Newbies ~ Post Your 1st Brag

[NELSON7602]

I have only been reading the forums and saving up coupons for one week. in my first week i spent about $40, but had $20 in coupons. so oop was about $20, i got 5 fiber one cereal boxes, 10 hamburger helpers, 4 taco packaged products, found another peelie coupon and got a fifth taco item for free, 2 cheerios boxes. About 22 items for $20, i know i can probably improve but i was very very happy with this very first trip!!! I also got two coupons from the register, $1 and $3 off the next order so that made it even bette!

[darcon613]

FIRST FREE SHOPPING!

QTY 2 - Campbells tomato soup 2/1.00 w/ 1.00 off 2 Q
QTY 2 - Schick razor twin pack 1.50 ea w/ 3.00 off 2 Q

0.00 Balance!

I am playing it VERY safe until pay day, as we don't "need" anything, and couponing has already caused marital discord in the two weeks that I have been at it.

**The best is yet to come!**

[loveebella]

Way to go :) Hoepfully the *discord* end's when they see the savings.
If not you can always brag to your HCW friends ;)

[Adie]

Walgreens
Impruv lotion on sale 4.99-3.00Q=.99
Rimmell eye and nail 50% off-bogo=2.47

still learning!! Now I know why I need multiple coupons!!!

[couponK]

Last Sunday I saved $61 with my coupons when I went grocery shopping! That was 15% off my bill! Coupons are awesome! I can't believe I didn't use them to their full potential before. Lots to learn! Still want to be one of those girls that leaves the store with two cart-fulls and only paying $20. Anyone know of those coupon queens?

[danielleg-12]

Today was my very first trip to Kroger, and my very first haul with loads of coupons.
Our bill before coupons or our saver card was $170.99, after our saver card, e-coupons, and our printed coupons we paid $82.16!

So I saved over 50% on our bill and a total of $88.32.

I was amazed, I can't believe I haven't been shopping like this all along. I know it's not the ridiculous 95% off most of the ladies on here brag about but compared to the fact that I would have normally been paying the $160 I am beyond happy, and my husband was SO impressed!

I think my biggest satisfaction was that it wasn't all junk either, we're really healthy eaters and I don't think I sacrificed at all when shopping. I picked up a ton of coupons on tear pads while I was there as well!

[AmyinDM]

Originally Posted by couponK Last Sunday I saved $61 with my coupons when I went grocery shopping! That was 15% off my bill! Coupons are awesome! I can't believe I didn't use them to their full potential before. Lots to learn! Still want to be one of those girls that leaves the store with two cart-fulls and only paying $20. Anyone know of those coupon queens?

I'd like to be able to do that too! I don't know that I ever will be because I still have a fair amount of my grocery budget allocated to meat and fresh produce: I haven't been able to get much for free (if someone has secrets there let me know)! But I try to shop only the greatest sales on the fresh stuff that is costly. You'll quickly find that there are items that you will start going "I'm not actually PAYING for that. I can get it free!" Shampoo, toothpaste, etc. tends to become like that, especially if you utilize things like customer reward programs from drugstores.

I would love love love to have a Kroger here. The coupon doubling would be so very helpful. I think those who are really coming out spending nothing are often using those. I did get a deal at HyVee, our local grocery store, where I came out ahead. When you see in-ad coupons for a really good deal on something, try to pair that with a manufacturer coupon. That's when you'll begin racking up incredible savings. This week, for example, HyVee had a General Mills cereal promo--get $10 back on 6 boxes of cereal, many of which were on sale. Plus you got a $6 milk voucher. Pair that with coupons and your store is paying you to shop--or at least you're getting it for free.

Read the forums for your store and you'll be snagging the crazy deals in no time. :)

[lostinthemission]

This was my first "BIG" shopping trip. It was at Giant Eagle so my coupons were doubled, it helps a lot. Here's everything I got:

2 Johnsonville Fresh Beer Brats, 2 Tyson Heat and Eat Entrees, 2 Hillshire Farms All Beef Smoked Sausage, 2 Betty Crocker Frostings, 2 Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip Cookie Pouches, 1 Free Wilton Baking Pan, 2 boxes of Hot Pockets, 3 Breyers 6 pack Disney Yogurts, 6 cans of pillsbury cinnamon rolls (the 5 count cans).

My Total was $20.59 OOP. Saved $37.29. Then I got a $4.00 Catalina towards my next purchase.

[jolly321]

Originally Posted by lostinthemission This was my first "BIG" shopping trip. It was at Giant Eagle so my coupons were doubled, it helps a lot. Here's everything I got: 2 Johnsonville Fresh Beer Brats, 2 Tyson Heat and Eat Entrees, 2 Hillshire Farms All Beef Smoked Sausage, 2 Betty Crocker Frostings, 2 Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip Cookie Pouches, 1 Free Wilton Baking Pan, 2 boxes of Hot Pockets, 3 Breyers 6 pack Disney Yogurts, 6 cans of pillsbury cinnamon rolls (the 5 count cans). My Total was $20.59 OOP. Saved $37.29. Then I got a $4.00 Catalina towards my next purchase.

Excellent Job! Looks like you are doing well.

[foodie]

Great job--keep up the good work!

Foodie