10 Baseline ways to save more

Hello, my name is Amanda, and I was a coupon skeptic...

Hi, Amanda.

My favorite couponer from TLC's Extreme Couponers. Her husband lost his job, but her stockpile kept them fed for over a year. Here, she is recylcing bin diving for coupons.... I am not this committed.

It's true. I really thought that these people were making up their stories because so many of the coupons you see say "Limit one coupon per purchase," "May not be combined with any other offer," or "Limit ___ number of coupons per customer."

But with these simple rules that I learned, sometimes learned the hard and expensive way, hopefully you can get a sense of how to get started!

I'm excited for you!!


Base 1: Learn what coupons can be combined with what other offers.

Manufacturer coupons (the ones in the Sunday paper or can be printed online that can be used at any store) cannot be "stacked," or used with a similar coupon on one item. But, Manufacturer coupons can be stacked with Store Coupons to increase your savings.

For instance, Gain detergent is $6.99 at Hyvee. I have a Manufacturer coupon for $2.00/1. I cannot use two of these coupons on this one bottle of detergent. But, if I have a Hyvee coupon for $2.00/1 (typically found in the Wednesday paper circulars and ads), I can use this coupon and the Manufacturer coupon for a total of $4.00 savings.

Also, find what stores will double coupons in your area. I have one grocery store in a 30 mile radius that will double coupons up to $0.50. (So $0.50 coupons become worth $1.00, but $0.55 remains $0.55. Does that make sense? Who knows if I'm explaining this clearly...)

Base 2: Make a list of items that you will never, ever, EVER buy if its not your particular brand.

I really like Secret deodorant. I will never use any other brand of deodorant. I really like Maybelline mascara. I will never use any other brand of mascara.

Hello, my name is Amanda, and I am a brand snob.

Hi, Amanda!

These are things, deodorant and mascara, that I will not buy outside of these brands unless I plan to donate it. When you start couponing, and if you're not disciplined like me, you tend to get carried away with the amazing deals. You will buy frivolous stuff, but if you can be disciplined and stick to your brands when you deem them absolutely irreplaceable, you'll save yourself money, time, and guilt later.

Base 3: Try non-name brand goodies.

I'm serious. Unless an item satisfies Base 2, try new brands, that may not be as popular. Soda, pasta, canned goods, toothpaste, toothbrushes, body wash, and (some) laundry detergents all have identical ingredients (yes, I have checked). In fact, some of the canned goods will have lower sodium than the name brand goods! So jump outside of your comfort zone, and try a new "brand."

Just do it.

Base 4: Once you start couponing, keep a log book.

I have a green spiral notebook filled with grocery items categorized by the lowest sale prices offered by stores, the date these sales occurred, the coupons I used to get the best deal, and the price per unit. This log ensures that I will never pay more for an item than I have in the past.

For instance: Charmin Bath Tissue (24 rolls). Bought at Hen House on 7/24/2011. On sale for $5.75. Used $0.25 coupon that doubled to $0.50. Paid $5.25. $0.22/roll. (Bought 2 packs)

Unless I run out of toilet paper completely, I will never pay more than $0.22/roll of toilet paper, again. The deal happened once; it will happen again.

When I first started couponing, I would call any one who went shopping with me to tell me if we got the item for less than the current sale price. Write it down. You will save yourself, and your shopping buddies, a lot of headaches and annoyance.

Base 5: Be willing to go to multiple stores.

I go to 3 grocery stores and 2 pharmacies every week. I spend 3 hours shopping a week, including driving time. It's worth it when you get the best deal, and many grocery stores are a stone's throw away from each other.

Base 6: Make a budget and stick to it

When I first established my budget before couponing, I has $100/week to spend on groceries and necessities. I have not spent $100/week, cooking for 2-4 people (my friends enjoy my cooking) a day for at least 2 meals, since I began couponing. Now, I use the overage to buy useful stockpile items, like pudding, ketchup, cereal, shampoo, toothpaste, etc., and donate these items to my city's homeless shelters and food banks. Point is, you can get a lot on a limited budget.

Base 7: Make a weekly meal plan on items that are on sale that week

For example: This week, canned beans, ground beef, and Kraft cheese is on sale. I'm making chili.

If there is nothing on sale that you believe you can make a dinner out of, reach into your stockpile. This will be rare, trust me!

Base 8: Limit your time spent with coupons

Seriously, try and stay away from your computer or Sunday paper after you save your first 70% on weekly groceries. Like any hobby, it can take over your life. Use in moderation. I speak from experience.

Hello, my name is Amanda, and I am a coupon addict.

Hello, Amanda. Amanda... Amanda... PUT THE COUPONS DOWN!!! Walk away...

This may be a true story... I plead the fifth...

Base 9: It's almost always cheaper not to buy it

Ty's words of wisdom. Often he is my voice of reason when I'm distracted by a 50% off tag.

When I first started couponing, I bought things because I could get them for a great deal. I would break Base 5 because I thought, "It's only a few dollars over." A few dollars adds up each week, even if you're getting things for greater than 70% off. And, there is no greater sense of guilt than seeing those items in my stockpile that I have never, EVER used. Shame!

Donate it and move on... if to assuage your guilt more than anything.

If you can live without it, ask yourself why you are really buying it. Unless it's a splurge item, I try to say no. Or my voice of reason says no for me.

Base 10: Donate your extras

1) Yay, I have 10 items. I am just neurotic enough that if I had thought of 11 I would go back and delete one to post later.
2) No body needs >10 tubes of toothpaste a year. Unless you are the Duggar family and have 19 children should you keep that much toothpaste.

Items like toothpaste will always be on sale, and you will always get them for $0.50-0.75. But instead of not buying the toothpaste after you have a sufficient stockpile, please consider buying and donating.

Why? Isn't that wasting my money?

Let me tell you a story...

I volunteer as a medical aid at a free clinic. The majority of my patients are homeless, and cannot afford their next meal, let alone a tube of toothpaste. On a somewhat regular basis, I bring in soap, toothpaste, deodorant, toothbrushes, and shampoo. When the "patient" leaves for the day, they get one of each item.  As I was handing out toothpaste at the door of the clinic, one of my patients looked at me and said, "I've never had my own toothpaste. I never thought I would even hold Crest toothpaste."

$0.50 for a tube of 4 oz. Crest toothpaste. THAT is not wasting your money.

Well, my friends, I hope you find these baselines helpful when starting your couponing journey. Leave a comment if you have any questions!

Couponing Trip 9/23

New feature of Doctoring it up! Little known fact about me, that I suppose I am making a more well known fact by posting it on the world wide web, is that I am a semi-extreme couponer.

I say "semi" because, no, I do not walk out of the store 100% of the time with 100% savings. (I've only been paid by the grocery store in coupon overage twice, amounting to $4.53 total) But, I do have a stockpile (that is slowly taking over what little extra space I have in my apartment) and will walk out of the store saving 50% or more on my weekly groceries.

Some of my friends have asked me to share my tricks of the couponing trade so I thought what better than to post it on my blog.

Is couponing a word? Can coupons be active?

I vote yes, even if Microsoft Word spell check disagrees.

So here are some links for coupons that aren't found in your paper along with my shopping list, so you can get an idea of what this stuff is all about! In the next few days, I plan to post my "rules" or things that I wish I knew before I started couponing. (Take that Microsoft Word spell check!)

Couponing. Couponing. Couponing. I feel rebellious!

 $0.50/1 Old El Paso product
$1.50/1 Macaroni Grill Frozen Product
$0.55/1 International Delight coffee creamer

My trip this week...

Sorry the photo is overexposed... that 8 am light is stronger than my curtains and blinds!
3 Hamburger Helper meals, 5 assorted Ziploc storage bag boxes (20ct bags), 5 Rice-a-Roni (Ty's favorite side dish), 2 feminine products, 3lbs of onions, 2 Macaroni Grill Frozen dinners, 6lbs chicken breast, 2 boxes taco shells (for Taco Friday dinners!), 2 gallons vegetable oil, 1 International Delight Coffee Creamer, Softsoap hand soap.

Retail price: $78.32

I paid: $36.07
Total savings: 54%

Combined with other items in my stock pile... I will have all the ingredients for this weeks menu plus extra items to add to my stockpile.

Proof is in the pudding.

Hope this teaser was enough to entice you to come back to learn more!

Bella and her green ball

I was a big hero a few days ago. A hero deserving of a few howls of joy and a couple of puppy kisses.

I found Bella's long lost ball. Bella, my 11 month old Shiba Inu puppy, is my pride and joy. I mean look at that face.

Too precious.

The ball had been missing for a few months. Honestly, I thought it got lost in the woods behind the apartment. Bella was crushed, I think. Maybe a little glimmer in her eye was muted by her loss. A glimmer that sparked again when I found the ball under the couch while vacuuming.

But she didn't want to play fetch. No, she wanted to taunt Ty and I with it.

This is my ball

I try to grab the ball.
Haha! ....my ball.

Go ahead, try and take it.

Too slow!

Squirrel!

Huh... Ummm... Errrr...

 
What was I saying? 

Oh, Bells, you're too precious!

Nana's Peach Pie

Besides her chocolate cake, Nana always had a peach or apple pie for dessert after her delicious and elaborate dinners. Considering it's summer, and here in Missouri peaches are plentiful for under $1.00/pound, I decided Nana's peach pie would grace my delicious, not so elaborate dinner table.

Like most Americans who are also football enthusiasts, this weekend was our fantasy football team draft. There is no better excuse to eat homemade pretzels, layered dip, or pie, than watching baseball, while drafting your perfectly planned team.

Just as exciting, if not much more, Ty's parents were coming through KC to stop by for dinner. Again, no better excuse for peach pie.

Actually, I can't think of a better excuse for peach pie, than...well... it's peach pie.

I always make my filling first. I've worked really hard to perfect my peach peeling techniques, so here is a fast tutorial! First, cut an x across the entire peach. Everyone says over the bottom but cut the whole darn thing... it makes peeling soooo much easier!

Then dip the peaches in boiling water for 1-2 minutes. You'll see the skin start pulling away from the flesh (um ew, that was a gross analogy for peachy goodness).

Immediately, drop the peaches into ice water. See the skin is already starting to peel!

Peel away...

Then slice them up!

Next, mix the fruits, sugars, and lemon juice so the filling will have more time to "macerate" (or get more delicious) while I'm making my crust.

Add your peaches, brown sugar, lemon juice, flour, pinch of salt, and cinnamon.

Mix well... um... YUM!! Taste to make sure it tastes right... or because you can't resist. Let sit, if you can, until your crust is ready.

Cut your flour, sugar, salt, and shortening until it looks like this... I really have no idea what course meal looks like, but everyone says that's what pie crust looks like at this stage. I guess when I really do see course meal, I'll think, "Huh, looks like pie crust." (Oh, and Pioneer Woman has suggested butter and leaf lard for the "best crust" per a wonderful blog about pies and pie crusts, but gee is it hard to find leaf lard, and I like my crust. I will try it next time.)

Then add in just enough cold water until it comes together.

Divide dough in half and roll out each. Sorry mine looks like a square; maybe it looks like a square because it is. Place in pie plate.

Pour out your delicious filling. And maybe take another taste. Dot with butter (This is the only time I used salted butter... well, dotting pies and smearing my toast in the morning. But, whatev. I keep it in the fridge for this reason only. Yummy toast is just a bonus.)

Cover with other rolled out crust. Cut out slits so your pie can breath. Brush with egg wash (and maybe sprinkle some more sugar on the wet crust. I think it adds pizazz . And finally, bake that pie!

Pie number one:

And, pie number two... with ooey gooey goodness.

Thank you, Nana, for your chocolate cake, peach pie, and so many delicious memories.

I think our football enthused friends (including the Mayme and Mike's bun in the oven) liked the pie, and I know Ty's parents... specifically his dad... loved the pie. And really what's not to love: flaky crust, gorgeous, ripe (and cheap!) Missouri fruit, sugar, butter? I find no flaws in this plan.

Nana's Peach Pie

4 lbs. peaches, peeled, and sliced
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 t. lemon juice
pinch of salt
2 T. flour

2 c. flour
2/3 c. shortening
pinch salt
2 T. sugar
5-7 T. cold water

2 T. salted butter

Mix all filling ingredients. Let sit until crust is ready.

Combine flour, salt, and sugar. Cut in shortening until it resembles course meal. Add in water slowly, until dough just comes together. Divide dough in half and roll out each one inch diameter larger than the pie plate. Place dough in pie plate. Pour in filling. Dot with 2 T. salted butter. Place second rolled out dough on top of pie. Crimp edges.

Bake pie for 45 min at 425F.

Let cool for at least 4 hours before slicing.

Enjoy!

Doctoring up Doctoring it up

Hey guys,

I want to take this whole blogging thing more seriously. I will be revamping the site and my content in next month. Doctoring it up will now include ways to doctor up your shopping with coupons, your weekly meals with healthy but delicious comfort foods, and of course your weekly desserts. Hope you all enjoy the changes.

Love,
Mandie

Sometimes simplest is best...

Have you ever not gone to the gym for about a month? Then, when you (I) realize that it's been that long (maybe like me when your pants fit just a little tighter), you (I) have the hardest time getting motivated to get out of bed early enough to hit a one hour work out before work. But I'm not here to talk about my failed work outs...

Maybe...

I'm here to talk about how my lack of exercise had triggered a lack of baking... Yes, I am human, and I cannot have cake, cupcakes, cookies, etc in the house without devouring them until my stomach refuses to stretch any more.

But, I am back, and what better way to start baking again than with a simple honey wheat bread?! Just like I needed to start slow when I jumped back on my treadmill (or I wasn't motivated enough to start faster... I plead the fifth), I'll start slow with what I really know.

This recipe came from my simpler times at the county fair pageants. This honey wheat bread won first prize at the Boone County Fair when I was competing for Fair Queen. (Perks of competing in a fair pageant: judging BBQ, baking, and ham contests!) I loved the bread from the moment I smelled it. It's not yeasty, and not too sweet. Just a soft, lightly sweetened bread that makes me feel better about the carbs by being a wheat bread. It won my heart... and the ribbon.

Honey Wheat Bread

yields 2 loaves

- 1 package rapid rise yeast
-1 t. sugar
-1/2 c. warm water
- 1 c. milk
-1/4 c. water
-1/4 c. melted shortening
-1/4 c. honey
-2 t. salt
-2 c. whole wheat flour
-3 c. bread flour
-1 T. room temperature butter plus additional for buttering after baked

Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let sit for 5 min. Combine milk, 1/4 c. water, shortening, honey, salt, and wheat flour in stand mixer. Mix in yeast mixture. Let rest for 15 min. Slowly add in bread flour. Only add enough to make bread pull away from sides and bottom of bowl. Knead for 5-8 min, or until the dough springs back when pinched. Place the dough in a bettered bowl, and trun to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rise for 45 min or until doubled.

Punch dough down. Divide dough in half and roll out each half to form loaves. Place loaves in buttered bread pans. Spread butter on top of dough. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise 30 more min or until doubled.

Preheat oven to 375F. Bake bread for 20-30 min, or until tops are golden and bread sounds hallow when "thunked" (yes that's a technical term for flicked, or tapped). Butter the top with additional butter. Let cool completely before slicing.

Enjoy!!

Throwdown Peach and Blackberry Pie

Ignore the messy cutting board underneath... focus on how delicious that pie looks!!

While I'm not a huge fan of Throwdown with Bobby Flay on Food Network, some of his recipes sound too good to resist. And me, being the biggest fan of pies out there, knew when he threwdown with two adorable old pie ladies and won, that I had to try this recipe out! 

Never before have I been more proud of a pie. I mean really, it's gorgeous. It's the type of pie that I would be proud to take to the county fair and would be surprised if I didn't come home with some sort of ribbon. The crust is a GREAT recipe: really easy to work with and sooooo flaky! I skipped the alcohol in the fruit simply because it's not my style, but extra peach and current flavor wouldn't hurt I am sure. I brought this pie with me on a visit to my boyfriend's parents, and we all agreed that this is a pie we would pay money for!

Throwdown Peach and Blackberry Pie

recipe adapted from Bobby Flay, Throwdown.

Crust:
2 1/2 c. flour, plus more for rolling
2 T. sugar
1/2 t. salt
10 T. chilled butter, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1/2 c. chilled solid shortening, cut into pieces
4-7 T. ice water

Combine the flour, sugar, salt in the bowl of a food processor and pulse a few times to combine.

Scatter the butter and shortening over the top of the flour mixture and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal.  Add the water a few tablespoons at a time and pulse until the dough just comes togehter.  Remove the dough from the machine and lightly knead on the flat surface until it just comes together.  Form into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 375F.

Filling:
3 lbs mixed yellow and white peaches, peeled pitted, and sliced
1/3 to 1/2 c. brown sugar
1/3 to 1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 t. ground cinnamon
1 1/4 t. ground ginger
1/2 t. ground fresh nutmeg
2 T. peach eau de vie (I didn't use this, but I'm sure it would only make the pie better)
1/4 c. cornstarch
1 c. fresh blackberries
2 T. cassis (again, didn't use)
2 T. cold butter, cut into small pieces
2-3 T. heavy cream
2-3 T. sugar

Combine peaches, sugars, cinnamon, ginger, nutmep, peach eau de vie and cornstarch in a large bowl and mix until well combined. Toss the blackberries with the cassis. Let sit for 10 min, then use a slotted spoon to spoon the berries into the peaches and toss. 

Divide the dough in half and roll each half out on a lightly floured surface.  Line pie plate with one rolled out dough, scoop the filling into the lined pie plate, and pour extra juice over filling.  Dot with butter. Cover with other rolled out dough. Cut slits to vent out steam. Press edges down and crimp. Bake pie for 1 hour. Cool pie at least 3-4 hours.

Enjoy!