Fast forward two years, and I’ve been spending carelessly,  not using coupons, and not working as diligently as in those early months of my mission to nix the 9 to 5.   If I don’t get a grip on things soon, it’s going to spiral out of control.  Enter the first Spending Freeze of 2012.

For the month of January (and possibly February, depending on how it goes), I’m not spending anything unnecessarily:  we’re eating from the pantry and only buying perishables and things we run out of; we’re using coupons whenever possible; we’re not buying anything extra no matter how great the deal is; and if we eat out, we’re using Groupons, EatAroundOKC deals, gift certificates and so forth.

I realized last night, I have to be careful with Groupon meals at restaurants, too–there’s always a tip, and it’s easy to go over the coupon amount if you aren’t careful.  Last night’s “free” dinner cost us $7.83.  We spent $4.00 on Diet Pepsi.  How ridiculous is that?  If we’d have ordered water, we’d have stayed within the certificate limit and would have been out the tip alone, meaning we would have fed a family of three a YUMMY dinner for only $3.

As for eating from the pantry, I’m lucky to have a freezer full of chicken, thanks to Zaycon Foods, and I have a few pounds of ground turkey and a ham.  I shouldn’t have to buy meat for the rest of the month.  I also am pretty well stocked on household cleaners since I made my own laundry soap and dishwashing soap.  I also have several other homemade household cleaners, like the Tub & Shower Magic, that I’ll have to tell you about in another post.  Having an abundant supply of these things will enable me to go at least a month without spending in these categories.  However, my stockpile of things like paper towels, toothpaste, and toilet paper are depleted, so I may have to buy some of those things.

At the end of the month, I’ll evaluate the success of the freeze.  Any extra will go to our savings account in order to build up a suitable cushion against lean months.

I was telling the Amazing Amanda about my spending freeze for the month, and her sisterly competition gene kicked in.  She said, “Hey–how about if we have a contest to see who can spend the least on groceries this month?”  Because I also have a very strong sisterly competition gene, I agreed right away.

We decided to start the challenge that day, rather than making it retroactive to the beginning of the month (too bad, because I think she was already $180 in, and I was $10 in . . .).  We’re sending each other our grocery totals and dining totals, and we’re including household products as well–so my CVS and Walgreens spending count as well as my actual grocery store spending.  Actually, we’re counting all spending except for bills, gas, and repairs.  Good thing, we aren’t counting repairs, because I’ve already been hit with a $201 plumbing repair bill this month–happy new year to me.

I don’t think we determined a reward for the winner, except maybe excessive bragging and gloating.

Since we started the challenge a couple of days ago, my spending has totaled $11.47:  I spent $7.83 at the Jo’s Famous Pizza (stupid soft drinks . . .), and I spent $3.64 at the grocery store on a dozen eggs, six yogurt cups, and orange juice (my total before coupons was nearly $9.  Oh, coupons–why have I neglected you?)

I haven’t heard from the Amazing Amanda about her spending yet, but I’m guessing she’s at zero, since they just had a big shopping trip before we started our “contest.”

Having an accountability partner–especially one you can safely taunt–really helps keep my focus in check.  After all, I hate to lose, and I really hate to lose to my sister.

If you’d like to get in on our bragging-rights-only contest to see how little you can spend this month, just leave a comment below.  The more the merrier!

If you’re looking for a resource to help you get started, you might check out The Money Saving Mom’s Budget: Slash Your Spending, Pay Down Your Debt, Streamline Your Life, and Save Thousands a Year.  On her website, the Money Saving Mom has lots of tips for how to manage your resources and be a better home economist.  A reader testimonial on her site tells how one family is able to save $500 a month just by switching to a cash system, which seems particularly relevant to our spending freeze challenge.

Are you ready to get started?

Alas, the relaxing part is not yet to be.

We’ve spent the last two weeks without a dishwasher, and when it finally arrived the day after Memorial Day, the “installers” refused to install it because our pipes aren’t like their pipes.   He said ours “weren’t uncommon,” so I’m trying to figure out why they wouldn’t install it.  Thanks for nothin’, Home Depot.

We decided to figure it out ourselves, because we’re smart people, but . . . not that smart, apparently.  After working on it late into the night, we called in reinforcements the following day in the form of my amazing brother Uncle Awesome.  Uncle Awesome came and–after numerous trips to Home Depot, repairing a leaky pipe under the sink, and several hours–installed our dishwasher.  Hot Husband was leaving town, so had it not been for Uncle Awesome, I would have spent the entire weekend with a sink full of dishes and no hot water in which to wash them.  I had visions of putting a large pot of water on the stove to heat up, and washing dishes in that.  Not.  Fun.

I am SUPER indebted to Uncle Awesome now.

To continue the non-relaxing part of my summer, I’m writing this to the stylin’ beats of a roofers boots on top of my house.  After our baseball sized hail a week and a half ago, we figure we might ought to have the roof inspected.  We called right away, but the evening of my call, the tornado hit town and bumped us down the insurance company’s to-do list.  To that I say . . . Thank God I even have a roof!  Hopefully, he’ll come down and say everything is a-okay up there, but if not, at least we’ll only need roof repair or a new roof.  Not an entirely new house and all of its contents.

One last note:  I’ve had a couple people contact me and ask if I am planning to continue Williams coupon matchups.  I am planning to continue those.  The week after the tornado, I just didn’t have the time to work on it.  This week, I didn’t get my ad for some reason, and so I didn’t even think of it until someone asked.  I may go pick up an ad and get you some matchups, or I may just wait until next week’s ad.  I’m sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused any of you Williams shoppers!

For now, I need to get back to work.  Bear is with his grandparents for the day so I can work, because with HH out of town, my working time is very limited this weekend.  Have a great day!

EDIT:   And guess whose roof is totaled?

Let me know if any of these matchups aren’t valid, or tell me if you find any great deals I missed.

Free this week:  Mt. Olive pickle relish and Red Gold tomatoes with green chilies.  See the list below for details.

Cantaloupe $0.99

Wish Bone Salad Dressing (16 oz.) or Spritzer (7 oz.) 2 for $4
Use Buy 2 Wish Bone Salad Dressings Get Free Bagged Salad (up to $2) in ad Mfg. coupon

Lean Cuisine Entrees (5-11.5 oz.) 2 for $4
Use $1/4 Lean Cuisine, exp. 8-7-11 (SS 05/01/11 #2)
Use $1/3 Lean Cuisine, exp. 5-31-11 (ALL YOU Apr ’11)
Total: as low as $5 for 3 ($1.67 each)

Lean Cuisine Market Creations 2 for $5
Use $1/4 Lean Cuisine, exp. 8-7-11 (SS 05/01/11 #2)
Use $1/3 Lean Cuisine, exp. 5-31-11 (ALL YOU Apr ’11)
Total: as low as $6.50 for 3 ($2.17 each)

Dial Body Wash, Dial for Men Body Wash (16-18 oz. select varieties) 2 for $5
Use $1/1 Dial for Men Body Wash printable
Total: $1.50

Kellogg’s Cereals (12.2-18 oz.) 5 for $10
Use $1/3 Kellogg’s Cereal printable
Use $1/2 Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes Cereal printable
Use $1/2 Kellogg’s Adult Cereals printable
Use $1/2 Kellogg’s Rice Krispies or Cocoa Krispies Cereal printable
Total: $3 for 2 ($1.50 each)

Pilgrim’s Whole Fryer $0.99/lb
Use $1/1 Pilgrim’s Chicken
Total: Varies

Pilgrim’s Cut Up Fryer $1.19/lb
Use $1/1 Pilgrim’s Chicken
Total: Varies

Oscar Mayer Bologna or Cotto Salami (8 oz.) 2 for $3
Use $0.55/1 Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs or Cold Cuts (Kraft Food & Family)
Total: $0.95

Oscar Mayer Carving Board Meat (7-8 oz.) $3.49
Use $1/1 Oscar Meyer Carving Board Meat printable
Total: $2.49

Oscar Mayer Ham (16 oz.) $3.99
Use $0.55/1 Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs or Cold Cuts (Kraft Food & Family)
Total: $3.44

Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Meat (16 oz.) $4.99
$1/2 Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh or Shaved Lunchmeat printable
Total: $8.98 for 2 ($4.49 each)

Oscar Mayer Beef Franks (14-16 oz.) $3.89
Use $1/2 Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs printable
Use $1/2 Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs, exp. 7-10-11 (SS 05/15/11)
Total: $6.78 for 2 ($3.39 each)

Sparkle Paper Towels (8 pk) or Angel Soft Bath Tissue (9-12 pk) $5.99
Use $0.50/1 Angel Soft Toilet Paper printable
Total: $4.99

Mt. Olive Pickles (24-32 oz.) 2 for $4
Use $.50/1 any Mt. Olive Pickles, Relish or Peppers SS 4-17-11 (exp. 6-19)
Total: $1.00

Mt. Olive Relish (8-10 oz.) $0.98
Use $.50/1 any Mt. Olive Pickles, Relish or Peppers SS 4-17-11 (exp. 6-19)
Total: FREE

Red Gold Salsa (15.5-16 oz.) 2 for $3
Use $1/4 Red Gold printable
Use $0.50/2 Red Gold Tomato Product printable
Total: as low as $2 for 2 ($1 each)

Red Gold Tomatoes and Green Chilies (10 oz.) 2 for $1
Use $1/4 Red Gold printable
Use $0.50/2 Red Gold Tomato Product printable
Total: as low as 2 for FREE (or 4 for $1)

Crystal Light Drink Mix (7-10 ct. or 8 qt.) 2 for $4
Use B2G1 Crystal Light Drink Mix Product, exp. 5-31-11 (SS 04/03/11)
Total: $4 for 3

Kool-Aid Drink Mix (10-12 ct. or 6-12 qt.) 2 for $5
$0.55/1 Kool-Aid Soft Drink Mix, exp. 12-31-11 (Kraft Food & Family)
Total: $1.95

All 2x Laundry Detergent (28-32 loads) $3.99
Use $1/1 All Laundry Detergent printable
Use $1/1 All Laundry Detergent, exp. 5-22-11 (RP 04/10/11)
Total: $2.99

Snuggle Fabric Softener (34 loads) $2.99
Use $1/1 Snuggle Product printable
$0.75/1 Snuggle Fabric Softener or Sheets, exp. 5-22-11 (RP 4/10/11)
Total: as low as $1.99

Eggland’s Best Large Eggs (1.5 dozen) $2.99
Use $0.35/1 Eggland’s Best Eggs, exp. 9-30-11 (SS 05/01/11)
Use $0.35/1 Eggland’s Best Eggs, exp. 6/30/11 (SS 1/30/11)
($0.50/1 coupons also appear in popular magazines like Redbook and Good Housekeeping)
Total: $2.29

Michelina’s Entrees (4.65-9 oz.) 5 for $5
$1/5 Michelina’s Entrees printable
Total: $4 for 5 ($0.80 each)
*Use this coupon at Homeland this week and pay just $3 for 5 ($0.60 each)–Thanks, Consumer Queen!

Zatarain’s Meals (10-12 oz.) 2 for $5
$1/2 Zatarain’s Frozen Entree, exp. 6-12-11 (RP 04/17/11)
Total: $4 for 2 ($2 each)

New York Bread or Toast (10-16 oz.) 2 for $5
Use $0.40/1 New York frozen products 3/6/11 SS (exp 6/5/11)
Use $0.50/1 New York Frozen Product, exp. 8-15-11 (ALL YOU May ’11)
Total: as low as $1.50

Hiland Ice Cream (56 oz.) 2 for $6
Use $0.55/1 (DND) SS 2/27
Total: $2.45

Bar S Meat Franks (12 oz.) $0.79
Use $1/2 Bar-S Product printable
Total: $0.58 for 2 ($0.29 each)

Bar S Bologna (16 oz.) $1.19
Use $1/2 Bar-S Product printable
Total: $1.38 for 2 ($0.69 each)

El Monterey Tornados (8.4 oz.) $1.99
Use $1/1 El Monterey Mexican Snack, exp. 5-30-11 (SS 03/06/11)
Use $1/1 El Monterey Mexican Snack, exp. 7-31 (SS 05/01/11)
Total: $0.99

Gorton’s Fish Fillets (6.3-7.6 oz.) $3.49
Use $1/2 Gorton’s Seafood Item, exp. 5-31-11 (SS 02/13/11)
Use $1/2 Gorton’s Item printable
Total: as low as $5.98 for 2 ($2.99 each)

Jimmy Dean Sausage (16 oz. roll) 2 for $5
Use $0.55/2 Jimmy Dean Sausage Rolls, exp. 6-15-11 (RP 04/17/11)
Use $1/2 Jimmy Dean Sausage Rolls, exp. 6-15-11 (RP 04/17/11)
Total: as low as $4 for 2 ($2 each)

Hiland Orange Juice or Apple Juice (1/2 gallon) $1.79
Use $0.40/1 Half Gallon Apple Juice (DND) SS 2/27
Total: $1.39

Marie’s Salad Dressing (12 oz.) 2 for $6
Use $1.25/2 Marie’s Dressing printable
Use$1/1 Marie’s Product printable
Use$1/1 Marie’s Creamy Yogurt Dressing printable
Total: as low as $2

Shasta Colas (12 oz.) 6 for $1 ($0.17 each) – Limit 24

Coke, Dr. Pepper, Sprite (8 pk., 12 oz.) 3 for $10
Use $1/2 Diet Coke or Caffeine Free Coke (Diet Coke Heart Truth Booklet)
Total: $5.67 for 2 ($2.83 each)

Dasani Water (24 pk., 16.9 oz.) 3 for $10
Use $1/2 Dasani Bottled Water, exp. 5-31 (Diet Coke Heart Truth Booklet)
Total: $5.67 for 2 ($2.83 each)

THIS kind of legs:

Pilgrim’s chicken drumsticks are on sale this week for $0.74 cents a pound, and there is a coupon out for $1 off of Pilgrim’s Chicken (Thanks to Simple Saving Savvy for the link).  That made for a really good deal, and I am now the proud owner of about 10 pounds of drumsticks for a total of $2.50.  I’ll probably pick up another package tomorrow.  I told Hot Husband to be ready to expect lots of chicken leg meals coming his way . . .

Luckily, the weather is finally nice enough for grilling, which means between the crock pot and the grill, we’ll be able to have a lot of variety with our chicken legs without heating up the kitchen.

A couple of weeks ago, I tried cooking drumsticks in the crock pot on crumpled balls of foil via this Slow Cooker Sticky Chicken recipe from Creatively Domestic.  It was a success, and served with diced “fried” (cooked in skilled with no oil) potatoes and green beans, Hot Husband enjoyed the whole meal, and Bear ate a decent serving, too.

I found a different recipe for Slow Cooked Sticky Chicken from Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures, and I’ll be trying this recipe, too, for a variation.

We’ll also be firing up the grill and having barbecued chicken legs using bottled barbecue sauce I got for free or practically free with coupons, and we’ll also grill some drumsticks that have been marinated in bottled Italian dressing and in this Chicken Marinade from The Happy Housewife.

Of course, all of these chicken leg meals will be interspersed with other stuff so we don’t become the Crazy Chicken Leg Family.  Tonight we had steak and grilled vegetable kabobs, both marinated in bottled Italian dressing.  Oh, it was sooooo good.  I’ve forgotten how good grilled vegetables are, and we’ll definitely be having a lot of those this summer.

Do you have any great recipes for chicken drumsticks that you’d like to share?

*That is a picture of MY ACTUAL LEGS.  Really!  I mean it!**

** Not really.

I had multiple coupons for a couple of different products, and decided to share them with these ladies.  In return, one of them handed me a $5/$25 coupon from the OKC Thunder game program.  Sweet!!

On the off chance these ladies are reading this, thank you for the extra $5 in savings today!

Here’s what I got for about $14:

6.45 pounds of chicken legs
1 lb of boneless beef ribs
1 lb. lean ground turkey
1 pkg. chicken Italian sausage
2 big boxes Honey Nut Cheerios
2 6-packs of kids’ Trix yogurt
2 individual Greek yogurts
1 4-pack Greek yogurt
1 4-pack Fiber One yogurt

The original price on the drumsticks alone was $10, so I feel pretty good about that.

Thanks again to the coupon fairies in NW OKC who helped make this trip possible!

I called the Piedmont location and spoke with Josh, who told me that the Williams in Piedmont DOES accept internet printable coupons as long as there is no security warning about coupon fraud.

Williams doubles coupons valued at up to .50, and there is no limit as long as there are no limitations or restrictions printed on the coupon itself.

Remember–this information is for the Piedmont, OK, location of Williams Discount Foods.  If you live near Williams in another town, you’ll want to verify the coupon policy with your own storem

Any coupon match-ups I post for Williams will be based on the Piedmont location and policy, so please bear that in mind if the policy differs in your town.

I am unlike these extreme couponers in many ways.  The first of which is the number of coupons I have/use.  I only get ONE newspaper subscription for the inserts, and while I’ll be glad to take yours if you don’t use them, I don’t feel compelled to dig through your recycle bin to get them (at least, not yet), and I would never steal them from newspaper machines.  I see nothing wrong with getting more than one subscription, or purchasing coupons, but for me . . . well, I can barely keep up with the coupons I have, much less balance multiple sources.

Another difference is in the size of our stockpiles.  I’d say I have . . . oh, six or seven tubes of toothpaste and a similar number of shampoos and body washes.  I see no reason to ever have 450 jars of mustard, or 250 rolls of paper towels, or whatever.  There is no reason to take more than you can possibly use.  If you are able to ETHICALLY get more than you can use, don’t hoard it . . . donate it.  I have a large enough stockpile on toothpaste, shampoo, and body wash, that I will only pick it up if it is free.  This saves me money by not having to rush out and pay full price for more if we run out, and if my stockpile builds to more than we can use, any excess goes to charity. Check out Couponing for a Cause on Facebook to help with tornado recovery efforts.

Couponing has saved me a lot of money, but I think those who use coupons to the extreme or who exhibit unethical, illegal, or fraudulent use of coupons give the rest of us a bad name.  When I go to a store to get a good deal on baby shampoo, and the whole shelf is cleaned out, and the sales clerk says, “Yeah, some lady just came in and got 40 bottles of it,” I want to scream.  I can afford to buy my baby shampoo if I have to, but what about all those moms who CAN’T?  The ones who came to the store just before me, or just after me, and looked at that barren shelf and had to walk away empty handed?  I only hope that at least 38 of those bottles were donated to Infant Crisis Services.

I’m not the only one that feels this way about “extreme couponing.”  In fact, the Coupon Information Corporation (CIC) released the CIC Position on Extreme Couponing that reaffirms my belief that the TLC series propagates an image of couponers as out-of-control and even shows couponers engaging in coupon fraud.

So, you may think I’m a “crazy coupon lady,” but I’m a mediocre couponer at best.  And I’m not that crazy.

What’s your take on couponing?  When does someone cross the line between frugal and greedy?

Thanks to Consumer Queen for the CIC links and to Simple Saving Savvy for the link to Couponing for a Cause.

I was making this list just to see how long it would take and how decent the deals were.  The answers:  (1) forever, and (2) not very good at all.  I’m not sure I’ll do this again, but we’ll see.

BUYER BEWARE.

Some caveats before you proceed with this list:

1. One reader tells me her store does not accept internet coupons, so before you go, you might want to call your own location.  I’ll work on verifying this.
2. I got the insert coupons from a national database, so I do not know if they all match up with regional inserts–I haven’t checked against my local inserts.  I’ll update as I check or receive reader comments.
3. These deals are not so hot.  You can do better on a lot of them.  Five free Kool-Aids isn’t bad, and .30 each for Weight Watchers yogurt is decent.  Other than that . . . I’d probably save my $1 q’s for doubling at Homeland or redeeming somewhere cheaper.

You’ve been warned.  Now here are the Williams coupon matchups valid May 11-17:
Kellogg’s Pop Tarts (6 ct. Crisps or 12 ct.) 2 for $5
$0.70/1 Kellogg?s Pop-Tarts Mini Crisps printable
Total: $1.80

Kellogg’s Special K Cereal (11.4 – 19.5 oz.), Kellogg’s Special K Bars (6-10 ct.) 2 for $5
$1/3 Kellogg’s Special K Cereal, exp. 6-12-11 (SS 05/08/11)
$1/2 Kellogg’s Special K Cereal, exp. 6-12-11 (RP 05/01/11)
$1/2 Kellogg’s Special K Product printable
$1/2 Special K Cereal printable
Total: as low as $2 each wyb 2

Wesson Oil (48 oz) $2.99
$0.40/1 Wesson Oil, exp. 5-15-11 (SS 04/03/11)
$1/2 Wesson Oil, exp. 5-15-11 (SS 04/03/11)
Total: as low as $2.19

Pam Cooking Spray 2 for $5
$0.35/1 Pam Cooking Spray, exp. 5-15-11 (SS 04/03/11)
$1/2 Pam Cooking Spray, exp. 5-15-11 (SS 04/03/11)
Total: as low as $1.80

Healthy Choice Café Steamers (8.5 – 9.9 oz) 2 for $5
$1/1 Healthy Choice Cafe Steamer, exp. 6-26-11 (ALL YOU May ’11)
Total: $1.50

Marie Callender’s Cream or Fruit Pies (28-45 oz) $5.99
$1/1 Marie Callender’s Pie, exp. 6-26-11 (ALL YOU May ’11)
Total: $4.99

Marie Callender’s Complete or One Dish Meals (12 – 21 oz) 2 for $5
$1/1 Marie Callender’s Dinner, exp. 6-26-11 (ALL YOU May ’11)
Total: $1.50

Pilgrim’s Chicken Drumsticks or Thighs $0.99/lb (these are $0.75/lb at Homeland this week)
• Pilgrim’s Chicken $1/1
• Pilgrim’s Chicken $1/1 (different link)
Thanks to Simple Saving Savvy for the links!

Chef’s Requested Bacon Wrapped Filet $2.79
$1/1 Chef’s Requested Bacon Wrapped Filet printable
$1.50/2 Chef’s Requested Product printable
$0.55/1 Chef’s Requested Bacon Wrapped Filet printable
$1/1 Chef’s Requested Bacon Wrapped Filet Product printable
$1/1 Chef’s Requested Bacon Wrapped Filet Product printable
Total: as low as $1.79

Johnsonville Smoked Sausage (13.5 – 14 oz.) $2.79
$0.55/1 Select Johnsonsville Sausages, exp. 6-30 (SS 05/01/11)
$0.55/1 Johnsonville Cooked and Smoked or Summer Sausage printable
$0.55/1 Johnsonville Smoked or Cooked Sausage printable
Total: $2.24

Louis Rich or Oscar Mayer Variety Pak (8-12oz) 2 for $5
$0.55/1 Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs or Cold Cuts (Kraft Food & Family)
$1/2 Oscar Mayer Products printable Like them on Facebook and click on “Let’s Get Started” in order to submit good deeds and print coupons.
Total: $1.95 or 2 for $4

Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Shaved Meat (8-9oz) $2.99
.50/1 Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Meat printable Like them on Facebook and click on “Let’s Get Started” in order to submit good deeds and print coupons.
Total: $1.99

Oscar Mayer Lunchables (6.7-11.2oz) 2 for $5
$1/1 Lunchables with Fruit printable
Total: $1.50

Bar S Meat Franks (16 oz.) $1.15
$1/2 Bar-S Product printable
Total: 2 for $1.30 (.65 each) – Can usually get a better deal at Homeland when this doubles—often free

Bar S Bologna or Cotto Salami 4 for $5
$1/2 Bar-S Product printable
Total: 2 for $1.50 (.75 each)

Fisher Boy Shrimp Poppers or Fish Sticks (3-4 lb.) $7.99
$1/1 Fisher Boy Product, exp. 06-13-11 (SS 03/13/11)
$0.75/1 Fisher Boy Product printable
Total: as low as $6.99

Nabisco Chips Ahoy! (9.5-15.25 oz) 2 for $5
$0.75/1 Nabisco Crackers or Cookies, exp. 12-31 (Kraft Food & Family)
Total: $1.75

Nestle Pure Life Water 24 pk. $3.88
$1/2 Nestle Pure Life Purified Water Multipack printable
Total: 2 for $6.76 ($3.38 each)

Pringles Potato Crisps (5.71 – 6.73 oz) 2 for $3
$1/2 Pringles Product, exp. 6-30-11 (P& G Everyday Savings Book)
Total: 2 for $2 ($1 each)

Lawry Marinade (12 oz) 2 for $4
$0.50/1 Lawry’s Marinade, exp. 5-15-11 (RP 04/17/11)
Total: $1.00

Kool Aid Drink Mix 6 for $1
$0.50/5 Kool-Aid Unsweetened Envelopes printable
Total: 5 for FREE (I don’t know Williams’ policy on overage)

Angel Soft Bath Tissue (6-12 rolls) $3.88
$0.50/1 Angel Soft Toilet Paper printable
Total: $2.88

Downy Fabric Softener (78-90 use) $6.88
$0.25/1 Downy Fabric Softener or Sheets, exp. 5-31-11 (P&G 05/01/11)
$0.50/1 Downy Fabric Softener or Sheets, exp. 5-31 (P&G 05/01/11)
$1/1 Downy Fabric Softener/Dryer Sheets, exp. 5-31 (P&G BrandSampler)
$1/1 Downy Product, exp. 6-30-11 (P&G Everyday Savings Book)
Total: as low as $5.88

Cheer 2x Laundry Detergent (64 use) $10.88
$1/1 Cheer Detergent, exp. 5-31-11 (RP 04/17/11 #2)
$1/1 Cheer Product, exp. 5-31-11 (P&G Brandsaver, March)
Total: as low as $9.88

Jell-O Ready-to-Eat Pudding, Gelatin, or Temptations 2 for $5
$1/1 Jell-O Temptations printable
Total: $1.50

Blue Bunny or Weight Watchers Yogurt (6 oz) 2 for $1
$1/5 Weight Watchers Yogurt Cups printable
Total: 5 for $1.50 (.30 each)

Pillsbury Toaster Strudels or Scrambles (10-11.5 oz) 2 for $4
$0.50/1 Pillsbury Toaster Strudel Pastries printable
Total: $1.00

Farmland Thick Sliced Bacon $5.99
$1/1 Farmland Thick Sliced Bacon, exp. 5-31-11 (SS 04/17/11)
Total: $4.99

El Monterey Taquitos (24-30 oz) $4.29
$1/1 Select El Monterey Products, exp. 5-30-11 (RP 03/06/11)
Total:  $3.29

Fast Fixin’ Chicken (34-36 oz bag) $4.99
$1/1 Fast Fixin’ or Fast Fixin’ On the Go, exp. 6-30-11 (ALL YOU Mar)
$1/1 Fast Fixin’ Product printable
Total: $3.99

Litehouse Salad Dressing (20 oz) 2 for $7
$1/2 Litehouse Product, exp. 8-31-11 (SS 05/08/11)
$1/2 Litehouse Product printable
Total: 2 for $6 ($3 each)

POM Wonderful Pomegranate Juice (16 oz) 2 for $7
$1/1 POM Wonderful Juice printable
Total: $2.50

Which brings me to a dilemma.  No one seems to be posting coupon matchups for Williams Foods, which is understandable since there are few stores in small areas.  That means in order to score the best deals at the store closest to me, I’ll have to do the matchups myself.  *sigh*

If I’m going to go to that trouble, I might as well post them for any readers in these towns:

• Bristow, OK
• Stroud, OK
• Piedmont, OK
• Elgin, OK
• Drumright, OK
• Anadarko, OK
• Choctaw, OK
• Perkins, OK
• Tuttle, OK

I’m too lazy/busy/unmotivated to do it for myself, so before I undertake this project, I’d like to get a gauge for interest.  Do I have any readers in those areas who would be interested in Williams Foods coupon matchups?

That’s not to say it has been all work and no play around here.   The Hot Husband and I spent last weekend at the Ozark Mountains Rat Raid, a four-day motorcycle rally geared toward Triumph enthusiasts, even though HH and I rode a gorgeous Suzuki V-Strom.

Here is an action shot I tried to take of the two of us while riding the twisty roads of the Ozark mountains.  Note the smattering of bugs smeared across the visor of my helmet.  Nice:

Here’s another action shot, sans bug-gut view, from the same ride:

Here we are, all cleaned up and looking beautiful, seated in front of the 2000 Triumph Sprint raffle bike, which we did. not. win.

And finally, the group shot of all the Triumph bikes involved in the Ozark Mountain Rat Raid (non-Triumphs weren’t allowed in the pic) and all riders at the Raid, Triumph owners or not:

So that’s what I’ve been up to when I haven’t been:

• Writing copy for various clients
• Launching a business
• Researching Social Media Marketing
• Pondering the fate of the Nix9to5 blog
• Testing a product so I can write a review for a fellow blogger
• Playing with my little Bear
• Considering potty training and deciding I don’t have the energy to undertake it until summer
• Clipping coupons and trying to score free groceries whenever possible
• Being inordinately excited about the box of products I received from the General Mills Groupon deal
• Baking a huge freezer batch of banana muffins to prevent the waste of a big bunch of bananas that turned black in a hurry once Bear decided, “NO!  I don’t LIKE bananas,” a sentiment which changed immediately upon the absence of said bananas
• Bemoaning the state of my messy house, but not finding the time to do anything about it
• Finding new ways to cook chicken in a crock pot (And here. And here.)
• Wasting time on Facebook and thinking, “You know, I should really be doing something productive.”
• (Insert any number of other things here)

In the meantime, I have decided to keep Nix9to5 up and running.  Well, at least up.  The running part may continue to be hit or miss for a while until I figure out how to integrate it into my schedule with some semblance of consistency.  Once I get back to regular posting, I hope some of you are still around to read it.

In case I don’t get back to you before, I want to wish you all a very happy Mothers’ Day.  May you be allowed to use the bathroom in peace at least once.