Nakabi's story is the third couponing journey we are sharing in our weekly series about how couponing works at your house. Last week, Juanita shared how she coupons for her family of 3 and that she has only been couponing for a year. This week, Nakabi explains how she and her husband have been couponing for their family of 5 for three years. Here is their story and how they make couponing work in their home!
My great thanks to Nakabi for sharing her story! I love that her husband also helps with the grocery list!
I also want to thank everyone who has sent me their stories so far! I look forward to sharing them each week. We are actually going to share two per week since they are so interesting to read and I don't want to wait a week between stories!
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. To see the previous stories, click the links in the box above.
Here is Nakabi's couponing journey:
How many people are in your household? 5, 2 adults, a 3.5 year old, a 2 year old, an infant, and a cat.
Why did you start couponing? To be a better steward of the resources God has given us and to be a good role model for my children.
How long have you been couponing? 3 years
How much do you spend on groceries and non-food essentials per week? Usually about $85, but that varies depending on the sales. Some weeks I need to purchase higher priced item like saffron so I make up that cost the following week by cutting back if possible.
How much do you save each week? $40
How much time do you spend couponing and shopping each week? 3 hours. I clip coupons and organize them and pull expired ones each night while my kids are in the tub playing and I’m supervising them. This way I’m not having to spend extra time couponing. I end up spending about an hour a week clipping and organizing and about 2 hours shopping.
How do you organize your coupons? By categories
Where do you shop for groceries and non-food essentials? Mostly Harris Teeter, Lowes Foods, Aldi, & CVS. I never used to shop the drugstores, but have recently realized that there are some great deals there!
Do you have a weekly/monthly grocery planning/shopping routine? Yes, I go to Aldi on Wed on my lunch break, HT/LF on Sun afternoon while kids are napping, and CVS on Fri on my way home from work
Does anyone else in your household help with couponing and saving? If so, how do they help? Yes, my husband pulls out the inserts from the paper, looks through the sales ad and circles the items I may be interested in. He also will go to the store for the occasional item/s and always asks if I have any coupons before he goes.
What’s the worst part about couponing? Letting a coupon expire before you use it!
What’s the best part about couponing? Saving lots of money!!!!
Do you have a stockpile? Feel free to send a photo if you would like. Yes, toilet paper, laundry detergent, paper towels, seasonings, toiletries, dried goods
Do you do any meal planning? If so, do you plan weekly, monthly or at the beginning of each day? I make a meal plan each week for that week. I go based on what is in my freezer and pull the older items towards the front when I put new items in. This way it's cycled through and things don't get frost bite. I freeze just about everything and I put things in their proper portions when I first come home from the store to help cut down on prep time later.
Do you have any words of wisdom for someone just getting started in couponing? Start off slow and small. Don’t go to the store expecting to save tons of money your first time. Remember every dollar you save is still savings and don’t compare yourself to other people who have been couponing for years!
Is there anything else you want to share about your couponing journey? Have fun with couponing and read Faye’s blog!!!
