TLC's Extreme Couponing

So TLC made a documentary called Extreme Couponing, focusing on four shoppers who used coupons to save money. Now I cant help but feel from the previews that they were looking to spin this into a negative; after all using coupons I have seen the issues where cashiers treat you like dirt because you pass them a stack of coupons, I have been accused of stealing from the store because I saved too much money.

So I Dvr'd the show and sat down to watch it expecting to finish the show with the realization that I need to slow down that this may be a problem/addiction. That within days support groups would be popping up where you meet in darkened hallways introducing yourself with:

"My name is Karen and I am a coupon addict!"

Where would the 12 step program begin? How many would admit to this shameful behavior?

So cautiously I pressed play and took an intake of breath, after all my friends and family think that I do go overboard.

As I watched, a smile crept across my face, the light bulb bouncing around with new and creative ideas. Now I have no intention of jumping into dumpsters to get coupons (although my mind entertained the thought for about 35 seconds) but I need to get back to using the clipping services and get my printer up and running again. I already buy 10 papers a week for the coupons and use my Grocery Game to save tonnes, can I do more? Can I save more? Can I be more frugal? Yes, Yes I can!!!

I saved the show with the intention of watching with pen and paper in hand...

My name is Karen and I am proud to be a Coupon Addict!!!!

6 Free Books

https://www.pacificlearning.com/signin.aspx?

Head over and register for the books. It asks for a school as I plan to home school that is what I put and it seems to be happy with that. Although you can just put in the details of your childs school and have them receive some free books.

There are multiple grade levels to pick from, just wait for the email once you have signed up.

This weeks freebies by mail

So in the mail this week we got 2 samples of Wisk, 2 months of Shape magazine, 1 sample of Eucerin, 3 pampers, $27 coupons from Safeway, $30 coupons from Frys, American Baby, Family Circle, Bazaar, Womans Day, Post stick samples, Oxy samples, Free energizer batteries by coupon, free trix race car from Fisher Price, Ever pure sample, Root awakenings and a quaker banana nut bar!

I will try and start posting all these freebies up as they come. Its just been a hectic week with the storm.

Grocery Shopping

So last night we did our grocery shop and in total spent about $125. For this we got 30lbs chicken, 10lbs sirloin, a pot roast, 10 packs of Hillshire sausage, baby food, water, candy, bread, tortillas, peppers, onions, egg plant, apples, mushrooms, salmon, cheese, soda, pasta and so much more. The first picture is everything we got free!


These coupons give you $1 off meat and produce at Frys. It is how I got the peppers free.
http://www.frysfoodtatumshea.com/coupons10110/

The Cheerios were free thanks to a Safeway coupon they mailed to me, the 2ltr was a free coupon again from Safeway!

Arrowhead Aquapod Water was from Albertsons on sale for $1 and the red plum from 8/29 had a 75c coupon, which they doubled to a dollar.

Hershey's Bliss Chocolate Candy was on sale for 50c at Albertsons and there was a 55c coupon in the 9/26 Smart Source.

Mentos Sugarfree Gum was on sale 10/$10 at Albertsons and there was 2 $1 coupons in the 10/3 Smart Source.

The slices of cake were a surprise as they were offered free when we got to the counter at Albertsons!

Bestlife Buttery Spread was free at Frys, on sale 10/$10 there was a $1. in Red Plum 8/29

Tic Tac Candy was free from Safeway using a coupon from the 10/3 red plum.

I also have rain checks for free tuna and $2 packages of Jenni-o Ground Turkey!
I get all this info from the grocery game. I love the website. Its free for four weeks and I pay$20 every 8 weeks for detailed lists for 3 stores. In the last year I have got approx $10k of groceries for $1500. My husband was out of work for 3 months and thanks to the game we had food storage that meant we ate like he was working and within 2 months of him back to work we have 6months of storage in place.

If you join the grocery game please use me as a referral shygirl12009@live.com. I would like the free weeks :)

So many updates!!!

Wow I have been away forever - Just look at how much he has grown!

When I started this blog it was basically to understand how me, a career driven woman could become a stay at home mom to alleviate child care costs. Well the first part didn't seem so hard, after all its kinda the dream world of its not really hard work and the most stressful thing of the day is what to have for dinner. Can we say rude awakening? Well not really as I was never expecting that, not really anyway.

Well now I want to cover more than that, life is an amazing challenge and not only am I blessed with a loving husband, I am blessed with a adorable child and we have decided that we want more. In fact we want to look at having eight beautiful children, yet we will entrust the Lord as I know that nothing is without him.

I actually joke and say that we are going to give the Duggars' a run for their money, even though there are individuals that criticize what they do, I respect them as they have well mannered children that have provided contributions to the world and are decent citizens.


We want to home-school as we have very little belief in the Arizona School System. I have already began teaching Xavier to read as well as his home curriculum began at three months old. My goal is to have him graduate his Associates Degree by eighteen before he goes on a mission. The same will be the goal for all our children.

I love to save money, I do this with freebies, coupons, discounts and samples. I am even attempting a little garden. Consignment stores are amazing for babies, just please spend the extra money on things like car seats, a new mattress and personal items. I am just tired of using several sites to get these things for the price I get them at.

I am making a little money on the side by reading emails and I have the link in my side banner, I am also playing with eBay. All while trying to be a Stepford Wife. (j/k)

So this is going to be about love, family, faith, home, cooking, freebies, saving money, teaching and hope. Hope to not only raise my family but to raise them with the courage, desire and love to achieve their dreams.