Extreme Couponing . . . or not

Last month a friend of mine turned me on to a little trend and now TV show known as "Extreme Couponing." It sounded a little crazy to be honest but now I have to confess that I am addicted. I'm not one of those professionals who can walk out of Walmart with over $100 of merchandise for 50 cents or anything but I am saving money. On average about an extra $8 per week on my normal grocery shopping. It may not sound like much but that's about $35 saved last month.

It's easy to get side tracked from my main goals in buying healthy foods and meal planning and just follow the coupons and sales and buy a bunch of stuff I don't need. But I have to say that I think I've done an okay job in saving money on things we really do use. (I have come home with regret in knowing I shouldn't have bought something just because it was on sale and I had a coupon -- but you learn my making mistakes right?!)

I follow a coupon-blog called thekrazycouponlady.com and she tells you what is on sale at each store and what coupons to pair with those sales to get amazing savings. She basically does all the hard work for you. All I have to do is clip the coupons and make my list.

Walgreens had a sale that I wanted to get in on this week. So yesterday I headed over there with my envelope of coupons and list and this is what I came home with:

Two six-ounce containers of almonds, three cans of tomato soup and one nine-ounce container of dish soup.  If I had gone shopping without watching the sales or with coupons (okay I would not have gone to Walgreens at all if that were the case), it would have cost: $12.75 (plus tax). But I didn't . . . so instead I bought:

   * the almonds on a buy-one-get-one-free sale along with a $1 off when you buy two coupon

   * there was an in-store coupon on the soup so they were .59 each and I had a .40-off coupon when you buy three

   * the dish soap was on sale for $1 and I had a .50 off coupon

So, my total was only $4.45 (plus tax).  I know that the extreme-couponers that get featured on the television show aim for 95% or higher savings but I still felt pretty good about this purchase and the 65% savings since I know I will use all of these things! 

Last month a friend of mine turned me on to a little trend and now TV show known as "Extreme Couponing." It sounded a little crazy to be honest but now I have to confess that I am addicted. I'm not one of those professionals who can walk out of Walmart with over $100 of merchandise for 50 cents or anything but I am saving money. On average about an extra $8 per week on my normal grocery shopping. It may not sound like much but that's about $35 saved last month.

It's easy to get side tracked from my main goals in buying healthy foods and meal planning and just follow the coupons and sales and buy a bunch of stuff I don't need. But I have to say that I think I've done an okay job in saving money on things we really do use. (I have come home with regret in knowing I shouldn't have bought something just because it was on sale and I had a coupon -- but you learn my making mistakes right?!)

I follow a coupon-blog called thekrazycouponlady.com and she tells you what is on sale at each store and what coupons to pair with those sales to get amazing savings. She basically does all the hard work for you. All I have to do is clip the coupons and make my list.

Walgreens had a sale that I wanted to get in on this week. So yesterday I headed over there with my envelope of coupons and list and this is what I came home with:

Two six-ounce containers of almonds, three cans of tomato soup and one nine-ounce container of dish soup.  If I had gone shopping without watching the sales or with coupons (okay I would not have gone to Walgreens at all if that were the case), it would have cost: $12.75 (plus tax). But I didn't . . . so instead I bought:

   * the almonds on a buy-one-get-one-free sale along with a $1 off when you buy two coupon

   * there was an in-store coupon on the soup so they were .59 each and I had a .40-off coupon when you buy three

   * the dish soap was on sale for $1 and I had a .50 off coupon

So, my total was only $4.45 (plus tax).  I know that the extreme-couponers that get featured on the television show aim for 95% or higher savings but I still felt pretty good about this purchase and the 65% savings since I know I will use all of these things! 

Stocking #2 - Complete

I was getting a little nervous about completing my Christmas projects in time. I can't believe it is already November! I had finished Chris's Christmas stocking a few weeks ago and just could not find the time to get mine started.

But yesterday, that was the only thing on my to do list! And guess what?!? I finished it! The second time doing anything is always a little better and faster - but I was amazed that I was able to finish it so quickly.

I am really excited to decorate our apartment this year for Christmas! And now that my stockings are finished I am feeling that Christmas-bug . . . you know the one that makes you think it is okay to start decorating the day after Halloween! (Chris as asked me to abstain from such things until after Thanksgiving.)

Last Christmas we decided not to decorate because 1) we had someone living with us and didn't have room to decorate 2) we were traveling for Christmas and didn't think it was necessary if we weren't even going to be here and 3) couldn't really afford to buy decorations. 

The year before last, we were house/dog sitting for a couple in the East Bay -- remember them? Yeah, they let us live with them for 6 months. They got out all their decorations for us so we could celebrate our first Christmas as a married couple together. It was definitely a special and unforgettable Christmas.

So this year, our third Christmas together, we will get to decorate our own place. And I am so looking forward to it!

I was getting a little nervous about completing my Christmas projects in time. I can't believe it is already November! I had finished Chris's Christmas stocking a few weeks ago and just could not find the time to get mine started.

But yesterday, that was the only thing on my to do list! And guess what?!? I finished it! The second time doing anything is always a little better and faster - but I was amazed that I was able to finish it so quickly.

I am really excited to decorate our apartment this year for Christmas! And now that my stockings are finished I am feeling that Christmas-bug . . . you know the one that makes you think it is okay to start decorating the day after Halloween! (Chris as asked me to abstain from such things until after Thanksgiving.)

Last Christmas we decided not to decorate because 1) we had someone living with us and didn't have room to decorate 2) we were traveling for Christmas and didn't think it was necessary if we weren't even going to be here and 3) couldn't really afford to buy decorations. 

The year before last, we were house/dog sitting for a couple in the East Bay -- remember them? Yeah, they let us live with them for 6 months. They got out all their decorations for us so we could celebrate our first Christmas as a married couple together. It was definitely a special and unforgettable Christmas.

So this year, our third Christmas together, we will get to decorate our own place. And I am so looking forward to it!

Pumpkin season!

Summer is really my favorite season when speaking about weather but Fall is definitely my favorite season when speaking about food. I know a lot of people look forward to the flavored lattes and spiced drinks but I look forward to the baking. Pumpkin is my favorite! It doesn't really matter what it is, but if it takes like pumpkin or smells like pumpkin I'll take it (and eat it).

Last week I made pumpkin ice cream (inspired by Trader Joe's). I have to say it turned out pretty good. I served it with graham cracker crumbs and whipped topping and it tasted like a chilled pie -- so delicious!

This weekend I made pumpkin bread. I've had this recipe for years. It was given to me during the fall I spent in Gambia by my roommate who I think got it from her mother. We were in dire need of fall tasting foods and the reminder that it really was thanksgiving that November. It is difficult to celebrate some of our holidays when your in a tropical, foreign land.

Anyway, back to the pumpkin bread. The batter made two loves. Loaf one was a disaster coming out of the pan which wasn't so bad because that meant we could eat it right away. Loaf two was much more presentable -- so here it is:

I have never been able to get my breads to rise very well -- they always look awesome in the pan but they deflate . . . at least these didn't cave in like last time!

And it tastes delicious no matter what it looks like so I'm not complaining.

Pumpkin Bread (makes two loaves):

Beat together the following 4 ingredients:
3 beaten eggs
3/4 cup oil
3/4 cup water
1 1/2 cups pureed pumpkin (I used canned)

Then add:
2 1/2 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/8 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoons each of cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg

Mix until blended, pour in two loaf pans and bake at 325 for 1 hour.

I hope you are enjoying this fall season as much as I am!

Summer is really my favorite season when speaking about weather but Fall is definitely my favorite season when speaking about food. I know a lot of people look forward to the flavored lattes and spiced drinks but I look forward to the baking. Pumpkin is my favorite! It doesn't really matter what it is, but if it takes like pumpkin or smells like pumpkin I'll take it (and eat it).

Last week I made pumpkin ice cream (inspired by Trader Joe's). I have to say it turned out pretty good. I served it with graham cracker crumbs and whipped topping and it tasted like a chilled pie -- so delicious!

This weekend I made pumpkin bread. I've had this recipe for years. It was given to me during the fall I spent in Gambia by my roommate who I think got it from her mother. We were in dire need of fall tasting foods and the reminder that it really was thanksgiving that November. It is difficult to celebrate some of our holidays when your in a tropical, foreign land.

Anyway, back to the pumpkin bread. The batter made two loves. Loaf one was a disaster coming out of the pan which wasn't so bad because that meant we could eat it right away. Loaf two was much more presentable -- so here it is:

I have never been able to get my breads to rise very well -- they always look awesome in the pan but they deflate . . . at least these didn't cave in like last time!

And it tastes delicious no matter what it looks like so I'm not complaining.

Pumpkin Bread (makes two loaves):

Beat together the following 4 ingredients:
3 beaten eggs
3/4 cup oil
3/4 cup water
1 1/2 cups pureed pumpkin (I used canned)

Then add:
2 1/2 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/8 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoons each of cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg

Mix until blended, pour in two loaf pans and bake at 325 for 1 hour.

I hope you are enjoying this fall season as much as I am!