Homemaking

Moms & Dads…These Are For You!

Prior to having our kids someone wise told us the following:

Keep your marriage strong and vibrant, remain each other’s best friends. After your kids are grown and out of the house it will just be the two of you, and you don’t want to be living with a stranger.

What are some ways to do that?

*Keep having dates — if you don’t have a lot of time, even once a month works. And they don’t need to be long or expensive. Since we don’t eat out much we make sure and have a mini-date every Sunday morning at Caribou Coffee

*Communicate — ask each other about their day. Don’t assume how someone’s day went, aske them. You can share in their joy, or comfort them if it was a downer kind of day.

*Have fun — laugh and enjoy, even if silly little things. Laughing is one of THE best stress relievers!

*Compliment — remember how good it felt when you were dating to hear even the littlest compliment on your hair, or clothing? Well, I’m pretty sure you would still feel good to hear things like this, and so would your spouse.

*Little favors — for me, it is sometimes the act of a little favor that really makes me feel good. Now don’t laugh, but emptying the dishwasher, some cleaning, changing the bedding…all save me time and are really appreciated when I’ve not even asked for help.

*Intimacy — we won’t get too detailed here, as I’m sure you know what I mean

*Renew your vows — we did this for our 10th Wedding Anniversary, and our three children were our attendants. We are planning on doing it again for our 25th in a few years.

This is only a rough draft of things we have done. And there are many households where there is a single parent, or partners. We would love to hear everyone’s ideas on what works for you.

Homemaking

Guest Speaker Interview with Sharon from The Checkout Chicks

Tonight we had our FIRST Evening Broadcast and it was a huge hit! We had a large turnout and we were very happy! On our show tonight we had Sharon who is from CheckoutChicks.com This site is simply a wealth of wonderful information for anyone who is already a couponer or especially for someone who is looking to start couponing. Sharon talked to us about how imporant it is to really start your stockpile by buying those items that your family use and buy them on sale. She also cautioned that in the beginning when you are starting your stockpile you might notice that you are actually spending a little more than you are use to, but remeber that is because you are just starting your stockpile. Once you start to actually build your stockpile you will not have to buy as much, and you can be choosier.

Sharon also discussed how alot of people are worried about starting to stockpiling because you dont have the space, and she explained that you can start with a small space like a close you don’t use and you don’t have to have a huge stockpile. Another thing she said is don’t be afraid you do not need to build a new shed for your stockpile just buy a few storage containers and start small that way. Another thing is if you like name brand items you do not have to stop buying your name brand items, instead use your coupons and buy those items when they are on sale and stock up on your brand name items that way.

Sharon also mentioned how there are several ways you can organize your coupons, one of her girlfriends uses a old baby wipe container and simply puts her coupons in envelopes divided by catagories. You do not have to buy expensive coupon organizers you can be frugal and use things you find in your household like shoeboxes or baby wipe containers etc. Sharon also mentioned that when you start couponing don’t feel like you HAVE to cut out and use every coupon in your Sunday inserts, only cut out the ones you will use and give the rest away to someone else that might be able to use them.  Printable coupons or coupons you print offline was also brought up because alot of stores do not accept them, Sharon recommended finding out your stores policy on online coupons. If they accept them see if you can get a copy of their couponing policy so you have that on hand when go shopping.

Another great tip she shared was check your local area and see if they have Grocery Salvage stores, these are great way to buy your grcoeries cheaply. Maybe the item had a dent in the can or is close to expiring you can really alot by shopping at these type of stores. Also Check to see if you store like Krogers offers double coupons as this is another way to save alot of money! Sharon had such wonderful tips just like above in our interview so please grab your coffee and pen and paper and listen to our show you can listen by clicking here! Be sure to check out Sharon’s site The Checkout Chicks today

ALSO On her site right now:

Here’s your chance to win a new coupon organizer AND a $20 Target gift card. Who doesn’t love to win?!

Every person who subscribes to receive email updates from Checkout Chicks is eligible to win a free coupon organizer. I have FIVE that I’m giving away. So sign up! Go ahead… you know you want to. And it’s easy as pie – just enter your email address below, wait for your activation notice and then confirm your subscription!

Once you subscribe, you’ll receive an email every time our website is updated.

Are you already subscribed? Then sit back and relax! You’re automatically entered too!

Homemaking

NEW Site Frugal WAHMs Magazine

We are please to announce our latest site to our family of Frugal WAHMs Sites! Our newest site is Frugal WAHMs Magazine! This is an ONLINE magazine dedicated to Moms and Work At Home Moms! Not only will have a Monthly version you can download but we will update our site daily with the latest in

Pets
Heatlh & Beauty
Going Green
Guilt Free Pleasures
Ask Angie
WAHM Business Articles
Coupons & Freebies
Home & Garden
Leap of Faith

And more columns coming! We are also hiring a couple more editors you can contact us for more information! Please grab our button and add to your site and we will add your link to ur NEW site! Link it to http://frugalwahmsmagazine.com/

Homemaking

Couponing 101-Tips for Trading Coupons

Tips of the Trade of Couponing:

1. Take your grocery lists and stick to it
2. Do not buy items from the end caps if possible a lot of times they mark these as “SALES” items but most of the times they are put there to tease you into buying them and they put a lot of impulse items on those end caps! Take the few extra steps and go into the aisles and you will nine times out of ten you will find the item you were looking cheaper!
3. Shop ONLY where you can get the best value for your coupons! If you have a store that allows you to double or triple your coupons take advantage of those HUGE savings!
4. Get your coupons ready for your trip! There is nothing worst than sitting in an aisle trying to find that one coupon you needed for an item that is ON SALE this week! Try to organize your shopping trip according to the weekly sales flier and have all of the coupons you will be using for this shopping trip in ONE Location that is easy to find in your coupon book.
5. Do not buy items from the first aisle or at the checkout! We have all been there where we are lured into buying those impulse items like a magazine or something we weren’t planning on buying only because it is on sale! Grocery stores set up their design with YOU in mind! They make sure to put those impulse items on the end caps and at the checkout to tease you! RISE ABOVE and resist your urges!
6. When using your coupons another great tip to help you save LOTS of money is to purchase the smallest size item for the coupon you have! Another words if you have a $1 off a box of Crest toothpaste purchase the smallest size allowed. Why you ask? Because nine times out ten the smaller size is going to be a lot cheaper and then you combine that with your coupon you are using and your savings can be huge! PLUS if you stockpile your coupons you can MULTIPLES of that Crest toothpaste for pennies!
7. When purchasing and item that is BUY ONE GET ONE FREE most stores will allow you to use TWO coupons on these since you are techinially getting two items! That can lead to HUGE savings for you!
8. If you go to your store to buy an item that is on sale and that you have a coupon for and you find out they are sold out! By all means head straight to your customer service office and get a rain check! Also make sure you can multiple of that product if they allow it!

Homemaking

Couponing 101-Couponing Terms & Abbreviations

There are soo many terms and abbreviations that it can seem overwhelming especially if you join a message board looking for coupons and freebies. I have compiled a list below to help you learn and understand the coupon lingo.

AC = After Coupon
ACTUALS = The actual item as opposed to a coupon for it (an item from your stockpile)
ADDIE = Address
AR = After Rebate
BIL = Brother-in-law
BLINKIES – instore smartsource coupon dispensed near product, usually from red blinking box
BOGO or B1G1F = Buy one get one free
BOLO = Be On the Lookout
BTFE = Box Tops for Education
BTW = By the way
B&M – Brick & Mortar, as opposed to an online store
CAT or Catalina = coupon dispensed at register after purchase, usually has a red border
CBAD = Chef Boyardee
CLFE = Campbell’s Labels for Education
CO = cents off coupon
COH = Cut Out Hunger
CRT = Cash register tape
CYE = Check your email
DB = The HotCouponWorld database
DCRT = Dated cash register tape
DCRTC = Dated cash register tape with the price circled
DD = Dear Daughter
DH = Dear husband
DIL = Daughter-in-law
DS = Dear Son
DW = Dear Wife
DND = Do Not Double (the coupon is not supposed to be doubled)
DOUBLE COUPON = coupon that a grocery store doubles in value
ECB – CVS Extra Care Bucks earned for purchases
ENVIE = Envelope
EPOP = Each pay own postage (trading term)
ESR = EasySaver Rebate (Walgreens Monthy Rebate)
ETA = Edited to add
FAR = Free After Rebate
FIL = Father-in-law
FLIP = Food Lion Internet Printable
FREE ITEM COUPON = A coupon that allows you to get the product completely free
FSOT = For Sale or Trade
GDA = Good Deal Alert
GG = Grocery Game
HBA = The health and beauty aid section in the grocery store
HCW = Hot Coupon World
HDA = Hot Deal Alert or Home Delivered Ad
HL = Have list
HT or HGT = Hang tags for refunds or coupons hanging on a product
HTH = Hope this / that helps
IMO = In My Opinion
IMHO = In My Humble Opinion
ISO = In Search Of
IDSO = In Desperate Search Of
IVC = Walgreen’s Instant Value Coupon ( Found in the monthy EasySaver Catalog )
IVDSO = In Very Desperate Search Of
IP = Internet Printable
JMHO = Just My Humble Opinion
KWIM = Know what I mean?
LFE = Campbell’s Labels for Education
LMK = Let Me Know
MIL = Mother-in-law
MIR = Mail In Rebate
NAZ = Name, address, zip code
NED = No expiration date
NP = No problem
NBPN = No Beer Purchase Necessary
NWPN = No wine purchase necessary
OAS = a coupon that is good on one purchase, any size
OOP = Out of Pocket
OOS = Out of Stock
OP = Original Poster; Author of a thread
OSI = On a single item
OYNO = On your next order
OT = Off Topic
P&G = Proctor & Gamble Sunday supplement coupons
PEELIE = coupon that you peel off the package
PITA = Pain in the ***
PLMK = Please Let Me Know
PM = Private Message
POP = Proof of purchase
PP = purchase price
PPHF = Paypal handling fee
PSA = Prices Starting At or Public Service Announcement
Q or QUALIFIER = The POP required for a refund offer that is physically taken from that package
RAOK = Random act of kindness
RC = Raincheck
RP = Red Plum Sunday Supplement Coupons
RR = Register Rewards
SAHM = Stay At Home Mom
SAHW = Say At Home WIfe
SASE = Self Addressed Stamped Envelope
SCR = Rite Aid Single Check Rebate
SD = Store Display
SF = Store form
SIL = Son or sister in law
SMP = Specially Marked Packages
SS = Smart Source or Sunday Supplement coupons
STACKING = Some stores allow the use of more than one coupon per item, IF the coupon itself does not restrict such usage.
SUPER DOUBLES or DOUBLES = coupons that are doubled $1 + in value (ie, a $1 coupon = $2, etc)
TEAR PAD = A pad of refund forms or coupons found hanging from a store shelf or display
TIA = Thanks in advance
TMF = Try Me Free
TRIPLE COUPON = a coupon that a grocery store triples in value
TYVM = Thank you very much
V = Valassis Sunday supplement coupons
WINE TAG = coupon, usually for $ off any meat, cheese or produce.
WL = wishlist
WPN = Wine purchase necessary
WSL = while supplies last
WT = winetag
WYB = When You Buy
YGEM = You’ve got a email
YGPM = You’ve got a private message!
YMMV = Your Mileage May Vary= success of the attempt may vary at your store
YVW = Your very welcome

Homemaking

Frugal WAHM Talk Radio Feb 24 Show

On today’s show we discussed the Oscars the ups and the downs and all the great speeches. We also announced the launch of our new FREE WAHM Magazine called Frugal WAHM Magazine, this is a FREE PDF form magazine that everyone is FREE download. It is filled with recipes, wahm articles, parenting articles, business articles, freebies, coupons and more! Also on our show today we discussed our lovely procrasting husbands and ways we can get them to finish their HONEY DO lists.

Homemaking

Help! My Work Space is a Disaster Area!

This week is Smarter Office Organization Week and do I have a doozie for you! Now, in my defense, for the last 4 months, I have been working 18 hour days and haven’t had a minute for myself much less a minute to clean and organize my office/studio.   But now, things are slowing down some and I have a chance to look at this messy room in disgust.

It’s time to get it clean and organized so I can feel peaceful and productive again.  Now the major problem with me is I can organize just fine. Maintaining is another matter. I would love some tips on how to maintain my work space after it’s cleaned and organized. And I wouldn’t mind orhanizing tips too.  I’m always collecting new tidbits in orgainzing hoping maybe I’ll find the magic bullet that will click for me. Or at least make things easier.

I have the added incentive of having my dad’s beautiful roll top desk sitting in the middle of my living room, just waiting for it’s new home in my office.

I’ll go ahead and list some of my tips.

• When cleaning, leave a basket by the door to put things that need to go to other rooms.
• Have a box for things that need to be given away and a trash bag for trash. I also have a basket for things that I don’t know what to do with yet.
• Have “stations” for things. For example, I have a station where I pack my orders, a station where I do the finishing, etc.
• Try to clean up every night before you leave your office for the day. This is hard for me as I often have ongoing projects that really can’t be put away. But if I clean up what I can, it makes things much smoother the next day.

Ok, so please don’t think less of me. Here are the pictures of my room that looks like a tornado hit it:

Homemaking

Crystal-Editor

Hi I’m Crystal!  I’m a 26-year-old Stay-at-Home Mom to my two precious children.  I went to college, graduated with a degree in Music and then began teaching music classes. I settled into life a little, and My husband and I didn’t really care to watch our spending. After having our first child in 2006, I quickly realized that we would go broke if we kept spending the same way.  I turned my life around by changing my thinking and shopping habits.  I turned to coupons and deal finding.  I’d always been somewhat thrifty, but not like I am now.  I quit teaching so that I could be home with my children, and changing our spending allowed me to do this.

Not only am I a Thrifty Mama, but I’m also a Natural Mama.  I like to do things as natural as I can, without breaking the bank.  I cloth-diaper my children, buy as much organic food as I can, keep toxins out of my home as best I can, and strive for the healthiest life physically and financially possible.

I started sharing with friends the deals that I was finding, and helping others to match coupons with sales.  I began getting more and more questions, emails and calls for help from people that I knew.  Eventually I just decided I should put all the information in one place, and voila!  TheThriftyMama.com was born.  I post coupon match-ups, coupon/shopping help, deals that I find and tips on living more green and natural.

Some highlights from my site:

Sunday Sweeps – Come and find a lot of giveaways, sweepstakes and contests.  You can also link to your giveaways if you are offering any on your site.
Festival of Frees – A round-up of freebies you can get at different stores with coupons each week.
Wednesday’s Website – I highlight different websites each week that I believe will help you in your thrifty endeavors.
Coupon Match-ups for several different stores including, but not limited to, Walgreens, CVS, Kroger, Target, Publix and more.
Daily Deals – I post deals I find multiple times a day.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at thethriftymama @ gmail.com (remove spaces).

I am so blessed and excited to be a part of Frugal WAHM’s Talk Radio, and can’t wait to meet more frugal-minded friends!

~Crystal

Recipe Submission

1. Your Name(required)
2. Email(valid email required)
3. Website
4. Recipe Name
5. Ingredients
6. Directions
7. Photo of Recipe URL

 

cforms contact form by delicious:days

Homemaking

The Thrifty Mama-Crystal’s Site

Not only am I a Thrifty Mama, but I’m also a Natural Mama. I like to do things as natural as I can, without breaking the bank. I cloth-diaper my children, buy as much organic food as I can, keep toxins out of my home as best I can, and strive for the healthiest life physically and financially possible.

I started sharing with friends the deals that I was finding, and helping others to match coupons with sales. I began getting more and more questions, emails and calls for help from people that I knew. Eventually I just decided I should put all the information in one place, and voila! TheThriftyMama.com was born. I post coupon match-ups, coupon/shopping help, deals that I find and tips on living more green and natural.

Homemaking

Print Your Printable Coupons Here

Help Support Frugal WAHMs Talk Radio and keep our Radio and Blog a FREE service for all WAHMs to benefit from! By simply using our Service to print your printable coupons! A great way to help you save TONS of money each week on your grocery bill and also you will be supporting our site! A win win for us both!

Click here to start printing your coupons now

Related articles by Zemanta

• Olay Gift Card Deals

Next Page »