Ton's O Coupons!

Attention Coupon Ring Ladies!!!

We just sent a TON of coupons to an Army Military Base in Okinawa, Japan!! They can used our expired coupons up to 6 months after the expired date!!!

YEAH!!!

ae :)

Renew, Reinvent & Recycle!

Thanks to Dime Divas reader and dear friend Brittany for this fantastic find! She found it here!

Target is offering a coupon for a FREE recycled tote bag when you help recycle your used Target plastic bags.

Here's the scoop:
Remove the cover from the October 27 issue of People magazine. (Don't get People? Don't despair. You can still participate.)

Fold the cover inside out; then tape the sides to create an envelope. (For those without People, simply use a plain 8 1/2 x 11 or larger envelope.)

Fill the pouch with FIVE plastic Target bags.

Seal all sides of your homemade envelope and drop it in the mailbox by November 30, 2008. It is already postage paid and pre-addressed. (If you're sending a regular envelope, mail it to TerraCycle, 121 New York Avenue, Trenton, NJ 08638. Make sure it has a return address!)

Your coupon for a free recycled tote, redeemable at Target, should arrive in January 2009.

Need more info? Go to the official "Retote" website.

Happy recycling!

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Found a great FIND? Let us know about it!

COUPON RING - Started today!!!

Ladies,
The coupon ring has officially started, it's IN THE MAIL!!! Read a little more about it here.

It's NOT too late to get involved! Just leave me a comment with your email address so I can contact you for your address and we will add you to the Ring...you can expect to start receiving coupons in one month!!!

We have 4 ladies involved currently, April, Terri, Angie and Brittany! So ladies expect to be receiving your coupon stash very soon!!!!

50 Free Prints

Rite Aid is offering 50 free 4x6 prints for pick-up in stores!!! Who doesn't love FREE...just go here to sign-up.

Upload your 50 pictures...

Enter the coupon code: 50FREEPRINTS

*note* be sure to print out your order receipt!!!

--------------- AND ---------------

Kodak Gallery has some freebies too!

Kodak Gallery offers a Free set of ten 5x7 Photo Print Cards with code TRYUS3. Also a Free 5x7 Collage Print when you enter code TRYUS1.

More codes which may be used (exp 12/31/08):
TRYUS4 - $1.98 credit towards prints
TRYUS5 - 20% off, except prints
TRYUS2 - 10% off, except prints

ENJOY!!!

Four Hours of My Saturday Grocery Shopping.

With Shoppers running their big promotion of doubled and tripled coupons this weekend, I packed up all of my coupons and set off to save lots of money. Save lots of money I did. I got so excited after my first trip that I even went back today and stocked up on more very inexpensive (and sometimes even free) groceries and house supplies. I may have done such fabulous things with coupons this weekend that even my hero, The Coupon Mom, would be proud.

I spent four hours of my Saturday grocery shopping - a definite new record in our house. I had a blast finding deals and using my coupons - my persistence absolutely paid off. Shoppers was tripling the value of coupons 50 cents and lower, and doubling coupons ranging from 50 cents to one dollar. I went through my entire coupon file, figuring out what coupons I could use to get free items and what coupons would give me significant discounts on items.

Some examples of my Saturday finds:

Betty Crocker Instant Potatoes $1.00 - minus tripled 50 cent coupon = free!

Joy Dish Soap $1.39 each - minus doubled $1 off of 3 coupon = 3 for $2.17!

Peter Pan Peanut Butter $2.59 - minus two different doubled 50 cent coupons = free!

Celestial Seasonings Tea $2 - minus doubled $1 off coupon = free (and I had two coupons - so I got 2 FREE boxes!)

No Nonsense Panty Hose $1.99 - minus doubled $1 off coupon = free!

I could go on and on with this - the coupon game is such fun to play!

When I checked out on Saturday I had a cart that was literally filled to overflowing. I had groceries, laundry and cleaning supplies, baby food, paper towels, and even mouse traps in my cart.

My total before coupons - $273.11.

My total after - $136.72! I cut my bill by exactly 50%. Impressive, huh?


When I got home, I took some time to regroup and think about what further free items I may have missed out on. Since this promotion ends today, Andrew and I headed back to Shoppers this evening to see what fabulous deals we could find. I walked out of the store only paying for my bottle of iced tea. We bagged $26.87 worth of items completely free.

Want some more examples? Muir Glen Organic Crushed Tomatoes $1.89 - minus doubled $1 off coupon = free (and I had 4 coupons - so we have 4 free cans of crushed tomatoes!)

Trident Total Care Gum $1.39 - minus doubled 75 cent coupon = free!

Reynolds Wax Paper $1.29 - minus tripled 50 cent coupon = free!

Oikos Greek Yogurt $2 - minus doubled $1 off coupon = free (we had 2!)

Green Giant Veggies $1.89 - minus doubled $1 off coupon = free (again - had 2!)

I am so beyond excited about my weekend of savings at Shoppers! I am normally Shoppers' number one critic, but if they keep up promotions like this, I may be willing to deal with all of the hassles that I experience there on a weekly basis.

Yay for Shoppers. Yay for me!

Shoppers is DOUBLING and TRIPLING coupons!!!

I am SO there ladies, and just in time for the end of the month shopping!!! Here's the skinny! Let me see your DEALS!!!

Safeway's Internet Coupon Policy.

Since I frequently visit sites like coupons.com and smartsource.com to print coupons, I have been calling various local stores to find out who does and does not accept Internet coupons.

After speaking to several store employees who have told me "no" only to later find out that the answer is "yes," I have found that the best way to get the answer to this question is to contact the store's corporate office directly.

Most recently, I spoke with Linda at the Canton Safeway. Linda, of course, told me that Safeway stores do not accept Internet coupons, which I found hard to believe. I, of course, e-mailed Safeway corporate immediately to get the scoop. As it turns out, Safeway does accept coupons printed from the Internet as long as the fall within the guidelines listed in the e-mail from Safeway posted below:

"Printable Internet Coupons are defined as on-line print at home coupons that consumers receive from either a retailer web site (for example: Vons.com), a manufacturer web site (for example: Kraft Foods.com) or from a legitimate coupon web site, (for example: Coupons.com). These web sites typically require shoppers to register on-line before granting access to print the coupon, and generally limit the customer to print only one type of coupon from their web site to discourage duplicates coming from a single computer. In order to insure that we accept only legitimate printable Internet coupons, Safeway has adopted the following store policies and guidelines. These policies and guidelines are company wide.

1. We will not accept any printable Internet coupons that do not have a manufacturer's bar code or manufacturer's redemption instructions.

2. We will accept any printable Internet coupons only if they scan properly at checkout.

3. We will not accept more than one "copy" of the same printable Internet coupon per customer.

4. We will not accept any printable Internet coupons for a Free Product (other than a "Buy One Get One Free Offer" that requires a purchase of the like item.)

5. We will not accept any printable Internet coupons for more than a $5.00 value or for more than 50% of a product's retail price, whichever of the two is lower.

6. We will not accept any printable Internet coupons that do not have an easy to read expiration date or that extend more than 12 weeks. (Most printable Internet coupons may expire 30-45 days after you print them.)

7. We will not accept any printable Internet coupons that appear out of proportion, appear blurry, or are obvious duplicates.

8. Any printable Internet coupons that appear to have been altered in any way may be rejected. (Printable Internet coupons are nearly always printed using the same technology and therefore have a standard format, with very specific security features, including a unique serial code.)"

So there you have it - in writing - straight from the source! Thanks, Safeway, for clearing up any confusion. And, while you're at it, how about training your employees a little more thoroughly about your policies?

I'll continue to report my findings on Internet coupons, since they are growing in popularity these days!

- t

Fabulous and K-Mart...in the Same Sentence.

What a fabulous shopping experience I had today at K-Mart. Never did I think I would even use the words "fabulous" and "K-Mart" in the same sentence, but I had such an outstanding shopping experience today that K-Mart is receiving well deserved praise from this Momma.

As BB wrote about yesterday, K-Mart is running a promotion from October 1-5 where they are doubling coupons up to $2.00! This is simply unheard of in the coupon world. Most grocery stores maybe will double coupons up to $1, but K-Mart was allowing you to get the full value of the coupon, plus doubling UP TO an additional $2. Hooray!

Before I share my full savings success story, allow me to share some examples of the fabulous (there's that word again) deals I found today on my shopping trip to K-Mart.

Oust Air Freshener:
$3.99 - $1 off coupon attached to can doubled - $2 off 2 Oust products coupon doubled made two cans FREE!

Colgate Toothpaste:
$3.99 - $1.50 off coupon doubled made them 99 cents! And, I had 3 coupons! We have toothpaste for months all for less than the cost of one normal tube!

Kellogg's Smart Start Cereal:
$3.99 - $1.50 off coupon doubled = 99 cents!

And, my personal favorite...
Gerber Baby Food:
I went through the arsenal of coupons they send new moms in the mail - "$1 off 4," "75 cents off 2," etc. And stocked up. Some of it ended up being free and the rest of it was dirt cheap. I got about $75 worth of baby food, cereal and juice for $30. Baby P will be eating like a king!

My grand total before all of the fabulous savings was around $120 but I got it all for $60! That is 50% off! Amazing, huh?

If you're headed out to try this out before the 5th, I'd also advise you to follow this link, sign up for K-Mart's e-mail club and print this coupon for $5 off of a $50 purchase at K-Mart. This little coupon also contributed to getting my total so low.

At BB's urging, here is a picture of my day's winnings. I am beyond impressed with myself, and I think I even impressed a once skeptical Mr. P. He even suggested that we grab the Baltimore Sun this Sunday and see if there are any other coupons we can use before Monday when the K-Mart fabulosity ends. I think he thinks I'm one smart cookie...and he's right!



- t

That's a savings of...

$42.78!!!!!

I went to Kmart last night...and although I only had about 8-10 things I needed to buy...I still saved over $8 with the double coupon day!! I am stocked up on my cleaning supplies for now and feeling great.

I then headed over to SuperFresh...where I knew they doubled coupons daily up to $.50!! I needed to stock up on some groceries...and that I did. My original bill was $89 something...and I only spent $55!! It was a savings of over $34!!! And in my excitement to run out and check out my receipt...I actually LEFT my receipt in the store!!! At least I was paying attention to the numbers enough to know what I saved!!!

I am so proud of myself...where I would have spent 67% of my grocery budget for October, I actually only spent 41%!!!!

I know now that I really gotta get my butt in line finding more coupons!! Got any great places to find coupons? Or if you are interested in joining our COUPON EXCHANGE RING just leave us a comment with your email address and I will send you the information!!!

I know that TT was headed over the Kmart today! I hope she did just as well if not better!!!

- a

K-Mart's doubling coupons up to $2!!!

No joke! They really are! I found out about it here...I may duck in there tonight to see what I can get!!! This special Super double coupon days only lasts from October 1-5th! Thanks Kmart!! I know it may take some of you an extra dose of coffee in the am to head into a Kmart, but for savings like this...I say "it's WORTH IT."

Here is a list of participating Kmarts. You can check your Kmart first to make sure they are honoring this special, if they aren't then call the Kmart Customer service number and let them know...and they will call your store and tell them how to key it in manually so they can participate!! Yipppeee!

If there are any problems, print out this AD and take it with you to the store!!!

Just check out some of the luck that this woman had at Kmart!! And yet another woman's deals here. And ANOTHER!! Are you IN the car driving there yet?!?!

Also, go NOW and sign up at Kmart.com and recieve a email coupon for $5 off!!!

Let us know how you do!! I will be sure to post some of my loot later tonight!!!

- a

C O U P O N S

Coupons...how easy CAN it be?

The following is a lot of GREAT information. Thanks to Pinchingyourpennies.com.

Is clipping and using the grocery coupons in the Sunday newspaper a waste of time? No! Using coupons, smart shoppers have learned how to live on a grocery budget of $50.00 a week!

Savings may be small in the beginning but with knowledge, time and practice coupon shoppers are saving more than ever imagined. Even if you don't NEED to pinch your pennies, you can still have more than you ever thought you could!

Accumulate Coupons
The first step to these terrific savings and successful coupon use is accumulating coupons. Each week there are usually two different coupon inserts in metropolitan newspapers with a third insert available once a month. Having multiples of each coupon enables a shopper to take advantage of the great deals in bulk. This helps build a food storage. Obtaining multiples of coupons is not difficult. Family, friends, neighbors and co-workers are great sources for obtaining multiple coupon inserts. Another source of coupons is the internet. Printable coupons and coupon offers can be found at many manufacturer and coupon related websites. Many manufacturers also offer coupons which are sent post mail.

Additional coupons and in-store savings can be found at most grocery stores. Coupons commonly called blinkies are available in red machines set up in aisles in the stores. Also, apply for grocery store courtesy cards. Most grocery chains have these complimentary cards which provide extra discounts and savings at their stores. These discounts can be combined with coupons for maximum savings.

Get Organized
The second step to successful coupon use is organization. There is a variety of ways to organize and maintain coupons. Successful coupon users have a place to keep and organize the coupons. This can be a box, binder or flexible file. Plastic flex-type coupon organizers can be purchased at many stores. Many coupon users make their own binders using a zippered binder filled with photo pages or sports card pages. A box with dividers can be made or purchased. Whatever is used, the coupons are divided and placed in categories which provide for easy location while shopping.

There are many methods to saving and cutting the coupons and inserts. Some coupon users will cut all coupons and file them in their coupon organizer. This way all of the coupons are available when shopping. If a surprise deal or sale is found, the coupon is ready. Others cut only the coupons they are sure to use and leave the rest in the coupon inserts. When a sale or deal on a specific item occurs, they can go back to the insert and cut the needed coupons. If doing this, find a way to file and organize the inserts. Print or write out a list of which coupons are in each insert.

What is Food Storage?
The third and most powerful step to successful coupon use is called building a food storage. When a great deal is found, buy in bulk. This is why accumulating multiple coupons is necessary. Buying a lot of one thing at a great price can lead to never having to pay full price again. For example, buying six months of cereal at a great price means cereal will not need to be purchased again until you run out. This can be done with many food items and most household goods.

Use Coupons Wisely
Using coupons wisely is another key to successful coupon use. There are many ways to do this and maximize the savings. The first way is to avoid using a coupon just because it exists. If there is a coupon for an item that is not a great deal and is not needed, do not use it. Unused coupons can be traded. Expired coupons can be sent to military bases overseas where they are valid six months past the expiration date.

Watch the sales at different grocery stores. Pair the sales with the coupons to get great savings. Many times items are just a small fraction of their original price when this is done.

*Know the coupon policies at local stores. Stop at the customer service desks and ask about their coupon policies. Some stores double and triple the value of coupons. Some stores will combine a manufacturer's coupon with a store coupon. If a store has a coupon in their ad or in store and there is a manufacturer's coupon for the same item, both can be used. Two manufacturer's coupons can not be combined. There are some stores that accept competitor's store coupons.
Read each coupon carefully. Most state "one coupon per purchase". Each item bought is a purchase. If 10 of an item is purchased, 10 coupons for that item may be used. It is rare for a coupon to state "one coupon per customer".

When coupons are collected, organized and used in these ways it is easy to slice your monthly grocery budget in at least half.

One woman has done just that:
Misti's Story
“When I first started using coupons our monthly grocery budget was around $700. That included food, cleaning supplies, paper products, diapers, etc… It took a while before I really started to see my budget go down. I don't think I noticed a difference in the amount of money I was spending for 5-6 months. But there was a huge difference in what I was bringing home. Over time, I started to see my budget come down. It was slow at first but I decided to cut $50 off each month and see what happened. After another 7-8 months, I had the budget for the same items down to $250 a month. After having a fourth child I increased the budget to $300 a month and that is what I spend now.”

Tips of the Trade
Successful coupon shoppers also use the following tips to maximize their savings.* When at item is Buy One Get One Free, often two coupons can be used. * If the coupon says "off any size", its often more profitable to use it on the smallest size. * If the store is out of an advertised sale item, get a raincheck. Use it later with coupons. * Keep a list of needed items. * Plan your meals around items in your food storage. * Avoid trips to convenience and corner stores. * Don't shop when hungry. This will reduce impulse buys. * Remember one store does not have the lowest prices on everything. * Check expiration dates on food items, especially when stockpiling. * Watch for price discrepancies as checkout. Make sure all coupons are deducted. * Try different brands. Eliminating brand loyalty increases savings. * Have fun and be proud of the savings!
Grocery coupons are not the only way to save money while shopping. There are many ways to save money when shopping for almost everything.

Shopping Online
Shopping online provides a new shopping experience for many consumers. Many retailers have websites where they offer the same products found in their stores. There are also many retailers who just sell products online through their websites. Many times items can be found online at great savings. Many online retailers off free shipping or have free shipping promotions.
Most internet retailers offer discounts by providing discount coupon codes for things like free shipping, percentages off or fixed dollar amounts off a purchase. There are many places online that compile lists of these codes for shoppers.

With a better price, no shipping charges, increased internet shopping security, no hassle of going to the store and further discounts available with coupons codes, online shopping is growing in popularity. It has become a first stop for many smart shoppers.

Even with online shopping, smart shoppers do not give up shopping around town. Smart shopping around town can also provide great savings. Planning ahead saves shoppers money when shopping locally. Watch for sales and clearances. Know where local stores keep clearance items. Watch for end of season sales. Shopping at the end of a season for items needed the next year provides huge discounts. Become familiar with the sales cycles, know when different things are typically on sale. For example, many things such as mattress sets are typically on sale for the best discounts in the fall.

Shopping Around Town
Knowing the pricing policies of local stores is also important. Some stores have low price guarantees or match other store's advertised sale prices. Know where to find information about sales and clearances around town.

Whether it is using grocery coupons, internet shopping or shopping locally, simply knowing how to shop and where to shop is the key to shopping smarter and realizing amazing savings. With the right knowledge, shoppers can pinch their pennies and never pay full price again.

Often all of this information and more is just a click away, start today with a Google search and see where it can take you!

How many of you have had success with coupons?

Walking the talk.

Hey there! I'm April. I don't claim to be a financial guru in any sense of the word...but for years I have stored away, hidden and counted my monies over and over and over. I can spend money, but I can also let it hide away and burn a hole in my pocket without even thinking about it. However, 5 or so years ago I married a spender. He's not bad, but he's much quicker to spend than I am. That's not to say that I don't spend...I do. I am just usually much more painfully aware of it than he is. And I get spender's guilt like nobodies business!!!

We have been training ourselves to watch where our money goes from day one. We have even implemented rules, "If I am going to spend $50 or more on any one item, I first have to talk with my husband/wife first." Not necessarily for permission, but to gain perspective on whether or not that item is truly needed. Mr. E loves all things electronic and gadgety, while I could lose myself in Target on any given day purchasing who knows what.

When I got married I came straight from living with my parents. I owned my car outright, after purchasing it from a friend...using money from credit. Mr. E owned his own townhouse, so we were pretty set up. I walked right into a mortgage and bills. We decided from the get-go to pool our money together, what I earned and what he earned we put together to pay all the bills, buy all the groceries and have fun with!

And have fun we did. I remember in the beginning, I knew we had the world's smallest mortgage...and we made more than enough money to get everything we need. But keeping track of where it went...that's where the problem started. It seemed that at the end of each money all that money we had, was no where to be seen. We also made a couple big purchases that we didn't necessarily have the cash on hand for. Enter credit...a certain evil that would soon rule our lives. We even thought that we would do some good and open a card where we could earn rewards and flight miles, etc. But I can attest to this...building up $10k in credit card debt doesn't get you 10k flight miles. Nope. We were beyond naive on that one.

Fast forward a little bit and we are in our second home...a single family that needed some TLC. We have added two other credit cards and a HELOC (home equity line of credit) to our 'evil' gang and we are trying ever so eagerly to dig ourselves out during these frightening economic times.

Our push? Kids. We have been trying for a little one for 3 years now...and all the while we have been floating down this debt river with little concern about the future. I mean, we have always thought about it...but never took big strides to take care of the situation...which ever so slowly only made it worse.

So I would say about 5 months ago, Mr. E and I sat down and had a heart-to-heart. Changes HAD to be made. At any given moment I could get pregnant and then we were on a huge crunch to get this debt taken care of. I want very much to be a sahm (stay at home mom), but I knew that if we didn't get rid of some of this debt, I would have to return to work after our little one was born. That idea killed me inside. I kicked myself for the poor spending choices we had made, the credit cards we had opened and all the poor decisions concerning our future. But that wasn't going to break-a our stride...oohhh nnoooo, we got to keep on mooooviin'!

It's hard though...I want so badly to have our half bath finished, to finish our basement, to upgrade the decor of our home with things like fresh paint and crown moulding. I want a beautifully landscaped yard. (and after losing 35 pounds) I want a new wardrobe!!! We have so many wants, but what has to be more powerful now is the desire to have a financially healthy home for my children when they come into this world!!

So our goals: Pay down debt being the first one. We also have some smaller secondary goals. Increase monies into 401K, use some extra money to put more equity into our home (i.e. finish our basement, + a half bath, etc), and we have also chosen to share/give. We are deeply compassionate people and we feel that on top of tithes, giving is a huge sacrifice that we feel God can use.

Some immediate goals: setting aside money for next month (our envelopes), all extra money goes to a balance bill, clipping coupons and looking for deals, planning meals as to not buy groceries frivolously. No eating out on credit/debit, giving; but without putting ourselves in a crunch and certainly adding no more to the debt pool than is already there!

So far so good...we have set aside money from overtime work, some of my secondary jobs and truck payments from a car we sold and we were even able to put out over $600 one month to pay down some bills. What a high that was to see WHAT we could do...that was the push we needed. I also opened up an account with Pear Budget in order to create a budget and live a more 'designed' financial lifestyle, thus freeing up more money for debt payoff.

Today is the day. Day 1 of starting our budget. We have decided to budget and during one month we set aside money for the next months spending in cash. We are using an envelope system to keep track of the money for gas, groceries, dining out, etc. Our three biggest focuses for October are spending only the money set aside for gas and groceries, and anything left over rolls into money for November. And as far as dining out goes...we can only do it, if we have the cash on hand to do so. No more debit card nonsense...there is no accountability there.

I am eager to accomplish October's goals and make it out on top. In the green.

So is there anyone else like me out there? No kiddos, paying off debt and preparing for a family, all the while yearning for a debt-free lifestyle, being able to give to others without grimacing for fear that our wallets can't handle it, a nic-er home that is decorated beautifully and finally finished with upgrade projects, new clothes, being able to go to Target and spend money because I was smart enough to set aside the funds to do so! It all seems so simple, but it's what I want in life...and I will get it!

- a

A New Way of Living.

My name is Terri, and I'm a shop-a-holic. Make-up, shoes, clothes, Starbucks coffee - all of these things make me euphoric. I read the "Shop-A-Holic" book series by Sophie Kinsella not because they're funny (which they are,) but because I feel that Becky Bloomwood and I are kindered spirits. I cannot resist a sale. I can justify any purchase, no matter how frivolous. I love to buy things. It's a sickness.

I lived with my parents until I was 25 and got married. I married a guy who already owned his home and was already paying the mortgage. Aside from a car payment or a cell phone bill, I have never really had any financial obligations to meet. Since I started working "real jobs" when I was about 21, I have made lots of money. How much do I have saved? None. I've bought a new car and paid it off, but other than that - I've spent all of my money on new outfits, cute purses, highlights, expensive make-up, wine, fancy dinners, and a myriad of other unimportant things.

We had a baby in May. Baby shopping brings shopping-obsession to a whole new level. I have not stopped buying cute baby outfits, shoes, toys, etc. since he was born. It is out of hand. Like I said, it's a sickness.

I cannot say that I had a noble motive that caused my "financial awakening." The thing that made me review my spending habits was the quest for a 2009 membership to the Otterbein Swim Club. The Otterbein pool is a posh oasis in the middle of the city. Adult pool, baby pool, playground, picnic area. The mommies chit-chat and get tan while their kids splash around in the pool. There are parties and events for grown-ups in the evening. In a nutshell, everyone who's anyone in our circle of city friends has a membership there...and it's expensive. About $1200 up front, and $600 a year from then on. Wow, right? I know. Still, I need to belong to this pool next summer. It's making me crazy. Andrew told me that, although he thinks it's a little overpriced, if I can save up the money, we can join. Here begins my journey into budgeting.

I began to do a little investigating into my spending with the help of Pear Budget. (Pear Budget, we love you and we will be talking about you lots in this blog!) Pear Budget is a program that, among loads of other cool things, allows you to enter your receipts and see how much you're spending on different things. My findings were not pretty. I spend $1,000 a year on my hair, $1,000 on manicures and pedicures, and more money than I care to discuss on random pretty and exciting things I see at Target. It's all very nauseating when you break it down. What have I been doing with my money?

Since drastic times call for drastic measures and I NEED that pool membership, I did something I have never, ever done before in my life. I created a budget (gasp.) It starts today - October 1st. A new way of living. I want to reign in my spending. I want to know where my money's going. I want to sun myself poolside from May through September. (Shallow, I know, but I'd rather be honest.)

Some immediate goals: clip coupons, buy more generic products, go from two mani/pedis a month to just one, and account for every single penny I spend with my new Pear Budget program! I also opened an ING Direct savings account, with plans to put all money I haven't spent at the end of the month into savings. I think I've made some great strides toward cleaning up my financial act.

So there you have it, the reason I'm starting to blog about money. How many other ladies are out there who have a life like mine? Super husband who pays all the major bills, paycheck that goes toward very few actual bills, trying to fit into the hustle and bustle of city life, a new mom who wants to buy the world for her son while still paying for his nanny (for my part-time work schedule,) diapers, formula and date-night baby-sitters. I hope you'll enjoy reading about my journey into financial responsibility. Here goes nothing!

- t