How I Coupon

 I've been couponing ever since I first married more than 30 years ago.  Couponing success and lots of great deals can be dependent on the stores available to shop at.  When I lived in CA, the big stores like Vons and Ralphs and Food Basket doubled coupons up to $1 and there were no limits.  I've read about so many great deals at CVS and Rite Aid and Publix and Kroger - but they are not in my town so I have to be content with 2 Superwalmarts, Walgreens and 2 smaller grocery stores. 

But wherever you live,  if your coupons are not organized and with you when  you when you shop, they won't save you any money.
I've used a big binder in the past to organize my coupons but currently, I like this little purse sized organizer.  It is made by the Container Store but I got it at a yard sale in a box of miscellaneous junk marked $1 for the lot. 

 My catagories - these are what make sense to me - you will probably sort yours differently
wet staples - any food items that come in jars or bottles
dry staples - boxed and bagged staples
dairy - cheese, milk butter, eggs
frozen and meat
beverages
oral care - toothpaste, floss,
hair
makeup - I never buy makeup unless it is on sale and I have a coupon
health - soap, razors, vitamins, OTC medicines
cleaners - laundry, dish soap, any kind of cleaning product
wraps - this is any paper or plastic product
misc.  - this is where I put baby, pet care, batteries

I know some people say they don't use coupons because coupons are just for junk food.   I don't buy a lot of junk food either.  Half of my dividers are for food items and the other half are nonfood.  I would guess that I use a lot more nonfood coupons than food coupons but that is where I save money.  And if I spend almost nothing on shampoo and laundry soap, then I have more left to spend on produce and good groceries. 

 These are my 2 tickets from the last day of August.  I had a number of coupons that expired so I did a short shopping trip to Walgreens and Walmart.  Most of the things I bought were personal care and household items.  And you probably can't read the tickets too well, but I save a lot that day. 

I don't have shopping trips like this every time.  But when I can get razors and laundry soap and toothpaste and dishwashing soap for pennies on the dollar, it really helps. 

My coupons sources - of course I save the ones in my Sunday paper.  My brother and my mom usually save theirs and I have a few friends that we occassionally mail coupons to each other. 
Sometimes I print internet coupons that I know I  will use. 
When there is a really good coupon that I want lots of,   I look on Ebay.  Coupon sellers usually have every coupon you could imagine and they are mostly  pretty cheap.

Jalapeno Hot Sauce - Edited!

Jalapeno-Hot-Sauce 
several women I know from a homemaking list on Yahoo groups have been making this sauce.  And since I still had a bag of jalapenos that we grew in the backyard, I thought I would try a batch too.  The original reicpe is from AllRecipes.com, a site I like a lot.  I like to read the comments from other cooks who have tried the recipes.  They usually have great tips and recommendations. 

I switched up the instructions a little.  I ran all the peppers and onions through my little food processor before I cooked them.  I also took my friends advice and used less vinegar and a teaspoon of sugar. 
The sauce turned out really good.  I think the hot food fans in my family will enjoy it a lot. 
I did not "seal" or hot pack this sauce.  It just made 3 little jars and I think they will keep in the fridge just fine until they are eaten.


go here to see the actual recipe at All Recipe.Com and read the comments if you are thinking about making a batch - you will find all kinds of tips and the exact suggested recipe

head gear for little tikes

 Elizabeth came to my house in her Pat the Bunny outfit - see the ears?

Gavin took a tumble at his house and had to get 3 stitiches in his forehead.  He looks like a cool ninja toddler.
To keep the the bandage in place, his head is wrapped in the tape like I remember we used way back when I worked at a plasma center.