Atlanta's Frugal Mom

AFM: Frugal Fun Fact Friday   10-28-11 Did you know... ...you can send your expired coupons to military families overseas?  They are able to use coupons up to six months after they've expired.  Further, did you know there are a multitude of bloggers devoted to shipping YOUR expired coupons overseas? Since the end of the month is nigh, now is a great time to clear out your expired coupons.  Check out some of my favorites, including   Mommy Coupon Swappers , Couponing 4 the Military , and Living on a Boot Band Budget (sucessfully!)  to learn more about this great way to pass on the savings!   Keep on saving!  :o) --Barbara

AFM: Frugal Fun Fact Friday   10-21-11 Did you know... ...stores MAKE MONEY when you use a manufactures coupon.  If you read the fine print on a manufacture's coupon, you'll see that a store will not only be reimbursed the cost of the coupon, but will usually get an additional 8 cents per coupon for shipping and handling.  (The store pays for the "doubled" portion of a coupon, should they choose to double.)  So, go out and make your store some money, while you SAVE money in the process!  ;o) P.S.  This only works when coupons are used ethically .   Keep on saving!  :o) --Barbara

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

Perhaps by now, it's well-known that my three favorite "C" words are Carol (daughter's name), Coupons (duh), and CLEARANCE (double-duh)!   Coupled with my strange obsession with boxes and various storage containers, this deal at my local Kroger immediately coaxed me over. I snagged 10 storage boxes (shoe box size) for a TOTAL of $2.50!! What will I do with all of these boxes?  I don't know yet, but for a quarter a piece, I simply couldn't resist indulging in my OCD-driven obsession with all things organization.  :o) READERS RESPOND : What sort of items do YOU find irresistible when the price is right?

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 really need  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 daught...

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 really need  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.

So tonight I ventured in to the world of cooking on the fly, a task I had not done in quite a while. The plan was to make frittatas, based on a combination of two recipes I'd seen.  BUT, given my current forgetfulness brought on by a heavy dose of preggo brain, I kept forgetting to get the veggies needed for what I was attempting to make.  Instead, I opened the fridge, and threw this together.  I was nervous, but even my two-year-old daughter (Picky Ricky) ate a few bites. Hashbrown, cheesy frittata 15-20 oz frozen southern style hash browns  1 tbs oil 1 carton Egg Beaters (16 oz) 1/2 c salsa 1/4 c bacon pieces 1/3 c finely chopped baby spinach 1/2 c + 3 tbs shredded cheddar cheese