Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Hello Again, Working World

The blog has been on the back burner, along with many things I had been doing on a daily basis since June.  Last week I started working in Philadelphia.  My new roles as both business professional and wife, are two very different roles for me, that I need to acclimate myself to simultaneously.  Both very positive changes in my life, might I add.  I had a few months to begin figuring out "wife", and as part of that role, I worked out different ways to live on a budget (couponing being one of them).  I think I got pretty good at it.

Just as I started to adjust to how my day is carried out, I got a job (finally)!  I find it so rewarding to know that I am financially contributing to our family again, along with how nice I find it to be taking the train into the city, dressing like a business woman (I never thought I dressed like I would've like to as a teacher), and being a part of the "hustle and bustle".  As odd as it sounds, I forgot how much I liked being at a desk.  I find it much less stressful when I get to do my job without the impressionable eyes of twenty-something middle schoolers watching every move you make.  Don't get me wrong, I love teaching, and hope to teach again, but I don't hate working in an office.  (I know, I have only been there a week.)

Anyway, I think my point is that all of a sudden there aren't enough hours in a day.  I told the hubby the other day, teachers do have it made, I had no idea.  I used to hate that my long commute as a teacher meant I didn't get home until 4:30.  Now, I don't get home until about 6:30 and I think, "How in the world am I going to do anything other than eat dinner, shower, and get to bed".  Luckily, I married a great cook, and when he gets home first and decides to cook, I know I am in for a treat.

So, how does everyone do it?  Wife, Worker, and Independent Woman?  Is it possible to be all three?  Figuring my day out, the breakdown seems I have eleven hours as a worker, require eight hours of sleep, which leaves me five hours to do everything else (both as wife and woman).  I will give it another few weeks and hope I can tackle the day to day needs of the house.  Well, I hope I can get the laundry done at the very least.  If I can manage to extend the day to 26-28 hours, maybe I will be able to stay more on top of the couponing!

;-)

Monday, October 3, 2011

"Hey, are you one of those extreme coupon people?"

This is the question that the ladies behind me at the Shoprite asked.  I loved it!  The main reason I have decided to blog about my deals is that my aunt Beth started couponing when I told her I was having success with it.  Then, she started emailing me questions about how I was doing it.  When you sit down and create a plan of attack, it really is kind of easy once you get in the store.  I now have a firm belief that I shouldn't have to pay full price when I go shopping, and if I need to stock up to prevent paying full price, I will.

In addition to my Shoprite trip, I also went to Rite Aid, Acme, Walgreens, Dollar General, and Walmart.  When all receipts were added up, I had spent a grand total of under $75.  (This included my weekly grocery shopping and the purchase of Transformers on blue-ray.) So, for those of you interested in trying couponing, here are some examples of what I got today:

Big deals at Shoprite this week!
(some of the items were needed for a recipe I pulled up on my phone for dinner, so a few things altered my game plan... they are not included in the calculation below)

Lysol disinfecting wipes:
        Sale price: $1.99
        Used a $1.00 coupon
               Total: $.99

Pam cooking spray:
        Sale price: $2.49
        Used a $.50 coupon (doubled= $1)
               Total: $1.49
               Added bonus: ($4 mail-in rebate)

4 Yoplait Greek Yogurt cups
        Sale price: $1.00 per cup
        Used two $.50 off 2 cups coupons (both doubled)
               Total: $2 (or $.50 per cup)

Johnsonville Italian Sausage:
        Sale price: $3.99
        Used a $1 off coupon
               Total: $2.99

2 Betty Crocker cookie mix bags (the holidays are coming up!):
        Sale price: 2 for $4
        Used two $.40 coupons (both doubled)
               Total: $1.20 per bag

Celestial Seasons Box of Lemon Tea (will come in handy come cold season):
        Sale price: $1.99
        Used $1 coupon
               Total: $.99

Barber Chicken Cordon Blue:
        Sale price: $2.99
        Used a $1 coupon
               Total: $1.99

Multigrain Tostitos AND Salsa
        Sale price: $2.99 each
        Used a $1 off both coupon
               Total: $4.98

2-liter bottle of Diet Pepsi
        Sale price $1.25
        Used a Free w/ purchase of tortilla chips and salsa coupon
               Total: FREE

Bag of Birds Eye Steam Fresh Veggies
        Sale price: .99
        Used a $.50 coupon (doubled)
               Total: -$.01

Box of Fun-da-middles coupcake mix:
        Sale price: $2.49
        Used a $.75 coupon (doubled to a $1)
               Total: $1.49

2 bags of Nestle Halloween candy:
        Sale price: $1.87 per bag
        Used a $1 off 2 bags coupon
               Total: $1.37 per bag
(This is awesome if you have noticed the prices of Halloween candy!)

2 bags of Haribo Gummy Bears (I don't know why I bought them):
        Sale price: $.88 per bag
        Used two $.30 coupons (both doubled= $.60)
               Total: $.28 per bag

(I had a $5 off coupon from an entertainment book)

GRAND TOTAL: $16.41 (plus tax)

My stash from Acme, doesn't look as impressive.  However, if you notice, one of my items is Transformers (blue-ray). So, here is what I did:

Old El Paso Taco Dinner Kit:
        Sale price: $2.03
        Used $.50 coupon (doubled)
               Total: $1.53 (for an entire dinner!!)

2 Lipton Diet Green Tea bottles:
        Sale price: $1 each
        Used $.50 coupon (doubled)
               Total: $.50 per bottle

2 bags of Halloween Candy (Skittles and Starburst):
        Sale price: 2 for $4
        Used two $1 coupons
               Total: $1 per bag

Acme is having a knockdown deal with General Mills Products: (Buy 5 for an additional $3 off)
Senerio:

2 boxes of Original Cherrios:
        Sale price: $2.48
        Used two $1 coupons
               Total: $1.48 per box

2 boxes of Chex Cereal:
        Sale price: $2.48
        Used a $1 off two boxes coupon
               Total: $1.98 per bag

1 box of Nature Valley Granola Bars:
        Sale price: $2.48
        Used  $.75 coupon (doubled)
               Total: $.98

-$3.00 for buying five GM products

Total for all five products: $4.90

And finally, Acme is running a deal this week: buy an 8 pack of enegizer batteries and Transformers, get $5 off.
Enegizer Batteries:
        Price: $6.99
        Used $3.00 coupon
               Total: $3.99

Transformers (on Blue-Ray: you can get the DVD for cheaper)
        Sale price: $24.95
        $5 instant coupon
               Total: $19.95

GRAND TOTAL: $36.39 (tax included)
(If you aren't interested in the Transformers/battery deal, the shopping total is under $10)



Last one I'm going to share for the night is my deal at Walmart.  Ladies, we know makeup is expensive (and I am a snob when it comes to my MAC obsession, but I have decided inexpensive items are ok.  As long as I wear my MAC foundation and eye shadow, I feel great!)

What I bought:

Covergirl eye liner:
       Price: $4.44
Cover girl blush:
       Price: $3.74
            Used the $8 off two CG items in this weeks newspaper
            Total: $.18!!!! (yes, that is $.09 each)

Two NYC mascaras:
        Price: $1.00 each
            Used a Buy One Get One Free coupon
            Total: $1.00

Old Spice travel size body wash:
        Price: $.97
             Used a $1 coupon
             Total: -$.03

GRAND TOTAL: $1.15 (plus tax)

Tomorrow I am heading to Target.  They have some great deals this week.  Remember, Christmas is right around the corner, so if you find a deal, get it (even if you don't know if you will use it now).

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Today's Mini Couponing Adventure (and Yesterday)

Another short blog.  I have found that I am having most success with couponing in the personal needs department, which I think is great because a lot of that stuff is really expensive, and we all need that kind of stuff. 

Today I went to Walgreens and I bought:

Pantene Pro-V Shampoo (reg price $5.29)
Pantene Pro-V Conditioner (reg price $5.29)
Re-nu contact solution (reg price $7.99)
Two tubes of Colgate Optic White Toothpaste (reg price $4.99 each)
Two packs of Five gum (reg price $1.49 each)
A Reese's Fast Break Bar (I honestly don't know how much)

The Pantene was buy one get one half off, I had a $3 off coupon,
The Renu I had a $2 off coupon and receive a $5 register rewards,
Toothpaste was two for $7.98, I had $2.50 in coupons, and get $6 in register rewards,
The five gum was on sale for $.99 each and I had a coupon for $1 off two.

I split my purchases into two so I could use my RR and when all was said and done I paid $5.61 for $32.12 worth of stuff.  I consider that a successful trip! (I might start doing my couponing in Delaware because of that $5.61, more than $1 was sales tax. 

(I had to buy the Fast Break bar to use the RR on my second purchase)

Yesterday I went to Walmart.  I bought a lot of stuff I have been holding off on (face wash, eye drops, baby powder)  I still worked my magic and this is how it went:

Clearasil face wash (reg $5.87)
Visine (Reg $3.62) (needed during allergy season)
2-pack of Reach toothbrushes (reg $3.97)
Johnson's Baby Powder (Reg. $2.97)
Six 12-packs of Shick disposible razors ($1.97 each)
Total: $28.25

The big key to this trip was the $6 off 2 packs of shick razors.  Each coupon gave me and additional credit of $2.06 (times three was a $6.18 moneymaker).  On top of that I had:
$1 off baby powder
$2 off Reach toothbrushes
$2 off Clearasil
$1 off Visine

When all coupons were deducted my total was $5.77 ($4.25 before sales tax)

For those of you are trying this out, let me know what deals you find and how your couponing is going!

Friday, September 30, 2011

What a week!

First week back at my Weight Watchers meetings... didn't go so well.  Last Friday I went to weigh in and got the reality check I thought I needed.  After hearing the devastating news, I was all ready to get back into the grove.  However, what turned out to be a great week socially, turned out to be a rough week on the scale.  Ate out with friends Saturday, Monday and will be again tonight.  Add to that Sunday football games at my parents house and I realized I need another goal.  Nothing really beats the motivation of a wedding dress. I will still keep at it, go to my weigh in tomorrow morning, and try again next week. 

I find out on Monday when I start my new job, which I hope is the key to getting back in the grove.  I will be working in the city, which I'm so excited about!  Having a daily schedule again is exactly what I need.  I will be packing my lunch, reading on the train, and walking to the office.  Now, I just need to find some good deals on clothing, since I have to dress office professional (also very excited about).

The hubby asked me if this new job means the end of my couponing.  I told him "heck no!"  Knowing that I can spend so much less than sticker price is exciting.  Saving money means we can use if on more fun things, like going to Disney World together!  I still can't believe that he has never been, but also makes me realize how lucky I am that I have been so many times before.

Today, my couponing hints are: Be on the lookout for the P&G saver this Sunday.  This is a big one, full of coupons for products which don't have coupons available often. 

I went to Walmart the other day, bought three items, before coupons my total was $12.43.  After my coupons, my total was $1.63!  Other than that, I took it easy on the couponing this week.  Today I am going to try and get myself organized and ready for the week ahead.  Hopefully I can let you know about some great deals!

Friday, September 23, 2011

A little closer to the title "extreme couponer"!

Today I went out and made my best effort to date at getting a lot for next to nothing. 

First stop was Target. 
I headed straight for the travel section.  Purchasing clearance items and using my coupons,
I got four packs of shout wipes to go: on sale for $.67 each and used two coupons ($.75 off two),
two wet ones packs to go: on sale for $.67 each ($1 off two),
two Aquafresh extreme toothpaste's: $.97 each and used two coupons ($1 off coupon),
and a sensodyne pronamel toothpaste $.99 ($1 off). 

How much did I end up paying for these nine items?  $1.84!!

Then I went to Shoprite and only paying mind to my list and my coupons I bought:
two Activia Greek yogurts (Free with coupon),
four bottles of Kikoman soy sauce ($1 off coupon),
three cans of Red Pack diced tomatoes $1 off two (use zip code 12204),
one jar of Fransisco Ranaldi pasta sauce (used a .35 off coupon),
two packs of butterball turkey burgers (used 1 $1.50 off coupons),
and one bottle of glade pet odor eliminator ($1 off coupon

How much did I spend? $5.38!!


That is all I have for today.  I will let you know what other successes I find in my shopping! Good luck to any others who decide to try it out! :-)

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Pardon my absence...

I know I have been gone for a little longer than usual.  Things have been kinda crazy for this unemployed girl.  My number one priority is... ok, I guess I can't pick just one "top" priority.  I have been driving back and forth to Delaware quit a bit in the past two weeks to see my family and help out where I am needed.

When I am not driving, I have been couponing and working on the house.  I have done a few small projects since my last blog, emphasis on the small.  One project was that I finally hung the towel rack in the bathroom.  I know, wahoo, a towel rack.  But, our bathroom walls are tiled, so the thought of drilling into into the wall terrified me. However, I sucked it up and fortunately did not crack the tile.

Major successes I have had this week was with couponing.  I am not yet good enough to classify myself an extreme couponer, but I am excited by the possibilities.  I have been sharing my savings with the hubby and I told him that I was not going to be an "extreme" couponer to avoid stock piling.  Then he said the words "you can stock pile, as long as it can be kept in the basement".  Oh my, it was like getting a free ticket to an amusement park.  Wonder what he will do if I start finding out I can get things like diapers for pennies.  Do I stock pile them for sometime in the future?  Those freaking things are expensive!  Note to anyone who reading this:  if you ever find coupons that you are not using, please send them my way.  Many deals require multiple coupons and vendors put print limits on the computer versions.  I think this has been holding me back.

The hubby is working a double today and tomorrow, so I am going to try and get a lot of work done around the house, possibly attempt a free shopping trip (which would make me an extreme couponer!) and apply to as many jobs as I can find.  This whole job thing is so discouraging.  I have been applying to absolutely everything I can find that doesn't require a degree I don't have.  I am crossing my fingers something pans out before I lose my mind. 

Oh, new topic since my last post: running.  I hate it.  However, I am going to be running a 5k on Thanksgiving Day (I am a poet).  Now I have to run so I don't embarrase myself.  Only problem I can't seem to tackle is that, no matter what, I lose my breath halfway through the second mile.  I'm gonna have to figure that out pretty soon. 

Ok, well I have run out of topics for day.  I will try to post more later in the week.  Hopefully something more interesting, too.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Motivate Me....

I am desperately in need of a routine.  Preparing for my wedding, I had a daily work schedule, kept everything in order, and made a time for working out.  I planned my meals ahead, and seeing the improvement in my eating, and in my appearance was so motivating.  In preparation for my wedding, I lost 65 pounds... the weight of a third grader. 

Then I got married. I've heard about what happens when you "get comfortable", but eekk!

What happened!? We kicked off our marriage with a honeymoon on a floating buffet, which I am sure didn't help.  Finding healthy foods on a cruise ship is not that easy.  You need to mentally prepare yourself before boarding, which I guess I did not do.  My mentality was more along the lines of "yippie, let's celebrate!". 

Now I have been married a mear two and a half months and I am already on my way back up the scale.  The hubby and I have been saying for weeks that we need to get back on track, but we don't seem to be following through.  I have days when I think "I am going to be good and get back into the routine", but then the fact that I don't have a daily routine to plan my meals around, really works against me.  Instead of eating meals, I find myself snacking throughout the day... and not on fruit. 

Before I am back where I started I need to get moving.  That being said, I am going to register for a 5k and set my alarm for Weight Watchers meetings.  So, in addition to my house projects, I will now keep you all in the loop as to my personal couch to 5k and great healthy recipes I come across. 


Before....

After...