Does it really work?

3 Months ago, February 1st, I decided to give couponing a try for 3 months.  I was extremely skeptical that it would be worth the time, but I dove in head first and literally gave it my all!  The plan was to remain on my cash weekly budget, see what deals I could get, and re-evaluate at the end of the 3 month trial period.

I'm quickly approaching the 3 month mark, so I thought it would be fun to pull out all the stuff that I've puchased with my budet in that quarter.  I decided it was TOO MUCH effort to gather all the groceries I've bought, so here is a glimpse of just my 'household' purchases.  I budget $40 per week for all things to run our house except clothing & food.  Normally, with this amount, I would be able to keep us stocked with the necessities, but with very little room for error or emergency (a sickness always put me over my budget).....or anything fun (or anything name brand!).  When I began couponing, I had maybe 1 or 2 of these things in the house....definately nothing I would call a stockpile. 

After 3 months, here is a picture of my 'stockpile' of household items today: (keep in mind that we've also been using things for 3 months, so imagine a 3 month supply of all of these things in addition to what is pictured)

How cool is that?  I ask you!  :-)  Pictured is: 23 rolls of toilette paper, 4 rolls of paper towels, 4 2000 flushes dop in's, 4 KY jelly (hey, they're a money maker!), 4 Dove deodorant, 2 Axe deodorant, 2 Veet, 3 Aveeno lotion, 3 boxes of Finish, 2 Palmolive dish soap, 5 Gain dish soap, 22 bottles of conditioner, 16 bottles of shampoo, 11 bottles Laundry Soap, 3 boxes Purex Laundry Soap, 1 package Tide Stain Lifter balls, 3 boxes Gain Fabric Softener, 7 bars Olay Body Soap, 24 tubes of Toothpaste, 6 tubes of Training toothpaste (Emma's), 2 Febreeze air freshener spray, 3 Renuzit Air Fresheners, 8 cans Shaving Cream, 9 Reach Floss, & 13 Tooth brushes! 

Oh, dang, I also bought a box of Crest White Strips ($30 retail), and 8 boxes of Cottonelle Flushable Wipes (at least $20 retail), all not pictured...forgot to put that in.

I would have spent my budget of $40 per week normally and come out with no stockpile.  With couponing I still spent the $40 per week and came out with an addition of all the above pictured items. 

I'M TOTALLY STOKED ABOUT THAT! 

The products pictured are roughly valued at $495.  If memory serves me correctly, I spent roughly $82.25....without actually spending anything more than I would have spent because I stuck to my cash budget. 

My verdict: COUPONING TOTALLY WORKS!  :-)  Now that I'm stocked up on most things, I can stop paying $1 or even $.50 for items...just wait until I can get them virtually free!  YIPPIE!