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Am I crazy?

Can I really do this?

We’ve recently had a bit of a change in our budget that makes it necessary for me to tighten up our grocery spending.  I used to coupon. I used to run a coupon blog.

I stopped when my child became a billy goat.

It was shortly after Scrunchie was born. I was wearing him while pushing Buggy in the shopping cart with my coupon binder spread out precariously. Buggy began carefully eating my coupons. EATING THEM.

I tried several more trips but would leave flustered after making mistakes with my transactions and losing some savings. Between the craziness of the shopping trip and the time investment in clipping, managing, and researching for trips, the hassle just wasn’t worth it.

I now have three little ones. Fletch is in full billy goat mode. He seems to need a high-fiber diet with how much paper he tries to ingest.

Am I crazy to try couponing again?

I am doing things a little differently.  Gone are the days of making trips to 5 different stores each week to get all the “freebies” and “cheapies.”  I spent so much on “cheapies” in the past that we never used. Freebies that we donated.  Gone are the days of eating all the processed foods that are typically the “best deals.”

Here’s my plan.

• I will only clip coupons for items that we will USE.
• I will only shop for deals on items we will use and that are healthy for us.
• I WILL take the time to regularly visit a local farm that butchers grass-fed beef. It’s healthier and cheaper than regular beef at Kroger.
• I will frequent the day-old-bread store and I will but the paddle I need for my bread machine to work so I can make my own bread.
• I will spend a little extra for free-range Amish chickens at our local meat market.
• I will help my friend’s son grow his business by buying farm fresh organic eggs from him.
• I will buy a lot of household stuff at Sams Club (their wipes are super cheap and last forever plus they have great prices on epsom salts and vinegar)
• I will buy produce and milk at our local produce market. Milk is $1 less per gallon there when you buy $5 worth of produce.
• I will be planning my menu more carefully and making more food from scratch. I’ll be cooking ahead more for convenience.
• I will take advantage of local organic food co-ops

Wow – just reading that makes me feel overwhelmed. It is very important to me that we are careful about what we eat (more of that next month!) as we try to save money.

Honestly, when I first got the news about our little change, I was relieved. I felt freed to seek out healthier options for food (rather than being tied to certain food choices).  Now, will I continue to feel this way? I sure hope so! I pray I am up for the planning this new venture will require!

So, am I crazy? Can I do this with THREE children four and under? What advice do you have for me?