My Year To Date Savings...

 

I can't believe the year is almost over. Where did the time go? 

I have calculated the total amount of money I have saved just from using coupons this year. Before I share that with you, I would like to tell you a short story that happened to me at Walmart just the other day...

As I entered Walmart, I grabbed a cart, opened my binder and set it down. I pulled my list out and I was on a mission. I went through the isles and picked up what I needed on my list and crossed it off. I got the normal, "WOW, look at all those coupons!" to "Look, there's your typical Extreme Couponer." In my opinion, those two words (Extreme & Couponer) never were heard together until TLC made a show about coupons. They clearly gave us a bad name. Just because we use coupons... does that really make us "Extreme"? At first, I felt the need to defend myself. We would talk about how they are judging a book by its cover and not realizing that I (and countless others) coupon to feed ourselves, help family, friends, neighbors and to help supply the people in need. Then it became useless. It was going to be a never ending battle. TLC has portrayed an opinion about the people who use coupons... and etched it in the minds of thousands of people. 

I notice more and more people are carrying coupons with them. Whether it's in their hands, purse, envelope, binder...etc I am so proud to see more and more people using them. 

I'm almost done shopping now. All the groceries are in the cart and my coupons are ready to go. Off to the registers I go... but first... I need to scope out the registers. I just don't pick a lane. I am looking for a young & friendly cashier that is upbeat and personable. They tend to make the check out experience much better.

I start unpacking my cart and closing my binder. I get up to the cashier and she is SO pleasant. It brought a smile to my face. The people behind me start talking about coupons and how it's a waste of time and pointless... to the point where they say that the people who use coupons are crazy. It's the "crazy" part of that conversation that bothered me. I started a conversation with the ladies and they were eager to share with me (and the cashier) how "crazy" coupons are. They strongly believe that coupons are a waste of time and there's no amount of coupons out there that can really "save" you money. Ha, they think that manufacturers put coupons out just to get people in the store. While I am sure that is the case for some people... I assured her that isn't how all people shop. 

By now, the cashier is done and tells me my total, "Your total is $93.65." I responded, "WOW, I didn't think I bought that much." The lady behind me giggles, "Haha, makes ya wish you had coupons for that, huh?" I smiled and agreed. "Haha, yeah, every little bit helps... doesn't it?" I then pulled the coupons from my purse and handed them over. The cashier starts scanning my coupons and the total keeps going down. It's what the lady said next that triggered me.... "OH, you're one of "those" people. You're a CRAZY coupon lady!" Why do I have to be "crazy"? Why don't you ever hear Crazy coupon men?? I don't know either, lol. Anyways, as my total keeps going down and the lady's jaw hits the floor... my cashier now reads me my total. "You're total before tax is $2.01. With tax, it's $6.33!" I paid my total and I felt the smile from cheek to cheek... I got my receipt and I turned to the lady and politely said, "Who's CRAZY now?"

$93.65

Before tax $2.01

With tax $6.33

Now for the total you all have been waiting for. 

I have saved a grand total of

$15,686.41

SCORE!!!