Coupon Q & A.

I have had so many questions about this couponing thing and more people are interested in it than I ever would have thought! I have gotten calls, emails, texts, etc....asking how to get started, tips, deals, general questions, and some successful shopping trips that I thought I would post some of the ones I have gotten in case it might answer a question you have!

Please let me just say that I am no expert at this at all and have only been doing this since September. Most everything I have learned came from just reading the SouthernSavers website and practice!


*1* Is couponing really worth it?


Based on my receipts, what we have in our pantry, what we eat for meals, and the excess in our budget for groceries/household items that I don't spend that answer is a resounding, yes. I personally have been happy with it and will continue to do it! It does take some time at first, but over a short period of time you get an "eye" for it and the process goes much more quickly and becomes second nature. For all you finance and numbers people take a look here at this Wall Street Journal article---it might make you think twice about it!


*2* Do you always have receipts where you save more than you spend?


Technically, not always. What I mean by that is they are usually within a few dollars of what a spend vs. what I saved. That includes the special sales in conjunction with coupons. This week I spent $67 and some change and saved $87 and some change. Our bill was slightly higher than normal b/c I had to get some items that were not on sale and usually never go on sale!

*3* Where do you find the best deals on diapers?

Usually, I get them at Target b/c they will allow you to stack a manufacturer's coupon and a target store coupon. Every few weeks they will have a special where you can get a $5 gift card with the purchase of two diaper packs and that is when I stock up. Typically, I have Target Baby Club Coupons for Pampers and a manufacturer's as well. I will also hit up Publix when they are one sale b/c they allow you to stack a Publix coupon & manufacturer's coupon. However, if you can time the drugstore deals right and have the good coupons-- then I have found that is the way to go. I did the Rite Aid diaper deal and got 286 Pampers Baby Dry diapers for $32.14. This was using a combination of $5 off $25 purchase coupons and manufacturer's coupons. Final price factored in the $2.oo in rewards (check mailed to you) and a $15 Visa Gift Card due to a special promotion. Since I have been doing this, I have never run into a deal like that and it is not b/c I haven't been looking! Also, we don't have a local Rite Aid and I just happened to be going to my parents to drop off Anderson for the weekend and they have one near their house.

*4* How do you know what is the best price?

I use the Southern Savers "Buy Price List." I have found that her prices are similar to the prices here on the island (there are a few exceptions). She is based out of Columbia, so it will be close just about anywhere in the southeast. Click here to see how it works.

*5* Do you go to multiple stores to get all the savings?

Nope. I have no desire to spend all my time running from grocery store to grocery store. I am certain that this adds to your savings, but I am just not up for it. I stick to Publix, CVS, and Target, and I am usually not running to each one every single week to get the sales. I try to get to CVS once a week b/c the amount of free stuff you can get there is crazy and usually a register coupon prints a $5/25$, $10/$30, etc...coupon that the Publix I shop at will accept as a competitor coupon. There is a CVS near Anderson's MMO program so I stop by there on my way to the grocery for the weekly run after I drop him off.

*6* How do you organize your coupons?

I do not clip the coupons every Sunday. I have an accordion file that I label the date the coupons came out and stick them in there. When I go to do my grocery list, I look to see the date of the coupon match-ups and go to the section and look. When I go to the store(s) I have a Vera Bradley Pocket Organizer that momma got me and it has my list w/ coupons, receipts, and well as any gift cards that need to be used. I am famous for sticking things in my wallet and forgetting about it and then rediscovering it to see that it is expired!!

*7* Do you save on other things besides groceries?

Absolutely! You can pay rock bottom prices for household items as well. I save on toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, cleaning supplies, batteries, personal care items, and health care items as well. I used to think that getting those things at Target or Wal-Mart or buying in bulk is cheaper, but I quickly found out that with the coupons they take at Publix and using them when they go on sale is a much better deal!

*8* Isn't buying in bulk better?

No way. Look here for a short explanation---scroll down to #7 on the list.

*9* Do you sign up/register when required to get a coupon and do you get tons of emails?

It really depends on what the product is. If it is something I buy all the time, then yes b/c they will send you more coupons every so often and they are usually a higher value than in the paper. For instance, I signed up for Cottonelle to get a coupon--I love this toilet paper and will wait for it to go on sale (if I really needed it I would pay full price!). They send me a $1.00 off coupon about once a month. I have signed up for others as well and really haven't gotten tons of emails at all. Some other sign-ups that have yielded great coupons/offers are Publix Baby Club, Target, Proctor and Gamble, Pampers, Huggies, and ConAgra Foods.

Good Luck and Happy Couponing! I would love to hear some success stories!

Artist at Work!

Anderson is doing so many new things now that it is hard to keep up! He is enjoying his mother's morning out program and now just runs in the room to play without looking back, which is how I would prefer it! One of his new things is looking at books and "reading" and coloring. He won't sit too still for you to read to him, but when all is quiet and he over playing at his activity table (that is now our coffee table!) you can bet he is sitting beside it and looking at all of his books that are in the storage shelves under the table. It is so stinking cute! Because of this, I really wanted to take him to the lapsit program at our local library (well, it is not on the island and I have to cross a bridge--gasp!--I know that is unheard of for all you locals reading this or even the BLUFF folks who won't cross the bridge from the other side!). There is storytime, singing, and playing with all sorts of props like scarves, shakers, etc...he won't sit in my lap the whole time but I do think he does get something out of it!

Coloring after storytime!

He is really concentrating!



Time to change colors!

The finishing touches!

He likes coloring at home too and we have recently decided it was time to get a proper table and chairs for him b/c he tries to sit on the plastic storage bins that I keep some of his toys in. He will color in his coloring book and then wander over to his easel. He has been pretty good about coloring only on paper--but, from time to time he does try to color a puzzle piece, a toy, the activity table, etc...if I can keep him away from my walls that would be great!

The SEWE weekend!

Last weekend Brad and I dropped sweet Anderson at BG and Big Daddy's house and headed to Charleston for the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (SEWE)! This is one of Brad's favorite events and he sincerely enjoys every minute of it! This year we planned to go all out and stay downtown at the Charleston Place Hotel and be right in the thick of it! For Christmas, Brad got a Benefactor Package that got us into every single event of the Expo and access to just about anything. The events are set up across the peninsula at the Francis Marion Hotel, Embassy Suites, Mills House Hotel, Gaillard Auditorium, Marion Square, Charleston Place Hotel, and Brittlebank Park. We arrived at 11:30am on Friday and had plenty of time to run some errands, grab lunch, and catch the first Jack Hanna show and roam around the Gaillard exhibits. It was raining by the time the show was over so we headed back to the Charleston Place to see the exhibits there. We had plans to go to dinner at Magnolia's with our friends Rob and Ginny, but their babysitter called in sick and they were unable to get a replacement. That was probably for the better b/c the snow later that evening would have made it difficult to get back home to Mt. Pleasant. Since snow happens here once in a Blue Moon --- we are not sure so how to drive in it or deal with it in general! Lucky for us, our former neighbors in Park West were staying downtown (they both are big time SEWE volunteers) and joined us. I just adore them and it is always a treat to be able to see them and spend some time w/ them. Our friends Ginger and Andrew came up on Saturday w/ their daughter Mary Kate so we were able to hang out with them some as well!

The rest of the weekend we spent visiting the exhibits and I mainly followed Brad around where he wanted to go next! Saturday night we attended the SEWE Soiree which is a big oyster roast and wild game dinner at the Bus Shed. I know some of you are wondering how he was able to get me to agree to go to the SEWE---well, he did dangle a nice restaurant and hotel in front of my face :) In all honesty, he enjoys it so much and it was nice to see him relax and not think about work for a weekend. He works so hard for our family and deserves a break from it all.....the other stuff was just bonus.


This was one of Brad's treasures from the weekend. A official signed SEWE poster came w/ his package--when we got there they were offering an "upgrade" to a framed copy for an extra charge, of course! This won't make the wall in our house, I am afraid. Brad has taken it to his office at work. For those of you who know Brad...he dreams about deer with a rack like this (see I do know some hunting lingo)!

Forgive the fuzzy pictures. We did not remember to bring a camera so my Blackberry had to do. If you look close, you can see the snowflakes in my hair!

Parking Lot on Market Street w/ a blanket of snow!

World's smallest snowman on Market Street!

The weather stations were all calling for snow, but I feel it is always predicted and then nothing ever happens so I was just sure we would get zero snow. In true form, Anderson got his first taste of snow without us! Momma took him out and she said he liked it until he tripped and his hands went into the snow--after that the snow escapade was over and he wanted nothing to do with it! She tried to get him back out there and get more pictures, but he was over it. She did have his hood on him but he kept taking it off. We don't even own gloves for him--it just doesn't get that cold!

I love Charleston and loved living there and was sad to see the weekend come to an end, but I missed Anderson more that I thought possible. It is nice to be sans responsibility for a little while, but you just knew that something was missing. Brad and I always wonder what we did with all of our time before we had him--my parents would tell you that we were busy moving about the country (4 rimes to be exact!).

WHO DAT?

It sure was a proud day for all those Saints fans out there! While we are Panthers fans by default, we do have a soft spot for the ole' Saints since our stint of living in Pass Christian, Mississippi and we were happy to see them win the Superbowl!

Amanda and Allen hosted a fun Superbowl party and I think it was one of the first Superbowl parties that I have been to that most people actually watched the game. I tried to watch some with one eye and have the other on Anderson--which didn't work so well so I was constantly asking Brad what happened!! I lifted these pictures from Amanda's blog...I hope she doesn't mind!!

Anderson and his Da-Da

Anderson and Harper in a fierce game of connect four!

Harper is getting serious!

A Complete 180 Degrees...

This was Anderson about 5:00pm on Saturday....

--At 6:00 we were next door (more like across 4 lots and over a fence) at the neighbor's house getting ready to enjoy nice steaks on the grill.

--At 6:30 Anderson threw-up all over their floor..... hello, stomach virus....

Y'all, this stuff was rough and victimized our entire household. Anderson on Saturday night, me on Monday night, and Brad on Tuesday night..even despite our best efforts to disinfect, wash hands, and sanitize like crazy. We are all still recovering and I think a lot of the problem is lack of sleep. Last night was the first night since this started that Anderson slept the entire night w/o waking up several times b/c of fever, coughing, and just plain not feeling well. Brad has not taken a sick day for as long as I can remember and he was out 2 days to help me and then recover himself. Anderson still does not have his appetite back completely and is still feeling puny. He wants to be held and snuggled most of the time which I don't mind b/c I love me some Anderson snuggle time, but my back is killing me and I would much rather have the jumping boy on the couch from above.

From my blog readings, it appears that we were not the only ones down and out this week! I hope that everyone is feeling better and on the mend!

Now, does anyone have any ideas for a "sorry my son threw-up all over your floor" gift? Did I mention that we were not the only ones there.... I was mortified, even though they all understand!