Hi...my name is Chef Saucy...and I'm an addict!

A freakin coupon addict...Hahaha...

You know this totally happened by accident.  I used to just use the ones that came in the paper with the ads.  I only have two rules: 1)  Don't get anything you don't use even if it's free.  2) Always buy/pay for something so the store makes some money...everyone has to make money along the way - getting over too often depletes the business.

I don't know if I told everyone but I'm working again...just as a cake decorator...well i got promoted 2 weeks in - so a manager and I'm on profit sharing lol...translation - quarterly bonuses.  I never thought I would get bonuses and raises in this economy...Anyway, we get a free local paper as do a few other businesses and on one of my breaks I noticed that in the Sunday edition there are 2 coupon books (see Red Plum and Smart Source)...and most of them are going into the trash.  Some weekends I get 20 papers and some weekends I get 35...and it's just gone out of control.

I "test" coupons at stores prior to making a large purchase.  Example:  i had 40 50cents off any C&H pure cane sugar.  Our local Fry's Foods (aka Krogers) had a special on 4 lb sugar 2.49.  At Fry's all coupons are upgraded to a value of $1 with no cap or limitations on how many you use.  This is my favorite store to use coupons because I can safely assume all coupons are worth a buck.  They honored all my coupons and with a smile.

I tried to use my coupons at Safeway for these Angel Soft I had 39 coupons for 25 cents.  Well supposedly Safeway will honor all coupons as $1...THEY DO NOT!  They will only honor 3 coupons as $1 - the rest are regular and they say it with a condescending frown...lol.  They weren't even that good a price (2/$3)

I returned all of it but the 3 items that they bumped the coupon for. 

I checked walmart - they were 1.17 a piece

I checked Fry's and they were 1.27 a piece BUT they would honor the coupon for $1.  They sold me 40 4pk.  I am so tickled because Angel Soft is not so bad - especially not for a little over a quarter a pack.  Plus I was so happy they were still in the original box...it's much easier to stack that way. 

 Next I had 39 $1.50 off 2 hefty bags (12 count or higher)  Well I noticed Dollar Tree had the bags and they took the coupons.  I got 78 boxes for a quarter a piece - and a few of them were even double packs...

I picked both quart and sandwich size...Yay us..this really helps coz Mr. Man brings 2 sandwiches a day to work for lunch and snack...

 The bounty singles were an "OKAY" deal at 70 cents each - but that is still cheaper than the 8 packs.  I don't even use them that often but it sure is nice to have them...I have about 25 or so. 

 I was able to get the kosher salt this week for 38 cents...

 This is the weekly task that I absolutely detest...sorting out my piles of coupons...Look closely at my envelopes --- they are stuffed.  It's hard to be new at this stuff --- i get frustrated sometimes.  A lot of times I give them to people buying the same stuff so I don't buy more - haha.  People are so thankful.

 These charmin were on sale today for 4.99 but if you bought 4...but I had a coupon so that was another dollar off - then I had the store E coupon so that was another 50 cents off -  that made the 12 packs only 3.50 each --- AND they each had a new coupon book inside for TP, Dawn, Bounty and buy one get one on the cottonelle butt wipes and a whole lot more.So really they were free (at least to me)!!

This month was a motherlode month for lip products.  Here are the post coupon costs:

Nivea - 50 cents
Lypsyl - free
Blistex 5 star - 45 cents
Blistex Silk & Shine - 45 cents

Blistex Deep Renewal - 45 cents
Blistex plain - 7 cents

Average price was about 31 cents per piece - which is fantastic, because here in the desert we rip through these things like no ones business...I prefer the nivea and the lypsyl but Mr. Man loves the blistex products.  Ironically I still have about 50 blistex coupons...

Here are some of my best deals in the last 30 days...

8 oz jergens - 72 cents
old spice swagger (XL bottle) - 2.50
large scope mouthwash $2
beef brisket 1.99/lb
48 oz hilshire farms polka kielbasa $4.50 - (3 full links)
2 lb all beef no additive ball parks $4.50
minute rice brown rice 4 pack - 25 cents
libbys canned vegetables (including organics) - 25 cents
organic spinach bag - 50 cents
airwick candles - 49 cents
advil pm (4 ct) - free
cesar dog food - buy 1 get 2 free
Large Gain Dish Soap - 1.49
L'oreal lipstick - free
frozen pretzels - 50 cents
Gilette Mach 3 razors - free

I'm sure there's some other stuff I didn't mention like laundry soap and ladies products and all that.  I tell you what...last summer I was able to get these 12 packs of TP for 2.50...and now on salt they are 5-8 bucks.  Last summer I was able to get maxi pads and tampons for 99 cents after the coupons and rebates - this year the best I can do is 1.99.  But what is appalling is the regular price sticker...Who can really afford 12 bucks for TP - then I called my bestie in New Mexico and she said in Carlsbad the regular sticker price is $15 a 12 pack...oh goodness gracious!  It's nice to insulate yourself against inflation.

When they say on the news "...inflation is only up 2.8%..."  I'm like um from 6 to 12 per package is double - that ain't 2.8% folks.  I look at people's carts and they have 4-5 items in there and that is pretty much the average - most people don't even grab carts anymore..I wish I could take a picture of the peoples faces when they see my bursting cart.  I still haven't gone to the world of 2 carts - but I have gone to using the baby seat belt to lock my own purse to the cart.

One lady told me, "Wow...I just don't have time to do that kind of shit..."  I laughed.  I really laughed and she asked,"What's so funny?"  I stopped laughing and asked,"So...do you make $300 per hour?"  She said,"no..."  I said, "well doing this 'shit' saves me about $300 an hour"  She didn't say anything after that.  These chicks crack me up acting like their boo boo don't stank and they don't "need" coupons.  Hahaha.  The big 6 who control 80% of the food market get paid no matter what and they reimburse the store the coupons plus 8% for handling...anyone who says they don't have time - are really crazy.  I love how people who always say they don't have time for stuff really aren't doing much at all.

Mr. Man calls my coupons "the real food stamps" hahaha.  My friends husband calls her couponing "petty larceny time"

We've always been really good about putting away stuff...but today's fiasco at Hostess reminds me of why you want to have a little cushion to land on.  70% of those Hostess employees are non union - which means the 30% who decided to strike - actually cost the 70% their jobs.  Where exactly will 18,500 people find jobs pre-holiday and end of year when no one wants their labor up so their books look bad.  I hope all those people at least eat this year...because hunger is a bit humiliating.