at Wally-World to save money. I'm going to check out this blog and let you be my tester :)
I am a crazy coupon lady :) You can totally make that budget. Ours (family of 4) was $250 and I just started doing cash this month and I am going to try and make it $200 to save for a trip this summer.
Good luck with it!
I will have to check out KCL! I shop at the commissary (military grocery store) and they have amazing prices (especially on meat and produce) the one I go to has coupons down the aisles as you shop so that helps. I feel like I could save even more if I just tried, thanks for the info!
I am a coupon clipper. My tips, yes you need the Sunday paper, Walmart double the coupons on Sunday. Don't get tempted and clip things you don't use. That will put you over that budget. Only things you always buy. I save always $10.00 - $15.00 per Walmart trip. Some brands work, on the not so pricey product on the coupon. Colgate, $1.00 off their premium toothpaste, works on the .97 cent one. FREE
Ok this is SO ironic Mindy. I have a post that I have been continually editing this week about this EXACT same thing!!! I can't even believe it! I was waiting to post it until after today (you'll see why when I post) but seriously, what are the odds? I will be sure to post it as soon as I can because I have another mommy coupon blog that you might be interested in as well...I think it's different from the one you posted.
I laughed when I saw that you dread those "meetings"... I dread them too... and I thought I was the only one! Chris keeps saying that we need to do it... ahhhh!
One thing that's also helped us is doing cash for groceries/toiletries/etc. It keeps me from buying things because they're packaged cute! :) And... I will reward myself if I have money left over at the end of the week/month with a treat! :) (Usually some sort of lotion, lip gloss, nail polish, etc...)
It also helps as you get closer to the end of the week/month to decide how much you really need the item.
Oh how I hate our budget "meetings." They ALWAYS start out with , "my dear...." That is the husband's KIND way of telling me I SPEND TOO MUCH! GOod luck with he coupon adventure. It drove me nuts and once I went back to teaching full time, I threw in the towel. We only use cash (or might I say that is what the husband tells me to do) so that helps (if I abide by the rule). Good seeing you today!
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