stockpiles & shelves

I moved!!! Well...kind of.

When we first moved into our home, I put my stockpile and extra freezer in the dining room. I loved having it so easy to access. I wasn't the biggest fan of "decorating with my stockpile" but just dealt with it.

The cereal cupboard---> My kids have made a serious dent, I need to restock!!

However, I slowly outgrew it. Yep. So my sweet husband, let me take a corner of the garage. Then it became a side of the garage. My hubby bought me some shelves and helped me organize.

My baking shelves

The "Turner mart" or "T"-mart as the kids call it, has once again grown and changed. My children have a hard time putting things away where they are supposed to go. I also have a hard time finding things when it is time to put dinner on the table. It was kind of like it went to the garage to die.

The two shelves together. No, the top is not organized!!!

Most of my blogging and computer time...is spent on the couch cuddled up with my laptop. Our coffee table is usually littered with ads and coupons. Not a great sight when people come over. lol

Laptop + water cup + store ad= :)

So, the dining room is once again my domain. I now have a curtain that I can pull across the entry way so that if it is messy, or I don't want visitors eyeing my stockpile, I can simply pull it closed. I have shelves and have a home for coupons, ads, my binders...and my laptop is resting safely on the table.

Boxed dinner helpers...both of my kids schools are having food drives so these will soon be empty!

I am in the process of moving the food over but I can tell you one thing...I am lovin' having my stockpile close. It is so...nice. Seeing all my hard work lined up on shelves. Another bonus is, finding things I didn't remember I had!

I think planning dinner will be a lot easier as well. So here are a few pictures of my new space. Lots of items to move over and it is a total work in progress BUT I am happy in my new home!

'tis the season

As hard as it is to believe, the holidays are just right around the corner!

The kids table!

Coupons are seasonal.

January & February---> bring a plethora of health food coupons. Frozen diet meals, healthy cereals, protein bars...etc.

March---> is frozen food month. So there are usually a lot of great sales on frozen food items.

April & May---> is generally a good time for candy (Easter) baking coupons, and then in May you are looking at coupons for Mexican fare.

June & July---> great time to stock up on hot dogs, condiments, chips

Aug & Sept. ---> back to school time equals lots of crackers, juice, cookies, sandwich items (pb, jam, lunch meats, Lunchables)

Now that November is here, these are the things to be on the look out for. Stock up now. If something has a long shelf life, get a nice 6 months worth. Yes, I said 6 months. These are the items I am stocking up on during these next two months:

Baking:
flour
sugars
baking mixes (brownie, cake etc)
canned pumpkin
chocolate chips/baking chocolate
evaporated & sweetened condensed milk
marshmallows
salt
baking soda/powders

Pantry items:
boxed dinner helpers (these are great to donate if your family doesn't eat them)
canned/jar gravy
stuffing
cream of soups

Non-food items:
foils/plastic wrap/ baggies/containers
paper plates/cups/bowls
aluminum pans
cold medicines (be careful of expiration dates!)
tissues

Build those stockpiles now, when things are at their cheapest price!

**** I know that not every one eats processed foods. Obviously that is an individual/family decision. Think about having one or two for a "just in case" or consider donating them. There is obviously a huge need right now!****

Being prepared

I had planned to post about menu planning. Some tips and tricks, and why it is helpful.

With last night being the elections, this morning my Facebook wall was covered in a lot of negativity. I have many happy friends, and many who are not.

I rarely share my political beliefs. Not because I don't care, but because I don't like controversy. I stand for the "we agree to disagree and I love you because you are my friend." I don't want to get into arguments or political discussions. Its just not who I am.

I am a verrry conservative, LDS, military wife. I think my political beliefs are obvious.

In all the things I have read, a lot of concern stems from the economy & welfare situations.

As someone who has been on almost every kind of gov't assistance, during my husbands college years, to someone who now is a very frugal shopper, is debt free (except for one car payment and student loans) I am not worried.

Why? Because we have the power to teach our families how to live, in line with our beliefs. We can teach them to be self reliant. We can teach them to stay out of debt. In our homes, we can have a food storage, learn to make things from scratch, have an emergency kit, be prepared.

Coupons have helped me establish a wonderful stock pile. I am proud that I have food to feed my family. You can do this also. Couponing, and watching every penny, can lead you out of debt & provide a safety net for your family.

The other night, I woke up from a dream that really had me thinking. Our family was off in different locations, a friends home, the store...when a fire broke out. It burned for days and, I COULDN'T FIND MY FAMILY!! It seriously scared me. I had no idea where my kids were. Where my husband was, I didn't know. Did they have food? Shelter? Were they safe? It scared me.

Although it is not New Years, I am making a resolution, to get prepared. Make sure I have a food storage, emergency kits, and am fiscally responsible. Who is with me?! Lets be prepared for...whatever is to come! Who is with me?!

Mint chocolate brownies

I love mint. Mint oreos, mint shakes (or Shamrock shakes as some places call them) mint candy, mint gum...

We were organizing the pantry when I found some mint chips. Yum.

I have a nice stockpile of brownie mixes (doesn't every couponer?) and decided to mix the chips in with the brownie mix.

Then I decided to take it one step further...Have you seen the Duncan Hines frosting creations?

Well I had one of those with a chocolate mint mix in.



Please can I have a brownie Mom?!

So...I added that to the top of the brownies.

They.were.to.die.for! Oh yummy.

A yummy minty brownie with a glass of ice cold milk? Perfection.

Just because you have a mix, doesn't mean you can't add anything to it to jazz it up a bit!

This "recipe" consisted of:

1 box of brownie mix and ingredients to bake them (eggs, oil  water)

1 bag of mint chips

1 container of frosting

1 mint mix in

An easy, simple, yummy dessert!

stockpiles

My little stockpiling cutie!!

I am always telling my husband that our kids are just like him. They do things all the time that remind me of him or something that he would do.

After listening to my son yesterday, my husband said, "yeah, right they aren't like you at all!!" lol

My 10 yr old has been at Cub Scout Day camp for the past 2 days. I put a few pieces of candy in his lunch as a treat. He also had a dollar to spend at the Trading Post at camp. Basically a place for them to buy little treats and such.

I went to pick them up and found out that he had 1) kept all the candy that I put in his lunch and 2) used his money to buy more candy.

When I asked him why he didn't eat it, he told me..." I am building up my candy stockpile!"

I guess now is a good time to talk to him about stockpiling NEEDS. (:

Ok, ok...I admit it. Yep I have candy in my stockpile also!

So who knows, maybe he is a little like me!!

Lucky 13

Today is my 13th anniversary!!

I was only 14 when I met my sweetheart. We were at a church dance. The moment I laid my eyes on him...well being that I was only 14 I would have to say it was lust at first sight.

After being friends through out high school, we finally started dating during my freshman year of college.

I got married when I was 19. My husband was 20. I had my first child when I was 20.

I was young, immature and totally in love.

And I still am. OK well in love. Hopefully I am not still immature! lol

So while some people get jewelry or flowers for their anniversary, I got something a little different.

A shelf in his garage for my stockpiles. (:

Now if that isn't true love, then I don't know what is!!

One more reason...

Couponers stockpile. And we have very good reasons for it...

1) Not having to go to the grocery store at 5pm with tired, hungry kids when we forget an item.

2) In case of a financial crisis ( job loss, injured...)

4) A natural disaster

5) So we don't have to pay full price for items. Ever.

These are all wonderful reasons to create a stockpile. However I have one more. This my friends is just one more reason....

Because of him!

(And might I just add, that of course that is my favorite cereal?!)

life lessons

For the past couple of days I have been watching the news.

It makes my stomach churn to watch what is going on.

Being a military wife, I have been hearing families talk about how they are going to survive on half of a paycheck. Most are living paycheck to pay check in the best of months. Now they are wondering how to pay their rent, get gas, food...It is sad knowing how little some of these families will be getting this next Friday.

Now more than ever, the effects of the economy are really hitting home.

I can't even begin to explain how grateful I am for my STOCKPILES. No matter what happens, I have plenty of food, cleaning supplies, health and beauty items to take care of my family. I havelearned to shop wiser and make my dollars stretch.Our family has been broke before. While my husband was in school, we had 3 kids under 3. All were in diapers, 2 on bottles. Broke doesn't even begin to describe those years. But we learned from those lessons.

 If you are not couponing, you need to be. You never know what is going to happen...an accident, a job loss, unexpected bills...or losing half your income while your husband is deployed.

I will be stepping up my game and will be posting more.

And because of all the negative feelings I want to have some fun! So I am giving away a copy of the book...

( I borrowed this image from Amazon)

"Pick another checkout lane Honey" written by the Krazy Coupon Ladies. (: If you are interested in winning this book, just leave a comment letting me know you want to be entered.

"Uhm, Mom..."

This cute girl asked me,"Uhm Mom, when are you going grocery shopping again? There isn't anything good to eat."

What the heck? Every single corner of our house is filled with some sort of food. From cans of soup to crackers to spaghetti sauce. Boxes of cereal, granola bars, ice cream...need I go on?

Well the fact is, my kids are used to having new things in the house every other day!! So the fact that I haven't grocery shopped for 2 weeks is like torture to them! I have a big list for Vons this week, so I am sure they will love me again. (:

Seriously, one of the perks of couponing, especially for kids, is being able to try new things. What is your favorite perk about couponing?

pasta night

Pasta is such a quick and easy dinner isn't it? It is one of the major staples in our home for dinner. Why?

1. It's cheap
2. It's good
3. It makes a lot
4. Our whole family likes it

When pasta sauce is on sale, I not only like to get spaghetti sauce. We like to get cheese and alfredo sauce also. 

So I always try to have a variety of flavors in my pantry/stockpile. Last night when one child wanted to have spaghetti and another wanted alfredo...I simply made a box of pasta and let them put their own sauce on. It is all about choices at our house!

March Madness

...and no I am not referring to college basketball. Sorry Beth!

March has something much more exciting to offer than basketball...it is NATIONAL FROZEN FOOD MONTH!

Now I don't know about your kids, but nothing makes mine happier like seeing a freezer full of Eggo's, Toaster Strudels, Kid Cusines, Hot pockets...Is it necessary for me to go on?

Vons/Safeway/Dominicks/Pavillions whatever it is to you, has an awesome coupon book in their stores right now. At the least pick up 2 of these bad boys! Great coupons with a long expiration date! What could be better?!

If you don't have one of these stores in your area, see what your stores are offering.

I know I will be cleaning out and rearranging my freezers today!

dinner & stockpiles

Last week our family had something going on EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. By the time Friday rolled around, I practically glued my bum to my couch. Seriously. I was exaughsted. Not moving was the only thing that sounded good!

However, I got a nice reminder phone call that I had volunteered to drop dinner off to the missionaries from my church. But can I tell you the wonderful thing about having a stockpile of food in your house? It is a lot easier to throw a meal together.

Here is what they got for dinner, and I didn't go to the store for ANY of it.

A Safeway frozen entree that I got on sale for $6.99 (Sometimes I cringe at paying that much for a family sized entree, but that is a lot cheaper then taking my whole brood out to dinner!)

a pint of strawberries cut up and put in a ziploc container. The strawberries were on sale 2 for $3 (gotta love livin' in CA!) The container was pennies after sale and coupon. So I don't mind if I never get it back!

a bag of steamed brocoli (that also went into a ziploc container)

We made sugar cookies and than frosted them

I also put a 2 liter of soda in for them

Not too bad right? They sure looked excited when I dropped it off! (:

So when a friend is sick, or has just had a baby, a woman with 5 kids whose husband is deployed...I mean uhm, you know someone who could just use a break. Look into your stockpiles and see what you can find. I am sure it will be much appreciated!

stockpiles

One of the beauties of shopping with coupons, is building up that stockpile!!

So that when your throat starts to tickle, and your nose is feeling stuffed, eyes are watery and red...like mine did last night...

You just go to your trusty stockpiles for tissue, night and day time medicine, cough drops...anything you need without running to the store.

Luckily for me, Rite Aid had a ton of FAR's (free after rebate) in the month of October. So I am set for this cold and flu season...ARE YOU?

If not, get out those coupons, scan those sales, and build up your stockpiles!

For the shame...

See that BEAUTIFUL coupon file? Bursting at the seams with coupons just BEGGING to be used?

The POOR thing has been collecting DUST! :(

The last few weeks before my husband deployed, I tried to spend as much time with him as I could. Grocery shopping just wasn't a priority!

Then my inlaws came for a week, and I didn't really have time between various activities.

Then well...I was really behind! I had stacks of coupons to organize, stacks that had expired, inserts to cut out...well it took me FOREVER to get back!

After that my only excuse is the BUSYNESS of being a "semi-single" Mom!

However, even my kids have noticed that the freezers are a little less full. No stacking of groceries have been going on...

With Thanksgiving coming up fast, I need to get in on all the good deals! Cream of ____ soups, gravy, potatoes, baking items, turkey...

It's time to get back in the saddle, my grocery $$'s just have not been going as far!

Hitting Ralph's tonight and will be back with my results! (:

I love coupons pt.???

I have soooo many reasons why I love coupons. But here is my reason for today...

My inlaws are visiting us this week. They are sleeping in our bedroom because we don't have a guest bedroom. We have a master bath attatched to our bedroom.

I needed a shower and they were still asleep. So...

I headed into the boys bathroom and guess what? I had forgotten to get "my stuff" from my bathroom. Hmmm, as much as I like Axe shower gel and Buzz & Woody shampoo...I had no interest in using them for myself!

So instead of barging in on my inlaws, I went to my handy dandy stockpiles! Shampoo, body wash, bath pouf, razors...and did I mention I was in the BOYS bathroom? Yeah grabbed an air freshener too!

I love being able to simply go to my closet to get those extras that I need! Have you built up your stockpiles yet?

got soap?

As a Mom of five, I do a lot of laundry and dishes. ALOT.

So when I see a good deal on dishwasher detergent (or laundry soap) I stock up!

While at Vons one night, I noticed that Finish starter kits were on sale for $4.99. But guess what? There were $3/1 coupons right next to them. $2 for soap, not bad right? I grabbed a couple and was happy.

But then...

I went to Target. On one of the lovely end caps, was the same item. However, there's were priced at $4.32. Wheels start turning. $4.32-3.00= $1.32 for detergent!! But I had to get my grubby hands on some more coupons.

I walked into Vons, went over to the aisle, grabbed a bunch (there were 3 stacks left) and walked out. I went to Target and grabbed 8 Finish starter kits. I was giddy! I still had coupons left but that was all they had on the end cap.

Yesterday while at Target (yes I shop a lot) I noticed that there were more! Only 5 but hey, I will take what I can get.

I am so very excited with my deal! Not excited about actually doing dishes, but at least I know it didn't cost me very much!

Have you had any good scores lately? I would love to hear about them!

semi-homemade

( Don't you love my fancy shmancy plate?!)

I know that a lot of people to save money, or for their health, or whatever reason, don't like to buy processed food. Instead they prefer to make everything or most everything from scratch.

I am not one of those people. No mean emails/comments please.

My dinner/saving money philosophy is getting the best deals. Whether it is a coupon matched with an ad, a clearance sale, buying a generic...whatever is the best deal.

If you look in my pantry, you will see plenty of Betty Crocker boxes, Pillsbury rolls/biscuits etc, and other helpers.

But there is no hard and fast rule that says you have to eat these items as is. You can jazz them up right?!

Tonight we had chicken (that had been marinated in Italian salad dressing), Betty Crocker's mashed potatoes (with bacon bits, cheese and sour cream added-yes a heart attack waiting to happen! But they were delish!) Pillsbury breadsticks brushed with melted butter and a sprinkling of garlic salt.

Do you have any convenience food items that you like to jazz up? I would love to hear them!

Cherry Pickin'

When you begin using coupons, you want to get every good deal there is and build up your stockpiles.

Since we moved here in June, that is what I have been doing. Getting everything that I felt was a good value for the money.

This weekend, as I got busy scouring my grocery ads, one word came to mind: dissapointment!

There is just nothing that SCREAMS, pick me up and take me home!! LOL

At most I have 5 items in each store.

So all of my meals this week will be made from items in my pantry & freezers.

When you stock up and build your own stockpiles, you will get to this point also. It is referred to as "cherry picking". Because you are able to just pick the deals you want.

If you are just starting out on your coupon journey, keep building up your stockpiles. You will get to this point too.

If you have been at it for awhile, I encourage you to eat out of your stockpiles! Pull things from your pantry, or freezer. Try a new recipe. Use those bargains!

I will be sharing my menu later today.

** Make sure to get more than one newspaper today! There is only one small insert but it does have some good coupons. You always want more than one, in case of a good BOGO sale!

This is why I stockpile...

(the cute boy who made me scream when I saw his mess in the bathroom)

(grumpy, teething baby)

What a looooong afternoon and evening! My nephew babysat while I went to Vons. An awesome trip, by the way. When I got home, he volunteered to make his "famous" fried chicken. Shopping and not having to cook? Booyah!

Then the baby was CRABBY. He has a tooth coming in and is not sleeping well. Grumpy baby = grumpy Mommy right?

Then my nephew, accidentally hit the handle of the frying pan, sending hot oil all over his hand.

I made a quick dinner and started baths.

Then my 5 yr old had diahreah. It was so bad, that he didn't make it to the toilet. It was EVERYWHERE. Of course I let him use my bathroom which I had just mopped. He also walks downstairs to come and tell me what happened and leaves a trail of poop all along the carpet. The light brown carpet.

But thanks to my stockpiles...
I had tylenol to give to my crabby baby.

I had Johnson & Johnson first aid kits thanks to the $3 off coupon. I was able to treat his burn easily.

I had lots of food to throw dinner together when the dinner plans didn't work out.

I had lots of paper towels, cleaning spray, air freshners, hand sanitizers, carpet cleaner, carpet deodarizing spray, and laundry detergent.

And of course chocolate for after the kids went to bed!

Thank you my lovely stockpiles (:

coupons & stockpiles & a GIVEAWAY

(the black hole...I mean my freezer!)


(freezer door, we love ice cream and Breyers was $1.89 with .50/1 coupons doubled. Breyers for .89?! yeah I had to get it!)

(extra shelves that are now being used for food)

(second set of pantry shelves)

(one set of pantry shelves)


(the freezer on our side by side)

(full fridge!)

(the whole HBA shelf!)

(my basket of deodarant. Ben has his own of men's brands. Soon I will have to get some for my boys too!)


(my body wash and shampoo & conditioner shelf)

(this big bucket is FILLED with feminine hygeine products and free samples)

(on the top of my closet, I have 4 of these baskets. One with toothpaste , one with first aid items, one with razors and the other has toothbrushes)


(Mason's closet, up here he has 4 pkgs of diapers and 3 pkgs of wipes, with 3 more packages of diapers downstairs!)


**Note that these pictures do not include the pantry in my kitchen, the laundry room stockpiles or all or our school supply stockpiles!)

It is no secret that I LOVE using coupons. One of my main reasons is the ability to stock up (stockpiling) and doing it at cheap prices.

On Tuesday, my sweet husband will be leaving for over 3 weeks on a military field exercise. ): Leaving me with all 5 kids. Grocery shopping with kids is NOT my favorite thing to do. (Shocker I know!)

Right now, our house is overflowing with food and health and beauty items. I am at a point where I don't "need" to shop, except for a few items that we seem to go through fast.

That is the beauty of stockpiling, being able to shop at your own home.

I know that there are a lot of people who don't feel like coupons just aren't for them...for a variety of reasons. But I can tell you one thing, they are for me!

Last Tuesday I did my weekly trips. Two out of my three stores double coupons up to a dollar. The other one doesn't normally double but they put in their ad, 5 coupons that would double. My first trip, the total was $256 dollars before savings card and coupons. After $91. The second store (where I also bought 3 pkgs of diapers and 1 container of wipes....$365 before coupons and savings and after it was $160.

Along with freezer cooking, I am going to start talking about couponing. Hopefully it will get people interested.

One of my favorite books on couponing is written by the Coupon Mom

I am going to give away this book! It is filled with up to date information on getting the most out of your coupons! Plus I will add free samples and fun items from my stockpiles to the box.

So if you are interested in winning my copy of this book, you need to
1) Leave a comment telling me why you want this book
2)Leave a second comment with questions/comments that you have about coupons
3) for a 3rd entry, post about the giveaway on your blog/facebook page. For every person that signs up because of you (make sure they tell me who sent them) you will get an additional entry