Extreme couponing? Not quite...

I'm not gonna lie, I get high. I get a huge high off of couponing. I get such a rush every time I go to check out, hand the cashier my coupons, and watch my total go

down

down

down.

I don't claim to be an "extreme couponer" and actually I don't like the term. It makes saving money and providing for my family sound like a bad thing. I admit some (or most) of the people featured on TLC's show look like professional hoarders, but that's not the way I roll.
I only buy the things our family uses, I NEVER clear the shelves, and I only take what I need. But again, it's such a rush seeing savings upwards of 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, even 100% on my receipts. Here are some pictures of my recent savings:

Included in this (which I paid absolutely NOTHING for) is 4 2 pocket folders, 2 3subject notebooks, 1 ream of paper, lysol wipes, jif-to-go 8pk, 4 cascade complete 3pks, 2 dry erase marker 6pks, pink pearl erasers, and 11 bags of candy! Love getting school supplies for free and stuff to snack on. I also, not included in this picture, was able to get 4 boxes of crayola 24ct crayons and 2 8ct boxes of crayola markers for free as well this summer!


In this shopping trip I ended up paying $1 for each laundry detergent (almost $70 in savings) and got the cookies and breakfast snacks free! Not too shabby.

Couponing is a ton of work at first, but I have gotten the hang of it over the summer and LOVE it. Even Ben was pretty skeptical at first, but the more I do it I catch him bragging to his friends about all the money I am saving! Yep, I'm just awesome like that.