Glad to see you here!

The less you spend on the everyday items, the more $$$ you have for family, food and fun... Once you get the hang of things, you'll be hooked and wonder why you ever bought toothpaste and deodorant for so many years!

Welcome to WUC!

My family and I recently started eating more organically. I buy organic veggies (Earthbound Farm) with coupons as well as organic dairy products (Stonyfield, Organic Valley, and others) with coupons, and even grass fed meats with coupons (Laura's Lean Beef, Coleman Meats).

So it can be done. Obviously we are not going to be saving as much as people (or as I did in the past) who buy the boxed processed stuff, non-organic, non-natural products but I look at it this way... If I am saving a $1 with one of those coupons I mentioned above, then that's one less $1 coming out of my wallet.


Apple gave you a link to the Organic & Natural Living forum here. I hope you'll check it out.

your going to love it here!!

The other thing that some people are able to do is use the overage for meat and produce.

Example Right now Walgreens has reach floss on sale for .99 there is a couon out there (i didn't get it in my paper ) for $5/3 so that is an overage of 2.02 that can be used to buy other stuff. Ok so Walgreens you can't buy meat or produce (well I think you can get bacon) but you can use the overage to say buy you must have face cleaner or something.

Some grocery stores allow overage some do not. Don't know what stores are in your area but I am sure people on here could help you out.

Also I know you don't have kids but a few months back there was an awesome huggies deal at Walgreens. All said and done I think they were paying me $2 to take 2 packs of diapers and a large pack of wipes. (Really wish I did tht deal a few more times). So if you are into yard sales you could have sold there and made a nice profit. I think most non couponors would easily pay $5 for a pack of huggies and $2-$3 for the big pack of wipes. So that deal alone would have made you $2 at the store and another $12-13 at a yard sale. So $15 for one deal and very little work on your part. Then you could take that money and buy your produce.

You would be amazed at how much you can save. I have kept my kid in diapers since Jan 08 for a total of $15 out of my pocket. Yes $15 for 20 months and we use about 1.5 packs a week. Normal price on Diapers is $10 a pack so that would have run me about 1,200.00 but nope only cost me $15. Heck if you did all these deal thatI did and then old them at $5 a pack you could make $600. That is my plan once I get the little one potty tained.

I totally agree! I've saved so much on non-food items and that helps me a lot. I'm even getting stuff for my parents who are both unemployed, and I'm trying to help my aunt out as well. For the food items, our grocery store is reasonably priced so when I have coupons for stuff, it's even better. If not, well I can spend a little more since I saved on other stuff.

Welcome!!!!

I agree with everything that was said above. When I first started grocery shopping with coupons, I was profoundly confused about all of the posts saying that people went grocery shopping and only paid under a dollar for $50 worth of groceries...but then I really started to understand that those shopping trips weren't necessarily for their day to day food, but for health and beauty aids for a stockpile, or items they could turn around and resell at a garage sale.

I haven't paid for shampoo, toilet paper, soap, makeup, dish detergent, etc etc in well over a year. I use those savings in conjunction with the coupons Mr Coupon mentioned to buy my normal, day to day produce, meat, etc for less.

My family is actually eating better now since I actively coupon than before when I didn't. I have more money in the budget for better meats, and better / more produce.

You've already gotten great advice, so I'll just say take your time to browse around the forums. There is so much info it can be overwhelming. But take it one step at a time and you'll be an old pro in no time!

Good Luck!

Everyone gave great advice. The only thing that I would add is that although the majority of food coupons are for non-healthy processed foods there are a surprising number of coupons for organic and natural foods. Coupons for Cascadian Farms, Muir Glen, and Kashi surface a lot more than I would have guessed before I started couponing. And there are coupons that come out for dairy products with brands such as Organic Valley (I got organic cream cheese for .50 a pack the other day!) and Stonyfield Farms. As someone already mentioned, Earthbound farms also has coupons so that's a great way to get some cheaper produce. My family eats a lot of Springer Farm chicken and there are often coupons out for that. So check out the organic and healthy eating forum and visit the websites of the brands you like. A lot of healthy brands have coupons on their websites or will send some to you if you sign up for their email list.
Coming from someone who tries to eat organic healthy food, it can be done!