For all you guys out there with iPhones, there is a great app for grocery shopping. Andrew and I love it!! It is called Grocery Gadget. You can set up your own network online, if you and your hubby each have an iPhone and the app, and it will sync between your phones! Then, everyone has the list!! You can also have multiple lists (i.e., different stores). Within your lists, you can set the prices for the items and it will calculate a total for you! It's awesome! But, to include a tax amount, you have to set that up online through your network. You can also even take picture of items and that will show up on your list!!
Walgreens Trip 9/29/09
Ok, Folks! I ventured to Walgreens this morning to try my hand for the first time at their savings. Well, I don't think I did excellent, but I think I did pretty good for my first try. Here goes:
Total Out of Pocket: $57.70
Total Savings: $47.71
RR to be redeemed later: $6.50
I made 4 purchases (tax not included because it's different everywhere):
Purchase #1:
Prilosec $22.99 ($1 MFG Coupon)
Herbal Essence $2.99
Spa Breeze Razor $7.99 ($2 MFG Coupon)
Glad Trash Bags $6.99
WAGS Coupon $5 off $25 purchase
Total Product Price Before Savings: $40.96
Total out of pocket: $32.96
Total Savings: $8.00
Earned RR: $12.50
Purchase #2:
Apple Juice $1.67
Dawn $0.99 ($0.50 MFG Coupon)
Renu $5.99
Swiffer $3.99
Pampers Wipes 2/$5 (2 X $1.50 MFG Coupon)
Cascade $3.99
Kellogs Pop Tarts $3.99
Halloween Tumbler $0.39 (filler item)
WAGS Coupon $5 off $25 purchase
Total Product Price Before Savings: $26.01
Total out of Pocket: $4.76
Total Savings: $24.95
RR Redeemed: $12.50
Purchase #3:
Herbal Essence $2.99
Total Out of Pocket: $2.99
RR: $2.00
Purchase #4:
Pampers 2/$20 (Jumbo Pack)
Dixie Plates $1.99 (WAGS Coupon)
Theraflu $4.00 ($4 MFG Coupon, $2 WAGS Coupon)
Theraflu $4.00 ($2 WAGS Coupon)
$5 of $25 Purchase
Total Product Price Before Savings: $31.79
Total Out of Pocket: $16.99
Total Savings: $14.76
Ok, so lesson learned here. No matter how many times you have to check out, in Alabama, you can reuse your $5 off $25 purchase coupon over and over. Therefore, I would have saved more if I would have broken my purchases up into several $25 purchases. Also, it is best if you redeem all of your RR in the last purchase (I did it in the second purchase). Also, you want each purchase to produce a RR of some kind.
Cardiovascular Exercise
After having a baby, who really wants to exercise??? You're tired, have a new little one to take care of, and did I mention, you're TIRED. Ok, so let's get beyond the excuses! To achieve the goal, you must get started!
Here's the deal: I had a very complicated pregnancy toward the end of my pregnancy. I was put on bed rest for 4 weeks, then I lost too much blood after my c-section, and was not allowed to do anything for another 4 weeks. Then to top it off, at that check-up, they decided I had a blood clot in my abdomen and was not able to exercise for another 4 weeks. So, now I'm 8 weeks postpartum and just beginning to exercise. Now, granted, I am below my pre-pregnancy weight now, but only because I'm nursing my newborn. So, due to not exercising for 3 months, we must start at the beginning!
First step, cardio exercise. Cardio exercise burns the most calories. And, if you didn't already know, your calories out should be less than your calories in to achieve weight loss. For heart health, you should accomplish a minimum of 30 minutes of cardio workouts at least 3 days per week (daily is best). BUT, there is a misconception out there that this has to be a solid 30 minutes....WRONG!! It can be 10 minutes 3 times a day, or 15 minutes twice a day, or 20 minutes once and 10 minutes once. You get the idea, right. But, it needs to at least be 10 minutes of moderate to heavy exercise.
So, for me, I am a stay at home mom to two young girls so exercise outside the home (in a gym) is out of the question. Plus, add in the economy right now, and the price of a gym membership and childcare is just not an option. So, I have found a great video that I can do in my den while my girls sleep! I walk for 45 minutes and can walk 3 miles and work out my arms and abs at the same time! I think this is completely doable for most people, I think most people have 45 minutes that they can spare to exercise! If you only walk one mile, it only takes about 20 minutes. To get a better workout for some other problem areas, get some 2 pound dumbbells from Wal-Mart and keep going!
Check back another day for some more suggestions for at home exercise for those postpartum (and mostly female) trouble areas.
Walgreens 9/27-10/3/09
Ok. So Walgreens runs their ads from Saturday of one week to Sunday of another week. You can get some great deals at Walgreens if you watch the ad, register rewards, and coupons from the paper and other sources. I have found some printable coupons that you can't get in the paper!! I am going to Walgreens tomorrow, 9/29, to see how well I do. They have a printable coupon $5 off a $25 purchase good 9/29-9/30/09.
For a little more explanation on how Walgreens works:
REGISTER REWARDS (RR): Coupons that print out at the register. These are good on your NEXT purchase. In order to get RR, you must purchase the exact items listed in the Walgreens weekly ad that advertise RR. You can receive a RR for each different RR item you purchase; however, you may not receive multiple RR for the same item purchased more than once on the same ticket.
USING RR: Basically you use them like cash on your next purchase at Walgreens. But, you must be aware of your expiration dates, they don't last forever!!! You cannot use more manufacturers coupons and RRs than items you are purchasing. For example, if you purchase 10 items and have 10 manufacturers coupons, you can't use RR. Therefore you must buy "filler items" to be able to use them all. Filler items should be $1 or less items and/or items you use regularly that are on sale. You cannot use RR to purchase the same item you received it for. For example, if you purchase a razor and get a RR, you can use it to purchase another razor, but you won't get another RR.
MFGR COUPONS: You can "stack" manufacturer coupons with Walgreens coupons for added savings. However, be careful! Always give the manufacturer coupon first to the cashier. Reason--the cash register will reject a manufacturer coupon if there is an overage, but it will accept a Walgreens coupon even if there is overage. However, I don't think they will give you money in your hand, so you will need to have tax or some other item to offset any overage.
Ok, folks, let's see how I do tomorrow. Keep checking back. I'll post pictures and exactly how I purchased items to receive the discounts.
All suggestions are welcome! Remember, I'm a newbie!
Coupons 101
Okay, so I am beginning my journey to save money for my family. I am clipping coupons from the Sunday paper and paying real close attention to the weekly sale ads for stores I shop. I am also paying attention to stores that are close by my area, but not IN my area. Some of their sales are worth the gas to get there just because the savings are so phenomenal. While clipping coupons this past weekend, I found a wonderful site (thanks to my Aunt Sue). It is all about how to organize your coupons to get the most out of them. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to organize, so I love this site.
I also learned that for me, it is best to clip the coupons for products that I know I'll use, but to save the entire circular. So, to begin my coupon saving, I have gotten a portable file box from Wal-Mart. I then have a hanging file folder with the dates for the week on there (i.e., 9/20-9/26/09). Inside the hanging file folder, I have a manilla file folder for each different circular (i.e., smart source, etc.). That way, as I am reading other money saving blogs, when someone posts of a great deal in a circular from a certain date, I can go back and find it! Never, never miss a great saving opportunity!!!
Another useful tidbit of information: You can stack coupons. I mean, I knew you could go to Walgreens and stack their store coupons with manufacturer coupons for added savings, but now I know that you can use one product for each individual item you buy. For example, if say Walgreens is running a BOGO add for soap for $5.99/each, and you have 2 manufacturer coupons for the said soap for $1 off. When you get to the cash register, you get the two products BOGO for $5.99 total. You use your TWO $1 off coupons (because you bought TWO items), therefore, you get the soap for $2 each!! What a deal!! I must show my coupon-ing ignorance here, I thought you could only use one coupon per trip to the store, but OH NO! you use one coupon per individual item you buy! No wonder you can save so much if you just put a little time into planning your trips to the store.
Check back each week for more coupon-ing tips! I plan to post "What I Get for the Money" each week with my coupons and local sales. As I am learning, hopefully, you will learn too.
I am totally open to any suggestions you may have for your local sales, etc. Please leave your comments to help everyone out!!
Welcome to Momma-Versity
First and foremost, I am a mom to two beautiful little girls! Caleigh is 3 years old and Peyton is 2 months old. I am well versed in being a mom, but I am still learning new things every day! I also have my master's degree in exercise physiology. I worked in the healthcare field for 5 years before I decided to be a stay at home mom with my oldest daughter.
This blog is devoted to several different things. First, I am in the process of learning how to use coupons to save money for my family. This economy is horrendous!! I think we all can use some extra cash back in our pockets! As I learn how to make the most out of my coupons and store sales, I'll post my tips.
Second, is exercise! My first love, before I got married and had children, was exercise. So, in an effort to take some of this "baby weight" off, I am going to post different exercises that I am doing at home to help this issue. Also, again, since the economy is horrendous and it's hard to go to a gym if you're a full-time mom, I'm going to offer some different exercises targeting specific "mom-related" problem areas that can be done at home while your kids are napping!
Lastly, but maybe not totally last, I am going to tell of my adventures with stains! All families experience stains of some sort! If you have small children, you probably experience stains more often than not. We will discuss products, as well as home remedies for removing some of the most common stains, but also some of the most annoying and stubborn ones as well.
Hope you enjoy my blog! Please leave me some comments, and enjoy the reading!