Ever wonder how to get coupons for cheap cheap or even free well there are several ways you might be able to do that:

1. Ask your friends and neighbors.  Ask people you know at church--that's a great spot because you can get in the habit of collecting fresh inserts!
2. Sunday advertisers--ask neighbors who do not get the Sunday paper, but do get the YES! inserts delivered if they would let you pick them up off their driveway Sunday morning.
3. Recycle center:  yes, dumpster diving.  It's really not gross since you are only going thru newspapers.  Most recycling places want you to ask first.  Just wear gloves!
4. Coupon trains.  What is a coupon train?
   A coupon train is an envelope filled with non-expired coupons that is sent between riders. When you receive the "train", take which coupons you will use and replace those with coupons for your fellow passengers. You then mail it to the next address on the list.  check out  http://www.mommysavers.com/c/
5. Just plain old trading with other Moms, co-workers, etc.  Make a deal to give cat food coupons for diapers and wipes.  Yogurt for organic items, etc.  Keep things simple.
6. Computers: you can print out coupons-but they have limits.  Use more than one computer to get additional coupons.
7. Let people know you coupon at Boy Scouts, American Heritage Girls, soccer, etc. let them know you are always looking for new coupons and to bring them to you or call you so you can arrange a pick up.  Have calling cards.  Calling cards just have your name and phone number on them.  Very simple and cheap at Vista print or little prints (thru Costco.)
8. Library--does your library get several papers?  Would they be willing to let you have the inserts?  Usually these things get tossed out.
9. Newspaper carrier, sometimes they have left overs.  Be prepared sometimes they keep a certain insert for themselves or give you too many, but the deal is you take it off their hands to save them a trip to the recycle center.  Tip generously!
10. Trading websites, you will need to pay postage.  Find me at http://couponspare.com/profile/thutson

Good luck and happy couponing.

I just found a great place to buy coupon inserts inexpensively. http://www.crazycouponinserts.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2013-10-27T15:44:00-07:00&max-results=100

SAHM

or Stay At Home Mom!

How do you know if you wan to be a SAHM?

      Well, are do you have kids now?  Are you preggies?  Have you lived out other pursuits or passions and are now ready to nest?

The first thing to figure out is if you can afford to stay home.  Lots of people want to, but the finances aren't there.  I would absolutely suggest a long term plan here work for a while, get on your employer's retirement plan and sock away money in a ROTH IRA account.  More on this in another blog.

If you have kids now you need a more immediate plan.  That plan is to see where you are financially now and where you will be at financially where you no longer have a regular paycheck coming in.  Let's do some math to see what you need to know.

Calculate monthly work related expenses that you won't have after you quit working:

1. Dry cleaners.
2. Starbucks and lunches out.
3. Frozen dinners.  
4. Car payment.  
5. Gas and maintenance
6. Childcare
7. Gas and any other snacks purchased at convenience stores.
8. What you spend going out to dinner each month, this includes those pre-made dinners from the grocery store.
9. Clothes/Shoes/Purses/jewelry.  
10. Some portion of you auto insurance may decrease.  Many people who have a long commute may save on their premium.  Check with your insurance carrier.
11. Life insurance.  

Once you figure out how much it COSTS YOU TO WORK, then you can deduct this from you take home pay and determine how much you actually, REALLY make from working.  Now you know how much less you will have in your monthly budget so you can cut back where needed

An explanation on some of the expenses listed:

• Dry cleaners. Figure out either how much you spent last month or if you have been tracking the annual amount on mint or something like that calculate it down to a per month amount.  You won't need these clothes on a daily basis.  Sturdy jeans and a t-shirt that is bleach friendly will be your new uniform.  They are comfortable and easy to wash.
• Starbucks and lunches out are something you will do once a week or so.  This will be replaced with play dates, drinking coffee you made at home and mom groups such as MOPs.
• Frozen dinners.  Calculate how much you spend on frozen dinners.  You won't need them when you stop working.  Sure they are a convenience item but a healthier/cheaper option is to cook triple sized meals at one time and freeze the other two for later.  Yup that's what SAHM's do!  We can add on some premade frozen dinners later--when the money pans out.  You may find this is NOT where you would spend your limited funds.
• Car payment.  Pay it off or replace it with something you don't need credit on.  You may need to sell your car to buy one that you can afford to pay for with cash.  Then you won't have a payment and you can start saving to upgrade your car every couple of years until you get something (used) that can last you til it's 8-10 years old.  Do the same with your spouse's car.  Start thinking--my car is a mode of transportation--not a status symbol.  My family is my new status symbol--so I am "ALL IN" as a SAHM!
• Childcare: figure out what one day costs, you will still use one day of service a week or every other week.  This is my suggestion, because freedom to think for one day in your own home is worth every penny it costs.  Yes, If your Mom or someone else wants your kids every Wednesday day from 10-4 say yes--it's free and Not in your home.  This can be the day  you meet friends  for lunch, get your hair done, meet with that personal trainer, etc.  It is not the day you schedule errands, repairmen or "deep clean" the house.  This is your mental health day, and you will NEED IT!  Ever hear the term when Mom's not happy NO ONE is?
• Gas and any other snacks purchased at convenience stores.  You will still need the snacks--but they will be in a snack box in you car.  I like using the 1 gallon ice cream containers--they are easy to move around and even toss around in the car.  Yes I let my kids eat in the car--remember my family is my new status symbol--not the car.  We drink water--never soda which can bleach out the carpet.  When I found this out I pretty much outlawed soda--I mean if that's what it does to a car, what is it doing to my kids' guts and teeth?
• Going out to dinner will change.  I tell my kids I take them out to dinner, not so they can eat, but so they can practice good manners.  Being quiet in a restaurant will teach them to be quiet at a funeral, wedding, church, etc.  Food is a big motivator for children.  That free ice cream that comes with the kids meal isn't coming if they did not behave.  Now I expect my kids to spill or make messes at dinner time, that's what cup lids are for, and why we first spoon feed our kids.  We don't cry over spilled milk, everyone just passes their napkins to help cleanup.  Mom and Dad go out to dinner alone as a date---that's our children's expectation.  
• Clothes/Shoes/Purses/jewelry.  You don't need to buy any more for one year--for yourself.  Later we will talk about a budget for clothes shopping, but for now it's best to just stay out of the stores looking at things that you just need to say no to for now.  This is a big struggle for many women so I suggest going cold turkey for one year.
• Some portion of your auto insurance may decrease.  Many people who have a long commute may save on their premium.  Check with your insurance carrier.
• Life insurance.  You don't need much if your family is counting on your spouse for income.  If you have young children under age 12 then you will want some type of term policy that would cover housekeepers and childcare should you die unexpectedly. Get 20 year term quotes if you are just staring to have children.  Think of it this way, let's say you decide to have a baby and you get preggie and go on to have two more spaced two years apart.  That's about 8 years and would just get you to the point when the youngest turns 12.  Why does 12 matter?  Well that the age you can legally leave your child alone at home.  

Being a stay at home mom can be a challenge, especially if you are in your early 20's.  Women tend to regret what they didn't pursue in their 20s.  So if your burning desire really is to Travel the world as a spy, wait until you've had a chance to pursue those dreams--succeed or fail on your own.  Once you have tried that dream and having kids becomes your new dream you will be ready to be a SAHM!