Why a month?  Well, YES, you can get savings on your very first shopping trip, however in a month’s time you can gather your Sunday inserts, read up on how to maximize savings, print the “hot” coupons for items that your family will definitely use, and then wait for the best sale price to come around.

The first month I started couponing (September 2009), I kept our grocery budget at $400, even though I knew that extreme couponers were spending WAY less than that.  I shopped the stock-up sales (according to the blogs I read), but I also had to feed my family!  For that first month, I continued to shop at Winco for the basics (it’s the only grocery store in my area with consistent super-low prices).  However, in that first month, I was able to stock up on lots of cereal, granola bars, frozen veggies and more from the high-end grocery stores that have gimmic sales (Safeway, Albertsons, etc.).  Guess what I didn’t have to buy in month 2?  I ended up with money leftover in my grocery envelope.

The second month, I had a coupon binder full of coupons that I had clipped from the Sunday papers I’d been buying.  I bought 4 papers per week (for 99¢ each) and now had a nice little stash.  NOW that I had the coupons, I was able to take advantage of more of the coupon match-ups that the coupon blogs were posting.  I had that particular RP (Red Plum) or SS (Smartsource) insert, so I had the appropriate MC (manufacturer’s coupon) to score the really sweet deal.  PLUS, I was getting better at spotting the good deal vs. the junk food (no one needs that many fruit snacks).  I bought bread, veggies, TONS of canned veggies, yogurt, soup, toilet paper, medicine, and more.  (OH, I can’t believe how much money I spent on deals back then!  LOL!)

My third month of couponing (November 2009), I realized that I was buying JUNK (fruit snacks, cookie dough, brownie mix, Pillsbury rolls, etc.) that I didn’t need to be buying.  I felt like I wasn’t being a good steward of the grocery budget or my new hobby skills.  I decided to cut my grocery budget in HALF. We went from $400/mo to $200/mo for a family of 4.

That fourth month, I was so excited to see if I could keep our budget to just $50 a week, but I was also pretty nervous, too.  It turns out that the first month of the $50 a week experiment, I came in under budget! THAT is when I knew that I could do it.  I could be an extreme couponer, who stocks up on non-perishables when they are at rock bottom prices, thereby freeing up my grocery budget for lots of meat, dairy and in-season produce.

In a little less than 4 months, I became quite adept at using coupons.  And, you can, too!!

Stay tuned to hear about how I learned the ins and outs of becoming an extreme couponer!

A sincere thank you to my current sponsors!
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You Don’t Have to be a Genius: My Journey to Extreme Couponer is a post from: Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs

(Everything from ABCs & 123s by Sugarplum Paperie)

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First Day of 2nd Grade: Boy’s Perspective is a post from: Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs

(Please excuse the terrible picture of my sweet love.  He was being a goof, eating his carrots!)

The highlights:

Welch’s Healthy Start Juice was free! Refrigerated juice is expensive, and I only buy when I can get it for 50¢ or less.  Well, this is a new product, so that means high value coupons!!  It is on sale with the Safeway in-ad coupon for $1.99, + I used $1.50/1 coupons + the doubler (in Oregon and SW Washinton – up to 4 per transaction, and up to 50¢ each).  I actually made 1¢ on each.  Refrigerated juice freezes well and this stuff should be awesome in smoothies.

Progresso Soup is a moneymaker! In my opinion, Progresso Soup is hit or miss, and frankly, my homemade soup is a bajillion times better, however when Progresso makes me money, I buy it.  Plus, it is awesome for brown-bag lunches for hubby or quick meals for me. It would be perfect if we have a natural disaster (always prepared!) or as a food bank donation.  Some varieties are on sale for $1 this week.  I bought 2, and had (3) 50¢/2 ecoupons come off, plus I used a 50$/2 MC that doubled.

The Mission Tortilla Chips were 19¢ a bag! They are on sale with an in-ad coupon for $1.29 – a great price for chips!!  However, I had 55¢/1 MC (DND) and 55¢/1 ecoupons, so they only cost me 19¢ each!  I’ll be making Jamaican Jerk Nachos.  You better believe it, baby!  (Oh, and the bell peppers are only 99¢ each this week!  However, I picked a couple from my garden, so FREE for me!)

I bought Totinos Pizza Rolls for the first time in my life.  I know.  I’ve been deprived.  As soon as we got home, I microwaved some up for my son.  He REFUSED to eat them.  Totinos delicousness!  Honestly?  He would rather munch on a carrot and Wasabi peas.  (No joke.)  My child is strange, but I’ll keep him!  My verdict – don’t make Totinos purchases a habit, because when I eat them  I can hear myself getting fatter.  The little boxes are on sale for $1.67 each.  (3) 40¢/1 ecoupons came off, plus I used a $1/2 MC (DND), making them 57¢ a box.  Was it worth it?  Eh.  Probably not.  But, maybe Grant will like them!

The rest of the stuff pictured was just needed.  Nothing special, except that I broke a Ratzlaff family commandment by buying the margarine.  We are butter-only people around here.  However, I’ve been baking a lot, and real butter is expensive!!  {Ducks head with a bashful look.}

Meat dealios: I bought some sliced pork loin (in the crockpot right now for pulled pork sandwiches!) for $1.99lb.  The 7-bone steak was $1.79lb in a huge value pack, so I asked the butcher to slice it down the middle so I could fit it in my crock pot.  They are so nice over at the meat counter!

My total for the above was $29.40. Like I said, not terribly exciting!  Although, if I hadn’t used my coupons, it would have cost me $69.28.  Yeah, as IF!!  Ah, but I gotta love Safeway!!

A sincere thank you to my current sponsors!
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Free juice, cheap chips and more! is a post from: Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs

This week, we read from Jeremiah through Hosea, which means that I also read Daniel.

I LOVE the book of Daniel.  Maybe it is because I did the Beth Moore study on Daniel in January 2007.  It spoke to me then, and it spoke to me again this week.  In fact, every time I hear the name Daniel, I remember my lesson and it speaks to my heart again.  This is what I learned back then, and I cling to today:

This morning I went to Ladies Bible Study at my church and it was awesome, as usual. We are doing a Beth Moore video series on Daniel. Today the theme was “No Smell of Fire”. It was so good. Basically, it was about how Rack, Shack, and Benny (V-tales reference . . .) were thrown into the furnace by King Nebuchadnezzar. They said, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, . . . But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” But even if he does not . . . (Daniel 3:17-18)

Beth Moore taught us about 3 scenarios when people of God face a fiery trial (she used the example of a woman finding a lump):
A – We pray and pray and are delivered FROM the fire. Out of this, our faith is built. But, how many times do we justify the outcome? We might chalk it up to better science that got us through the medical crisis.
B- We pray and pray, but we have to face the fire. God delivers us THROUGH. Out of this, our faith is refined. (Refiner’s fire . . .)
C- We pray and pray, and we are delivered BY the fire into God’s arms. Through this our faith is perfected.

As long as we are on this earth, our faith is being refined. Or, at least I hope it is. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds . . .” (James 1:2) There are so may great scriptures to get us through tough times. And, God will deliver us!! Whether he delivers us FROM the fire, THROUGH the fire, or BY the fire, he has promised to deliver us. What an awesome reminder that was to me this morning. I remembered times in the past when I felt like God was refining me. When I was delivered FROM the fire, yes, I forgot all about God’s great work. There have been times when I was delivered THROUGH the fire, but in some of those times I wasn’t allowing God to deliver me fully. Beth Moore showed us that in Daniel 3:27 it says, “They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.” There was no smell of fire on them! When we allow God to deliver us fully, we won’t smell like the fire. When people look at us, they won’t say, “Oh, poor Kelleigh. She has had such a rough time.” Instead, they will say, “Look at the joy Kelleigh has. Her life must be good.” When we keep walking around with a victim hat on lamenting our circumstances, we are not bringing God any sort of glory. And after all, our purpose here on earth is to bring God glory!! We should be able to say what Paul says, “Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.” Oh, how I long to be that kind of witness!!

I still get goosebumps!  THANK YOU, Lord, for teaching me this lesson!

Like I said, it is Day 65, and we start the New Testament on Day 68 (this Friday!).  Mitch is going to be joining me as I read through the New Testament in 21 days.  (Wondering about my math? The B90 challenge has 2 grace days built in, just in case we need a little more time.)

Will you join me as I read through the New Testament?!  It is sure to change your life!

“When I study the Bible, I prepare myself to talk to others.  When I read the Bible, God talks to me.”

- D.L. Moody

A sincere thank you to my current sponsors!
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B90 Update – It’s Day 65! is a post from: Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs

(This is a total lift of Lizzy’s layout using ABCs & 123s by Sugarplum Paperie)

Today is Grant’s first day of second grade.

Time is flying too fast!

A sincere thank you to my current sponsors!
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First Day of 2nd Grade: Mom’s Perspective is a post from: Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs

• “I wish I could use coupons, but I just don’t understand how you get those savings.”
• “All of that math just confuses me.”
• “I’m not smart enough to use coupons like that.”

And, my personal favorite:

• Stunned look on face – “I don’t know how you figure that stuff out.  I’m confused just listening to you.”

No kidding!  I hear it all the time from my friends in real life, friends on facebook, and friends posting on my blog.  But, I’m here to say that you don’t have to be a genius to be a couponer! (But, thank you for the compliments!  LOL!)

• If you can add and subtract, you can become an extreme couponer.
• If you can read a blog, you can become an extreme couponer.
• If you can use scissors, you can become an extreme couponer.
• If you can click the print button with your mouse, you can become an extreme couponer.

You really can.  You just have to DECIDE to do it, and then determine that you are going to give it your best shot for at least a month.

Stay tuned to find out how I transformed from a coupon virgin to an extreme couponer.

A sincere thank you to my current sponsors!
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You Don’t Have to be a Genius to be a Couponer! is a post from: Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs

Why do I hate them?  Because it is SO hard to make a room feel cozy with vaulted ceilings!!  Never mind the fact that you are heating that space in the winter, so it gets cold.  PLUS, when a lot of people fill the room, the ceilings make everything LOUD and echoey.

But, the real dilemma is, where do you paint? I’m not about to build myself some scaffolding so I can go all the way up to the ceiling.  NOT gonna do it.  I don’t care what you say.

To my way of thinking, that leaves me with two options.  I need your input.

Here is the room before. Ignore the oversized but-never-gonna-be-able-to-afford-a-new couch and chair.  I plan on buying a real entertainment stand sometime before the end of the year and putting the table behind the couch.  Plus, Mitch is finally on board with drilling a hole in the wall behind the massive-life-sucking-black-hole of a television (and, ironically, we don’t watch “television” in our home except DVDs or VHS).

I’m pretty much sold on painting the walls the same color as the fireplace wall.  I watched a movie recently and all of the walls in the house were painted in rich, dark colors and I just loved it.  So, don’t try to convince me to paint a pale blue or green.  Well, okay, if you feel STRONGLY about trying to convince me, I’ll listen to your arguments with an open mind, but ladies, I WANT COLOR.  Look at this room.  Neutral.  Need I say more?

So, I figure these are my options.

Chair Rail Kinda Sorta - I would use a piece of MDF without the fancy “trim work” grooves.  Sort of simple and classic.  It would probably be 3-5 inches wide and it would be in line with our fireplace mantle and circle the room.  SO, yes, it would cut through the TV and mirror and pictures.  I would probably have to get creative about rehanging the pictures, but I’m not too concerned.

The Crown Molding Kinda Sorta – I would use the same non-fancy MDF (just picture a flat, smooth 2×4, except more like 2×5, hopefully) and line it up with the top of the plant shelf thingy.

What do you think? Which one should I do??

PS – I realize I have “perspective” issues on these photos!  Makes me giggle!

A sincere thank you to my current sponsors!
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Design Dilemma: Vaulted Ceilings is a post from: Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs

I had to buy the basics this morning.  You know. BACON.

I miss free bacon!  Remember when I got free bacon?  Bacon is NOT CHEAP, people!  Oh, and I had to buy syrup.  Does this stuff EVER go on sale?  WHY is it so expensive?  Good grief.  If syrup ever goes on sale, I’m stocking up, because $3.39 for the store brand is ridiculous.

I’m posting about this shopping trip just to show you some highlights.  I’m not terribly impressed with the bottom line, though.  UGH.

So, I bought the bacon (2 for $4.99 – it’s on BOGO sale), and the syrup.  That ALONE cost me $8.38.  Grr.

The highlights:

Lays Kettle chips are on sale with an in-ad coupon for $1.79 each.  There are tearpads right next to the chips for $1/2 (double-able).  Plus, I had a Buy 2 Lays, get Rold Gold pretzels free coupon.  That means the 2 bags of chips and bag of pretzels cost me $2.08. Snacks for camping are a must.

The Coffeemate creamer is on sale with an in-ad coupon for $1.99 each.  I printed off (2) 75¢/1 coupons (linked up at KCL) which were doubled to make the creamer only 74¢ each.  We desperately needed creamer for our camping trip.  Camping coffee is always questionable.

The Best Foods Mayonnaise is on sale with an in-ad coupon for $1.99 each.  I had 2 ecoupons loaded onto my card, plus 2 MCs from the MDA coupon book (which was out in stores last month).  Add the doubler in there and my mayo cost me 49¢ each.  Oh, thank goodness.  I’m not freaking out about stocking up on mayo so much anymore!

The French’s mustard was free a couple of months ago, but I missed the sale.  I actually thought my boys preferred the brown mustard, so I didn’t worry about stocking up.  However, now I know that they love the yellow mustard, too, and prefer to eat it on their hot dogs.  I actually PAID for mustard a couple of months ago.  Live and learn, I suppose!!  This time, I took advantage of the sale!  French’s Mustard is on sale for $1.50.  I printed off a coupon 50¢/1 MC from frenchs.com, which doubled, plus I had a 50¢ off coupon from the Get Out and Grill coupon book.  FREE mustard!

Kraft cheese is on sale for $1.69 with an in-ad coupon.  I bought 2 bags of cheese at a time (I did this in 2 transactions) and used a $1/2 printable, which could be doubled.  I ended up paying 94¢ a bag. (If you live near an Albertson’s there are MUCH better deals going on over there on Kraft stuff, but I don’t have the energy to drive for 30 minutes to shop with two little boys.  When school starts, though, I might just have to try Albertson’s again!  I’m a sucker for free cheese!)

Hot dog buns are 50¢ each with in-ad coupon.

Watermelon is $2.99 with in-ad coupon.

Remember how I earned a $3/$10 produce Catalina last week?  I took advantage of that, and all of my produce (overpriced apples, bananas, onions, potatoes and watermelon) cost me $6.94.

I bought canning supplies and clearance ground beef this week, so I was worried that we wouldn’t have enough to cover groceries for camping.  Thankfully my grand total for this trip was $24.52. Not shockingly good, but decent!

What do the Ratzlaff’s eat on a camping trip?  Here’s my menu:

Thursday -Dinner:

• Hot Dogs in buns
• Watermelon
• Chips
• Smore’s

Friday -
Breakfast:

• Scrambled Eggs
• Bacon
• Canned Peaches
• Coffee/Cider

Lunch:

• Tuna Sandwiches (with curry and apple) in homemade whole wheat pita bread (Requested by my son. I really need to post about the homemade pita bread, huh?)
• Clam Chowder
• Fruit

Dinner:

• Marinated chicken thighs cooked over the fire (we tried this last time and it was delish!)
• Zucchini grilled over the fire
• probably chips and fruit
• Smore’s and hot chocolate

Saturday -
Breakfast:

• Pancakes
• Scrambled Eggs
• Coffee/Cider

Lunch:

• Peanut Butter and Peach Jam Sandwiches
• Bananas
• Chips

We try to keep it pretty simple, but I do LOVE cooking on camping trips!!  For me, camping is about moving from meal to meal with a little bit of hiking/fishing/beach combing/reading/board games/bike rides/etc. thrown in for good measure.  Oh, and it MUST include bacon.  Just sayin’.

A sincere thank you to my current sponsors!
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Grocery Shopping for a Camp-Out is a post from: Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs