Clippin' Coupons - Part 1

So, my challenge to myself this year is saving money at the grocery store by utilizing coupons. This week was my first outing trying to use coupons in a significant way. Did I suceed? Depends on what you consider success. I did save some money and while I didn't get $1000 worth of groceries for $50, I am encouraged to keep up with this challenge. I saved most signifcantly at Target racking up a total of almost $20 in savings.

The days prior to my shopping excursion I sat down with my coupons, the Sunday paper and the Pocket Your Dollars website. I started by going through all the Sunday ads looking for items we needed. As I located one I would look to see if I had a coupon for the item. I made a list for Target and one for Walgreen's. I found that what worked for me this time around was to make my grocery lists on envelopes. That way I had something to put the coupons in for that particular store.

The Walgreen's ad in particular is great as it shows right on some of the sale or store coupons that there are coupons available in the Sunday paper. As I was working on each ad I also had Pocket Your Dollars site up on the computer. Carrie Rocha, the coupon queen, in my opinion, takes a lot of the guess work out of utilizing coupons. On her site she will provide shopping lists for each store and walk through them, giving ideas for maximizing your savings.

For example:

Huggies Jumbo Packs $8.99

***Deal idea***
Buy 3 Huggies Little Snugglers or Movers Jumbo Packs for $8.99 each
Use three $2/1 from 1/23 Smart Source insert (or buy Snug & Dry and use $1.50/1 Huggies Snug & Dry printable instead)
Spend as little as $20.99, get $5 gift card back
Final price: As low as $5.33 each after coupons and gift card

Source: Pocket Your Dollars, Target shopping list for 1/23-1/29.

 Joe and I used this deal, we had two $2 off coupons and one $1.50 off coupon, once you factored in the sale price, coupons and the $5 gift card we received in return it came to $5.49 per pack of diapers or about .20 per diaper.

While we were at Target we realized that some of the grocery items on our list we could get for less at Wal-Mart, so being that the Target and Wal-Mart are so close to each other we shopped both stores. I prefer Wal-Mart for pricing, we find significant savings with out coupons. I will continue to do my main shopping there.

Multiple store shopping is not for everyone. Looking at the main players in the grocery game, Rainbow, Cub, Wal-Mart and Target as well as CVS and Walgreen's, I found that I drive by or can drive by each store. For us it wouldn't be too difficult to hit all stores as needed. With lists in hand, and no toddler in tow, I could get in and out of some stores within 30 minutes. We will be looking at the ads the next few weeks and may attempt a larger scale multiple store shopping adventure soon!

I was talking with my Mom about coupon shopping and watching ads for sales, she managed to get $108 worth of meat for $54 today! Stocking up, if you have the pantry and freezer space can pay off in the long run. This is another one of my goals with this process.

We also picked up an inexpensive printer this week so I can start taking advantage of printable coupons from store sites and manufacturer's. Again the Pocket Your Dollars site is a good resource for this. When planning your next shopping trip keep in mind that Target, Walgreen's and other sites have additional coupons online to print!

I will keep you updated after my next excursion!



Extreme Couponing - Does It Work?

Extreme Couponing - Does It Work?

I have always loved coupons, I like paging through the ads, cutting along the dashed line and organizing them into categories. However, I fail at using them. Often I forget to bring them with me to the store. I don't have a plan for shopping. I misplace them until they are expired. Epic. Fail.

I am not one to make resolutions at the start of a new year because I rarely stick to them. However, this year I would like to challenge myself to a contest of sorts. I would like to see if it is truly possible to make "extreme couponing" work for me.

I have started gathering my coupons once again. Joe went to the store on Sunday morning and brought me a paper. I cut out as many coupons as I thought I would possibly use. I passed up coupons for products that I have never used nor can foresee myself using - thus saving me the headache of coupon clutter. I have become a fan of Pocket Your Dollars on Facebook and I have bookmarked Sunday Saver. I am ready to start this challenge.

Last night we went grocery shopping and while I had not started my challenge I did bring my coupons along. I only used one but just that one helped show what can be done using coupons. I had a $1 off coupon for Kraft Home style Macaroni & Cheese. At Wal-Mart this is priced at $2 so I paid $1. This is an inexpensive side to have along with chicken nuggets which cost $3.98 for a bag. Seeing as how we make probably half a bag for a meal, that will make dinner total $3. We will say $3.33, when you add in a serving of Great Value Fruit Cocktail in 100% Fruit Juice for Kayla. Quick meal for 2 adults and a toddler at a great price!

My plan this week will be:

1. Continue to watch for useful coupons, online and in print.
2. Search for tasty & healthy meal ideas
3. Plan meals for the week and make grocery list
4. Check out Pocket Your Dollars for the money saving lists
5. Check out the Sunday Saver ads once posted
6. Form a multi-store shopping plan to achieve the best deals
7. Shop away and see how much I can save
8. Blog about my adventure

I will post my success, failures, frustrations and triumphs when I can. If you have any tips to share, success stories of your own, please leave me a comment!

Walking for a cause

In 2008 Joe and I walked for the first time in the March of Dimes - March For Babies. After losing our daughter Kylie it became a cause close to our hearts. Since our loss in 2007 we have had the support of many wonderful friends and family members. We have been blessed beyond measure. Now it is time to give back to others.

Last year we added another walk to our list. We walked with a friend, Stephanie, in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Walk to Cure Diabetes. This year we officially joined a team and we are looking forward to supporting this wonderful cause again.

Team Ana Bear

We will walk for Ana and her parents David & Chelsea as well as our friends, Stephanie and Justin, who have been living with diabetes since they were young. These are the people in our lives who have been affected by Juvenile Diabetes. If you would like to support this wonderful cause you can visit my personal page to donate.

Painting Fun

My time with Kayla is limited during the week and today I wanted to make the most of our evening. I got out the project pack that I put together and we painted as well as did a project with stickers.

After naming each color I would hand Kayla the sticker and she placed on the paper. She seemed to enjoy it even when the stickers wanted to stay on her fingers and not go down on paper. She stuck with it until got it though.

Next we painted...

 Kayla wanted to keep painting but the paint drys so fast on paper... so I got out a cookie sheet.

Painting on a cookie sheet with Crayola Washable Kid's Paint is something I highly recommend. Kayla got her fill of playing in the squishy paint and when we were done I just washed it off. This is something I will do more often with her!

Looking forward to more fun this week with my little monkey!

Colors Lesson Plan

I have decided to try something new with our 18 month old, Kayla. Lesson packs. This week it will be all about colors. This morning I spent some time organizing 11 projects or activities so that if Daddy wants to do some during the day they are all set. This also makes it easier on me so that at the end of a long day at work everything is ready and I won't have to take the time to gather up materials.

Color Lesson Pack

We are focusing on blue, red, yellow, green & orange.

1. Counting Blocks: I have a bunch of stackable square blocks for counting. I pulled out one of each color. These can be used to count and name the colors. Also great for small motor skills for stacking and pulling apart.

2. Coloring: In the pack is a coloring book and 5 crayons. Kayla loves coloring and we can use this time to name the colors as she is coloring.

3. Baby Einsteins First Words: This book has a page of colors. Great quiet activity.

4. Blue's Clues Shapes & Colors DVD: Colors Everywhere Episode.

5. Color Stickers: 10 stickers, 2 for each color. We will help Kayla stick them on paper and name the colors as we go. 

6. Painting: Using 5 colors, Kayla can paint on paper with brushes or hands.

7. Color Names Flashcards: Each card has the color name written in that color along with a solid color sticker.

8. Naming Colors: Walk through house naming colors, name colors while eating, etc.

9. Color Match: Using small bowls and a ball we will play a game where we name the color and put the ball in that bowl.

10. Color Sticks: I colored 5 craft sticks with each of the colors we will be working on. These can be used to name the colors and match up with Color Names flashcards.

11. Colors Collage: 5 pictures from magazines (1 for each color) and pom poms. Glue onto small paper plate.

What are your color project ideas? Other themes for toddlers?