$...Yes PLEASE

People around here are always asking where I work or what do I do?  Like I don't do anything at all because I am a SAHM (but this is can be a sore subject for some of us and I know y'all understand these comments).  Well actually I have my boutique but there are several other small things that I do that add up too!!
In the morning while I have my coffee and breakfast, I log onto my Swagbucks account and work it for a few minutes!   And I am earning points to redeem for gift cards.  (I have already received a $5 Target and have almost accumulated enough for a $25 gc)
I also use this awesome NEW app called Ibotta!!  Its awesome!  I have received over $45 into my paypal account within the first 3 weeks it was out!  All you do is complete the offers, scan your receipt and bam you earned money WITHOUT coupons!
I also use the shopkick app!!  All I do is walk into Target and open the app and receive kicks (since I go there weekly, they tend to accumulate quickly!  And when I have time I scan the listed products to get more kicks!  You can also accumulate the kicks for gift cards!!
AND when I'm shopping online I use Ebates.  I also received a $10 gift card for signing up.  AND earned over $67 just from my Christmas shopping!  It is so easy to use, especially if you shop online a lot!
PLUS I coupon, and no I'm not one of those extreme coupons.  But it has saved us a lot of money and we get to use a lot of name brand products that I would not buy before.  And sometimes I even make money between sales, coupons, promotions (gift cards) and mail in rebates! 
LAST but not least use Mail-in-Rebates!  I have earned a couple of $10 cards from buying a couple of Disney DVDs!  Along with P&G rebates and any others that I come across...these are FREE money and very valuable to me!

These maybe small and tedious activities, but you can do as little or as much as you want and they pay off!  (or pay you!)  Money is money to me, whether it is cash or gift cards!

My goal this year is to earn enough through these activities to pay for Christmas this year!  (And I am keeping record of everything that I earn!)

Good luck saving and EARNING!!

P.S.  I get to do most of this in my SWEATS at my house!!  Yip-eeee!!!!

Lately

Oh there's lots going around this homestead lately...I've started making baby food for Munchkin #3.  It has been fairly easier to get that started than I anticipated!  I have also started back to working out just a little every week along with working in the yard on the pretty days.  This week I have started a compost pile for our garden that we are planning this year...that has already started taking some planning!  We are trying to figure our the best place to put it! 

I have also done a little grocery shopping...I'm not sticking to budget by all means but I am at roughly $50/week right now.  It has actually been mostly stocking up on some sale items so that should make other weeks less than the budget! 

Other than that I have been really busy with the munchkins and "working" on sewing and figuring out the best and most effecient schedule for this household!

PS...I'm open to suggestions for this work at home scheduling!!  Its hard than one thinks with 3 munchkins!

Later Peeps!!

New for 2012!!

Okay so this week I started a strict grocery budget.  I am shooting for $2080 for the WHOLE year!!  Thats roughly $40 per week, now this is going to take some EXTREME discipline...  I have gotten several things stockpiled in the last few months (like laundry detergent, shampoo, green beans and chili!) This goal is strictly for FOOD only!  I am attempting this because we do not get many food coupons out here in West Texas AND our whopping 2 grocery store here do not participate in very good sales (its practically a monopoly with United around here)  I plan on using Amazon.com too when possible.  I will do my best to update you with my journey.

Tuesday I got a jumpstart and spent $47.91 at United.  I did get 2 bags of Lays and 1 Tostitos for $2 each (this is a rule at our house--we don't buy chips unless they are $2.50 or less)  and I had a coupon for $1 off of milk.  So I saved some but not a whole lot.  I will buy several bags of chips and put the extras in the freezer.  Oh and the hubs' tuna is regularly $1.09/can and it was on sale for $.83, so I grabbed several!  I'm hoping I can stay on track between coupons and sales.  In doing this kind of shopping I'm also hoping that I can improve on my meal planning skills!!

Wish me luck Peeps!!

My Current Favs

As a new mom once again, I definitely have my daily go-to favs!  So today I thought I might share them with you!  Some things are handmade and some came from the store!

My Milkies
I have blogged about these before, and that was before I had used them.  And now that I have used them I do not know how I managed without the with the other girls.  I already have about 60 oz of breastmilk in the freezer and I have only pumped 3 times!  This is what my working mommas will be getting from me, because I remember how hard it was to get a supply in the freezer when I went back to school or work with my other 2 girls.

aden + anais
Swaddling Blanket
 
Burpy Bibs

I am in LOVE with these (Thanks G Fam!!)  These blankets have been perfect for this summer heat and I find myself making sure that I have one of these burp clothes clean at all times! (I am hoping get my own version figured out sometime soon.)

My Coupon Binder
I don't go shopping without it!! (now the pics wont upload! UGH!)

My Sewing Machine
It is my friend, my slave, my co-worker and many others...maybe it needs a name??  But first is it a he or a she....hummm??

My nursing covers
I have used these at the house, pickup or at a friends house...but I am still not comfortable enough to use in the middle of a restaurant or other places like some people.  Maybe one of these days, but we will see!

These are just a few of the things that I have been getting full use of in the past few weeks..we will see what else I can find to try or find new uses for in the future.

Later Peeps...

Couponing...my way...

Okay so the Extreme Couponing marathon was on yesterday...did any of you watch it or have you ever watched it??  Well I have watched the ENTIRE season!  And let me tell you it sure would be nice if I lived in another town or area.  Because where I live it is impossible to get the deals that these people get on the food portion of their grocery bills.  We do not have multiple grocery stores in the area...there are 2, Lowe's and United.  So there is no doubling plus we dont get very many food coupons in the inserts in our area.  Most of the food coupons that I get, I print of the internet.  These factors can make getting your entire grocery bill for $5 is next to impossible around here! BUT you can save on the more expensive things like beauty & health products at Target, CVS & Walgreens!
So the hubby and I have our own goal & plan with these couponing thing...we plan to save & stock up on laundry detergent, paper towels, shampoo, deaodrant & razors (just to name a few).  These are the things that make our grocery bill shoot through the roof.
Here are some of the things I stocked up on last week at Target:
Dove Ultimate & Men's Dove deodrant  reg 3.99 on sale 3.49, bought 2 of ea, stacked two /$1 off 1 Dove's Men deodrant Target coupon and buy 1 dove ultimate get 1 dove men's free (wished I would have had 2 of these but I didn't) AND received a $5 gift card.  Paid 8.47-$5 gift card=$3.47 or .87 each (78% savings);
Here is one at CVS:
Pampers diapers (reg 11.99) on sale for 8.99 w/$3 ECB, I used a CVS coupon that I had from something for $3 off Pampers plus $2 manufacturer's coupon...total paid $.99
Pampers Wipes 2.49-$2 when you buy Pampers diapers & wipes...total paid $.49

I have a couple of great blogs that I reference and they will also teach you to coupon the correct way along with showing you match-ups, deals & coupns.
krazycouponlady.com  &  fabulesslyfrugal.com

If you have any questions, I will be more than happy to help you all that I can!

Later Peeps & happy cpning!

~Gift Idea for a College Kid~

I know some people have been looking for different gift ideas for those recent graduates who are about to head off to college!  And I have definitely been one of those!  You see my baby cousin (well I guess he isn't actually my youngest cousin, but I do remember when he was born so he is still my baby!) just graduated from high school (hold on gotta find a tissue) and I have been postponing making his gift because then that would make the reality of him living for college even more REAL!

Of course I am going to make him something that is personalized, but I am also going to work on a supply box for him.  Because I mean we are talking about a MALE here, don't get me wrong my Dev is mature, responsible and super smart, but men or boys are not use to having to go to the store and buy deodrant or shampoo!

Now back to the matter at hand, I have all of these coupons for products that my hubby, dad or brothers do not use.  So I am going to use them to find CHEAP deals and fill Dev's box with "goodies".  I'm thinking body wash, deodrant, shampoo, maybe some detergent or cleaning supplies, and maybe trash bags.  These are necessities that he will use even in the dorm!  And of course most college kids are not too picky.

For example:  this week at Target Nivea Men's body wash is on sale for $3.04.  I have a buy 2 get one free coupon, a Target coupon for $1.00 off Nivea body wash and several manufacture coupons for $2.00 off Nivea Men's body wash.  In my first transaction I will get 3 bottles for $1.08 and in my second transaction one bottle for $0.04.  So that will be $1.12 for 4 bottles of body wash!!  Not too shabby if you ask me!  Who knows I may even use some of those Buy One Get One Free toothbrush coupons and whatever else I run across!

Just a few items I'm lookin to put in the supply box:
body wash                       shampoo                    razor
deodrant                          detergent                    razor refills
cleaning supplies               trash bags                  toilet paper
toothbrushes                     first aid kit                 paper towels
Febreze                            pain reliever              batteries

Happy gift giving Peeps!!

First "Extreme" Couponing Experience

So yesterday I had my first "stacking" experience at Target.  I compared the sale prices, printed coupons off of the Target website and coupons.com.  I also had a few others in my stash that I was going to be able to use.  I sat down with my general list that I created last week and figured out what we actually need and what I could "stock up on".  By the time I got my list together and marked what I had coupons for, which ones were on sale and what qualified for the $5 gift cards, I ended up with half of my list having coupons! 

My goal is to eventually not have to buy anything unless it is on sale AND I have a coupon (or 2).  While I was shopping there were other items on my list that I didn't have coupons for but they ended up being on sale.  That was even better!!  I ended up saving $28 in coupons and a total of $49.15 (sales+coupons)!  Oh and I left with $15 in gift cards for a grand total of $64.15 in savings!!!  Woohoo, not too shabby for my first time.  There were even several items where I "stacked" as sale price with a Target coupon AND a manufacturer's coupon.  I'm definitely thinking I can get the hang of this!

While I was shopping, I met a fellow couponer who had also started this week.  She was doing a whole lot better than me that's for sure!  Her and her husband are "couponing to Disney."  They are putting the money that they save to a trip to Disney!  Now that is a pretty neat idea.  And prior to her trip to Target, she had saved $200 this week and had already bought a month's worth of groceries!  She gave me even more inspiration to stick this thing out and give it quite a bit more effort!

I will do my best to continue to keep you in the loop of my couponing, and let you know about deals that I see out and about!!!

So happy couponing peeps!