Learning How To Coupon Shop

I've always thought of myself as a coupon shopper. I would cut them out of the Sunday paper (when I would buy one), you know, and use them. But then my friend, Renee, schooled me. What was I thinking all this time?! I wasn't couponing... I was just casually using coupons =o) Well, not any more. It's kind of a game now. She'll come to work and tell me how much she saved (she's awesome at this!) and then I get all envious and try to one up her (which I can't do.) So it's a game now. Who saves the most money. That's a good game, right? (Sadly, I always lose. But we won't dwell on that right now.)

Here's my finds so far (and remember... I'm new to this.)


Colgate toothpaste - 25 cents
2 bottles of Garnier Shampoo and 1 bottle of Garnier Conditioner - $1.17
Tick Tacs (my daughter loves them) - free
2 boxes of Magnum Double Caramel Ice Cream bars - $2.98

Yep, you read that right! All that for $4.40

And my other one...


2 pints of Ben and Jerry's ice cream - $3.48
Bulls Eye BBQ Sauce - free
Dannon Yogurt - free

Oh yeah, I'm on a roll.

This was my best savings yet...


I paid $13.10 for all of this. That's a savings of $52.95!

I know it's small stuff to those of you out there who do this all the time, but I'm a beginner and I'm totally psyched by this. I can't wait to see what else I can find... for free!

So how does one do this? You "layer" coupons. There's a site that my friend told me about, Frugal Living NW, that will walk you through it basically. It tells you what stores are having the sales and where to find the coupons (which Sunday paper, etc) How easy it that?!

And it always helps to have a helper =o)


Do you have any tips for me? I'd love to hear them!