One year ago we started using the super couponing method hoping to save a little bit of money but skeptical that it would be really worth it. One year later we are believers. As I look over the results page from my spreadsheet I am torn between amazement at how much we saved, and wondering how much better the next year will be. Blank version of my Receipt Log can be downloaded here to track couponing for yourself.
Using our budget from before coupons one year should cost $9,125 last year we spent $5,916.10. That means we saved over $3,200 last year that was cash in our pocket, which averages to saving $266 per month. Now consider we also had savings from the coupons that basically count as free product, which for the year added up to $14,404.03. So our total combined savings for one year is $17,612.93.
Savings Percentage shows well you are doing, the higher the percentage the less you spent and the more free stuff you got. Looking at the chart we increased our percentage every month except for 2. It improved by almost 20 points from our first month (March 59%) to the last (February 78%). For the year our average was 71%.
As far as stores go, Publix was the store we spent the most at $2,194.25 and saved the most $4,624.84. CVS was our most consistent pharmacy spending $855.03 and saving $2,955.40 for 78%. However Rite Aid made some changes to their policies and how they operate so we barely used them until September. So Rite Aid's totals (spent $593.32 saved $2,769.58 for 82%) is basically from just the last 6 months. We used Walmart, Winn Dixie, and Walgreens less and less as time went by.
Our results could be even better but we are limited by the amount of space we have to store our stockpile. We can't stock up on items with a great sale and coupons as much as we would like. Overall though our first year has far exceeded what we thought was possible and with as much as we improved as we went on we look forward to an even better year to come.
Hi! I just downloaded your spreadsheet and have a few questions. Hope these questions aren't stupid: did you just average your spending from a prior year and enter in the one time or is there a place to enter in each month? Also, since I do not have the actual receipts for January or Feb. off this year can I just enter the totals. I started about mid-Feb. and know my total spent. Do you include tax in your total spent? Thanks. P.S I think this will be a great tool.
ReplyDeleteHi Brenda, thanks for your questions and interest.
ReplyDeleteIf you mean how did I come up with the $9,125, what I did was we were spending on average $175 per week so that is the value I put in the spreadsheet. Yes you can just put in the total either on the Year page or the Month page, however if you don't know what the savings were that went with it that will throw off your saving percentage, and how much you saved. Yes I include the tax in Amount Paid. There is also a Tutorial Version where you downloaded the Blank Version that may explain things better.