An Introduction

A few people have suggested that I start a Blog about how I became one of those crazy ladies you see in the store with a notebook overflowing with coupons, muttering calculations to herself, and saving some pretty good money. I will start off with a disclaimer:

• I do not constantly get groceries for free, it does happen sometimes, but everything I get is either free or pretty cheap.
• Do not believe the show you see on cable television. If you notice with each introduction of the new person they focus on, 99% of the time they will say, "So-and-so is planning their biggest trip yet." Also you notice their overwhelming joy at the register? Becasue they never do a trip of that size! Its television people!
• Your everyday items (milk, eggs, cheese, ect.) have rare coupons. They DO exist, but they are rare, but your savings will allow for you to still be able to pay full price for some items you need/want. the trick with coupons is to be able to get at least double what you would normally get for the same amount of money you would normally spend.
• I will not tolerate any negative comments. I am happy to answer any questions if something does not make sense or any misconceptions you may have about couponing or just saving money!

I have always belived in stocking up on items when something is on sale. we have a deep freezer and a nice sized pantry in our home. I also buy seasonal items on clearance for the following year. Also, comparason shopping is a must. If I dont have a coupon for something I need, I know where to get it at the best price. Stores like Aldi, Food depot, and Save-a-Lot have EXCELLENT prices on pantry items, meat, and dairy products. If you have followed these sort of practices before (i.e. shopping Christmas clearance for gifts for next year) you already have a head start to stockpiling and have a base to dive into coupon fever! YAY!

I wanted to become a couponer about three years ago, I was working at a retail job that was over an hour away from home and working about 1-3 days a week. One day when I was working as cashier (on double coupon day) a woman came in with $500+ of groceries, a wad of coupons, and walked out only paying $6 for it all. I was flabbergasted and I wanted to learn. I scoured the internet for a week straight, but no avail... I gave up. Then the show came on about a year ago. I watched it like a hawk everytime it came on, took notes, and promised myself I would do it with a three month deadline. if it wasnt worth the time or was saving a small amount, I would stop. I am here 6 months later with not only coupon knowledge, but a huge store of how to make even my stockplie of coupon goodness strech EVEN FARTHER!

I have always been crafty, a needle and thread doesnt scare me, a hot glue gun is your best friend, and being creative with your space isnt a bad thing either! ;) so this blog isnt only gonna be about coupons, but how to make the average dollar streach even further! I can help you save money with some tips on how to throw a cheap wedding/baby shower/birthday party, what foods can freeze so you can really stock up when it on sale, making one bottle of laundry degtergent last for at least a year! (an average sized one! not a mega sams clubs sized one!!) And those things you dont have to even look at a coupon to save! all it takes is a little bit of time, work and creative thinking. As a working woman with a husband, two cats, and a dog to feed, I understand time is money and I can help make that all worthwhile.

I promise it will be worth it! :D