Have you ever gotten paid on Friday and Monday wonder where all your cash went?
After paying rent, bills and maybe a new shiny item. We usually buy food! According to USA Polling, 60% of Americans eat out at a casual dining restaurant once a week. However, the average working American each out 5 days a week.
Therefore, the average working single American eats out 5 days a week paying about $5 per meal. Multiply that times 5 days a week and you get $20-25 a week or $100-125 a month, just on fast food, for only one meal a day. If you order fast food for lunch and dinner, 5 days a week, this turns into a WHOPPING $200-$250 a month, and this is only for two meals.
We waste $250 on just fast food. This does not include those nice Christmas parties/dinners around this time of the year. The cocktails after a long day at work and the list continues.
I started to notice how some of my girlfriends were able to maintain. I saw how they were still able to make those BIG purchases.
*I admit, I was a tad bit jealous. *laughter*
Pondering on the fact where my cash was withering it.. and BAM! It hitted me.. duh, you eat out every single darn day.
I mentioned it to one my friends, let's called her Z. One day, My girlfriend Z told me her "magical" secret. She was a coupon shopper. Yes - grant I have heard of coupon "queens" and "kings" cleaning up at stores with such outrageous deals at grocery markets. I never took in to consideration how I could benefit from it.
Z and I went out to shop one day about almost a year ago. She even introduced me to her system. She took me to her home and show me how to upload tons of digital coupons onto my "Kroger's" discount card on their website.
Z has a binder full of coupons. She uses labels, clear baseball card pages, and "post it's" to organize her binder. I mean homegurl is bad with the coupons. We clipped coupons.. and then she told me Kroger's doubles coupons under a $1!
We arrived to the store with our list in hand. My cart was filled up everything from toilet tissue to shampoo to chicken to "Pringles". When we reach the checkout line I was extremely nervous. I told Z that my goal to shop that week was $20 bucks. She didn't even think that was a ridiculous low amount.
After the cashier rung up my items. She told me to give him my discount card and coupons. I watched my bill cut from $92 to $14! AMAZING! I have been hooked to coupon shopping since.
With more money in my pocket, I am able to buy more shiny new things.
I went on a recent trip to Kroger's. I will have to inform you on how to save MAJOR bucks at the market.
Next blog will focus on:
My recent Kroger's trip and how I got 18 items for free!
Facts provided by www.associatedcontent.com and www.usaelectionpolls.com
