Couponing To The Extreme

Did you catch TLC's new series premier Extreme Couponing?  I watched in amazement at how these women leave the grocery store with 90-101% savings.  Personally, my best is 54% savings, so far.  I'm always learning new techniques and tips for saving as much as possible at the grocery or drug store.  How about you?  Do you coupon to the extreme or just a little, or can't be bothered?  My favorite part of doing a big haul is watching the total go down, down, down, and my stockpile build up, up, up!


Share your opinion or tips about couponing below.  I love to hear all about your savings!

Automatic Savings

Did you know Target offers two ways to save 5% off your total automatically?  Without even using coupons!  One option is a Target debit card, which is connected to your checking account and is deducted right away with no interest charges.  The other option is a Target credit card, which works like any other credit card and will require a credit check, but will deduct 5% off your total at the register.  If you pay the balance every month, the credit card is just as good an option as the debit card.  However, if you carry a balance you won't be saving that 5%.  I signed up for the debit card in the store last week.  It only took a few minutes and I was given a temporary card to use right away until the card comes in the mail.  If you want more info, check it out at Target REDcard. 

Recovering

The last six weeks seem to be a blur, but I'm slowly getting back in the swing of things.  I didn't know recovering from a hysterectomy would be so exhausting.  I thought I would work my way back into my routine by sorting through my coupon binder.  Wow!  I have just cleared out a huge stack of expired coupons that took so much time to clip and file.  After seeing all the wasted effort, I've decided to try a new method of couponing.  Instead of clipping all the coupons I think I might use, I'm going to use the coupon database available on Coupon Divas or How To Shop For Free. 

To coupon this way, all you have to do is look through the store sales paper, see an item you need, go to one of websites above and click on the coupon database tab. Type in the name of the product and click search.  If a coupon is available for that item, it will show up and tell you where to find it.  Keep all your coupon inserts from the paper, and refer to the dates on the spine of the inserts for the date they were in the paper.  For example, Smart Source 3/13/2010 will appear in small black type on the front of the insert up the fold for you to refer to.  This way you only have to clip what you need, when you need it, when it's on sale!!  Saving you time, and money, smartly.  If you need more info or ideas, Kitty on Coupon Divas has some awesome video tutorials.

I'll be posting more as life gets back to normal.  Well, my normal anyway!  Feel free to leave me comments or post any deals you come across.
      

Taking a break

I'm going to be away from my blog for a few weeks.  I have to have surgery and recovery will take a few weeks.  I'll be back soon with lots of updates!

Print Your Coupons

It's the end of the month and the internet printable coupons are about to reset.  Visit Smart Source, Red Plum and Coupons.com to get any coupons you need.
                        

Progress!

     I did it!  I finally posted my first recipe.  I hope you like it as much as we do.  Thanks to my sweet husband who drove on the messy roads, I have a new dryer.  All in all, it was a good day.

Pumpkin Roll

This recipe for Pumpkin Roll is one of my family's favorites.  Enjoy!

You'll need:                                          
3 eggs
1 c. sugar
1 c. canned pumpkin
3/4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
3 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 c. chopped pecans

Filling:
8 oz. soft cream cheese1 stick butter, softened
1 c. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract

1. Grease and flour a 15x10 jelly roll pan or baking sheet with sides.
2. Beat eggs, gradually add 1 c. sugar.  Add pumpkin.
3. Mix together flour, baking powder, salt, and spices.  Add to pumpkin mixture.
4. Spread batter in pan.  Sprinkle chopped pecans over batter.
5. Bake at 375* for 10-12 minutes.
6. Sprinkle a couple paper towels with powdered sugar.  As soon as the cake is done, flip it out onto paper towels, roll up and let cool.
7. Mix together filling ingredients.  Unroll cake and remove paper towel spread filling evenly over cake.  Re-roll cake and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

                                                                 ENJOY!