Saturday was jam-packed with activities…mostly shopping-related.
The day started off with a phone call to Rooster’s 9th grade English teacher. I’ve had the privilege of subbing for her quite a few times. Her students are well-behaved, and I know it’s due, in great part, to her leadership.
I stopped by her classroom last week to chat, and during the conversation, the topic of couponing came up.
Well, you know me…all I need is an invitation, and I throw open the door.
I gave her a brief overview of what I do, and she casually said, “I want to go shopping with you.”
“Really?” I said.
“I’m serious,” she said.
So, we made arrangements to get together today. I called this morning and invited her over to look over my shoulder at the prep work I do on the computer.
She did better than that by bringing her laptop.
Perfect! She was the model student, bookmarking my favorite shopping sites and quickly getting sucked into my world. She was amazed at the sales listings.
I showed her my coupon binder and folders for my inserts and also gave her tips for using Google Reader to keep up with postings.
And then it was time to shop! She could hardly contain her excitement!
We headed to our local Publix, and I began our hands-on learning experience by explaining that she needed to check the front for circulars and coupon booklets. This was a new concept for her, and she got excited when she found a coupon for two free reusable shopping bags with the purchase of Energizer batteries. Too bad she didn’t have a coupon on the batteries (I’ll pull one from my stash and have her go back and get her money for it).
And then the real fun began.
Up and down each aisle we went. I had my shopping list in hand (did you know that you can now print shopping lists directly from Southern Saver’s website? Tres cool!). I pointed out several blinkie machines and instructed her to save the coupons for later. We actually found a better deal using a blinkie coupon we found on Hunts tomatoes ($1/4) which beat the coupons I had planned to use.
I shared a few of my own coupons with her…enabling her to get free yogurt and almost-free Au Gratin potatoes.
Watching her in the store was like watching a child in a toy shop. She usually shops at Walmart, so she had never seen some of the items at Publix. She was giddy with joy.
When we got in line to check out, she mentioned to the checker that her friend (me) was teaching her how to shop with coupons. I beamed.
I let her have her groceries rung up first because she had the fewest items. She eagerly watched the register’s screen and uttered shock when she saved more than she spent. She had never done that before.
She turned around, saw a checker she knew, and announced the grand news that she had saved more than she spent.
It was endearing.
Meanwhile, my groceries were being run up. I saved over $60 and spent $49.49. It wasn’t my best day for savings, but that was only because there was a lack of competitor coupons to stack with my manufacturer coupons. Considering that I still had coupons on nearly every item I purchased, I did well, saving 55%. I’m used to saving a minimum of 60-70%, but I consoled myself with the fact that without the savings, I would have spent $110.
Here’s what I got…
The only items I did not have coupons for were the bread products, fruit, and meat.
As we parted, I spied my friend happily walking away, new shopping bags slung over her shoulder.
It was a grand feeling to know that I had taught the teacher…opening up a whole new world for her in much the same way she does for her own students.
Filed under: Saving Money | Tagged: grocery shopping, publix, Saving Money | 1 Comment »
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