The Goody Life

Meet the Coupon Queen

I've been clipping coupons for a couple months now, but a recent discovery has helped me organize my "couponing" and save TONS more money.  Ashley Nuzzo is a former teacher from Tallahassee who has been getting national attention for her website, Frugal Coupon Living.  On her site, which is updated constantly, she posts sales, coupons, free givaways, and tips for getting the most out of your coupons.  What I have found most valuable is her weekly grocery deal lists, in which she goes through, store by store, and lists the items that are on sale and what coupons are available to match up with those sales.  The coupons typically come from either the inserts in the Sunday paper, or can be printed off the computer.  The last couple weeks, I've saved about $15-$18 per visit to the grocery store.  But today was a new record for me....I saved $8 at CVS (and only purchased three items- shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion) and got $6 worth of CVS coupons on my receipt to use next time.  THEN I went to the grocery store, and I saved $31 off of my total!  The highlight was the box of Knox gelatin, on which I MADE money (it cost $1.39 and I had a $4 coupon.)  I don't have any plans for what the heck to use Knox gelatin for (no, I'm not making Knox Blocks, mom), but who cares, I made over $2 by buying it.  Basically before I go to do my big weekly shopping trip, I take some time to go through and look at her lists, figuring out whether I might need any of the things she has listed.  I don't buy anything that I wouldn't normally get, although I have been trying other brands than normal, based on the sales/coupons.  The other things that I've changed is how I keep track of my coupons.  I used to cut out the ones I thought I might use, but they often got lost or just went unused.  Ashley suggests dating and then hole-punching the entire insert from the Sunday paper, and then keeping all the inserts in a binder until they expire.  It's a whole lot easier flipping through that binder than digging through mountains of little coupons.  Plus, when she lists on her site that there's a $2 coupon from an insert on 4/5, I can go right to that insert and cut out the coupon I need.  It definitely takes time....I would say I spent an extra 45 minutes searching, printing, and organizing coupons before I went to the store today.  But hey, I think it's worth it! 

I swear I'm going to stop shopping....

Stewart went back to work today, so I went to the mall to return a few things.  I didn't intend to do any more shopping, but the deals are so incredible right now, I just couldn't resist popping in to Gap.  And Old Navy.  Check out my bargains.

I loved this shirt so much I bought two (one in black and one in cream.)  The website price is still $26, but I got it in the store for $15.  It looks so cute under a cardigan!

I also got this skirt from Old Navy, since all my skirts are too big.  Again, I got it a little bit cheaper than it is on the website- only $12!

It was an especially fun shopping trip because the shirt I bought was a size XS and the skirt a size 4!  Even after the few extra holiday pounds!  I still can't believe I'm wearing these sizes...it's hard to believe that at my heaviest I was wearing a size 14/16.  Of course one of my resolutions for the new year is to keep up the healthy lifestyle (isn't that everyone's resolution?)  We're considering joining the YMCA this month while the enrollment fee ($100) is waived.  I've gotten a little bit burned out on running, and it would be nice to be able to take some aerobics classes and use the elliptical trainer.  The payment plan is just month-to-month so we wouldn't have to sign a contract or anything like that.  Hmmm, maybe we'll go do that tomorrow afternoon.  It will stop me from doing any more shopping!

Pretty Ruffle Sandals

Quick trip to the mall this evening to buy some smaller pants for the man of the house, whose clothes are now two sizes too big.  I spent my clothing allotment earlier in the month on the big Destin shopping trip, so I had to show restraint and not buy these sandals from Gap.  Instead of spending the money on them I'm posting them here, in hopes that they give me just as much joy on my blog as they would on my feet.  I'll let you know how it works out.

     

Ruffle Sandals  $29.50

Favorite Find: Chunky Ring

I went to Destin this Saturday with Stewart's sister and parents.  (Poor Stew had to stay home and study, but he did get a sweater and some T-shirts out of the deal, so don't pity him too much.)  In Destin, if you're not at the beach, the two best things to do are shop and eat.  We did plenty of both.  I got some great clothes at the outlets, but my favorite purchase was my long sought-after chunky ring.  I have been looking for a big ring for at least a year; several of you have probably been with me on one of my ring-seeking quests.  Because of my freakishly small hands, most rings crossed the line from chunky to looking ridiculous.  I actually had found this ring several months ago, but it was more than I wanted to spend (even though it was on sale), so after wearing it around the store for a while, I put it back and the quest continued.  Well, my patience and perseverance paid off, because when I found it yesterday the price had been slashed again!  I think it has kind of a vintage look, like it could have been passed down from a grandparent.  Isn't it great??

I will not buy more clothes....I will not buy more clothes....I will not...

Is it bad that I want everything on this list?  Except maybe the skirt; I don't love the buttons down the front.  But I do love the halter (in green), the cardigan, and the trench.  I think my favorite is the blazer...I could wear this for years....it would be an investment....

I will not buy more clothes....I will not buy more clothes....I will not buy more clothes...