I’ve had several readers e-mail me and ask me how to get started stockpiling and also ask how long it took me to get to the point that I’m at right now. I started using coupons almost six years ago shortly after my daughter was born. We were living on one income, my husband was going to school full time, and I don’t think either one of us realized how expensive a baby could be. At that time, my couponing was NOTHING like it is now. I remember being excited because I would use a $5 Toys ‘R Us coupon and a $1 manufacturer’s coupon to get a box of Pampers diapers for $25.

About two and a half years ago, I started “extreme” couponing. I had heard people talk about getting things for free at CVS and I just couldn’t believe it. So, I started scouring message boards and made my first CVS trip. I’ve been hooked ever since and the extreme couponing seemed to come along with that!

As for my stockpile, it’s a work in progress. You’re not going to get one overnight. I plan to post more about stockpiling, but for starters, I’m going to highlight the things that you should stock up on each week. This week, I’ll be posting twice since my grocery ads change on Wednesday. From that point on, I’ll probably post on Thursdays.

Here are some of the grocery items you might want to stockpile this week:

*Freschetta pizzas ~ Both Randalls (if you have a Safeway family store, this may also apply there) and Kroger have these on sale for $3.99 this week. There are $1 printable coupons here (you can print 2 per computer) that make them $2.99/each. Even though I make a meal plan every week, some nights when all is said and done, I just don’t feel like cooking. $2.99 for a frozen pizza is a lot cheaper than anything we could get from delivery or even take-out!

*General Mills Cheerios or Cinnamon Toast Crunch ~ These are $1.49/each when you buy 3 at Randalls this week. Print off two $1/1 coupons for Cinnamon Toast Crunch here and sign up to get the $1/1 coupons from Cheerios here and you pay $.49/box when you buy 3 boxes! There are also $1/1 Honey Nut Cheerios coupons here if they happen to be included in the deal.

*Hunt’s tomato sauce ~ These are $.39/each at Walgreens this week (with the in ad coupon). Print off the $1/3 coupon here (you have to play the game) and get 3 for $.17!

*Juicy Juice ~ This is on price cut at Target through 1/9. There is a $1/1 Target coupon here (click on the groceries tab and then pg. 3) and a $1/2 manufacturer’s coupon here making it .50/bottle!

*Pasta Roni, Rice a Roni or Knorr rice/pasta sides ~ These are 10/$10 at both Kroger and Randalls. There is a .50/2 Knorr Rice and Pasta side dishes coupon from the 11-15 RP insert which should double making these .50/each! (Randalls will double one like coupon per transaction, Kroger will double three) There was a $1/3 Rice a Roni/Pasta Roni coupon in yesterday’s inserts making these $.67/each.

*Rosarita refried beans ~ These are 10/$10 this week at Randalls. If you use the $.50/2 coupon from the 12-13 SS insert, it should double making your beans .50/each (at my stores, you can only double one of these coupons per transaction). $.50 for a can of refried beans is a great price!

*Weight Watchers Smart Ones meals ~ If you’re in Texas, these are $.99/each at HEB this week. Use the $5/10 printable here and get 10 for $4.90 (that’s $.49/each!). If you don’t have an HEB, they are at Target this week. Here’s how that scenario works:

Buy 10 Weight Watchers Smart Ones – $1.89/each

Use $5/10 printable
Use $5 Target gift card (hopefully you keep one on hand to roll into deals!)

Spend $8.90 OOP ($13.90 if you don’t have a gift card to start), get a $5 Target gift card

OTHER ITEMS FOR YOUR STOCKPILE: Once I started stockpiling, I quickly realized that I could get most of my health and beauty items (shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, etc.) and a lot of household items for free or close to free. You can, too! Here are the other items to stockpile this week!

*Finish/Electrasol detergent – These are $3.49, get a $1 RR at Walgreens this week. Use the $2.50/1 coupon from yesterday’s inserts and get it for $.99 (free after RR). Reportedly Target also has some boxes priced at $3.49, so you would get it for $.99 after coupon there.

*GE Reveal 60 watt light bulbs ~ These are $2 at Target this week. Use the $1.50 printable here (click on “household” – you can only print one per computer) and get them for $.50! Use the $1/1 printable here or the $1 coupon from yesterday’s inserts and get them for $1.

*Nature’s Bounty vitamins ~ If you missed out on the sale last week at CVS, they are BOGO free at Walgreens this week. I don’t have specific pricing, but typically things like Vitamin B-12, Vitamin C, and Vitamin D can be found for $5-6. If you join the Nature’s Bounty website here, then go to “Redeem My Rewards Now” and there should be an option for a $2 printable coupon. This is a “bricks” coupon, and you can print six by clicking on the back button on your browser. If you have purchased these vitamins in the past, you can also enter the codes from the vitamins into your account to earn points to print more coupons. Buy one item priced in the $5-6 range, use 2 $2 coupons, and get both of them for $1-2!

*Reach Ultraclean Floss – These are $3.79 at Walgreens this week – Buy 2, Use the BOGO free coupon from yesterday’s inserts and the $2/1 Walgreens in-ad coupon (it will deduct $4) and get these for free!

*Reach Ultraclean Toothbrushes ~ These are $3.99 at Walgreens. Buy 2, Use the BOGO free coupon from yesterday’s inserts and the $2/1 Walgreens in-ad coupon (it will deduct $4) and get these for free!

*Revlon Matte Eye Shadow ~ This isn’t necessarily an item you’d want to stockpile, but if you’re in need of eye shadow, it’s free at Walgreens this week. The price is $4.99. Use the $2/1 Revlon cosmetics coupon from the 12-13 SS insert and the $3/1 Walgreens in-ad coupon and get it for free!

*Stayfree maxi pads ~ These are $5.99/each at Walgreens. Buy 2, Use the BOGO free coupon from yesterday’s inserts and the $3 Walgreens in ad coupon (it will deduct $6) and get these for free!