Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Extreme Couponing........or Extremely Crazy???

Ok.....so maybe I just don't have the knack for this so-called "extreme couponing."  I got a taste of it about 2 weeks ago when I meticulously clipped every coupon that I thought I might use.  I debated on which store to try, which day to go, etc., etc. and decided that I would try Kroger for two reasons:  1) they double all manufacturer's coupons up to 99¢, and B) the store is literally 30 seconds from my house...a minute if I have to kick my neighbor's cat out from under my vehicle (chill out....not really). 

So coupons clipped, list in hand, off we went.  Oh yeah.....Jon had to go, too...I see all these crazy women on TV who drag their husbands with them.  There was no way Jon was escaping this one! 

All in all, not a horrible trip.  Now I didn't save 101% like some of these wackos, but I did skip out of the store saving a hefty 52%!  Not too shabby IMO....I stocked up on the "bells and whistles" air fresheners (you know...the ones that are normally ~13$/each) for, like 3$ a piece.  Over 30$ of "smell goods" for ~8$....it was my shining glory!  I caught the bug.  I wanted more....I was determined to beat that 52%...

Fast-forward to this week...a holiday weekend.  Apparently people don't want to save money the week after Resurrection Sunday (calm down...that's not blasphemous....that's the *apparent* truth).  So I had to rely on my past "stash" of coupons.  Nothing like the industrial-size Trapper Keeper that the woman on TV had, but more than nothing.  I also spent 1-1/2 hours yesterday skimming the circulars, clipping & printing online coupons (probably spent a few $$ in ink, now that I think about it!), and loading digital coupons onto my Kroger card....and off I went. 

Foiled....I ended up only saving 33% AND I couldn't (because I didn't have coupons to stack with the in-store savings!) even buy everything that I needed!  I really only needed toilet paper (I have minor panic attacks if we get down to less than 6 rolls...you never know when a crisis will hit!!!) but I made myself wait to buy it because Carnival Foods had a 12-double roll pack for 4.88$!........4.88$!!!!!  They also had a big taco combo coupon that I HAD to cash in on.  The toilet paper required an additional 15$ NON-COUPON purchase...and the taco coupon required me to buy a minimum of 3 lbs. of ground beef.  I could handle this....

Needless to say, I wound up with enough taco "stuff" to feed my entire block (did I forget to mention that I had had doubled coupons the night before for taco products???) and I spent ANOTHER 33$ just so I could save 1.50$ on toilet paper...they got me.  They suckered me right in...

So I don't know if I am cut out for all this hardcore couponing.  Maybe it's not for me.  I made a special toilet paper trip!  If that's not crazy, I don't know what is! 

But if you're in the mood for tacos, feel free to stop by!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Welcome To........"Blogging???"

Ok...so here goes.  I am gonna try my hand at "blogging."  When I hear the word "blogging," immediately I think, "Why isn't that person doing laundry or washing dishes?!"  Well--as it just so happens--that's what I am avoiding!  So perhaps that's why people "blog." 

I really have no idea what I plan on using this for.  Perhaps I'll "blog" about books that I am reading or recently finished.  Maybe I will "blog" about the strange things that happen in my life (anyone who knows me knows this is true!).  I may "blog" about our pursuit of a new house.  But whatever it is, I promise I won't "quote" the word "blog" everytime.

So I guess that's it!  If nothing else, I have a super cute little "blog" site.  If you're interested in what I have to say, feel free to stay tuned!