Well, according to my husband there is a coupon crazy subculture and I have officially crossed over and established residency. I have been "flirting" with couponing for over a year now. Pretty much ever since we got the internet. I started by always searching for discount codes online, using Ebates, reading Freebies 4 Mom, etc. But, up until this point I was still not willing to go to the store on a regular basis. ( I currently only go to the store every two weeks) But, Stephanie & Lindsay have officially inspired me to take it one step further. My story is pretty much similar to Stephanie's. I was a frugal person. Remember those Tight Wad Gazette books I read? Hysterical! I also shopped at Aldi, and used coupons occasionally on the very select few items I actually buy name brand. And don't get me wrong I am still committed to Aldi. (I mean when have you seen a coupon for produce?)
However, I knew from talking to Stephanie & Lindsay it was possible to get stuff for cheap (yep, even cheaper than Aldi sometimes) or even free! So, I finally took the time to read enough blogs to figure out what coupon stacking, doing the drugstore thing, and all the other coupon lingo was talking about. And I have to say they have made a believer out of me. So, here is my bounty from my first trip to Walgreens. I got all the stuff in this picture for less than $40.
So here is my pledge. I won't always share with you pictures of the stuff I'm buying. While I find this fascinating and very helpful on other people's blogs that isn't really the purpose of my blog. However, I LOVE a great deal so every once in awhile I will probably update you on how my savings are going. My goal is to save enough money to justify having cable/internet. The past year someone gave us this as a gift. It has been lovely. It was the first time we had cable ever, and the first time I've had internet access since we move to Hannibal. However, the year is over and I am really wanting to keep it. So, this is my answer to justifying keeping this added expense. (and I am so attached to blogging I'm afraid I might have to admit myself somewhere if I had to give it up completely) So, that means I will need to save at least $80 a month on my "house" budget. According to all these lovely blogging coupon crazy ladies this seems like an attainable goal. I'll keep you posted.
Coming soon a post about my other frugal endeavor, a container garden on my porch. Still working on that one. Now if I could only sew... (Nope, not happening! I'm sticking to Goodwill and Yardsales for the clothes.)