Couponing

Couponing- Have I mentioned how much I LOVE COUPONING? I started couponing almost a year ago. It has really helped my family financially. I have created a pretty good stockpile. My main stockpile items are cereal, pasta, toilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergent, deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo, body wash, and hair color (yes hair color- I figure since I color my hair- why not stockpile it? especially when I can get boxes of hair dye for no more than $4 with coupons). I do most of my couponing at Publix, Kroger, CVS, and Walgreens. I steer clear of Walmart for the most part unless I can get items for free with coupons; then it's worth the trip. My very first couponing trip was last April to CVS. It was the easiest couponing trip ever. I had it all planned out, what I was going to purchase, how many transactions, how I would use my ECB's (Extra Care Bucks), etc. I say I did pretty good and from then on I was hooked. Couponing became sort of an addiction those first few months. When summer came it became much harder to coupon because I had 3 kids in tow. Couponing and Kids don't mix well. It takes a good bit of undivided attention to both and boy I am sure my patience wore thin pretty quick. Once school started back in August, I picked up what I loved doing best; finding those deals, matching those coupons, and heading out to the stores once again. To say the least, I haven't bought laundry detergent in over 10 months. I have quite a stockpile of various detergents. I have learned to not be so picky in the brands because I am all about saving $$$.