Weekend shopping

This is all from Homeland. It wasn't as great a week as usual, at least quantity wise. But, what I did get was really cheap! Most of these deals were listed in my matchup post earlier this week, except for the Capri Sun - those were on sale for 1.99 and I used a $1.00 coupon from this week's paper to make them free. So I'm not going to list it all out. I got all of this for a total of about $6.50!!! Total saved was $80 (about 97% off!!)

I also went to Kohl's and used a $10 coupon I got in the mail to get a 2 piece outfit for Stephen for free! Didn't even have to pay tax! Then Natalie and I went to Aeropostale and each used a $10 coupon and got her 2 shirts for free!

Free Aeropostale clothes!

Go to www.aeropostale.com to print a $10 off coupon (minimum purchase of $10). The link is on the lower right side of the home page. You can print this as many times as you want! Can't beat free clothes!

Homeland Coupon/Sale Matchups April 21 - 27

Here is a list of some of the things on sale at Homeland this week matched with coupons that can make them a pretty good deal. Remember, you can look for the manufacturer coupons on clipping websites as I mentioned in the previous post!

IP = internet printable
manu q = manufacturer coupon (look for the coupon on www.thecouponclippers.com if you don't already have them)

Pilgrim's pride drumsticks or thighs - .99/lb
-.55 IP (www.pilgrimspride.com) = 1.10 off per package

Green Works laundry detergent - 4.39
-.75 IP (www.allyou.com) = 2.89 or
-1.50 manu q = 2.89

Green Works all purpose cleaner - 2.99
-.75 IP (www.allyou.com) = 1.49

Hot Pockets - 1.66
-.75 manu q (off Side Shots variety only) = .16

Lay's potato chips - 1.50
-1.00 manu q (only off "new" flavors, so will have to see if those are included) = FREE

Bar-S hot dogs - .99
-1.00/2 IP (www.bar-s.com) = 2/FREE

Bar-S bologna or salami - 1.29
-1.00/2 IP (www.bar-s.com) = .29 each

Land O Frost premium lunch meat - 2.99
-1.00 IP (www.landomoms.com) = .99
or .55 manu q = 1.89

Jimmy Dean fully cooked sausage - 2.99
-1.00 manu q = .99

Banquet family size entrees - 2.49
-.75 manu q = .99

Silk soymilk - 2.99
-1.00 manu q = .99

Pillsbury crescent rolls, biscuits, cinnamon rolls - 1.00
there are so many manu q's I can't list them all

Keebler Pecan Sandies cookies - 2.50
-.55 manu q = 1.40

Kool Aid fun fizz - 1.50
-1.00 manu q = FREE plus overage

Juicy Juice - 2.50
-1.00/2 IP (www.nestlefamily.com) = 1.50 each

Kellogg's Smart Start cereal - 3.00
-1.00 manu q = 1.00

Wishbone salad dressing - 1.66
-.75 manu q = .16

Kellogg's fruit snacks - 2.00
-1.00 IP (www.snackpicks.com) = FREE

Arm and Hammer dryer sheets - 2.50
-1.00/2 manu q = 1.50 each

Herbal Essences shampoo or conditioner - 2.66
-1.00 manu q = .66

Olay body wash - 3.50
-1.00 manu q = 1.50

Kotex liners - .69
-1.50/2 manu q = FREE

Nexcare bandages - 1.99
-.55 manu q = .89

Ocean Spray juice - 2.50
-1.00 (on fruit and veggie variety only) manu q = .50

Bumble Bee tuna pouches - 1.00
-.55 manu q = FREE

Success rice - 1.50
-1.00/2 manu q = .50

Nesquik syrup - 1.00
-1.00 manu q (found in flyer at Homeland on a display case near the registers) = FREE

Rice a Roni or Pasta Roni - 1.00
-1.00/3 manu q = .33 each

If you don't want to clip....then click!

So many people tell me that they just don't have time to clip coupons. Well, that excuse just isn't going to cut it! (ha ha, get it? cut it?) Did you know that there are actually people out there who will cut coupons that you want and mail them to you?? Well, they are called coupon clipping services, and they DO exist! The one I have used in the past is http://www.thecouponclippers.com/. You can do a search for the product you want a coupon for, and choose the quantity and for as little as .03 each, they are sent to you within a couple days. Yes, you are paying for the coupons, but it's no more expensive than buying newspapers, and you can choose to get only the ones that you want. But, here's the best part...you look at your sale ads, search for coupons for the items on sale, order the coupons that will net the best deals, and in a couple days they arrive already clipped in your mailbox!

So, no more excuses!

Menu Planning Monday!!

It's that time again! I have to tell you that usually I Dread (yes, with a capital D) planning the menu and grocery list. I really did. But, since I started doing this, I look forward to it! It's a new challenge to see how cheap I can get, and what new recipes I can find using my bargains!

Monday - Drip Beef sandwiches (www.thepioneerwoman.com) We have had these before, and it is goooo-ooood. This week Reasor's has arm roasts on sale buy one, get one free. They only had big double roast packs when I went, so I ended up with 4 big roasts for $15. A darn good price for roast. So, I will have 3 more for future menus. Will serve with mac and cheese, since I have one pseudo vegetarian child, and probably some fruit. Total cost - about $6, and this will provide lots of leftovers for lunches.

Tuesday - Chicken chili - from All You magazine: I already had the ingredients on hand because I had planned it a few weeks ago, and never got around to making it. Will serve with Jiffy cornbread. I would guess the total cost to be about $4.50.

Wednesday - Pizza Spaghetti Casserole (www.ivillage.com), garlic bread, and broccoli. I needed to use up some pepperoni that I've had in the freezer for awhile. I think this will be very kid friendly. I already had the spaghetti and sauce on hand as well. Garlic bread is from my free rolls stash and broccoli was about .30 on sale. Total cost - about $6.

Thursday - Chicken and Dumplings (www.allrecipes.com), green beans. Using free cream of chicken, and using my stash of chicken breasts - all I had to buy for it this week was the biscuits! Total cost about $2.50.

Friday - Scalloped Ham and Potatoes (www.kraftrecipes.com), zucchini and squash saute - I needed to use up some ham I've had in the freezer for a long time. I have a stash of sour cream I need to use up too, and using that velveeta I got on sale today. Total cost - about $6.

Saturday - French Dips and curly fries. Using some hoagie buns from the freezer, deli roast beef from a prior sale, and fries I got for .69 a bag. Total cost - about $4.69.

Sunday - Sausage Potato Casserole and fruit. Using up some smoked sausage from the freezer and hash browns from last weeks' sale. Total cost about $2.50.

So, about $26 for the week, and I'm freeing up some space in my freezer! Again, if you want any specific recipes, just let me know and I will post it!

Homeland week of April 14 - 20

This is my haul for today. Don't mind the trash can in the background that needs to be taken out. It is pouring rain, and I will melt if I run out to the trashcan, lol! I got all this bounty for $25:
1 box of Friskies @ 1.89. Ok, I did not have a coupon for this, but Chloe's got to eat!
4 packages Lance sandwich crackers @ 1.66 - 1.00 (www.smartsource.com) = 4/FREE plus .34 back on each
4 bags Lay's chips @ 2.99 - 1.00 = .99 each
2 packages Jello cups @ 2.50 - .75 (www.coupons.com) = 1.00 each
4 packages Deli Creations sandwiches @ 2.49 - 1.00 (www.goodmoodmission.com) = .49 each
1 box Nature Valley granola bars @ 2.29 - .40 = 1.49
6 boxes Hamburger Helper @ 1.00 - .75/3 = .50 each (we really don't eat these, so I will put them aside for donation)
2 boxes Crystal Light @ 1.89 - 1.00 = 2/FREE plus .11 back on each
1 Finish dishwasher cleaner @ 2.21 - 1.00 = .21
4 bags Temptations cat treats @ 1.89 each - 1.00 = 4/FREE plus .11 back on each
2 packages Bar-S hot dogs @ .99 - 1.00/2 (www.bar-s.com) = 2/FREE
2 bottles Ocean Spray fruit and veggie juice @ 2.50 - 1.00 = .50 each
2 boxes Oreo Cakesters @ 2.99 - 1.00 = .99 each
2 boxes Betty Crocker potatoes @ 1.00 - .40 (www.coupons.com) = .20 each
1 lb. Velveeta @ 4.59 (pricy, but needed this week anyway) - .55 = 3.49
2 packages Dannon Crush cups @ 2.39 - 1.00 = .39 each

Total spent = $25
Total saved = $95

Transferring prescriptions - another way to get free stuff!

So, I wasn't going to post anything today - I have SO much homework to do this week (final 3 weeks!), but I had to mention this before I forgot. Many pharmacies will offer gift cards for transferring your prescription (or bringing in a new one) to their pharmacy (however, you do need to make sure the pharmacist is aware of what medications you are taking, and your medical history). Between Billy and I, we have 6 regular prescriptions (darn Oklahoma allergies!) I keep an eye out for these offers and transfer to whoever has the current offer. The 3 places I transfer between is Target - they offer $10 gift cards for each prescription with the coupon in their Sunday ad, which appears about once a month; Walgreen's, who will send you a coupon for a $25 gift check AFTER you transfer away from them, and Reasor's, who have been just recently putting coupons for a $25 gift card in the mid week circulars. Yes, sometimes it gets confusing and it is sometimes even inconvenient, BUT if you have a lot of prescriptions - you can make a mint! Today I transferred 2 prescriptions from Target to Walgreen's and I will get $50 in gift cards! If you combine this with some good sales and coupons, you can get LOTS of stuff with that $50! With Target, I've already gotten $80 so far this year - I am saving them for Christmas! Last year, I was able to get Natalie a brand new digital camera with those gift cards.

Even if you don't have any or many prescriptions - look for and save these coupons. You never know when someone in the household will come down with something and need an antibiotic or something!

Menu Planning Monday

I'll admit up front, this is not my own idea - I got this idea from one of my favorite websites, www.918couponqueen.com. But it is an awesome one! We all sometimes get in a cooking rut, getting tired of eating the same things week after week, and maybe spending too much at the grocery store in the process. What I try to do when planning my menus, is take into consideration what I have on hand from my couponing trips and plan my menu around this. If I don't have any recipes already, I will search on www.allrecipes.com, or www.kraftrecipes.com. You can type in some ingredients you have on hand, and it will bring up recipes containing those ingredients. I will try to post my menu every week, along with a breakdown of costs for the meal. Hopefully, it will give some new ideas to those "stuck in a rut!"

Sunday - Hawaiian Pizza (using Canadian bacon I got for free) I used a pizza kit from Walmart that had 2 premade crusts, and 2 packets of pizza sauce, the canadian bacon, and pineapple tidbits. We had some grapes on the side. - total cost - $5.00 or $1.00 per person

Monday - Orange Chicken, rice, and egg rolls. The orange chicken is from the Wanchai Ferry dinner kit that I got for 1.00 per box. For our family, I use 2 boxes. The rice is included in the kit. I have chicken breasts stockpiled from when they were on sale for 3.99/3 lb bag. So, total cost - about $6.00 or $1.20 per person.

Tuesday - Easy, Cheesy Zucchini Bake (search on www.allrecipes.com) got the zucchini for free at Reasor's using a $25 gift card I got with a prescription transfer, spaghetti sauce I had in my stockpile, cheese I got for about .49 a package. I plan on serving tomato and cucumber salad and some rolls I got for free from my stockpile with this. Total cost = about $5.00 or $1.00/person.

Wednesday - Breakfast for dinner! Banana pancakes, eggs, and sausage. Pancake mix and sausage from my stockpile - got for free. Total cost = about $2.00 or .40/person.

Thursday - Grilled turkey and cheese sandwiches w/ tomato soup; fruit on the side. Sliced turkey was already on hand - purchased for about .50/package, cheese and bread were free. Tomato soup (Campbell's Select Harvest) .50/can. Total cost = about $2.00 or .40/person.

Friday - Chicken Piccatta, broccoli, garlic rolls. Chicken Piccatta is a Romano's Macaroni Grill dinner kit bought for $1.00/box (I use 2), chicken from stockpile, broccoli about .30 for bag, and rolls were free. Total cost = about $3.30 or about .66/person.

Saturday - Crisp and Creamy Chicken (shake and bake chicken then mix can of cream of celery soup w/ 1/2 cup milk, pour over chicken, then sprinkle with cheese and bake an additional 10 minutes.), mixed veggies, and rice. The shake and bake I got for free (and actually got paid 1.00 per box for!) soup was free, rice was about .30 and veggies about .30. Total cost = about $2.10 or .42/person.

Sunday - Hungarian Goulash over noodles and green beans - Goulash is stew meat (got for free w/ that Reasor's gift card), diced tomatoes (.08 per can), onion, sour cream (free), and a few seasonings. Total cost = about $2.50 or .50/person.

So, there you have it - a week of thrifty, but delicious dinners, for 5 people, for about $28. If anyone wants a specific recipe, shoot me a message, and I will send it to you!

Family picnic in the park - a great, thrifty way to entertain the family!

I am always looking for ways to spend fun quality time with the family that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. When my sister-in-law suggested a family picnic at Woodward park, I thought it was an awesome idea! Not only did it not cost a thing, but we all had a great time together, and we got some great photos! The weather was beautiful and the flowers were in full bloom! Just a great day altogether!

Here is my Stephen among the azaleas.

Natalie snuggling with her little cousin, Payton. They are great buddies!

Our young lady!

Emily in the azaleas

A couple of handsome guys, Stephen and cousin Evan

My mom and dad in law, Gene and Carol

My little niece, Addi

Billy's Grandma Shirley and Grandpa James

This is 4 generations right here!

I love this picture on the bridge!

So, if you're looking for something fun to do on a lovely Tulsa spring day - head to Woodward park!

Homeland deals 4/7 - 4/13 plus an explanation of their coupon rules

I heart Homeland, really. Being the only store in this area that doubles up to $1.00 EVERY day, they are very instrumental in my deal nabbing. For those reading who are not in OK, call around or research online to find similar stores in your area. I am going to go through their rules, because they are very important. First and foremost - PLEASE use coupons correctly. Do not try to "cheat". First, it's just plain wrong, second, you will be busted at some point, and third, those cheaters mess up the deals for everyone else causing stores to be more strict about coupons. So, now you know that my major use of coupons is completely legal - some places (ahem, Walmart) can make you feel like you are trying to steal, by using coupons to get things for free, but, well, it's just being smart. It takes a lot of brain power to come up with these shopping scenarios!

On your first trip to Homeland, you will need to sign up for a savings card. Don't worry, it's free. And it takes very little time. Just fill out the form, and they hand you a card. That's it. But you have to have it in order to double your coupons.

The main rule you will find is that they will only double 1 LIKE coupon per person. This means, if you have 2 coupons for Oreos for 2 packages of Oreos, they would only double that first coupon and the second would be face value only. So, here's what I do. I bring my wonderful husband and helpful eldest child to do their own transactions. So, we each have a basket, a list, and a stack of coupons. This way we can get 3 of everything and every coupon will double. Some stores will let you separate your transactions to get the same effect, but not all do.

The only other "rule" I can think of is that if a coupon says "do not double" on it, it may or may not double, depending on the cashier, their mood, whether Jupiter aligns with Mars, who knows. Plan on it not doubling, and then if it does, it's an added bonus. The general concensus is that if you look at the barcode at the bottom and it starts with a 5, the computer will double it, and if it starts with a 9 it will not. Doesn't always work, but a lot of times it does.

Ummm, I think that about covers the basics of shopping Homeland. I will post tips as I think of them, and I will try to post the best deals every week.

I think I did pretty awesome today. Once again, I will post the item, sale price minus coupon and final price. If the coupon was a printable coupon, I will post the link so that you all may print the coupons for yourself! Generally, you can print 2 copies per computer. After you print the first time, hit the back button, then refresh, click "retry" and it will print again.

These deals run through Tuesday, April 13th:

12 frozen Banquet dinners @ .99 each - 1.00/4 = .49 each
2 Romano's Macaroni Grill boxed dinners (yummy!) @ 3.00 - 1.00 = 1.00 each
2 boxes Betty Crocker mashed sweet potatoes @ 1.01 each - 1.00/2 = .01 each
3 boxes Kashi TLC bars @ 2.89 each - 1.00 (www.allyou.com) = .89 each
2 boxes Smuckers Uncrustables @ 2.99 - 1.00 (www.uncrustables.com) = .99 each
1 package Borden cheese sensations @ 1.99 - 1.00 (www.friendsofelsie.com) - FREE
3 bags Ore Ida frozen hashbrowns @ 2.69 - 1.00 = .69 each
2 boxes Wanchai Ferry dinner kits (orange chicken - yum!) @ 3.00 - 1.00 = 1.00
3 bottles Era detergent (used raincheck from previous week) @ 3.49 - 1.00 = 1.49
3 bags Rold Gold pretzels @ 2.00 - .55 = .90
2 loaves Nature's Own 100% whole wheat bread @ 1.79 - .75 = .29 each
6 cans Campbell's Select Harvest soup @ 1.00 - .50/2 = .50 each
9 cans Red Gold diced tomatoes @ .75 - 1.00/3 = about .08 a can
1 bottle Best Life butter spray @ .59 - 1.00 = FREE plus 1.41 back!
2 bottles McCormick's grill seasonings @ 1.50 - 1.00 = FREE plus .50 back on each
3 Oscar Mayer Deli Creations @ 2.19 - 1.00 (www.allyou.com) = .19 each
2 packages Land o Frost Canadian bacon @ 1.99 - 1.00 (www.landomoms.com) = FREE
3 Betty Crocker Warm Delights @ 1.50 - .75 = FREE
Pilgrim's Pride split chicken breasts @ 1.89 - .55 (www.pilgrimspride.com) = .79
3 packages Chinet napkins @ 1.59 - .75 = .09 each

Total spent for ALL of this (67 total items!) = $35
Total saved = $138!!!!

So, do you see how all these coupons really add up? :o)

The nitty gritty of "couponing"

Ok, so it's really hard to know where to start when people ask the very broad question of "how do you save so much money?" So, I'm going to just start with the basics and build from there.

So, the #1 biggest way I save money on day to day expenses - good ol' coupons. The majority of people think that coupons are just not worth the time. .50 here, .35 there - just doesn't seem like much, does it? Just do away with that thought now. The key is to make those coupons work for you. What exactly does this mean? Well, that will be the first lesson.

The first step seems pretty obvious - if you want to coupon, you're going to have to GET some. Yes, the Sunday paper is the number one source for finding them. For you locals, I suggest the Daily Oklahoman paper (OKC) which is sold at QT. It has even more than the Tulsa paper. I buy anywhere from 4-6 papers, depending on how many good coupons are in there. But, let's take baby steps. Start with one, until you get the hang of it. Another major source is the internet. Printable coupons are some of the best ones you can find, many of them high dollar savings. Some printable coupon sites are www.smartsource.com, www.coupons.com, www.allyou.com, and www.redplum.com. Another one of my favorite sources is All You magazine found at Walmart near the registers. It is chock full of great coupons every month as well as budget friendly recipes and such. To hit the sales, you've got to be consistent in gathering those coupons, and having them ready. And I suggest clipping all of them. You never know when you might come across a freebie!

So, now that you have them, what do you do with them? Get to know the coupon policies at different stores. My #1 place for deals - Homeland. They DOUBLE coupons up to and including $1.00!! This makes for awesome deals!! There are some rules, though, and we will cover those later. Target is another great place. They offer store coupons that you can print from their website, and sometimes in the mail, and you can actually COMBINE these with your manufacturer coupons. Plus look for those red clearance tags (usually on the endcaps) and try to match coupons to those items. Walmart - I will come right out and say it - is my LEAST favorite place to use coupons. They just plain don't like them, and will fight you on them. But, there are occasionally good deals to be found there, and overall their prices on basic items are generally lower than most places. These are just a few examples to get started.

Ok, next step. Those store ads that come on Sundays and Wednesdays - they are NOT junk mail! They are like your treasure map! And if there is a store that you do not get an ad for (I don't get Homeland's in the mail) you can look them up online. Now, you go through these ads, and find items on sale that you have a coupon for. Now, if it's Homeland, don't forget to double that coupon. Here is an example: Last week, Rhode's heat and serve rolls (very yummy, btw) were on sale for 1.88. I had coupons for 1.00 off 1 package. Double that, and not only do I get the product for free, but they actually paid ME .12 per package! (I got 4, by the way!) How awesome is that?? See, you CAN get something for nothing!!

I don't want to overwhelm you, so I will end the first lesson here. But, give it a try, and see how you do! I would love to hear success stories as well! But, I want to end this lesson with my last Homeland shopping trip, to maybe inspire and motivate you all! I will put the item, sale price minus coupon (keep in mind the doubling) and the final price of the product.

1 gallon Hiland milk @ 3.65 - a FREE coupon received from a prior deal = FREE
1 Wholly guacamole @ 2.00 - 1.00 = FREE
2 Birdseye steamfresh broccoli @ 1.00 - .35 = .30 each
4 boxes Lipton cold brew tea bags - 1.50 - .60 = .30 each
4 packages Borden Sensations cheese slices @ 1.99 - 1.00 = 4/FREE
4 packages Rhode's dinner rolls @ 1.88 - 1.00 = 4/FREE plus .12 back on each
2 boxes Del Monte fruit chillers @ 2.00 - 1.00 = 2/FREE
3 bottles Herbal Essences shampoo @ 2.66 - 1.00 = .66 each
4 boxes Kraft Velveeta shells and cheese @ 2.00 - .55 = .90 each
4 packages Chinet napkins @ 1.59 - .75 = .09 each
4 boxes Ritz Pretzel Munchables @ 2.50 - 1.00 = .50 each
3 bags Tostito's tortilla chips @ 2.50 - 1.00 = .50 each
2 cans Campbell's cream of mushroom soup @ 1.00 - 1.00/2 = 2/FREE
2 Ritz Crackerfuls @ 2.00 - 1.00 = 2/FREE
4 packages Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh lunchmeat @ 2.99 - 1.00/2 = 1.99 each
2 Lunchables lunch kits @ 2.49 - 1.00 = .49 each
2 Rhode's sticky buns @ 1.88 - 1.00 = 2/FREE plus .12 back on each
2 half gallons Blue Bell ice cream @ 3.99 - 1.00 = 1.99 each

Total spent for all this stuff (including tax) - $33
Total saved = $131!!!!! (about 83% off)

Not bad!

Introducing...Stephen!

This is my buddy boy, Stephen. He is 7 years old and in 1st grade. He is an active little guy and he sure has kept us on our toes! He is very affectionate, smart, and imaginative. He is a very good reader, and especially LOVES biographies. His teacher said that he has read every single one in her classroom, and she had to go out and buy more for him! He gets along well with everyone at school, and while he may appear shy at first, he is quick to make friends! Right now, his passions are video games and Star Wars. He has definitely given us some scares over the last 2 years, as he started having fainting spells that have no apparent cause or trigger. We are in the process of trying to find answers - for this month he is on a cardiac monitor to see if we can catch a spell on the monitor and see if it's a rhythm issue. But due to the long stretches of time in between each spell, it's been very hard to catch and figure out. So, prayers are always appreciated! Anyway, we just love this little guy, and we are so proud of him!

Introducing...Emily!

This is Emily, although most of the time we call her Nay-nay. But if anyone else besides us calls her that, she will be very angry! She is 9 years old and in third grade. She is definitely our little diva - she likes everything to be just so, and always has! She is very sweet, and always has a smile on her face. Several school years, she has won the outstanding character award at school, which is voted on by teachers and other students. She has a lot of compassion, and is always the one to befriend the new students and help out those that are having a difficult time. She is very smart too! She tested in the 98th percentile and is in the gifted/talented program at school. Her teacher told us at her last conference that she is the fastest reader she has ever seen. They tested her reading speed, and while 3rd graders are expected to read about 90 words per minute, Miss Emily read 198 words per minute!! AND her comprehension was almost perfect! Her teacher said at that speed she should be an auctioneer. She LOVES learning - especially reading and science. She loves art too. She loves to draw, and write stories with illustrations. She is a sweetie and we are very proud of her!

Introducing....Natalie!

I figure I should probably introduce my children since I will be talking about them - a lot! Most likely if you are reading this blog, you already know them, but, well, I AM a mom, so I'll take every opportunity I get to talk about them! I am going to introduce them one a time, because frankly, I don't have a lot of time, and doing it all at once is rather daunting for me at the moment. So, naturally, I will start with Natalie!

Ah, my firstborn! My practice child (just kidding!) I was so young when I had her (19), barely an adult. But, I think we did a pretty darn good job. She is now 12 years old, and in 6th grade. She has such a sweet personality. She is kind, smart, obedient - basically a dream child! She is VERY outgoing and talkative (gets that from daddy!), hates confrontation, and one of those that gets along with everyone (well, except maybe sometimes her siblings, lol!) She is definitely our social butterfly. She is taking honors classes and pulling all A's. She was the second student this year voted student of the month! She LOVES music - if she isn't talking, she is singing or humming! She definitely did not get her gift of music from me - that is ALL from daddy! She sings with the middle school choir, and has performed in competitions, earning excellent and superior ratings. She has recently discovered a love for tennis, and is playing everyday after school with the school tennis club! She appears to have a talent for it as well! She is becoming such a lovely young lady, and we are very proud of her!

Taking the plunge!

Well, here I am - taking the plunge into the blogging world. Everyone else is doing it, so why not me? Actually, I have been told by a lot of people that I should blog about the deals that I find in my couponing adventures. I would like to make this blog not just about "the deals," but also about my family, and how we live our "thrifty" life.

To some people, "thrifty" has a negative connotation. Some people equate "thrifty" to "poor." Well, we are nowhere near being rich, but we certainly are blessed. I think that even if we were millionaires, I would still be hunting for bargains! Not only is it fun and challenging, but I also hope that I am teaching my children about using our resources wisely.

I have always used coupons to some extent. But, it REALLY started about the time that my husband, Billy, was unexpectedly laid off. At the time, I was a stay-at-home mom with a child care license, but not bringing in much money. I was scared - WE were scared. We KNEW that God would provide - but we also knew that we needed to do OUR part. I started looking for every way I could to save money, and get as much as I could, for as little money as possible. I turned to the internet, and started finding tips here and there about how to use coupons to get things for next to nothing. I admit, I was skeptical at first - we all hear "you can't get something for nothing." I gave it a whirl at a local Homeland store, where they double coupons up to and including a dollar. I think my first trip's savings was somewhere around 70%. Well, I was hooked!

Billy's unemployment did not last long, praise God, and things started looking up, but thriftiness became a way of life. It started slowly, but soon snowballed as I learned more and more about "couponing." Now, it is normal for my weekly savings to be in the area of 85 - 90%!

I hope that I can inspire others to use the resources that God has given them to their fullest potential!

A sensible man watches for problems ahead and prepares to meet them. The simpleton never looks, and suffers the consequences. - Proverbs 27:12