First of all, where in the world did January go?? Didn't 2009 just start yesterday?? All of a sudden we're here at the end of the first month of the year. And with that thought in mind, I thought I'd give a little update on my experiences in couponing.
I'll admit that it's taken some time to get a good system up and running. Sometimes it seems to take a long time to get my grocery list together and other times its seems like I'm finished before I begin. In the end, though, I've enjoyed the challenge and the cheap thrill of getting things and paying next to nothing for them. Here are some of my best deals this month:
Birds Eye Frozen Bags of SteamFresh vegetables: FREE
Big boxes of Cap'n Crunch cereal: 50 cents a box
Progresso Soup: 75 cents a can (these cans are normally $2.27!!!)
Cans of Manwich mix: 25 cents
Boxes of Puffs tissues: 25 cents
Cottonelle toilet paper (4 pack): $1
Considering I rarely buy things at regular price without a coupon, I could seriously go on for days listing all the things that I've gotten at great prices.
So at the end of January, I'm happy to report that we saved FORTY PERCENT on our grocery purchases!! We saved $142.86 in ONE month!!! And I can also say that we haven't had a single time when there was "nothing to eat". Our cabinets are stocked full with food! At this rate, we could be near the $2,000 mark of savings by the end of the year...holy cow, that makes me so excited I can hardly stand it!!!
Check back next month to see how we're doing! If you're finding new ways to save on groceries or purchases in general, I'd love to hear about it! Leave a comment and let me know of your strategies for saving lots of money!!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Things I Love Thursday 1.29.08
I love that my guest room closet is quickly filling up with a massive amount of boxes containing yard sale items!! This means that:
a. I'll hopefully be making some cash at our yard sale this spring.
and
b. I'm getting rid of a lot of crap.
and
c. I am making room for all kinds of fun re-decorating around the house.
Sorry, it's so short this time, but it's almost not even Thursday anymore, I've had a long day, I'm exhausted and I'm beyond ready to be snuggled up in the bed...
a. I'll hopefully be making some cash at our yard sale this spring.
and
b. I'm getting rid of a lot of crap.
and
c. I am making room for all kinds of fun re-decorating around the house.
Sorry, it's so short this time, but it's almost not even Thursday anymore, I've had a long day, I'm exhausted and I'm beyond ready to be snuggled up in the bed...
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Tuesday's Tip 1.27.09
In light of the Great Purge of '09, here's a tip about cleaning out your filing cabinets. There are about a million and one different ways to do this and everyone does it differently. This is how I have found to work best for me.
First of all, our files are in alphabetical order. This makes them easy to find and takes the guess work out of returning a file to the filing cabinet.
Also, I have 2 files on my desk that help along the way. They are labeled "Needs A File" (for incoming items that don't currently have a file in the filing cabinet) and the other is labeled "Items To Be Filed" (a place to stash that pile of papers or mail when I don't have time to file each item individually). I try to empty these folders about once a month or so.
In each individual file, I have the papers in chronological order (oldest in the front, newest in the back). Also, I have each year clipped together (either with a binder clip or paper clip). on the top paper in each year, I've attached a Post-It Note that contains the following information: The year of that stacks contents and the year that it can be destroyed. For example, in our electric bill folder, I know that I like to keep bills from the past year (we don't need them for tax purposes). The Post-It Note says: "2008" and then "keep until January 2010".
I try to clean out the filing cabinet in January of each year. When I take out a file, I see automatically if items are ready to be destroyed (we usually shred out of date files). When I do a clean out, I also make sure that the current year's files have been clipped together and labeled appropriately.
I can never remember how long I should keep things, but found this handy chart in an organizing magazine (I recommend making a copy or typing the information and placing it in the front of the filing cabinet for easy access.).
*TAX RECORDS: Copies of returns-forever; Supporting tax documents-at least 4 years.
*CHECKING ACCOUNT STATEMENTS: 1 month or until checks clear; Keep statements that support tax deductions with your tax records for the year.
*UTILITY BILLS: 1 month (unless you deduct for home office expenses; file with tax records).
*PAYCHECK STUBS OR DIRECT-DEPOSIT STATEMENTS: 1 year.
*CREDIT CARD STATEMENTS: 1-2 months or until charges are reconciled;Keep statements that support tax deductions with your tax records for the year.
*MORTGAGE INFORMATION: For as long as you own the property, plus 4 years for tax purposes.
*RECORDS FOR HOME IMPROVEMENTS, SALE OR PURCHASE OF PROPERTY: 4 years after the sale of the home or property.
*MEDICAL RECORDS: 4 or more years.
*INSURANCE POLICIES AND BILLS: Keep current policies and bills; discard canceled policies.
*INVESTMENT RECORDS: Keep initial purchase and year-end reports indefinitely.
*RECEIPTS FOR PURCHASES: 1 month, except for big-ticket items requiring proof-of-purchase for insurance.
Just know that it can take a while to get a system like this set up, but I PROMISE that it pays off in the years to come! Good Luck!!
First of all, our files are in alphabetical order. This makes them easy to find and takes the guess work out of returning a file to the filing cabinet.
Also, I have 2 files on my desk that help along the way. They are labeled "Needs A File" (for incoming items that don't currently have a file in the filing cabinet) and the other is labeled "Items To Be Filed" (a place to stash that pile of papers or mail when I don't have time to file each item individually). I try to empty these folders about once a month or so.
In each individual file, I have the papers in chronological order (oldest in the front, newest in the back). Also, I have each year clipped together (either with a binder clip or paper clip). on the top paper in each year, I've attached a Post-It Note that contains the following information: The year of that stacks contents and the year that it can be destroyed. For example, in our electric bill folder, I know that I like to keep bills from the past year (we don't need them for tax purposes). The Post-It Note says: "2008" and then "keep until January 2010".
I try to clean out the filing cabinet in January of each year. When I take out a file, I see automatically if items are ready to be destroyed (we usually shred out of date files). When I do a clean out, I also make sure that the current year's files have been clipped together and labeled appropriately.
I can never remember how long I should keep things, but found this handy chart in an organizing magazine (I recommend making a copy or typing the information and placing it in the front of the filing cabinet for easy access.).
*TAX RECORDS: Copies of returns-forever; Supporting tax documents-at least 4 years.
*CHECKING ACCOUNT STATEMENTS: 1 month or until checks clear; Keep statements that support tax deductions with your tax records for the year.
*UTILITY BILLS: 1 month (unless you deduct for home office expenses; file with tax records).
*PAYCHECK STUBS OR DIRECT-DEPOSIT STATEMENTS: 1 year.
*CREDIT CARD STATEMENTS: 1-2 months or until charges are reconciled;Keep statements that support tax deductions with your tax records for the year.
*MORTGAGE INFORMATION: For as long as you own the property, plus 4 years for tax purposes.
*RECORDS FOR HOME IMPROVEMENTS, SALE OR PURCHASE OF PROPERTY: 4 years after the sale of the home or property.
*MEDICAL RECORDS: 4 or more years.
*INSURANCE POLICIES AND BILLS: Keep current policies and bills; discard canceled policies.
*INVESTMENT RECORDS: Keep initial purchase and year-end reports indefinitely.
*RECEIPTS FOR PURCHASES: 1 month, except for big-ticket items requiring proof-of-purchase for insurance.
Just know that it can take a while to get a system like this set up, but I PROMISE that it pays off in the years to come! Good Luck!!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Things I Love Thursday 1.22.09
I really love it when I don't have the stomach bug.
Monday night, the "bug" attacked. While all the icky-ness only lasted about 12 hours, the weakness and sheer exhaustion is still in full force. I guess my body just really needed a good excuse to spend a few days on the couch catching up on trashy tv...or it just wanted to lose 4 pounds in 24 hours.
Monday night, the "bug" attacked. While all the icky-ness only lasted about 12 hours, the weakness and sheer exhaustion is still in full force. I guess my body just really needed a good excuse to spend a few days on the couch catching up on trashy tv...or it just wanted to lose 4 pounds in 24 hours.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
The Rambler
My husband has been out of town since Tuesday morning and while I've had the chance to visit with some friends throughout the week, I must admit that I'm a little lonely...and thus, feel the need to ramble a little...or a lot...we'll see where this goes. Lucky for you, he'll be home in a few hours...
I feel like I've been working non-stop for the past 2 days to get some things purged. I spent THREE hours sorting through our filing cabinet. I clean it out every year, but it always seems to take such a long time. I've finally come up with a system that will (hopefully) streamline the clean out process every year (Maybe I'll hook you guys up with those tips in an upcoming Tuesday's Tip). Anyway, lots of shredding and trash bags later, I had an 1 1/2 empty drawers! And then, I cleaned out my craft closet. I had things in there that I'd had since college. In the beginning, the ENTIRE closet was nothing but crafts. But NOW, less than half the closet is occupied by crafty things. It feels really nice to have all kinds of free space but now we have an all new problem on our hands...the yard sale boxes. My recently cleaned out guest room is now being completely overtaken by a bunch of huge yard sale boxes and piles of things waiting to be put in boxes. I'll be so glad when all this CRAP is out of my house!!
The forecast for the next several days is snow, snow and more snow. And to that I say "Bring it on!!" If it's going to be THIS cold, it might as well snow a few inches...or feet. :) Besides, I feel like I need an excuse to sit around and do nothing but work a puzzle.
About 6 months ago, I learned, in ONE WEEK that SIXTEEN people I know were pregnant. And, naturally, now all those people are having babies. Which is really exciting...and really expensive :)
I'm not exactly sure how I feel about 2009 yet. I was talking to a friend the other day, and we both were saying that we just feel like we're spinning our wheels. Anybody else feel that way? It seems like I can't ever get ahead in anything and in a lot of areas I feel like I'm failing miserably. I'm sure it's not REALLY like that, but most days, that's how it feels. Maybe I'll be able to crawl out of this funk soon.
My 10 year high school reunion is this year. It really doesn't seem like that's possible.
And, my eyelids are getting heavy, so I'm going to call it a night. Tomorrow's Sunday which means 2 things: Coupons in the Sunday paper and lunch at Bojangle's. I tell ya...I'm easy to please :) G'night!
I feel like I've been working non-stop for the past 2 days to get some things purged. I spent THREE hours sorting through our filing cabinet. I clean it out every year, but it always seems to take such a long time. I've finally come up with a system that will (hopefully) streamline the clean out process every year (Maybe I'll hook you guys up with those tips in an upcoming Tuesday's Tip). Anyway, lots of shredding and trash bags later, I had an 1 1/2 empty drawers! And then, I cleaned out my craft closet. I had things in there that I'd had since college. In the beginning, the ENTIRE closet was nothing but crafts. But NOW, less than half the closet is occupied by crafty things. It feels really nice to have all kinds of free space but now we have an all new problem on our hands...the yard sale boxes. My recently cleaned out guest room is now being completely overtaken by a bunch of huge yard sale boxes and piles of things waiting to be put in boxes. I'll be so glad when all this CRAP is out of my house!!
The forecast for the next several days is snow, snow and more snow. And to that I say "Bring it on!!" If it's going to be THIS cold, it might as well snow a few inches...or feet. :) Besides, I feel like I need an excuse to sit around and do nothing but work a puzzle.
About 6 months ago, I learned, in ONE WEEK that SIXTEEN people I know were pregnant. And, naturally, now all those people are having babies. Which is really exciting...and really expensive :)
I'm not exactly sure how I feel about 2009 yet. I was talking to a friend the other day, and we both were saying that we just feel like we're spinning our wheels. Anybody else feel that way? It seems like I can't ever get ahead in anything and in a lot of areas I feel like I'm failing miserably. I'm sure it's not REALLY like that, but most days, that's how it feels. Maybe I'll be able to crawl out of this funk soon.
My 10 year high school reunion is this year. It really doesn't seem like that's possible.
And, my eyelids are getting heavy, so I'm going to call it a night. Tomorrow's Sunday which means 2 things: Coupons in the Sunday paper and lunch at Bojangle's. I tell ya...I'm easy to please :) G'night!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Things I Love Thursday Returns!!
I've really missed doing these posts over the past few weeks!
I'm seriously about to show off my insanity, but most of you know me probably won't be surprised by anything I'm about to say. So, here it goes.
I LOVE purging and re-organizing my house! I'm getting ready to start the great purge of 2009 this weekend and I'm seriously a little giddy just thinking about it! I know that our house, in it's current state, is fairly organized and most things have a place. But we have so much stuff that we don't need or want or love and it has to go!! So, hopefully over the next 3 or 4 days, many trash bags and boxes full of stuff will be leaving our house. And then the reorganization process starts!! I'll get to put stuff in appropriate containers and label them and make it all look so pretty.
I know, I'm crazy...but don't even sit there and pretend that you don't want to see all kinds of before and after pictures :)
I'm seriously about to show off my insanity, but most of you know me probably won't be surprised by anything I'm about to say. So, here it goes.
I LOVE purging and re-organizing my house! I'm getting ready to start the great purge of 2009 this weekend and I'm seriously a little giddy just thinking about it! I know that our house, in it's current state, is fairly organized and most things have a place. But we have so much stuff that we don't need or want or love and it has to go!! So, hopefully over the next 3 or 4 days, many trash bags and boxes full of stuff will be leaving our house. And then the reorganization process starts!! I'll get to put stuff in appropriate containers and label them and make it all look so pretty.
I know, I'm crazy...but don't even sit there and pretend that you don't want to see all kinds of before and after pictures :)
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Hello, 2009!!
Can someone tell me where 2008 went? I really can't believe it's already gone and that 2009 is here in full force. I know I've discussed this with several people, but the late Thanksgiving really kinda threw me off this year. By the time Thanksgiving was over and we returned home from our trip to FL, it was already December 1st. And then, by the time we got the house decorated for Christmas it was nearing the middle of December and then Christmas was here and gone and then it was 2009. I must be in denial, a little, as our house it still completely decked out in Christmas goodness (yes, I even still turn the lights on every day!). But, whether I like it or not, 2009 is here and it's not going anywhere anytime soon. So, in light of the new year, here are a few things I strive to do this year (I don't do resolutions...just goals, some big and some small, for the year).
*The massive purge of 2009-I am so tired of all the extra stuff in our house. Our house is by no means cluttered, but closets and baskets and boxes are beginning to overflow. This must stop.
*Finally do something with all our wedding photos-some are in albums, some are ready for a scrapbook, some are still on discs. With our 5 year anniversary coming up in August, it's probably time to do something there.
*The great photo project-I have printed, and put in albums, all our pictures through 2007. My goal is to get all of 2008 printed and put away and keep up with 2009 photos.
*The last 20 lbs.-Surely, if I spread it out over 12 months, I'll be able to FINALLY take care of getting those last 20 lbs. off...and become healthier and more in shape in the process.
*Home Improvement Projects-
Hallway: I'd love to touch up the paint, tidy up and reorganize the closets (linen and laundry), redo the photo collage on the wall.
Guest Bathroom: We gotta get rid of the white walls in there.
Hopefully we'll be able to do more...you'll just have to wait and see :)
(For my loyal readers, I'm hoping to start my "Tuesday's Tip" and "Things I Love Thursday" posts sometime in the next month, so check back in soon!)
*The massive purge of 2009-I am so tired of all the extra stuff in our house. Our house is by no means cluttered, but closets and baskets and boxes are beginning to overflow. This must stop.
*Finally do something with all our wedding photos-some are in albums, some are ready for a scrapbook, some are still on discs. With our 5 year anniversary coming up in August, it's probably time to do something there.
*The great photo project-I have printed, and put in albums, all our pictures through 2007. My goal is to get all of 2008 printed and put away and keep up with 2009 photos.
*The last 20 lbs.-Surely, if I spread it out over 12 months, I'll be able to FINALLY take care of getting those last 20 lbs. off...and become healthier and more in shape in the process.
*Home Improvement Projects-
Hallway: I'd love to touch up the paint, tidy up and reorganize the closets (linen and laundry), redo the photo collage on the wall.
Guest Bathroom: We gotta get rid of the white walls in there.
Hopefully we'll be able to do more...you'll just have to wait and see :)
(For my loyal readers, I'm hoping to start my "Tuesday's Tip" and "Things I Love Thursday" posts sometime in the next month, so check back in soon!)
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