The Thrill Of The VIC Card

I love to shop. But I am Cheap . I am one of those crazy women who enjoys staying at home with her children. Which means we have to live on a budget . With four kids and the desire to eat good food I began my quest into the WOC. (World Of Coupons)

I do not take children to the grocery store. I may look insane but I am not. I go alone and I go armed. My arsenal includes 15 reusable bags , mp3 player, checkbook, and my coupons. Now I am not talking about a little envelope stuffed with coupons I do not use , nor will you see me pull out a little accordion file. I have graduated to the class of iamagonnasave com lada. I carry a three ring binder (hardback) filled with divided sections of baseball card holders. Each clear pocket contains anywhere from 2 to 5 coupons. I know the sales , the layout , and so it begins my hunt.

On average I am in the store for @ 2 to 3 hours . Every isle gets a visit from me . I compare , add , subtract , in fact I was some of that math I thought I would never use from school. I understand unit prices , big is not always better and sometimes a coupon is not worth it. When it is triple or like this week double coupons up to 1.98 you may find me in the store two or three times . When I am done I go up front this is where the excitement comes in

I love approaching the cashier my cart is full to the point of busting and then some. I hand her my bags , pick up my binder and purse and move to watch the screen.They always ask "Do you have a VIC card?" DO I HAVE A VIC CARD?!!! OF COURSE I DO , but I like to wait till the end.
Each product is scanned and this total goes up and up I direct the bager or take over I hate wasteful bagging , and no my milk does not need a bag. Finally she is done my total 215.00 My budget is 160.00. I place my key chain in her hand as she picks through every store MVP card I have (I have 6 of them) She finds my VIC card , I am in Harris Teeter one of the most expensive stores to shop in. So why am I here if I am so cheap ? After the bleep you will see, My VIC savings have brought my total with tax to @140.00. I hand over my coupons , 20 of them will double , the most will be 3.00 off a product. Because this week is double up to 1.98. Finally after my BOGOF and my other coupons she hits total. 98.00. She has to call the manager again for another override my 5th one so far. As I hand her my check she stares at me. "how do you people do that?" I know what people she refers to. I just laugh and say "It is the Thrill Of the VIC Card"

Returning home with the spoils of my hunt , I proudly show my husband the receipt. This is where it really pays off . Those hard long hours he is away from his family are converted into money which has to last and stretch to the ends of time have been successfully spent without excess. But we have ice cream because it was buy 2 get 3 free and I had a coupon.

The list below is from my adventure yesterday I enjoyed myself so much. I will be going out tonight to use the rest of my big coupons . My budget is 650.00 a month and so far I have spent 450.00.

4C 36oz canisters 4.99 (type of koolaide)
on sale 3.99
coupon 1.00
double coupon 1.00
BOG 24 box packets - 3.99
so i got 36oz canister for 1.99 and a free box of 24 packets for 3.99
bought two canisters for 3.98 and got 48 packets worth 7.98


Next great deal my fav BBQ sauce
2 for 5.00
on sale 2 for 4.50
1.00 off coupon doubled
bought 2 bottles for .50 cents

LEA & PERRINS Sauces
on sale 2 for 5.00
1.00 coupon off doubled
bought 2 bottles for 1.00

Hersey's Syrup
2.15 a bottle
1.00 coupons doubled
bought 2 bottles for .30 cents

Tropicana50 Juice
2.70
1.00 coupon doubled
bought 2 for 1.40

My Hair Dye
3.99
on sale 2.97
1.00 coupon doubled
bought 2 boxes for 1.94

M&M's small snack pack
.89 a bag
coupon .75 off 2 bags
coupon doubled 1.50
bought 4 bags for .56 cents

Snuggle Fabric Softener
4.99
1.50 coupon doubled
1.99 for bottle
(could have gotten a much sweeter deal gonna try tomorrow

While this is not on the grand scheme of things as exciting or even worthwile , for me , for my family it is amazing