In an attempt to be a better steward with the things we have, I started reading frugal blogs and I discovered a whole community, with hundreds of blogs devoted to how to pinch pennies. With my husband a full-time grad student and me a stay at home mom, we are not pinching them, we have them in a vice grip. So, I was encouraged and slightly awe-struck at the ability of these women to live off a forty-dollar monthly food budget, get toiletries for free, and even make money stacking coupons and printable things and in-store ads and magic…I was amazed. And so I thought, well, if they can do it, so can I!
How wrong I was.
To be fair to me, there’s no way that many of their wonders could be done in LA, where gas prices are hitting five bucks a gallon and milk’s already past that. Nevertheless, I was going to do what I could.
My foray into this new level of frugalness began simply. I went to CVS, which I learned from all the blogs was the best place to get practically free things. I read tutorials on how to work it, got my plastic card membership and started perusing the ads that came every week. I started to learn a new language made up of things like BOGO 4/1. When I felt ready, I ventured in, determined to begin slashing the budget. My first trip to CVS ended in a $47 dollar bill and me thinking, “I don’t know the last time I spent so MUCH on toiletries.” One thing I did learn about CVS is that they do not have carts (at least not at mine). The sight of me in that CVS with two kids, one in the stroller and the other one trying to carry a mega-pack of toilet paper while I try to balance the other one on the top of the umbrella stroller and carry everything else in a basket was pretty amazing, even if my bill wasn’t.
Not to be discouraged, I went back to CVS again to get “free” things, but didn’t have the receipt from the time before, which I learned the hard way was needed to get all those “free” things. I thought that nifty plastic card I got would be able to keep track of the bucks I had acquired. Not so. I left with another large bill and the hope that my husband never actually looks at the amount I have spent on toiletries in the last month. Plus those bucks expire, which means that I have to remember where the receipt is, and remember to think of something that I need in the next month before the money disappears.
So maybe this CVS thing wasn’t for me. Next I tried printing coupons from the internet and using them. Coupons, I can do coupons. Safe, tangible coupons. I read on a frugal blog how you could get free makeup by going to Walgreen’s this week and using a coupon I printed out. So I went, all jazzed that I was going to do it, I was finally going to get something for free. Well, first of all, apparently my Walgreen’s is some sort of anomaly, and the sale wasn’t happening. But, I thought, it’s still a good deal, and I really wanted to try my coupons, so I got a few things and headed to the register.
After the coupons didn’t scan, the checker called over two managers, who both stared at the coupons, accused me of making copies of coupons and insisted that they didn’t take these. I feebly countered that they were internet coupons and you are supposed to print them out. After a lengthy huddle, punctuated by all kinds of angry and frustrated looks at me, the three employees shooed me out saying something like, “well, we’ll do it THIS time, but we don’t take THOSE,” like I was running some sort of fake coupon fraud ring to get cheap lipgloss.
So, apparently I am not cut out for the royal realms of frugality. I think maybe we will just have to find other ways to be frugal…toothpaste every other day maybe? Maybe not. I understand that counterfeiting lipgloss coupons can be lucrative, maybe I should try that.
Laura @ Mommy Menagerie
http://mommymenagerie.blogspot.com
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I feel your pain on the CVS and coupons. I can't seem to make that work, either. In addition to the huge bills, I end up with a bunch of junk that I am not ever going to use. Not for me.
You might like to read The Simple Dollar. It's been helpful to me in being more frugal without the aforementioned nonsense.
A recent post about being frugal – http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/thesimpledollar/~3/322597128/
Oh, I am right there with you. I've tried CVS, Walgreens, and coupons but I just can't seem to make it work for me either. If I had more time, I could probably get it figured out but alas, I don't!
Tara, thanks for sharing The Simple Dollar post!
Couponing is nonsense in my opinion. It's valuable time spent on purchasing over-packaged, chemical laden over processed merchandise. Why not use more natural and less expensive home made cosmetics and cleaning products? Or maybe, experiment with cooking from scratch with simple ingredients?
Also it's a mentality of getting something for nothing, even if you don't end up using it that is bothersome as well.
There, I'm glad to have that off my chest.
hahahha this post was hilarious! I too recently decided it was time to take control and be a bit more frugal. The blogs I read talked about spending $60 one week and $15 the next at the grocery store…families with kids. I shop for my husband and I (ahem and a dog and 2 cats, that counts right) and routinely spend over $100. This week was my first week of trying to budget. I went armed with a list that had monetary allotments (is that a word?) with a total of $55. I spent $56!!!!!!!!!!! I was on a high all day from that bill. FINALLY! I don't have to feel panicked when handing over our joint debit card. I can't wait to try for $15 next week. Yipes!
Coupons are just a marketing ploy – most of the time you can find a different brand with a better deal, or make it yourself (like why get a 50 cent off coupon for pudding cups when scratch pudding is SO much yummier and can be made for pennies?), or get by without it (it is possible to live without air fresheners, even if you have a 25 cent off coupon.) So I don't bother with coupons, unless it's a loss-leader one from a grocery store – we can use buy-one-get-one-free eggs or something like that, but those are few and far between.
If you're really looking for Frugal 101, get the Complete Tightwad Gazette. (Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375752250/103-2104238-0366248?v=glance&n=283155) That book is worth its weight in gold and completely changed the way I look at money and stuff. The author takes an unashamed approach to frugal living, and it not only gives you tips, but helps you to learn to think frugally so you can learn to solve your own problems without instinctively throwing money around.
Good luck to you!
Great post! I'm totally relating, but it does get easier. Stick with the frugal mindset. You'll find what works for you!
I came across this post and just had to share. I have been using http://www.thegrocerygame.com now for months and have saved tons of money on my groceries. You will have to check out the website to see if it is offered in your area, but once you learn the game, it's fun and you will save lots of money. For example I spent $99.00 and got $112.00 in free groceries. you can see for yourself at the link below. Enjoy and watch and save. Belssings,
Paige
http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=1AF6ACBB6BCCE40A11AE1147865EF9FC?contentId=6600878&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1
Too funny! Your experience sounds a lot like mine! Walgreens didn't work for me and I don't have CVS near me but it probably wouldn't work either. Too sad. Here's to finding something that works better for you!
Cheers!
I don't understand all of the negativity towards those of us who regularly and systematically use coupons and the drugstores to make our budgets work for us. As wifes, moms, and women in general we should be building each other up. I'm sorry that this type of frugalness didn't work for those of you above but please don't knock those of us that it does work for. Whatever you are doing to be frugal is a step in the right diretion, and in my experience frugalness and going green go hand in hand. I would love to make pudding from scratch but the milk for the scratch pudding alone costs more than the pudding cups I was able to snag this week for free. Plus with 4 kids and a teaching job I would rather sit down with my kids with a pre-made pudding cup on our picnic table than slave over the stove for the same amount of time. Of course, I do cook with my kids and that is a lot of fun but it is reserved for holidays and weekends. We all have to manage our busy lives and our shrinking household budgets so let's just encourage each other to do it in the best way possible for our individual, unique families.
Angie
http://www.thriftyfloridamama.net
Thank you Angie for standing up for those of us who have made this work for us.
CVS is not hard, but you have to learn about how it works. In that respect if you had the time to write/read this post and I am assuming others, you probably have the time to learn how CVS works too.
Oh, I am sorry if my post came off as negative towards the coupon extraordinaries out there, because that's so far from the way I feel. In fact, it was my sincere admiration and awe at your ability that made me jump in and try it! I wish I could work it like you, but I'm far from there right now. I was just giving a voice to those like me who are finding it difficult to follow in your fabulously frugal footsteps.
Laura,
I didn't think your post was negative but rather some of the comments. "Chemical laden food", "coupons are nonsense", "marketing ploy", etc. I think we should all encourage one another without attacking what any one of us does to save money.
We each save money differently as we all have different priorities. For example, I find that buying cheap food to save money toward an entertainment unit is getting the short end of the stick–at both ends! To me coupon clipping can be a temptation to buy things cheaply that I didn't need in the first place. And I'd have to buy staple items at a time when I don't need them. It's just counter-intuitive. We all want what's best for our families. But to buy some cheap toiletries that some child in china assembled for a low wage means that they paid for these things, we didn't. I say buy quality or do without.