Being Frugal, Frankly

Awhile ago I had another blog entitled 'Frankly Frugal' where I shared some deals and tips on the frugal finds here around the Fresno area and on the web.  After a few months of not being able to keep it up like I would have liked though, I opted to link up to the main frugal resources I use often (which you will find over to the left on this blog).  I figured I was just reposting what I had found on other blogs, so it was a poor use of my time and resources to just copy and paste something that had already been done. 

Then, to tell the honest truth, I stopped couponing. 

{insert huge gasp here}

Ok, that might be a little misleading.  I still USED coupons and organized my couponing folder, but I was not a die-hard-go-out-and-get-it deal seeker.  In fact, we started running out of certain things.  First it was dishwashing soap, then it was John's razors, and then the toilet paper stash started to get pretty sparse.   I actually had to start shopping for those things again and let me just say... things are expensive.

So, after not having be a regular couponing (yes, it is a verb now) lady for almost a year, I am rejoining the ranks.

Yes, I realize I am crazy.  :-)

My other blog

I got tired of my husband telling me that my couponing posts were boring so I have moved all things couponing to a new blog... Frankly Frugal. I will be posting all of my AWESOME deals and finds in this one location, and all my favorite couponing and deal resources/ blogs will be there too.

I am basically posting what I do, and how I do it. Check it out if you are interested. But, as of now, this will be my last post regarding couponing on this blog...

If you are interested in couponing...

I have had some interest over the past few months in my stockpiling (see this post) and couponing. I just found a great website that can lay it out a little more clearly than I can. Check out Mommy Snacks, and look on the right hand side for some quick tips on how to get started. I would recomend this post on stockpiling and this post on couponing effectively.

GDA!! Kashi at Target this week!

John and I are BIG fans of Kashi cereal.

This week at Target many Kashi products are on sale 4/$11 and then you get a $5 gift card when you buy 4 in one transaction. That works out to $1.50/box!!

I also have some printable coupon links here to make the deal even sweeter!!

(Just an FYI, the links usually only print 2 per IP address)

Go Lean Crunch, Sign up with Kashi! <----- You have to sign up with Kashi.com, but it gives you a $2.00 coupon toward ANY kashi product.

Target Trip

Last night's Target trip was blog-able...
(q means coupon, TQ means Target coupon)

Solo Paper plates 2.77
(2.00 q from trade)

2 Electrasol gel 20 packs 2 @ 2.79
(2 2.25 q's from trade)

2 Smuckers jelly 2 @ 1.32 (clearence)
(2 1.00 tq's found here)

Johnson's shampoo 2.37
(1.00 q from newspaper)

2 Ziploc Containers 2 @ 2.00
(1.50/2 q from newspaper)

Pamper's 3 Pack wipes, Pampers jumbo pack diapers 5.00 and 9.99
(.50/1 wipes q, 2.00/1 diapers q both from trades, and 5.00/both tq found here)

Bandaids, 2 packs stayfree 2.44 and 2 @ 2.84
(1.00/1 bandaid q, B1G1 Free stayfree q, and 5/3 TQ... all from trades)

Total before coupons...40.47
Total after coupons... 13.13 plus tax (Saved 68%!!)

For those who love Target...

Last night some friends of mine and I were discussing saving money (amongst other fun things!) and I explained a little about my couponing. Well, one store I discussed in length was Target, hello who doesn't LOVE 'Tar-jay'? Anyhow, I wanted to share this AWESOME blog I just found...Attention Target Shoppers! It pretty much does the same thing as my favorite couponing website (A Full Cup) except it deals exclusively with Target and the current deals and coupon info pertaining to that store.

Another great resource is the Target coupon generator <----- (Click this and check it out! It is also from A Full Cup.) These are coupons found directly from Target's website, and able to be printed in multiples to save you paper.

Enjoy!

Being Resourceful

Money has been tight lately. Unfortunately there are a few times during the year that we are just sneaking by and really it gets to be a paycheck to paycheck situation. Honestly, it forces me to learn to be resourceful, and in those times I realize I need to do this ALL the time... not just when money is tight.

Soooo, yesterday was Claire's one year check up. She is doing very well, but had to get 4 shots and is in need of vitamins and more whole milk in her diet. The doctor gave us a prescription for vitamins. (As a side note, we are blessed by John's job providing us with all prescriptions completly FREE!) I also needed to get her some milk and Tylenol. So, I headed to Target. Here was the breakdown...

Prescription... FREE, plus I had a coupon for a $10 gift card for a new prescription

Then, I took the giftcard and got the following...

Dreft 6.99 (less 2.00 manuf. coupon and 1.00 Target coupon)
Milk 2.99
2 Sunscreens 1.98 (less 2 - 1.00 coupons, making them FREE)
Johnson's baby wash 2.14 (less 1.00 coupon)
Carefree 1.02
Tylenol 4.89
(Less a 5.00 Target coupon for the purchase of 3 participating products, i.e, Johnson's, Carefree, and Tylenol)

Total (with tax) came to 9.92! I still have .08 left on my gift card, and best of all spent no actual money!

Extreme Couponing and the Y2K closet

It is so obvious that my husband is out of town, and I am not a TV junkie lately, because man have I been a-blogging! Anyhow my obsession since January has been couponing and stockpiling. It is getting to a point where I will not "buy" any health and beauty items unless they are free. My dear friend Kristin came over one day and coined my pantries "Y2K closets" and now apparently the name has stuck. Anyhow, if anyone is interested I started reading A Full Cup awhile ago and have just learned how each store works and how to get things free.

Oh, and here is one of the "Y2K closets"... I think there are about 30 shampoos/ conditioners, 10 or so baby washes, 25 small lotions, and TONS of bar soaps and wipes... all for little to no money!! In fact, sometimes they even give me gift cards to their stores for buying the products... so they are sometimes PAYING me to take an item home!

Yes, I might be a little coupon crazy, but we all need hobbies... this just happens to be mine. ;) Oh, and yes, we do use all of this stuff - I just won't have to buy anymore for awhile.