When I first got into couponing, I think my husband thought it was a waste of my time and energy.  I came home with an interesting assortment of items for free, but none of it happened to be stuff that we really needed or even wanted. I saved a couple of dollars at the store with random coupons on body products or groceries, but I didn’t really change our financial situation for the better right away.

Within a couple of months, though, things had changed. I think his first realization that I was on to something was when I used a $10/$40 coupon at Walgreen’s and brought home super-cheap Pepsi and a pile of random useful stuff–including a free package of diapers. We use mostly cloth diapers with our daughter (nineteen months) but she’s currently in disposables at night and when we’re away from home.  Since we never really had a consistent disposable diaper expense (we would go through maybe a pack every couple of months when she was little) it really hurt to pay those outrageous retail prices.

Now, I can hardly imagine paying actual money for certain products, like toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, razors, etc.  Last night I bought a bottle of shampoo for $0.75 after coupon, and that same husband looked shocked when I was unloading my purchases.  ”You paid that much for shampoo? Do you know how long it’s been since we’ve PAID for shampoo?”  Of course, I also had a $3/$15 coupon to take care of the leftovers, but I hadn’t had a chance to mention that part yet! ;)

Isn’t it funny how quickly his tune changed?  I think that the savings makes a convert out of anyone!