This morning's run . . .

I didn't do as well as I wanted, because my Fry's was out of the Irish Spring so I had to make some last minute adjustments, but I did 3 transactions there.

Here's what I ended up getting

10 pouches of Bumble Bee tuna
9 bags of American Beauty pasta
2 tubes of Aquafresh toothpaste
1 Right Guard deodorant
2 12pks of Coke

for $9.11 (the Coke was $2.47ea so, after tax, roughly $6 of that was for myself)

I will drink the Coke and I'll take the rest to church this weekend.

While I was out I went to Target where I bought a 27ct pkg of Huggies diapers for $4.49 after I used a Target coupon for $1.50 off a package and a $3 off coupon I printed from coupons.com

At Target I looked for the $2.50 beach towels that had been in the dollar section at the front of the store because I had a $2 off coupon and my church's homeless ministry can always use towels. I didn't see the towels BUT I did find camisoles and a tank top for me that were only $2.50 each! They were "One size fits most" and the tank top isn't something I would wear outside of the house, but it'll make a good pajama top. The camisoles will be great underneath some of my v-neck shirts that hang a bit too low for comfort!

After Target I went into Albertson's (same parking lot) and was able to get more $2.99/lb cod, $.39/lb bananas, and $1.88/gallon milk

All in all it was a good day!

My $3 off Huggies coupons from coupons.com expire Thursday and I have 3 left so I'll definitely be heading to Target again this week!

Ideas for Easter?

My son is 3.5 and my daughter is 1.5. Up until this point I haven't really done anything for Easter. Now that my son is a bit older I want to do something this year, but have slacked.

As a rule we go to church on Saturday night of Easter weekend. (The good/bad news is my daughter doesn't get a new Easter dress because wearing a dress on Saturday night is a bit out of place.)

My husband and I have decided that there will be no fictional characters at our house (no Santa, no Easter Bunny, no Tooth Fairy) because we don't want to set the example to our kids that lying is ever acceptable. We also don't want them to think we're lying about God since He is less tangible than these characters who bring presents.

Here's my dilemma--though my husband thinks I'm a little crazy, I still would like to do Easter baskets, an Easter egg hunt, etc. for them. How would I do this and have it be from Mom and Dad?

I've done the Resurrection Eggs with my son several times since last year (he sees them in the closet and constantly asks to "play eggs")

Any other suggestions?

Quick Deals

I'll confeess I'm not fully on top of my game this morning, due to being knocked out by a stomach virus yesterday, but here are a few things I noticed in this morning's paper. I'd been upset that due to this virus infiltrating my house over the past few days I hadn't been able to get to the store and was going to have to some mega shopping (with two toddlers in tow) tomorrow. After looking at these ads my delay looks like a blessing since a couple of the stores are having "3 day sales" Here are some of the (in my opinion) highlights

Bashas'
Triple coupons, up to $.33 (meaning up to $1 total discount)

Beef tenderoloin $4.97lb
Here's what I LOVE when Bashas' has them this price . . . you'll pay around $35 for a whole tenderloin, but it is absolutely worth the investment, if your grocery budget will allow it. The butchers at Bashas' will cut the tenderloin into filet mignons. Usually I get about 8-10 filets out of each tenderloin! If you look in the butcher case you'll pay about $14.99 for the exact same cut of meat!

Skippy Peanut Butter 2 for $4. There is a coupon in this morning's paper for $.60 off any Skippy . . . this will make the PB $1 each

Strawberries $.99/lb
"Shocker coupon" when you spend $15--Food Club butter $1.29/lb


Fry's
(continuing their promotion where all manufacturer coupons are worth $1 off)
Potoatoes $.58 for a 5lb bag

Safeway also had a special ad in this morning's paper, but nothing really jumped out at me

Can't argue with that . . .

My son, who is 3.5 and is fully in the "why" stage of life. A few minutes ago he was in the office with me and saw a picture a friend posted of her son on facebook. My little guy asked "Who is that?". This is how the conversation continued:

Mommy: "It's my friend's little boy"

Son: "What's his name?"

Mommy: [insert boy's name here]

Son: "Why is his name __________?"

Mommy: "Because that's what his Mommy and Daddy named him"

Son: "Why did his Mommy and Daddy name him that?"

Mommy (trying to change the subject): "Why is your name _______?"

Son (very emphatically): "Because that's what Jesus named me"

Other great deals this week . . .

We are on a strict grocery budget, and use Dave Ramsey's "envelope system" for groceries and household items. There is just about $50 left in my envelope until April 2 so I may not buy ALL of these things, but these are the items I'm seriously considering

Sprouts
Strawberries 4lbs for $5!!
All natural boneless skinless chicken breasts $1.97/lb
Spinach--$.88/bunch
Ground sirloin $2.97/lb

Albertson's
Bananas $.39/lb
93% lean ground beef $1.79/lb
Wild Canadian Rockfish $2.99/lb (I'm sad cod is no longer listed for $2.99/lb, but we're going to try this white fish)

Fry's
in addition to what I already mentioned I'll be buying to donate . . ..
Brocoli--$.88/lb

Bashas'
Yoplait yogurt---Bahsas' coupon in ad for 10 for $4 (only good on first 10)--otherwise they are 10 for $5. I am going to buy a total of 12---10 for $4 and then 2 more for $1. (12 for $5) In addition to the Bashas' coupon I will use 2 coupons from the paper for $.40 off of 6. Each coupon will double to take $.80 off. $5-1.60=12 cups for $3.40. Safeway has their Lucerne yougurt on sale this week for $.33ea (3 for $1). 12 cups of the Lucerne yogurt would be $4, so the Yoplait is cheaper. Both the Yoplait and Lucerne are 6oz cups

I've still got a pretty good stockpile of meat, chicken and seafood so I may not buy much of those, but I will be buying the yogurt, fruits, and veggies

Shopping to Be a Blessing--THIS WEEK :)

The specifics of this blog are for those in my home state, but the principles can be applied to anyone, anywhere.

Fry's is continuing their "March to Savings" sale, where if you buy 8 of the qualifying items $4 will come off your bill. The prices I'm listing for Fry's assume you're buying in multiples of 8. You don't have to buy 8 of the same item--you can buy 2 tuna, 2 pasta, 3 pkgs of soap, 1 toothpaste, etc. Fry's doubles coupons (up to $1 off) but only doubles 3 "like" coupons per transaction.

I bought my coupons on ebay for this, so I don't know which inserts they came from, but here are a few things I will buy this week to donate to our chuch's homeless ministry and food pantry

Irish Spring 3pk bar soap---$1 (minus $.55/1 coupon, that will double up to $1)= FREE
Bumble Bee tuna pouch--- $.49 (minus $.55/1 coupon)= $.50 PROFIT (yes, you'll be paid to take the tuna out of the store)
American Beauty or Ronzoni pasta--$.79
Aquafresh toothpaste--$1

This is a transaction I plan on doing this week (after my coupons arrive)

3 tuna @ $.50 profit
3 pkgs of soap @ FREE
1 box of pasta @ $.79
1 toothpaste @ $1

My total should be about $.29 + tax for all those items :)

Also . . . Target has a coupon at for $2 off of a beach towel. There are beach towels for $2.50 in the "dollar section" at the front of the store so you can get a brand new towel for $.50 to give to our ACTS guests

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

After having lived in the desert for nearly 16 years I have come to absolutely LOVE the month of March. As much as I love Christmas I've come to believe that March in the desert truly IS the most wonderful time of the year. The weather is beautiful and the birds' song seems to be pulling me outside. The kids and I have been to the zoo, the park, bike riding, sidewalk chalk on the driveway, playing in the backyard, evening walks once Daddy gets home, etc as much as possible in recent weeks knowing that the HEAT of the summer is going to descend on us all too quickly. As the kids get older I am looking forward to hikes around town this time of year. We have already planned a family camping trip to a cooler climate this summer.

For those of you in colder climates it's starter to warm up for the first time in months and springing forward has allowed an extra hour extra of sunlight in the evening . . . how have you been enjoying your March?

How Did I Get Here?

It dawned on me the other day that some of my friends know me as a "coupon queen" and are amazed at my deals. I have other friends who also "deal" and who think I'm a novice because my deals don't compare to theirs. I have a third group of friends who are probably amazed that there are people out there who think I know anything about being frugal.

In college, and the years immediately following, I made a lot of "typical" mistakes. I got credit cards and charged clothes I "needed", dinners out I "needed", and when things got tight actual groceries that I really did need. I got to the point where I couldn't afford food. I was begging my roommates to share what they had and scrounging whatever leftovers my coworkers were going to throw away. I remember a lady from church going through her own pantry at 1am giving me canned goods. I skipped meals and went on a "rice and ramen" diet because that's all I could afford. Yes, I was a poor college student, but what I wasn't admitting at the time is I couldn't afford food because all my money was going to pay my credit card bills.

I hit rock bottom a couple years out of college. I was losing sleep over my debt and was a horrible roommate--bouncing checks, avoiding bills, etc. It was BAD. I'm embrassed to be admitting this, but it is part of my story. Eventually creditors were calling me. One bill collector even called my grandma to find out how to get in touch with me. Have I mentioned it was BAD?

Through one collector I ended up giving them post-dated checks for large sums of money to be cashed on my payday. I also went to Consumer Credit Counseling to take care of the rest. I took a second job. My primary job was as a flight attendant, but I also worked 15-20hrs a week at a Christian bookstore. Again, I could barely afford food, but at least this time it was because I was paying off debt, without acquiring any more. All my cards had been cancelled and I swore them off forever. (By the way, knowing what I know now I wouldn't have gone to Consumer Credit Counseling, but it is how I got out of debt)

I worked my tail off and didn't eat much. While flying I cooked ramen noodles in hotel coffee pots, while my crew members were going out to eat. I scrounged off the first class leftovers and ate peanuts because I didn't have money to buy food on my overnight. There were numerous days I worked at the bookstore from 8:30am-3pm, changed in the bathroom, and then headed to the airport to work a red-eye flight to the East Coast that landed at 7am. I was working 20hr days and went over 6mo without a day off. The only time I got a day off at all was if I happened to have a Sunday I wasn't flying, because the store was closed.

Eventually, my debts got paid I and I was able to start "living" again. I made a vow to myself I'd NEVER, NEVER, NEVER get myself in that situation again.

It's funny how God works because a few months after the last credit card got paid off I met this amazing guy, who had never been in debt a day in his life. We started dating and eventually decided to get married. My husband had always done things "right" and was passionate about being debt free because he didn't know any different. My passion comes from having learned my lessons the hard way. I wouldn't be surprised if God was waiting to introduce me to my husband until I had everything straightened out. (In the spirit of full disclosure I should admit that we do have a couple of credit cards we use for the "rewards" that we pay off each month)

My husband has an amazing job. I have been to places I never thought I'd see, I've experienced things I never thought I'd do, and am balancing a family budget with numbers I'd never dreamed I'd see.

I still have student loan debt, and now that I'm a stay-at-home-mom that's something my husband is having to deal with, that he shouldn't. I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to the day it is GONE.

I am passionate about saving money, living on a budget, and living within my means because I learned early and hard the misery that comes with trying to keep up with the Joneses. There are a lot of things I don't "have", but I do have peace knowing that a creditor won't be calling tomorrow and THAT is priceless

My love affair with my FoodSaver and Freezer

Before my son was born I saw a FoodSaver at Costco and told my husband I would like one. I few weeks later I was the proud owner of the kitchen appliance that would change my life. I bought it thinking it would be a nice alternative to having chicken freezer burned in ziploc freezer bags. What I didn't know is that the day would come I would consider it the most valuable small appliance in the house (well, except for my flat iron, but that's because of the "gift" my kids gave me of a perpetually bad 80's perm--on HALF of my head)

In the approximately 4 years since that initial purchase my FoodSaver has become my favorite appliance in the house. I use it ALL THE TIME. I use it to store meat/fish/poultry when it's on sale. I use it for freezer meals. Those two uses alone save me HUNDREDS of dollars/year. As I've mentioned in previous posts, I've been stocking up on cod while it's on sale for $2.99/lb. I have purchased about 15lbs worth of fish at this rock bottom price and frozen it, knowing I may never see this price again (normally I'm happy if it's $4.99/lb). I have items stored for over a year and they still taste amazingly fresh. I haven't lost a single piece of meat/poultry/fish to freezer burn in 4 years!

For freezer meals I make double batches and freeze half. We are a family of 4--with two of those members being toddlers. A 9x12 pan full of anything means that's all we'll eat for lunch and dinner for nearly a week. I've learned if I make the same recipe and place the lasagna in 2 8x8 pans instead of one 9x12 I have a healthy, preservative free dinner on a night I'm too tired/lazy to cook. I put one 8x8 pan in the oven, use my FoodSaver and freeze the other 8x8 portion (pan included)! I use this technique for casseroles, lasagna, baked ziti, enchilladas, shepherd's pie, etc.

Besides saving me from lazy days, one of the benefits of making sure my freezer is stocked with freezer meals is that I always have something on hand if I want to help out a friend who is in the hospital, has recently had a baby, etc.

Once I started REALLY using my FoodSaver I wanted a second freezer. In our old house I knew that wouldn't happen because the only possible "home" for it was the garage. I live in a very hot climate and it doesn't make sense to have a second freezer in the garage because the cost of a constantly running appliance + the drain on the freezer's life counteract any possible savings. When we moved about two years ago we didn't have a huge list of requirements for our huge house (we had to have low expectations to be in the neighborhood we wanted, while maintaining our budget), but one of my "wants" was a place to store a freezer.

Our home doesn't have a pantry (I use a linen closet to store my "stockpile") but it does have room in the laundry room for a 22 cubic ft. upright freezer!

Neither my freezer (about $600) or FoodSaver (about $150) were cheap but they are both WELL WORTH the investment and have both paid for themselves many times over.

C. Beth Blog Giveway---- Free Lollipops!!!

A blogger, Mommy, and one of my former roommates is giving away a bag of Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops on her blog. You can enter to win here:

http://cbethpromote.blogspot.com/

Shopping to Bless Others

An added benefit of getting free (or nearly free) food is the way it allows me to bless others. Our church has a food pantry, and like many in the country, there is more food going out than coming in.

As I mentioned, with the correct coupon, Bashas' has had free pasta for the past week. I had one coupon from my own paper and then bought 20 others from a seller on e-bay. Bashas', like most other stores, has a policy only allowing 3 "like" coupons per transaction to be doubled, so I spent a lot of time at the grocery store over the weekend. Sure, I could keep all 21 boxes, knowing my family would eventually eat them, but others need the food more. I kept some of the boxes for our family, but then was able to take several boxes to church on Saturday night. I already have several bags of food ready to go next week, as well. This afternoon I realized we have a pretty well-stocked pantry (ok, we don't have an actual pantry so I've turned the linen closet into one---who needs towels?) and started cleaning out more food to drop off on Saturday night.

If there is a deal on something I may not use, but know our church's food pantry or ACTS ministry to the homeless can use I will pick it up. We have several toiletry items we are "brand loyal" to because of allergies, but when toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, etc are free or nearly free I will pick those up, as well. We can't use razors nearly as fast as there are deals on them so those go, too.

The boxes of pasta, cans of beans, cans of veggies, etc I drop off may be out of my excess but they will be an enormous blessing to someone else.

What can you do on your next shopping trip to bless someone else?

God is still using fish to teach . . .

We don't observe Lent, but as a huge fan of seafood I look forward to this time of year because all of the grocery stores have sales on fish.

The most spectacular deal I've found this year has been cod, sold in "family packs" for $2.99/lb at Albertson's. For the past few weeks I have been buying several packages at a time and freezing them into meal-sized portions for our family.

As I was in the kitchen using my FoodSaver on all this fish I saw a postcard on our fridge that we'd received at church at the end of 2008. On it were several verses about honoring God with our money. I read "'Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,' says the LORD Almighty, 'and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have enough room for it.'" Malachi 3:10

As I read that I was thinking (ok, whining) "God . . .what more do you want from us? We tithe, we give, what else? Why isn't our storehouse overflowing?" A few minutes later I took my 12lbs of cod I'd just prepared for the freezer and walked into the laundry room (where our spare freezer lives). I opened the freezer door, immediately looked at the fact it is completely stocked with freezer meals, meat I'd been able to stock up on during sales, etc. and was convicted. Our freezer IS overflowing with His blessings. I was so wrapped up in the things we don't have I had completely ignored the blessings He HAS given us. Thank you, Jesus, for Your provision, and for reminding me how truly blessed we are.

Sales and Freezer Meals . . . these are a few of my favorite things . . .

Here are a few things I will be buying at the grocery store this week, as well as a freezer meal I will be making.

At Sprouts a 5lb bag of Clementines is on sale for $2.99. Considering how fast my kids go through these I may need to buy one box early in the week and another later on.

I'm really excited about FREE PASTA at Bashas' this week. Barilla pasta is on sale for $1/box and there was a coupon in Sunday's paper for $.55 off of 1 box of Barilla Whole Grain pasta. Bashas' doubles coupons up to $1 so my $.55 off coupon becomes worth $1. I'm not great at math, but $1-$1=FREE! :) While at Bashas' getting my free pasta I will be picking up strawberries because they are 2lbs for $3

At Safeway 93% lean ground beef is $1.99/lb and a 5lb bag of red potatoes is only $.99! I am going to buy about 5lbs of ground beef and a bag of potatoes.

Here's a freezer meal I will be making after I go to Safeway: I will brown all the ground beef and turn all the potatoes into mashed potatoes. I will combine these with ingredients I have on hand already (carrots and frozen peas) to make 5 Shepherd's Pies. I will put one 8x8 pan in the oven for dinner and then seal the other 4 with my FoodSaver and freeze them. I LOVE making double (or quadruple) batches of foods like Shepherd's Pie and freezing them because I have a preservative free meal waiting in my freezer on nights I don't feel like cooking. I don't do "once a month" cooking because I don't want to spend an entire day cooking and doing dishes. By making a large batch and freezing the extras I'm only doing the work once and not spending any extra time in the kitchen than I normally would making dinner on a normal evening.

Welcome!

This blog will contain my ramblings about pretty much anything on my mind :)

As an avid couponer and bargain shopper I am regularly asked by friends about how to find the best deals and how I stretch my grocery budget, so as I come up with ideas that may be helpful to others I will post them here.

As a daughter of Christ I am constantly amazed at what He is teaching me and if I feel I have something that will bless others I will post that here :)

As the mom of two toddlers (3.5 and 1.5) my kids keep me entertained, and if I have a "Proud Mommy" moment, or a "Kids Say the Darndest Things" moment I may share it here :)