Out of Control

A little over a month ago I was talking to my sister-in-law (Hi!) about couponing. She created a monster! First I started with one grocery store, and after saving $40+ a week and saving $0.35/ PER GALLON of gas, I was hooked! Within a week I found out that a few of my friends were crazy couponers and got some advice from them as well as watching a few youtube videos to learn the tricks and know-hows.

Last night I did my first Walgreens trip. I "bought" two latex gloves, on Tylenol Precise Pain Cream, a travel size deodorant, and dishsoap, and I paid........$1.47!! And most of that was tax. I was a bit disappointed that they were out of the razors I was looking for because they would have been free as well. One of my homeschooling friends enlightened me to all the free things she gets on a regular basis. She never pays for toothpaste, razors, toothbrushes, dental floss, peanut butter and never pays more than $1 for brand name cereal or bread. She is my new idol. In addition to all that I have discovered that I rarely have to pay for milk, eggs, or cheese-its (which we love!)

Is it a lot of work? Yes, for now, but that's because there is a lot to learn. I'm trying to only learn one bit at a time though. I spend about two nights a week on it. I started with our grocery store doing the coupons on double coupon days, and buying things on sale. For every $50 I spend at that store I get $0.05 off a gallon of gas. I'm now learning on working the Walgreens system as well as how to collect coupons. I have to admit, it's actually pretty fun. Sunday I get the paper, actually I get three because you get more coupons and you'll get your $3 back easily. Then I spend the next night or two clipping coupons, looking through flyers and checking my handy couponing websites.

Since we're moving in three weeks (YIKES!) It's nice to be saving money. Oh, another way we are saving money at the grocery store is that we gave up juice. Demand who normally chooses water has three cavities! Happy on the other hand LOVES juice and that 's all he wants if it's available. He's already genetically prone to cavities so I don't' want to encourage it. The only way to get him to stop drinking juice is to not have it in the house. So sadly we have no juice and if we do we can't let him know we have it. It's just as well, Mr. Sloth recently read an article on juice and apparently the fiber in fruit helps regulate the sugar absorption in fruit but juice doesn't have the fiber just the sugar and that is super-concentrated.

Another change in our grocery shopping is hopefully going to be healthier foods. Mr. Sloth and I want to take the moving opportunity to change a few habits, including better eating. We eat lots of healthy food, but we eat lots of unhealthy food too. Let's just say they know us at "Smashburger".

Other than couponing I'm trying to pack (but failing) trying to keep the house clean (epic fail) and trying to homeschool (err, it's Preschool right?). Actually this move is perfecting timing as far as homeschooling goes. We'll spend the summer finishing Demands Reading and Math program just in time to start Kindergarten/1st grade in September. I've already started to collect some of the materials and I have a homeschool conference in the beginning of June. Three months "should" be enough time to set up the homeschool room and gather all the materials. Hopefully the move goes as planned and doesn't get postponed. (Please, God!)

Clearly I have a lot to do and should wrap this up. Till next time....