[Thriving Despite Us] Where Have I Been?
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Kate
Mar 11, 2012, 12:57:12 PM3/11/12
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It has been difficult for me to write lately. Softball season has started again, Will is giving LAX a try and James is still a Tae Kwon Do phenom. This translates to me taking someone or numerous someones to one practice or another every afternoon/evening.
On top of that I had PRK lasik surgery a little over a week ago and my vision has been blurry making using the computer difficult. I actually enjoyed my computer moratorium and found I had a lot more time on my hands. I still did my attorney work on the computer (Not to worry, Diana) but after I worked I gave my eyes a much needed computer break and you know what I learned? I spend an inordinate amount of time daily checking email and generally putzing around online.
Without my online adventures, you may think that I was bored. Miraculously, I was not bored for even a second. Thanks to my good friend and neighbor Elizabeth, I was introduced to extreme couponing and you know what? It’s addictive. I went to the grocery store everyday last week just to see how much money I could save. By combining buy one get one offers with manufacturers and store coupons, I was able to get pasta for $.23 a box, crystal light for $.75 cents a container and the coup d'etat was when I got some new fangled breakfast bar for free. That’s right, I paid not a penny for it. Elizabeth was able to make a few deals work where the store actually paid her to shop….go figure!
With a big family, saving money is great and I love the challenge of seeing just how little I can pay for groceries. The problem is I have hoarder tendencies. We may soon find our pantry full of items we don’t use but that I got for practically nothing. Currently, there are 8 tubs of Smart Balance margarine in the freezer. Who could resist it at $.30/tub? Granted, we will not need to purchase margarine for the rest of 2012, and probably are good for most of 2013 and that is not necessarily a bad thing. However, I need to be careful. I shouldn’t buy more margarine even if I could get it for $.20/cents a tub. There is just no more room in the freezer… but $.20/cents a tub?….how could I pass that up? You see where this is headed, right?
There are issues beyond just storage. Couponing could quickly become a full time job. (Diana, prepare yourself, I may have to quit just so I have enough time to figure out all the deals). I am not yet ready to give up couponing but I do need to regroup and focus on purchasing only things we actually use. If I do find myself with an offer I can’t refuse, I will just turn around and donate it to a local food pantry. If I can get a amazing deal AND help others, boooyah!….it doesn’t get much better than that!
The Sunday paper just arrived so I have to go now….there are coupons to clip and deals to be had. If I have some free time I may blog again soon about something relating to parenting, adoption or multiculturalism…or I may just tell you how to get a tub of margarine for $.20.
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Posted By Kate to Thriving Despite Us at 3/11/2012 12:57:00 PM
On top of that I had PRK lasik surgery a little over a week ago and my vision has been blurry making using the computer difficult. I actually enjoyed my computer moratorium and found I had a lot more time on my hands. I still did my attorney work on the computer (Not to worry, Diana) but after I worked I gave my eyes a much needed computer break and you know what I learned? I spend an inordinate amount of time daily checking email and generally putzing around online.
Without my online adventures, you may think that I was bored. Miraculously, I was not bored for even a second. Thanks to my good friend and neighbor Elizabeth, I was introduced to extreme couponing and you know what? It’s addictive. I went to the grocery store everyday last week just to see how much money I could save. By combining buy one get one offers with manufacturers and store coupons, I was able to get pasta for $.23 a box, crystal light for $.75 cents a container and the coup d'etat was when I got some new fangled breakfast bar for free. That’s right, I paid not a penny for it. Elizabeth was able to make a few deals work where the store actually paid her to shop….go figure!
With a big family, saving money is great and I love the challenge of seeing just how little I can pay for groceries. The problem is I have hoarder tendencies. We may soon find our pantry full of items we don’t use but that I got for practically nothing. Currently, there are 8 tubs of Smart Balance margarine in the freezer. Who could resist it at $.30/tub? Granted, we will not need to purchase margarine for the rest of 2012, and probably are good for most of 2013 and that is not necessarily a bad thing. However, I need to be careful. I shouldn’t buy more margarine even if I could get it for $.20/cents a tub. There is just no more room in the freezer… but $.20/cents a tub?….how could I pass that up? You see where this is headed, right?
There are issues beyond just storage. Couponing could quickly become a full time job. (Diana, prepare yourself, I may have to quit just so I have enough time to figure out all the deals). I am not yet ready to give up couponing but I do need to regroup and focus on purchasing only things we actually use. If I do find myself with an offer I can’t refuse, I will just turn around and donate it to a local food pantry. If I can get a amazing deal AND help others, boooyah!….it doesn’t get much better than that!
The Sunday paper just arrived so I have to go now….there are coupons to clip and deals to be had. If I have some free time I may blog again soon about something relating to parenting, adoption or multiculturalism…or I may just tell you how to get a tub of margarine for $.20.
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Posted By Kate to Thriving Despite Us at 3/11/2012 12:57:00 PM
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