Extreme Couponing

Have you seen THIS show on TLC? I've seen the previews for it for a while, but I finally caught my first episode last week. My thoughts? MIND. BLOWN.

I am pregnant, so the next statement should be judged accordingly, but I balled like a baby when I saw the episode where a mother got $1,800 worth of groceries for about $105. I do realize that my emotions played a part in that reaction, but all the same, it got me thinking.

Now, I believe that "extreme couponing" is, just that, EXTREME. I don't have hours a day to spend on looking for, cutting out, and organizing coupons, but I do know that you can save a lot of money even with a minimal amount of effort.

Living in the rural area we do, we don't get coupons in our weekly newspaper. The "mail-out" coupons don't come to us either. That was my first obstacle to beginning to "coupon". I brainstormed some ideas and remembered that my grandparents get the Sunday paper, but rarely use coupons. So, a phone call later, and all those coupon inserts were set aside for me. The next thing I discovered is that you can print out manufacturer's coupons online via websites like Coupon Mom. A quick registration later, and I had found and printed about 30 coupons. Woohoo! I promptly realized that I CAN DO THIS!!

This is my first haul from my coupon-hunting efforts. Not too bad. And I followed the rule that states you shouldn't cut out a coupon unless it's a product you actually use. I did, however, cut out coupons for products that would be suitable substitutes for ones we use with the plan that I won't buy extra of a type of product, but will buy whichever is cheaper.

We are currently doing everything we can to save up for my maternity leave and then to pay down the last of our debts so that Princess Gummi can grow up in a debt-free, financially secure home. My goal for this first month is to cut our grocery budget for the month of May by $100 through the use of coupons, sales fliers, and careful menu planning. My ultimate goal is to cut our grocery budget in half by the end of the year.

I know this could be hard, but I also know that most parents have to go through a series of financial adjustments and sacrifices to provide the best life for their child. I wish I had done it sooner, but I am glad to be able to do it now.

What are you doing/did you have to do to prepare financially for the arrival of your child(ren)?


God Bless & thanks for reading!!

Menu Plan Monday

Today is my first time posting to "Menu Plan Monday", and I'm hoping that it is something I will continue. I love sharing recipes and it gives me more motivation to actually get a good plan going. I'm in the midst of getting organized to prepare for Princess Gummi, and following advice from "I'm An Organizing Junkie" has proved invaluable in getting things done.

This week, my focus was to cut costs and to start using up what is in our pantry and freezer.

So, here it goes!


Breakfasts: Egg omelets w/ ww tortillas, cereal w/ skim milk, fruit, V8

Lunches: Deli meat sandwiches for MM and salmon-salad sandwiches for me, black bean salad, leftovers, pb&j

Dinners:

MONDAY: THIS delicious Peasant Stew. I love this recipe and it's so easy to throw into the slow cooker. I also love that I can have stew in the spring as it's super light, especially with a squeeze of lime juice over it.



TUESDAY: Leftovers.

WEDENSDAY: Salmon tacos w/ pinto beans. We just sautee canned salmon w/ onions, garlic, lime juice, chili powder, and chopped, fresh cilantro in olive oil and serve on corn tortillas with an extra squirt of lime, cheese, and spinach. Delicious AND frugal!

THURSDAY: Totino's pizza with salad. (We will be packing for our Easter travels, so I'm going easy and labor-light for dinner).

FRIDAY: Dinner out with the family while my sister's band "Worship Project" plays. Delicious BBQ!

SATURDAY: A Japanese FEAST at my Baba's house. (My Mom's mom.) I am helping her cook the meal so that I can, hopefully, learn and retain some of her recipes to pass on to Princess Gummi. I should have done this sooner!

SUNDAY: Dinner out with the family again. It will be the last time we see them for about a month, so we're really looking forward to it.


Well, there it is! I was fortunate to do my first Menu Plan Monday on an easy week. The next few weeks will prove to be a little more difficult as I strive to slash our grocery budget by half before baby comes.