Extreme Couponing: Practice Run!

I have said many times that I want to be an "extreme couponer." I wouldn't want to be like one of those people that are crazy while doing it, but I would like to use coupons to save money on things we want and need. I have been clipping coupons for quite a while, with the full intent to go on a grand shopping trip and stock up on things; however, with working as much as I have and wedding planning and working on the house, my time is stretched pretty thin. 

Anyway, I decided that this week I would actually GO. Part of this decision was based on Farm Fresh's new ad, which said they would be doubling coupons up to $2. Normally, they double up to 99 cents daily, and $1 on Wednesdays. For those that don't know, doubling coupons means that the store will match the amount stated on the coupon- so, if the coupon states that it will take $1 off the item, the store will match the dollar off, making it a total of $2 off the price of the item. Doubling up to $2 (making the total savings $4) is a big deal, especially if the thing you want is already on sale, so I had to check it out.

After going through the ad, I found a great deal I was super excited about. Tylenol Precise Pain Relief products were on sale for $5, and I had a $5 off coupon, making the item free. That's right, I said FREE. I had wanted to try them out, and now was the best time to do it. :)

I made a list of some of the things I wanted and the coupons I had for them. The list was a great way to keep track of what I wanted and how much I would actually have to pay for them...which makes it easy to write about it later! :D

The following is a short recap of my shopping trip: Go to Farm Fresh, wander around the pharmacy section for a billion years because drugs are UBER EXPENSIVE, only get one Tylenol Precise patch box because it was all they had (I wanted two), wander toward yogurt and get last ones, get call from Will, complain about various grocery things on phone to Will while wandering more, eventually check out with coupons, SUCCESS.

I spent a total of two hours in Farm Fresh. I left a little before 11:30. Hahaha.

Here is a picture of my awesome haul! (Minus one yogurt cup because I ate it.)

And, for my own records, the cost, coupons used, etc:

• Swanson Flavor Boost (Chicken)- on sale, 2/$5, $1 off 1 coupon, doubled to $2, total cost = 50¢
• Yoplait Greek Yogurt Cups- on sale 10/$10, used 2 50¢ off 2 coupons, doubled to $1 off 2, total cost for 4 cups = $2
• Tylenol Precise Pain Relief Patches- on sale for $5, $5 off 1 coupon, total cost = FREE!
• Duncan Hines cake mix- on sale for $1.79, 35¢ off 1 coupon, doubled to 70¢, total cost = 79¢
• YoCrunch Yogurt- on sale 10/$6, $1 off 4 coupon, doubled to $2, total cost for 4 cups = 40¢
• Campbells Soup at Hand- on sale $1 each, 50¢ off 2 coupon, doubled to $1, total cost for 2 = $1

At checkout, my total cost before coupons ended up being $17.64. After coupons, the amount I paid ended up being $5.14. I saved a total of $12.50, which was a savings of 72%. :D (The receipt calculated all this out, not me, btw. Haha.)

The 72% savings is extremely impressive until you learn how small my purchase was...but hey, it's a start. I have deemed this shopping trip as my "practice run." I'm hoping I can find more coupons and combine them with great sales to stock up on things for our house. And hopefully the next trip will take less than 2 hours. XD

Soft Words and Loud Actions.

Silence is too often the answer for the most important questions, and loud answers are given by those that don't know what should be said. Words are often wasted on meaningless things; actions speak louder, but few are willing to take them. Soft words and loud actions rule our lives.


...anyway.

Today, we talked to the florist, got undergarments, picked up the dresses, got an alteration appointment, and got a dress for Granny. Very productive day. Will was also productive- he did a bunch of errands today, mostly related to the house. :)

I'm irritated with certain people currently, but it's my fault for expressing my views. I feel no shame in doing so; I am more upset that I was attacked about it by people I thought were friends that would support me no matter what. This has happened twice recently; once on a facebook post, and once through text. I understand that everyone has their own opinion, but can they PLEASE just respect my opinion and my wishes when and if I express them? :(