Not Without Coups, Baby

Have you guys ever seen this show?



Seriously, how is that even possible?!  I was getting a big FAIL in coupon cutting.  I used to clip coupons, but I usually ended up throwing them away.

While I don't even understand how the people on this show are able to combine SO MANY coupons in one order... it does prove how lucrative clipping coupons can be.

Recently, I started really getting into the whole coupon clipping thing, in order to save some money on our grocery bill.  I read the grocery store/Target ads and see what the weekly specials are.  Then, I go through all the clipped coupons to see what kinda stuff I can score for cheap (or free!).

For instance, I had a coupon for $.75 off Crest toothpaste.  I saw my local grocery store was selling them -  2 for $3.  My grocery store doubles coupons under $1. $1.50 - ($.75 x 2) = BOOM.  Free toothpaste.

I've been doing pretty well lately.  I got 2 things of Dove deodorant for $.45 a piece.  I bought organic milk chugs for $.25 a piece.  Tuna salad kits for $.50.  The list goes on.

One way I'm able to get some pretty valuable coupons is through the use of coupons.com and redplum.com. If you install the coupon printer, you can print out some legitimate coupons that'll save you a ton.  Make sure your grocery store takes them though - some places won't take anything that is printed off the internet.  Hasn't been a problem for me at my store or Target.

The other way I'm staying on top of the deals is this sweet website: Hip2Save

 

It's run by a deal loving mom - and she always has hints on the best places to score stuff for free, including the stores where your coupons can go far, or free giveaways online.  She updates multiple times a day, so I tend to read it whenever I get the chance!   Definitely check it out.

Do you guys clip coupons?  My co-worker says clipping coupons is only for people over the age of 40.  Disagree!  I love saving money.

Saving $$$

I'm on a saving kick.  If we ever want to get out of our townhouse and into a single family home, we need to save for a decent down payment.   Don't get me wrong, I really like our townhouse, but we already need more space.  I'm also sick of dealing with people who insist on parking in our spots.  Jerks.

So, in the spirit of saving money, we traded in both of our cars and bought one car.  To make a long story short, K has a company car, so he really has little need for a car of his own.  My car had a ton of miles on it because of my ridiculous commute to college (50 miles each way - twice a week for 2 years.  Barf).  Downsizing to one car reduced our monthly car payment and our insurance.  It feels good to save... but it feels even better to drive a new car!  I like new things.  Especially when they save us money.

Source

We ended up with a 2011 Nissan Rogue.  I've always loved this SUV, ever since my BFF in Florida bought one 3 years ago.  It has a lot of room, but it's a crossover, so it rides like a car and it's not quite as large.  Bonus: Nissan is running a 0% financing promotion right now.  That's the main reason we went with this SUV, as opposed to the Hyundai Tucson, which I also really liked.  You can't beat 0% !  Sorry, Hyundai.

In the spirit of saving and spending wisely, I've also signed up with Mint.   Mint monitors your spending and budgeting through your online banking and credit card accounts.  It also keeps track of your loans and retirement accounts.  Mint will use your account information to tell you when you've exceeded your budget, when your bills are due, and how to meet your financial goals.  It's free and easy to use.  I swear I'm not being paid to endorse Mint, I just really like it.  Although, if Mint wants to throw a check my way, I'm not going to say no.

Have you guys ever used a website or program like Mint to monitor your spending habits?  It's pretty eye opening!  For one, we spend WAY too much money on food.  We need to stop buying lunches and being lazy about dinner.  My waistline would appreciate the effort as well.

I survived!

Well, if you've been following me on Twitter and reading a few of my blog posts, you'll know I was DREADING today. This morning, I had my 4 wisdom teeth removed (2 impacted on bottom, 2 down and ready to party on top).

I've never been "put under" before. That was my main concern. Forget the pain, forget the limited diet... I was just afraid of the sedation. I'm 25 years old, and definitely should have had these bad boys removed when I was in high school. Since I waited, they told me the roots were long and close to the nerves. That could possibly complicate things. I wasn't scared of the pain, but I was leery of the possibility of nerve damage.

I did really well last night and this morning. In true Type-A fashion, I prepared a bed for myself on the couch, and laid out comfy clothes. When I woke up this morning, I wasn't that nervous.

...I wasn't that nervous until they called my name to go back. Tears immediately. I'm a wuss like that. They hooked me up to a heart and oxygen monitor, and started a saline IV. I was flipping the heck out. So nervous, that when they hooked up the heart monitor, I was at 157 BPM! My heart rate is naturally high, but obviously not that high. Holy eff. I kept apologizing and trying to hold back tears.

Before I knew it, the doctor was in the room and putting the sedative stuff into my IV (im very technical, obvi). He told me not to be scared, that he's been put under plenty of times, and this kind of twilight sleep was the "only way to fly." When he said that, I remembered how freaked out I used to be about flying. I managed to conquer that fear, so maybe this wouldn't be any different?

The last thing I remember is the room starting to feel like it was moving. Then I was out. I remember groaning about it hurting at one point when they were working on me, but then they must have upped the numbing agent, because I was out again. I woke up again at the end of my surgery and remember them working and talking. No pain though. I fell back asleep.

When I woke up once they were done... I felt great! Like really great. I'm pretty sure I said "This stuff is amazing" at least twice to the nurse. I couldn't stop laughing and grinning. K helped me to the car, and I left 2 messages just screaming "PARRP" and laughing hysterically on two of my friends' voicemails. If you haven't read this post from Hyperbole and a Half, you are seriously missing out.

So here's a pic, 3 hours after surgery. Be careful, NO MAKEUP. Whatever, I don't mind embarrassing myself online (see below vlog post for proof).





Ew, i know. Honestly, not much swelling and zero bruising, probably because that place is amazing, and I drank a ton of pineapple juice. I read online that it reduces swelling. I believe everything I read online, so yeah.




I have company today too; the cats have been laying with me. K also took off from work to take care of me. Glad, because I would have been lonely!





So, that's my story. You guys were totally right, no reason to be worried at all! Talked to the doctor tonight, and he said I can eat solid food as long as it's soft. Chinese food, here I come!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Vlog Fun!

Ok... so, I'm totally jumping on the "dialect vlog" train, as several of my favorite bloggers have already posted theirs!  The idea is for me to read words and answer questions so you can hear how I speak.  I'm from Pittsburgh and I've lived here for 15+ years, but I don't think I have much of a Burgh/Yinzer accent.  You can be the judge of that!

Please don't judge me.   A little judging is OK, just not too much.  I have a head cold (dizzy when I move my head, ew), and I look pale as the walls in this computer room.  Oh well.  It was fun to do anyways!  The cats and I wanted to say heeey so here we are:





There you have it!  Did you suffer through the whole thing?  I'm proud of you.

The words to read are:  Aunt, Route, Wash, Oil, Theater, Iron, Salmon, Caramel, Fire, Water, Sure, Data, Ruin, Crayon, Toilet, New Orleans, Pecan, Both, Again, Probably, Spitting image, Alabama, Lawyer, Coupon, Mayonnaise, Syrup, Pajamas, Caught.

Questions I answered:

• What is it called when you throw toilet paper on a house?
• What is the bug that when you touch it, it curls into a ball?
• What is the bubbly carbonated drink called?
• What do you call gym shoes?
• What do you say to address a group of people?
• What do you call the kind of spider that has an oval-shaped body and extremely long legs?
• What do you call your grandparents?
• What do you call the wheeled contraption in which you carry groceries at the supermarket?
• What do you call it when rain falls while the sun is shining?
• What is the thing you change the TV channel with?

So, now it's your turn!  Yes, you!  Join in on the embarrassment fun. Look at it this way, you're probably going to be less awkward and surrounded by less cats than me.

A little Q&A

Michelle at Life With A Crazy Pup has tagged me as a blog she reads, and has asked me to answer some questions!  I will be returning the favor at the end of this post, so if I tag you, try and answer my questions so I don't feel like a reject.  K?  K. 

1. What’s your biggest goal for 2011? 
 

Answer:  I'd like to eat healthier.  I've been loading up on the junk food lately, and I've gained 6 pounds since the wedding.  Yeah, yeah, not saying I'm huge or anything, but I don't like the extra weight.  I notice it, especially when trying to fit into my skinny jeans.  Damn holiday food.

2. What are three songs on your “get pumped up” list?

Answer: My "get pumped up" list always changes.  Right now, I'm kind of ashamed of it.  Mainly because Ke$ha's "We Are Who We Are" is on it.  Gah, I can't help it.  It's so catchy!!  I also really like Firework by Katy Perry and  Only Girl in the World by Rihanna. 

3. Do you prefer a night out at a bar or a night in with friends?

Answer: Definitely a night in with friends.  Nothing better than having people over/going over to a friend's house, having some wine/beer... in a setting where I can actually hear/talk to my friends, not get hit on by creepers, and not pay $5 for a Miller Lite.  I'm getting old, I guess!
 

4. How much time on average do you spend blogging per day?

Answer: I read blogs almost every day, but actually writing posts?  Maybe an hour or two on the days I feel like blogging.   I spend a lot of time reading blogs (and comments) during the day. 

5. If you could live in any time period, what would it be?

Answer: I'd live in the 80's again... but this time as an adult! 
 

6. If you could drop everything and start over, what would you change?

Answer: Oh man.  Honestly, I probably wouldn't change anything.  In my opinion, life is about learning and experiences.  As much as I look back and cringe about certain times in my life - all of my experiences, good and bad, have made me who I am today.  If I haddd to choose, I'd probably try not to be so awkward as a child.  That'd be tough, considering I'm still pretty awkward as an adult.

7. Would you rather have a personal chef or a personal trainer?

Answer: I immediately want to say personal chef, which probably means I'm going to need a personal trainer. 

8. What’s your biggest pet peeve?

Answer: One of my biggest is the sound of plastic bags rubbing together.  When I have groceries in the car and the plastic bags smash together when the car goes around a curve... it drives me nuts.  Yes, I'm weird.

9. Why did you start blogging?

Answer: I originally started blogging to document my trip to Europe, and to recap my wedding before the details slipped from my mind.  I really like the idea of being able to look back on this blog and remember things I may have forgotten about.

10. What is the worst job you’ve ever had?

Answer: When I was 16, I worked as a cashier at Target for 4 days.  I called in on the 5th day and said "I won't be coming in.  Ever."  I hated it.  I was previously a cashier at a grocery store... I quit because Target offered me a WHOLE DOLLAR more an hour.  Needless to say, I went back to the grocery store.  More money doesn't always equal greater job satisfaction.  Lesson learned.

Now it's my turn to tag!  I'm going to pick a few blog buddies to answer my questions...

Jessica at Heart on Homestead

Maria at Procrastination Station

Kristen at And Now, Lights

D.Marie at The World Around Her

Emily at A Leap Begins

1. If you could move anywhere in the world, where would you go?

2. What is one of your earliest memories?

3. What's your favorite recipe?

4. Warm weather or cold weather?

5. What's your weirdest habit?

6. How much time do you spend online in a day?

7. How many states have you visited?

8. If you won $20,000 cash -- how would you spend it?

9. How do you style your hair on a daily basis? 

10. Who do you look up to?

Hope to read some answers soon :)

Oh, Hey 2011.

Well here we are: January of a new year.  I'm honestly not looking forward to the next 3 months of frozen tundra type weather, but I'll manage.  I'll actually have an easier time getting through it knowing that in April I'll be seeing this:

Yep, we've booked the annual trip to Florida!  K and I will be flying down with our two friends, C and J, to spend a week with our Florida friend, W.

With all those letters, it's starting to look like Chicka Chicka Boom Boom up in here... especially with the palm tree picture.  (hopefully someone gets that book reference... anyone?  Bueller?). 

I'm definitely looking forward to spending some time by the beach with K and our friends!  I'm also looking forward to our one year anniversary trip in June.  Planning is still in the works... but that's a story for another post.

As for New Year's Eve... how was yours?

We had a lot of fun.  Lots of drinks...

Lots of food...

and a lot of unflattering pictures of me wearing a paper hat.  Whomp whomp.

We had a blasty-blast though!  True to form, the next morning I ate a Big Mac in under 2 minutes.  Where would we be without traditions?

10 days until I get my wisdom teeth out.  Boooo.  I've been Googling everything I can about wisdom teeth removal.  Seriously, someone needs to take the internet away from me.  I don't have a new year's resolution... but if I did, it'd probably be to stop self-diagnosing online.

Hope you guys had a nice New Year's Eve!