Pinching your pennies

Ok...so I'm not all that great at creating really interesting posts. Most of you (Diana, Laurie, Wes, Janae, LauraLee, Heidi, Danette) are much better at that than me. I just put up a few pictures and explain what is going on in them.... no interesting or funny stories or creative musings. Maybe as I start getting more and more sleep, I will get a bit better at that. Maybe not. But the boys had a GREAT night last night, (slept from 10:00-2:00 and 2:30-5:0 and 5:30-7:00 on the SAME schedule) they are napping right now, and I feel like a million bucks, so let's try something new....

Let me tell you about one of my favorite websites....pinchingyourpennies.com My sister Kristy is a master at coupon shopping and getting amazing deals on just about anything. A year ago or so, I decided that I should follow her example and try to save our family a little money. So, I asked Kristy for some advice and among other things, she pointed me toward this website. I didn't do so well while I was still working, but since we've been here in San Diego, I have to say, I have done GREAT! I have gotten some amazing deals. Here are some of my best/most recent:

FREE: Excedrin, poptarts, granola bars, deodorant, shampoo, toilet bowel cleaner, hair dye, and batteries just to name a few

I never pay more than $2 for a box of cereal and usually it is closer to $1 or less.

.25 for boxes of ziploc baggies

.40 for Pillsbury refrigerated crescent rolls/Grand's Sweet rolls

$2 for 40 ct Dayquil/Nyquil

So, it does take some work, but I first clip coupons in the Sunday paper. Then, i go to pinchingyourpennies.com and click on "grocery guide," type in my zip code, chose the stores I might shop at and match the current sales with my coupons. There are two stores here that always double your coupons up to $1 (.50=$1, or $1=$2, or $1.50=$2.50), so I shop at those stores a lot. That is a good way to get free stuff. Another good way to get free stuff is through rebates at stores like Long's Drugs, or Riteaid pharmacy. They have them going on all the time and combining a rebate with a sale and a coupon is like gold!

Anyway, it is actually quite fun and I have cut our grocery budget way down while building somewhat of a food storage (when something is a really good deal, I buy a lot of it). It makes me feel good to know that even though I'm not currently working (well at least I'm not being paid to work) I can still contribute to help our family be more financially secure.

So check out pinchingyourpennies.com! There is acutally a lot more stuff you can do there too (like promotional codes for online shopping and coupon searches if you live in Utah) Good luck!