Juanita's couponing story!

Juanita's story is the second couponing journey we are sharing in our weekly series on how couponing works at your house. As you may recall, last week, Nancy shared that she has been couponing for decades and that her children are now grown. This week, Juanita explains how she just started couponing for her family including her husband and young daughter. Here is her story and how they make couponing work in their home.

My great thanks to Juanita for sharing her story! I love her couponing quote in the very last question below!

I also want to thank everyone who has sent me their stories so far! I look forward to sharing them each week. If you would like to share your couponing story, it's not too late! Just send me an answer to the questions below at saving@smartspendingresources.com.

Myself, my husband and our daughter

Because I just had our daughter, I was out of work, my husband was the only income (after having 2 incomes since we've been married it was hard to transition to just one income) and diapers and formula were expensive lol

I went to my 1st class on February 4th 2012. Its been a little over a year.

Our grocery budget is $90 every 2 weeks and non food is $25 every 2 weeks

OMG ssssooo much, percentage wise I haven't figured that out yet but dollar wise anywhere between $40-$75 every 2 weeks

When we go shopping (baby and I) we usually spend about 45 minutes in the market. I have to confess. I am totally good with getting my paper Sunday morning and coming home to cut, but when I comes time to file, oh man I procrastinate as much as I can. When coupons are flying out of my binder, it's time to file!!

I purchased Faye's inserts which come alphabetically organized and that has been a life saver.

Non essentials Target

I make a menu for two weeks. I find its easier to jot down what we will be eating for the next 2 weeks and make my list from their. Then based on what is on the menu I look for coupons, if I need pasta or spaghetti sauce, whatever brand I have a coupon for is the kind we buy. We are so not brand specific.

My husband does not help with coupons but he does search for discounts and codes when he goes to sporting good stores, I taught him well :)

During SD's when I go to get a "hot item" and its gone

Getting to try new things that I would not have thought of trying in the past, and saving money of course :)

Weekly (2 weeks worth of dinners)

Take your time, be patient, it takes work just like any thing else in life but once you start saving you will feel this sense of accomplishment and you will be so proud of yourself.

I would just like to say thank you to Faye for having the kind soul to do what she does for us everyday. I would also like to thank everyone on the blog, you have all become the family that I don't have here in NC. I read every post everyday and love to hear what you all have to say. I look forward to meeting some of you all in the future. My new slogan "Couponing is not a hobby, it's a lifestyle"