[jamel]

I decided to go to the Sterling SFW today since it is the closest one to me at 20 minutes drive. I laughed several times because of all the coupons left on the shelves! It looked like someone cleared out her binder!

My favorite was the fact that there was a coupon for 'get a free bag of lays when you buy 2 hillshire farms deli meats' on almost every single thing of meat you could see. It was so cute! (yes, I called it cute - the fairy was diligent and did that instead of leaving a stack)

Brownie points to you little fairy - hope you had a good trip yourself.

(I was AMAZED and a little sad at the number of people filling up their carts with hundreds of dollars of stuff that I had coupons for. I offered a few to others, but my husband just cut our grocery budget to $100 month - he thinks that since I get stuff so inexpensively now I should have to spend less money! craziness!)

*on another side note - just an observation - I saw like 8 or 9 groups of two or three guys grocery shopping together. It didn't seem like they were coupled up, but they would debate the merits of various items before placing them in their carts...it was strange and endearing at the same time

::end randomness::

[momto3boyz]

$100 a month? Is that possible? I have brought us down to $500 a month and I thought that was good. There's 5 of us in our family. I would appreciate any help.

[coupon214]

I hope it is only the two of you and he is on a diet. Only 100 a month never would of happened in our house with kids around. AFC is a wonderful place to learn about saving money, that is for sure.

[jamel]

There are only two of us! There is absolutely no way possible we could do it with kids! That makes a HUGE difference. We eat pretty healthy and do several meatless meals a week.

This also doesn't factor in weekends when we eat out and alcohol -beer and wine.

He just wants to see if I can do it I think, because I always complain about being bored since I can't find a job. So its not really out of neccessity that its $100, but as a challenge.

[momofmany]

I think if it were just the two adults I could do $100 a month. It would be a fun challenge, actually. right now, dh has had his base pay cut in half, and his bonus pipeline is behind, so I have NO grocery budget. I'm scraping up a few bucks here and there selling to friends from my stockpile and consigning kids' clothes, so I'm REALLY studying how to stretch the bucks. I'm so thankful that I had rebuilt my stockpile over the fall, since we're able to eat primarily from that (and stuff got for free from doubles and triples!). Having two full freezers is a good feeling.

I wasn't the coupon fairy, BTW, but there were a couple of wholly guacamole coupons left on the shelf when I was there yesterday. (Not Sterling, Gainesville)

[SLaHconsultant]

I don't live near you but I've been known to leave Q's near products, especially if they are expiring soon and I know I won't be using them.

As for the $100 a month, I have three people in my house and probably spend a little more than that but not much. That's thanks to my stockpile.

[mtnmamamj]

I feed a family of 5 very hearty eaters for under $500. In fact I haven't spent more than $400/month on groceries since I can't remember. That doesn't factor in the beer rebates that I get back either. For example, in January I spent $400 on groceries, but got back $160 in beer rebates. That was a lucrative month. February there were hardly any rebates, but I spent about $300. It can be done, you just have to be very dilligent and planning is key. Plan your meals, plan your shopping . . .

[Henna]

I love the coupon fairy - she left me a $3 off Always Infinity q the other day!

[ambtay79]

is that what someone is called when you see coupons at the store next to an item??

i see this all the time

[Atlcouponmama]

I feed a family of 6 all the time.. My budget is $150-$200. a month and I always beat it and I always apply what I got back from the previous month in rebates/GC so it's possible. On the flip side I'm a SAHM and all I have is time to clip, research, and shop..so I know it makes a world of difference when you have the time and patience! We all should give each other high fives/ Pats on the back..WE ALL DESERVE IT LOL!

[mtnmamamj]

That is awsome. I am not quite as good as you Atlcouponmama, but I am very happy with what I spend. I aim to save 75% off every purchase. We use a lot of Milk and produce and that is a big chunk of my budget.

[austinsmommy]

Originally Posted by SLaHconsultant

I don't live near you but I've been known to leave Q's near products, especially if they are expiring soon and I know I won't be using them.

As for the $100 a month, I have three people in my house and probably spend a little more than that but not much. That's thanks to my stockpile.

I do this too. I hate to see them go to waste so I leave them, hoping someone can get some use out of them.