Reporting!

 I hit Macey's today and can I just say how wonderful it is to be shopping smart again?!?! *sigh* I no longer feel like I'm just handing out money everywhere I go! I got some great deals and even ran into a good friend and enjoyed some chit chat.
 The only negatives I found were a few sale items out of stock and also the Malt-O-Meal deal advertised different types of cereal than were actually on sale. :(  Other than that, a good experience for a Saturday!
 Since I won't feel complete without posting a money saving tip for the day, here's a choice little nugget!

To save money on clothing, shop on "deal days." Target usually slashes kids' clothing prices on Mondays. Old Navy and Gap often mark down items midweek. :)

Enjoy!

My Shopping List!

Here are some great deals I will be taking advantage of this weekend!

Macey's

Fresh Broccoli and Cauliflower .48/lb
Libby's Canned Veggies .49 ea
French Bread  .88/ea
Hunt's Tomato Sauce 8oz 3/$1
Classico Pasta Sauce $1.59
-$1/2 Classico Pasta coupon
Malt-O-Meal Bagged Cereal 43-50oz 2/$5
-$2/2 Malt-O-Meal cereals coupon
Softsoap 7.5oz pump .99
Western Family Shredded or Loaf Cheese 8oz 3/$5
Tyson Bagged Chicken asst. $4.99
-$1 on any bag of Tyson Anytizers (if applicable)
Dole Classic Romain or Just Lettuce $1.79
Large Tomatoes .89/lb

Smith's

Pork Loin Chops $1.79/lb
Hot/Lean Pockets $1.59 wyb 10
Tyson Bagged Chicken asst. $3.99 wyb 10
-$1 on Tyson Anytizers (if applicable)
Nature's Made and Nature's Bounty supplements 50% off
-$1 on any Nature's Bounty Fish Oil product
-$1 on any Nature's Bounty Vitamins
1 Gal Mountain Dairy Milk $1.99
Maruchan Ramen noodles 8/$1 wyb 24 ct case
Kroger specialty Beans 2/$1 wyb 24ct case
Smith's has several other case lot sales that are worth checking out. They just aren't on my list for this week. :)

Rite Aid
There are just too many freebies (with +up rewards) this week for me to possibly type all of them. Look at this week's ad and see what interests you. Lots of them correspond with current coupons for extra savings.
A few that I will be taking advantage of:
Trident 18ct Gum B1G1
-$1/3 Trident coupon
Softsoap pump 7.5oz B1G1
King Size or Theatre Box Candy B1G1
Rite Aid vitamins and supplements B1G1
$5 +UP wyb $20
Blink Tears $7.99
-$7.99 SCR
-$1.00 Blink Tears coupon= FREE + overage!
M&M's Bagged Valentine's Candy 9.5-12.6oz 2/$4.44
Hershey's Bagged Valentine's Candy 8-8.5oz 2/$4.44

I can hardly wait to get out there and take advantage of these deals! So great to be back on the money saving train!!

When making a major purchase...

When making a major purchase, check out thefind.com beforehand. This website will tell you where you buy the product, lists available coupons, and offers reviews. If you're gonna be spending big money, why not spend it wisely?!  :)

Swapping Coupons

 Here's a thought:  (from All You magazine)
Trade with friends and get the deals you really want.
Perhaps the easiest way to increase your coupon stockpile is to join an online coupon-trading forum. (hotcouponworld.com or afullcup.com)  After signing up, you will receive an envelope in the mail with a pile of coupons. Take the ones you like, replenish the stash with coupons you don't need, and send it to the next person on the list. The train travels in a continual loop, with each person taking from and adding to the supply.

What can you do?

Time is money!
 If you are a stay at home mom like myself, it's easy to forget that what we are doing; raising kids, tending a house and creating a home, is actually a 'job.' Our 'pay' is definitely different and so are the hours, but it is still a job that we do and therefore, every minute counts!
 If you are a working mom, then those minutes count double!!! I've been thinking a lot about what I can do to make more time for myself for relaxing or reading, etc. In the research I've done so far, it really all comes down to systems and time management.. and a whole lot of common sense!
 The first new thing that I have implemented in my daily life that will save me time and frustration is this:

Don't put it down. Put it AWAY!

Often, I will grow piles and piles of papers, toys, clothes, and other bits and pieces all around my house. I'm betting you do the same. Finally, when we can't stand the mess any longer, we jump into the pile and spend one to several hours returning things to their proper places and junking what needs to be junked.

How great would it be if there we never any piles to deal with?! I'm not 100% there yet, but my desk and my printer table are there! And it's been a LONG TIME since you could see any of the actual surface of either of these.

What has made the difference?! FILING IMMEDIATELY! I have lots of customer reciepts, bills, statements, cards, letters, etc. We all do! Instead of piling them on the desk, counter, table, PUT THEM AWAY! Read the card or letter, chuck it if it isn't important. File it if it matters enough to keep. Do it right away! The bills are paid? Great! Now file those statements! No more dropping into a pile to be sorted at a "later date!" It takes literally less than a minute and will save you hours each year.

Don't wait!!! Start today and enjoy the benefits!

While I'm at it...

 A huge project that we are currently involved in, is renovating our kitchen! I started it one day when I was highly emotional. The forest animal paper just had to come down!!! That was the start of a great and very educational journey!
 We have been at it for a little over two months now and it is finally functional again. It was a COMPLETE gut and we even had to update the wiring. We're getting close to having it done but it is still a challenge to live with. For instance, I don't have countertops. Imagine the difficulties that might come with that!
 As I am always looking for ways to save money and to bring my little family closer together, I decided that since I finally have a functioning kitchen again, I need to use it! We sit down to dinner together every evening now and eat a home cooked meal, prepared by yours truly. Then my loving, and very appreciative husband, does the dishes! Can you say 'Woohoo?'
 It has been so fun looking for exciting new recipes and ingredients as I have been teaching myself to cook. I already knew the basics, but nothing fancy and rarely ventured out of my comfort zone. As far as sitting down together... well, that was not a common occurence in this house. I really feel like it makes a difference somehow...
 I have also committed to making lunch for my husband to take to work everyday. Since he leaves before 5am each morning, I had used the excuse that it was just too early and so I haven't done that for him in a very long time. The poor guy has eaten a lot of ramen in the past couple years.
 These days, as we are cleaning up dinner, I go ahead and put his lunch together and pile it on the top shelf of the fridge. All he has to do is throw the contents and an ice pack into his lunch box and be on his way!
 He's getting much healthier fare this way and it will save us money in several ways, including less wasted food and not having to buy expensive ready to eat freezer meals and such. It makes me feel good to know that his coworkers have noticed and are envious. :)
 About wasting food... Men are funny. Especially when they are tired or in a hurry. There could be a whole casserole dish of yummy food sitting in the fridge, but rather than portion some out into a tupperware, they'll grab the super processed freezer meal instead. What happens to all that yummy casserole food? It ends up running down the garbage disposal when the stench gets to be too much or we need that particular dish again.
 This was another of my excuses for not making dinner too often before. It just seemed to all go to waste. Now that I take the five minutes to get it portioned into lunch dishes (and make smaller portions to begin with), we aren't wasting hardly anything anymore!
 Finally, one other benefit of making our supper daily; I can see what leftover bits and pieces we have sitting in the fridge and incorporate them into fun new meals to make sure that the leftover half a can of tomato soup doesn't end up down the drain. It is an adventure and a challenge. And I am always up for a fun challenge!
 Today's lesson: Try cooking dinner at home! Start with just a couple days a week and see what you can do. Wouldn't it be great to save money and waste less?!?!  ;)

I'm Back!!!

 Last year was long and painful, and though I am still dealing with many of the same trials, I am ready to start saving money again!!
 I hit the recycling bins this morning and scored a bunch of great coupons! I spent about a bazillion hours cleaning out all of the expired coupons from my binders. They are all fresh and restocked! I am excited to start deal hunting and will report on my great deals. :)