The Coupon Goddess

Friday Night At The Mart

2012-01-28T08:32:00.000-08:00

Last night I had a couple of hours to kill while Michael was at his school dance. The drive to and from school is far enough that it didn't make any sense to go back and forth. Not to mention, I had a bunch of those awesome $3/3 Nabisco coupons which were set to expire yesterday, and I would've cried if I let those go to waste.

So, I decided to spend my Friday night at Walmart. Yes, I'm well aware that there is something very, very wrong with that. Terribly wrong. But I was encouraged to see other parents just like me, pushing their carts around with glazed over eyes, most likely wondering how they got there too.

As I strolled around the store, I spied a bunch of balloons floating above several aisles which were jam packed with toys and Christmas merchandise. Bright red balloons emblazoned with the word clearance, which is a festive word indeed. All stores should have balloons floating above clearanced merchandise. It certainly is a reason to celebrate.

Now, you'd think that if they took the time to make balloons for a clearance event, it would be something to write about. And considering it's a full month past Christmas, the deals should be amazing to clear the crap off the shelves. You would think, anyway.

But as it turns out, the rows of clearanced toys weren't even 50% off. Most were marked 25% off. And the Christmas merchandise that hit 90% off at Target forever ago? 50% off at Walmart.

Walmart could really learn a thing or two from Target. Don't you think?

But to be totally fair, there were a few good deals to be had. While checking out the toy aisle, I stumbled across this horn mounting kit. Now, I live in suburbia, mind you. And yes, I've seen a couple deer in these here parts, but nothing with antlers that would warrant mounting. Maybe this is why it's on clearance.

That said, I think this would make an excellent men's protective cup. It's even flocked. It could be the next greatest fashion trend. C'mon, look at it. Tell me that doesn't scream protective cup. You know it does.

Right next to the flocked cup I found a clearanced blood tracker, which made me acutely aware of how pathetic my life has become as I stood there on a Friday night, in Walmart, under clearance balloons, wondering not only what the hell someone would do with this, but why it was sitting next to a display of Zhu Zhu pets.

So, that was my Friday night. It doesn't get much better than that, does it?

A Guest Post from a Non- Couponer

2012-01-27T10:48:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! My name is Sarah and I blog at In the Trenches of Mommyhood. I met Melanie one fateful day at a Boston Parent Bloggers event and was immediately drawn to her sparkly personality. Shortly thereafter, we both attended the BlissDom conference and truly got to bond over a few meals, a few (more) glasses of wine and some long heartfelt chats.

I am so fascinated by what Melanie does here on this site. Her stories, her couponing, her recipes and her pictures all tell a story. A good story. One with character and flavor, much like Melanie herself. But, I am sad to report that however inspiring I find Melanie to be (and it's a TON!), sadly, none of her couponing magic has yet rubbed off on me during the time we have been friends.

I read Melanie's blog regularly (hers is the only frugal blog I read) and always come away feeling motivated. And I think to myself, "Ok, self, you can DO this. You CAN save money at the grocery store. Go git 'em girl!" (Except we live in Massachusetts so it's not really a "Go git e'm", it's more like a "Go be wicked smaht like the Coupon Goddess.")

I don't even regularly GET a Sunday newspaper. But one weekend my husband purchased one so I sorted through the coupon ads. And actually clipped some! All the while thinking of just how PROUD of me Melanie would be.

I went to the store, those 4 coupons secured snugly in my pocket. (Baby steps here, folks!)

But once inside, that's where things started to break down:

I only needed ONE package of crescent rolls! But the coupon said I had to buy two! I didn't want two!

The coupon I had was for Daisy sour cream! But my store only had Breakstone brand!

I had a coupon for salad dressing! I could use it! BUT, a different brand of salad dressing was on sale that week! At a cheaper price!

And then I gave up once I read my yogurt coupon. I had to buy 10??? But they'd be expired before I could eat them all! No thanks.

You guys, I was literally SWEATING in the grocery aisles.

I walked out of there after my shopping was done, not having redeemed one single coupon. They were still crumpled messily in my coat pocket, where they remain today. (I imagine that Melanie is probably twitching right about now.)

I fully admit that couponing is just not for me. But reading all about Melanie's couponing exploits and living vicariously through her? That, I can do.

Clearly, I am not a Coupon Goddess. But my friend Melanie is.

The Kids vs. Mom, Who Will Win?

2012-01-26T06:34:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I walked into the girls room and had a mental breakdown. There was so much clutter and crap in the room that I could barely find the kids when it was time to kiss them goodnight. Not that they care or anything (about the room, not the kiss), as I'm convinced that they thrive when surrounded by chaos.

Be that as it may, I do not function well amidst chaos, so something had to give. That something was a complete day dedicated to gutting out their bedroom and removing anything that they haven't touched in awhile, which turned out to be most of it.

After a full day of cleaning and organizing, the room started to look like the kind of room I had imagined a child of mine would have when I was daydreaming about this crap during 12th grade algebra. What happened to that sweet, quiet, pig tailed girl who said "yes Mommy" to everything I asked, that I had imagined in my youth?

And what about that boy who should be practicing his Stradivarius and doing his homework without being hounded thirty times a day? Does that kid upstairs who's playing his Fender at ear splitting decibels even know what a Stradivarius is? Don't even get me started on his room. I'd need a hazmat team to tackle that ~~hell hole, toxic dump, waste land~~, abyss.

But I digress, we are talking about the girls currently. After spending an entire day fixing that disaster area, I lectured them on the importance of keeping the room clean, and how much it would mean to Mommy if they could just keep it that way for awhile. They smiled at me sweetly and pinky swore that they would. And I believed them. Sucker.

The picture above is their room this morning, which I didn't know about until after they got on the bus. Either the animals were on a stuffing bender all night long, or the girls are practicing to become teenagers. Either way, I quit.

If your daughter is quietly reading books and doing what she's told, or if your son is happily playing his violin, let me know. I think the hospital screwed things up. Come bring back my kid.

More Trader Joe's Magic

2012-01-25T17:40:00.000-08:00

As promised, here's another post dedicated to an exceptional product I've found at Trader Joe's. A product that's affordable, versatile and gives you some bang for your buck. Satay Peanut Sauce. If you like Thai, you are in for a treat.

This satay sauce is not only a literal bargain at $2.69 for a 9oz jar, it's a veritable caloric bargain too. There's only 30 calories per tablespoon, which is hard to believe when you taste it. It's got a rich peanuty taste with a bit of zing to it. And while it's perfect for dipping chicken skewers into, I've found that it's wonderful in recipes as well.

In preparation for dinner this evening, I soaked some rice noodles in very hot water for a few minutes.

See how nice and pliable the noodles become? No boiling necessary! A quick base for a hearty meal.

Then I tossed the noodles into a skillet with some sauteed onions, peppers and broccoli.

In goes the jar of satay sauce. Drool.

A quick stir over medium heat to get things all hot and bothered. What? Shouldn't food get hot and bothered? I think YES!

A few pieces of chicken leftover from last night's dinner are placed on top because I totally believe in using up leftovers no matter what. And since I'm in a sassy mood, some crushed peanuts as the finishing touch!

And if you love this satay sauce as much as I do, you can drizzle some more on top of your dinner because it is so very, very delicious.

This satay sauce will be a permanent staple in my house from now on. I can see myself using this not only in pasta dishes, but also as a topping for baked chicken, drizzled on grilled shrimp, and as a dressing for a Thai style salad. Enjoy!

This post is NOT sponsored by Trader Joe's. Just an honest review of a product that I consider a good value.

Forget The Splenda, Go For The Herbs

2012-01-24T07:23:00.000-08:00

When I was a little kid, I used to get embarrassed when my beloved Mom Mom (grandma) would take a few Sweet-n-Low packets home with her from whatever food establishment we were visiting. I'd roll my eyes and swear that I'd never be the woman who would do that.

Fast forward to today. Not only am I that woman, I've raised the bar.....

Last night I was invited to join Jeff and his co-worker/friend for dinner. His friend had flown in and the two of them had training meetings in the city this week. They asked if I'd like to join them for dinner most likely as a preemptive strike, as I tend to complain loudly when Jeff goes out for nice dinners for work while I eat mac-n-cheese with the kids.

At any rate, when our plates arrived, all three plates were beautifully decorated with branches of rosemary. And I do mean branches. You'd pay out the nose for this stuff at the grocery store.

I sat there for a little while and contemplated what to do. I certainly wasn't going to let that beautiful rosemary garnish go to waste. But what would his co-worker think if I rolled it up in a napkin and stuffed it in my purse?

Could I do it discreetly? Maybe he'd go to the bathroom and I could shove it in my purse while he was gone. Would he even notice if I plucked his rosemary off his plate during his absence? His branch was even heartier than my own. Oh, the rosemary chicken I could make with that baby! But that didn't work out either. He has a large bladder, apparently.

Finally I just spat it out and asked if anyone would mind if I took the rosemary home with me since clearly nobody was going to eat it. Jeff looked at me like I had twenty heads and two dozen snakes sticking out of my scalp. His buddy didn't even hesitate. He plucked the garnish out of his dish and passed it across the table while Jeff shook his head.

I have become that woman.

I told them that I was actually being eco friendly and environmentally conscious. Recycling, repurposing, upcycling, being green, and any other earth friendly term I could muster to justify my questionable dinner behavior. Really, they should thank me for my thoughtfulness.

Oh, and just so you know. If you leave rosemary in your purse overnight, your checkbook will smell like it spent the week in Tuscany without you even having to spend a penny. You're welcome.

How about you? What's the strangest thing you've ever brought home from a restaurant?

Happy Blogiversary To Me!

2012-01-23T08:26:00.000-08:00

The first week of January marked my third year of blogging here on The Coupon Goddess. Three years. That's a long time to be writing about coupons. That's a long time to be writing about anything now that I think about it.

You'd think I'd run out of stuff to write about after three years. Fortunately, I'm never at a loss for words.

To celebrate three years of blogging, I'm going to give away an assortment of products that I think you'll really like...

Don't these look delicious? I can see these cookies perched on a plate next to a steaming mug of coffee.

I'm making this for dessert this coming weekend. I cannot wait.

Life is just better with cupcakes.

Can you think of a cuter way to start your kid's day?

And you certainly can't bake without a new William's Sonoma pink and green striped apron.

All of the products shown will go to one lucky reader who comments on this post. Leave your first name, last initial, and the state you are from. Easy peasy. Entries must be received by Monday, January 30th 11:59pm ET.

It's been an amazing three years here at TCG. Thank you for taking the time to come by. Your comments and visits mean the world to me and I cannot imagine life without you in it. You've all been a blessing. Thank you so much.

Weekend In New Hampshire

2012-01-22T12:35:00.000-08:00

Those of you who left comments on the last post know the significance of this weekend. Yes, it's my birthday weekend. Thanks Mom for letting everyone know that I'm another year older. You're the best.

To celebrate my march into old age, my friend Kim invited me to her home in New Hampshire. Have you been to New Hampshire? It's beautiful. It's also cold. Very cold. Penguins could be very happy here.

There are a lot of snow plows in New Hampshire.

And icicles are everywhere.

Not too far from Kim's house is an outlet shopping area in Kittery, Maine. So, Saturday I spent the day poking around the outlets, checking to see if there were any after holiday bargains to be found. And for the most part there was nothing to write home about. But today was a different story....

Today I visited the Stonewall Kitchen outlet store in Rochester, New Hampshire. Have you heard of Stonewall Kitchen? Boy, do they make a yummy product!

Look at the prices! $2.97 for Barefoot Contessa's cupcake and frosting mix.

I cannot wait to try this lime bar mix. Did I mention that I'm craving citrus lately??

Not only do they have lots of good stuff to eat, they carry tons of fun products for the kitchen.

Imperfect dulce de leche? Is that even possible? I'm guessing it would be just fine over vanilla ice cream.

Before leaving for the outlet, Kim's husband Anthony mentioned that we wouldn't need to spend much more than a half of an hour at the store. I guess he doesn't know me very well. I could've spent a couple of hours there and been quite happy about it.

Oh, and if you can't get your hubby to go shopping with you, you might be able to get him to the Stonewall Kitchen outlet store. There's a huge table full of products to sample. He could spend the whole time munching away while you shop. Men like free samples.

I had so much fun at the Stonewall Kitchen that I'm going to be hosting a Stonewall Kitchen giveaway tomorrow here at The Coupon Goddess. Make sure you come back to enter. It's going to be delicious.

The weekend is almost over now and I'm two days into my 42nd year. It's not quite as painful as I anticipated. Thank God for good friends, wine and chocolate. And definitely in that order. They make getting older that much easier.

Can You Be A Couponer and Be Healthy?

2012-01-19T08:39:00.000-08:00

When people find out that I'm a hardcore couponer, I often times hear the old "couponers eat too many processed foods" argument. And try as I may to convince them otherwise, what they see on tv doesn't help my message.

If you go by what's offered in the Sunday coupon inserts, one could assume that we live off of Lunchables, Hamburger Helper, frozen dinners loaded with sodium, and countless other processed food products represented in those Sunday inserts.

And I'll admit that there's a lot of crap in those Sunday inserts, but there are some real gems as well. Just recently I've stocked up on light tuna fish, real fruit juice, low cal salad dressings, whole grain cereal, whole grain pasta, frozen fruit, and many other food products that I'll proudly feed my family. All for pennies on the dollar. All healthy in moderation.

I'll even take it one step further and say that if you forget the food altogether, couponing can still make a huge difference in your quest for eating healthier. If you no longer have to spend cash on toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo/conditioner, dish liquid, laundry soap, paper products and a slew of other products couponers get for cheap or free, you can take that money and buy the fresh produce and meat that's so darn expensive these days.

So, where am I going with this, you ask? I'm making some changes. Nothing drastic, just a few tweaks to better represent what I believe in. I believe that you can coupon and still eat well. I believe that being healthy is important. I also believe that moderation is key and that you don't have to give up everything you enjoy for the sake of being fit.

If I eliminated every treat, my kids would most likely move in with Grandma. Therefore, I will still stock up on things they enjoy like cookies, ice cream, and other sweets, because you can still be healthy and enjoy these things in moderation. Moderation. It's my word for the year.

But more importantly, I'm stocking up on the good stuff.

Products that can help me cook healthful meals that taste good. Foods that can be used as a base to help make meals more affordable. Yeah, I'm talking about you, Mr. Barilla whole grain pasta. Nothing but love for you baby!

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are great and all, but let me tell you, boy is peanut butter good used in a savory sauce. Have you ever tried chicken satay? I see a good recipe blog post coming down the pike.....

One of my goals for this year is to be an example of a couponer who is moderate. To show the world that couponers are normal people who not only save a ton of money, but also care about what they feed their families. And to prove that a "fit couponer" is not an oxymoron.

Of course I'm still going to bake decadent treats now and again, but what I really want to do is share more recipes that utilize products we get for free/cheap that can be used to make wholesome meals that are good for ourselves and for our families.

And because this post seems so very serious in tone, I want to leave you with something that will make you laugh. Or make you scratch your head. Your choice.

Hidden Treasure At Trader Joe's

2012-01-17T12:24:00.000-08:00

I have to admit it. I'm late for the Trader Joe's bandwagon. Yeah, I've shopped there before and found some nice products, but it took me awhile to fall in love with Joe. What took me so long, I have no idea. He certainly has some good stuff to offer.

This past weekend I found myself passing by Trader Joe's and figured I'd stop to visit. I was having a hard time finding tangerines, so I figured it would be worth stopping to see if they had any. And as luck would have it, they did. So, I picked up a bag and some green tea. For what, you ask?

I needed these two ingredients to make this, which we will talk about in more detail another day.

I was already euphoric about my tangerines, and it's all I really needed, but I strolled the aisles to see if there was anything else that struck my fancy. And I did find several things that are worthy of dedicating blog posts to, but for today I really just want to focus on this fantastic spread. Red pepper spread with eggplant and garlic.

This spread is a little smoky, a little sweet, with a touch of garlic. It has a rich taste which is pretty incredible considering it has only 15 calories per tablespoon. So, if you are looking for a way to cut down on mayo, this may very well be an option for you.

It comes in a twelve ounce jar which contains about 23 servings. And the cost? $2.29!!! Such a little bit of money for so much flavor.

I see so many ways to use this. Of course I started with a panini because that just made sense. But I can also see tossing this with some pasta topped with grilled chicken. Or maybe slathered on a cracker with my homemade mozzarella. I could even go crazy and spread this over a pizza crust instead of my usual pizza sauce. Seriously, the possibilities are endless. Endless, I tell you.

I'm going to leave you with this last picture because it's the right thing to do. Stay tuned for other awesome flavor packed, affordable goodies from Trader Joe's. There's good stuff to come.

Sunday Coupon Shopping

2012-01-15T12:30:00.000-08:00

When I read that there's a deal on Lysol products at Walgreen's this week, I was out the door bright and early. I've been hoping for a deal on the spray because boy is that stuff expensive! I did indeed get to my local store very early, but the stock was not great. I have a feeling that this deal is going to be very hard to pull of if you wait much longer than a couple of days or so.

This deal requires that you buy five of the bonus packs of spray/wipes, which brought my total to $20.00. I then used five $1/1 Lysol coupons, which brought my total down to $15.00. For hitting the $20.00 mark, I got a $6 Register Reward. $9.00 for ten packages of wipes and spray.

Two cans of the spray alone would've cost me $12.00 if I had bought them at the local grocery store. After Register Rewards, each item came to .90 each.

There were some other good deals at Walgreen's this week, but I was just there for the Lysol. It was my one must have deal of the week.

The other hot deal that everyone in the coupon world is abuzz over is the Coke/Nabisco deal at CVS this week. We have no soda in the house, so this is a welcome deal. Not that we drink much soda, but it's nice to have it in the house when guests come over.

This deal requires you to purchase $30.00 in assorted Coke/Nabisco/Planters products, which will net you a $10.00 CVS gift card. This deal could take some time to execute because you can only buy four 12 packs at a time. I'll just be visiting CVS often this week.

It helped that I had coupons for Coke Zero and a free coupon for Kettle chips, which is also a participating product in this promotion. I didn't have coupons for the 12 packs, but in the end they will come to about $1.67 each plus deposit. That's a stock up price in these parts.

My goal is to purchase 24 12 packs in total which should last us well through the spring. There are other good deals at CVS this week, but these were my must have items today.

After Walgreen's and CVS, I ran to Stop&Shop for a few coupon and produce deals. Nothing earth shaking, just cheap tuna fish, Odwalla drinks (yum), toothpaste, Goldfish crackers and a few other odds and ends.

Before coupons, $60.42

$31.07 after

Not a huge savings due to the produce, but I got an eight pound bag of oranges, three pounds of apples, and three pounds of broccoli, which drove my out of pocket up. Darn produce.

How about you? What are your must have items for the week? Are you stocking up on Coke and Lysol too?

Orange Cranberry Brunch Cake

2012-01-14T09:02:00.000-08:00

I've been meaning to post this cake for the past several days, but the Target toy clearance derailed me. As much as I love a good sweet, I love the Target toy clearance even more.

But this cake is certainly worth writing about. If losing weight is one of your New Year's resolutions, skip this post. It is rich, decadent even, and perfect for a beautiful Sunday brunch.

If your resolution for this year is to savor every good morsel that touches your lips, keep on reading.

This recipe is the marriage of pound cake, cheesecake, and a blast of sunshine. The pound cake layer is flecked with orange zest and studded with cranberries. The cheesecake layer is also flavored with orange zest, with a boost of orange juice to give it even more orangey goodness.

In total, the zest of six oranges is in this cake. And while that might sound like a lot, it really is just perfect. Bright, zingy, sweet and reminiscent of Florida sunshine. I felt like I should've had a tan by the time I was done making this.

Once it's done baking, you could stop and just dig right in. It's perfectly lovely naked and unadorned.

But it gets better. An orange glaze made of orange juice, zest and powdered sugar, which takes this cake from great to splendid.

The normal person would wait for the glaze to set before slicing. I am not normal. I'm certainly not patient. Once allowed to dry, the glaze produces a light tangy crust and is so picture perfect. Too bad it didn't last long enough to get a picture of in that state. Four kids, two adults, and six forks would not allow that to happen.

Orange Cranberry Brunch Cake

1 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
1 cup butter, room temp
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup orange zest
3 large eggs, room temp
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1 tsp vanilla extract (I used vanilla paste)

Cheesecake Layer

1 egg
1/3 cup sugar
8 oz cream cheese softened
1/3 cup sour cream
1/4 cup orange juice
2 Tbsp orange zest
1/2 tsp vanilla extract ( I used vanilla paste)

Orange Glaze

1 cup confectioner sugar
1 Tbsp orange zest
orange juice (enough to make the glaze as thick as pancake syrup)

Preheat oven to 350. Butter the heck out of a loaf pan. Set aside. For the pound cake batter, cream together the butter and sugar. Add sour cream. Once mixed together, add one egg at a time. Add vanilla and zest. In separate bowl, mix together the flour, salt and baking soda. Add by the heaping spoonful to the butter/sugar mixture. Mix just until incorporated. Add cranberries.

For the cheese cake layer, cream together the cream cheese and sugar. Add egg. Mix until incorporated. Add sour cream, orange juice and zest. Lastly, add vanilla. Mix until incorporated. Just a few moments.

Pour 1/2 of the pound cake batter into buttered loaf pan. Spread an even layer into pan. Pour all of the cheese cake mixture on top. Even it off. Pour the remaining pound cake batter on top. Even it off once again.

Bake for one hour or until cake tester comes out clean. Allow to cool. Prepare glaze.

Mix together confectioner sugar, orange juice, and zest. You want this to have the consistency of pancake syrup. NOT thin like true maple syrup. More like Log Cabin consistency.

Once cake has cooled, pour glaze on top. You can patiently wait for it to crust over or say to hell with it and eat it while it's drippy. Either way, it's perfect. Enjoy!

The Target Toy Clearance 2012

2012-01-12T10:28:00.000-08:00

Did you feel the ground shake a little this morning? It could've been the mothers stampeding to Target for the semi annual toy clearance. A very big day if you are a deal seeker. Our stores only had couple of aisles of toys, but the toys that were on clearance were really good ones.

Last year the clearance in my stores was a bit girl heavy. Lots of Barbies, Moxie Girlz, and tons of baby dolls. This year is the year of the boy, because our stores were stocked to the hilt with boy toys.

So, I took advantage of the opportunity and stocked up on some gifts for my nephew. This Thomas The Tank Engine set is so incredibly adorable! My sons were big into Thomas and I still have their set from when they were little. I'm sure my nephew will love this too.

Originally $79.99, marked down to $23.98. A steal!

My next favorite find is this Cars Lego set. It was the only Lego set marked down past 50% off. It was originally $59.99, marked down to $17.98. Another incredible deal.

Now, this Vtech toy is going into my Toys For Tots stash. Originally $49.99, marked down to $14.98. I especially love donating toys that are fun AND educational.

Another gift for my nephew, this Dinosaur Train set was originally $49.99, marked down to $14.98.

This super cute nativity set will also go to Toys For Tots. Originally $27.99, marked down to $8.38.

One of the few Moxie Girlz sets that didn't have micro mini skirts and bare midriffs, originally $19.99, marked down to $5.98. I have to say, I think this is a really cute doll. A nice change of pace from the dolls that look like ~~pole dancers~~ questionable girls.

One of the few gifts I picked up for the girls. Blythe's Littlest Pet Shop. Originally $19.99, marked down to $5.98. Shannon is crazy into animals right now. Last night she announced that she wants to be a vegetarian when she grows up. This is the same kid who asks for drumsticks for her birthday dinner.

When I asked her why she wants to be a vegetarian, she said because she loves animals. Which makes sense, right? When I asked her how she was going to give up drumsticks, she looked at me quizzically. What does that have to do with fixing broken animals, she asked. That's when I realized she meant veterinarian, not vegetarian. And then I blew Pepsi out my nose.

These crazy things made me nuts before Christmas. The girls wanted them, but I couldn't find them. Of course I'd find them after the holiday. Kachooz, originally $9.99, marked down to $2.98.

This is sort of a little thing, but I'm putting it aside for Easter baskets. Tinker Bell reusable sticker book. Originally $6.99, marked down to $2.08. There's also a Gnomeo and Juliet sticker book marked down to $2.08.

These books are awesome. Lots of stickers and activity pages. The original price of $6.99 was fair for this book. $2.08 is a bargain. My girls love stickers, so this should make them happy!

All in all, a very successful Target toy clearance experience. Be sure to head out to see what's available. In my area it's the first day of the sale, so you should be able to pick up similar deals. Do come back and let me know what you find!

Stocking Up

2012-01-11T20:16:00.000-08:00

As I shared with you towards the end of 2011, my goal for the next several months is to rebuild my stockpile. Now that I'm moving around and close to my old routine, it's time to get serious about stocking up on the things we need when there's a bargain to be had.

We go through a lot of cereal around here. I could offer my girls homemade french toast and bacon, but they'd rather have cereal. Odd little ducks that they are. And with four kids in house, a box of cereal doesn't go very far. Maybe two days, max. I blame this solely on the teenagers, of course.

After this week's Stop&Shop cereal sale, which was coupled with free milk, I've been able to refill the shelves with the kid's favorite cereals. Well, that's not entirely true. They'd rather the shelves be full of Cookie Crisp and Count Chocula, but that isn't going to happen, much to their chagrin.

Now I need to find some deals on trash bags, dish detergent (high hopes for that $2.15 Finish coupon), salad dressing (not sure how I got low on that), juice (where are the Ocean Spray coupons?), and food in general. Hopefully by spring I'll have the stockpile up to where it was prior to the accident. It amazes me how fast the family plowed through the stockpile.

But I'll tell you this, I still have enough Tampax to take care of all the cheerleaders in the NFL. Tampax and toilet paper are the two things I most likely won't run out of anytime soon. And Glade candles. Try as I may, I cannot get rid of those things. I swear they are like bunnies and multiply while I sleep. If I never see another Glade coupon again, I'll be just fine. Thank you very much. ;)

How about you? What are you low on? Are there any coupons in particular that you are hoping for this year?

One Last Christmas Gift

2012-01-11T19:22:00.000-08:00

Remember how I mentioned that I was part of a Secret Santa swap sponsored by jcpenney? Well, I never got to show you what I ended up getting from my Secret Santa. As it turned out, my gift was on backorder and I just got it this past week. Actually, it was kind of fun getting a gift after the holidays. That doesn't happen very often!

Those of us involved with the swap were allowed to give hints as to what we might like to receive as a gift. With all of the cooking I do, I fly through pans. So, when I saw this big Paula Deen skillet with lid, I promptly put it on my wish list. You just can't have enough large pans when you have a big family.

Since its arrival, I've used it every night. Meatballs, chicken stir fry, a big pot of scrambled eggs. It's a very useful pan. We are becoming quite close.

When I scanned the QR code, I found out that Laura from Better In Bulk was my Secret Santa! What a fun way to meet another blogger. I really think the whole QR code thing is quite clever. I scanned the code with my phone, and up popped Laura's voice with a cheery holiday message! It's a great way to personalize a gift without wasting money on a card. Don't you think?

Thanks to Laura and jcpenney for my fabulous gift. I had a lot of fun participating in the swap, and I'm really happy with my present. It will certainly get a lot of use in this house!

I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of jcpenney and receive a jcpenney Secret Santa gift and a promotional item to thank me for participating. All opinions are my own.

A Peek Into My Shopping Cart

2012-01-09T18:15:00.000-08:00

After weeding out all of the coupons that expired on 12/31/11, my binder all of a sudden feels a lot lighter. And with weeks of no coupons in the paper, I have very little to file. So, here's to hoping that 2012 brings lots of good coupons our way.

More food, less house cleaning and health/beauty coupons. Pretty please. And enough with the Airwick coupons already! We can only use so many room fresheners.

My last shopping trip was pretty light. I ran to Stop&Shop because they have a good cereal deal where you buy four boxes of cereal, and you not only get $4.00 off your order, but a free gallon of milk too. I love when they run this promotion. Cheap cereal and free milk are always welcome in this house.

Besides the cereal and a few other miscellaneous grocery needs, I grabbed a bag of oranges that were on sale for $2.99. I have a recipe that I'm working on which I'll share with you tomorrow or the next day. It's full of orangey goodness.

Lately, I've been craving citrus and spinach. And before you even ask, no I'm not pregnant. But clearly my body needs it since it's the first thing I think about every day. I guess there could be worse things to crave, right?

Speaking of cravings, I want to share something yummy with you. Awhile ago, while traveling on Jet Blue, I tried this chip like thing called Popcorners. Holy Yum! They are so good and so much lighter and healthier than potato chips.

They're kind of a cross between tortilla chips, rice cakes, and popcorn. Incredibly good, but hard to find in stores. Well, last week when I was doing my weekly BJ's run, guess what I found?? Popcorners! A giant bag for $4.59!

I was giddy. I grabbed my phone to take a photo, and I guess I looked a little exuberant because another shopper commented that they must be very good if I was taking photos of it. I talked them up so much that the shopper bought a bag too. Maybe I should forget about blogging and go into snack sales.

I haven't done much at the drugstores this week. I did go on a little hunt for the All that everyone's talking about, but no luck for me. Which is totally fine because I still have enough All from a previous deal to last me a good long time.

I did pick up the free after Extra Care Buck peanut butter Snickers bar, which I will never bring into my house again because Oh My Gawwwwwwd was that good. Too good. That would be public enemy #1 to my arse, which I'm currently trying to whittle down to a more respectable size.

That's about it for my shopping this week. I'm off to a slow start, but I plan on hitting the drug stores later this week to grab a few of the better deals.

How about you? What are you excited about this week? Did you snarf down a peanut butter Snickers bar?

Winners!

2012-01-09T18:14:00.000-08:00

Congrats to Tina T. from TX. You are the winner of the reader debate. Boy did that generate a lot of interesting comments. Don't you think?

Also, congrats to Britt D. from SD. You are the Eddie Bauer winner. If both of you lovely ladies could send your mailing address to thecoupongoddessblog@yahoo.com, I'll make sure your prizes are sent off to you.

Thanks to all for entering. (and reading too, of course)

Head's Up

2012-01-07T16:40:00.000-08:00

Just a quick reminder that tomorrow will be a big day for coupon inserts. It's been reported that there will be six inserts in the Sunday papers. You can check out the coupons at sundaycouponpreview.com to see what's coming out.

There are a ton of really good coupons in the paper tomorrow. I noticed quite a few food coupons, which is a nice change of pace. I love a good deal on beauty products, but I sure can't cook with them. I"m very happy to see the .55/1 Barilla whole grain pasta coupons. That is something I can work with! So make sure you pick up that paper. I think the ROI will be worth it this week!!

Shrek Smoothies

2012-01-07T06:58:00.000-08:00

Have you stepped on the scale post holiday ham, sugar cookies and Grandma Edna's fudge? Did you step off and recalibrate the scale to make sure it wasn't broken? Did you drop on the bathroom floor and cry like a baby when you saw the cold hard truth?

Did you promise God that you'd eat carrot sticks and plain Mini Wheats for life if He'd just make a few of those pounds vanish? Did you blame your kids because they are the reason you baked like a lunatic for two weeks?

It's ok. I'm right there too. That's why I'm going to share my new morning breakfast drink with you, which I hope will encourage you to start your day in a healthier way. It's affordable. It's loaded with good for you vitamins and minerals. And it will most likely freak your kids out.

The first time I made this smoothie, my kids came running in to watch because they love smoothies. In went the banana, in went the frozen peaches and mango, and then I pulled out a bag of fresh spinach. That's when their faces dropped and the horror set in. You're putting THAT in there? I nodded and pressed the blend button and they watched with morbid curiosity.

A neon green drink may not look entirely delicious, I admit that. But the interesting thing is that you can't taste the spinach. If you close your eyes and take a sip, you'd swear you're drinking a banana smoothie.

My littlest ones were at first disgusted, but then intrigued when I called it a Shrek smoothie. It's funny how a name can change everything. They cautiously took a sip and guess what? They loved it. And my boys? I had to pay my 17 year old to try it. He just couldn't get past the green even though he admitted that all he could taste was the banana.

So, how do you make one of these? It's pretty simple. One banana, one cup of your favorite frozen fruit, a big ole hand full of spinach, and some milk. I don't add any extra sweetener, but you can add honey or sugar if you'd like.

As Dr. Seuss would say.....

Try it, try it, you will see, you may like it just like me!

A New Reader Asks For Help

2012-01-06T07:56:00.000-08:00

This past week I received a comment from a new reader who found this blog after watching the show Extreme Couponing. I'd like to share her comment with you so that you too could offer some suggestions that might help this reader......

I am interested in learning how to extreme coupon. I've seen the how to videos on couponing. I buy the Sunday paper as well as visit sites where I can print coupons. I also have the coupon policies for all the places I frequent. I have a binder full of coupons and yet I still do not understand the process of being able to do what is done on the show Extreme Couponing.

I am a single mother of three and we barely get by. Our food never lasts the whole month and we are left without food for weeks at a time. I want to be able to provide food for my children and not always worry about them or I going hungry.

Please anyone, help me help my children. All I need is a guiding hand on how to use the coupons effectively so that I can build a stockpile that my children and I can use so that we may never run out of food again.

And whatever I do have that I can spare, I would love nothing more than to help others, so I would definitely donate whatever I can. I love the feeling I get when I'm helping others. So please help. I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks so much.

Elizabeth

Elizabeth,

Hold on a second while I sweep up the bits of my heart that just shattered all over the floor. I'm so sorry that you are struggling. No one should have to worry about running out of food. Even more heartbreaking is that you have little ones who have rumbly tummies. Kids should not go hungry. Really, no one should.

Clearly you've watched the show Extreme Couponing. What I want you to understand is that that type of shopping is not really typical for most serious couponers. It's extreme by design because that's what viewers want to see. Excess and drama drive ratings.

I can assure you that the couponers featured on that show could not possibly shop like that every week. First of all, it's not every week that we can find an amazing sale that will net us hundreds of dollars in free food at the grocery store. Some weeks that's possible, but not every week.

Also, that show demonstrates a very unbalanced way of eating. People need to eat protein and produce, which you don't often see on that show because it would drive the cost up. Not nearly as impressive as a zero balance at the register.

Couponers get great deals on everything from toothpaste to clothes detergent, as I'm sure you've seen on Extreme Couponing, but what I want to focus on with you is the food.

First things first, get assistance. You have kids and they need to eat. Go to your local food bank or call around to churches to find out which ones offer food pantries. Now is not the time to be proud if your kids are not eating. That's what assistance is for, to help you for the short term until you can get back on your feet.

Find out which stores double coupons in your area. This will help you tremendously. Pair your coupons with sales to maximize your savings. When you first start stockpiling, your stockpile will not be the most well rounded selection of food. That's because sales happen in cycles.

So, one week there could be a killer deal on cereal which may allow you to get tons of that for cheap, and the next week could offer a deal on spaghetti sauce. You just never know what opportunities the grocery fliers will bring each week. When I first started couponing, it took me about six months to form a well rounded pantry.

Your best bet to find the free/cheap food deals is to follow forums such as afullcup.com, weusecoupons.com, slickdeals.net, hotcouponworld.com, or any other ones you find on the net. There are many. Go to those sites and find the grocery stores in your area. Read those forums each week, as they will be your #1 resource to help you find the very best deals in your area.

Talk to your meat manager. Ask him what days of the week they do meat markdowns. Get there first thing that day to get the best pick of greatly discounted meat.

Look for the discounted produce rack. This is a rack in the produce department that has fruits and veggies that are ripe or bruised. As long as you eat the ripe produce right away, it's totally fine. This is a good way to get fruit and veggies at a discount.

Find out if you have a bread outlet in your area. Bread outlets are an excellent way to get cheap bread, bagels, pizza crusts, English muffins, and many other baked goods at a fraction of retail value. Bread products freeze well too.

Take your high value coupons to big stores like Walmart and Target. Their prices are already low, so your high value coupons will create an even more significant savings. Be sure to read totallytarget.com because Kerry does an AMAZING job listing what's free/cheap there each week.

Target has store coupons that you can pair up with manufacturer's coupons which often times offer huge savings. Surprisingly, you can pick up lots of groceries at Target. My Target isn't even a Super Target, and I get great food deals there.

Even the drugstores have good deals on food. Be sure to read hip2save.com to see what's on sale at the drugstores. Collin posts the sales/coupon matchups on Saturday, so be sure to see if you spot anything your family could use. I've found free/cheap cereal, crackers, cranberry sauce, sugar, cheese, butter, and many other foods at the drugstores, just to name a few.

When you get a little more advanced, I'd suggest you once again use the forums for your drugstore sale info because you can find out the sales a couple of weeks in advance. This will greatly help you by giving you the time you need to find the coupons to match with the sales.

Whew, that's a lot of info. I think I'll stop with that for today because it's a lot to digest. The most important thing about couponing (besides having the coupons) is knowledge. Knowledge of what's on sale, what coupons are available, and how to best utilize your coupons.

You will need to do research to get the answers, and the forums I mentioned will likely be the key to your success. Knowledge is everything when it comes to couponing.

I hope this helps you, Elizabeth. Coupons can make a huge difference in your grocery budget, and I'm sure you'll appreciate that as your couponing skills grow. It takes time to learn, so don't get frustrated. You can always come back here to ask for help.

And for my other newbie couponers, feel free to ask questions too. Just use the comment section of this post if you have a coupon question.

For my more seasoned readers, if you have any advice, please feel free to chime in. I'm sure I've missed some other great ideas that you might know about. Let's see if we can all help this reader out.

Homemade Mozzarella Cheese

2012-01-04T19:11:00.000-08:00

There is this misconception that frugal people don't eat well. More specifically, that couponers don't eat well. Yakisoba noodles, Hamburger Helper, Lunchables, candy bars, unfortunately that's how we are portrayed in the media. Like it or not. Truth or not. That's the perception.

Yes, there are some couponers out there who shop like that, but not the majority. I'll even go out on a limb and say that there are a ton of couponers who like fine food. Food that is wholesome, nutritious, flavorful, and gourmet. Call me crazy, but I'm guessing that if you've been following me for awhile, you might fall into that category.

So, today I'd like to share a new recipe with you. A recipe that I hope will inspire you to try something new. Something delicious. A frugal recipe that will make your inner foodie sing a glorious song. Even challenge you to create something you've never considered before.

Homemade cheese.....

Last June my friend Rebecca shared a recipe for homemade mozzarella. And before I tell you about her fabulous recipe, I want to tell you something about Rebecca. When I first met Rebecca, I was instantly drawn to her. She has this infectious personality that just makes you like her.

Have you ever met anyone like that? A person that makes you feel drawn to them with just their smile? That's Rebecca. The most interesting thing about that is the biblical meaning of her name. Rebecca means "to bind". If you follow her blog for any amount of time, you'll understand that pull. She's kind of magnetic.

Rebecca and I have much in common. We both love to cook and we are both frugal. So, when Rebecca told me that I could make fresh mozzarella at home in half of an hour, she had my attention. "Is it easy?", I asked? "Very", she said.

Have you ever checked out the price of fresh mozzarella at the grocery store? Not. Cheap. But I love it and have splurged on occasion, because it sure is good with a glass of wine.

Before I get too excited sharing all of the details with you, here is the recipe. You'll notice that there are a few ingredients that you most likely do not have in your pantry/stockpile. You will need to order them from a cheesemaking supply website which Rebecca has listed in her post.

The initial cash outlay for the citric acid and rennet, which is required to make the cheese, will cost you around $15.00 plus shipping. But once you have those special ingredients, you'll most likely have enough ingredients to make as many mozzarella balls as your heart desires. I figure it will last me a year.

When you first start making the mozzarella, it won't look right to you. After following the recipe, the milk started looking funky. Sort of like a baby bottle that rolled under the seats of a minivan in February but not discovered until June. If you have kids, you know what I'm talking about.

But after awhile, things start to come together. It's like the best science experiment you could EVER perform in your kitchen. I highly suggest trying this with your kids. Oh the lessons they will learn. One moment you have a pot of eeeeewwwww, and then it morphs to whoaaaaaa......

At the end of thirty mere minutes, you have this; a ball of perfection. Smooth, elastic, and flavorful mozzarella. Did you catch the thirty minutes part? Really, it only took that long. And it was so very simple to make.

After chilling it for a bit, I sliced it up and served it with some crackers, roasted red peppers, and some olives. An elegant, impressive, and affordable snack to serve guests. And can you imagine the conversation it would start when you tell your guests that you made the cheese from scratch? Forget Martha Stewart, you've just upped the ante.

Fresh mozzarella can be enjoyed in so many different ways. Sliced and paired with tomatoes to make a Caprese salad. The best grilled cheese of your life. Tossed with romaine, olive oil and roasted red peppers. Or simply served with crackers and a nice glass of wine. Speaking of which....

I found this wine at the package store this week. Bodega Elena de Mendoza from Argentina. A wonderful Malbec that was only $8.99. An excellent price for an incredible bottle of wine. If you are a wine drinker, especially a lover of Malbec, then give this a whirl.

Some people are afraid to try new wines, or any wine for that matter, because they aren't sure what to buy. Wine can be intimidating if you don't know what you are looking for. So, many people go for the tried and true Yellow Tail, Turning Leaf, and Gallo because they seem like safe choices.

Also, many people think that you have to spend a lot of money for good wine. Not true. The price of the wine is not necessarily indicative of the quality. You could very well pay $8.99 for an excellent bottle of wine. That is indeed the case with this Malbec.

One of my resolutions for my blog this year is to highlight good, inexpensive wines when I encounter them. And this one gets my seal of approval!

If you decide to try your hand at this mozzarella, do come back and let me know how it goes. It was so much fun that I'm making it again with my kids this weekend. A fun, educational experience with delicious results. All for the cost of a gallon of whole milk and a few inexpensive ingredients.

A big thank you to Rebecca for sharing her recipe with me. After learning how easy it is to make mozzarella from scratch, I will not likely buy it from the stores again. Unless of course it's free after coupon. For that I'll make an exception. ;)

Our Happy New Year Baby

2012-01-02T08:16:00.000-08:00

Leela had one wish for her 8th birthday. That one wish was to go to the American Girl Cafe for lunch with her doll Julie. Julie was a highly desired Christmas present that had Santa in a state of shock when he went perusing the American Girl website. Holy cash hemorrhage Batman. Their stuff ain't cheap.

But that was her only request on her Christmas list, and when I explained to her the cost and how few packages she would have to open, she didn't care. And when her eyes popped out of her skull Christmas morning with joy and amazement, I briefly forgot the $100 hole in my checking account.

So on New Year's day we took the long 1 1/2 hour drive to Natick MA to visit the American Girl store and cafe. Leela was beyond excited as you can clearly tell from the picture above. There was no real sound coming from that scream. Just her face cracking in half.

The girls wandered around the store, taking it all in. So much to see.

They were very interested to see the new doll McKenna, which in our opinion wasn't nearly as lovely as last year's doll Kanani. Which by the way was Shannon's number one Christmas wish and it sold out. Don't even ask me how I feel about that.

I will give American Girl this, they create beautiful toys. Even I wanted to play with the dolls on display.

When the staff heard that it was Leela's birthday, they promptly stuck a birthday sticker on her. Every time a staff member saw it, they went out of their way to wish her a happy day.

There's even a doll hair salon. How cute are the chairs?

When it was time for lunch, Leela was greeted with a birthday crown for both herself and her doll.

Be still my Momma heart.

Seriously, there were way too many photo opps this day.

There were even beverages for the doll. Entirely too precious.

Even though the cafe is not for the frugal heart, they sure do provide generous servings and many healthy options. The service was not only attentive, but enthusiastic. Our server was all about celebrating Leela's special day.

What would a birthday be without cake? A pink and white cake!

I think Leela's birthday wish was to move into the American Girl store.

There were lots of birthday kisses, hugs, and squeals of laughter.

A special day that she will most likely remember forever.

Shannon's 9th birthday is coming up in six weeks. What are the chances she'll ask for her birthday lunch to be held at the American Girl cafe? Yeah, I agree. 100%.

Happy birthday Leela Bean. You are my precious baby and I thank God for giving you to me. I love you with all of my heart.

Looking Back On 2011

2012-01-01T17:27:00.000-08:00

2011. What a year. What. A. Year. I'm scratching my head even coming up with a way to express how I feel about all that's happened in the past twelve months. What a wild ride.

We started the year with a family trip to Disney World which was subsidized by the mouse himself. A few hundred bloggers were hosted for a week of pixie dust sparkled adventures which my kids will remember for the rest of their lives. I remember saying to Jeff that if that was my last big hurrah for the year, so be it. It was a spectacular experience that I felt highly honored to be a part of.

Then it was on to New Orleans for the Mom2.0 blogging conference. Blogging conferences are always fun, but Mom2.0 was incredible. A fabulous group of bloggers hanging together in New Orleans, which is now officially my favorite city in the entire country. The smell of Confederate jasmine still haunts me to this day. A trip that I will never, ever forget.

And if that wasn't awesome enough, I won the opportunity to meet Ree Drummond of Pioneer Woman fame via a recipe contest she hosted along with Bush's Beans. When I was notified that I had won, I nearly keeled over. If nothing else, I stopped breathing for a few moments. So many bloggers would love to meet the queen of the blogosphere and I got to spend the weekend with her. How amazing is that?

Up until that point, late June, I was seriously thinking I was living a dream. How could it get any better? It couldn't in my mind, but wait... there's more. The Los Angles Times contracted with me to teach a coupon class in L.A. I was starting to wonder what was going on. Could this be the luckiest year of my life?

And then it came to a screeching halt when I was hit by the car on July 5th. As I was being prepped for surgery, I remember laying there thanking God for all he had done with my life. Giving me a beautiful family, incredible opportunities, allowing me to be loved by so many, and even for this blog of mine which has brought me so much joy. I figured if my time was up, at least my life had been full of adventure the entire way.

After surgery, the blood transfusion, and a bunch of weeks of healing, I started to think that maybe I would survive the whole ordeal. Many people surrounded me with love and support which I believe helped pull me through it. I learned a lot about the people in my life. Some of the lessons weren't great, but I thank God for allowing me to learn from them. Every experience in life teaches you something if you are open to it.

As time went on, I started getting a little batty being stuck in bed for so many, many weeks. But the time finally came when I could leave the house and start living again. And while that "living" consisted mostly of physical therapy appointments, I welcomed the opportunity to see the outside world again, even if I was skittish of anything that moved.

Three months after the accident I flew to Los Angeles to teach the coupon seminar. That by far was the pinnacle of my year. I learned more about myself from that one experience than any other in my entire life. I could not walk and I was stuck in a wheelchair, but by God I went to L.A. and taught that class. There have been few times in my life when I've been proud of myself, but that day I felt like I could conquer anything that life could toss my way. I still feel like that today.

2011 was a roller coaster ride for sure. There were some serious highs and some devastating lows. But I'll tell you this, I wouldn't change a blessed thing. Because I do believe that every single thing I went through this year was blessed.

I've always wanted my life to be an adventure. A color filled life. A life full of laughter, love, friends, highs, lows, and even some tears. Because without the tears you cannot possibly appreciate the joy. So I welcome the pain along with the happiness because it all works together to create an abundant life. And that is something that I cherish.

Happy New Year my friends. May it be full of smiles, color, adventure and sprinkled with lots of pixie dust. I can't wait to see what's next!

New Year's Eve Eddie Bauer $100 Giveaway!

2011-12-31T09:09:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned last month, I was invited to tour the new Eddie Bauer store that opened in Braintree MA at the South Shore Plaza. Bloggers were encouraged to check out and try on the recently revamped line of clothing. I have to say, I was really impressed.

Eddie Bauer was not a store I'd often visit because I found the styles to be too sporty and not feminine enough for my taste. Times have changed, and now they carry a wonderful selection of woman's clothing that's more fitted and brightly colored. A welcome change that will certainly have me visiting more often.

I tried on some lovely sweaters, and a couple of cute quilted vests, but I fell in love with this down filled quilted coat. It's white, and with four kids I know I'm asking for trouble, but I just adored the way it fit and flattered with the cinched waist.

It looks even better on the model. Funny how that happens. I bet she doesn't have four kids who would stick their peanut butter and jelly fingers all over it.

You can see how Eddie Bauer is changing things up by adding jewelry and other fun accessories to their product line. Of course they still offer the rugged, outdoor apparel that they are known for, but now the woman's styles are just more, ummmm, womanly. Yeah, that's it.

To celebrate their new look, new store and a new year, Eddie Bauer is offering one of my readers a $100 shopping spree! To enter, leave your first name, last initial, the state you are from and what you'd buy. A new coat for you? A sweater for dear hubby? $100 goes a long way, especially with all of the items on sale at eddiebauer.com. Entries must be received by Friday, January 6th 11:59 pm ET. Good luck!

I received a gift card to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own.

Winners!!

2011-12-31T08:03:00.000-08:00

Congrats to Kym O. PA and Alexandra O. TX, you are the Fashion Playtes winners! If you lovely ladies could send your mailing info to thecoupongoddessblog@yahoo.com, I'd appreciate it! Thanks to all for entering.

Reader Debate, How Would You Have Handled This?

2011-12-29T14:30:00.000-08:00

I have the funniest story to share with you. Well, maybe funny isn't the right word. Ironic. Yes, ironic might be the better word choice. I was shopping at a local store that doubles coupons this past week. I'm no stranger to this particular store and know most of the cashiers.

On this particular day I visited a cashier who doesn't know me very well. Which is fine, but I'm sure she really wishes she never met me after what happened......

I'm standing behind a young lady with a large order. In her hand is a stack of coupons. "Cool", I thought. "A kindred spirit!" I watched her place her groceries up on the belt, and patiently waited to say something to her when the opportunity presented itself. I delight in meeting other couponers.

She never made eye contact with me, and proceeded to hand over her coupons. I watched as they were scanned and knew something was off. I wasn't recognizing the coupons as current. Upon further scrutiny, I noticed that some of the expiration dates were cut off of the higher value coupons. Then my blood started to heat up a bit.

Knowing that I was witnessing coupon fraud, I tried to slyly get the cashier's attention.....

"Hmmmmm", I said to the gal in front of me. "That $3.00/1 Snuggle coupon is awesome! Where did you find it??" (I knew damn well that it came out in 2010)

She avoided all eye contact and said "I dunno, a friend dropped the coupons off to me this morning".

"Well, when does that coupon expire? Maybe I missed it. That sure is a good coupon." I exclaimed, hoping the clueless cashier would get the clue that I was not so subtly throwing her way.

And at that point I asked the cashier to fish it out and let me look at it. I know that sounds absurd, but it was frying my butt that the cashier wasn't even checking the expiration dates. All the while the gal in front of me is looking like she wants to throw darts at my forehead. It's not my fault that fate put her in front of me.

The cashier finally locates the coupon and couldn't find an expiration date. Why? Because it was cut off. Nice.

The cashier went on to tell me that if a coupon is expired, the register won't accept it. Baloney, I replied. Not true.

Even though the fraud was pointed out, the customer left with her fraudulent purchase. I was not impressed.

So here's the question up for debate.....

What would you have done in this situation? Would you have said something if you saw blatant coupon fraud? What exactly would you say? Do you think this is an issue or do you think I'm being too legalistic? Should I have minded my own business?

If you would like to participate in this debate, leave your first name, last initial, the state you are from, and your comment. One participant will be chosen at random and will receive a mystery box filled with products from my famous stockpile. Beauty products, candles, lotions, and maybe even some chocolate and other surprises will be heading to your home if you are the winner. Entries must be received by Thursday, January 5th 11:59pm ET.