2010 Savings, Today's Groceries, & Nix Goes Girlie

I started couponing last year around August or so.  In September I decided to start keeping track of our spending and savings in a spread sheet so I can keep up with it over time.  The first two months were great, then we stopped being so hard-core about it but still saved a good deal.   Over the 4 moths we saved 73.60%.  So here's the stats:

What the total cost should have been:   $1,812.29
Geez! that is a lot of money on food for 2 people!

What we actually spent:      $1,105.99

We saved:   $706.30

To clarify, we buy stuff that we would actually use or eat. We don't just buy items because they're a good deal (unless I have a coupon that make it completely free).  We only buy organic milk and mostly organic or natural meats and produce, which I don't have coupons for.  There are organic coupons but I have not expanded to that..  yet. 

Last night we caught the tail end of a show called "Extreme Couponing" on TLC.  It reminded me that I am still very novice at this new hobby and it also encouraged me to keep going. The guy we saw bought TONS of stuff for next to nothing (like bought over $2,000 worth of stuff for less than $100) and gave most of it away to a food bank.   I think it'd be awesome if I ever had the time and talent to get that extreme and then use the talent to give to people who are in need.  It's a game and a challenge to me. It could very well explode to an "extreme" hobby but I still have a lot of learning and practice to do.

Today, I stuck to the manager's specials and found a lot of organic items on sale. Oh and I found the big bulb Christmas lights (for the outside of our house) on sale for $2 each!  Next year we will have lights!

I bought all of this for $36.41 and saved $42.63.  Pretty much everything was "natural", "organic" or rich in fiber so I felt pretty good about the trip.

I also bought some goodies for Nix at PetSmart.  Now let me preface this by saying, I don't like cheesy closes on my dog (you dog is your own choice) but Nix has such thin hair so she gets cold in the winter.  I finally found a dog sweater that wasn't complete ridiculous. It still seems silly that she's wearing a sweater but I have to be a good parent.  Here's our model.. finally looking more girlie!

I'll be posting a list of some birthday freebies next time so be on the look out for that! Goodnight.