Quick Haul

This is how I relax...
...I coupon...

10 jugs of tide, 3 packs of bounce, 3 packs of swiffer wet jet pads, 4 cans pumpkin, 4 lbs powdered sugar, 1 pkg peeps, 2 6pack lifesavers, 2 pez packs, 8 ghirardelli peppermint choco bars, 1 bottle excedrin migraine, 6 liquid eyeliner brushes, 4 eyeshadows, 2 lipsticks, 2 lipgloss, peeps (for mom) and a diet rockstar which i already drank - about 85 bucks and there is a $35 credit on my walmart card that I can use to spend on anything.

2 rubbermaid cups with straw, 4 cans old dutch cleanser, 7 jars no msg mrs dash, 4 jars german candy with beautiful reusable glass jars, 12 packs mint tic tacs, 1 set mens thermals, 6 salad dressing snappers, 1 pack fly paper, 3 packs shelf stable milk and ultra awesome binder - 53 bucks.

The walgreens purchase was the best yet. I even qualified for some 

free sample box of stuff which is awesome!  I can't believe I have 35 bucks on my

card that I can spend on anything I want.  The walgreens closest to my

house has the most aggressive markdowns compared to their

sister stores.  Almost all of these cosmetics will be sent

to my sister in laws family...but better cheap than full price.  The lady at 

big lots gave me the fly paper and binder free because they rang up

at the wrong price and coz she said I'm nice...

Woo Hoo

Q & A with TheSheChef and Afroprepper - last one for 2012

 

Video Link is Below!

This was our last Q & A session of the year.  I know it's been awhile...but it was fun.  Funny how we are always having fun no matter how busy we are!  Coming up next - is my shopping fiasco from today!

I caught my Nemesis SLEEPING!

 

Yup...I sure did catch my coupon nemesis sleeping on this cool and sunny Friday morning.  I've been couponing since about Mid August 2012.  Even I know that when they say the 12/30/12 proctor and gamble coupon book will be out --- that means the Friday before the 30th.  So on the way to work I hit 2 spots with free papers and scored 50 books - and then on the way home I hit a spot with free papers and scored 41 more books.  So I have a total of 91 coupon books.  I'm so excited - they expire on 1.31.12 so I'm going to have to move quickly on these - they used to have a 2 month expiration but I noticed they have shortened the expirations.  Fear of Loss tactic - but I know for sure that there are 7 super valuable coupons in there that I will be using.

I'm actually heading over to fry's right now to buy 3 racks of ribs and I'm going to ask the store manager when their proctor and gamble event will be next month.

My coupon nemesis is a tall lanky blonde lady with a silver mini van and mommy jeans that sit right below her bra.  She came to the shop and said why are these papers empty?  I said Ohhh -- the lady in the porsche convertible scans those papers why?  She was like a PORSCHE - I said yeah why?  LOL  I'm so messed up to play headgames on her...but I don't like how she drives around like she's self entitled to the coupons and I noticed she tears up displays of free papers leaving them for store employees to clean up.  She would lose her mind if she figured out I had access to another 150-200 papers. Haha.

I also have a coupon co-pilot.  My friend Monica who used to work with my brother and then I met her when I was doing systems IT stuff.  I actually gave her half my stash last week and I will give her half of these if she doesn't find any.  But we hit opposite locations on each side of town and then split the take.  it's very awesome!

Okay - I'm off to talk to some store managers!

Well...I can almost take a break - YEAH RIGHT!

...But at least I finally finished the cookie tins that are going out tomorrow!

 The usual - 5 kinds of cookies in a tin.  I was really swamped all week so I didn't have time to do the rocky road fudge...and that even makes ME sad - coz I love rocky road - rocky road ANYTHING!

I must admit I like the look of this combination of cookies this year...

 It's just a process of doing the most time consuming one first...and the most work intensive one last. 

 The dog is so spazzy on cookie days - she just jumps like crazy when ANYONE opens the door!

 These took the most work but I think taste pretty dang good - I call them my "milano's on steroids"  It's a vanilla cookie with milk chocolate frosting inside - with a light glaze and sprinkles..

Very tasty...

 Vanilla cookies with Caramel filling...

Chocolate Cookies with Caramel Filling...topped with Pecans my Aunt sent me from Georgia!

We took the kids to pizza, wings and bowling!  They are a good batch of kids.  What's funny is that they were really surprised when I said it's on the house!  Haha.  Bowling sure is a lot more expensive than it used to be.

It was boys vs girls night.  Mr. Man won it for the boys in the first round.  I won it for the girls in the second round!  Being old is cool....hahaha.  I haven't gone bowling in like 7 years.  Mr. Man is so competitive about stuff he just has this standard within himself that he strives for --- he's not just some lumpy dude that will slack through and do the bare minimum.  I was really surprised when I won the 2nd game...I asked him this morning,"Did you let me win that second one?"  He laughed and said,"I don't ""LET"" anyone win...you won that on your own"  Hahaha....

I made another batch of holiday cakes yesterday and they sold out yesterday. I had stuff to do today so I didn't go in --- the case is probably empty at this point.  But that is good - I'd rather have it empty of the holiday theme cakes than have leftover cakes I will have to mark down to half price. Besides, I had a lot to do today --- the cookie tins, canning the ham, entertaining some people, laundry, organizing.  It's crazy but I'm glad to have this busy and full life...I really don't understand how people can live a lukewarm existence --- I think having a certain amount of pressure on yourself improves your being!

Deal of the Day...Ham On It!!!

I just LOVE the store Fresh and Easy.  Not just because they have coupons in their mailers but also because their store brand items have no high fructose, no nitrates and no nitrites.  They also have cool employees who are genuinely helpful no matter how busy they are.

I got an AD in the mail that said bone in ham 49 cents (limit 1) with any 30 dollar purchase.  I kept it in my purse so I wouldn't forget.  I had to do some purchasing today so I stopped in at Fresh n Easy because it was close to office depot (why is cash register tape and label tape so expensive - it really kind of freaked me out).  Anyway - I had 1 coupon for $3 off $30 or $10 off $50.  We really have a lot of stuff in the cupboards, pantry and freezer.  So this took me a lot longer than I expected to meet the $50 mark.  The only rule with the 49 cent ham was that the $30 minimum is pre ham purchases.  The other awesome thing today was it was no longer limit 1 - you could buy as many as you want!  Yay!

This is what I got.

39 lbs of ham...
5 lbs no additive bacon
1 lb peppered hard salami
2 lb broccolli florettes (fresh and ready to cook)
1 lb fresh green beans
1 container tofu
2 jars chinese mustard paste
2 jars pink himalayan salt
1 ready to eat garden salad
1 bag cinnamon sugar pita chips
3 large rolls 3 color metallic gift ribbon
3 christmas bags
10 lbs all purpose whole wheat flour
5 lbs c&H dark brown sugar
18 eggs
10 lbs potatoes
1 fresh pineapple

Including the ham - it rang up to 150.95 or something.  That kind of freaked me out.  So I snapped the coupon through and asked the attendant - can I repurpose these coupons?  she said sure as long as you meet the dollar amount - snap away.  I snapped the coupons through 3 times...then looked at the total - $60.44

Wow!  I'm so proud of myself!  The ham and bacon alone is worth more than what I paid.  I calculated and I paid like 20 bucks for the 3 ham.  Amazing - I'm going to do some canning tomorrow!  I might even go back on Monday and pick up their canning jars that are marked down and some of that organic bob marley brand coffee (very tasty - I like the buffalo soldier flavor)!  We will see.

I went by the shop today because they had called me to tell me that they had sold out of the Christmas cakes that I had made...I filled the case with about 9 theme cakes and 9 character cakes.  I finished 17 custom orders as well as 7 last minute orders (I rarely turn down a sale unless I dislike the person)...So I went in today and put in 4 snowmen and 1 elf cake and 4 more yulelogs.  The night person called to tell me that the snowmen and logs are already SOLD and we will still be open tomorrrow and for 4 hours on Monday.  Now I wish I would have stayed an extra hour and put out 8 extra cakes.

The reason we are opening on Monday for 4 hours is because I know that people simply do not have room in their freezer for dessert.  It is just to give them an opportunity to pick up their cake last minute.  I have to do a bit of inventory tomorrow as well as finish the schedule - so I might as well throw out 4 snowmen cakes.

I am taking the kids out to Native New Yorker tonight for Wings and Pizza and then we will go Neon bowling.  My treat - all they have to do is show up.  Some of them cannot make it so I am just making them a cookie tin or a cookie bag.  Wine bags are great for cookies coz you can stack them in there like a cylinder! 

I am still kind of freaking out that a box of register tape and a double pack of cartridges for the label maker cost me 83 bucks - and all that food cost me 60 bucks.  If anyone out there knows how to hustle Office Max with their rewards program - can you please coach me!

Have a Good Weekend Everyone - and be safe - everyone is driving crazy everywhere.

WooHoo J A C K P O T!!!

So tonight Mr. Man and I went to get 35 gallons of water and I said,"let me pop into this store real quick and grab some onions and nectarines (i made fresh squeezed juice for his lunch)."  He said,"I will get the water and keep an eye out for you..."  I went inside and grabbed some produce and some beer and on the way out I noticed 2 full stacks of FREE newspapers.  I couldn't see Mr. Man anywhere so i browsed the paper and wouldn't you KNOW they had smart source coupons in them.

I started sorting through them while I was waiting for Mr. Man...I could not believe my luck.  The best part of it is that this version of the smart source coupon actually had more FOOD coupons versus cosmetic coupons...Unbelievable.  I am just floored at this rainfall of coupons - because this community paper puts out like 100 in front of this store.  Which means there has to be another 40-60 papers at the store 2 blocks down.  Bwa hahahhaa.  Mind you I won't be taking all the coupons all the time - I'm generally happy with 40-50 coupons...but if I catch a good coupon like the one that allowed me to get toilet paper for 27 cents  I will grab all 160 papers.  This is very fortunate indeed.

You'd think as busy as I am I wouldn't even mess with the coupons.  But as far as I'm concerned when you are given a bit of good luck - it's best to take it instead of letting it turn into bad luck.  Others may suffer in silence --- I'd rather push through my exhaustion.

WooHoo I made it through finals and a crazy cake week!

I made it through finals - and I'm a bit disappointed in myself.  This is my first semester having full time work and the new house...I have b's  so that will further drop my 3.92 GPA - if I have time this semester I may retake the 2 classes to pump my gpa closer to a 4.0...other than that it is what it is.  We are making good money with both of us bringing in "the bacon"  and I don't really want to slow down.  We are finally in a position to pay cash for some big ticket items - we have not had to go into debt at any point - even our brand washer and dryer (front load woo hoo)  are paid, ditto for the fridge and the tv.  We really would like to go solar by summer, get some security doors, get the country living grain mill and buy an XL diesel generator.  It is what it is...I have a bit of a fever and an exhaustion cough but I don't care - I'm still makin bread today and doing laundry.

I've also committed to work so I just need to set a method in order so that the shop runs itself with a reasonable routine.  I can't wait to pull down my first bonus check.  Bonus checks are really where it's at because they are in addition to what I'm already making.

Above is a video  I recently posted because I kept getting private messages asking about couponing - and the insinuation behind the questions was an insinuation that i didn't really have that many coupons and oh I couldn't possibly have that many coupons - yeah right.  First of all --- I don't really like people enough to impress them, because no ones standards on myself could be higher than my own.  It was a bit annoying that anyone would think just because THEY can't find free coupons doesn't mean that I could not possibly find them.  That would be like saying people can't play in the NFL coz I can't, or people can't dunk coz I can't even run across a basketball court, or saying people can't pull a tank with their teeth just because I can't.  That cognitive dissonance bullshit is really getting on my nerves.

The other thing is anyone who knows me knows that I'm too frugal to pay for anything that's free.  I guess some folks will pay a clipping fee for coupons on ebay or craigslist.  I haven't had to do that at this point...but going forward if I can get a 4 pack of double ply tp for 27 cents I would certainly buy some coupons.   I can understand if other people do it but that doesn't mean that i'm weaving a tale of bullshit. LOL.  I don't know what to tell them.  My grandfather used to say when you are working and out and about you tend to be more "lucky"  because good fortune will often pass you buy if you are just sitting around or laying around.  As I get older I realize this is kind of true.  I get a lot of deals and hookups and meet a lot of nice people who in turn I also try to help in some way even if it is verbally.

I also want to discuss another facet of couponing.  I know the store gets reimbursed for the value (or doubling) of coupons plus 8 cents for a handling charge.  That means the store makes quite a bit on the coupons.  HOWEVER, this does NOT give me the right to abuse the cashiers.  I always have all my coupons good to go and check the names, weights, brands and all that before I get in line.  I am not DIGGING through my envelopes when they are ready with the total.  I also do this to make sure that the prices are ringing up correctly at time of purchase --- so I am watching the prices on the register as opposed to digging.  The cashiers do not make the rules, but if they are not capable of understanding the rules - I have coupon policies bookmarked in my phone so I can make them read it.  Not all people interpret reading correctly and they sometimes need help.  I try to be as pleasant and humble as possible because I know I'm getting this stuff damn near free --- but I am getting it because they even ACCEPT coupons, so that puts humility into perspective.  I always have gift card for ice cream or coffee in my purse and often hand them to the cashier to say thank you.  I always gift my butcher something - and the mail lady something --- because often work is a thankless job!  I also learn quickly who is the most efficient and smart cashier who will get me through as painlessly as possible with my large purchases.  Finally, when you have some form of "relationship" with people you often deal with in stores --- they are more prone to go further for you.  For example,  about a month ago I noticed they marked down the PYREX 3 quart mixing bowls to 2.49...AND each of them also had a $1 off any pyrex coupon.  Well, they rang up for 4.99 and I said that is wrong but I took all 6.  So i walked the bagger over to grab the tag off the shelf and she confirmed they were 2.49.  So the cashier laughed and said,"you know what since it was wrong I will give you 2 for free and THEN still use your 6 coupons."  So I got 6 pyrex bowls for $3.96.   Another time they had these waffle weave kitchen towels marked down to 10 cents - so I took the whole box.  Well for some reason they rang up at the register for 50 cents - so I went back in the store and grabbed the box and said look these should be a dime.  Well he gave me a refund and said - why don't you go get 6 more free just for your inconvenience.  That means that I got 31 kitchen towels for 2.50.  hahaha. 

But don't get me wrong - I had a bad experience with a cashier at a grocery store and I immediately went to the website to write a complaint and the website was down.  So I went to their sister store website and wrote a complaint.  It must have been well written because the store manager wrote me in like 30 minutes...I haven't gotten back to him since I'm relaxing today...but I'm curious to see what he will do.

LMFAO

that's all - I'm just cracking up at the general nature of people.  I wish I had a little extra time to write...but I'm slammed with finals, work - work is good and profits are up compared to last year, home stuff, coupon stuff...finally we're lined up for awesome bonuses.  Finally the house is about 90% unpacked (I will do the rest after the 23rd)...

City Momma is coming from Chicago in February and my sister in Law is coming with her twins which will be super awesome.  City Momma always has a lot of EMPATHY for me because she does the same grind that I do.  Up first and asleep last. 

During break I'm going to catch up on some canning as well - I'm hoping to do 50 lbs of tomatoes, 100 lbs of ground beef, 20 lbs of ham, 40 lbs of chicken and maybe 15 lbs of bacon end pieces (I found a great place that has mostly meat at 1.88/lb).  It's also time for us to cut customized screens for the windows and start finishing the attic.

I am taking my employees for pizza and bowling because they have been working so hard and really making a super effort.  At that time I will be giving them their Christmas tins full of cookies and goodies (toblerone for the boys - nail polish for the girls)...I'm tired of sorry lames at the shop - and am very excited to be firing someone this Sunday and next Sunday.   I can only listen to excuses for so long...

I've been helping quite a few people through their hard time.  But I am now drawing the line in the sand.  I certainly don't want anyone to go hungry (however they mostly do THAT to themselves)...but I am getting a bit fed up at the ungrateful nature of people when you help them with their celebratory cake, or their children or anything in general.  I like how people think they can just be hours late from when they say they will arrive - or days late giving me materials for THEIR cake and that's just ok.  Guess what - that puts you on my shit list.  I really don't need friends - I have 5 siblings and 3 sister in laws...however - i DO have good friends.  And I would never treat my friends like shit or inconvenience them even if I've known them since grade school.  Next year will be different...no more freebies to acquaintances --- they can pay me via my SQUARE card reader on my phone.  Simply put, their procrastination will no longer cause me any stress or inconvenience.  I don't owe anyone anything - shit, I don't even own the bank shit.

It's been a really hectic transitional year -- I'll almost be relieved when it is time for our New Years Day Anniversary party!

**shrugs**

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Today's haul...I forgot to post the weekend haul...

Actually...as a matter a fact - I didn't even take pics of my weekend haul.  I can't wait til the new digi cam comes in and I can just leave it on the counter.  I don't really like taking these pics with my phone...but oh well!

For the naysayers - and the "oh I can't believe that coz I can't find them...here is my haul of 3 separate set of coupons.  Total of 43 of each type (red plum, smart source, target)...Yup I found the 43 free papers and I didn't even dumpster dive.

 First stop Safeway:  I had loaded ecoupons and special offers to my card.

The string cheese was 4.99 each and I had a precious coupon for buy one get one.  The baileys were buy one get one and I had 2 coupons for $1 off ea - so they ended up being 40 cents each.  The pineapple were 99 cents - and the pacifiers were half off for 2.49.       

 

I had a $5 off any huggies coupon plus a $2 off coupon. The toblerone were supposed to be 2 for $4 but there was some kind of coupon attached to my savings card - so they ended up being 75 cents each.  I got 28 bars.  The blistex ended up being free.  But they only have a 3 upgrade to $1 limit on coupons - otherwise I would have cleared the shelf.  The  crazy thing is - on these 2 separate purchases I also got an additional $3 off for being a "valued customer"  Ha haha!

This past weekend I went by Target to kill some dogfood coupons - plus they had given me a $5 off 20 purchase - so I ended up getting 19 bucks off 2 bags of dog food when I stacked the target+catalina+manufacturer coupons...and I noticed they had these wet jets for $5 bucks each...what a steal - they are normally 20 a piece --- so I bought 2.  I got a lot of stuff at Target using stacked coupons and some organizational bamboo stuff for all my little stuff...and I even had enough extra for a new grate for the fireplace.

 Walgreens - 2nd Stop:
Dye 5.99 with coupon (+ had venus shaver)
Organix hair serum - 2.99
Clippers and Tweezers - 1.59 each
Moon Candy Nail Polish 99 cents.







Supposedly this moon candy nail polish is supposed to be 8.99...they had it marked down to 4.99 with a $3 instant rebate and I had $1 off any revlon product coupons.  Crazy!!!  I dunno who would pay 9 bucks a piece for these things coz i sure wouldn't. 

Seriously who would pay 9 bucks a piece for these!

Disgusting! Some People Are SOOOO Disgusting...

So...the other day our friend Teddy Came by and we were just hanging out.  He told me about this guy at his work...a guy that actually worked for him.  WORKED - as in past tense...know why - coz the guy was running late and ran head on into a mercedes with his motorcycle --- no skidmarks nothin - just went for it.  Supposedly, the point of no return.  So I probe Teddy to get a history on the guy...Apparently the dude has 3 daughters (13,9,4), a wife and is also supporting his elderly mother.  He also was taking home $30,000 a month.  Prior to the motorcycle accident he was pulled over and let off with a warning (no license, no insurance) and prior to that he was pulled over speeding in his car with no insurance, no registration and lost his license on the speeding ticket that broke the camel's back.  I said, "Why would anyone ride dirty with no insurance, no registration and then also speed if they are taking home 30K a month???"  Teddy shrugged in a confused manner.  

But it gets even BETTER...Teddy tells me that the dude was claiming ZERO on his taxes and he's been making 6 figures for 2 years now.  No wait...it gets better...so he recklessly dies in this accident and his wife comes to Teddy and asks if she can have part of his check to cover the bills because she has no money - Teddy tells her well the month hasn't closed but he can cut her a check for 8,000 to keep their house afloat.  She said Oh no no no not that much because I don't think his check will cover that because "we" don't make that much.  WOW - she didn't even know how much her husband made.  Guess WHAT - it gets better --- he had NO life insurance not one penny.  He had told Teddy months prior,"...what do I need life insurance for I'm young and will always be here for my kids"  Really?

I could not hide my DISGUST.  Teddy tried to tell me "he really loved his family..."  I laughed and said no he didn't.  He was spending all his money on God KNOWS What...they had nothing in savings, or CD's or retirement and he made over a quarter million dollars a year.  His wife had no idea how much he made.  They are behind on their house payments.  The car and motorcycle he used were not insured and on TOP of all that he had no life insurance.  I told Teddy,"He not only left his 3 daughters naked, but he is about to make them homeless as well as his wife and Mother...that ain't love."  Teddy was absorbing that nugget of bullshit when I also added this,"Then come April, the IRS is going to be looking for their 30% cut of that 300,000+ income that he made...and where exactly is his wife going to pay for that - when she doesn't work and clearly has no idea about finances???"

Sickening.  Letting your spouse live in indulgent ignorance is basically harming them.  Who does that?  Now your daughters are without a net...they are fodder for the wolves of this world.  He not only left them fatherless...but also open to become victims or at the least at the mercy of strangers.  Many people are not so far from hunger or losing their homes...this is a perfect example of it - except what makes it perverse is he made more than 4 average peoples incomes.

I got my first life insurance policy when I was in my early 20's.  I got it because I traveled a lot throughout Asia and the US.  I kind of figured if my scuba equipment failed, or if I was taken hostage, or if I got trampled at Mardi Gras at least my parents wouldn't have to worry about paying for the funeral.  Not that they couldn't afford it - because they can, but I felt it would be unfair to them to have to pay on my behalf because I was off on another adventure.  I've never had to use it and actually it already matured and I collected on it - but that's besides the point....

I wonder how many people live like that?  Ready to leave their family naked and at the mercy of strangers?

Disgusting.

My best deal yet 80% savings! WooHoo

Last week some coupon chick robbed me of my coupons from the shop I work at and the shop next door...this week - I was the first one at the shopping center and since the papers had been thrown onto the ground in the parking lot and not in front of the doors - I grabbed both sets.

That was Black Friday and also time for the monthly Proctor and Gamble coupon book. 

The total haul was 49 coupon books.

This is what the coupons look like broken down.  I am giving half to my sister in law.  The coupons aren't as good novembers but I'm sure it will end up giving me some stuff for free that we use such as paper towels, anti perspirant, feminine hygiene products and shavers.

I did have to use the last of my coupons - so I went to 2 separate Fry's Grocery (aka Krogers to some of you)...After coupon: The Dawn was 99 cents, Safeguard soap was 29 cents, 6 pack of Pineapple juice was 1.79, blistex was free, halls cough drops were 27 cents.  All vitamins were buy one get one plus I had 5 coupons...the naturemade sublinggual b-12 ended up being 2.50 ea, the natures bounty sublinggual b-12 ended up being $2 ea and the melatonin ended up being 1.50 ea...Pretty good.

I stopped by another fry's and they were having a P&G event so all the Scope was 1.99 ea if you bought minimum of 4.  I happened to have coupons for 1.50 off - so all of those were just 49 cents ea.

I don't know about your area but in our area these are close to 5 bucks a bottle - so 49 cents is real attractive.

I have all my coupons on an excel spreadsheet that I email to my phone - and I checked and had a few I could use...

Scope: 49 cents each
Covergirl eyeliner 2 pack: 95 cents each
Advil travel packs:  22 cents ea
halls cough drops: 27 cents each
Energizer thermometer batteries: 49 c ea
Blistex: 22 cents each
Kettle chips: 1.39
Hersheys non rbst milk: 99 cents




My father in law came to visit this weekend and said,"I like to see that you kids set yourself up to save some money...no one needs to worry about you."  Damn straight no one has to worry about us...coz we handle ourselves.  I'm looking forward to not having to buy certain things for a year...some things I won't even have to get for 2 years. 

You know what cracks me up when people say they are just 'gonna come over and get stuff over here..."  Yeah RIGHT!  At that point you better decide if you want my left foot or my right foot givin you a swift kick in the ass.  I heard a girl in the lobby at work talking about how she could barely pay her bills yet she had a new iphone5 and a new IPAD - hahahaha.  I guess priorities are out of fashion. 

Sometimes I wish I could be more sympathetic towards people except that I see they put themselves on a path to destruction and them being unprepared has nothing to do with me.  I love people who have children they can't feed...and with that same mouth they say "I love my kids."  I love people who have a family and think they don't need life insurance, or savings, or preps coz "God will provide..."  Bwa hahahahaha.  Really!  Coz if you listen real closely God is telling you to get it together...and you are just so self important you don't think you have to do anything coz in the billions of people on Earth "GOD" is going to provide for YOU...Bwa hahaha - arrogant.

I'm pooped...

Organizing is hard work...Mr. Man told me last night,"we are quickly running out of space in this new house of ours..."  I countered,"No we are not.  We just aren't putting stuff away where it belongs..."  So to cash the check my mouth wrote - I organized half the garage this afternoon...

I even found time to slow roast a 10 lb beef brisket...finish the 5th load of laundry...clean both the bathrooms and mail some coupons to a friend.

I'm making a pot of coffee as I write this - so that means I'll be organizing my canning jars soon.

Hahahhaa.

Life is definitely not for the weak.

They grow up so fast...

 This is my niece Ashley in March.  You can't tell but she's thrilled that we got her not only the barbie cup but also the matching barbie tee shirt.

She's always been a real cool kid - inquisitive, smart and not afraid to take on tasks and challenges.

 Last week she told my brother,"Papa, I'm going to Aunties house to make cake then I'm going to her job to make cake and help her..."

She even let me do her hair...

 First lesson: how to wash hands

Second lesson: how to properly wash and sanitize dishes in a 3 compartment sink.

Third lesson:  how to pipe shells on a cake then finish with sprinkles (I forgot to get pics of this).

Then we got home and had dinner and she asked me to "curl her hair like the big girls do"  I just looked at her - she'll be 8 in a week - why does she look all grown up?

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.

clown

I'm not stealing ok...

So I've been couponing for a few months now.  Not anything crazy like the chicks on the tv show  - but enough to where I have a little envelope...

I got these minute rice 2 packs for 25 cents

I went to the walmart and the cashier acted like I was stealing or something I had the ads to match and she buckled me on every single price match.  I finally asked her,"Why do you act like I'm taking money out of your own personal pocket --- when you damn well know your minimum wage making ass has no reason to be rude to me nor to be loyal to the people who own this damn walmart."  Well that knocked the rudeness right out of her ass.  I mean seriously, the stupid commercials say we price match - then you show up to price match and all they do is give you grief.

I ended up getting all these super D vitamins (gel caps) for 99 cents each.  I have a bunch of other stuff too - like challenge grade AA butter for 99 cents - 25lbs of blue ribbon long grain rice for $7 - jergens 8 oz ultra healing for $1 - various high end razors by gilette for him and her at about 1.99 a piece. My fave is 42oz of kielbasa for 4.15 and tyson chicken breasts for 1.99 a bag.

I only use coupons on what we use - or what my brother or sisters houses can use.  I will not buy 200 sports drinks, or 100 bottles of ketchup, or 300 cases of soda even if I can get them for free.  I focus on stuff we can use like Toilet Paper (12 pack cottonelle for 3.50 after coupons and instant rebate) and different dog food deals.  I already have 2 years of feminine paper products up and 2 years of toothpaste including sensodyne whitening and aim super clean whitening...some of them free and some of them under $1.

I got these flintstones vitamins for my 7 yr old niece they ended up being $3 a bottle after my coupons.  This will hold her until about next August.

I am not greedy - I always pay something.  Because the stores have to make money in order for us to continue getting deals.

The shop I work at gets a local free paper a few times a week.  The friday one has the P&G coupons.  The Sunday one has a redplum coupon book and another less popular coupon book.  The staff hides the papers in my locker until I come in on Monday.

I remember one day I got 5 lbs of butter, 4 packs of kraft singles, 1 lb mozarella, 1 lb medium cheddar, 1 lb meunster, 2 cream cheese, 2 marzettis caesar dressing, 2 boxes organic spinach, 2 tictacs...for a little over $18.  But as always those are things we use. 

I ran into a former co-worker of Mr. Mans when he was in sales at the grocery store and she was so happy to see me.  I invited her over that night to bring baby because I hadn't seen her in 3 years.  She saw our pantry and home and she said,"I'm so happy you two are still together and still in love - you are doing so well for yourself and are so prepared and thriving as usual."  I told her about prepping as a method to saving on expenses and not taking useless trips to the store.  I also admitted that I use coupons for things that we eat or consume such as vitamins.  She told me that she tried couponing but she just "doesn't get it" or she "loses patience"  She then admitted to me that after her husband (who is a real jackwagon and I never did like)  married her - he stopped giving her money and stopped paying her for working - UNBELIEVABLE!  She then admitted she and her daughter are on state medical benefits and food stamps.  WOW!  I don't even know how she managed that because her husbands business makes pretty good money.  Unbelievable and embarrassing.  I was thoroughly embarrassed for her.

Sometime soon - all these little government benefits will be cut off.

Then what will they do?

Where Da Cookies At...Auntie Cheffy...

We had my sister in laws sorority sister stay with us for awhile.  She received a promotion and a transfer here from Chicago and we felt it would be nice to let someone stay in our house rather than a hotel.  She was able to situate herself in a couple weeks. She has a little 13 month old daughter who comes to visit us about once a week.

Mr. Man is teaching her all kinds of funny faces and songs...and it's super fun having her around.  She is genuinely a good-natured and happy baby and super smart because she responds to multiple instructions.

 I always bake cookies for her when she comes over and I make them mini size so they fit her small hands.  Well last Sunday we had a bbq for family and friends - and I had just put in the 3rd batch of cookies when I heard her talking and banging on something.  I was busy preparing potato salad, wilted spinach salad, grilled veggies and breadsticks.  I finally turned around to look at her!

She was talkin to the STOVE! haha.  Don't worry it's heat safe front and sides.  She was pointing at the cookies talking to me in her baby talk. 

She did not leave that stove.  Until I said go play with the doggie (who she thinks is named hotdog).  At 13 months she can now handle her spoon and feed herself and seems to think she's ready for chopsticks. haha.

It's fun having her around.  Even though her grandma reprimanded me for spoiling her. HA!  This is why we also prep - not just for the family we have - but the people we've invited into our circle.