My first coupon outing

After a few days of planning and a couple hours in stores today, I would definitely call my first super frugal shopping adventure a success!  I've been reading various blogs, like Hip2Save, Totally Target, The Krazy Coupon Lady in order to gather tips, tricks, and links to coupons.  I printed high value coupons at home and trekked through the snow early Sunday to get my copy of the newspaper with coupons.  I didn't know what to expect, but all of my time spent was worth it.  Check out all that I picked up for $30.95.

• 2 - Red Baron pizzas (regular 3.28, on sale 2.88, with 1.00 coupons) paid $1.88 each
• 4 - Honey Nut Cheerios (regular 3.49, on sale 1.79, with 1.00/2 coupons) paid $1.29 each
• 2 - Marcal facial tissue (regular 1.69, on sale 1.25, with 1.00 coupons) paid .25 each
• 2 - Coffeemate creamer (regular 2.45, on sale 2/2.45, with 1.00 & .75 coupon) paid .35 each!!
• 2 - Bumblee Chicken Salad lunch kits (regular 1.19, temp price cut .91) paid .91 each
• 2 - Wholly Queso & Salsa (regular 3.99/2.99, sale 2.50, BOGO coupon, 2.00 coupon) paid .50 for both!!
• 2 - Johnsville Brats (regular 4.99, sale 2.99, safeway coupon made them 1.99, .35 coupons double) paid $1.29 each
• 10 - Yoplait yogurt (sale .38 when buy 10, .35 coupons doubled) paid .22 each!!
• 2 - Nature Valley granola bars (regular 3.29, sale 2.49, .50 coupons doubled) paid $1.50 each... totally forgot I had another coupon to stack with the others.  It would have made these 77 cents each, which was my original plan.
• Carmex (regular 1.39, sale 1.00, .50 coupon doubled) FREE!!
• 2 - Milkyways (regular .80, sale 2/$1, .50 coupon doubled) FREE!!
• 2 - Blackberries (regular 4.99, sale 1.00) paid $1.00 each
• 2 - Ortega 10pk taco shells/ 3pk seasoning combos (regular 1.99/2.14, sale 1.25/1.00, 1.00/2 coupons.  Paid $1.25 for combo.  Regular price for ONE seasoning envelope at King Sooper's is .89.  I got a THREE pack AND 10 shells for $1.25.  Squeee!!
• 1 - Martha White Chocolate Chip Muffin Mix (regular 1.19, on sale 1.00, coupon doubled) FREE!
• 2 - Betty Crocker 2-pack pie crusts (regular 3.49, manager clearance 1.88) paid $1.88 each

That's a whole lot of stuff for $31.  Matching sales with coupons saved me $60.  I normally go for sale items, but really paying attention to things saved me a lot more.  I went from store to store today and compared prices on things as I went.  I found that Target has the lower price on most grocery items pre and post coupon.

It was a fun day!  I can see how getting super cheap deals on things can be addicting.  It was also a surprising day.  Once I started wandering aisles and really looking at what things cost, I about had a coronary.  I've always been one for shopping sales so it's been a long while since I've really looked at regular price on things!  YIKES!  

Yep, me and my coupons are going to get along just fine.