TODAY! - All New TLC's Extreme Couponing All-Stars 12/27 @ 10pm

Those of you that know me well, know I LOVE couponing! I consider myself a "Hardcore" couponer, not "Extreme". I don't buy 100 of an item, perhaps 2-5 if it's a really good deal! I also don't spend hundreds of dollars. I think my highest before store sales and coupons amount was $110 and I got it down to about $35. I also have my handy-dandy binder that is the sanctuary for all of the Qs (coupons) I cut.

I JUST found out (late I know) that there will be a new Extreme Couponing All-Stars episode coming on today 12/27/11 at 10pm on TLC! There is also a marathon coming on starting at 1pm and going until 6:30pm. The episode at 10pm is Carla vs. Faatima and the one at 10:30pm is Chris vs. Michelle. This season has a new twist to it and I think it makes it that more exciting! 



Two "All-Stars" will be going head-to-head in a race to purchase $500 worth of items in 30 minutes and NOTHING can be full price! The winner will be whoever has the highest percentage of savings. In the end, they will donate their entire haul to a local food bank. Check out this site to see all of the contestants this season!




I know some people criticize the show and call it stupid and unrealistic, and I could not agree more. A lot of times they do WAY too much and stores relax their coupon policy just for the show...stupid. There was actually one woman on there who I thought was the most down to earth shopper and I really felt like I could do what she did. 



One thing is to remember is that the appearance on this show marks the FIRST time these people have ever done a shopping trip like that. They are contacted and told to plan the biggest shopping trip ever and save the most money. So this is not something they do every week. If you are really interested, you can go to a few of their personal sites and they will actually tell you this. They also give REAL couponing advice and great tips that I have used to help me save money on my shopping trips. I have listed my favorite sites at the end of the ones that have appeared on the show.

I will admit I only watch this show for entertainment. I know I will not be able to go into any store and do what they have done, especially since I shop at Harris Teeter and they allow 20 coupons PER DAY, PER HOUSEHOLD. People who watch the show and try to go out and buy 100 newspapers and mirror what was done will be met with major disappointment. I myself buy 4 newspapers because I find that is a good number for me and allows me to take advantage of at least 4 of an item that is on a really good sale or even FREE (more if the coupon is for more than 1 like a $.75/2).




Once Harris Teeter had super doubles in which they doubled any coupon up to $1.98 (so a $1.50Q doubled to $3), well I was able to score 6 packs of non-stick Reynolds foil for FREE! Now for those of you who buy foil know that it can run you a good $3-$4 for that kind of foil. Well needless to say, I was able to get 6 (had 3 each of 2 types of foil coupons). I haven't had to buy foil yet and that was months ago. If it is something you use and WILL USE BEFORE IT EXPIRES, it isn't a bad thing to stock up.




Another thing I hate to hear people say is that you cannot get anything healthy by couponing. That is a lie. When I go shopping, EVERYTHING doesn't have a coupon, but best believe 9 times out of 10 everything will be on sale. The key is to shop sales only and when possible, match the sale up with the coupon. I spent $25 once and got ALL healthy items including meat. No I didn't have a coupon for the meat, but I saved so much money on everything else that the meat (which was on sale too OR marked down) was still affordable. So people please hush up. If you work it, it will work!



I am excited to see these "All-Stars" go head to head today and will definitely be back on to chat about the show! Will you be watching?

Here are the links I mentioned above of those "Extreme Couponers" who have appeared on the show that I love and follow myself":

Nathan - WeUseCoupons

Amanda - Money Saving Amanda

Tai & Tarin - Double Saving Divas 

Treasure - Coupon Shopping with Treasure

Check out the main site for more information on the show: http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/extreme-couponing

Where My Girls At - 702

Shoot y'all, this was the song back when I was like 14 (everything was a hit when I was 14). I even knew and STILL know the dance they do up on them pillars during the chorus! I didn't think about this before but in the song they say "...he is my, my property..." dag what a message to be telling young girls, but hey, men do it in their songs all the time so who cares!

Kindle Fire!!! Merry Christmas To Me!

Originally when the Kindle first came out I said I did not read enough to want one and didn't care to have one. For Christmas last year I bought my mom a kindle because she really wanted one and she LOVED it! It made me so happy to get something for HER for a change that she really liked since she doesn't ask for much.


I have an ipod touch in which some of you may know you can download the Kindle App and read books on it too. Well I decided to try it out using my mom's account and I actually finished a book in less than a year which was my normal average lol. I think I finished it within a few weeks actually! This got me to thinking that dag maybe if I had a Kindle, I will actually read more!


So not too long ago me and my mom decided to start a book club with each other and started reading The Help together and when she comes to visit THIS week, we are going to have a Book Club meeting and discuss the book! Since we started, I began wanting a Kindle and wanting one BAD! Well, my wish finally came true and my mom and one of my best friends bought me one for Christmas!!! I was so overjoyed and filled with excitement and I still am! Just having it makes me want to read more!


So I decided that this was the perfect opportunity to do my first "Favorite Things" post! I have had it only two days now and it is already one of my favorite things! I am no techie so I can't sit here and explain all the technical features, but decided to share with you all my favorite things about it that I have discovered thus far (besides the fact that I can read books lol)...


1. The colors and screens are so rich! It had a background of pencils when I first cut it on and I felt like they were real pencils and wanted to reach into the screen and grab one to use!

2. With the PRETTY PRETTY purple case I got to go with it, I can prop it up on the table or bed and read it that way! Great if you don't feel like holding it up.


3. I found out you can "rent" movies for like $2 for 48hrs which is the same as renting RedBox $1 a day!


4. I love having apps just like on my Ipod Touch! Both have their advantages depending on where I am and what I am trying to do so I love having the option to use one or the other.


5. People complain because it doesn't have 3G, but I knew that and through research decided I did not care. I am usually where there is WiFi anyway and there is enough to do if you prepare ahead of time by downloading what you want that does NOT require the Internet. Through it's 1-Click feature, it is so easy to order and download paid AND free stuff and I love that as well.


Overall, I am very thankful for getting this for Christmas and am thoroughly enjoying it every minute. I don't have 1 complaint. Do you have a Kindle Fire? What do you enjoy most about it?

Sunday Blog SHOUTOUT - Christmas Debut!

Ok so I decided to start doing a Sunday Blog SHOUTOUT where I will share with you all my favorite posts from the prior week (Sun-Sat) of the blogs I follow. Each week may will present different blogs, different stories, and different emotions. I have also provided the links for each post so that you can check it out for yourself. So here it is:


1. Ooooooo La La Blog - WTF Wednesdays: Teenager Gets Stuck in Chimney
Link http://njlala.blogspot.com/2011/12/wtf-wednesdays-teenager-gets-stuck-in.html

This is my top pick for the week simply because it is so daggon FUNNY! Like how dumb can this kid BE? You can see i commented on the post and said I wouldn't even punish the kid because the embarrassment of it all would be enough for me LOL.


2. BmorelikeCam - Finding Joy in the Pain of Starting Something NEW
Link: http://bmorelikecam.blogspot.com/2011/12/finding-joy-in-pain-of-starting.html

This is my top pick for the week not because it was his first post, but because I thought the message was awesome! There are so many people who are complacent in where they are in life and are afraid to step out of their comfort zone. A lot of times you are stuck in the life you don't want or like because you aren't taking steps to do something new.


3. emuneee - The Verizon Galaxy Nexus Life [Review]
Link:  http://emuneee.com/2011/12/the-verizon-galaxy-nexus-life-review/

So I was done with the first two and was ready to post, but a recent post today (Saturday) caught my eye and I had to add it to the list. I personally am picky person when it comes to choosing a new phone and will hold on to a crappy phone until I find one I am 111% sure I want. Therefore, I felt this was an awesome post this week! It's rare you get such a detailed review on a phone and from someone you actually know which for ME makes it more credible.


Hope you enjoyed this first Sunday Blog SHOUTOUT and please let me know if this is something you guys like and would like to see more of!

Happy Holidays from BElievably Me!

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