How much do YOU save?

[atm123]

I'm not reading it as "how much do you save?" as what the receipt says you saved.

I'm reading it as, 'at the end of the day/week/month/year, how much $$ do you put away?', like the $4000 saved in a college fund.

:hesaid:

Sure, I get lots of stuff that I would have never bought, but all in all, I have saved money by couponing/rebates/clearance. For example, it is getting colder so I decided to pull out a winter coat for DS that I bought on clearance last year for $14. He needs a winter coat and I would have had to buy him a new one this year and the going rate is around $50. Thus, I basically saved $36.

My whole mindset has changed about how I think about money and I want to get the little things in life for as cheap as possible so we can save up for the bigger things. While we do save quite a bit of money each month, it wouldn't be quite as much because of the coupon use and buying things on sale/clearance.

 

[skinnje1]

I think as most have said the food bill is no longer $200 to $500 per month. Most budget way less for food and use that extra food budget money to pay other bills.

With three in college they only have partial meals plans (saves about half the costs) since they get boxes of food when they come home to bring back to school.

I would say many at this site due to job situations, etc have not had the luxury of budgeting money for college. If you have that much already and with compounding of interest your child will have a great start.

Keep it up.

 

[mrs.melton08]

I find it better for me to track how much I spend, rather than save. Saving is very very relative. Spending is concrete.

I think we useto spend about $100 at least a week on groceries...now we spend $175 on groceries and HBA on average a month. But before I was doing really well with $75-$90 a month so we are higher now. Honestly at this point I dont buy any sides too much. Fruits, veggies, seasonings and meat are the main purchases we have.

 

[NannyMcCheapy]

As other have stated, I have no idea because of all of the stuff that I never would have bought. I know it greatly decreases our grocery bill monthly. I love it that I don't have to pay for my make up, lipstick, toothpaste, deodorant and stuff like that. That is stuff I have always hated paying for. I can say that we live on a small income since dh lost his only good paying job for 12 years now so it makes a big difference. I think many people would be surprised on how much you could save if you just stopped paying interest on EVERYTHING except your mortgage. It is life changing and adds up more than you would think and everyone can do it, but takes a lot of self control.

 

[Robertw18]

I have been couponing since I got married 23 years ago. I never have kept track of my savings. Also my couponing has changed over the 23 years. Before babies I focused on food and HBA's.

I started stocking up on diapers, wipes & baby stuff 6 years ago before my son was born. I ended up getting pregnant shortly after he was born and I was busy being a Mom and working. So busy that I bought only 1 packet of newborn diapers. I had DS3 on a Tuesday and I HAD to go to Costco on Friday for diapers, wipes, Kleenix, tp, pt, Ziploc bags. Everything. I was out of everything. Since then I have really stocked the above items & laundry stuff.

Right I have too much stuff. I am sitting on a 3 year supply of laundry & paper products. I have a lot of food. I have had to sit back and pass up on some deals.

Wow, I wish I came close to a 3 year supply of anything

 

[Robertw18]

I've been couponing 3+ years. I know I've saved a lot of money, but I don't track how much. I got into couponing because our money situation was not good especially with the economy the way it is. I've paid off all our credit card debt, but I haven't accumulated savings because of couponing. It seems like dh's income keeps shrinking and some expenses keep rising so couponing just helps keep us from taking on new debt.

Well, while you might not be getting ahead, because of your DH's situation, at least you're not falling farther behind either.

 

[Robertw18]

Congrats on your job, and great job of saving and starting a college fund to help your daughter!!

Thanks

 

[Robertw18]

I don't think the question is answerable.

Why? Cause I save money on stuff I would never have bought. I saved $104 on 100 Glade warmers and then made $62 in catalinas. If I wasn't couponing...would I have purchased 100 Glade warmers? noway. Did I save $104? when I wouldn't have spent it to begin with?

Also....I have been doing this lightly for 20 years....more errrr...passonately since 2001. So, I really have no idea what I would be spending in the real world. I know I spend a LOT more now than in say...2009. So, am I saving or spending more?!?! I am sure I am saving more than I would have spent...but no idea how much.

See, the great thing about couponing and keeping track.... is that you get to make it up as your situation fits. If you want to count that as savings you can... If you want to be a purist like I am, then you only count items that you would have bought anyway.

Like many things in life, it's all subjective to the person. You're really the one who it matters to the most... you and your pocket book, the coupon police aren't going to come knocking because there is no wrong way to look at this kind of savings.