The Beginning

There's no money, there's no food in the fridge, what next?  What to do when sixteen hours of work can't bring in ten bags of groceries.

It wasn't more two months ago when I paid $230.00 for two weeks worth of groceries, only to come home, get everything unloaded, and have the family look at me wondering if there was anything in the house to eat.  Even so, I would have to go to the store every other day or so to pick up whatever ingredient I was missing from that day's menu item.  And the prices in the stores have not been getting cheaper.  A gallon of milk costs almost as much as a gallon of gas.  And we are a single income home.  There has to be a better way to shop.

Short of living off of Top Ramen soup for the rest of the month, I had no idea what to do next.  My friend asked me if I wanted to go shopping with her that Saturday evening.  A chance to get out!  No kids?  No husband?  Sure!  So we went.  And as we shopped, I watched as she pulled out three coupons from her purse.

Now, if you are anything like I was, shocked was the nicest way I could put my reaction.  Coupons were for little old ladies.  Not us.  Barely in our 30's, I was not ready to fall into "That Crowd."  But, in the end, she got what she was looking for, and spent less than I would have bargained for. (Tide just isn't cheap.)

The next morning, I was watching the Nate Berkas show, and who just happened to be his guest's for the day?  These two ladies that were on some TLC show soon to be coming up called Extreme Couponing.  Joanie Demer (Pick Another Checkout Lane, Honey: Save Big Money & Make the Grocery Aisle your Catwalk (Lakeland Fellranger))was one of the ladies, and she was younger than me.  She didn't look old and stuffy, but she could bring her $600.00 shopping bill down to around $8.00.  I was shocked.   Seriously?  Less than ten bucks?  HOW?  

Thus began my search for savings.  It's been a little over two months now, and I have managed to shave around %70 off of our grocery bill every week.  We are eating well, not just a bunch of junk, and no Top Ramen.  :)  

In the next few weeks, I'll tell you all about how I did it, and how you can do it too.  And no, Couponing does not have to take over your life.  You do not have to spend 40+ hours clipping coupons, or going without the things you like to eat.