Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Oh Yes, I Did

It took a little mathematical convincing, but I did it.  I showed Kyle that by spending money, we could save money.

I didn't order a lifetime supply of widgets or vitamins.  I didn't stockpile soap and dried beans.  I ordered something I use every day... something I need... something that makes my life just a little bit better:

DIAPERS!


I tried cloth diapering, and I have a friend who had three in cloth diapers at one time.  And she is a better woman than I.  I'd love to save the planet.  I'd love to put something natural next to my baby's reproductive organs.  I'd love to join the cloth diapering cliques.  But, alas, I know my limits.

I needed to not have to worry about laundering and storing enough cloth diapers for 2 in diapers 24/7 and 1 in diapers every night (you should know me well enough by now to know that I'm WAY WAY WAY too cheap for Pull-Ups).  I needed to have the freedom to wipe, wrap, and waste. 

So I confess:
I'm cheap.
But you still want me to be charming, right?  
So I use disposables. 

Well, if you watch the couponing blogs (mine isn't one of them, but I'll make a list of my favorites someday) and you listen to the chatter, you'll know that Walgreens has 3 1/2 more days of an AMAZING sale on their generic diapers.  Are you sitting down?  They're only $2.50 for a jumbo pack (36 size 3s) that's 6.9 cents/diaper.

Can I get a witness?

To get that price, you need only 1 coupon... not 1 coupon per package.  Just 1 coupon TOTAL.  That's right, boys and girls, the easiest couponing transaction of all time for the most wonderful invention of all time (other than my cookie scoop and the Internet) DIAPERS. 

I just ordered 40 jumbo packs (12 size 4s and 28 size 3s).  They won't be here until Monday so I need to go get a raincheck so I can get that price after the sale is over.

If you're interested in this deal, call your store to see if they will order them for you or just go buy what they have on the shelf.  My babies' bottoms are not sensitive and have always done just fine in whatever diaper we use.  So far, they hold the wet and the sticky messes.  And, they've got a monkey on the front... it's cute.  

You'll need a Walgreen's Infant Care Coupon book.  I found mine in the pharmacy.  In this coupon book, there is a $2/1 coupon.  When they scan this coupon, it takes $2 off of every package you buy.  The packages are $8.99 and they are buy one get one free.  So $8.99 + Free - $2 first package - $2 second package = $4.99 or $2.50/package!

How many jumbo packs do YOU need for a six month supply!?!?! Who else is going to cut their diaper budget in half!

Friday, February 4, 2011

Good with the Bad

Yes, I am really good at saving money.  It's easy to do when you don't have any (or pretend that you don't).  I think of every penny as a resource I'm suppose to steward.  Now that I know I can get free dishwashing soap, I will (hopefully) never pay for it again.  That, to me, is being good steward: doing my best to make every penny go as far as it can.

One of these days, time will be more valuable than money.  Maybe, I'll have streamlined the couponing process so I can save money and not spend hours doing it. 

But, even when I plan my shopping trips, check multiple blogs, and clip every coupon, things don't always go as they are meant to.  I choose to take the good with the bad.

Just this week, I have had several such occasions!

Bad:  Target had a deal on Tostitos.  Buy 2 for $2.50 and get a salsa free.  Then, $.55 coupons came out in Sunday's paper AND Target had a printable coupon for a $1 off too.  In theory, I could get 2 chips and 1 salsa for $2.35 (2.50 x 2 - .55 x 2 - 2.50 - 2.50 - .55 - 1... confusing, I know).   Unfortunately, the Target $1 printable didn't work... suddenly it wasn't a great deal.  Bummer.  I didn't (and won't) take it back because it's a hassle and it was my mistake.  And since they accidentally didn't ring up a package of cheese I bought last week, I figure it makes us even.  Yes, I did ask them if they wanted me to pay for the cheese and they said "no". 



Good:  I found $1/1 coupons for Tostitos today at Albertson's and they're on sale at Safeway on Sunday.  I'll be able to get 3 bags for 44 cents each.  Not too shabby.

Bad:  I was at Safeway today and I bought their 2 lbs of Lucerne cheese for $3.99.  I thought all varieties $3.99.  I thought it was labeled that way.  It wasn't until I checked my receipt in the parking lot after I buckled the kids in that I realized that I paid $6.99... why would I do that?  Tillamook had a coupon for 2 lbs for $4.99, but I refuse to pay more than $2/lb.  (If you knew how much cheese my munchkins ate, you'd understand.)  Also, I picked up two packages of Ranchers Reserve Cube Steak and *tried to* use my $2/1 Safeway coupon.  Alas, they were just under $2 per package.  The cashier wouldn't adjust the coupons down (they can do that, you know).  I had her take the beef off.  So now I have to think of something for dinner... ugh.

Good: I got 4 - 12 packs of soda for $7.50 and two boxes of Wheat Thins for $.98.  And, when I go back to return the cheese (heck yeah, I'm taking it back and if I find that it's mis-labeled, they'll probably give it to me for free), I'll find the super cheap meat that costs more than $2/package and get more Wheat Thins!  Take that!  (I also forgot onions.)
Bad:  Shopping 4 different stores in 1 day with 4, 3, and 2 year olds.
 Good:  The 10 month old stayed home with Daddy doing paperwork.

Bad: Being unable to find Orville Redenbocker with Red Box codes so I could get 2 boxes of popcorn, 2 movie rentals and 2 sodas for less than $2. And they were out of Palmolive Antibacterial that I could've gotten for free.

Good: Free Hawaiian bread and free Zone Bars. And free after rebate Veggie Burgers and Snapple.

Just think, most of (good:) that was because (bad:) I forgot my coupon folder at Target the other day.

I'm sure that there are Couponaires out there that never make mistakes or misunderstand the sale or forget a coupon in their pocket.  Alas, I am not she. 

And... I was able to find the cheap Johnson's Head to Toe Baby Wash and Bubbles for $1.19 that I couldn't find the other day ($2.19 - $1/1)!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

In the Beginning...

Based on a couple of recommendations (mainly CH and JK), I have started my new naptime/laundry folding addiction: The Duggars.

It's available on Netflix Watch Instantly and I watched the first season this week.  Of course, "watch" is a loose term since I have it on as I do something else like clip coupons or sort matchbox cars. 

I'm enjoying seeing how a household with 17 children (she's pregnant with #18 in the first season) can run so smoothly.  It's like a fast forward in my life... but we don't plan to have 2 dozen kids, so it's more like our life 15 years from now minus a baseball team and a basketball squad.  Okay, it's nothing like my life at all, but it's entertaining.

What I want is a flashback to what life was like when she had 5 or 6 little ones and no teenagers.  You know, "Previously in Arkansas..."  or "In the beginning there was chaos..." Life with cooks, maids, and a laundry service must be nice.  But how did Ma Duggar survive all the years leading up to that and still have a smile on her face?

Maybe it's in the following seasons... I'll let you know.  

Maybe You Noticed

It might seem obvious to everyone else, but I just made the connection:

There is a direct correlation between the amount of sleep I get and how much I blog.

When I sleep, I blog.  When I go to bed at 11, Jenna wakes up at 2, Joel wakes up at 5, and Seth and Korynne wake up at 7, I'm not getting sufficient rest; therefore, I do not have the strength to blog.

When Jenna and/or Joel stop teething and start sleeping, I might figure out a way to do something other than hold on to my coffee cup for dear life and stare into space.  Heck, I might even do the dishes.