I am becoming...

The crazy coupon lady you see at retail and grocery stores holding up the lines and flipping out when the clerk can't get a coupon to scan. Yes, I've become that person. But I'm not ashamed because things are tight and we need to save every penny possible.

I've been couponing for over a year now but then I watched that "Extreme Couponing" on TLC and was inspired by the fact that these people were buying a weeks worth of groceries and only spending $2.97 or whatever on the entire thing because of coupons! So I did my research and found a ton of blogs online of people who look for store deals every week and tell you how to get items for as little as $1 to FREE!

Yes, it can be a bit of work, but I look at it more as a hobby. I'll spend my free time researching these blogs, finding the deals, writing them down, and compiling coupons. I can't believe that I once paid full price for a lot of items that I can get now for free. Not to mention, a lot of them are brand name products.

My favorite place so far is Target. They allow you to use manufacturer coupons PLUS their printable store coupons on one item making a lot of items cost as little as pennies. Here is what I got on my Target shopping excursion yesterday:

Up & Up Dental Floss $.89
- Target Coupon $1/1 Oral Care item. Final Price: FREE

Up & Up Mouthwash $1.37
-Target Coupon $1/1 Oral Care item. Final Price: $.37

Up & Up All Purpose Cleaner w/bleach $1.37
-Target Coupon $1/1 Cleaning product. Final Price: $.37

Up & Up Dryer Sheets $1.37
-Target Coupon $1/1 Cleaning Product. Final Price: $.37

Up & Up Cotton Balls $1.29
- Target Coupon $.50/1 Cotton product. Final Price: $.79

Up & Up Ibuprofen 50 ct $1.29
- Target Coupon $1/1 Ibuprofen or Children's Ibuprofen. Final Price: $.29

Finish Quantum Powerball Tabs 20 ct $2.99
-Target Coupon $1.50/1 Finish Quantum Tabs + Manufacturer Coupon $.75/1
Final Price: $.74

Halls Cough Drops $1.19
-Target Coupon $.50/1 + Manufacturer Coupon $.50/1 Halls Cough Drops
Final Price: $.19 x2 = $.38(I had double the coupons so I bought 2 bags)

Vaseline For Men 10oz $2.69
-Target Coupon $1/1 + Manufacturer Coupon $1/1 Vaseline Lotion
Final Price: $.69

French's Spicey Brown Mustard $1.39
-Manufacturer Coupon $1/1 French's spicey Brown mustard. Final Price: $.39

Kikkoman Soy Sauce $1.42
-Manufacturer Coupon $1/1 Kikkoman Product. Final Price: $.42

Mossimo Jeans (Originally $19.99) on Clearance for $4.98
- Target Coupon $5/1 pair of jeans. Final price: FREE

Total without Coupons: $26.59

Total with coupons: $6.97

I saved $19.92

Needless to say, I'm addicted. Finances have been extra tight for Ryan and I recently with the $2,200 worth of dental work I just had done, so I've been trying to find ways to save money anywhere I can. Call me Frugal, I could care less, that $19.92 that I saved at this Target trip can buy me a box of Pampers Diapers for Owen!

I keep updating on my frugal adventures....