I have taken on the challenge of couponing.
This week I have saved over $155! I spent less. I also have $62 in rebates coming to me.
Here's what I do:
Sunday I buy a newspaper. I scan through it so I know what crazy things are going on in my community. Then I collect the coupons in 1 stack and the sales fliers in another.
After the kids are in bed and I can take over the floor space in the family room, I do. I go to www.couponmom.com. You have to register to use the site but it is free. I use this site to help me fine tune my shopping list based on what is on sale. You go to "grocery deals by state" and scroll for your state and grocery store. It will take you to a screen that lists all of the sales at that store, the coupons (if any) that match with the item, the price you pay and the % you save. You can click on the little box next to each item you need or want to look at closer. At the bottom is a button that will list all of your selections. It says something but I can't remember what that is right now. I print this page out and begin looking for my coupons, making my meal plan based on that and what I have in the pantry and freezer, and shop to save.
Sometimes there are better deals at the drugstores and Wal-mart. Those store are also listed on the website.
All of the stores in my area take computer printed coupons. The most common sites are :
www.coupons.com
www.redplum.com
www.smartsource.com
You can print the coupons out more than once. The site will automatically block you from that coupon once you reach your limit. Coupon Mom has the links on their site.
You can also go to the manufacturer's website. Most of the time they have offers on their sites.
Here are 2 I found yesterday:
www.muligraincheerios.com for 5 $1 off coupons emailed to you.
www.kashi.com for a free box of cereal or granola bars. Go to events and click on Healthier Year.
I"ll try to let you know about these as I find them. If you find any, please share it with us in my comments and I'll make sure to post it.
I gotta go to bed. Remember, I'm not a morning person. Over the edge and out.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Things we've done this week:
We have all been busy this week, but not. You know what I mean? There's lots to be done but somehow we haven't managed to get it done. What have we done, you ask? Well...
Goldilocks was a matador and I was a bull.
"Mommy, you make a great bull!"
Bet you didn't know that about me!
Punka made an "A" on her Latin test. That was hard!
And long multiplucation makes her sweat.
"Ugh, great! Now I'm sweating."
Seems to have the same effect on me, too!
Gigi loves to sleep in the nude. Yes, you read correctly. We go in to check on her in her bed and she will have striped done to her birthday suit. Occasionally, we are lucky and don't have to change the sheets.
"Mama...eewww...poopoo!"
Repeat 100,000,000.
That is how many times I have heard that phrase from all of the kids this week.
Lovely.
I made crazy good spaghetti and meatballs this week. Super yummy. It was my sister-in-law's family recipe that I tweaked to fit our family i.e. reduce the garlic amounts. I halved her recipe and was left with enough for 3 more meals! I will make lasagna next week.
I also slow cooked a whole chicken and got all the meat off. (Ok, so Hottie did that part 'cause it makes my skin crawl.) I had enough meat for 3 meals: chicken quesadillas, chicken enchiladas and chicken pot pie. Does quesadillas look funny to you? I think it is right, but spell check keeps underlining it. Oh, it just stopped underlining it. What's up with that? Sorry. Back to the chicken. I got several chicken when they were on sale for 68 (where is the cents sign?) cents/lb. I froze them till I'm ready to cook them. I also got split chicken breasts for 99 (cents sign?) cents/lb and boneless skinless chicken breasts for $1.79/lb (much easier!). Anyway, not sure where I was going with that. Still trying to find the cents sign and I forgot what I was saying.
Moving on.
I have everything ready to make Breakfast Cookies in the morning. (Bananas, apples, craisins, oatmeal, yum.) Just have to throw it together and bake in the over. Hope I get up early enough. Rephrase that. Hope I wake up early enough. I'm not a morning person. How did I birth 3 children that are? I did not know "early birds" was a dominate gene.
Don't you love how I go from cookies to biology? It's a gift, you know. Not everyone can keep up.
Speaking of keeping up, I haven't done very well on my New Year's resolution. The one about the scrapbooking. Yeah. I have only done 1 page. I can't figure out how to upload it. It's from Christmas.
Moving on.
Hottie has 2 quizzes tomorrow. Pray.
(Full time student and working.)
Punka has 2 new pair of glasses. Pray.
(For those of you that don't know, she broke her glasses twice and lost them before Christmas.)
Goldilocks loves to change clothes 10x a day. Pray.
(I know. He could not wear anything at all.)
Gigi. will. be. 2. in. 1. month. Pray.
(Just please pray. That's all.)
Me. Well, who knows. Pray.
(Sometimes I can't think and that scares me.)
So, I think I will go over the edge now. See ya when I'm back. Pray!
Goldilocks was a matador and I was a bull.
"Mommy, you make a great bull!"
Bet you didn't know that about me!
Punka made an "A" on her Latin test. That was hard!
And long multiplucation makes her sweat.
"Ugh, great! Now I'm sweating."
Seems to have the same effect on me, too!
Gigi loves to sleep in the nude. Yes, you read correctly. We go in to check on her in her bed and she will have striped done to her birthday suit. Occasionally, we are lucky and don't have to change the sheets.
"Mama...eewww...poopoo!"
Repeat 100,000,000.
That is how many times I have heard that phrase from all of the kids this week.
Lovely.
I made crazy good spaghetti and meatballs this week. Super yummy. It was my sister-in-law's family recipe that I tweaked to fit our family i.e. reduce the garlic amounts. I halved her recipe and was left with enough for 3 more meals! I will make lasagna next week.
I also slow cooked a whole chicken and got all the meat off. (Ok, so Hottie did that part 'cause it makes my skin crawl.) I had enough meat for 3 meals: chicken quesadillas, chicken enchiladas and chicken pot pie. Does quesadillas look funny to you? I think it is right, but spell check keeps underlining it. Oh, it just stopped underlining it. What's up with that? Sorry. Back to the chicken. I got several chicken when they were on sale for 68 (where is the cents sign?) cents/lb. I froze them till I'm ready to cook them. I also got split chicken breasts for 99 (cents sign?) cents/lb and boneless skinless chicken breasts for $1.79/lb (much easier!). Anyway, not sure where I was going with that. Still trying to find the cents sign and I forgot what I was saying.
Moving on.
I have everything ready to make Breakfast Cookies in the morning. (Bananas, apples, craisins, oatmeal, yum.) Just have to throw it together and bake in the over. Hope I get up early enough. Rephrase that. Hope I wake up early enough. I'm not a morning person. How did I birth 3 children that are? I did not know "early birds" was a dominate gene.
Don't you love how I go from cookies to biology? It's a gift, you know. Not everyone can keep up.
Speaking of keeping up, I haven't done very well on my New Year's resolution. The one about the scrapbooking. Yeah. I have only done 1 page. I can't figure out how to upload it. It's from Christmas.
Moving on.
Hottie has 2 quizzes tomorrow. Pray.
(Full time student and working.)
Punka has 2 new pair of glasses. Pray.
(For those of you that don't know, she broke her glasses twice and lost them before Christmas.)
Goldilocks loves to change clothes 10x a day. Pray.
(I know. He could not wear anything at all.)
Gigi. will. be. 2. in. 1. month. Pray.
(Just please pray. That's all.)
Me. Well, who knows. Pray.
(Sometimes I can't think and that scares me.)
So, I think I will go over the edge now. See ya when I'm back. Pray!
Monday, January 11, 2010
Update on the Kiddaroos!
Punka:
Got a DSi for Christmas and loves it. She is earning money to but another game. She also got another baby doll. Yes, my 8 year old wanted another baby doll and this momma and her Grams made sure she got it! Santa was listening very carefully when we told him she really wanted it and to please save one for her! She also plays with that a lot. Punka got braces during my hiatus from the blog. She looks so cute. And, by the way, braces are cool in the 3rd grade. She has also shot up about a foot between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Great. After we finished buying for the cooler months. Growing girl. Please send clothes!
Goldilocks:
He may get a new name! He has been prancing around the house like a reindeer since Thanksgiving! Not sure what that is all about! He wants to go to school everyday like Punka. He wants to drive is Daddy's truck when he gets older. He asked the other day if we would sell him our house when he got married so his kids could grow up in the house he grew up in. (Honestly, I was hoping we would move before then!) He also made a snowflake this morning at school. He made it up in his head. He does that you know. Thinks of things in his head. That's what he tells us anyway! Goldilocks is funny.
Gigi:
The third and LAST child! She loves to tske her clothes off. She's like Hudini. Last night she took her pjs and diaper off and slept in the nude for several hours before we noticed. She likes to be naked! Gigi just started calling Hottie "Dada". Now I have no excuse in the middle of the night when she calls me. If only I would hear her. She loves to have her hair done, pick out her shoes and jump on the trampoline. Building blocks, playing babies and driving me nuts by leaving a trail of crayons through the house is the typical routine before 9am! Some days nap time doesn't come fast enough!
Hottie:
He's still hot! Classes start tomorrow for him. One more semester closer to being done. I'm proud of all he has accomplished in the last year. I'm sure God has another great year ahead for him. We just got home from a date! We went through the drive through, caught a movie and went bargin hunting for a digital voice recorder for Punka's Latin class. We saw LEAP YEAR. It was cute. We laughed alot. At ourselves, at each other and other people. We had fun. He is the love of my life.
Me:
I am wearing the hat of chef and nutritionist, maid, launderer, chaeffer, personal secretary, accounts payable, nurse, terminator (only when I have to), entertainer, refferee, historian, photographer, teacher and best hugger (so I'm told). I'm sure you have the same hats on your head too. I'm glad I have friends that will trade a hat or two from time to time. Thanks for being there! Luv ya!
Us:
Learning. Growing. Living. Happy. In love. Ready for tomorrow.
Over the edge in love with my family. Hope you are too.
Got a DSi for Christmas and loves it. She is earning money to but another game. She also got another baby doll. Yes, my 8 year old wanted another baby doll and this momma and her Grams made sure she got it! Santa was listening very carefully when we told him she really wanted it and to please save one for her! She also plays with that a lot. Punka got braces during my hiatus from the blog. She looks so cute. And, by the way, braces are cool in the 3rd grade. She has also shot up about a foot between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Great. After we finished buying for the cooler months. Growing girl. Please send clothes!
Goldilocks:
He may get a new name! He has been prancing around the house like a reindeer since Thanksgiving! Not sure what that is all about! He wants to go to school everyday like Punka. He wants to drive is Daddy's truck when he gets older. He asked the other day if we would sell him our house when he got married so his kids could grow up in the house he grew up in. (Honestly, I was hoping we would move before then!) He also made a snowflake this morning at school. He made it up in his head. He does that you know. Thinks of things in his head. That's what he tells us anyway! Goldilocks is funny.
Gigi:
The third and LAST child! She loves to tske her clothes off. She's like Hudini. Last night she took her pjs and diaper off and slept in the nude for several hours before we noticed. She likes to be naked! Gigi just started calling Hottie "Dada". Now I have no excuse in the middle of the night when she calls me. If only I would hear her. She loves to have her hair done, pick out her shoes and jump on the trampoline. Building blocks, playing babies and driving me nuts by leaving a trail of crayons through the house is the typical routine before 9am! Some days nap time doesn't come fast enough!
Hottie:
He's still hot! Classes start tomorrow for him. One more semester closer to being done. I'm proud of all he has accomplished in the last year. I'm sure God has another great year ahead for him. We just got home from a date! We went through the drive through, caught a movie and went bargin hunting for a digital voice recorder for Punka's Latin class. We saw LEAP YEAR. It was cute. We laughed alot. At ourselves, at each other and other people. We had fun. He is the love of my life.
Me:
I am wearing the hat of chef and nutritionist, maid, launderer, chaeffer, personal secretary, accounts payable, nurse, terminator (only when I have to), entertainer, refferee, historian, photographer, teacher and best hugger (so I'm told). I'm sure you have the same hats on your head too. I'm glad I have friends that will trade a hat or two from time to time. Thanks for being there! Luv ya!
Us:
Learning. Growing. Living. Happy. In love. Ready for tomorrow.
Over the edge in love with my family. Hope you are too.
What A Deal!
So, I have decided to take on a couponing challenge. I'm not sure what the challenge officially was, but I've taken on some form of it! I had an amazing day today with some crazy deals! So here's the breakdown:
First stop...CVS...I picked up 2 boxes of Cheerios and 2 things of Dawn dish soap. At the checkout I also had a few coupons. I ended up pay $1.65 in cash for the items! "Wow" you say? Well, the register also shot out $6 in store coupons - like cash - and you can use them on anything! I got paid $4 to get 2 boxes of Cheerios and 2 things od Dawn! What?!
Stop number 2...Walgreens...3 large bottles of Lubriburm, 1 small tube of Aveeno lotion, 2 bottles of Aveeno shampoo, 2 bottles of Aveeno conditioner, 2 bottles of Lysol toilet cleaner, 2 cans Oust sanitizing spray, 2 cans Spot Shot (pet stain remover) and 1 tube Colgate toothpaste Max Whitening. I paid $35 dollars and I have a $10 mail in rebate which brings my total to $25 spent. I saved well over $60!!! Crazy!
Stop 3...Staples...2 boxes envelops, 2 packages mechanical pencils, 2 packages gel pens, 2 dry-erase boards and a stapler "starter kit" for a grand total of $9. Actually I got it for a little less because the coupons wouldn't ring up correctly. What a great deal! I saved $40!
Last stop...Kroger...I am on a mission to cut our grocery bill in half because there is no reason it can't be done. I may be over challenging myself but why not try, right? I normally spend anywhere between $140 and $175 per week for groceries for our family of 5 (and they don't even eat that much)! So, at the store today I spent a wopping $64.14!!!!! YEAH! Ok, I must confess. I did not buy any meats (did that last week), but I did get produce. I bought everything we needed for the week...including 3 half gallons of organic milk and 2 half gallons of almond milk!
So my total savings for the day, as I look at all of the receipts, is more the $150! And I spent around $90!!!
I can't wait for next week!
I'm over the edge with extra money in my pocket!!!
First stop...CVS...I picked up 2 boxes of Cheerios and 2 things of Dawn dish soap. At the checkout I also had a few coupons. I ended up pay $1.65 in cash for the items! "Wow" you say? Well, the register also shot out $6 in store coupons - like cash - and you can use them on anything! I got paid $4 to get 2 boxes of Cheerios and 2 things od Dawn! What?!
Stop number 2...Walgreens...3 large bottles of Lubriburm, 1 small tube of Aveeno lotion, 2 bottles of Aveeno shampoo, 2 bottles of Aveeno conditioner, 2 bottles of Lysol toilet cleaner, 2 cans Oust sanitizing spray, 2 cans Spot Shot (pet stain remover) and 1 tube Colgate toothpaste Max Whitening. I paid $35 dollars and I have a $10 mail in rebate which brings my total to $25 spent. I saved well over $60!!! Crazy!
Stop 3...Staples...2 boxes envelops, 2 packages mechanical pencils, 2 packages gel pens, 2 dry-erase boards and a stapler "starter kit" for a grand total of $9. Actually I got it for a little less because the coupons wouldn't ring up correctly. What a great deal! I saved $40!
Last stop...Kroger...I am on a mission to cut our grocery bill in half because there is no reason it can't be done. I may be over challenging myself but why not try, right? I normally spend anywhere between $140 and $175 per week for groceries for our family of 5 (and they don't even eat that much)! So, at the store today I spent a wopping $64.14!!!!! YEAH! Ok, I must confess. I did not buy any meats (did that last week), but I did get produce. I bought everything we needed for the week...including 3 half gallons of organic milk and 2 half gallons of almond milk!
So my total savings for the day, as I look at all of the receipts, is more the $150! And I spent around $90!!!
I can't wait for next week!
I'm over the edge with extra money in my pocket!!!
Friday, January 1, 2010
I'M BAAAACK!
I know.
You can't believe your eyes!
Actually, no one is reading this I'm sure since it has been soooo long.
You know it's bad when your husband tells you he is no longer following your blog.
So...I'm back. I have missed you.
Enough of that! Let's get to business. I have lots to say!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Today is the first of January 2010. That is kind of weird to type. Anyway, here we are. And what does one usually do for the new year but make resolutions they more than likely won't stick to? You say not make them at all and I would agree. However, the past few years I have not made resolutions knowing I would only disappoint myself half way through the year and why do that to myself? I HAD NO GOALS! That is not cool. So, I made some resolutions around the beginning of July. That seems to work out really well. By December 31 I was rockin'! I wanted to plan crafts for the kids to do. We did that especially leading up to Christmas. I wanted to cook and bake more. Did that too. (We did eat out more than Hottie would have liked. I'm still working on that.) I wanted to be proactive in my relationships with my mother- and father-in-law. They came and spent a week with us over the Christmas holidays. We had a great time. Learned more about each other and everyone is on the same page. The crazy page! So I think I'll forge on and make another list of bi-annual resolutions. That way I am not obligated to them for the whole year. You know. Give myself so breathing room. Then I'll go at it again. On to my 2010 Resolutions Act 1:
1. To be better about blogging. With family all over the world, I should be more attentive to this task. Please feel free to hold me accountable if you see me slacking.
2. To be better organized. I know. You ask how can one be better organized than myself, but it is true. I need to work on that. I am creating a binder so I will feel organized and together. It might just be drawings and old grocery lists by the end of the year, but, hey, at least they will be organized. Right?
3. To have better time management. This has always been my problem if I don't get out of bed and get showered, dressed (to the shoes) and moving. I do best if I have a plan. I'm planning to stick to the plan if I can get the plan planned. You with me?
4. To be intentional about food. I get tired of eating and cooking, etc. With children and a husband who need to eat, I can't just forget about it. So, I'm working on my diet (as in food intake/likes/dislikes - not as in loosing weight) so i will be passionate about food again.
5. To complete 365 scrapbook pages this year. Don't freak out on me. I have figured out a system that allows me to achieve this goal and you can watch as the year goes by. I will post my pages as I get them completed and uploaded. You can count with me and when I get to 365 we can celebrate together. Well, you'll have to reward yourself cause I just can't throw a big party for everyone. As the end gets closer we will discuss my reward and make a decision. It will be fun!
I know those all sound so "typical" of a New Year's Resolution, but trust me, in my binder I am working on all the specifics.
I'd love to share some new things I am working on when the time comes. Stay tuned to hear about some cool stuff!
Well, I seem to have started out the new year over the edge! So until next time, have a good night.
You can't believe your eyes!
Actually, no one is reading this I'm sure since it has been soooo long.
You know it's bad when your husband tells you he is no longer following your blog.
So...I'm back. I have missed you.
Enough of that! Let's get to business. I have lots to say!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Today is the first of January 2010. That is kind of weird to type. Anyway, here we are. And what does one usually do for the new year but make resolutions they more than likely won't stick to? You say not make them at all and I would agree. However, the past few years I have not made resolutions knowing I would only disappoint myself half way through the year and why do that to myself? I HAD NO GOALS! That is not cool. So, I made some resolutions around the beginning of July. That seems to work out really well. By December 31 I was rockin'! I wanted to plan crafts for the kids to do. We did that especially leading up to Christmas. I wanted to cook and bake more. Did that too. (We did eat out more than Hottie would have liked. I'm still working on that.) I wanted to be proactive in my relationships with my mother- and father-in-law. They came and spent a week with us over the Christmas holidays. We had a great time. Learned more about each other and everyone is on the same page. The crazy page! So I think I'll forge on and make another list of bi-annual resolutions. That way I am not obligated to them for the whole year. You know. Give myself so breathing room. Then I'll go at it again. On to my 2010 Resolutions Act 1:
1. To be better about blogging. With family all over the world, I should be more attentive to this task. Please feel free to hold me accountable if you see me slacking.
2. To be better organized. I know. You ask how can one be better organized than myself, but it is true. I need to work on that. I am creating a binder so I will feel organized and together. It might just be drawings and old grocery lists by the end of the year, but, hey, at least they will be organized. Right?
3. To have better time management. This has always been my problem if I don't get out of bed and get showered, dressed (to the shoes) and moving. I do best if I have a plan. I'm planning to stick to the plan if I can get the plan planned. You with me?
4. To be intentional about food. I get tired of eating and cooking, etc. With children and a husband who need to eat, I can't just forget about it. So, I'm working on my diet (as in food intake/likes/dislikes - not as in loosing weight) so i will be passionate about food again.
5. To complete 365 scrapbook pages this year. Don't freak out on me. I have figured out a system that allows me to achieve this goal and you can watch as the year goes by. I will post my pages as I get them completed and uploaded. You can count with me and when I get to 365 we can celebrate together. Well, you'll have to reward yourself cause I just can't throw a big party for everyone. As the end gets closer we will discuss my reward and make a decision. It will be fun!
I know those all sound so "typical" of a New Year's Resolution, but trust me, in my binder I am working on all the specifics.
I'd love to share some new things I am working on when the time comes. Stay tuned to hear about some cool stuff!
Well, I seem to have started out the new year over the edge! So until next time, have a good night.
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