What happens when you go on vacation, but you do not carry your coupons?
I just came back from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I had a wonderful time there, relaxing at the beach and the pool. 
However, my post today is not repeating our great time there, since you can read about it on the link above, but about my experience of shopping at Food Lion while on vacation.
Our room had a full kitchen, which included silverware, plates, pans, a refrigerator, an oven and a microwave. So what is a couponer like myself to do to save some money? Make my own meals! I brought some items that didn't require refrigeration on our trip and which I had acquired for free with coupons: rice (my favorite!), pasta, tomato sauce, cans of vegetables, taco shells and taco seasoning, cereal, and sandwich bread.
When we got there, I needed some additional items to complement the items I brought with me: proteins, dairy, water, and why not, we were on vacation, some snacks too! SO we got frozen chicken strips, fries, waffles for breakfast, ham and cheese for sandwiches, yoghurt, salad (to accompany meals, but also for sandwiches), tomatoes, avocados, bananas, a watermelon (it's best to eat cold on a hot summer day), meatballs, orange juice, two cases of water, a Digiorno pizza, ground beef, donettes and zebra brownies for snacks, chips, and additional bread since i wouldn't have enough.
WHY do you need to know all I bought you ask? Because when I saw the total bill I was in shock! $125 dollars??? What in the world? This is the face I made (LOL)
I have never spend so much money for a weeks' worth of shopping. Well okay, I should say I haven't spend that amount in a few years. When you use coupons, you shop for items when they are on sale, and you accomodate your meals according to what is on sale or what you have available in your stockpile or freezer. My trips are usually no more than $30 or $40. The only time I spend over a $100 is when I go to Costco, a warehouse store where you buy items in bulk.
I still saved money by cooking our own meals on a daily basis, which is healthier and cheaper. However, as a couponer, it hurt me to spend so much money on items I knew there could have been coupons for, and for which i usually pay much less when I am at home.
Why didn't I bring my coupons you ask? Good question! Prior to this vacation I was abroad, therefore, I had no time to check my coupons and be up to date with the latest deals. I also had no space in the trunk to carry the amount of coupons I have.
This experience definitely helped me realize how lucky I am, and how much I have saved these past few years with all the coupons I have used. I think it's good to realize and be aware of what people would need to pay without using any coupons for a week's worth of meals for a family.
I am going to continue couponing for as long as I can, without a doubt! I urge you to do the same if you are able to do so in your country.
I will do more posts on savings and couponing, so be sure to follow me 