Monday, October 31, 2011

Learning Games: Letter Recognition and Handwriting Prepartion

A few weeks ago, I was honored to start guest posting at the blog The B Keeps Us Honest, created and edited by my longtime friend Jessica. In my first post, I shared how my oldest (Regus 1) was a reluctant writer. I shared our journey and some tips for encouraging handwriting through activities.

Today, I'd like to add to that by sharing another activity to help garner interest in handwriting. Plus, it's a great tool to help in letter recognition. Now, don't be daunted by my uber-fancy craft supplies: construction paper.

I took a large piece of construction paper and wrote large capital letters. As you can see, I had to use both sides. This has turned out to be a blessing! The boys love this activity so much that they can only wait until the other has done one side before begging to jump in the game. It's been loved well, so don't mind the dings and rough edges.



I used the same strips of paper (straight lines and various sized curves), as I mentioned in my guest post. The cool thing is that each strip of paper represents a stroke of the pencil!

Today, I have Darth Vader (Regus 2, the 4 yr old) demonstrating for you. Plus, you may see his older brother (aka Optimus Prime) overseeing the work. At some point, it looks like the letter "A" got smudged. It didn't seem to hold them back.

It is such a privilege to teach my children and see them having fun while learning!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Thrifty Thursday: Time to Re-purpose the Ol' Pile of T-Shirts

You know you have them... the lurking pile of old t-shirts. I've been saving them for projects but didn't really have any direction. My sewing pile has started to take over one wall in my room. In order to prevent my hubby from having to conduct an intervention for me, I've decided to get rid of them. By "get rid of them," I mean re-purposing them.

Week 1. Here's my pile. Over the next few Thursdays, I'm going to post a new completed project. {Deep breath} Wish me luck or say a prayer! I hope you enjoy the journey!



My Goal. I want to use only what items I have in my home to create not only something new but also something useful. Meaning, I will not make any new purchases to complete each project. I may have to get creative (that's the point, right) with the thread. Contrasting threads are always a little a lot daunting, as it highlights every stitch.

The options. I want to do more than just cut them into rags. Here are some of the project ideas I've found from around the web:

T-shirt necklace. I'm going to follow the vlog by Simply Rebekah. It could also double as a scarf, which will be perfect for the approaching, cooler weather.

Re-usable bag. I love re-usable bags! Some stores will give you a credit, if you bring your own bags.

Scarf. I had a friend on facebook make a scar out of t-shirts, and it seemed super simple. I ran across another tutorial today and am going to give it a try.

T-shirt embellishment. I'll be honest. This pretty petal tee seems to be the most daunting to me. I don't know if it's the super, cool photography or the fact that the embellishment and t-shirt are exactly the same color.

Ruffly Cardigan. This one looks super cool.

Bean bags. I've been meaning to make some bean bags for my Creative Movement class (fun to pass around in a game or balance on their heads while they "tippy toe" walk).

Units. Haha! Just kidding. Those of us that had to endure these over-sized outfits in the 80s will enjoy the flashback! Well, I have to admit that making Units was one of my first sewing projects, so I at least had to mention this, right?

Have you made anything from old T-shirts or know of any other great ideas? Please share!

You can comment here or on facebook or twitter. Can't wait to hear from you!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Wordless Wednesday: My Outdoorsman and My City Boy


On a recent trip to Tennessee, the boys played in a nearby creek. Their personalities really came through. Regus 2 (in the brown) is my outdoorsman. He was quite steady on his feet and didn't mind it. However, Regus 1 (in the blue) is my city boy and had quite a hard time keeping his balance. He didn't want to stay for too long.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

The Questions. Oh, the Questions!

My Regus 1 just turned 6 last month, and we officially started K-5 in September. Yes, he missed the cut-off date for starting K-5 last year. I was the same way (September baby), and my Mom said she was thankful for it. I was not really ready for school until almost 6. When I started, I loved it, and I still love learning. Until now, we've been doing preschool and some mildy-structured "learning time," which he has enjoyed. However, it wasn't until the past few months that I've seen a BIG increase in his curiosity.

These are the BIG life questions:

"When are you having a baby, Mommy?" (I'm not pregnant, but he's ready for another brother but not a sister. Yes, he has very clear demands.)

"Why don't I have a big belly like Daddy?" (Albeit, Daddy has lost almost all his belly. I've never seen anyone more committed to getting up before the sun to exercise. I need some of that motivation!)

"Where is God?"

"Why can't I be inside your eyes?"

This is so exciting. I love trying to answer his questions. Many of my responses to him are met with more questions. So far, I'm just beaming from getting the opportunity to be the one to answer his questions. Plus, Regus 2 is paying attention and asking some of his own questions about God... I love it!!!!

To "cash in" on this curiosity, we've been doing more work in the yard and my gradual attempt at a garden (I've turned the area in front of the house, intended for ornamental shrubs, into an herb garden.). He loves walking through the yard, checking on all my plants with me. He's so gentle with the leaves. It's a far cry from 2-3 years ago when my plants where the "enemy," and he was the valiant knight with a sword. He's really growing up.

The other day, I let the boys pick out 5 different leaves and "help" me take a picture of them. A few days later, we picked up a few field guides from the library. It was fun to thumb through them and try to find our trees. I had NO idea we had so many different types of oak trees in our yard!

I love to learn, and I pray that I can nurture their curiosity.

Has your child started with the "Questions"? What has been your favorite?

Monday, October 24, 2011

A Jar of Laughs

I was inspired by a post on Life As Mom to create a memory jar. For us, I am always afraid I'm going to forget them. Well, I decided to name my  jar, "A Jar of Laughs." I've put it on my kitchen counter with a pad of paper and pen. No more excuses!




Our boys keep us laughing, and I just had to share this one. It happened a while ago, but it's definitely going in the jar!

One Saturday afternoon in the Spring, we decided to head out to get some lunch. Unsure of where we wanted to dine, hubby and I asked the boys where they wanted to go. We had NO idea that we would be witnessing something memorable. Keep in mind that Regus 2 was 3, at the time; and Regus 1 was 5. Regus 2 was having a hard time pronouncing his L's, and he used it to his full advantage.

Me: Where do you guys want to go for lunch today?

Regus 2: Chick-a-WAY!! (translation: Chick-fil-A)

Regus 1: (Misunderstanding what his brother said) Chicken LEG??!! No, that's not how you say it. It's Chick-fa-LAY.

Regus 2: (busting out laughing) Haha! Chicken-weg.

Regus 1: (In complete and total seriousness) ˆNO! Chick-fa-LAY.

Regus 2: (In a devious laugh) Hehe... Chick-en? Weg?

Regus 1: No.no.no! Say it with me: Ch - i - ck - fa - LAY!

Regus 2: Oh, ok... (with a slow smile) chick-en-WEG!

Regus 1: Aghhhhhh! No! Chick-fa-LAY!

Regus 2: (in a singing voice and bouncing in his carseat) Chicken weg! Chicken weg!

Regus 1: STOP SAYING "chicken leg"!

While Regus 1 was saying above, Regus 2 started saying quietly and slowly got louder)

Regus 2: Chick-en-weg. Chick-en-weg. Chick-en-WEG. Chick-en-WEG!

At this point, Hubby and I are doing our best not to laugh hysterically.

This same conversation continued for about 5 minutes until Regus 1 (the older of the two, mind you) was getting way too frustrated and not understanding his brother's taunting. We finally had to step in and ask Regus 2 not to pester his big brother. Ah, the art of pestering, peppered with comedic timing. They learn it so young.

Now, I just have to think of a way to keep my favorite stories. Any ideas on what to do with them after the jar is full?

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Today, I Choose...

I remember a plaque my parents had in their house. It was a portion for Scripture from Joshua 24:15"
"...but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (KJV)
As a little girl, I thought this was something my parents were forcing me to do. I have to serve the Lord. Don't get me wrong, it has meant a lot to me that my parents are a real example of God's unconditional love. However, I just didn't get why I had to be involved in their choice.

As an adult, I am beginning to understand this more. Everyday, we are bombarded with choices. God has given us free will because he wants our choice of Him to be done freely, not out of force. I see this Scripture as making a mental note to choose to listen to HIM.

Everyday, I have the choice to let the circumstances around me dictate my self-confidence and direction in life, or I can choose to find the silver lining in any situation.

What do I choose to do today?

Do I want to live in regret that something does not turn out exactly as planned? For me, living in regret is like closing my eyes and choosing NOT to see the beauty around me. Yes, things happen differently than we initially expect, but we can not control other people (even if we think we can). There are too many variables in life to control them all. I can be responsible for how I conduct myself when life throws me lemons or a curve ball happens.


I chose to be thankful for the experiences of today and know that the Father can help me find His joy in any situation.

I choose to find His beauty around me. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right? So, I chose to see with His eyes today.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Wordless Wednesday: Well, Sort of...

We were at a park recently and found this sign to be hilarious. Apparently, my four-year old can't play in there. Haha! I'm sure that's not what they intended, but it was too funny. I tried to not look like the goofy one, taking the picture.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Staying Organized and Under Budget: Shopping with Kids

A few weeks ago, I shared how I keep up with my menu plan and shopping list. And last week, I gave a beginner tutorial for clipping coupons. This week, I want to share how that plan keeps me sane at the grocery store... while shopping with kids. Yes, you can grocery shop with your children. I've had many strangers come up to me in the grocery store to tell me that they can't shop with their kids. Most of them have come up to me (conveniently) while one of the boys is throwing something out of the cart or unhappy. If you thought my kids were perfect... OK, I'll stop laughing now.

Why would I be crazy enough to take two boys to the grocery store(s), when I could get it done faster without them and without any fits? In my perspective, that wouldn't do any of us any good. Granted, I do try to sneak in a late-night grocery shopping trip, after hubby and I have put them to bed. That way, I can roam the aisles in a little quiet. However, there are a couple of reasons that I want to take them with me:
  1. I want to go shopping when I need to go shopping, rather than trying to find someone to watch the kids. Hubby often works late or is "on call," so I need to be able to do my grocery shopping around my schedule. 
  2. My kids need to learn how to act in a grocery store. It's not a playground, and they need to let others shop in peace.
  3. It's a wonderful learning opportunity for them... all the colors in the produce department... all the signs with numbers!
I am learning that there are things that I can do to reduce meltdowns and tantrums. Here's what has worked for me.

I do have one caviat. Just so you don't think I'm superwoman, I did not start this until my youngest was down to just a morning and afternoon nap. Things got much easier, when there was only one nap involved; but it's do-able with two naps. When I had a newborn, we did take advantage of Lowes Foods to Go, which is a personal shopping service offered by the grocery store. This kept me sane in those first few weeks.

My Plan

Start small. Start with one or two stores, at first. If you have a shopping plan, you won't spend needless time browsing the aisles. Instead, you'll be able to pick up the few items on your list and check out. As they get the idea and you get more confident, you can add more stores. 

Get them on board. When I do my bi-monthly grocery shopping, I give them a couple-day's notice that we are coming up on our "shopping day." My youngest usually asks (while holding up 5 fingers), "Are we going to a lotta stores?" My response, "Yes, honey; and you are going to do great."

While there may be a slight change in plans, I let them know what order we are going to the stores. This is helping to teach them the concept of "beginning, middle, and end." Plus, I make them my little navigators. Regus #1 is 6 years old and is a precious, big helper. I am in awe of this (more in another post). I check in with him frequently on our car ride to figure out "the plan." He loves this! Sometimes, he tries to implement his own "plan." It's cute. If I'm extra patient that day, I'll theoretically walk him through his plan to see if it will work out for us. I'm not sure if he cares whether not it will work out.

Pack good snacks. In the past, I've tried taking special, sugary snacks. However, this just increases our chances for a meltdown. It dawned on me... what foods make me feel good? Fruits, veggies, and yogurt. Sometimes, I'll pack a grain snack (whole wheat crackers or pretzels), but these can also spike blood-sugar levels. . Space out the snacks throughout the shopping trip. We head out right after breakfast, so I know I have an hour or so before my ravenous boys start getting hungry again.

Our typical snack bag. It's a good idea to pack it the before
and store in the fridge, but I'm not always that organized.

Build in a break or two. When Regus #2 was a toddler, he could not handle being in a carseat or shopping cart for too long before getting restless. To alleviate this, I started planning around nearby parks. Yes, it does mean I need to pack a big cooler for my recent purchases. It has worked wonderfully to give them breaks throughout the shopping day. Normally, we do not go out to eat during the week, so I like to treat them to a lunch on our "shopping day."

Cooler is packed and boys are ready to go!

Give them some responsibility. For schoolage children, you can give them some part of the list or an item to find. As I mentioned earlier, Regus #1 has recently turned 6, and he's getting into my couponing. I usually give him a few of my expired ones that he puts in his pocket, like me. I'll let him "help me" find an item on my list. It keeps him distracted from bothering Regus #2 and makes him feel like a big helper. Other shoppers have giggled, hearing him ask me, "Is this a good price, Mommy?" or "Is this on sale?"

Be flexible. Be willing to shift the plan, if day isn't going as planned. There have been times when one of the boys was not feeling well all of a sudden. We'll just headed home and finish up another day. It's ok... life happens. I'm learning to find a balance between structure (planned day) and flexibility. The kids do thrive in a routine, but they do enjoy it when Mommy mixes things up a bit.

Smile. I figured this one out when I had to take a flight by myself when the boys were 1 and 3. Another blogger (wish I could remember who it was!!) said the best thing to when you have kids is SMILE. It was amazing. I had all sorts for airline personnel and strangers offering their help. Yes, grocery store employees are supposed to treat the customer nicely. Let's make their job easier. The adage really is true, "Treat others the way you want to be treated." By treating others nicely and with patience, it makes their day easier and more apt to help us... especially if we are toting around boys.

Ready to get the "shopping day" started!
(Why do I always tilt my head to the side? Ugh!)

Is it worth the effort?

I've seen the larger families, where the children stay right by their mom or help load things in and out of the cart. Maybe my boys, someday, will stay right beside me the whole day. There is hope, right?

My sanity.  Earlier this month, we completed our "shopping day" before lunch, so it was great to finally have such success. There were NO meltdowns, and I even had some snacks left over! Granted, the following shopping day was not quite as successful. I guess it's true: 2 steps forward, 1 step back.

The budget. When the kids are fed, I don't have to buy quick snacks (empty calories) off the shelf. This helps me stick to my plan and budget! 

The strategy. I do not run all over town for grocery shopping. If I am heading to another part of town, I have to justify it. There has to be 2 or more stores that I can visit to make my gas usage worth while.

Here's the loot. I did stop by the house and unload after the first store,
but this is the rest (Farmers Market, Kroger, Harris Teeter, and BJs).


Do you shop with your kids? What helps you stay focused?

Friday, October 14, 2011

Cleaning closets + Kids = More Clutter?

Who loves to clean out their closet?! Don't all jump up at once! I won't lie. It's not one of my favorite tasks. Since having kids, it's become one of those jobs that keeps getting pushed to the side. Well, I know you've heard me rant and rave about how the FlyLady has helped me get some of the CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome).

Her philosophy for decluttering is to set your timer for 15 minutes and declutter (keep, giveaway, or throw away) until the timer goes finishes. When the timer is done, try to put way all the "keep items;" put the "giveaway" items in your car; and throw away any trash. Prior to this timer revelation, I would spend hours pulling out ALL the mess and then trying to figure out what to do with the mess in my room. Inevitably, I felt more overwhelmed than free.

Her decluttering-with-timer technique was "do-able" for me when the boys would take naps. Now, that they aren't always napping, it's a bit harder to have the dedicated time to do that. My fear was that I would get started on a project and have to leave it (and a mess) to take care of the kids.

Instead, I've adapted the process to give myself child-wrangling time. Plus, I'm trying to figure out how to balance housekeeping, cooking, writing, teaching dance, and homeschooling. It's a lesson in flexibility, I suppose.

Back to the decluttering...
  1. Pre-decluttering. The trick to this is spending some quality face time with my kiddos. This can be 10 or 15 minutes of no phone, no tv, no cleaning, no cooking. Just me and my boys. I let them know that when the timer (Yes, I set a timer for them. Afterall, they ARE worth my time.) is up, I need to a few minutes to clean and will need them to find something to play with quietly.
  2. The mess. I only pick 1 shelf out of the closet or cabinet to receive my decluttering services.
  3. The timer. I set the timer for 5 minutes. Yes, that's all.
  4. Go. As I pull an item off the shelf, I must decide whether it's worth keeping, giving away, or putting in the trash. Then put it in the appropriate spot (boxes or bins helps corral the mess).
  5. Stop. When the timer beeps, it's my goal to have the shelf cleared. Now, I just have to put way the items I want to "keep." I used to be better about keeping a small bin in my car for Goodwill. It's moved into a bigger bin in the garage because I haven't taken a trip in a while.
    Hint: Don't forget to get those tax-deduction slips from your donation center. As soon as you get home, fill them out and put them in a "tax" folder with your other bills. It will make tax season much easier!
  6. Repeat steps 1-5 until done.
You may notice that I didn't include anything on reorganizing or revamping the space. That's for another time. Just focus on one success at a time. If, after decluttering the shelves, the kiddos are still cooperating, I may try to rearrange a few items. However, I am happy with the decluttering misson accomplished.

Now to take some of my own medicine, I shall conquer the cabinet above my stove. I use one side for cookbooks and my recipe notebook and the other side for my frequently-used spices. It looks like it needs some help.

Before. Too many food magazines in here and things that don't even belong.
After. Much better. Only took 10 minutes, total. Gasp! I didn't straighten the spice jars!
The labels are facing different directions! I will be ok. I will be ok. {Deep breath}
I'd love to hear about your tips for cleaning and decluttering with kids underfoot.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Foam Puzzle Tiles: A Flurry of Activity

We love to move in our house, especially outside. As I think about the cooler months closing in quickly, I'm reminded of some of our inside activities that keep my busy boys from going stir crazy.

One of my favorite "go to" activities comes from Foam Puzzle Tiles. You know the ones... oversized, square jigsaw pieces that are somewhat textured. They can be a great play mat, but they have SO many other awesome uses. I love toys that can do double, triple, or quadruple duty. It saves space and money. I think we purchased at set of 12 of these at TJ Maxx several years ago for under $10. It's been a great investment!


Sure, it's perfect for placing in front of your train table to protect to your little one's knees, but let's think outside the box. Flip them over. Add numbers. And explore the possibilities!


Number line. Now that it has numbers, you can line up the tiles. Your child can jump, as they count. You can also help them understand the actual value. Try placing the coordinating number of objects on each tile. Which tile has more? Why is it bigger?

Let's a race! Let your kids (or you and the little one) take turns pushing cars across the tiles. Whose car went farther? How can you tell?

Indoor hopscotch. Yes, I've used masking tape on my floors before, but that takes F-O-R-E-V-E-R. Plus, my kids lose interest by the time I finished setting it up. Instead, line up your tiles with the number side up. Let the jumping begin! It makes my "Jumping Bean" (Regus #2) very happy.

Giant dice. I have to give my hubby some credit for this one. He put the cube together but with the numbers on the inside to give the boys something safe to jump. If you did catch my drift already, my boys are VERY active. The next day, I flipped the tiles around and made a die. It's great for making board games more physical and keeps their attention a little longer.
 

How do you keep your kids safe and active during the colder months?

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Staying Organized and Under Budget: A Beginner Tutorial to Couponing

Couponing. It's all the rage right now. We're all pinching pennies and trying to be more frugal. I am by no means an extreme couponer. My goal is to use coupons and sales to save 40-50 percent off retail. In my house, we don't buy that much junk food (which is super easy to get super cheap with coupons, but I digress). Instead, I use it on dairy, frozen vegetables, condiments, dry ingredients, and some meats.

You may have a different reason or goal for your couponing, but I wanted to leave you with some tips from my own experiences. I know there are others with much more experience than I have. This is just meant to be a general overview of the couponing process.



You can read more about how I organize my coupons for my shopping trip here. I will warn you that I LOVE spreadsheets, so beware.

Matching the coupon to the sale. The #1 key to saving money with coupons is matching a coupon with an item on sale. Otherwise, the coupon used on a regular, retail item will cost the same as a generic brand item. There are some great websites and blogs that do most of the work (matching coupons to sales) for you.

Here are some of my favorite. I've included one of each of the main types of couponing sites (Database, Blog, and Forum):

CouponMom.com: This is fabulous database of stores and coupons. She requires you to create a username and password, but it's all free. She has a useful, downloadable tutorial for how to get started. There are three, main ways (that I've found) to use her site: (1) Search the database of all coupons to find out what you might have. (2) The BIG one: electronic listing of store sale flyers with valid coupons. She has a feature that you can check off which items you want to add to your list and have it printed or e-mailed to you. (3) Provides links to internet coupons and Target store coupons to be printed off your personal computer.


SouthernSavers.com: This is more of a blog style and highlights sales in the southeastern US. She also has a coupon database for this region. She has some very helpful video clips to explain more about couponing, which is useful for any region. Plus, you can print out a list of the items that you want to purchase. Love her!


HotCouponWorld.com: This site is more of a forum style. Deals and stores are listed under discussion topics. It is helpful to visit this type of site a bit more frequently, as people post new deals daily. You can spend a LOT of time sifting through the discussions. I have to limit my time and just look for stores in my area.


Where to find coupons. Despite what the extreme couponers will tell you, this MUST be done legitimately.
  • Sunday newspaper. You can either pay for a home delivery subscription or pick up a paper each week. I waiting for a promotion to get a year's subscription of Sunday papers for $52. That's $1 per week. The newsstand price in our area is $2.25. Here's a forum discussion about the coupons included in each paper.
  • Online coupons. The coupon companies (and some manufacturers) will allow you to print manufacturer coupons from your computer. Smart Source and Red Plum both have online coupons. You  may also find some manufacturers offer a coupon for their product if you sign up for their newsletters (you can unsubscribe later).
  • Magazines. Check your magazines for ads with manufacturers coupons.
  • Contact your favorite brands. Often times, when you let your favorite companies know how much you love their products, they like to send you coupons. I have found that this is not 100% true, but about 75% of my correspondence has resulted in a coupon. In addition, if you have a complaint, please be honest, specific, and respectful. This will help the company find and resolve the problem for future products.
  • Catalina (Cat): This is the little coupon that sometimes get printed at checkout and the cashier hands you with your receipt. These can be pretty awesome (free stuff)! I found out from SouthernSavers today that the Catalina is not the actual coupon but the promotion for your next trip: "Buy X roll of brand Y toilet paper and get $2 off your next order." Many couponing websites have forums and discussions devoted solely to Catalina (cat) coupons.  
  • Blinkies. This is the little machine on the shelves that doles out coupons. They usually have a red blinking light on the side. Even if you don't immediately need the coupon, it's a good idea to get one for future sales. These are usually a manufacturer coupon and can be used at any store that accepts a manufacturer's coupon.
  • The Penguin! It took me ages to figure out what people were talking about, when they'd post "seeing THE penguin." I thought they all lost their minds. I do not know if they do this in all areas of the country, but there is a 4-5' cardboard Penguin display standing (usually) in the frozen section of the grocery store. They are loaded with coupons. One sidebar... Please leave some coupons for other people to enjoy the savings, too! If you don't think you're going to use all the coupons before they expire, please don't grab them all. Thanks!
  • Coupon swaps. There is some discussion about whether or not to swap coupons or "pay" someone for the labor of cutting the coupons (e-bay). The coupons state that they can not be transferred or have monetary value, so I'm going to leave that to you to decide how to handle.

Terms and Acronyms. Yes, the couponing world uses lots of acronyms. I grew up in a household of a giant computer company that is an acronym and even had an internship with them, so I'm used to the world of acronyms and overly-complex jargon. So it's been fun to have my domestic life riddled with acronyms. I have collected a few of the most common terms and acronyms found on the couponing websites. This is not a complete list but some of the most common.
  • Smart Source (SS). Coupon inserts found in newspapers. Couponers will refer to the company and the newspaper date. For exmple, "SS 9/25" refers to the Smart Source ads from the September 25th newspaper.
  • Red Plum (RP). Another coupon insert found in newspapers.
  • Proctor and Gamble (P&G). Coupon insert found in newspapers. They are typically included once a month, and the coupons are usually valid for one month.
  • Internet Coupon (IP). These are manufacturer coupons that you can print from your personal computer. You may have to download a small amount of software from that company, but the website will prompt you through each step.
  • Buy 1, Get 1 free (BOGO): Some stores in our area require that you buy 1 item at full price in order to get the free item. Other stores will charge you half-price for each item (and will allow you to buy just 1 item at half price). You will need to read your store's coupon policy to find out what coupons you can use on BOGO items.
  • Manufacturer coupon (Mfr Q): The manufacturer provides the coupons, and your store will be reimbursed for the value of the coupon. This is why it is important to make sure your coupon matches your item. Otherwise, your store will not be reimbursed. We want our stores to stay in business.
  • Store coupon (Store Q): Some stores will mail them, included them in the weekly flyer, or have a stack of them in the store. My local stores (in NC) don't always have them, so it's a super exciting day when I can get them!
  • Out of pocket cost (OOP): How much you actually had to spend at the store. The forum-style couponing sites offer a great place for people to share their shopping success stories, and you will see this OOP acronym.
  • Stack coupons: match a store coupon with a manufacturer coupon on the same item for extra savings. The easiest example is a Target coupon plus a manufacturer coupon.
  • e-coupons from store: These are typically manufacturer coupons that can NOT be doubled or stacked with a paper manufacturer coupon. You either download them to your card online or at a kiosk in the store.
  • Rewards cards: Be sure to find out if the store requires you to have a rewards card (almost always free) to take advantage of the promotional prices. 
  • Expiration date: Take care to keep your coupons up-to-date, as it will save you the heartache of getting to checkout and not being able to use the coupon. Been there. Done that. You can send your expired coupons to servicemen and women overseas, as they can use expired coupons toward their purchases. There are several great programs that offer this service.

Coupon Policies. I can not stress enough how important it is for us to follow each store's coupon policies. If more people are not following them (can constitute fraud), the stores will be forced to reduce or remove their coupon acceptance policies. With that said, it is good to know the policies, so you will be able to maximize your savings and time (because time has value, too).

How to store and track your coupons. Storing your coupons is highly personal. Everyone has a different way that they categorize their coupons. The best advice I can give you is to start SIMPLE. Don't buy a massive binder right away. I am a big proponent of getting a quick return on my investment. If I have to put big $$ toward my couponing, it will take me a while to recoup my costs. Here are some suggestions from some friends and some of my own:
  • Accordion file: I started with this. It works great, if you already know what's inside. Otherwise, it's no fun to stand in the aisle (with whiny kids) and sift through your coupons.
  • Don't clip until you need it: This is the moto of CouponMom.com. She files her coupons by type (SS or RP) and by date. In my experience, I've missed some great unadvertised deals because I didn't have all my coupons with me. Then again, it will prevent you from overbuying, if you only have the coupons you NEED. Again, this is very personal.
  • Binder with baseball card holders: While I do use this now, along with index dividers for each food section, I did not invest a lot of money. When I recycle my ink cartridges at my office supply store, I get $3 off coupons. I use these toward my baseball card holders and index dividers. Again, I wanted to save as much out-of-pocket.
  • Picture album: My mom and a few friends keep a small 4x6 picture album for their coupons. Find one on clearance at drug store, if you want to give this one a try.
As I mentioned earlier, my post today is not an extensive list of all the couponing terms and policies. It is my hope that you can feel a bit more confident about starting.

Disclaimer: I have not been compensated for any of my writing. They are all my own. I do want to say that I have family in the grocery business (or who have been in the grocery business), so it is very important to me that we all use our coupons with honesty and integrity. I want our grocery stores to be successful and provide good service to all their customers. If we want to be treated with respect, as couponers, then we should respect our stores and their employees. If you think something was charged in error, definitely ask for some assistance. However, please be kind.


If you are new couponing, what seems to be the most daunting part of starting? If you are a pro, what other tips can you offer someone just getting started?