how i save money long

bellelamb

      OK so I finally have a minute to sit down with the computer and type. I've said a few times on here how I use coupons and shopping as a couponer as a way to save our family enough for me to be a sahm. It all started for me after my middle son was born and I had to go back to a job I hated and then I was laid off and then I got pregnant with lo and now I'd be paying more for daycare than I'd bring home... SO I had to figure out a way to be a sahm and still have enough money for our family of 5 to survive.

     I stumbled across couponing before I got laid off and after I just threw myself into more and more. Now I save about 50% off retail total on everything I buy, not to say I save 50% on everything, some things I save 0%on some things I save 100% on.  It's harder to save high % on food but health and beauty it's easy to save a lot on!! I started by following the blog called the krazy coupon lady. She breaks things down so you can follow a plan and save money. The best place to start is this page

 https://thekrazycouponlady.com/beginners/

read it though it explains why just clipping coupons and using them to buy what's on your grocery list this week isn't enough for you.

I have started a small stock pile in my home so I never run out of tp, toothpaste, shampoo, dish soap, razors, cereal, canned goods or other house hold things. I buy them when they are cheap or free so that I NEVER pay full price for them.

 A simple example is at CVS this week

 Buy 1 Venus Razor, 1 ct $6.99, regular price
Buy 1 Select Gillette or Venus Razor, Receive $5.00 ExtraBucks, Limit 1
Use one $3.00/1 Venus Razor from Parade 12/16 (exp 1/31)
Pay $3.99, Receive $5.00 ExtraBucks
Final Price: $1.01 Moneymaker

 in this deal you get money back from cvs as extra bucks to use on your next purchase on the krazy coupon ladies web site she takes that out of the total cost of the thing, so on this deal you pay less than they give you back for what you bought and who can't use more razors for free!!!

I'm not going to lie it does take time to do it BUT it's time that I'm with my boys! I know this has gotten VERY long and I'm sorry. I know I've missed a lot of information and if anyone as questions please ask.

 

 

mrsshawnavanb

What are your sources for coupons? Obviously, the sunday paper, the clipper inserts that are mailed out, but do you also use the web to find coupons? Then how do you know which store has the item cheapest? Also, do you end up shopping at multiple stores in order to maximize savings? Thanks for sharing!

tjkdlhb

I laughed when I saw the most recent commercial for Walmart... they were talking about how you can save on paper towels, diapers, shampoo etc...I just don't use most of the things that they were "rolling back" on...

I use unpaper towels (napkins really) for almost everything.  Rags for the floor, dishcloths for messy counter. So I don't buy those.

I use cloth diapers... So since I bought them, I don't buy any more.  You can get a decent stash for $300-$400 easily.

I use cloth wipes too... just cut up old receiving blankets and some of the million facecloths from the baby shower... I just wet a bunch once or twice a day and keep them in a container on the changing table.

I use shampoo sometimes, but my hair is a mess...I think it's the quality of our water here... believe it or not, the only thing that cuts the grease out of it properly is baking soda.  I tried it as a "I've tried everything else, why the hell not" when I saw that some people do this online.  I use shampoo about half the time and baking soda the other half...

Speaking of razors, if you dry them and store them out of the dampness of the bathroom, they last practically forever.

I don't use shave gel... just soap on a bath sponge...

I don't buy many cleaning supplies... Vinegar and baking soda can clean practically anything.

I don't buy all of my clothes used, but whenever I am in the city I do go to the good second hand store to have a look and I've gotten some great things for myself and DD pretty cheaply.

 I've only bought a few pairs of PJs and a couple of sleepsacks for DD new because we got a lot of hand-me-downs.

I used to be a drugstore junkie... couldn't walk in without spending $80 or so... I've barely been into a drugstore since LO was born and I started thinking about being a little more conscious of my spending/environmental impact. 

tjkdlhb

Bellelamb, I'd love to see the sites you use as well!

bellelamb

Did you girls go to the link I posted sorry don't know how to make it clicky?! That's the best place to start she will tell you what to buy where each week what coupons to use, even link you to the printable ones.

tjkdlhb

https://thekrazycouponlady.com/beginners/

  Thanks Bellelamb......just made it clicky on my laptop.

bellelamb

tjkdlhb:

I laughed when I saw the most recent commercial for Walmart... they were talking about how you can save on paper towels, diapers, shampoo etc...I just don't use most of the things that they were "rolling back" on...I use unpaper towels napkins really for almost everything.nbsp; Rags for the floor, dishcloths for messy counter. So I don't buy those.I use cloth diapers... So since I bought them, I don't buy any more.nbsp; You can get a decent stash for 300400 easily.I use cloth wipes too... just cut up old receiving blankets and some of the million facecloths from the baby shower... I just wet a bunch once or twice a day and keep them in a container on the changing table.I use shampoo sometimes, but my hair is a mess...I think it's the quality of our water here...nbsp;believe it or not, the only thing that cuts the grease out of it properly is baking soda.nbsp; I tried it as a "I've tried everything else, why the hell not" when I saw that some people do this online.nbsp; I use shampoo about half the time and baking soda the other half...Speaking of razors, if you dry them and store them out of the dampness of the bathroom, they last practically forever.I don't use shave gel... just soap on a bath sponge...I don't buy many cleaning supplies... Vinegar and baking soda can clean practically anything.I don't buy all of my clothes used, but whenever I am in the city I do go to the good second hand store to have a look and I've gotten some great things for myself and DD pretty cheaply. nbsp;I've only bought a few pairs of PJs and a couple of sleepsacks for DD new because we got a lot of handmedowns.I used to be a drugstore junkie... couldn't walk in without spending 80 or so... I've barely been into a drugstore since LO was born and I started thinking about being a little more conscious of my spending/environmental impact.nbsp;

All of this is good too except when I get free wipes your still paying more to wash cloth ones, I buy new clothes for less than used, and I get great deals on the baking soda and vinegar too!

Some of us are not willing to give up shampoo or shaving cream, especially when the last bunch I got I made money on :
This doesn't fit into some people's lives but for us I'm saving on things we use plus thekrazycouponlady.com also lists all of the other ways to save aka making your own cleaners, and laundry detergent.

tjkdlhb

bellelamb:

tjkdlhb:

I laughed when I saw the most recent commercial for Walmart... they were talking about how you can save on paper towels, diapers, shampoo etc...I just don't use most of the things that they were "rolling back" on...I use unpaper towels napkins really for almost everything.nbsp; Rags for the floor, dishcloths for messy counter. So I don't buy those.I use cloth diapers... So since I bought them, I don't buy any more.nbsp; You can get a decent stash for 300400 easily.I use cloth wipes too... just cut up old receiving blankets and some of the million facecloths from the baby shower... I just wet a bunch once or twice a day and keep them in a container on the changing table.I use shampoo sometimes, but my hair is a mess...I think it's the quality of our water here...nbsp;believe it or not, the only thing that cuts the grease out of it properly is baking soda.nbsp; I tried it as a "I've tried everything else, why the hell not" when I saw that some people do this online.nbsp; I use shampoo about half the time and baking soda the other half...Speaking of razors, if you dry them and store them out of the dampness of the bathroom, they last practically forever.I don't use shave gel... just soap on a bath sponge...I don't buy many cleaning supplies... Vinegar and baking soda can clean practically anything.I don't buy all of my clothes used, but whenever I am in the city I do go to the good second hand store to have a look and I've gotten some great things for myself and DD pretty cheaply. nbsp;I've only bought a few pairs of PJs and a couple of sleepsacks for DD new because we got a lot of handmedowns.I used to be a drugstore junkie... couldn't walk in without spending 80 or so... I've barely been into a drugstore since LO was born and I started thinking about being a little more conscious of my spending/environmental impact.nbsp;

All of this is good too except when I get free wipes your still paying more to wash cloth ones, I buy new clothes for less than used, and I get great deals on the baking soda and vinegar too! Some of us are not willing to give up shampoo or shaving cream, especially when the last bunch I got I made money on : This doesn't fit into some people's lives but for us I'm saving on things we use plus thekrazycouponlady.com also lists all of the other ways to save aka making your own cleaners, and laundry detergent.

I don't pay to wash my wipes... I wash them with my diapers. 

bellelamb

Maybe but you stil pay for water, electric and detergent don't you?? I'm not saying what your doing isn't great I'm just saying it isn't for everyone.

tjkdlhb

bellelamb:

Maybe but you stil pay for water, electric and detergent don't you?? I'm not saying what your doing isn't great I'm just saying it isn't for everyone.

No, it may not be for everyone... Your point was on the wipes... since I do them at the same time as my diapers, there is ZERO cost for my wipes. I made them by cutting up hand-me-down receiving blankets and using baby washcloths gifted to me at the shower.

but regardless, since we're now getting into the detergent/electricity debate... it is still WAY cheaper... my detergent costs 12 cents a load.  There has been negligible increase in my water or electric.  1 load every three days is nothing.  And it can be line dried, if I chose to do that...My diapers have already paid for themselves compared to what I would have been spending on disposables.  My "break even" point was at 7.5 months.  My SIL has purchased a cheaper stash and will "break even" after 2 months. I will also use them for future children.

So from this point on, for the rest of our diapering years and accounting for increases in water and electricity, I will be paying less than a dollar for two-three days worth of diapers.

bellelamb

tjkdlhb:

bellelamb:

Maybe but you stil pay for water, electric and detergent don't you?? I'm not saying what your doing isn't great I'm just saying it isn't for everyone.

No, it may not be for everyone... Your point was on the wipes... since I do them at the same time as my diapers, there is ZERO cost for my wipes. I made them by cutting up hand-me-down receiving blankets and using baby washcloths gifted to me at the shower.

but regardless, since we're now getting into the detergent/electricity debate... it is still WAY cheaper... my detergent costs 12 cents a load.  There has been negligible increase in my water or electric.  1 load every three days is nothing.  And it can be line dried, if I chose to do that...My diapers have already paid for themselves compared to what I would have been spending on disposables.  My "break even" point was at 7.5 months.  My SIL has purchased a cheaper stash and will "break even" after 2 months. I will also use them for future children.

So from this point on, for the rest of our diapering years and accounting for increases in water and electricity, I will be paying less than a dollar for two-three days worth of diapers.

Well I'm glad it works well for you! Like I said its not for everyone and wasn't the point of my post, some others had asked me to explain what I do so I took the time to type it out. I'm sorry if you disagree. I was just trying to help some of the other May mommas out.

tjkdlhb

bellelamb:

tjkdlhb:

bellelamb:

Maybe but you stil pay for water, electric and detergent don't you?? I'm not saying what your doing isn't great I'm just saying it isn't for everyone.

No, it may not be for everyone... Your point was on the wipes... since I do them at the same time as my diapers, there is ZERO cost for my wipes. I made them by cutting up hand-me-down receiving blankets and using baby washcloths gifted to me at the shower.

but regardless, since we're now getting into the detergent/electricity debate... it is still WAY cheaper... my detergent costs 12 cents a load.  There has been negligible increase in my water or electric.  1 load every three days is nothing.  And it can be line dried, if I chose to do that...My diapers have already paid for themselves compared to what I would have been spending on disposables.  My "break even" point was at 7.5 months.  My SIL has purchased a cheaper stash and will "break even" after 2 months. I will also use them for future children.

So from this point on, for the rest of our diapering years and accounting for increases in water and electricity, I will be paying less than a dollar for two-three days worth of diapers.

Well I'm glad it works well for you! Like I said its not for everyone and wasn't the point of my post, some others had asked me to explain what I do so I took the time to type it out. I'm sorry if you disagree. I was just trying to help some of the other May mommas out.

I thought that was the point of the post...to discuss money saving options. All I was doing was listing some of the things I do... I was under the impression, maybe mistakenly, that this was the kind of post that everyone else could jump in with more ideas to help out the other May Mommas.

I said nothing that disagreed with what you said in your original post.  And in response to your questions, I simply answered them. You were questioning my choices. Not the other way around.