the numbers

This past three-day weekend was awesome for a number of reasons, but I'm only going to discuss one of them.  And it's probably no surprise it has to do with coupons.  Seriously, it's my new hobby.  And by "hobby" I mean obsession.

A local grocery chain in the Indianapolis area, Marsh, was tripling coupons up to a $1 this holiday weekend.  Yes, you read right, tripling coupons up to $1.  That means my $1 off coupon was worth $3 off for three days.  Three glorious days. 

I made two trips to two different Marsh stores.  The first trip took me 2 1/2 hours because I didn't have a list or plan mapped out, I literally just walked down each aisle and matched coupons to things I saw.  If it was a good deal, I bought it.  Saying it took 2 1/2 hours might seem excessive, but I was running on coupon adrenaline and time meant nothing to me.  It was beautiful.  Plus, I was by myself and when I get that sacred thing which is alone time, I seem to milk it for all it's worth.

Trip #1 was the longest and since it was Sunday afternoon, a lot of the really good deals (things that would have been completely free or make me money) were gone.  I literally passed at least ten other people shopping with their coupon binders.  Which normally I wouldn't care about, but I assumed every one of them had just taken something I wanted and so I was a little hostile.  Damn Extreme Couponing for making everyone go coupon crazy and taking my stuff. 

Anywhooo, the first trip I got $155.53 worth of stuff for $50.05 for a savings of 68%.  That included things like meat, cheese, Poptarts, fruit snacks, Orajel, lots of salad dressing, health and beauty items, and snack food.  Tons of good stuff and some stuff for the stockpile. 

Trip #2 was to the local Marsh in Beech Grove.  It's smaller and I was hoping less people had gone there so I could maybe get some of the stuff that was out at the other one. No such luck.  Actually, I was able to pick up a couple things that the other store didn't have, but a lot of the same stuff was out of stock.  On this trip, got $110.83 worth of stuff for $29.88 for a savings of 74%.  It should have been more, but the lady messed up a coupon at the end that I didn't catch until I got home.  Whatever.

This second trip was also awesome because I did something I've only been able to do in random, small amounts until then.  Because of the tripling of coupons, I made money on some items I bought.  I had a coupon for .50 off two candy bars and one of the bars listed was a Crunch bar.  Those were on sale 2/$1 so I made .50 for each two I bought.  And since I now get three papers each Sunday, I had three coupons so I got six Crunch bars for free and made $1.50.  It was embarrassing how excited I got over this.  Shameful, really.  I was able to do something similar with bottled water that made me $1 besides getting them free.  

I will never go back to getting just one paper a week, three is the perfect number for us.  I can get multiple of something if it's worth it, but never have too much that I don't have a place for it or we won't be able to use it.  

The only bad thing about the Marsh sale was I "technically" didn't have any grocery money left since I had just finished off my money for the two weeks at Meijer on Thursday (although that was also an amazing trip; I got up at 5:00 am [I told you, I've gone off the deep end] and got $123.12 worth of groceries for $35.13--saving 72%!!) so I spent money that wasn't for groceries.  To make things better for my budget when I take out my grocery money this Friday, I'm making up for the cheating.  So my conscious is clear.

I love coupons.

the scrappy, little one

Recap of a 24-hour period in Harper's life:

(or "the tragedy of being the second child")

Wednesday afternoon, 4:00...while filling up Elliott's baby pool, I placed Harper on a blanket in the grass next to the pool.  After about a minute of filling up the pool, I realize that the little hole on the side of the hose is positioned perfectly for spraying Harper in the grass.  For some time she had been lying there getting sprayed with freezing cold water all over her face (mostly) and body.  She didn't even cry.  It might have been hot enough that it was slightly refreshing, but given that she was barely six weeks at the time, I'm not sure that's how she should be cooled down.  Her clothes had to be changed, if that tells you anything about how wet she was.

Thursday, around noon...we got home from running some errands and I let Ellie get in her pool for a little bit before lunch.  While she was swimming, I sat in a lawn chair and fed Harper a bottle.  It was hot and sunny, but she was shaded with a blanket and I thought she was fine.  She chugged 4 oz. in no time flat and then we headed inside to eat lunch.  Halfway through lunch, I notice Harper had spit up a little while sitting in her vibrating chair on the table.  When I went to clean her up, it wasn't just a little spit up.  She had barfed up at least half the bottle and was sitting in it.  And it was cold so it had been there for a minute.  It was completely my fault, I set up the perfect storm: hot and sunny, too much formula, too fast, and then put the baby in the vibrating chair to shake it right out of her.  Good job Mommy.  Added bonus for making her sit in it for who knows how long.

Thursday afternoon, 1:00...so Harper is covered with spit up.  I make her sit in it for a minute more while I get her bath ready (because, really, there was no way around a bath at this point).  She's still little enough that we bathe her in her baby bath in our kitchen sink.  I put the baby bath in the sink and fill it up with water.  About half way through bathing her, I somehow hit the bath so it slips off the side of the sink and collapses into the sink spilling water everywhere and scaring the bejesus out of Harper.  Good thing I was holding her head (because I was washing her hair) or she would have ended up lying in the sink.

Observations:

Harper will be a lot less whiny than Elliott. 

Harper will be tougher than Elliott.

Harper will be scrappier than Elliott.

Harper will be more resilient than Elliott.

Harper will appreciate making it out alive more than Elliott. 

I practiced patience...

One of my grocery/couponing goals recently has been to not spend all my money in one trip which is what I was used to doing for years.  It's been a slow process, but these last couple of weeks I've been getting pretty decent at spending $50-$60 a week and being able to shop every week for good deals, free stuff, etc. 

Moment of truth: with Chris working full time right now, we have more money coming in than normal.  While I'm trying to pay off our car nine months early, I've been cheating a little on the budget.  If I see some deal I just can't pass up, I'll go get it and some times not use my grocery budget money.  So that might be why I've become better at not spending all my money at once.  I don't do this often and really am saving money for each week as opposed to blowing it all the first weekend I have it.  But I might be spending close to $75 a week which is over my budget by $60 a month.  Although my stockpile is starting to look pretty awesome too--and that's mostly because in July and August, I won't be getting a pay check and while we're financially prepared, I would love to be able to spend no more than $30 a week for things like milk, fresh fruits and veggies, and meats (if needed) so we could have some additional spending (or saving) cash.  I'll let you know how that one goes...

My Kroger trip on Thursday was successful for a few reasons.  1.) My receipt says my total savings was $54.60 or 68%, which is awesome.  One blogger I was reading said she felt a good shopping trip was when she saved at least 60% so I've just been really aware of the percentage saved recently and felt this random stranger would be proud and approve of my savings.  Complete normal, right?  2.) I did all this shopping with a two-year-old and a six week old before a doctor's appointment in less than 40 minutes.  I should get an award for that one.

Kroger highlights:

oatmeal = .29

kids toothbrushes = .50 each

Kraft mayo = free

Lays chips = free

Wheat Thins = free

frozen veggies = free

cereal = .24 each

chips = .50 each

rice = .52 each

retail price: $79.96

paid: $25.36

savings: $54.60 or 68%

I am amazing. 

And on another positive note, I have really stepped up my donations to our local food bank.  Like the cereal and oatmeal above aren't really things we'll eat but it was such a good price that it seemed wrong to not take advantage of it.  My goal is to be able to do a monthly donation of multiple bags of groceries and then be able to do random donations for things that come up (like Saturday was the "Stamp Out Hunger" drive through the postal service so I just left a bag of groceries on the front porch and the mailman took it) or a food drive at school, church, etc.  Another reason to love coupons, I get to share more with others.

Great Great

In the mail on Friday, Elliott got a birthday present! Okay, so her birthday was over three months ago, but my Great Aunt Sue (Ellie’s Great Great Aunt Sue) couldn’t make it and then never got to the post office to mail it in a timely manner (which is how all my cards and presents that are mailed also get sent: really late…). But it is super-cute and well worth the wait (actually, I didn’t know we were waiting on something, so it was really just a surprise).

How cute is this bag???

It’s called “My Busy Bag” and was full of paper, coloring books, crayons, and books. If I knew how to sew, I would definitely copy this thing. But, alas, I cannot, so I’m just bragging about it.


On the front, she embroidered the alphabet and numbers with some pictures. On the back, besides “My Busy Bag,” it has Elliott’s initials. I love it.

Thanks Great Great Aunt Sue!

Love, Ellie

(America's Next Top Model)

harper kimery

Like I said before, I had another baby. And this labor went really well. I would like to encourage all women to be induced instead of going into labor naturally. Okay, not really, but if you have to be induced, seriously, it's awesome. I was worried about it. Needless.    

Harper finally made her appearance on Thursday, March 31st at 9:37 PM. She weighed 8 lbs., 7 oz., and was 21 inches long. She was 4 ounces heavier than Elliott, but 1/2 inch shorter. She had TONS of hair. We thought Elliott had lots of hair? No, that was nothing compared to this babe.   And it's funny, because currently (at 6 weeks) it does nothing but stand up like a mohawk. Which is funny and cute all at the same time.

We chose her name pretty much like we did Elliott's--disagreeing a whole lot and then going with the first one we both liked. Although I've loved the name Harper since first reading To Kill a Mockingbird in fourth grade. (Yes, I loved the book then, but didn't understand it completely until reading it again in high school. And I didn't start to be in awe of it until teaching it when I was doing my student teaching.) Chris said he got to pick Elliott's name (which I don't remember happening, but whatever) so I got to make the majority of the decision this time. And I took advantage of that when choosing the middle name.

Kimery is my maternal grandmother's maiden name; I've always felt like my babies should have some name from me also (and not just that I named them). I felt left out that they got to be Grahams and not Ritters also...and yes, I understand that having bore them, they are "technically" Ritters, but you know what I mean. I didn't drop my maiden name when I got married (my middle name is now Elisabeth-Ritter) and at one time, years before we had kids, we had discussed hyphening our children's names with Ritter also. I just wanted them to have my name. I loved my last name; it's who I was for 25 years and who I still am.

I'm a Ritter.

    

And while we scrapped the hyphened middle name idea a long time ago, I needed something from my family in a name. So we made Harper's middle name Kimery. Funny, but it's not even from the Ritter side, but it's my family. My grandma. My crazy, loving, knobby-fingered grandma that doesn't always wear underwear and sometimes cusses just to shock her grandkids. And I want my kids to know her now while she’s here and remember her when she’s not, because that is better than giving them my family's name--it's better just to give them my family.

(Raarrrrr)

Harper meeting her big sister.

Welcome to the world, Harper Kimery.  I pray you be kind, loving, patient, onry, smart, and best friends with your sister.  I can't wait to see what you have in store for the world and how you will change it.  God is going to write you an amazing story. 

sharing time

Just came across this "25 Random Share" on my Facebook page.  I wrote it in January 2009, about two weeks before Elliott Quinn was born, everyone was doing them at the time (it was peer pressure and boredom on a snow day that made me do it).  I found it interesting; some things I still do, some things I've outgrown, some fears didn't come true, and some things are exactly the same.  You figure out which one is which...

1. I love to make lists. Sometimes I make lists and include things I've already done just so I can feel like I'm accomplishing things.

2. I think my husband is the funniest person in the world. And most of the time he's not trying to be funny, he's being serious. Which makes it even funnier.


3. I constantly pick my nose while driving. And I don't find it embarrassing if people see me. Everyone has boogers--get over it.


4. I love my dog a LOT. And I hope that doesn't change when I have my baby because that would make me sad for my dog.


5. Being on time is against my religion. Even when I get ready early I always find something else to do before I leave...like watch TV or clean up the kitchen.


6. My master's program will be over in six months and I'm still afraid of getting an email one day that says they accidently let me in and i've just wasted a year of my life. I feel very out of place there.


7. Sometimes I throw things away that I know I will need later just because I hate clutter and don't know where to put it at the time.


8. I have "accidently lost" shirts of Chris' that I don't want him to wear anymore. He just finally said something about one of them this weekend and it's been gone since Thanksgiving.


9. Just for fun, I wish I could go back and relive my freshman year of high school. It was so much fun, and carefree and stupid and hilarious. I loved being a freshman more than I did being a senior. Except for the David Neilan part, I could do without that...


10. I hate teaching middle school. And I hate it even more that people think I'm good at my job and so they give me more responsibility--and I can't say no.


11. We have to buy a second car soon and even though I hate the idea of it, I think we're going to buy a mini-van. But I secretly think it would be funny to own one. But I would be embarrassed to drive it. Catch-22.


12. Even though I have a HORRIBLE voice, when I'm alone in the car, I pretend that I can sing really well and sometimes it brings a tear to my eye how awesome it sounds. But then I do the trick where you plug your ears and you can really hear yourself and I realize I still suck.


13. Sometimes I daydream about the fat kid across the street that broke our window (on purpose) this summer and all the torturous things I would do to him. I don't think I've hated a person as much as I hate that kid.


14. If I could do any job in the world I would do one of two things: open a bakery and bake delicious things all day or be a personal organizer. Nothing makes me happier than organizing things.


15. I have an unhealthy obsession with House, MD. I wish he were real and my doctor. He could deliver my baby and then we could get married. Chris said it would be okay.


16. I handle all the finances, all the shopping, all the bills, all the responsibilities in our marriage. If I died, Chris would have no idea how much money we have, what bank it is at, what bills would have to be paid, or even where our life insurance policies are...I have tried to tell him all these things and he just doesn't care.


17. I'm afraid my baby is going to have a lazy eye and it will be all my fault.


18. When I start reading a book I can do nothing until it is finished. I stay in bed and read, don't shower, and if I have to go somewhere I take the book with me (I even once tried reading while driving). I can't stand not knowing what happens next.


19. I'm afraid to clean the tops of my doors--I can see the dust, it's been there since we moved in a year and a half ago and it drives me crazy, but I'm afraid to actually clean it.


20. Ten years ago, I would have never predicted this would be my life.


21. One of my new favorite things to do is sit on Christine's couch with stacks of celebrity gossip magazines and talk about them like we know them. This is a guilty pleasure I will never tire of.


22. I hate feet with a passion. I don't care how cute you think yours are--they're not.


23. On occasion I buy jewelry I know I will never wear just because I think it will look pretty hanging in my closet.


24. If people would just do what I say all the time, the world would be a much happier place. I truly believe this.


25. If I could eat Egg Roll #1 everyday, I would. I love that place and their pad thai with chicken extra spicy. I have them on speed dial and they know my voice when I call.

ooh, the guilt...

Well, I've been gone for over a month.  There's a good excuse, I had this...

Yep, that's right, I had an Magnadoodle.  Just kidding, I had a baby.  And that's Elliott's drawing of her.  She's super-cute, huh?  She looks just like me. 

So I feel kinda bad that my first post in over a month isn't about my newborn daughter, she does deserve her own post, but this one is about coupons and good deals.  See where the guilt is coming from?  Good.  Now that that is out of the way, here's my glorious hauls from Kroger and Meijer.

Oh wait, two random things: I'm getting a lot better about spending small amounts of money and making multiple trips over two weeks as opposed to one giant trip and then no trips until the next pay day.  I do like it better and feel I'm getting more for my money that way (that might just be in my head though).  Also, a lot of times when I go to get my groceries, some of the items I want that are really good deals (due to being on sale and having an amazing coupon) are out of stock.  That's to be expected when so many more people are couponing lately (I blame the stupid Extreme Couponing shows that made everyone coupon crazy...I was doing this first people!!), but when I go to pay, I forget to take those coupons out of the stack I hand the cashier.  I seriously do not do this on purpose; I miss some good deals or getting free stuff because I hand over my coupons and they aren't paying attention (and, apparently, neither am I...) because they just scan them, take that amount off my bill, and don't even realize I didn't buy that item or items.  Which would seem like a good thing (and why my Kroger bill from last night was less than it should have been), but I really don't want to just get money off for no reason and then I don't have the coupon for when the item is in stock again.  Boo.  So I'm now working on paying more attention to what coupons I hand over, because this has happened a lot recently. 

Meijer 

 the highlights:

-two Ice Mountain Aquapods = free!

-two Propel waters = .18

-two Dole pineapples = .58

-two Thai Kitchen rice bowls = 1.00

-Aunt Millie's hot dog buns = .11

-two Vlasic relish = .38

-five Archway cookies = 4.45 (.89 each)

-three Betty Crocker brownie mixes = 1.50

retail price = $67.96

paid = $24.82

savings = $43.14 or 64%

Kroger

the highlights:

-three Reach floss = free!

-two Kraft singles = 1.58

-two Boulder Canyon chips = free!

-six Quaker rice cakes = 2.74 (.45 each)

-one Creamette pasta = free!

-two cartons of strawberries = 2.00

retail price = $57.13

paid = $16.41

($6 of that was a pork loin that was on sale,

so take the meat away, and I got all that stuff for $10.41)

savings = $40.72 (71%)

*Disclaimer: I was supposed to buy some deoderant and Listerine pocket packs (whatever those are...) when I was at Kroger, but they were all out.  I forgot to take out my coupons for those items (that would have been free) and the cashier rang them through without questioning and so I ended up saving an additional $3 than I should have.  Oops.

Still pumped about my savings though and I'm hoping to get my budget down to $100 every two weeks in the near future.  I think that might be pushing it (we're at $120 right now) and with Harper's formula, I'm not exactly sure how that will work, but it's a goal.

Also because of my extended maternity leave, I'm taking about five weeks unpaid (boo) and that means I don't get a pay check for most of July and all of August. While that will suck, we've prepared financially so that everything will be covered, but I would love to have enough of a stockpile built up that I can spend $30-$40 a week as opposed to the $60 a week I have planned for.  That would make me super-happy and save us some major grocery bucks.  Fingers crossed.