Valentines Day

I am big on"Holidays".

Every holiday.

Jake not so much.

Just because it is suppose to be the most romantic day of the year and just because you are suppose to profess your everlasting love for your spouse on February 14th, doesn't really mean a lot to him. Me on the other hand, holidays are held on certain days for a reason and that reason would be to celebrate them. BUT, I knew that when I married him so I have gotten over it over the years. Okay so I am still a little irritated with it! BUT my husband seems to know this and although he will never admit it, likes to play on this slight irriation of mine. He spoils me on days that have no meaning and not so much on the days that are suppose to! I will take those insignificant days! His calendar is a little off, but I love him nonetheless! So the holidays for me have turned into my kids. Valentines day was quite fun this year. We made valentines for each other, we made bags to hold our valentines, we made valentines for all our friends and we had a little valentines party on Sunday. When it came right down to it, the day was filled with love, lots of family love. Which is how it should be and I wouldn't have had any other way!

From Collages

I couldn't resist. I just feel like I have to share my amazing couponing trips with everyone. Not that anyone cares, but it makes me feel better to write it down. Gotta give a shout out to Lenny over at Albertsons on Cole Road! As I was standing there feverishly going through my coupons trying to figure out which ones to double (gives you 2x the face value of the coupon i.e. if coupons says $1 off - doubled would be $2 off) because I only had three of these prized possessions. He came up to me and said "Have enough doubler's?" and I said "Of course not, you can never have enough doubler's". "I'll be right back" he said. Comes back with 4 sets of doubler's (3 in each set), so now I have FIFTEEN DOUBLE COUPONS. In coupon world - you're pretty much on cloud 9! Let me break it down for ya' all!

Danimals Crush Cups 3 at $2.69 ea =$8.07 after coupons-.44 cents for ea 4 pk

Orbit gum (3 pack) 3 at $2.79= $8.37 after coupons - .79 cents for ea 3 pk

Rhodes frozen Rolls (12) 2 at $2.89 =$5.78 after coupons - .89 cents ea dozen

All laundry detergent (100 oz). 2 at $10.99 =$21.98 after coupons-$3.99 ea bottle

Kellogg's Rice Krispies (17 oz.) 2 at $4.69 =$9.38 after coupons - .74 cents each

Kellogg's Frosted Flakes 1 at $5.19 same as above

Kellogg's Fruit Loops 2 at $4.79 same as above


Dreyers Ice Cream (gallon) 2 at $6.49 =$12.98 after coupons - $ 2.24 ea


I bought some other stuff not pictured like meat (which was $19.98 of my total) 2 gallons of Dreyers ice cream, 3 paks of 3 Orbit gum and the licorice that I am eating right now! My total bill was $135.04 and I paid $32.62 for all this stuff!


AND I just got my 5 Sunday papers and what ya know, more doubler's- 15 more coupons ! WOOT! WOOT! Go ahead.... say it.... I am a freak. That's ok. I'm a freak who is saving money :)

COUPONS COUPONS COUPONS!

I have been "couponing" now for about 6 - 7 months. I was a Wal-Mart girl in every way. If it was in our house, it came from Wal-Mart. It is a one stop shop. Underwear, bread, hairspray, milk, diapers, and a cute pair of jeans!! The problem with the one stop shop is I always spent a lot more money on things I didn't need then on the things I really did need. It is kinda like Costco, you always walk out with things you don't need. Don't get me wrong, I love Wal-Mart, but it was not the best thing for my checkbook! I found out about a class that gave you the ins and outs of couponing. I was always one for a bargain, but I had no idea how many "bargains" I was missing out on. Long story short, I have cut my grocery bill by about $250 a month and have increased my food storage in the same token. It has become a challenge to see how much I can save. My one store stop has turned into 3 to 4 stores but it is amazing what you can save if you are willing to go to other places.

I have recently taken my couponing to a new level. Not sure if this is a good level or sheer madness. My husband would agree with the later. I get 5 Sunday papers and it is now a Sunday ritual to "cut" coupons with the kids - hey that is family time right? And yes I bought coupons on eBay. Yes you read it right, eBay. I got 20 $1.00 coupons for $1.79 - including shipping. So before you make any comments, let me give you a few scenarios where I have used coupons.

Albertsons had their annual Quaker sale. Oatmeal, granola bars, syrup, and pancake mix. The oatmeal and granola bars were buy 5 and get them for a $1.00 each, which is a great deal in it self, retail is about $2.79 - $3.49. Shopping Wal-mart I always bought generic brand. Now that I coupon, I get to buy name brands that cost less than generic or store brands. Anyway..... back to the sale.There are 18 boxes of granola bars here. They are $3.49 at Albertsons. With the sale and coupons I paid $2.46. Yes you read it right, that is .14 cents a box! THEN..... I got 10 boxes of instant QUAKER oatmeal for .60 cents. That's .o6 cents a box! I'm not done, I got 10 boxes of Aunt Jamima pancake mix ($3.39), 10 bottles of Aunt Jamima syrups($4.19), 10 boxes of Captain Crunch WITH Crunch Berries($4.49) are you ready.......... Retail would have been $120.70 BUT I paid $38.16! So what am I going to do with 18 boxes of granola bars, 10 boxes of pancake mix and syrup, and 10 boxes of Captain Crunch.

Granola bars: school lunches, after school snack, preschool snack turn, 72 hour kit
Pancake and Syrup: The pancake mix is good for a year and I bet you the syrup will be gone in 2 months! We love breakfast at our house
Captain Crunch - Most cereal is good for 9 - 12 months. It is good for a snack with or without milk! Again we love breakfast at our house.

So there you go! Couponing at its best! It has really been fun seeing how much I can save and it has helped my budget out A LOT! So psychotic or not,I'm saving some money baby!!!!