TEACH ME!!!

A phrase I've heard often lately. It refers to my couponing. I'm going to do a series, because it can be overwhelming, and it needs to be broken down. Lets start with your "why". What is motivating you to start couponing past just clipping a few, putting them in your wallet, and forgetting about them until you clean it out and realize they expired months ago? Whatever it is, go back to it. My why was that I left my job, 4 days after finding out I was expecting our 3rd child. Although I left willingly, it was not what I would have chosen even a week earlier. But it was what it was, and we went to 1, little income. I got a part time job at the Walgreens up the road. It was a major pay-cut, but what I learned was worth it. I saw a few women come in with their coupon books, and walk out paying very little, for a whole lot. I watched. Then my best friend's husband got into it, as they were expecting a little one as well, around the same time as me, and knew she would be out on maternity leave for 12 weeks. Before I knew it, I saw their baby's nursery closet full of diapers and wipes, and everything in between. And he paid pennies on the dollar for it all. If he can do it, and these other women can do it, so.can.I. Oh, and for whatever it's worth, he will be 2 in June, and they STILL have not purchased baby wipes. They've even given me some when I was in a pinch and out. And there is still more left. My guess is it will last through potty training haha!!

So with all of this, 1 income, new baby, and the *need* for it, I started couponing. I have weeks where I am slower and don't do as much, and then there are weeks where I am, what my husband says, "On my game". My "why" has slightly changed into wanting to save that money to use on other things, mostly bills, but things like being able to go out to eat and fellowship after church on Sunday afternoons. And going to Dillard's Ice Cream after the church softball game with my family. Using the money on the moments that matter. So what's your why? That's where you start.