2011 was a rough year for many coupon-lovers like myself. Thanks to the coo-coos on Extreme Couponing, lots of retailers cracked down on the amount of deals they offered and tightened up their coupon policies. Even my beloved Kroger now limits the number of like coupons they will double to five. WAAH!
But anyhoo, between having a new baby and dealing with Sophie’s delays, I didn’t have time to coupon as well as I would have liked. Oh, I still did my very best, but I had to give up the old coupon binder for awhile. I still carefully planned my grocery trips every week and clipped what I needed, but I just felt like the opportunities to save just weren’t there. And since the sales just weren’t there, our grocery and household items budget went up by quite a bit in 2011. It was discouraging!
Now that Jonah is older and Sophie is back on track, I have more time to devote to my coupons again. So, if the stores will just cooperate, I want to slash my budget again! SO far in 2012 I’ve done pretty well. I’ve got my binder back up and running, and a recent mega-event sale at Kroger really got me on a great savings path! Today I hit both CVS and Rite Aid for a couple small deals, which reminded me that:
So, I think I am going to try to start posting my shopping trips again. I shall try to revive the “See Jenny Shop” page, and hopefully I’ll have something good to put there! To get me going, here’s what I got at CVS today:
I likes me some Suave! CVS had a deal, buy $12 worth and get $4 extra care bucks. And the Zarbees cough syrup was free after ECBs.
2 Suave Professionals shampoo/conditioner $4
3 Suave body wash $6
1 Suave deodorant $1
2 Suave kids shampoo/conditioner $3
Zarbees cough syrup $6
total = $20
coupons:
$1/2 Suave Professionals
$1/2 Suave Kids
Buy 2 get one free Suave body wash -$2
8 extra care bucks
=$8.40 including tax, got back 4 ECB for the Suave and 6 ECB for the Zarbees, so 10 total for next time! Let’s just hope there are some decent deals next week so I can keep regaling you with pictures of my shampoo and my brother’s lady deodorant!
🙂
The extreme couponer people scare me a little!
UP
I was having the SAME issue – had a third baby, couldn’t find time to coupon and go to 3 stores a week and the deals just weren’t there. Then I finally gave Aldi a real chance and I am in LUV. I don’t have to deal with the binder and planning trips and arguing with cashiers and all of that, and I’m sticking within my budget better than I was even when I was couponing several hours a week. And the food is GOOD. I don’t know why I thought it wouldn’t be. Anyway, just an idea if you find yourself stressed about couponing.
I do go to Aldi every once in awhile when there are no good sales at Kroger, and I really should more often. I’ve been hung up on “kroger is right next to Sophie’s school” this year, and with such limited time while she is in school to go w/ only one kid in tow, that’s what I’ve been doing. BUT with my renewed commitment to savings, there are some weeks I am just going to have to go a little out of my way. I’ve always been pleased w/ everything I’ve ever gotten at Aldi.
Oops…typo in the blog address…
What is ECB?
It stands for extra care bucks.