Some coupons are not worth it

Used the 'kids eat free' Chili's coupon tonight ... not even close to being worth it.  Sure we saved the price of two kids' meals but the mediocre food, lethargic server, and cramped seating made it a less than pleasurable money saving experience.

Kids eat FREE at Chili's 5/31

I've been working on the yard for the past two days so I just printed this from Chili's:

http://chilis.zuberance.com/offersV2/singleOfferBuy/25409419

Real World Shopping Trip 5/28/11 - Newbie Hint #3

Took a trip to Kroger today to buy for our stockpile.  When we started couponing, Lisa and I said we would not build much of a stockpile but the more we got in to clipping and learning the ropes we decided that buying things on sale would net us a much bigger savings then buying only as needed.

So the stockpile grows with the coupon binder.

On today's trip Scott went to Kroger - BTW it's much easier and more enjoyable to coupon together - and purchased 90 items for a Total Value of  $256.13 -Combined In-Store and Coupon Savings $129.79 (51%) - Out the Door for $126.34. 


Here's the Newbie Hint - Check your store coupon policies often.  On an earlier trip to Kroger we were allowed to use as many coupons as we wanted - Today, Scott was limited to 4 like-coupons which limited our purchases and savings percent.  So either the policy changed (or was enforced) either way it would have been good to know before checkout.

Reall World Shopping Trip 5/20/11

Ok, so this trip to Harris Teeter was both good and bad ... good because it was out best trip to date.  Percentage wise anyway.  We purchased 15 items with a value of $46.33 using a combination of in-store specials, coupons and rainchecks we saved 66% and walked out paying only $15.78. 

Now for the bad, our savings would have been higher if it were not for at least half of our list being sold out.  Most of the stuff that was out would have been free or close to free.  Since it was triple coupons to $.99 rainchecks wouldn't have been worth the time at the customer service desk.  We're going back tomorrow morning to try again.  So here's hoping.

Newbee Hint #2

Buy or find extra newspapers.  There's nothing more frustrating then to see a good deal and not be able to take full advantge because you don't have the coupon or don't have multiple coupons.  We have found that a good rule of thumb ... if you're trying to save money not just hunt freebees ... is to get one set of coupons for each member of your household.  He have six people living in our home (Us plus 4 kids) so we get six newspapers each week.

Real World Shopping Trip 5/17/11

Cutting coupons is a lot of work ... scour the ads, cut the coupons and visit (multiple) stores.  So far it seems to be worth it ... two more trips to tell you about today.

Trip 1 to Bloom - 48 items purchased with a value of $160.33 combined coupon and in-store savings $74.39 (46%) out the door price $85.94.

Trip 2 to Rite Aid - 38 items purchased with a value of $136.61 combined coupon and in-store savings $83.33 (61%!) out the door price $55.48.

Running totals - Value of Purchases $985.24 combined coupon and in-store savings $409.15 (42%) Out the door: $578.29

Real World Shopping Trip 5/16/11

Harris Teeter - 39 items - Total Price $161.64, combined coupons, ecoupons, and in-store savings 50% ($80.80) out the door price ... $80.84.  Also left with three rain checks for out of stock items and stopped for three free Frozen Strawberry Lemonades (Parade coupon) from McDonalds on the way home.

Not the 98% savings you see on TV but remember we are trying to demonstrate what you can do when you don't have the time spend 30 hours per week couponing.  Our goal is always 50% or better which we achieved today!

Off to Bloom today for Super Double Coupons up to $1.99.  More about that trip later ...

Running totals .... Grocery Value:  $688.30 Coupon Savings: $251.43 (37%) Out the Door: $436.87

Real World Shopping Trip 5/15/11

We'd like to keep you up to date on our shopping trips ... if you watch Extreme Couponing on TLC it can be a bit discouraging when you see people saving thousands.  I'm not saying it can't be done, but in the real-world with couples who both work, kid schedules, coupon limits and the like it can be difficult to find the time.  Our goal is to save 50 - 60 percent off our grocery bill each week.  So far, we've come pretty close to doing so.  Last night Scott took a quick trip to Walgreens to buy Claritin for the kids and makeup for Lisa.  The pretax bill was $103.42, he used 6 coupons ($5-$5-$2.50-$1-$1-$1) and all the makeup was buy 1 get 50% off.  Total savings combined coupons and in-store specials was $34.00.  Total ticket was $70.88 (included 2 extra Sunday papers which will help pay for future purchases).  Total savings was right around 31%.  Not good, not bad on the percent saved.  I think I would have been able to stack the Claritin $5 coupons with a $5 store coupon had I made it in on Saturday ... oh well maybe next time. 

Newbie Hint Number 1

It's much easier to break into the extreme couponing game with the right help.  We discovered a site that helps you find coupons, comparison shop, and create lists.  We'd post the link but the site is a pay site (don't worry it's well worth it, this week's list totaled over $500 but our cost will be about $200 a savings of 59%) and they give credit for referrals.  If you'd like the link send your email to BigFamilySaves@gmail.com and we'll send you the link.

First Post

Hi everyone!  We are Scott and Lisa ... we have a big family and after watching TLC's extreme couponing we decided to give it a try.  We'll chronicle our attempts here.

BTW in our first trip out we saved $80.00 off our $235.00 bill ... Second trip $59.00 off of a $160.00 bill ... Third trip was a small trip to the drug store for some personals but that would have been FREE if Scott didn't buy extra 5-Hour Energy.