*A Hobby??*

I work part-time at a local gym ~ an all inclusive type of place ~ they have a child care center where you can drop your children off while you go lift weights, take a Zumba class, go swimming or go play basketball in the gym. They used to do massages there too, but somewhere along the way, they phased that out! My job is supposed to be "part-time", but it always seems to take longer than the 25 hours I think I am supposed to work~ so I think I usually end up working umm, close to 40 hours a week. Most women, with children, would love to be a stay at home mom. I do!! However, just right now, at this time, I can't do that.

So, one thing I am doing to help my dream of being a SAHM come true is cutting coupons! Yes, I said it, cutting coupons!  I guess you can say it has slowly become kind of like a hobby for me.  Can couponing be a hobby??  I'm not going to become CRAZY with it, I won't run ALL OVER town to get the BEST DEALS on what ever~ I just want to cut costs where I can.

A couple of grocery stores close to my house double coupons less than .99 daily.  One particular grocery store will periodically will have a week were they do "Super Doubles" which means they will double coupons less than $1.98  (so that $1.50 coupon, automatically becomes $3.00)!!!  After some researching and reading up on how to coupon effectively, I've learned a little bit about the game!  I still however, have A LOT to learn!!

Here is a picture of my first coupon experience last year~ May 19th, 2010.

Total Items: 38
Total Cost before any savings:       $86.57
After Coupons and store savings:
$41.01 Approx $1.08 an item









Here are 3 pictures from my last coupon experience~ June 23 & June 25, 2011

Total Items: 16
Total Cost before any savings:      $44.06
After Coupons and store savings:
 $13.89 Approx 87 cents an item

  

Total Items: 13
Total Cost before any savings:  $39.91
After Coupons and store savings: 
   $18.53 Approx $1.43 an item

  

Total Items: 11
Total Cost before any savings: $41.73
After Coupons and store savings:
  $12.45 Approx $1.13 an item








Now, after this experience, I learned SOO MUCH!!!  I met a couple other crazy coupon people in the store, and I asked a few questions, and got some GREAT coupon tips!!  I also, should have waited an extra day before I went to the store, because a friend brought me all her left over coupons she wasn't going to use!!  I could have saved A LOT more if I had doubled up on my coupons!!  But oh well, you live and you learn!!  

During these trips, I did buy some things I normally wouldn't buy, and I did buy a few things I didn't have coupons for, but were things I did need.  However, I am proud to say, if I didn't use any coupons, I would have spent right over $125 for all the 40 items I bought!!  Instead, I spent right under $45 total!!!  I am a happy woman (even thought I know I could have saved a little bit more!)!


The more money I start saving now will lead me to my dream job: A Stay At Home Mom!