Holla for a Dolla

With the economy like it is, and prices constantly rising, money can be tight some times. Let’s be honest, the money that we make now isn’t near as much as it used to be growing up. The fact that our grocery bill each week for two people ranges from $120-$180 for ONE week is just ridiculous!!! Now, this does include some essentials when needed such as cleaning products, some personal care items, light bulbs, laundry detergent etc. Chris and I cook dinners at least 4 nights a week and take our lunches to work at least 4 days of the week. I eat breakfast in the mornings every morning, Chris only eats breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays. So that gives you an idea of how much we are purchasing. I try to make at least one meal a week that can be reheated as a left over a second day. We don’t buy in excess so food doesn’t go to waste.

With all that said, I have tried very hard to cut our grocery bill down. There is only so much that you can cut, especially when trying to eat healthy. I mean, a box of Kraft Mac and Cheese or a package of Ramen noodle soup is super cheap, but I don’t want to eat all that processed shit. (Don’t get me wrong, I love both and it makes me sad to try not to consume them anymore.) I decided the only way to cut our bill without cutting out nutritious, wholesome meals was to cut coupons and shop deals every where I can.

Now, before you think this is a sponsored post by Target, I assure you it is not. I am just saving too much money not to share. If you are from Target and you are reading this, please feel free to throw me some money or free products and hook a girl up?!

We do about 95% of our grocery shopping at Target. We have a Target card that automatically gives us 5% off every single thing we purchase from there. Hello. Why wouldn’t you have one of these glorious cards?! Last year we saved almost $400 just with that card! Since I do my grocery shopping at Target, I downloaded the Cartwheel App a few months ago. This app is amazing! I have saved over $20 in the last two months with it. We get a free local newspaper in the mail once a week. About 8/10 times, there is a coupon book in there along with the Publix sales ad for the week. I cut out a coupon for every single thing that I might purchase. Now, I don’t buy something just because I have a coupon for it. I only use them when we are going to actually need the product. I also look at the Publix ad because lets be honest, Target doesn’t always have everything I need, so I sometimes I have shop at both stores each week. If Publix has their salad mix buy one get one free, I will get it from there instead that week or look at other deals on things we might need.

Shopping at Target also provides coupons. At least 2/3 of the time they will hand me 5-6 coupons with my receipt that printed out, and they are all on products that I actually use. Last week I got a FREE item coupon, $1 off produce, $1 off fresh meats, and $1 off fresh veggies. Hello!!!! I buy all those things EVERY week, I will take the $3! That money adds up quick!

The great thing is that the Cartwheel app can be used in combination with coupons and your 5% card. Sometimes I might save a couple of dollars on an item or get it almost for free with the combination of the three! Last week I saved $33 dollars with cartwheel, my card and coupons. This past week I saved $21 with the combination. I felt like a freaking rock star walking out of Target with all my savings!!!

Now, not every week can I get $30 in savings, even if it is only 50 cents I will be excited because that is 50 cents I have to put towards something else!! While this takes a little planning on my part, between cutting coupons, going through the cartwheel app each week and adding and removing different deals based on our grocery list, it is time well spent. I look at it as I am getting paid to do it. And, once you meal plan and look up deals for a few weeks, you get into a rhythm and it takes hardly any time at all.

I feel like my inner cheap chinawomen Kathy is coming out! But, if I can keep extra doll hairs in my wallet to spend on something fun rather than a necessity, then gosh darn, bring it on!

Another great thing about being a Target Red Card customer is that I get catalogs in the mail every now and then that will have a $10 off $50 on it. Around Christmas, I had a $25 of $150 coupon!!!! A FREE $25?!?! I felt like I won the lottery!

Another way I have gotten some great coupons in through BzzAgent. It is sort of like Influenster. They send me products to review, or coupons to purchase products and then tweet about it, write a review for their site, or share with my friends or readers. They also give me coupons to hand out to my friends. Almost every time I meet the girls for lunch lately, I have had a coupon to hand out and a new product to buzz about. It has been really fun!

So, are you trying to coupon and save money where you can? Don’t worry, you wont find me on an episode of Extreme Couponing on TLC. Though, you may find me on hoarders for all the pets I want to save! (It’s ok, I still only have 2 dogs but a girl can dream, no?)