My Extremely-Bad Couponing Adventure...

So is anyone else trying to jump on the couponing band wagon and missing it? 

I, a new stay-at-home-mom, had a bit of a breakdown yesterday.  After spending one hour and twenty two minutes trying to print coupons off the Target web-site, after driving the 24 miles to the big city of Twin, after spending two hours trying to locate the items on my list while deciphering the rules on each coupon, (Which, by the way, I carried in a zip lock baggy and transferred to my sweatshirt poach each time I put an item in the cart; not the most effective strategy.) ...after bribing my 18 month old with popcorn from the Target snack bar and a Fur-Real Pet she held throughout the store but had to return to it's home once we reached the register.... I saved...Are you ready for this?... $55.52. 

That sounds awesome right, really productive, and at first I was super stoked and proud of myself, but you know what they say about pride....here comes that fall.  Once I got home from my shopping adventure I took a minute to balance my check book and see what I really spent on my saving spree. 

$17.00 in gas to drive to Twin, $1.52 for popcorn, $3.79 for a Pumpkin Spice Latte that I couldn't resist, and $4.97 for a sweater I found on the 70% off rack that I should of tried on in the store because once I got it home and put it on I realized exactly why it was not the only, but one of eight identical sweaters on the 70% off rack....grand total of extra spending $27.28. 

Next, I factored in the time...1 hour 22 minutes searching for coupons, 30 minute trip to Twin times two, 2 hours entertaining 18 month old in Target while shopping, 13 minutes at the register trying to figure out why the check printing machine wouldn't work, and yes I wrote a check, an actual real live check, because my husband had my Debit card...and yes I was that lady, the one with the grumpy child who needed a nap about an hour ago, the one with 15 coupons wadded up in her sweatshirt pocket, the one writing a check when the girl behind her is just trying to buy a pack of gum and some paper towels...
Grand Total of Time Spent...4 hours and 35 minutes. 

Ok, so if my math is right, after extra expenses I saved $28.24 and lost 4 hours and 35 minutes.  Not sure if the savings was worth the investment this time.  

I want to say to all the amazing coupon gurus out there that you are my heroes; efficient, frugal, fabulous individuals. However, for me, right now, in my crazy little world, I think I will wave as the coupon band wagon rolls on by.  Maybe I will just shop the sales at the local markets, buy generic instead of name brand and have extra time to go to the park with my little girls.

I am not super mom. My laundry isn't all done. My kids eat too much sugar and not nearly enough vegetables.   I don't buy two carts of groceries for 3 dollars and 89 cents, and sometimes my check book isn't balanced and the bank charges me the dreaded overdraft fee. 




My breakdown:  I am just me.

My breakthrough:  Right now being just me is good enough.

Quote of the day:  "God made you special and he loves you very much."
                                                                                          -Bob the Tomato