August was my last time to post?! Sigh. This, my friends, is what computer problems does to one who has no idea how to fix said computer problems. We started having difficulty with the internet and slow loading of pages in the fall. So blogging was too difficult to do with all the problems we had. Loading pictures would take hours if not DAYS and seriously, who wants to go through all that frustration?? Not only that, but Blake has grown so much in those ensuing months that it was hard to find the time to sit down and pound out a post when plenty of other things were crying for my attention. But computer is fixed, baby's schedule (and mine) is a bit more predictable and manageable, which means its blogging time!
I definitely need to post some updated pictures since the last time was when he was around 6 months old and he is now almost 10 months...but I want to talk a little bit about what is sparking my interest these days...couponing! I've heard of those Super-Couponing Queens (yes they do deserve the capitalization) that pay pennies or NOTHING for brand name items and how they slash their grocery bill by 30-60% and wondered "how do they do that??" I've tried to look at the weekly sales and compare my coupons that I, painstakingly, clip to see where I can save the most money but it is always overwhelming and time-consuming to sit down and do it. Definitely not something I want to waste my valuable time for if it only saves me .50 cents here and a dollar there. Where's the great savings in that? I had no idea where to start or even knew which internet sites would give me the best tips and tricks of the trade. The terminology of stacking coupons, doubling, and HOW to do it was completely lost on me and just confused me, leaving me sitting on my living room floor with ads and coupons scattered about and me throwing my hands up in disgust. Until...
One of my friends casually mentioned that she had attended a free couponing class at the local library and how she learned so much in how to get started. My eyes just about bugged out of my head as she told me some of the crazy deals this Couponing Queen gets by doing what Couponing Queens do. I was thrilled! "A class where they teach you these things," just what I needed! My friend told me she would keep an eye out for when the next lecture would be held and would inform me of the dates. Score! So, last night was quite possibly one of my most thrilling nights in the most recent months as I had attended my first ever couponing class. My friend, being true to her word, let me know of the upcoming lecture and signed me up. How gracious and kind of her! I expected maybe 20-40 people to be there, imagine my surprise as I walked into a large conference room that had 150-200 attendees! People of all ages, young and old, male and female, new mothers, career women, grandparents, all buzzing with the excitement of learning the secrets of couponing. I met another friend there and slid into the seat next to her, pen and paper in hand ready to take as many notes as I could in learning how to keep money in my pocket.
Facts, pictures, money saved, tips, definitions, getting things for FREE, instant 30-40% savings, brand name items, jaw-droppers, etc... for two hours we sat in our seats mesmerized and amazed at how much money we too! could be saving. When it was over, I looked to my friend and she had the same glassy-eyed stare that I did, we were overwhelmed by all the information but excited to get out there and to do some shopping! What a great class!
So now I have a better grasp on how all this is supposed to go down. I have my internet sites that match up my weekly sales to coupons to tell me the best deals (no work for me!), I have my couponing sites that I can print coupons, and most of all I have the basic knowledge on how to do this. I have what I need to get started! It'll take me a while to get the hang of this, it will definitely be challenging, but also fun.
Since I'm brand-new to this, it'll take me a while to understand it all but when I do I'll try my best to share what I know and to share the amazing deals that I find just like my sister Sunny and her friend are doing. Here's to happy couponing shopping!!
