Back in September 2011 I lost my job.
So my husband and I put ourselves on a very strict budget.
As I’ve mentioned to some of you, he likes to shop at Vitamin Cottage for about 80-90% of our food. The other food and toiletries I get at King Soopers.
We agreed that he would get a $75/week budget and I would get a $25/week budget. (Before, there was no budget, we both just bought what we wanted)
So on my first trip with $25, I came home with:
1 lb of butter
1 lb of cheese
1 small jar of peanut butter
a box of teabags
2 lbs of apples
1 lb of ground beef.
And I OVERSPENT by $5! (Count them – 6 items for $30!!) All those items could fit in ONE grocery bag!
I was so discouraged, our fridge looked so bare and we started eating much of the older food in our pantry (which was a good thing so it didn’t go to waste). This went on for about a month. 
One day when my friend Rachel T. and I got together for our weekly playdate, she happened to bring along her coupon binder and backpack full of coupons she needed to clip and file. I asked her about it and boy did she have plenty to tell me! I had my objections of course! That we eat primarily organic foods…that the things I use never have coupons…wouldn’t it take a long time? She answered those myths quite easily.
Today, if came home with 3 FULL bags full of groceries and I only spent $30. Yes, $5 over my budget (but hey, I got a job again, so it isn’t as big of deal!) Here is what I bought:
2 bags of chips (organic)
3 packages of paper plates
4 jars of Ragu pasta sauce – that I will be donating to a family in need
1 bottle of Safflower oil (organic)
5 packages of UP2U gum – donating, and I got if for FREE with a coupon
1 box of store brand rice
4 pouches of bumblebee tuna
2.5 lbs of bananas
3 lbs of apples
1 pint of ice cream (organic)
That is 23 items! for the same price as what I paid in the first list.
You might notice that the 1st list is more healthy than the 2nd list.
But you know what? I’ve already stockpiled peanut butter, teabags, meat, butter and cheese (using coupons of course!)
Now I can spend money on other items to compliment our meals, add a little change to our diets and fun to snack time.
Not to mention I get to donate to a family in need.
I felt the need to share my story. I hope you get something out of it.
About Andrea: She is a mother to two, wife, and of course a coupon-fanantic. Her passion for couponing shows in her everyday life. She teaches couponing classes and is an administrator of the facebook page Colorado Coupon Ladies. If you have any questions concerning organic living, couponing or more, leave a comment for Andrea.
Thank you Andrea for your Coupon Testimony! We hope this inspires our readers to look into the advantages of couponing.
