30 Before 30: Saving More than I Spend

Yesterday I went to Publix without much of a plan, which is a huge no-no in the couponing world. I needed some things to make this ridiculously delicious Oreo dessert for Easter and some mustard to make this delicious baked corned beef. I hadn't really bothered with coupon matching because I wasn't planning on buying anything else.

Lo and behold, I got to Publix and found a ton of great sales to match coupons I had, and I completed one of my 30 before 30 goals: #23 Save more than I spend at the grocery store! I didn't even realize it until the cashier handed me my reciept, and then I had to restrain myself from jumping up and down. It's the little things, people.

Here's my pull:

Yes, that is a lot of yogurt--it was on sale for more than 50% off, which is cheaper than I've ever seen it. Josh eats it every morning, so I stocked up. I'm proud because I met my goal, got what I needed, and only bought stuff we will actually use.

Here's my proof:

 

I know many people save much more than this every week, but this is a big deal for me! Usually I manage to save about the same as what I spend, or a little bit less. I'm so excited I finally broke that 50% barrier!

Couponing 101

Josh and I are on a pretty tight budget, especially since he started his home inspection business last year. So I do what I can to save money, and one of those things is cutting coupons from the Sunday paper. If you check out my 30 before 30 list, you'll see that one of my goals is to save more than I spend at the grocery store.

I came relatively close a few weeks ago--my best trip yet: (Yeah, I was pretty proud!)

My plan of attack is normally to flip through the Sunday inserts and cut out coupons for products that we normally buy. Then, when I decide we need groceries (weekly, biweekly, whenever I get around to it...) I look at the current Publix ad, try and match up some of my coupons, and shop. The downside to this is that I usually forget about some of the coupons I've cut out and they expire before I use them, or there's something really good on sale that I saw a coupon for but didn't cut.

I've checked out the Southern Savers website a few times but haven't really been committed to using it, so I haven't really been seeing the results I'd like.

So when I saw that Jenny from Southern Savers was offering a Couponing 101  class here in Jacksonville, I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to sharpen my skills to achieve my goals!

The workshop was today and it was wonderful. Jenny was really informative, engaging, and funny. She took questions from the audience and I left feeling inspired and ready to save more money! I am especially excited to get started at CVS--the idea of free personal care items has intrigued me for awhile, so I am committed to following through so I can stock up on free toothpaste.

I'm working on a post for tomorrow on the details of what I learned and more information, but I just wanted to give you a head's up to get excited!

Thirty before Thirty

 As of writing this post, I have exactly:

 
until I turn thirty.

I have to keep checking the math in my head. Wait, thirty? Are you sure? Didn't I just turn 21?

Didn't I just turn 3 and get an awesome Rainbow Brite tricycle?

I'm not really stressing it, though. I don't feel that old and everyone says their thirties are better than their twenties, anyway.

Before I reach this milestone though, there are some things I would like to check off my bucket list. Things I have been talking about or thinking about and haven't done yet. Turning 30 gives me a date to countdown to. Like I said yesterday, I work better under pressure, so instead of giving myself the rest of my life to complete these, I'm hoping that giving myself a cutoff makes me more productive.

1. Read the entire New Testament

2. Take the ferry to Cumberland Island

3. Be pregnant (or trying)

4. Cook an intimidating recipe from Julia Child's cook book

5. Get my director's credential

6. Watch a Jax Beach sunrise

7. Lose 30 pounds

8. Sew a skirt I can wear in public

9. Pick our own fruit at a U-Pick-It Farm

10. Find a skin care regimen and stick to it!

11. Make bread from scratch

12. Go to a Gator home game

13. Go out of the country

14. Get a makeover & buy some of what is recommended

15. Grow out my nails & get a manicure

16. Give up soda

17. Make another quilt

18. Stay in a quaint bed & breakfast with Josh

19. Cut my hair & donate it to Locks of Love

20. Back up the photos on my computer

 21. Complete photo books for our honeymoon & first year of marriage

22. Run a mile

23. Save more than I spend at the grocery store

24. Go on a road trip with Josh

25. Have a significant amount of money in savings

26. Make authentic Pad Thai from scratch

27. Be a Vegan for a week

28. Reupholster a piece of furniture

29. Find a type of fish I like & learn to cook it

30. Play in the snow