I broke couponer’s rule #1 this weekend and paid the price for it: We ventured on the spur of the moment to the bigger Target south of our neighborhood (the one near us is very small, sort of a glorified Walgreens) and I didn’t have my coupons with me! If I’d had my little binder, I would have saved even more on Earth’s Best baby food and had my Target gift card with me as well.

I went back today, since the baby food is surprisingly (and somewhat disturbingly) cheaper than Whole Foods and I certainly had all of my money saving accessories with me this time! Earth’s Best food is not cheap at all on Amazon, unless you’re like me and happen to have a use for 24 jars of Peach Oatmeal Banana for only $15.60. I’ve seen that variety, and only that variety, at that price more than once now. If only they’d discount the triplet favorite, Green Beans and Rice, then we’d be talking (and ordering in bulk).

I have to admit, I’m pretty glad I went back, because I stacked a bunch of coupons and even got paid to walk away with some cat food, which doesn’t happen to me often because of the kind of things I’m usually buying with coupons. And I scored big at the 90% off Christmas clearance, with packs of Hanukkah cards (16 cards, ready for 4×6 photos) for $0.69 a box and some pretty snowflakes for decorating or gift tags for $0.03 each.

I need to get better at keeping my coupons with me, since my time is so precious these days I really can’t be shopping twice in a week at stores 6 miles from my house. Any ideas to help me remember them (and my reusable shopping bags, too)???