How I got to be a supposed "coupon master"

So lots of people have been asking how I do this whole couponing thing so well.... truth is I'm really not that good, I just get LUCKY sometimes! It's taken me years to get to this point. First started when I had our oldest, Alexander. Money was super tight and I figured hey why not give it a try. I started saving a couple $ here and there on baby food, diapers, and wipes. Then moved onto my junk food addiction... there are TONS and TONS of coupons for candy, chocolate, cookies, and other snacks! Even just saving $1-$2 in a shopping trip was exciting!!!


I finally started buying more than 1 Sunday paper at a time, started small with 2-3 papers a week and got myself a cute little pink coupon folder at Target in the $1 section mind you. Realizing that the Kroger where I lived doubled up to $.50 and had 3 tables in the back of clearance items was probably what threw me over the edge. I was hooked. Not all Kroger's are the same though, they vary by region and even at times by store since the manager's called what goes into clearance. This went on till about last summer when my husband went to basic training for the Army. I moved in with my amazing in-laws and started my couponing routine again, just not as crazy. It dawned upon me that living in the boonies wasn't the best place to go coupon crazy... no offense Lapeer but the fact that I had to drive an hour to get to a Target really SUCKED!!! Oh and the fact the Kroger didn't have good clearance items also SUCKED!!! 


We moved down here to Ft.Lee due to military duties. I started buying anywhere between 4-8 papers a week and started printing off coupons when we got our printer. A little overboard maybe but I swear it's an addiction and really one of the things that keep me sane with a 4 year old and a baby at home. My coupon folder got to the point where it didn't close anymore and was at it's full expansion so Jonathan went out and got me my own coupon binder! I divided it into 6 sections...

1. Food/drinks/medicine
2. dental/toiletries
3. cleaning/paper/air freshening/storage
4. baby/kids
5. military
6. store coupons/cvs ecbs/walgreens rr

I also got the baseball card sleeves to better organize my coupons. 


I look online everyday for new coupons and deals. I also take a look at the online ads for all the stores in the area to find the best deals possible. I write down the best deals by store and off to shopping I go!