WELCOME

Welcome to my money saving blog!

I know that there are a zillion coupon/money saving blogs out there. So why create a new one???

Well, here's the thing...
My husband took a new job 2 months ago and with that new job came a significant pay decrease (which we were expecting). The job in and of itself has been a wonderful thing for our family...less stress, home by 5pm for dinner, seldom working weekends, etc. However, the decrease in pay has created some new challenges. We first sat down and came up with a new budget. At first I was incredibly optimistic but I soon realized that I really had no idea what it cost us each week outside of our fixed expenses. Plus when you add to the mix that we just had our first baby last spring and I quit my job to stay at home with him...we were really in for a surprise! The reality of the cost of diapers, formula, cereal, baby food, wipes, etc. hit me hard in the face. I must admit that it stung a little!

So what did I do???
What any other woman in my situation would do...I started cutting coupons! However, I really knew nothing about the "art of couponing". I did not know that there were good, bad and better ways to use them. After following many bloggers that have gone before me and reading up on "the best use of coupons", it has revolutionized my life and the life of my family. I have kept an ongoing tally of the money that I have saved since I began this journey 6 weeks ago. I have spent $531.49 on groceries, toiletries, and baby items (mainly diapers, wipes, formula, cereal, etc.). I have saved $317.98. That is a 59.8% savings. Just think...before my cutting coupon days I would have spent all $849.47. WOW! I am slightly disgusted with myself!

Why did I start this blog?
Since I am new to couponing I thought that I would blog about it for three reasons

1. As a way to help keep myself accountable. Trust me, there are days when I would much rather just walk right into a grocery store and get what I need without a coupon. However, if I did this then we would be without something for the week. We are on a very tight budget. Which I am sure that half of America can relate to with these economic conditions.

2. Many blogs have been active for over a year. Since I am just beginning my couponing/money saving journey, I thought that it would be easier for newbies to follow. We can learn together! Trust me, in these economic conditions I know what it is like to lose a job, take a job with a lower salary, live on less yet still want more and be forced to budget...budget...budget. Not because you want to but because you MUST!

3. One of the stores that I like to shop at (Marsh) never gets blogged about. Not to mention that it has a bad reputation for being overpriced. I am not saying that they don't have anything that is overpriced. However, when I compare the ads each week (Marsh to Kroger) the items that we get coupons for tend to be about the same. Sometimes Kroger is a little higher for a specific item and sometimes it is Marsh.

Enough of my rambling...you'll be seeing more of it daily! I hope this blog helps you save money but most importantly...I hope that this blog will give you peace and hope in your current financial situation. Just to know that there is a way live on less so that you can cut debt and replenish your savings...one coupon at a time!