Stuck on "Repeat"

Do children think that your response to a question is multiplied by the number of times they ask it? If I ask for juice 20 times I'll get 20 cups! My two year old son will ask me a do something or give him something, and if I don't comply with his request immediately he'll just repeat it over and over. It drives me bonkers! I don't foresee any long car rides in our family's future.

Week One Summary

I did two shopping trips last week. Here's a list of the items added to my stockpile on each trip and my final cost:

• Trip #1
• 10 boxes of bandages=FREE (100% saved)
• Trip #2
• 2 bottles of BBQ sauce
• 10 protein bars 
• 2 tubs of margarine
• 4 packets of rice sides
• 2 bottles of lotion
• $22.01 (63% saved) (I overpaid by $3.00 because I didn't give the cashier 3 coupons)

After my first week couponing I spent $22.01 for $61 worth of merchandise. That's a savings of 64%! Not quite "extreme couponing," but still a lot of money saved.

Score!

As a couponing newbie I have a long way to go in stockpile building. I don't plan on hoarding my goods until every inch of my home is used for grocery storage, but I would like to have enough of the things we use to tide us over until each item goes on sale and I can get them for little or nothing again. Today the stockpiling began! I found a printable coupon for $1 off any Nexcare bandage at iamthatlady.com. There's no limit to the number of coupons you can print, and Wal-mart sells Nexcare bandages for $1 or less, making them FREE. I printed off ten coupons, and I now have ten boxes of bandages in my stockpile. Here's the link to the coupon I used: http://www.iamthatlady.com/2011/05/walmart-free-nexcare-bandaids/

My Couponing Quest

Like most SAHMs, I'm always looking for ways to save money. I've tried using coupons a few times in the past, but I was never able to figure out how they would save me money (using a coupon for a few cents off an item I wouldn't normally buy will cost me money), so that never lasted long. This past weekend I watched a marathon of TLC's Extreme Couponing, which reignited my interest in saving with coupons. Sitting there watching these people stockpile years worth of groceries and household products got me excited to make another attempt at couponing myself.

Join me over the next few weeks while I navigate the complex world of couponing. I'll share the things I learn along the way, offering tips and insights that may inspire you to save along with me!