Happenings

Well, Grandma has come and gone. (Were you getting sick of that last post!!?)

I can tell you that a lot has happened since I last posted and I don't really know where to start. It is a bit daunting to think of all the things I have to say. I guess I'll just tuck them away for another post, another day.

I will, however, give you one reason why such things as posting on my blog have moved to the back burner.

I have become a full-time couponer.





It has sprouted little shoots that have grabbed onto all my time and it will literally take all the time that I allow it to take. I've subscribed to two different newspapers to get the inserts and ads. I belong to a group of awesome ladies and we basically just keep each other in "the know". We share coupons, alert each other of the deals, communicate if some cashier lady is being nazi-ish about a certain coupon and to steer clear of her, ya know, that sort of thing. I also have my mail-lady giving me the extra Friday mailers so every Friday I get a postal box on my doorstep with 40+ mailers, which I then divvy out to my girlfriends. My more daring friends dumpster dive and collect old papers from the library and such.

I must tell you, though, that there is something about getting a darn good deal that is exhilarating and somewhat addictive. I'm told that the same parts of the brain that are affected with addiction to drugs and alcohol are affected when you experience a "good deal" buzz. I can imagine the same goes for gambling too. AND it has fostered a little bit of superstition in me. I seem to have great couponing experiences when I park in a certain spot at CVS versus another parking spot.

I even have Charlie hooked on couponing. He goes through his magazine (which I got for him for free in the mail!) and gives me the coupons for some portrait sitting. He tells me that if I don't want to use it, he will give it to someone else. I tried to throw it away one day and he found it in the trash. (oops!!) He gave me the really hurt look and I had to lie and say, "How did THAT get in there?? I'm sorry, I don't know how that happened."

There may be a skeptic out there saying, "Well, don't you just end up spending more because you have to buy the brand name stuff?" I am proud to say that for two months now I am way under grocery budget and this last month I cut it by 50%!!! My pantry is stocked, my freezer is packed full, the cupboards in my bathroom are overflowing, I have toilet paper, razors, laundry soap, body wash, shampoo, toothpaste, gum, lippy stuff, diapers, wipes, and free samples to last us until the sun burns out.

I have a friend that has a separate bank account set up just for all the rebate checks she gets and has enough to pay for Christmas already! I'm doing the same.

A few websites I follow: thekrazycouponlady.com, hip2save.com, hotcouponworld.com, freebies4mom.com, and others. Couponing is totally the thing to do in this economy and there are lots of people out there that are making money from blogging about all the deals. I make them do the work and then reap the rewards. Seriously, how can I afford NOT to coupon?