The Grocery Game ROCKS!!!

WARNING ** LONG POST ** my excitement got the best of me!

Oh my goodness! I just got back from my first trip to Kroger after joining the Grocery Game at http://www.grocerygame.com/ and I saved $102.35. I have never been a big coupon girl because it just seemed like too much trouble and not that much savings, but not now. This website (which gives you a 4 week free trial) tells you when the best time to use your coupons, where to find the coupons and when to stock up on based on "rock bottom" sales. I even got a pack of Eggo Waffles and a 24 pack of water FREE! When Brad opened the trunk he thought I had spent over $200.00 on all the stuff he saw, but I hadn't. I didn't even stick only to THE LIST (if you go on the website you will understand) because I didn't have all the coupons and my meals I had planned didn't all line up. We have enough to last us for at least 2 weeks if not more except for maybe a milk and fresh fruit run. My total bill was $150 after the savings for a total of 82 items. I do have to say that I have kind of been obsessed the last three days with trying to figure the game out and gather coupons, but that is only because I have never done ANYTHING like this before. I was about to give up this afternoon, but didn't want all my gathering to go to waste. So I sat down after supper organized my list with coupons and was off. I was so nervous, but once I checked out and saw my savings I said, "THANK YOU JESUS!" It really worked - I saved money! I want to work on being a better steward with what God has blessed us with and I saw this as one way to do it. This is really changing how I grocery shop and it is taking some time right now, but I hope the more I do it the easier it becomes and that I stick with it. Here are 2 pictures of some of the stuff I bought tonight. Not shown is the other counter of my kitchen full and a good bit already put in the freezer. Sorry the pictures aren't that clear - I snapped them with Brad's phone.