Operation $40K

That means it is time to update your freezer inventory! If you don't know what I am talking about, you can read about it here: http://operation40k.blogspot.com/search/label/organization It's a great way to use what you have, before it goes bad! Happy organizing!

This can be a super expensive hobby -- literally thousands of tools available and then come the papers, embellishments, adhesives and so much more! It doesn't have to be that expensive, you can stick to the basics of paper, something to stick the pictures on and a pen to tell the story of the picture. Regardless, that isn't why a lot of us ladies do it! This is the new "coffee clutch" for women of the new millennium! Weekend crops are the way to go -- a group of ladies getting together for a weekend to get a few pages done, and vent about husbands, share ideas for the kiddos and let our hair down so we can recharge our souls and go home happier people. I found the best of both worlds - how to have plenty of getaways over a year and get my scrappy goodness paid for! I organize weekend crops at a local hotel that start on a Friday and go through Sunday afternoon - all for $35 a person. I pay for the meeting rooms, organize the group dinner on Friday night, take them to

The year is officially over and it's time for a quick reality check on my savings percentage! I have been keeping a spreadsheet of my shopping since March first (when I started this mission) of all items purchased for pet care, personal care and food items that fall under my $100 a month budget. In 10 months, I bought $7,835.52 in merchandise for $741.11 after coupons. When you do the quick math, I averaged a savings of 90.54% at the stores. OK, this is pretty cool and, would qualify to make me an "extreme couponer". I simply broke my transactions down over the year instead of doing it in one lump shot like they showed on the latest show we talked about a few days ago. =) What I bought and paid for it is really only part of the story...the real savings should show the average $400 we spent on eating out a month before this venture began. That adds another $4,000 to the before total! That was $4,000 a year, going to a restaurant or fact food joint instead of staying in our

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OK, I zipped into Walmart this afternoon to grab an extra copy of All You and thought I would take a quick walk down the holiday candy clearance aisle. I knew I didn't need anything as Ms Kelley had so kindly stopped for me earlier that day, but thought I should take a quick peek. One lady was moving things around on the shelves and I was looking at the 75% off signs taped here and there...one was on a shelf that had canned crushed pineapple, cranberries, Pepperidge Farm dressing, gingerbread men marshmallows, marshmallow cream and more! Me, starting to kick myself for popping in without my coupon box, is doing quick math and realizing that I could get 3 large cans of crushed pineapple for $1...and I had coupons for $1/3...which would make them FREE! I also knew I had coupons for the dressing and marshmallow cream...and was thinking that it was still a great deal, even if I didn't have the coupons - and would they do an adjustment if I came back? I asked the sales person - seri

I'm not sure if you have a clementine lover in your home like I do - but a $1 coupon that gets doubled brings a five pound box to approx $2 on double coupon day! Just sign up on this site: http://cutiescitrus.com/coupons (Thanks Koupon Krazed!)

Today is the day that Walmart and Target drop their holiday items to 75% off. I already got a call from my friend Kelley, who is on top of it and already at the stores, LOL! I chose not to go out today, but am still shopping, with Kelley's help. =) Large bags of peanut butter cups for $.60 - who can pass that up? I am getting 10 bags, through her. This should hold me for a monthly batch of PB Cup Cookies this coming year - the chocolate keeps BEAUTIFULLY when stored in Tupperware in a cool location, like my basement shelves. I picked the number 10 as I know I only have $6.97 left for the month - that should just about take care of it, LOL! Do you have any plans to hit the stores today or are you going to be like me - in phone contact with a fellow enabler - LOL!?

First I hit the bread outlet, Wednesday we get a bonus 25% off...ut today it was 50%! I got two loaves of cottage bread, bag of cinnamon raisin bagles, hot dog buns all for $1.86 Then, after Karate, we zipped into Sentry and picked up a five pound box of clementines (yes, I am sick of them but the 4 year old isn't...) and some bananas for $4.12 I know we will need milk in a day or so too... I had $12.95 left - $5.98 today's shopping ------------ $6.97 left. Let's see how I do the next two days, LOL!

I have had a few people ask me if I was aware of this new show and if I was going to watch it...the answer is no. First of all, we choose to not spend money on cable TV, so we don't have access to that station, LOL! We have 18 FREE digital channels and also, keep ourselves so busy that we aren't couch potatoes. =) Secondly, I think "extreme" shoppers are people who are taking it a bit too far... I DO think they took some journalistic liberties with this - like the lady wasn't "dumpster diving" for coupons, she was in a paper recycling bin. I know people who will dumpster dive for food - in the actual dumpsters behind grocery stores - and have no problem feeding their family a head of lettuce that they had to peel the first 1/2 off of...(ew!) I also find it interesting that they were allowed to get 1,000 boxes of cereal, 1,500 tubes of deodorant, etc - as most stores will cut you off. They all appear to be southern people who get to use places like Harris

Here is a list of when you will see coupons in your papers next year, and which suppliments they should be. =) 2011 Coupon Insert Schedule January 2 — (2) Smart Source & (2) Red Plum 9 — Smart Source & Red Plum 16 — Smart Source 23 — Smart Source & Red Plum 30 — Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble February 6 — Smart Source & Red Plum 13 — (2) Smart Source & Red Plum 20 — No Inserts (President’s Day) 27 — (2) Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble March 6 — Smart Source & Red Plum 13 — Smart Source & Red Plum 20 — Smart Source & Red Plum 27 — Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble April 3 — (2) Smart Source & Red Plum 10 — Smart Source & Red Plum 17 — (2) Smart Source & Red Plum 24 — Procter and Gamble May 1 — Smart Source & Red Plum 8 — Smart Source & Red Plum 15 — Smart Source & Red Plum 22 — Smart Source & Red Plum 29 — Procter and Gamble June 5 — Smart Source & Red Plum 12

I thought I would quickly crunch a few numbers for you (and me)! It's been about a month since I have done this ...so let's take a look at what's happened: several holiday vendor events, a week long fundraiser/event at the mall, a bunch of Tupperware parties, shuttling the little miss to dance classes and karate lessons, along with getting thru my favorite holiday of the year - Christmas! I told you that December was a busy month, LOL! We did a mix of FREE things, ate more out of our freezer, created some handmade gifts, got more than our share of gifts in return, and more so it lets me add another $13,200 to my fund. Add that to my total and I have $31,265 in the bank! This boils down to an average of $727 a week so far in savings...not too shabby when a lot of people don't save $500 a month! Not too shabby -- about 78% of my way to my goal and I started on March 1st -- so we are talking 10 months. It's getting close to my deadline and I have $8,735 to go over the

I don't know about you, but I am getting a little sick of Cuties -- we have had them for almost three weeks now, much to my 4 year olds delight. I don't see anything but citrus and onions on the price point I look for so it's time to dig into the freezer and make smoothies and compotes this week with the frozen fruit I have stocked up on. I still have my mouth watering for "pigs in a blanket" with the little smokies - but haven't seen them hit my price point yet...they come to just over $2.40 with a doubled coupon - unless I can stack it with something else. Hillshire Farms Lit’l Smokies $3.50 Buy 1 and use $0.55/1 Hillshire Farms Lit’l Smokies printable or Buy 2 and use $.75/2 from 12/5 Red Plum insert Final price: As low as $2.40 after doubled coupon Nothing in the world of frozen food excites me - we have a full freezer that I have been adding 1-2 meals to nightly as I package up my leftovers. Dairy Case Deals - all I need is milk... Grocery Deals - I will

It's one of those things you see on TV and never plan to buy -- but then, someone gives you one for Christmas. Seeing as tonight we planned spaghetti for dinner - I figured that it was good to try it out! The handles measure out the pasta for you, 2 servings at a time. Tonight we used angel hair. Put the pasta in the boat, add water and zap for 18 minutes on high. Mix in the sauce, meatballs that we pulled out of the freezer and dinner was done as the garlic bread was just cool enough to eat. It's a keeper and something we will use again - even my husband can do it, LOL!

I have been pretty sick with this pneumonia thing and not really wanted to eat, let alone cook...but have been better over the last week. This week brings us another holiday - so a bit of variation as we keep playing the eat out of the freezer game. =) Here is the list: Breakfast will include: -yogurt with granola -cold cereal -Scrambled eggs and sausage links -Fresh fruit -oatmeal (It's frigging cold out!) Lunches as normal (sandwiches, soup, left overs, tappas plates) and for dinner... Monday - Spaghetti with garlic toast Tuesday - tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches Wednesday - breakfast for dinner! Pancakes Thursday - Chicken Cordon Blue with wild rice Friday - New Years Eve: a party and we are bringing Hormel dip with crackers Saturday - bacon Wrapped turkey steaks with bake potatoes, glazed carrots Sunday - Lasagna with one ground up Italian sausage in it What are you going to feed YOUR family this week?

I occasionally have time to browse other blogs and just loved how they turned an old entertainment center into a deluxe play kitchen....just check it out! http://twicelovely.blogspot.com/2010/03/tres-chic-play-kitchen.html Have you looked at something creatively to reuse it?

After doing a quick inventory, I realized that I didn't need very much for next year. We are more than stocked on wrapping paper, ribbons, gift tags and holiday cards. I did hit Target to get a few things this morning. Our holiday towels have seen better days so I picked up a set of red with white snowflakes on it. I also grabbed a few stocking stuffers for next year - things like lip gloss, and hair ponies won't go bad just sitting in a box on the shelf and they make me feel like I am organized for next year. I found a Grinch hat and t-shirt set for "uncle Chris". My brother gave Sarah the Grinch book this year with a stuffed Max...it seems only fair that the Grinch make a repeat visit for next year, LOL! That is about all that I picked up today, except for some food. Nothing like the same food you buy, being 50% or more off, simply because it is in a holiday package! 1) Oreos. Holiday Oreos - half price and they came to just $.69 a package when you use the $1 off Na