Organized Pantry

I just can't stop today. Idk what's going on with me but I feel like I have to fix everything...make it more organized. I don't know if I'm just bored or if this is my form of procrastination on teacher things. More than likely, it's the latter.

Anyway, my pantry was GROSS. It hasn't really been organized since I moved in back in June. Here is what it looked like before:

Please note the CHAOS that was my pantry. Things are just thrown wherever they will fit. I have Hamburger Helper trying to take over the spot where the Prego is sitting. I have cereal falling off the shelf. I have things in general chaos in the left corner of the bottom shelf. Nothing is organized. Nothing has a place. The box was left from the previous owner. It has the fire hydrant, mop, plus some other RANDOM things that I've thrown in there because it's hidden if it's in the giant box.

This is my pantry now:

Much better, right? Here is how it's organized now:

• Top Shelf: Baking Goods (flour, corn meal, crisco, oil, etc.) and Drink Mixes
• Middle Shelf: Breakfast. All Breakfast stuff (cereal, oatmeal, pop-tarts, Nesquik, pancake syrup, etc.)
• Bottom Shelf: Canned Goods, Dressings, Sauces, Pasta, Boxed Dinners, and Snacks
• Floor: Cleaning Supplies, Wine Glasses that I need to paint, and large cooking gear (FryDaddy and George Foreman...my CrockPot will join once it's clean. Used it for dinner tonight.)

Much better, right? I thought so.

XOXO

PS: The reason I have so much of some things is because I got it CHEAPLY! Thank you, Southern Savers for teaching me how to coupon shop!

Couponing! Woo Hoo!

Today was my second trip to Food Lion as an official coupon lady :) I love using them. I was so afraid of them at first, and now, I can't imagine shopping without them. I never want to pay full price for ANYTHING. Here's how I did today.

My first stop was to CVS. They have some pretty good deals right now. Here's what I got at CVS:

• 4 boxes of Raisin Bran
• 4 boxes of Pops
• 3 boxes of Frosted Flakes
• 1 box of Apple Jacks
• 4 Suave Body Washes
• 3 boxes of Pop-Tarts (and a raincheck for 3 more)
• 6 Suave Deodorants
• 3 boxes of Neosporin
• 1 box of Bengay
• 2 bottles of Opti-Free Contact Solution

Total: 140.05

Saved: ~$95

Total paid: $45.05 (68% savings!!!) :)

It took four separate transactions to get it this way! I had to make sure I used my ExtraCare Bucks at the right time and got some ECBs back with each purchase! Totally worth it! I also walked away with $1 ECB after the last transaction. Not a huge reward...but the 68% savings was totally worth it!!!

Then, I went to Food Lion. People say that Food Lion isn't coupon friendly. After today, my friend, I beg to differ. Here's a picture of my loot from today:

• 2 packs of Scott Ultra Care Toilet Tissue (12 double rolls)
• 4 bottles of WishBone salad dressing
• 4 Chobani yogurts
• 4 frozen pizzas
• 2 boxes of spaghetti
• 1 box of farfalle
• 1 box Stove Top Herb Stuffing Mix
• 1 box Lipton tea
• 7 packs of chicken breasts
• 1 pkg chopped Macadamia Nuts
• 6 boxes of Hamburger Helper
• 2 jars of Ragu Alfredo Sauce
• 2 boxes of Quaker Strawberries and Cream Oatmeal
• 1 jar of Pesto
• 1 large tub of Country Crock Margarine Spread

Total: 199.79

Saved: 124.16

Paid: 75.63 (62% savings!!!)

Oh yeah! Oh yeah! I got all of that for 38% of the cost! I got 7 packs of chicken breasts!!!!!!!! Sorry, that was such a huge win!

I refuse to be a couponer who buys things that I'll never need. For example, I could get a Blood Glucose Monitor from CVS for free. I don't need it...so why get it?! I only buy what I need. If there's not a coupon for it, I just try to buy the one that's on sale. I don't need to have brand loyalty on everything. There are TWO things that I won't skimp on though; I have to buy Country Crock for my butter...only the original kind...and I have to have Kraft Mac and Cheese. There's nothing like it :)

Does anyone else coupon? This is my 2nd week and I LOVE IT!

XOXO

Filetastic!!!

Oh, Mrs. Pollard. Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting this on your blog.

Mrs. Pollard has such cute ideas for classroom organization. This was one of her ideas. The store she got them from is having a 20% off sale. I just ordered mine (and, BTW, I looked at WalMart and Amazon for these...and they are much cheaper from Mardel - $5 vs. $10).

Here is the link to Mrs. Pollard's blog telling you all about the filetastic (hanging file organizer) and she even has a cute little picture of hers! Tales of a Teacherista

Here is a link to Mardel's website. Search for Filetastic to find the product in a ton of different colors and designs: Mardel

Also, here's a coupon code that will save you a SMALL amount! It saved me like...$.50 :) The code is GSPN

I'm so excited about this. I plan to use mine for important information, detention slips/referrals (booooooo!), missed work, that weeks copies, etc. Woo Hoo!!!

Enjoy!

XOXO

First Day Couponing :)

Today was the first time that I ever went couponing alone. I have subscribed to the Charlotte Observer BUT I did not get my paper today. Guess my order still hasn't processed. Sigh. Instead, Kevin bought two papers for me from a box this morning before work.

I've become slightly obsessed with Southern Savers. This website makes it SO easy to get started with couponing. The woman who runs it, Jenny, even goes as far as to make lists of the best deals for the week along with the specific coupons you can use for that item. She puts the starting price AND the price after coupons. She has videos about each store (except for Food Lion...what's up with that?) and has made it really easy for me to get started. I've found other coupon sites to be slightly cluttered and difficult to understand. Southern Savers is the BEST website for couponing by far!'

To start, I went to Southern Savers and created my shopping lists. Because it is Sunday and a lot of the new sales started, I wanted to try out couponing at several stores to see how it works. I decided to start with Walgreens (because Kevin works there), CVS, and Food Lion (I NEEDED CHICKEN BREASTS!!!!!! Otherwise, we weren't going to eat dinner). Jenny's website allowed me to check off the items that I intended to buy, gather the necessary coupons, and head out the door. Very easy planning is necessary when you have a 13 month old!

Anyway, I started at Walgreens. The only reason that I really started there is because, somehow, Kevin had my card in his pocket this morning. I kinda needed that in order to go grocery shopping! Lol! :) Also, they had TP, Cascade, and milk on sale this week. Needed to pick that up. Didn't use any coupons here but I did get a 12 pack of Cottonelle Ultra Care (double rolls), 2 60 oz. bottles of Cascade, 1 gallon of milk, and 4 candy items for $14. The milk was on sale for $2.99 and the Cascade had been clearanced for $3.79 a bottle. :) Not bad for 0 coupons.

Then, I went to CVS. I really like the fact that CVS is like it's own magical happy place that only accepts one currency: ExtraCare Bucks. :) So, I went in and got two Starbucks Refreshers (2/$3) and some Stayfree pads ($2). I had a coupon for $2 off any Stayfree item (which is why I got those) and got $3 ECB back. That whole transaction was essentially FREE! Then, I got two pouches of Hershey's Simple Pleasures chocolates. They were on sale for $3 per pouch. I paid with my $3 ECB, used a $1 off coupon, and got $2 ECB back. I had to pay sales tax...but they were essentially free as well. Not too shabby for my first time!

Finally, I went to Food Lion. I had a few coupons that I was saving for that store in particular. Here's how I did in there:

2 bags of Ruffles, 1 bag of Classic Potato Chips, 4 packs of chicken breasts, 2 containers of SPAM, Oscar Meyer Deli Selects Honey Ham, Oscar Meyer Deli Selects Oven Roasted Turkey, 2 packages of Jimmy Dean Sausage, 2 packages of Dole Salad Blends (Classic Iceberg and Very Veggie), International Delight York Peppermint Pattie Creamer, 6 frozen pizzas, and 6 frozen pizzas.

Before discounts: $118.05
MVP discounts: $31.05
Coupon discounts: $39.30
Paid: $48.20 (~59% savings!!!!)

That's not too shabby considering that I'm not an experienced couponer and I've never done it before (by myself). I've only gone with someone once and I was so nervous about it! I'm glad that I got stuff that I actually needed and that I'll use. I didn't want to go get 12409 packages of floss or something that I would never use! It worked out wonderfully and I know that I'll be shopping this way for the rest of my life.

Thank you so much to Southern Savers for making this so easy for newbies! :)

XOXO
--Andi :)