Frugal Tip of the Week #2

Did you know that you can freeze cream cheese? That's right if you don't use it, freeze it!

Now it should last for at least three months. Its not as creamy like when you want to spread it on a cracker but it does crumble. With a splash of milk or cream, mix it into a casserole or your favorite dip.

You'll never taste the difference.

Happy Cooking,

The  Cute Couponer

Frugal Tip of the Week

Does your cell phone battery  seem to not hold a charge for very long? Grab a Ziploc bag, stick the battery in it and set it in the freezer for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes take it out of the freezer and stick it back in  your phone. If the charge doesn't last for more than 12 hours it's time for a new battery.

Have A Great Friday,

The Cute Couponer

P.S. The $30 update is coming soon.

Can You Feed A Family of 4 on $30 A Week?

This is an absolutely fabulous question that I am curious to find the answer to myself. Now, in my household there is me some munchkins on the way, a pile of the cutest little mutts in the world, all the neighbor kids and their parents, and of course I take food to my mom's house where my brother is frequently hanging out. Then I cook for my Grandma when she's home, but she broke her pelvis and is in skilled nursing for a few more weeks. She says the food stinks! I need to make her some sweets and take them up there. Last but not least  I have a friend who I can't get rid of, that is by for dinner 3 or 4 times a week. I think it is fair to say that I feed 4 for now on a regular basis with neighborhood kids for dinner 2 days a week and snacks four days a week and company at least 2 other nights. Whew, that's alot of food!

I'm wondering can it be done for $30 a week with coupons or am I dreaming. I am going to keep track for the next few weeks and see.  Now I am figuring 3 meals  a day and snacks. That's the only way it would work.

Let's see if it can be done!

I must get out my binder to see what's for sale.


Praying for Rain,

The Cute Couponer

The Challenge Is Over

Can I hear a Woo-Hoo! I am glad it's over because I bombed the challenge. I will never do a no eat out challenge in Summer again. It's too hot to heat up the house cooking,especially with no air-conditioning, and with all the BBQ's your invited too. It makes it impossible.

Enough about that! We will do it again in Fall. With recipes and pictures.


Just Checking In.


The Cute Couponer

Preparing for the 4th of July

I'm in the mood for some fun. What a great idea to do to get ready for tomorrow's 4th of July parade. I also have some recipes to share tomorrow.

Hugs and Kisses,

The Cute Couponer

Update

Just wanted to pop in for a quick update. The challenge is going  OK! I've cheated a few times out of sheer desperation. 1. I haven't fished the crock pot out of the garage and the oven heats up the entire house. and 2. Grandma has been sick and with my work schedule I have been starving and wait until I'm about to die to eat so  I have been grabbing Taco Bueno party tacos on the way home.  Don't worry, I am pushing through these last two weeks with no cheating as of tomorrow :)! 

Lots of recipes on the way.


Hugs and Kisses,

The Cute Couponer

Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures

For those of you who don't know it has been couponing he-- here in OKC lately.  Homeland stores have made it incredibly rough on those of us who love to coupon. They now have a new couponing policy that you must  present the coupon with the product while checking out and tape it to the product. I swear I think they are employing someone to watch the Extreme Couponing show every Wednesday night and are paranoid about people abusing the system.

This is the letter I'm considering  writing  to them.
Dear Homeland,

It's IMPOSSIBLE to abuse the  couponing system at Homeland.  You only allow us 1 coupon to double per item per visit to the store. You only have like 4 things, if even, on sale every week.  News Flash YOU ARE TOO DARN HIGH. YOU ALWAYS HAVE BEEN TOO DARN  HIGH AND  ALWAYS WILL BE!!!!!!!!!!

Remember  Homeland   we  are  paying you. You are not our customer we are yours!!!!  I don't wanna  be  harassed everytime I walk in your store and  it take me 1 1/2 hours to get out to buy  4 things. Get over yourself. Your not the only game in town. You aren't even the only store that doubles coupons. News flash again, you make stockpiling IMPOSSIBLE!!! You have ticked off the majority of long term couponers in OKC.

Now that Wal-Mart has their new price matching policy in place I won't be visiting you much at all. I have been loyal to you for many years now and you have not returned the courtesy. You should be turned in for  harassing your customers and violating coupon codes and ethics!

Taping coupons makes a coupon void. Duh!!!! I'm not even in the grocery trade and even I have taken the time to read the fine  print.
Profiling customers is illegal.


Back to my readers

I am considering driving to Dallas once a month to purchase a large quantity of my  groceries in bulk using coupons. It will cost $60.00 in gas round trip + the cost of my coupons + 8 plus hours of time once a month + the cost of groceries.  However, I can do 20 purchases of each item per transaction. So basically one day a month shop and drive and chill for the rest of the month. If I buy $1200 worth of groceries and save 95% and pay  at least $60 in gas I'm still ahead. Plus I get the benefit of visiting my  nieces and nephews and Dallas does have several  fun  things to do. 

I'm already spending that much time going from store to store and waiting for the coupons to go through here at Homeland and having to make multiple stops a week so I think this just might work.

I will let you know what I come up with.  

I can't wait to be a free couponer  again!!!!

Happy Weekend to You,

The  Cute  Couponer