It's Super Doubles Week at Harris Teeter Again! Ends 4/21

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Well, one of several most wonderful times of the year. It's not too often that Harris Teeter has Super Double coupon weeks, but when they do you can walk away with high value items for pennies!

What is Super Doubles you ask? Normally, Harris Teeter doubles coupons up to 99 cents in value, making them double up to $1.99. During Super Doubles week, HT doubles coupons up to $2 in value, allowing you to get up to $4 off with just ONE coupon! This makes it very easy to get shampoos, deodorants, body washes, aspirin, and other higher priced items for next to nothing during this week. It's a great time to stock up.

There are several blogs that go through the ad and other unadvertised deals and matchup the prices with what coupons are available. I'll provide some links to those more extensive lists at the bottom of this post. For now though, I just wanted to share a few great deals I got this week so far.

Here's the first haul I got on day 1 of super doubles:

I paid $4.74 before tax for all of this! I use manufacturer and store coupons, as well as a $10/$50 purchase store coupon that HT sent in the mail. Let me break some of these deals down for you. 

Gain Pods reg. price $5.99

- Use $2/1 Tide pods, Gain flings, etc. manu coup

- Doubles to $4/1

Final Price = $1.99

Snack Wells $3.50 each

Use $1/1 Snack Wells on the go and $1/1 Snack Wells product

- Both double to $2/1

Final Price = $1.50 each

Always Infinity sale $3.99

- Use $1/1 Always Infinity

- Doubles to $2/1

- Use $1/1 Always HT digital store coup

Final Price = $.99

Cooked Perfect frozen meatballs reg. price $3.49

- Use 2 $1.50/1 Cooked Perfect Meatballs manu coup

- Doubles to $3/1

Final Price = $.49 per bag

Old Spice 2 ct. bar soap on sale 2/$4

- Use $2/2 Old Spice Products manu coup

- Doubles to $4/2

- Use $2/1 Old Spice Product HT digital store coup

Final Price = $2 moneymaker!

Olay Body Wash on sale $3.99

- Use 2 $1.50/1 Olay Body Wash manu coup

- Doubles to $3/1

Final Price = $.99 each

Old Spice Shampoo on sale $4.49

-Use $2/1 Old Spice Shampoo or 2-in-1 manu coup

- Doubles to $4/1

- Use $.75/1 Old Spice product HT digital store coup

Final Price = $.26 moneymaker!

Quaker Real Medleys Oatmal Cups on sale 2/$3

- Use $1/2 Quaker Real Medleys Oatmeal Cups manu coup

- Doubles to $2/2

Final Price = $.50 each

Cover Girl Foundation reg. price $8.xx

- Use  $2/1 Cover Girl product

- Doubles to $4/1

- Use $1/1 Cover Girl Product HT digital coup

Final Price = $3.xx

 Here's another trip I took today. I paid $8, not as good as the first day, but still a great deal considering those deodorants retail for $8 each.

Special K cereal bars sale $2
- Use $.75/1 Special K cereal bars manu coup
- Doubles to $1.50/1
Final price = $.50 each

Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant reg. price $7.97
- Use $2/1 Secret Clinical manu coup
- Doubles to $4/1
- Use $3/1 Secret Clinical HT digital store coup (can only be used once)
Final Price for 1st = $.97
Final Price for 2nd = $3.97

YoCrunch Yogurt on sale 10/$5 ($.50 each)
- Use $1/4 YoCrunch single yogurts or $1/2 multipacks manu coup
- Doubles to $2/4
Final Price = FREE

Yoplait Greek 100 on sale 3/$4 ($1.33 each)
- Use $1/2 Yoplait Greek 100 yogurts manu coup
- Doubles to $2/2
Final Price = $.33 each

Herdex Mexican Cooking Sauce BOGO $1.89
- Use $.75/1 Herdez cooking sauce manu coup
- Doubles to $1.50/1
Final Price = $.39


Here are some helpful matchup sites for this week at Harris Teeter to get the most for your money:
http://www.southernsavers.com/harris-teeter/
http://www.theharristeeterdeals.com/

Skinny Cheeseburger Casserole

This has quickly become one of my and Eddie's favorite recipes lately. Eddie LOVES cheeseburgers, and he's very picky about them. He even ranks each restaurant's burger according to several criteria. I've told him he should start a blog about it :P Anyway, when I made this recipe for the first time he was skeptical, but after his first bite he was blown away at how much it actually tasted like a cheeseburger! The thing I like the most about this recipe is it's a much healthier version of a cheeseburger, while still satisfying that cheeseburger craving we all get once in a while. I found this recipe on skinnymom.com, so I can't take credit for making it up myself, but I still wanted to share it with you!

Skinny Cheeseburger Casserole

Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 20-25 minutes
8 servings, 1 cup per serving

Ingredients:
2 cups whole wheat elbow macaroni, uncooked
2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
½ onion, diced
1 Tbsp garlic, minced
1 lb lean ground beef
½ tsp burger seasoning
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
2 — 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes
2 Tbsp tomato paste
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
2 cups reduced-fat, shredded cheddar cheese
Optional: 1/4 cup dill hamburger chips, chopped

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and spray a 9" x 13" casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a large stock pot, cook pasta according to package directions, drain and set aside.
3. In a medium skillet, add olive oil and cook onions and garlic for 1-2 minutes.
4. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Add salt, pepper and burger seasoning to ground beef while cooking.
5. Add in tomatoes, tomato paste and mustard.
6. Allow the mixture to cook and thicken until bubbly.
7. Add the pasta to sauce and mix to cover evenly.
8. Transfer mixture to casserole dish.
9. Top with cheese and bake for 20-25 minutes.
10. Remove from oven and top with chopped dill pickles before serving (optional).

Nutrition Information:

Per Serving: (1 cup)

Calories: 258
Calories from fat: 75
Fat: 9g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Cholesterol: 50mg
Sodium: 528mg
Carbohydrates: 18g
Fiber: 4g
Sugar 5g
Protein: 24g
Calcium: 27%
Iron: 10%
WWP+: 6

http://www.skinnymom.com/2013/11/11/skinny-cheeseburger-casserole/

Another thing I love about this recipe is once you buy a few of the ingredients, such as the burger seasoning and the dijon mustard, you can use it several times, saving you money. 

CVS Body Wash Deal Week of 4/12

I got a great deal on Caress body wash today at CVS that I wanted to share with you guys. I got 4 body washes for $1.74 including tax, making them 43 cents each! I used 4 $1/1 Caress Body Wash coupons that expire on 4/19. I also happened to receive a $3/$11 body wash/soap purchase CVS coupon as part of the random weekly coupons they give out from the coupon center. Everyone gets different coupons from the coupon center, however, with the exception of 1 or 2 that they give to everyone. Here's the matchup for the deal:

Buy 4 Caress Body Washes (on sale Buy One Get One Free at $6.29)
Total: $12.58
Use 4 $1/1 Caress body wash manufacturer coupons
Use $3/$11 body wash/soap purchase CVS store coupon
= $5.58
Then I had some ECBs left over from last weeks purchases, so I used $4.50 in ECBs
Final Total: $1.08 plus tax!

Even without any ECBs this is a pretty decent deal, as you'd only be paying $1.39 each.

This isn't the only good deal this week. There is a $2.50/1 Colgate toothpaste CVS store coupon that is printing for everyone at the coupon center this week. Pair that with the .50/1 Colgate toothpaste coupon from 4/12 insert and pay only the tax. I only paid 22 cents! Feel free to share any other great deals you find at CVS this week.

CVS Deal through 4/4

Just wanted to share a quick, great deal from CVS this week on toothpaste. This week on Colgate Optic White 3oz toothpaste, CVS has a Buy 2, get $4 Extracare Bucks to use on your next purchase. They are also currently on sale 2/$7.88 bringing them to $3.94 each. There is also a $2 off 1 Colgate Optic White manufacturer's coupon online you can print. Here is the matchup:

Buy (2) Colgate Optic White Toothpaste 3oz at 2/$7.88
Use (2) $2/1 Colgate Optic White Toothpaste 3oz or larger (printable manufacturer's coupon)
Pay $3.88 plus tax!

You can make this deal even sweeter if you have any leftover ECB's from last week like I did. I got an extra $1 off using mine. Comment below if you find other great deals!

Italian Turkey and Spaghetti Squash Pie

Have you ever tried spaghetti squash? It's emerged over the past few years as a great, low carb alternative to pasta. It's great because it doesn't have much of a flavor on its on, and it tends to take on whatever flavor you cook it with. It also doesn't leave you with that heavy and bloated feeling that pasta usually does. And it's a vegetable!!!

I've had spaghetti squash at restaurants before, but I was nervous to tackle the task of making it myself. I have to say it was fairly easy. I think the most difficult part was cutting the squash in half before baking it. After searching for a fairly easy recipe to try to this with, I found one on weightwatchers.com that sounded like something Eddie, my picky eater, might actually find edible. Well, he ended up really liking it! 

I actually ended up using an extra 1/4 pound of turkey and extra shredded cheese because my spaghetti squash was on the larger side. I also ended up using a larger casserole dish so everything could fit well. So here it is along with the link:

Italian Turkey and Spaghetti Squash Pie

Serves 6

Ingredients:

- 1 medium uncooked spaghetti squash
- 1/2 pound ground turkey breast
- 2 tsp olive oil   
- 1 small onion, chopped   
- 1 (medium) garlic clove, minced   
- 2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes, undrained   
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning, or more to taste   
- 6 oz fat-free ricotta cheese   
- 1 large eg 
- cooking spray, nonstick   
- 1/2 cup shredded fat free mozzarella cheese 

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350ºF. Halve squash lengthwise; scoop out seeds. Place squash, cut sides down, in a large baking dish and prick skin all over with a fork. Bake until tender, about 30 to 40 minutes.
  
• Meanwhile, cook turkey, stirring occasionally, in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until browned, about 5 minutes. Drain, remove from skillet and set aside.
  
• In a same skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; saute until onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and Italian seasoning; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; add cooked turkey and simmer, stirring often, until desired consistency, about 5 minutes.
  
• Place ricotta and egg in a food processor or blender; puree until smooth.
  
• Coat a 9-inch glass pie plate with cooking spray. Remove squash from oven and increase oven temperature to 375ºF.
  
• Using a fork, carefully rake stringy squash pulp from shell, separating it into strands that look like spaghetti. Arrange spaghetti squash strands in bottom and up sides of pie plate to form a crust.
  
• Add ricotta cheese mixture and gently spread over squash. Pour tomato-turkey sauce over cheese mixture and sprinkle with mozzarella. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes before slicing into 6 pieces. Yields 1 piece per serving.

Source: https://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/RecipePage.aspx?recipeid=%2099791

A Few Great CVS Deals This Week 3/8 - 3/15

CVS has a couple good deals this week that I wanted to share with you. Especially if you need mouthwash or Advil!

Colgate Total Rinse 1L, Sale $5.99

Colgate Optic White Rinse, 32 oz $5.99

Buy 1, Receive $3.00 ECB, Limit 2

Use $2/1 – Colgate Mouthwash or Mouth Rinse, 32 oz or larger (coupons.com)

Pay $3.99, Receive $3 extrabucks

Final Price: $0.99

Advil, 80-100 ct

Advil Liqui-Gels, 80 ctAdvil PM Liqui-Gels, 40 ct

Buy One Get One 50% OffSpend $30.00, Receive $10.00 extrabucks, Limit 1

Use $3.00/1 – Advil Film-Coated Product (advil.com)

Or $3.00/1 – Advil Film Coated, 80 ct or larger from RP 3/1

Or $2.00/1 – Advil PM, 20 ct or larger from RP 3/1

Here is what I did with this Advil deal. I had $3 in ECBs from the mouthwash to use and another $5/$25 purchase CVS coupon from my email as well:

Buy 2 Advil film-coated 80 ct caplets at $11.49 BOGO 50% off

Buy 2 Advil PM Liqui-Gels, 40 ct at $9.49 BOGO 50% off

Use (2) $3/1 Advil Film-Coated 80 ct or larger (From RP 3/1)

Use (2) $2/1 Advil PM Liqui-Gels, 20 ct or larger (From RP 3/1)

Use $5/$25 CVS purchase (CVS coupon)

Use $3 ECB

Total: $13.46

Get $10 ECB for spending $30

Final Price: $3.60 plus tax!

Without the ECBs I had from the mouthwash, this is still a great deal at about $6.60 plux tax. CVS is one of the few stores that offers several extra store coupons and incentives to help you save the most money. I always check my email inbox every week to see what extra coupons I can get off of my overall purchase. You can sign up for these emails by registering your ExtraCare card online. 

Buy 2 Get 3 FREE at Harris Teeter

When I first moved to North Carolina almost 2 years ago, I was skeptical about the main grocery chain here, Harris Teeter. I didn't know much about them and having gone from living in Florida for the previous 14 years, my love for Publix was unbreakable and I never thought I would love another store as much as them. Since then, Publix stores have opened up closer to my house in NC, but in the time before this happened, I learned the ins and outs of Harris Teeter and realized that I could actually save even MORE than I did at Publix with the double coupons and extra sales that Harris Teeter has every week. Another thing I love about Harris Teeter is the extra coupons they add to items whose sell by date is that day or the next. I have gotten some GREAT deals on produce and other perishables just by looking for those extra yellow coupons on the packages. Don't worry, Publix, I still love you! :) But I digress...

Almost every week at Harris Teeter grocery stores, their ad includes a few items where you buy 2 and get 3 free. This is a great way to stock up on grocery essentials, especially things that don't go bad too quickly. This week (ending 3/3), they had this deal on HT Fresh Foods Market pre-sliced deli meats and cheeses in the deli section. I got five 8oz packages of deli meats and cheeses (totaling 2.5 pounds of meat) for only $10.98! This deal is great for weekday lunches for the kids or boyfriends/husbands (aka the big kids). 

Another deal that I wanted to share with you from this week was on Barilla pasta and sauces; both were part of the B2G3Free deal this week. Here's a look at what I got:

5 Barilla Sauce at B2G3 Free $2.99 each

Pay $5.98 for 5

- (2) $1/2 Barilla Sauce (From 3/1 insert)

Final Price = $3.98 for 5 or $.79 each!

5 Barilla Pastas at B2G3 Free $1.99 each

Pay $3.98 for 5

- $1/2 Barilla Proteinplus, Whole Grain, Veggie, White Fiber or Gluten Free Pasta (From RP 1/4 insert)

Final Price = $2.98 for 5 or $.59 each!

This deal would have been even better if I had another pasta coupon to add, but $6.96 for 10 items still isn't half bad. And stocking up on sauces and pastas are great because they usually don't go bad for years. It's also a great stand-by dinner to have on hand for nights when you just don't know what to make. Adding veggies and lean meats or even using this as a side dish are great ways to incorporate the carbs from pasta into a balanced, healthy meal. 

Some Great Publix Deals Week of 2/25 - 3/3

I'm pretty excited to share some great deals that I got at Publix today. These are some great examples of using both manufacturer's and store coupons to save tons of money. Here's a picture of everything that I got:

And I only paid $4.45 including tax! Let me break these deals down for you item by item so you can see how this works.

Avocados on sale 10/$10
Final Price = $2

Jennie-O Turkey Bacon Sale $2.49
- $.55/1 Jennie-O Turkey Bacon (Publix Digital Coupon)
Final Price = $1.94

Crystal Light Drink Mixes BOGO Free at $3.39 ($1.70)
= 2 for $3.39
- $1/2 Crystal Light Drink Mix (Manufacturer's coupon, printed at register during a previous order)
Final Price = $1.20 each

Biore Pore Cleanser Reg. Price $5.69
- $2/1 Biore Pore Cleanser (From 3/1 Newspaper) 
- $2/1 Biore Pore Cleanser  (Publix Digital Coupon)
Final Price = $1.69

Cover Girl Lash Blast Mascara Sale $1 off Reg. Price $7.49 ($6.49)
- $3/1 Cover Girl Lash Blast Mascara (From P&G insert 3/1)
- $3/1 Cover Girl Lash Blast Mascara (Publix Digital Coupon)
Final Price = $.49

Total after coupons = $8.51
- $5 any purchase of $5 or more Publix Store Coupon

Grand Total = $3.51 before tax
Savings of $23.73!

Combining store and manufacturer's coupons can really get you some cheap deals, even at stores that do not double coupons like Publix. As I've previously mentioned, I follow a few couponing blogs and get a lot of my deals from them. However, the Biore cleanser and mascara deal I found on my own by perusing the Publix digital coupons on Publix.com and realizing they matched with a few of the coupons from this Sunday's paper. Trips like this don't take too much time to plan and you still get great savings on essentials and healthy items. 

Why Diets Don't Work

It seems like these days there are an endless amount of diets and fads out there, all with a different twist or "secret" to losing weight. Low fat, low carb, no carb, high protein, high fiber, no fruit, all vegetables, etc. etc. etc. It's enough to make your head spin it's so confusing. No wonder so many people begin various diets and are not successful. The truth is that everybody is different and every body is different. All we really know is that we need food to live, but what things are healthy vs. unhealthy are always going to be debatable depending on who you talk to what has worked for them.

I was introduced to this great video on TED talks a few years ago given by a neuroscientist Sandra Aamondt who incorporates science with personal experience to give her take on why diets don't usually work.

http://www.ted.com/talks/sandra_aamodt_why_dieting_doesn_t_usually_work?language=en


This is why I'm a strong believer in lifestyle changes as opposed to dieting, because restricting yourself of certain foods does not work and it's unrealistic. Even if you have an extraordinary amount of self control, you will still eventually crave foods that you cut out of your diet that you will end up binge eating them or eating them anyway and feeling bad about yourself for it. This is how eating disorders are born. However, if you look at things from a different perspective, this guilt and shame can be avoided. You should never restrict yourself of any certain food. If you want something, eat it. Don't feel bad about. Your craving will be fulfilled and eating that one slice of pizza or one bowl of ice cream isn't going to make you gain any weight. As long as you eat these things in moderation, they can be a part of a healthy lifestyle. Changing your lifestyle to incorporate more healthy foods, such as lean meats, fruits, vegetables, whole grains is going to help you see the changes you want. And you can still have that cookie or soda and not feel bad about it. Here is a great government website that has tons of information on nutritional guidelines and healthy eating made by dietitians. http://www.choosemyplate.gov/

Another thing I want to mention is that weight loss doesn't happen overnight. The healthy recommendation from doctors is to lose 1-2 pounds per week. I also think it's important not to weigh yourself more than once per week. And try to weigh yourself at the same time and same day each week, that will it will be easier to track changes in your weight and body. Also remember, the scale is not the only change your body will go through. You can do measurements of your hips, waist, arms, etc. and see the inches lost as well. Body fat percentage is also an indicator of body changes, especially for those who incorporate a lot of weight training into their exercise regimen.

Don't be so hard on yourself, lifestyle changes aren't easy, just take baby steps to get there. It takes about 21 days for something to become a habit, keep that in mind. Slow and steady wins the race of weight loss.

Couponing Made Easy

One of my favorite hobbies is couponing, and I plan to post some great deals that I find here on my blog. For this interested in beginning, here is an introduction to couponing and weekly ads. I'm hoping this will teach you the basics of using coupons and shopping the sales to save the most money each week. 

Coupon Matchups

At the beginning of every ad week, which always varies by store, I peruse the weekly ads and blogs that do coupon matchups for each store. What's a coupon matchup you ask? Basically, someone goes through the weekly ad for CVS, for example, and writes down all the sales from the ad. They then go through and match up each sale with any available coupons that are out there from both the newspaper and the internet. They compile these lists together neatly and make it much easier for you to see what you can get on sale and how much you will pay for each item. There are entire websites dedicated to doing just this and can be easily found through google. Usually, I google something like "Publix coupon matchups", and it comes up with tons of websites that post these for you. 

Here is an example of what a coupon matchup will look like:

Colgate Max Toothpaste $3.49

$0.50/1 – Colgate Toothpaste, 3 oz or larger from SS 2/22
And use $2.00/1 Colgate, CVS Coupon from CVS Coupon Center Week of 2/22

Final Price: $0.49

I'll break this down and explain more in a little bit, but there's a few more things to learn in order for this to make sense. 


Weekly Ads

Like I mentioned, each store's weekly ad comes out on a different day. Here's a list of some stores and the days their weekly ads come out.

CVS: Sun - Sat
Walgreens : Sun - Sat
Publix: Wed/Thur - Tues/Wed (depending on where your store is located)
Harris Teeter: Wed - Tues
Target: Sun - Sat
Walmart: Sun - Sat
Food Lion: Wed - Tues
Winn Dixie: Wed- Tues


Double Coupons

Some stores double coupons and some don't. That also depends on what state you are in. For example, Publix does not double coupons in FL or NC, but they do in other states. It's best to check on each store's website under their coupon policy to see if they do or not. 

Now what does it mean to double a coupon? Some stores will double the face value of a coupon for coupons up to 99 cents. For example, if you have a coupon that is for $.75 off of 1 item, that will automatically double to $1.50 off of 1 item. Double coupons is really the key to getting things for free at super markets like Harris Teeter. At Harris Teeter specifically, once in a while they do a week of "Super Double" coupons. This means that they will double any coupon up to $2 in face value. Meaning if you have a coupon for $2 off of 1 item, that doubles to $4 off of 1 item! When it comes to shampoos, deodorants, detergents, vitamins and other high value items, these are the weeks to stock up on those since you can get most for free or very cheap. 


Manufacturer's Coupons vs. Store Coupons

You can find manufacturer's coupons in the Sunday newspaper, online at websites such as coupons.com and redplum.com, on retailer's product websites or Facebook (for example angelsoft.com), and sometimes at the stores themselves whether they be on display near a product or they may print out with your receipt at the end of an order. You can even BUY coupons from some people off of Ebay (I'm not kidding). Manufacturer's coupons will be labeled at the top of the coupon saying exactly that, "Manufacturer's coupon". This coupon comes from the manufacturer of a product themselves. Make you to read exactly what the coupon is for. For example, if you have a coupon that says $1 off of 2 Cheerios cereal boxes, you MUST buy 2 boxes of Cheerios to get the $1 off. Also make sure if it specifies a certain product, such as "Chocolate Cheerios", to make sure you are buying the right product. 

Store coupons are from a store directly, such as Target or CVS. They can be found on store websites, such as cvs.com or coupons.target.com. They can also be found in store. Publix, for example, has a display as soon as you walk into their stores that has inserts of store coupons for you to take and use. CVS has a kiosk close to the front of their stores where you can swipe your registered CVS card and it will print out store coupons for you each week, some for specific items and some for a certain dollar amount off of your purchase. Sometimes store coupons print at checkout with your receipt as well. These coupons will usually say "Target coupon" or "Publix coupon" at the top to indicate they are store coupons. 

As a general rule, you may use ONE manufacturer's coupon and ONE store coupon per item. For example, if you have a $1 off of 1 Cheerios cereal box manufacturer's coupon and a $.75 off of 1 Cheerios cereal box Target coupon, you may use both and get a total of $1.75 off of 1 box. However, if you have a $1 off of 2 Cheerios cereal boxes manufacturer's coupon and a $.75 off of 1 Cheerios Target coupon, you will still have to buy 2 boxes to use the manufacturer's coupon. But you CAN use 2 of the .$75 off of 1 coupons and 1 manufacturer's and get a good deal for a total of $2.50 off of two boxes. 

Some stores do limit the amount of the same coupon you may use and they may limit the total amount of coupons you can use per transaction. This information varies by store and can also be found on the store's websites under the coupon policy. I wouldn't worry too much about this though, because unless you are going to be doing some extreme couponing like they do on the TLC show, this won't be an issue for you.


Now back to that coupon matchup I posted earlier:

Colgate Max Toothpaste $3.49

$0.50/1 – Colgate Toothpaste, 3 oz or larger from SS 2/22
And use $2.00/1 Colgate, CVS Coupon from CVS Coupon Center Week of 2/22

Final Price: $0.49

The product is listed first, usually with the price that the specific store has it on sale for, $3.49 in this case. Next, the coupons available are listed. This one has a manufacturer's coupon for $.50 off 1 Colgate Toothpaste, 3oz or larger. When it says "from SS 2/22", this indicates what insert in the newspaper it is from and the date of the newspaper it was in. This one is from the SmartSource insert from the Feb 22nd paper. The second coupon listed is a $2 off of 1 Colgate item. This one is a store coupon from the Coupon Center kiosk that I mentioned earlier. Lastly, the final price is listed showing you how much you will be per item if you use the coupons listed. 


This may seem like a lot of information to take in, but I tried to break it down thoroughly so you can understand each aspect of couponing. I promise it is not as complicated as it may seem. And of course as with everything, practice makes perfect. The more you try out small steps here and there, the more it will become second nature to you. Let me know if you have any questions about anything I explained here or if something doesn't make sense or I missed something, let me know. 

Happy Couponing!

The Pizza Diet

Anyone who knows me knows that if I could eat one food every day for the rest of my life, it would be pizza. I never get sick of pizza and I can never get enough of it. I LOVE PIZZA. I even ate pizza for dinner tonight. Unfortunately, pizza isn't necessarily the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a healthy lifestyle. However, I still eat pizza at least once per week. I'm a strong believer in eating the things that you love, even if they aren't great for you...as long as you eat them in moderation. 

I mentioned in my first post that I lost 85 pounds several years ago. While I did a complete makeover of the foods I ate, I still kept one day per week where I allowed myself to eat anything I wanted (it was usually pizza). This was my "cheat day". As I also previously mentioned, I used to hate cooking, but I still ate out at a lot at various restaurants and learned to order healthier things on menus at my favorite restaurants, such as Chipotle and Panera Bread. Overall, I just became more AWARE of what I was eating and how much I was eating and learned to limit that. That is how I lost weight. 

I recently came across this article on another blog about a pizza shop owner got tired of people criticizing his giving away pizza coupons at the gym and decided to go on a 30 day pizza diet to prove that you can eat pizza every day and still lose weight and be healthy. He consulted a nutritionist and visited his doctor throughout the 30 day diet. He ate 8 slices of pizza every day throughout a 12 hour period, starting at 9am and ending at 9pm. His diet totaled 2500 calories per day. He also increased his exercise, but he did not change his soda or alcohol habits because he wanted to prove it was the pizza making a change not change from eliminating anything else. The results actually showed that he lost weight and lowered his cholesterol! 

The article states, "With the pizza diet Matt proved that pizza can be part of a healthy diet if moderation and wise topping choices are selected. He believes that the key to any diet is portion control and that’s basically what his pizza diet is, a way to enjoy a great food, but not eat the whole pie in one go."

While this is an extreme example of the point I'm trying to make, I still think it reiterates the fact that you really can eat the foods you love in moderation and be healthy. Life is too short to limit yourself from anything that you love. So pick up the phone, dig out those coupons, and jump on the pizza diet bandwagon. 

Source: http://www.diet-blog.com/09/30_day_pizza_diet.php

My Super Spicy Chili Recipe and My Hatred for Cooking

I used to absolutely dread the thought of cooking. Especially before I met and lived with my fiance Eddie, because I only had myself to cook for and most recipes make enough for an entire family. It always seemed like such a chore after a long day at work or school and I just didn't want to be bothered. Some may even say I had a hatred for it back in the day. I ate out as much as possible, not only because I was lazy, but because I didn't think I could make anything that tasted as good as I could get at a restaurant. 

Over the past few years, (especially when I was unemployed, low on money and had a lot of time on my hands) I started experimenting with more and more recipes and branching out slowly. I found out I was actually a pretty good cook and enjoyed the rewarding feeling of making something that tastes great that other people liked as well! I actually can make something to eat that I enjoy as much as going out, who knew?

I've been experimenting over the past year in search of the perfect chili recipe and one that Eddie loves (sometimes he can be a picky eater) and I think I've finally found a great combination of ingredients that are healthy as well. I started out with a recipe I found on Pinterest and tweaked it from there. The recipe can be made with lean ground chicken or lean ground turkey (I prefer it with chicken, Eddie prefers turkey), but the rest of the ingredients are the same. After cooking the meat (Step 2) you can also transfer the mixture to a crockpot to finish cooking, which is what I usually do. 

This recipe won't cost you too much either! The most expensive thing you're going to buy is the meat; the hot sauce, brown sugar and vinegar will last you for a while, since you're only using a small amount. And you can use them for other recipes! Everything else you can get for $1 or less. But if you follow weekly grocery ads and plan ahead, you can make this chili fairly cheap. 

I must also say that this picture doesn't do it justice, it was taken on my old iphone and in low lighting. I'm going to have to work on my photography skills and angles for the future. :)

Super Spicy Chili: 

You will need:

• 1 package of lean ground chicken or lean ground turkey (usually comes in 20oz packages)
• 1 tbsp canola oil
• 3/4 cup chopped onion
• 3/4 cup chopped green pepper
• 1-2 tbsp chopped or minced garlic (depending on how much you like garlic, I love it!)
• 2 chopped jalapenos
• 1 packet of chili seasoning mix of your choice (I use McCormick low sodium chili seasoning. You can also substitute 1/4 cup of chili powder in place of the seasoning if you prefer)
• 15-16 ounces (about 2 cups) of crushed or petite diced tomatoes with green chiles or chili seasoned (I usually buy one 14.5oz and one 10oz can)
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp hot sauce (I use sriracha, again depending on how spicy you want)
• 1 can dark red kidney beans, drained
• 1 can chili beans aka pinto beans in chili seasoning, not drained
• Garnish with 2% sharp cheddar cheese and fat free sour cream

Directions:

1. Heat canola oil in large pan. Add onion, pepper, garlic and jalapenos. Cook over medium until onion and peppers are tender (just a few minutes). 

2. Add ground chicken or turkey. Break up into smaller chunks (as you would when making tacos) until brown and cooked through (no pink). Stir in chili seasoning thoroughly and cook one minute. 

3. Transfer to crockpot and add tomatoes, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar and hot sauce. Mix. Cook on high for 1-2 hours or on low for 4-6 (cooking times may vary depending on your pot). 

*If you don't use the crockpot, add tomatoes, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar and hot sauce to pan. Mix. Reduce heat to low and cover. Stir often until chili is thickened (about 45 minutes).*

4. Stir in beans and cook for another 15 minutes (uncovered if cooking in pan)

5. Top with cheese and sour cream.

The recipe makes enough to serve at least 4 people. We always have leftovers. We like this recipe because we love spicy food and we like our chili with lots of beans and some extra broth from the chili beans so it's not too chunky. Let me know how yours turned out, if you made any substitutions and if you enjoyed it!

Health and Money Saving Tips From a Former Fat Girl: My Introduction

I'm sure you're all wondering who I am and why on earth would I even attempt to start another blog related to saving money, couponing, and healthy living when there are so many already out there. Let's start with a little backstory about myself:

My name is Amanda, I'm 29 years old, and I've been fat most of my life. I started gaining weight when I was about 7 years old. My diet consisted of mainly pizza, macaroni and cheese, and cookies. I've never felt like I necessarily ate more than other kids my age, but I seemed to gain weight much faster and easier, which I blame partly on genetics but also on my food choices and lack of exercise.

After progressively gaining weight throughout my lifetime, in 2011 I finally gave in and joined Weight Watchers with a friend of mine who had already been following the program and doing really well. In one year, I lost 85 pounds and completely changed my outlook on food and my food lifestyle. I did not switch my diet to clean eating or eliminate any certain foods from my life. I learned the make healthier choices while still being able to enjoy the foods I love the most, just in moderation! I began exercising as well, but didn't find my true exercise passion until a few years later when I discovered group exercise classes like kickboxing and Insanity. It's the only way I will work out now because I love it so much and I get bored doing regular cardio.

It was during this same year that I lost weight that I discovered couponing and how much money I could actually save by using coupons and shopping the weekly ads. Being able to get the best deal really gives me a sense of accomplishment and an adrenaline rush; it's become a really fun hobby for me! After sharing couponing and money saving tips with so many inquiring friends and family members, I've decided why not share with everyone else too.

So by now you're saying, so what? Isn't this what all the blogs are about? The answer is yes, you can get all this information on other blogs and websites. The one thing I throw into the mix is how to nourish and create a healthy mind too! I have my Masters in Clinical Psychology and have done a lot of research on eating disorders and healthy lifestyle changes and how it affects your mind.  Plus, I have some firsthand experience in the subject having gone through a lifestyle change myself. I plan to post articles, tips, and research on how to connect a healthy lifestyle to create a healthy mind as well.

So now you know my story, who I am, and what I bring to the table. Join me in continuing my weight loss journey and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Hoping you all can take away something that you can apply to your own life to make you happier and healthier, without leaving you broke.