Geting Started

Okay...First things first.  Gather coupons. Gather them from anywhere you can. Get the circulars (Red Plum, P&G Saver) from the Sunday newspaper...buy 2 or 3. It will cost you about $3.00 for for more than $30.00 in savings Or, you can opt to have someone else do it for you...a little more expensive, but still more savings than you pay for. There are plenty of sites you can purchase them from (including sites listed below). But first, you have to get the coupons to be able to save with coupons. Another alternative is going to your local recycling or trash station and collect circulars out of the bin there (only paper goes into those bins). Pay attention to the expiration dates! Expired coupons save you NOTHING! The next step is to organize them. Coupons do you absolutely no good if you can't find them. Get a 3-ring binder and baseball card inserts, as well as a large clear pocket (with a closure) to put your list coupons in. If you are organized before you get to the store, you will save more. List coupons are the coupons for items that are on my current grocery list. Anything else needs to be filed so that when you are ready to go to the store, you can easily find the coupons you need for your list.

Vegas Baby!

We had such a great time in Vegas! The girls loved the MJ impersonators.
Ella said they really looked like statues…until one of them moved and scared the snot out of her.  Too much fun!

		Lost Vegas LOL VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

I am proud to say that all of my girls can moonwalk or do the thriller dance. LOL

When it rains...it pours.

Well, I should have figured...
    
     It seems like every time we start to get ahead, something else piles on top.  We just heard that Eddie's salary has been cut...by more than half. Oh, and salary isn't in the equation anymore...back to hourly we go.  I am just going to have to turn this negative back into a positive...

     Now, coupons are more important than ever.  I am not only challenging myself, but I am challenging you too.  I want to improve my grocery savings by 50% every month. I will be posting (or blogging) about my trips to the grocery store and if I have met my goal or not. It should be interesting at the very least.  I would like to hear from you on the comment threads so we can compare ways to save and maybe exchange coupons (not everyone uses the same brands/coupons).  If you have a link to a free coupon site, post it in the comment thread for all to use.  I will be building the coupon links portion of this blog over the weekend and would love to include any resources available. My goal is to save my family (and yours) money. 

     I will also be adding money saving links to the main page for items you may be interested in. Site links should include amazon.com among others.  Feel free to check them out from time to time...or compare with other prices before paying too much.

P.S. Don't forget to check back for funny Ella-isms and stories...she just keeps providing good ol' entertainment.  I love the 5 year old mind!

Great Coupon Forum
http://www.weusecoupons.com/


Free Coupon Links

http://www.coupons.com/
http://www.shortcuts.com/
http://www.safeway.com/

Subscription (fee based)
http://www.thegrocerygame.com/

More to come...check back often! 

What went wrong?!?

Well, after gathering my coupons and shopping list, I headed off to the grocery store. I was so happy going up and down the aisles picking out my cart-full of savings.  Unfortunately, the total at the register didn't agree. I very quickly realized that I had scanned my store card...and all of my coupons. So where are my savings???  I guess you could say that was the moment I realized my pile of manufacturer coupons was sitting in a nice little pile...AT HOME! This is a couponers worst nightmare! After telling my husband about the debacle, he simply said..."you were rushed and it's a good lesson learned". What a doll I married! 

So, my advice to all of you is, gather everything you need the day BEFORE you go to the store. I usually do, but this time let time slip through my fingers without being properly prepared.

Get a 3-ring binder and fill it with baseball card inserts. Organize your coupons in it according to aisle or product. Take it with you to the store and as you pull an item off the shelf, put the corresponding coupons in the front folder (a separate one with some type of closure is best). 

This way you will never be left paying full price on your grocery bill. 

Wish me luck next time....LOL

Ella's World

Well, Ella woke up in a great mood...that quickly turned sour.  She wanted a cup of coffee. The bad mother in me came out and said " no, you don't need any coffee".  She proceeded to tell me that she has done all the growing that she is going to do...so she can have coffee.  I asked her if she was just going to be small forever. She told me "Yes, so now I can have coffee everyday".

A special thank you to my father-in-law...who got my child addicted to coffee at only a few months old.  Five  years later he is still  giving me some of the best mornings a mother could ask for.

After the coffee incident, we worked out a solution.  Ella got a dollar (from her Dad) to spend in town while we were running our errands.  So she got to buy her own gum at the store.  So guess what!  Ella told me that I am the best mother she ever had!  (Just don't mention to her that I am her only choice.) LOL

Coupons!!

Just thought I would share some helpful information.
I have recently started couponing to lower my grocery store bill.  Feeding 6 people everyday (sometimes more) can be exhausting on any budget.  I have found  helpful links at coupon sites and store sites (links are on this page). Some of them include Safeway, WUC, shortcuts, cellfire,and coupons.com. Others are pay sites like the grocerey game. I have found that if you are willing to take the time to do the initial research...these sites can really pay off.  Post a comment if you are interested in more info. :)                 ,     http://www.weusecoupons.com, http://www.safeway.com, http://www.shortcuts.com, http://www.cellfire.com, http://www.thegrocerygame.com, http://www.coupons.com

About this blog

Hello! I am Bre...and this is my blog.  Here is a  little background info before we get started with all of the daily mishaps and happenings.
I am 31 years old. Married to a VERY patient man. We have four daughters that range in age from 15yrs. down to 5yrs.  They are also very patient. LOL  I have started this blog as a sort of online journal and to keep track of family stories. Some entries will make you laugh WITH me, while others will make you laugh AT me (whatever works). You may cry...perhaps even that ugly cry we all hate to do. Some of what you read may enrage you...so let me apologize now. I am not writing this to try and change the world or anyone's beliefs/opinions.  This is simply for entertainment. So I hope you enjoy the future posts on this brand new blog.