The coupon game

So, I have been fascinated by Couponing ever since I saw the coupon mom on Oprah a couple of years ago. I have tried it off and on and it just seems like a lot of work to save a couple dollars. My friends have from time to time posted all the amazing deals they put together and I just don't get how they do it. I get overwhelmed juggling my coupons, my kids, and trying to concentrate in the store. So, after reading this post from my friend Kristy I was motivated to try it again. So, this was my attempt last night:

I bought all of this for $36.53. And saved $44.77 (57%). Okay, so it isn't the most amazing story of savings but it is the best I have ever done and being that I saved more then I spent, I will take it. 

Here is how it worked:

11 cans of Tomatoes at .40 a can (store promotion)

5 Lunchables at 1.00 ea. plus I had a 1.00 off coupon so those ended up .80 ea.

Kellogg's Mini Wheats were on sale for $2.27 plus I had a 2 coupons for $1.00 off 2 boxes. So I bought 4 boxes at 1.77 a box.

2 bags of frozen vegetables at 1.68 ea. (I could have done better here)

2 pork tenderloins normally 9.00 a piece. The store had buy one get one free. I also had a $1 off  coupon. So they were $4 ea.

2 pkg. hot dogs. on sale for $1.50ea. plus there was a promotion going on that got me another .50 off each one. So they were $1. ea.

2 apples - free - coupon for $1 off fresh fruit when you buy Kelloggs cereal

Milk - $1.99 because I had a coupon for $1 off milk when you buy Kellogg's cereal. 

(This is from memory so I hope I remembered everything right - or close)

 

At least I saved enough to buy: 

Like I said before - this was a good start for me. I hope to have more amazing savings in the future. 

 

Sorry the pics are horrible. Taken with my iphone - pretty bad quality even for it.

My Students

After my post the other day I thought I should document more about what my kids are working on from time to time. Here is a peek inside my classroom today. I forgot how much I love teaching!

Kaden reading "Crab Trap". He read it easily and all by himself. I am so glad we are kinda taking a break from the pace of the other book. We are still using it just half lessons - which is so much easier. I think he was getting too worn out by the time we got to the story at the end. 

Jack learning his numbers while parking his cars. He also learned the letter sound "a" and reviewed "m" and "s". 

Kyler worked on his new skill.

And then we went out to the garden to play - probably the most productive learning of the day!

A few blogs to share

You know I am always on the look out for a new encouraging blog. In fact, if I ever have some extra time and have already caught up with all my friend's blogs one of my favorite things to do is look for new blogs on different subjects (couponing, frugal living, raising kids, family life, crafting, etc.). I just don't know what I would do without this source of inspiration and ideas. Well I came across a couple I want to share.

The first is: How does she? It has ideas for almost every area of life and I am constantly motivated by the different ideas. One of the things on my to do list is to make a chore chart out of 2x4's. You have to check it out!

The second is probably my new favorite. Women Living Well. Courtney shares about all things about being a Christian woman, wife, and mother. I LOVE her! If you really want to be inspired to be a better Christian Women read her Proverbs 31 segment - she has been doing a verse weekly for awhile. But, the reason I decided to share her blog today is the recipe for Easter Story cookies she posted today. What a fantastic idea! I definitely plan to do this with my kids. Maybe it will get them excited to think  about something on Easter morning other then the Easter bunny at least for a minute or two. Oh and by the way, she loves the Duggars as much as I do! 

Well, that is all I have time for. I just had to retrieve Kyler from the top bunk. I love 1 year olds and their ability to climb without fear.

Adventures in Reading

I have been teaching Kaden how to read. Let's just say it has been the best of times and the worst of times but overall he is doing GREAT! I have mostly been using this book. 

It does work and is pretty easy to use but it is time consuming and we have worked really hard. It claims you can teach your child in 15 minutes a day. Well, when we started it took about 5 min. and then I realized it was taking like 45 - 60 min. Which is too long for both Kaden and me. So tomorrow, I am going to start doing half a lesson a day and also add in some other things. I have some leveled readers that I think will help him build fluency and I also want to work on sight words with him so reading can become easier. This book doesn't really focus on either of those things. I had hoped we would be done by the end of the school year but now since I am dragging it out I just hope we are done before school starts. 

Here are a few tidbits from today. 

Today's lesson introduced the chunk ar. So I was showing him words and having him practice. I wrote far. He read it then said if we put a "t" on the end it will be fart. Of course, he laughed and laughed. I had to laugh too. Part of me can't believe that "fart" was part of our reading lesson today and part of me was sooo happy because I can tell he is really getting it. 

He also read the label on his car seat "Britax". He sounded it right out.

He now responds by spelling no and yes. 

We have had so much fun with school time. Jack is now getting in on the action. He will do Lesson 3 tomorrow. We are taking it really slow with him. Of course, we are also working on other subjects as well. So, now I have a new excuse for my house not to be clean... Homeschooling moms amaze me. And no, I am not considering homeschooling - although the thought has crossed my mind...

Random Thoughts from my kids

My sister drives a Buick Regal -a car that belonged to her husband's grandparents. It is their fuel friendly car since she drives 2 hours a day.  She says when she sees another one on the road it is ALWAYS being driven by someone over the age of 70.

Jack: Aunt Kristen, I haven't ever seen this car. Is it a Ferrari? 

Dream on....little car maniac. If you are really lucky you might see a Ferrari in your life. But, you won't probably get to ride in one or know anyone who owns one.

I overheard Kaden tell Jack.

Kaden: Mommy is really the one in charge.

I pulled into a parking space at Kaden's preschool that was a little too small for my Suburban. I walk Kaden out to the car.

Kaden: Mom, you parked terrible. Way to go. (In a sarcastic voice and he gave me a thumbs up)

Me: Before you guys do anything else you have to pick up your room.

Kaden: Girls are supposed to do the cleaning while Boys watch T.V. 

Me: What? Where did you hear that?

Kaden: Horton hears a Who

Is that really on Horton Hears a Who? Don't worry that is not the way things work in our house. They will be fully trained before they get married.

Jack loves imaginative play. He has 3 imaginative worlds for us to live in. First, is Alvin & the chipmunks, where he is of course Alvin. 

The other night during dinner:

Tim: Jack, how was your day?

Jack: No, Dave it's Alvin.

Tim: Okay Alvin, How was your day?

Jack: Good, I played with Theodore (Kyler). 

He does the same thing with Scooby Doo where I am Daphne. Now, that is a compliment, I will take! I also star as the Princess in the world where Kaden & Jack are Knights and Kyler is the Jester. 

Roller Skating

A couple weeks ago our kids program at church went skating. It was at first for the boys. Tim took them and then I came with Kyler after I got done with the Jr. High youth. I didn't plan for Kyler to skate.  But, he insisted he have skates on AND that he be on the floor with his brothers (those of you with 3 little ones know exactly what I am talking about when it comes to the to the determination of the youngest). 

Even though there aren't pictures of me, I skated too. We had so much fun!

Simple Pleasures

Kelly at Kelly's Korner posted about her simple pleasures and it was so much fun to read! It just made me feel all warm and cozy just reading her list. So here are some of my simple pleasures...

Walking into a warm house on a really really cold day

The first cup of coffee in the morning

Unprompted kisses from my boys

Nice spring days

Snow Days

Seeing my boys learn something new

Taking your child to buy something they saved their money for

Sumer Time

Reading a good book

The whole Christmas Season

All the laundry done and put away

A good movie

The last day of school

Sewing & Crafting

A clean house

Moments like these...

Wow! Thinking about the simple pleasures in life is a great way to start the day!

What are your simple pleasures?