How I feel about the economy....

Ok, this whole economy-is-getting-worse thing needs to end. I am not impressed with the leaders of our nation on how they are handling this. I'm certain that this whole thing is much harder than I am perceiving it to be, but let's get real here folks: giving tax-payer money to corrupt wall-street frauds is not the way to help out an entire nation who is struggling to keep their jobs/put food on the table/keep a roof over their heads/keep the heat slash water slash electricity on. I just get so annoyed with how everything has been handled that it makes me want to go straight down to Washington and picket... but I won't. Mainly because I can't afford to.

So what can I do to help make ends meet? I already don't take yearly vacations. I don't have enough goods to really make enough money in a garage sale. I don't even eat out that often anymore. (Does three times a month equal to eating out too much? I really hope not...)

The way I do this is to coupon. I may not be really good at it yet, but I'll get there. I can take pride in knowing that we got $100 worth of groceries for only $55 (and that's not even as good as many of you following me can do! I know you guys can do better too!).

I just hope that those out there don't fall into too much despair over how crappy the economy is. It's a bleak time we're living in, but as long as we have friends and/or family to keep us smiling there's always hope for a better future.

What have you guys done to help make ends meet?

PS. I hope to take pictures of my coupon box either tomorrow or Saturday. I know I love looking at other people's coupon holders, so I hope that entry will be entertaining for you guys. :)

Hotcouponworld Valentine's Day Contest - Get a gift from your wishlist

Hey guys. I have been making changes to my blog and it's been slow going because like I said in my last post, I have trouble focusing. I'll try to keep this post pretty short and focused hehe!

One of the sites I use is Hotcouponworld.com and I love love love going there to check out the deals. Last winter, they had a giveaway contest and the person who won got to get a gift basically from their choosing. Awesome, right?? Well, they're doing it again!

This time they are having a Valentine's Day Contest. Here's the gist of it.

First, if you are not a member of Hotcouponworld, I highly suggest you register to become a member. These contests are fun and the forum is a great resource for couponers and deal seekers!

Second, click here to go to the thread about the contest!

Want to know the details before doing anything? I'll just copy it here so you can get the idea before registering to enter the contest. (Though I do suggest registering just for the amazing resource that website is!)

Contest Dates: Today - Feb. 13, 2009 (12 midnight pacific time)
Details: This is going to run just like our Christmas giveaway, but with one caveat - the gift really needs to be something for you. We know you all scrimp, save, and devise ways to make sure that those in your family are taken care of. So this is the contest for the members who are always thinking of their families first and go with holes in the nightgowns or are carrying a purse with a broken strap. We really want YOU to be our Valentine.

And, we're going to spread the love so instead of one person with a grand prize, we'll break the prize money into five $50 gifts.

So, go to the "SHOP" tab on the menu, search for the gift(s) you would like for Valentine's day and link the page with the gift(s) you'd like back here so we can see what you're hankering for. You should post the page that looks like this page HERE to be entered in correctly.And if you've got a funny story or some reason why we really must pick you to be our Valentine, then post it!Fine print details of the contest....You must have your Valentine's Day gift posted no later than 2/13 at 12 midnight Pacific Standard Time. You've got a $50 budget for your gift (but if you go over +/- a few bucks, no big deal - we'll still consider it if something you want is $52.99 kind of thing.

You can only enter once. You can tell your friends and have them join and enter too - this contest is for newbies and oldtimers alike.

We will pick and post the winners and get the gifts bought and shipped right away, so you'll know on Valentine's Day that they're coming - you just won't have them on Valentine's Day proper.

Other Information: I just wanted to add that shipping is NOT included in the $50! Hotcouponworld will cover the shipping. If you'd like to know more, feel free to comment here with your question. I'll be happy to answer it for you!!

Ok, so that's all. I hope everyone has a great hump day!

Ok I'm back!

Man, I know it's been a while since I've posted here. I've been busy for the past couple of weeks and I'd be lying if I didn't admit that couponing kinda took a back burner there. In fact, I even let some of my CVS ECB's expire. O.o

So I'm back at it now that things are going smoothly again. What can you expect from me, as a blogger, this month?

Posts about:

• how I got started into couponing
• what I do to get my coupons organized
• my savings per month (will be posted monthly)
• other things that involve saving money

I'm not the best at it just so you are aware of this right off the bat. But at least I try. And I'm really commited to helping others save money too. (Ask my mother.. she doesn't understand why I bring my coupon box everywhere I go but she was totally excited when I brought it down to Kentucky while visiting and saved her 48% on her grocery bill)

Ok, that's all I got. I think almost every journal entry should have a picture. I'm nonfocused like that, so I present to you... my Andi Kat.

She likes sitting on top of my newspapers and other misc. crap that I have on my desk. Man, I need to clean it.

Ok, watching "The Happening" and this was the best scene in the movie imo (like.. the only good scene) and it totally reminded me of couponing... and what it would be like if Mark Walhberg and Zooey D. were couponers like us.

Mark Wahlberg: "Look if we're gonna die I want you to know something. I went to the pharmacy awhile ago and there was a really good looking pharmacist behind the counter. Really good Looking. And I went up and asked where the cough syrup was. I didn't even have a cough. And I almost bought it. And I'm talking about a completely superfluous bottle of cough syrup. Psch, that's like 6 bucks."
Zooey D: "Are you joking?"
Mark: *nod*
Zooey: "Thank you."

New Year, New You?? Please don't pressure me!

Well, it's that time. It's the start of a new year and that slogan "New Year, New You!" keeps getting repeated everywhere a person can turn. On the tv, on the internet, in your mailbox (thanks fitness magazine!) and pretty much everywhere a person can go.

My resolution? To put aside half of my paychecks a month towards savings. We have NO emergency fund since it got wiped out last year thanks to our mortgage company. It's a very scary feeling. So that's mine. That and lose 20-30 pounds. (Sorry! Couldn't resist!)

So with that in mind, off I go searching for some subbing jobs. I am also applying to a few jobs that popped up. Please pray for me! It would be amazing to get a band job!

Shortpacked.com

Kroger/CVS

Ok... Kroger run. I boo-boo'd and spent more than I wanted because I thought I had an eSAVERS Q loaded onto my card for B1G1 Pantene shampoo.... it was buy 1 Pantene Shampoo, get 1 styler free.

.... so annoyed.

So I spent $4 more than I REALLY wanted to spend because I thought I'd be paying 49 cents for 2 shampoos! ARGH!And I don't even know if I can use them toward the P&G coupon book because they rang up as plain ol' "Shampoo" on the receipt!!! Double ARGH! Ok, vent over.

8 bounty single roll paper towels
11 Tropicana 2 liters
3 Pounce cat treats
1 pouch of dog treats
1 half-gallon skim milk
2 bags of Kroger tortilla chips
2 Pantene shampoos
2 cans of beans
------------------------
$53.33 (this is including tax)
-$13.00 (store coupons for using a kroger card)
-$20.50 Manu Q's
---------------------
$19.83 paid. 64% saved.

Then headed to CVS.

6 bottles of dawn
1 box of hot pockets (for hubby's lunch)
-------------------------
$12.83 (not including tax)
-$4.47 (using my card, dawn B1G1)
-$3.00 (dawn Q's)
-----------------------
$5.36(not including tax)
-2.59 ECB
---------
$2.77 +11 cents tax
$2.88 oop.