New Year savings start big!

One of my new year's resolutions is to make every effort to save with coupons. In a way, this will help curb some of my impulse shopping as I'll need to know what I'm buying and check for coupons first. Yesterday was my first big grocery shopping trip of the New Year and I was so pleased that I saved more than ever - $25!!! I shop weekly and this could easily mean a savings of $1,200 in year JUST on groceries. Part of my big savings was that I used 2 $3 off Rayovac battery coupons that made my 2 battery items FREE!! I'm going to do my best to keep track of how much money I can save this year.

Another bonus savings: my son lost his bike helmet, so we made him use his allowance to buy a new one. But before he headed out the door to Toys R Us, I gave his a $5 of a $25 purchase coupon! I won't add that to my savings tally since that was his savings and not mine. I love teaching my kids about saving a buck!

COUPONS!!!

I've rediscovered couponing to a whole new level. I've always used whatever coupons were available at the grocery store (I shop at the commissary) and grabbed extras on things I purchase often if the expiration date is a ways out. I was even printing coupons online when a monthly reminder would arrive in my email inbox from CouponSurfer. But now that I've discovered http://www.hip2save.blogspot.com/, I've been transformed into a coupon/money-saving machine! For the last 3 weeks, I've been hitting it hard on the coupons when I do my grocery shopping. I saved $17.05 the first time (see my picture!), I think $16 or so last week and saved $12.61 today (today was a lighter trip)! If I can average a minimum of $10 in weekly grocery savings, that's $520 a year!!! Now if only I can motivate myself to put all my savings money aside so that I can put it use doing something spectacular....we'll see.

Hip2Save is also great at posting all the latest deals - may it be a free gifts with purchase at different sites or a way to snag an outstanding coupon, it has been hooked and singing its praises. I plan to you keep you posted on my great finds!