When did you notice your savings, and more money in your pocket?

[puakinikini]

It took me about 6 months to really see the difference, but when I started I only stock piled stuff that was free (I still paid tax on non-food). I did not have alot of money when I started so I had to be very careful with my spending. I now spend about $75 a week for 6 + 1 dog (and that includes everything, including soy products for my dairy-free daughter and diapers for 1). I feel like I really get my money's worth for my $75. I buy a lot of produce and meat. I usually save about 63% these days. I am lucky though to have stores that double and who compete with each other.

[Robbied]

I am new here and this just all seems so overwhelming. I was excited to save 23.00 at publix today. Just wondering how you get coupons for meat..steaks, chicken etc? I did find some Jennie O coupons but how do you get fresh food, fruits coupons etc? Robbin

[wealthybarney]

One helpful thing that I found was on the frugal living forum. There, they have grocery store sale cycles. What will be on sale in Oct. & Nov. for example. Then, I'll know what I can match my coupons to ahead of time, or if it is a living off of what is in the freezer that month.

I like planning one or two months ahead what I can stockpile with, or if I am going to put that money into savings that month. The Month I am really looking forward to is March-Frozen Food Month! That means in December, we will start eating off the freezer until it is empty, defrost it, and then load up for the year in March!

[clu925]

I'm also a newbie ... discovered the underworld of couponing August 2nd thanks to a crazy friend (Thanks, Rhonda!) I went crazy at first too and spent ALL my free time searching for deals, buying up all the Glade products in town! I swear I would actually get "high" every time I sent to CVS and the total came up to $100+ and I only had to pay $2.98 AND they paid me to take it home - I was hooked!!! But I soon discovered that all those $2.98 prices tags quickly added up and I was actually spending MORE than I was before and going in the hole every week because I was buying stuff that I normally wouldn't buy just to get that great deal. And for some strange reason I was terrified that I would miss a deal - crazy, right?

I HAD to get a grip on my mental process!! My main focus now is saving money on food and stuff we use all the time (like toilet paper). My goal each week is for my grocery savings to be MORE than what I paid. Like yesterday at Publix my bill was $98.47 but I only paid $32.89, a savings of $65.58. I only buy the "extras" if they're FREE. I still get a little queazy everytime I pass up a great deal ... but if I really don't need and can't afford it I have to control myself and not buy it. I have a great stockpile so when I'm feeling "sick" over missing a deal I look in all my fully stocked closets and it makes me feel a little better :-)

[mommas2moody]

clu925 - "And for some strange reason I was terrified that I would miss a deal - crazy, right?" That doesn't mean you are crazy, I think (from reading posts by the pros) it's a common "feeling" that alot of newbies have. Personally I think it's part of the learning process.

I like your thinking about buying the "extras".
For me, I have a bad habit of buying "extras" because I feel like I have made up for it with the coupons. Like this weekend at Publix I bought us some ice cream (Bryers BOGO :) ) even though I didn't have a coupon for it, I felt like I was paying for it with the other coupons I was using.

[YouPdWhat]

This thread contains helpful info so ing it up for new members!