random ramblings Archives - Page 2 of 2

Stockpiling: The Benefits, Burden, and Blessings

11/23/2011 by Barbara

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

If you’ve tuned in to any episodes of TLC’s Extreme Couponing, then you’ve seen the overwhelming stockpiles the shoppers have built! Certainly in comparison, theirs puts my meager stockpiles, if you could call it that, to shame!

Thank you, Coupon Queen Laci

The benefits of couponing are maximized when one learns to stockpile, without a doubt. Buying items at their lowest sales price, and stocking up on said item, certainly saves money in the long run. It is an amazing way to ensure that you are not overpaying for items; nor that you’ll have to run out and pay too much for an item, simply because you didn’t have it in stock when it’s needed.

Obviously, non-perishable items are super-easy on which to stock up. Creating a seemingly endless supply of toilet paper, toothpaste and toothbrushes, feminine hygiene products, cleaning materials, and Spam (because would you really know if meat in a can has gone bad?) is the way to go, and a great way to start a stockpile. But with careful planning and attention to detail, you can expand your stockpile to edibles, including frozen foods and pantry items.

Over time, and with a bit of effort put forth, your stockpile can offer a sense of security. Living paycheck to paycheck can be tough; and in this economy, the uncertainty of one’s job security these days is rather stressful. But knowing that you can still feed and care for your family with the material you’ve accumulated in your stockpile offers a sense of security that cannot be shaken!

Kudos, Tammilee’s Tips
on a stock well-piled!

The burden of stockpiling may be quite apparent: it requires time, effort, and -most importantly- space. My meager stockpile consists only of items that can fit in their designated spaces: toothpaste, shampoo, razor blades, feminine hygiene products, etc. must be able to fit in my bathroom cabinets. Pantry items must be able to fit in the pantry. Laundry items must be able to fit in -you guessed it!- the laundry room.

Stockpiling becomes a burden and a bit of a nuisance when it takes over other areas of your home. Again, on Extreme Couponing, I’ve seen TP stockpiled under a child’s bed, nightstands crammed full of items, garages converted to stockpile rooms, and so forth. To me, the insurance and security that comes from a stockpile can be undercut when it prevents you and your family from using and enjoying the space in your house in its intended fashion. Stockpiling should not CONSUME your home.

Further, I have witnessed a few frugal blogger friends display fits of anxiety when their stockpiles drop to levels they deem unacceptable. I’m sorry, but ten 12-packs of toilet paper seem to be pretty darn impressive for a family of four! You “only” have 20 bottles of laundry detergent left, and declare it a crisis? (Honey, go read about how to stretch your laundry detergent!!) Stockpiling should offer a sense of security, not an added dimension of stress and anxiety to our already stressful lives!

In my humble opinion, if you become anxious because a group of items in your stockpile is running low, you need to re-prioritize. Sales will always cycle back, and that item(s) in question can be replenished over time.

Finally, the burden continues with feeling compelled to buy multiple copies of the paper, just for the coupons. If you have a large family, I can see the justification in this; however, for the typical family of -say- four, why on earth would you want to spend hours upon hours sorting, organizing, clipping, and storing coupons? Are you really, truly saving that much?

Ingenious re-purposing,
Klippin Krazy!We have a regular subscription to the AJC, and my parents save their Sunday coupons for me. Lately, I’ve been investing in the purchase of a Sunday paper on Saturday, but that’s in my attempt to get the deals to you sooner. Furthermore, I’ve been extremely fortunate enough to get a slightly varied, condensed copy of the Smart Source coupons in the mail on Tuesdays. And when I see my dear sweet MIL, I end up with an additional set of coupons, usually at least two weeks’ worth. Therefore, I have more than enough sets of coupons each week, anywhere between two and five. This is more than enough for my family of three (soon to be four). I have a small network of friends with whom I can tap, should I see a good coupon that fits my family’s needs; and I’m happy to offer them ones for them in exchange.

I digress. I call in to question the benefits of BUYING multiple copies of the paper, just for the sake of having multiple coupons. I’m speaking mostly about paying money for ten or more copies — at what point do the coupons pay for themselves?? Additionally, many coupons are also available in print form these days; that’s FREE, as long as you have access to a printer. AND you can typically get TWO copies of each printable coupon. Why take on the burden of paying money, all with the chance (not guarantee) of saving more money than you’ve invested.

Thanks, Freetail Therapy!!

The blessings of a well-fed stockpile can be counted in the securities it may provide, in knowing that, even if you find yourself without an income, or on a drastically reduced income, you can still provide for your family with little to no impact on your day-to-day living. (…and isn’t that the purpose behind stockpiling….?) All those hours of carefully planning shopping trips, matching coupons, and vigilantly watching sales cycles pay off.

But beyond your own life, charitable donations you can make with any extras you may have on hand within your stockpile are assuredly a blessing in itself. Whether you share a few items with a neighbor in need, or sizable donations to a homeless shelter or other charity in need, you need not look further than your well-endowed stockpile. Being able to share your fantastic savings with those in need ensures that others can help meet their basic needs, while you reep karmic the benefits of paying it forward.

All in all, I think we must each strike a balance between letting our stockpile(s) consume us and overtake our lives, with the pragmatic benefits of stretching your dollar while also being able to extend a helping hand to those in need.

***I share with you my thoughts and observations on stockpiling, but please heed this disclaimer: I am not bashing nor ridiculing those who create big stockpiles. I have made some great blogger friends over the last few months, who have been gracious enough to share their stockpile pics with me (and thus, with you) and they’re pictured here — check them each out; they’re great ladies with great blogs.***

Keep on saving! :o)
--Barbara
**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Filed Under: random ramblings Tagged With: evergreen

What I Love About this Town…

10/12/2011 by Barbara

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

I feel truly blessed to live in a town where my daughter can spot geese at the pool, at the mall, and -well- just about any where. Yes, they’re mean little boogers up close, but from a distance, they are a creature of awe.

She also gets a glimpse of deer in our backyard from time to time, and in many surprising spots. There are horses down the street in a private backyard, as well as “in town” in Dunwoody. Finally, we’ve spotted about a dozen ducks recently at our dear ol’ Dagwoods. After all, what’s better to watch whilst eating one’s pizza?

Yes, we live in a heavily populated, concrete-laden pocket of Atlanta; but we are still privy to select reminders that nature is still all around us, without having to take a drive out to “the country.”

What signs of nature do YOU see near you? :o)

Happy Wednesday, y’all!

Keep on saving! :o)

–Barbara
**This post may contain affiliate links.**

Filed Under: random ramblings Tagged With: evergreen

Not-So-Extreme Couponing: Learning to Let Go (Sorta)

09/13/2011 by Barbara

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Any good couponer has experienced that invigorating coupon high, but what happens when you find yourself going to extremes, all in the name of saving a few bucks? There’s been quite a buzz in the blogosphere created in recent months thanks largely in part to TLC’s Extreme Couponing. Many viewers are left with the impression that couponing creates, or encourages hoarding, shelf-clearing of sale items, and downright obsessive behavior.*

Admittedly, I’ve found myself in situations where I was running out to buy something, all in the name of a “good deal”, only to later be ridden with buyers remorse, often thinking, “I didn’t even reallyneed that product!” I’ve spoken to many of you, my dear readers, and quite a few of you admit to being new to couponing, so please bear my cautionary tale. Just like any thing else, couponing CAN become addicting, and it, too, may spiral out of control.

Two and a half years ago, when my daughter was born, I became obsessed with maintaining a good diaper stockpile. As you may know by now, I’ve learned to find ways to get some cheap diapers. But over two years ago, when I was beginning to dive deeper in to the depths of couponing, I would go out and willy-nilly buy in to the diaper deal of the week. I hadn’t yet come to realize that the boxes are seldom the better deal, and my gripping -yet highly unrealistic- fear of running out of diapers was beginning to take over, so I wanted to be well-stocked. I would schlep my sweet little girl here, there, and everywhere, all in the name of stocking up. Loaded with gift cards and coupons in hand, I even found myself buying the big ol’ boxes of Huggies, Pampers, and store brand from Babies R Us. (Note: they are NEVER, EVER a cheap deal.)

When I decided I was stocked well-enough with the current size diaper, I would start on the next size. Keep in mind, my petite skinyata spent over a year wearing her six month clothes, so we were able to really take advantage of a large stock pile of size 2s, and then size 3s for quite some time. But even though the logical part of me knew we were well-stocked, I couldn’t pass up good diaper deals. Period.

Suffice it to say, I took a long, hard look in the mirror one day, and decided enough was enough. There will always be good diaper deals. I don’t need to use every single Huggies or Pampers coupon in my possession. (Enter the Coupon Fairy!) And while it’s fine to stock up on the next size, I can do so in moderation, without dragging my daughter here, there, and everywhere, soley to satisfy my crazy, unrealistic fear of running out of diapers.

Now that we’ve successfully crossed potty training off our list (yahoo!), I look at my collection of size 4 diapers, and am grateful in the knowledge that Baby Boy will be well-stocked already; but not without the burden of stockpiling.

I digress.

Diapers are just one example of how I personally went over board (um, perhaps extreme, even) in my couponing endeavors. It is easy to do, particularly as a SAHM, eager to just get out of the house. It’s also easy to talk yourself in to believing that you did, indeed, need to rush out of the house right then and there to save a buck on ice cream, or a quarter on gum, or get that free deodorant (even if you already possessed a dozen other free sticks).

What’s not so easy, but must be done, is taking a step back and realizing that a good deal will always come back around. As a couponer, one must take on the responsibility of keeping oneself in check, to keep from going to extremes.

I share my cautionary tale with you, so that you may benefit from my wackiness. Do you have a wacky couponing cautionary tale you’d like to share? I’d love to hear it!

*I’m pulling all of these impressions from various blogs’ comments, Facebook comments, and Tweets I’ve read on the matter — that’s just a representative sample of the opinions expressed about the show.
Keep on saving! :o)

–Barbara
**This post may contain affiliate links.**

Filed Under: random ramblings Tagged With: evergreen

Merry ChristmasY’all!

12/26/2010 by Barbara

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

This is my first post on my NEW Netbook, a gift from Hubs this Christmas. Truly, I am blessed; without reading this blog somehow knew this was on My List. ;o)

I also want to take this opportunity to thank all of my readers, many of you from it fledgling days. I’m hoping for bigger and better things in 2011 — both blogwise, and in my personal life. (Yes, I’ll keep you posted on both acconts.) I hope you all had a wonderful, peaceful Christmas, enjoyed the SNOW falling today (how rare is that in the ATL?!!), and have a new year full of wonder and amazement.

I’ve been rather quite on the postings lately because we’ve been rather busy with the holidays. And we’ve all been battling a miserable, nasty cold -which included a trip to the pediatrician yesterday morning for the Tot, to assure that the nasty cough wasn’t anything more than a nasty cough. Now Hubs is fighting a fever and just generally feeling rundown. Hopefully, all will be well very soon…

In the meantime, perhaps with my New Toy, I’ll be able to post a little more efficiently, and bring you more and better deals in a more timely fashion. This is the first time I’ve been able to blog from the comfort of our den, as opposed to the computer room upstairs. How cool is that!?!

Thanks again for sticking with Atlanta’s Frugal Mom. God bless you all! :o)

P.S. I never *did* get the Turbie Twist this year — perhaps it’ll roll over to next year’s list. Or perhaps Santa didn’t see it at the bottom of his bag. In any case, with or without it, I am tremendously blessed.

**This post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you click/purchase/sign up for this offer, I may receive a small amount of compensation for it.**

Filed Under: random ramblings

My Wish List

11/05/2010 by Barbara

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Is it sad that the TurbieTwist is the top item on my rather meager Xmas list?

…aside, of course, from a laptop. But that belongs on a different list. You know, the one that includes a pony, that *winning* lottery ticket, a butler, a maid, a poolboy (pool optional), a summer home in Hawaii, and perhaps a unicorn (but that might be pushing it).

P.S. The Turbie Twist is available at CVS for $4.99; a double pack is $7.99! 😉

**This post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you click/purchase/sign up for this offer, I may receive a small amount of compensation for it.**

Filed Under: CVS, random ramblings

The Futility of (Me) Being Fashionable

09/30/2010 by Barbara

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Anyone who’s known me for any length of time will easily testify to my simple, comfortable clothing style. And I use the term “style” rather loosely. I have never been a fashion queen, and was well in to my late teens before I even realized that fashions came in seasons. In fact, until recent enlightenment, I thought Jimmy Choos was some kind of trendy restaurant…
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Filed Under: Clearance, fashion, random ramblings Tagged With: evergreen

Marking the Bittersweet End of a Decade

08/26/2010 by Barbara

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

The end of August has always proven a little bittersweet for me. A new school year begins at this time. As a nerdy student, and later as a teacher, I greatly anticipated the excitement and wonder that a new school year held. However, a new school year means summer is coming to a close. Summer has always been my favorite time of the year, filled with whimsy and carefree wonder.

Also at the end of August is the beginning of a new college football season. Okay, this is just plain sweet. Nothing bitter about this, unless the Dawgs are off to a bad start.

As August winds down, there are more personal ramifications for me, as my birthday comes at this time of year. Perhaps most of us still enjoy that childlike wonder and excitement in the idea of our birthday. However, as we accumulate more and more birthdays, many see them as just another slap-in-the-face reminder that we are getting older, and-infact- have more good years behind us than in front of us. (I’m not saying I’m *there* yet…. Yet.)

And so, today, as I start a new decade of my life, I lament on these last ten years, also known as My Twenties. Yep, that’s right: I’m turning 30, y’all.Looking back, even from my early teens I began looking forward (counting down) to The Next Big Thing, whether it be getting a driver’s license, graduating high school, becoming an adult, starting college, moving out on my own, being (legally) old enough to purchase and consume alcohol, finishing my undergrad, starting a “real” job, or getting married ……just to name a few. With each new milestone accrued, I felt perhaps a smidge bigger, then quickly proceeded to The Next Countdown.

This is a habit I happily spilled in to my twenties, and kept up for quite a while.And then one day, the countdowns ceased. While pregnant with my first (and so far only) child and thinking aloud about how I only had only four more months to go, I got the best advise from a co-worker. “Don’t wish your life away,” she said. The realization I made at that moment was how I’ve spent the better part of a decade and a half anticipating The Next Big Thing, and not focusing so much on the wonderful present.

And then my daughter was born.

These last 17 months have proven that time both flies and crawls, all at once, and it certainly doesn’t STOP while you search for The Next Big Thing. With her arrival, I saw how every little second, every little giggly, smooth-skinned, cuddly moment was valuable and rather fleeting. With her, I have watched a little person transform from a little lump, desperately trying to clasp her hands together while she let out sweet little “waaaaahs”, to a walking (er, running!), chattery little girl, who has become her own person -both goofy and independent and rather intelligent, in such a short span of time!
So, I no longer look so hard for The Next Big Thing. I know, at this point in my life, they are always lurking right around the corner. I am trying to enjoy as much of The Now Things. And all The Little Things.

While I spent much of my teens and twenties wishing my life away, looking always ahead, and not truly soaking up the thrills of the here and now; I have learned in a short span -the last nugget of my twenties- to slow down, and enjoy the moments as they come. The Big Things will come and go. It’s The Little Things that make your day-to-day life really worthwhile.

I do look at today as one of The Big Things. After all, turning thirty is nothing to sneeze at, nor is it something over which to panic. (…..right…..?) As this August winds down, I DO still find myself enjoying and anticipating the Big Things, but also lapping up the sweet little day-to-day moments I have with my amazing daughter and fantastic husband.

Am I happy about turning thirty? Honestly, no. It feels like such a big leap. Up until today, I could remark that, “well, at least I’m still in my twenties.” Maybe I’ll try out a new one: at least I’m in my early, early, early thirties. (Hmm, I’ll have to give it more thought…..) I find myself kicking and screaming in protest of the demise of my twenties. In any case, I am trying to make sense of it all, and embrace the change, and embrace this fantastic life.

So, while -for some- April is the cruelest month, August’s demise will always feel a little bittersweet to me.

And I leave you with this awesome meme, for no reason other than because I can:

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Filed Under: random ramblings

The Simpsons Channel

02/01/2010 by Barbara

**This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

Dear Matt Groening and/or Fox Studio executives (whoever has the most power),

I would like to propose something to help The Simpsons live on forever: create an entire T.V. channel especially for them. I’m sure that you’ve had this idea pitched at you before, but just hear ME out. My ideas are better than your run-of-the-mill Simpsons nut.

For starters, the show has been on the air for over 20 years. Just looping through each episode would take up quite a bit of time, right?

You could even have theme days, or WEEKS, for that matter. You could feature slightly obscure characters: Hans Moleman day, Disco Stu day, Comic Book guy day (and I love it that THAT is his name!), Milhouse day, Patti and/or Selma day, and even Lunch Lady Dorris. Troy McClure, Lionel Hutz, and any other character played by Phil Hartman (God rest his witty soul!) could take up at least an entire day. Hell, you could have Homer week! Themes could be based around holidays, traveling (“The Simpsons are going to Delaware!”), episodes with Itchy and Scratchy cartoons, celebrity guest apppearances……

The possibilities are limitless, like the Cosby Mysteries!

Hell, you could even run that God-awful movie with the same name.

You recently had an hour-long special for the show’s 20th anniversary. I’m sure there’s enough other media clips surrounding the show, the cast, and its characters, you could have time set aside for archived news-type clips. …and I’m sure you could even develop themes around that!

This idea grows from my concern over my local T.V. networks taking The Simpsons out of their syndication lineup. I only survive now on the occasional new episodes that air on Sundays. Although I will not go in to much explanation here, I will simply say that these new episodes just aren’t the same. I need seasons 1-15 to survive! Seeing the show in its heyday would mean so much, not just to me, but to loyal fans everywhere! Seriously, I’m going through withdrawals, and my memory is growing fuzzy of even my favorite episodes!

I was in the 4th grade when the show began, just like Bart. I, however, have since gone on to graduate from high school, finish my undergraduate work, and then obtain my masters degree. In fact, I looked in to majoring in The Simpsons while at the University of Georgia, but -similar to the fate of Homer’s beloved Skittlebrau- such a major does not exist. (Don’t worry, I’m writing to them NEXT!) In that time, I have remained a loyal fan to the show: as a child I had a variety of Simpson tees (including “Don’t Have a Cow”, the less-popular “Underachiever and Proud of it” from the Bart collection, and the coveted Homer’s “Doh! Nuts! Donuts” tee shirt); I have acquired all the episode guides (oh! They’re like crack to a loyal fan!); and other figurines and books along the way.

But don’t worry, I’m not one of those nuts with a Simpson-themed house. My husband won’t let me.

Now, I know you all are reading this and thinking, “how can we possibly make money off of having our own channel, especially compared to having our fans BUY the seasons on DVD?” It’s simple: make the channel a premium channel, like Showtime or HBO. YOUR FANS WOULD BUY IT!!!

In conclusion, I propose creating a premium cable channel devoted entirely to The Simpsons. The channel can keep it’s variety by showing episodes in sequential order, by various themes of which their are infinite possibilities, media clips about the show, and -in a desperate pinch- that movie. You have such a loyal fan base (I’ve heard rumors of bigger fans than myself out there?), that we would be willing to pay for such a channel. Don’t let the networks showing The Simpsons in syndication control how your fans get their fix! Take back control over this vast, glorious (money-making) empire.

Thank you for taking the time to explore my idea. As I stated, I’m sure you’ve had this idea pitched to you before, but not by me. Remember, I’m your biggest fan.

Thanks again, and I look forward to my complimentary subscription to The Simpsons: The Channel.

Devotedly yours,
Barbara Burns

P.S. I would also gladly come and work for the Channel. I already have a handful of theme ideas, as seen above. I would gladly sit around and come up with more themes. Just let me know!

Filed Under: random ramblings

Things No One Told Me About Motherhood

11/09/2009 by Barbara

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Since joining The Club seven months ago, I have learned quite a few things that I simply could not learn through my vast experience with children nor through my veracious readings. And, test, there are still plenty of things no one told me about motherhood: