Couponing in a Small Space
Many of my friends have been asking me the same question over and over. Where do I put it? My husband, our one year old, our 35 lb Lab/Mini Schnauzer and I live in a 1,000 foot, 2 bed, 1 bath apartment, so sometimes we have to get a little creative on where we put things! But, it totally keeps me from being a hoarder, and organization is KEY!
Personal Care Stockpile
First, My “Linen” Closet. As you can see… not many linens 
But, our daughter’s crib sheets are kept in her room, and we limit ourselves to 2 sets of sheets… 1 on the bed, one off, and then hand towels, and kitchen linens. The rest is where we store our personal item stockpile.
Some close ups:
All of my “cleaning” stockpile is on the top shelf, along with the actual basket of cleaning supplies, and a few full size samples of sinus products I’ve received. On the 2nd shelf is my entire personal care stockpile. If it won’t fit, I can’t buy it. Just a quick note on the Precise and Thermacare patches (so as not to cause a riot) I have been in over 10 serious car accidents in my life (most of them not my fault) so I deal with CONSTANT back pain. I know it looks like a lot, but they really are one of the few things that help, and if I were to snap another picture in a couple of months, they will all be gone (so hopefully the sale cycles quickly!).
The third and fourth shelves include everything someone would normally see in a medicine cabinet. However, being a couponer, I don’t just have one of an item, (usually) so it’s sorted into these bins, to make it easy to find, and to keep our one bathroom neat and tidy. The wicker basket in the back is where I toss my samples (check out my Freebie Friday post here to find out where I’m getting my samples!). If say the Tooth”Care” bin is full (where I keep our toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss), I simply don’t buy anymore, even if it’s on sale for “FREE”. It also makes it super easy to tell when I’m getting low on something! Plus I got the bins during a B1G1 sale, for $.50 each (those sales usually happen in January, if you are interested)!! 
The floor holds my paper towels (oh please, oh please, oh please, let there be another “Round Up” sale soon at Albertsons!) and excess laundry items. Our washer and dryer are in our bathroom, so our towels, laundry soap, and open dryer sheets hang out there.
Food Stockpile
When moving from our house into a smaller apartment, I knew I couldn’t have a 6 month or a year stockpile. However, I do still have a 3-4 month stockpile. I keep it all in my pantry, and my husband is cool with me using 1/2 of our kitchen table for the bigger, bulky items.
(So, sometimes, when I special order a case of something, my husband thinks it’s funny to put the display together.) We usually just keep our extra cereal, and bottled water/soda on the table.
We have a 2 door pantry in our apartment. The top part contains 4 shelves. The top shelf is where we keep our open cereal, crackers, and baby food. The 2nd shelf is for our snackie (snacky?) items, the 3rd shelf gets all our pasta, potatoes, and other “boxed” products. The bottom shelf keeps all of our canned goods, pasta sauces, items like that.
The bottom portion of the pantry is the same size at the top, but we keep our pots, pans, and mixing bowls in the bottom half. The top shelf gets all of our “condiment” type foods, bbq sauce, salad dressing, mayo, salsa, spice packets, stuff like then. Then the last shelf gets our baking items, pancake mixes, brownie/cake mixes, frosting and extra spices.
Now, with only buying fresh produce, milk, eggs, and other perishables my family could live off what you see for at least 3-4 months. And almost all of the items you see? Cheap or free with coupon .
While the system isn’t perfect, it’s what works for us!!
But I want to know: How do you store your “goods”? What secret organizational skills have kept your stockpile from taking over every inch of your house? Email me pictures at BeckyFabFruGal at hotmail dot com!! I wanna see!! (let me know if it’s okay to post them, to give others ideas on how to organize their stockpile too!!)
Edit:
One of the Facebook Followers asked if I could name the bins, so here they are!!
In no Particular order (well, okay, we put the ones we use most on the top, and the ones we use least on the bottom)
- Medical Rubs (icy hot and the like)/Lip Balms
- Bath Salts/Massage Oil
- Pain Relief/Acid Reducers/OTC
- Pain Relief/Acid Reducers (this one is a double, because when we moved, I couldn’t find the first one, so had to go out and buy all new stuff… Then I found it
- Prescriptions
- Lotions
- Nails/Makeup
- Vitamins
- Cold and Cough Relief
- Travel Items
- Band-aids/Ointments
- Sun Care
- Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Floss
- Cold Sores/Sinus Relief/Ear Pain
It’s Mega Swagbucks Day…
Don’t forget… Today is Mega Swagbucks Day… So start searching… You might get lucky and score big!
Just about the coolest and easiest way to earn free prizes and gift cards for doing what you already do everyday… Searching the internet! There’s also ton’s of other ways to earn Swagbucks as well.. For instance…
I’m a big on multitasking… And one of my favorite ways to earn extra Swagbucks is to play the video’s in the Swagbucks T.V. section while I’m preparing dinner… It’s just another way I can earn a few more points each day. Currently I’m saving up for a Southwest Airlines gift card… Free plane ticket… Here I come!
If you’d like to know more about why I love Swagbucks so much… you can check out my previous post HERE.
Ready to sign up for Swagbucks?
Go HERE
Seattle Groupon Deal…
$58 for a Round-Trip Ferry Ticket from Seattle to Victoria, British Columbia from Clipper Vacations (Up to $130 Value)
- Expires Jun 30, 2011
- Limit 1/person, may buy 3 more as gifts. Limit 1/visit. Must book travel at least 3 days in advance and by 4/30/11. Travel valid 4/14/11-6/30/11. Reserv reqd, subj to avail.
If you don’t have a Groupon Account yet Click Here to sign up…
If you have an existing Groupon Click Here to get this awesome deal!
**This Groupon can be found on the right side of the screen under Seattle (Belltown)
FREE Sample of Rachel Ray’s Nutrish Dog Food…
Even Fido needs a freebie every once in a while…
How about a free sample of Rachel Ray’s Nutrish Dog Food?
Go HERE to request yours today!
Quiznos: FREE Cookie & $2.99 Sub!
The FAB Quiznos coupon is BACK & even better this time around. Register to print a coupon for a FREE cookie and $2.99 sub from Quiznos! That makes for a cheap lunch!
KitchenAid Knife Set for Only $49
KitchenAid® – 15 Piece Forged Cutlery Block Set for only $49!
This KitchenAid 15 Piece Forged Cutlery Set features high carbon, ultra-sharp stainless steel blades that cut effortlessly and retain their fine edge. Each knife in this set boasts full-tang construction for strength and durability, and features comfort-grip, ergonomically contoured triple-riveted handles. 15 piece set includes: 8 inch chef’s knife, 8 inch bread knife, 8 inch slicer knife, 5-1/2 inch serrated utility knife, 3-1/2 inch paring knife, 4-1/2 inch Santoku knife, 6 steak knives, shears, sharpening steel, and storage block.
It was listed at $75, but is only $49 TODAY ONLY until they sell out!
(Shipping costs will depend on your area and the item being purchased. For me, my total came to $53.95 including shipping.)
Get it at HousewaresDeals.com
(Go to HousewaresDeals through ShopAtHome or Ebates to get 3% Cash Back!)
New Fred Meyer Booklets…
Be on the lookout for these new Fred Meyer Booklets.
In Fred Meyer’s Naturally Preferred free magazine there is a $1/3 Clif or Mojo Bars Coupon… This coupon is doesn’t expire until 12/31/11… Giving you plenty of time to wait for the perfect sale to use it.
* I found this magazine in the natural foods section of the store*
And here’s yet another great find…
In the Fred Meyer Extra Savings Booklet that’s out right now there is a coupon good for Near East Rice or Couscous products 2 for $3 or $1.50 each… Pair this up with the $1.00 off any box of Near Easr Products coupon that has been spotted in the rice isle… and you’re looking at an inexpensive side dish!
*The savings booklet can be found at the end of the registers or at customer service*
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Your Plastic Bags
In honor of Earth Day, we are re-posting these great tips!
According to the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. uses roughly 100 billion plastic shopping bags every year. That is a ridiculous amount! As coupon shoppers, we go to the store. A lot. We use a lot of bags. And while my first inclination is to encourage only reusable grocery bags each time you head to the store, I know that is not a reality for many. So I will encourage you to buy and use reusable grocery bags whenever possible, but for the times you cannot, here is a list of creative ways to reuse those plastics sacks.
2. Bring the plastic bags you already have to the store to reuse them.
3. Use them as trash can liners.
4. Donate them to your local library, food pantries, used book stores or thrift stores.
5. Use them as packing material instead of Styrofoam packing peanuts or other expensive packing fillers.
6. Keep a few handy in a diaper bag for those extra messy diapers!!
7. Instead of buying bags to clean up behind your pet, use a plastic bag. You can also use them to scoop the cat’s litter box, or donate bags to your local dog park – there is usually a dispenser there for those who forgot to bring their own.
8. Use them for all sorts of crafting projects. From liners on paint trays for easy clean up, protecting your surfaces when attempting a messy craft or stuffing scarecrows with them at Halloween, plastic bags should be a craft room staple.
9. When traveling, keep a few in your suitcases for dirty clothes.
10. Wrap homemade bread in a clean bag. It will stay fresher but still be able to breathe.
11. Use them to protect Christmas decorations before packing them away into storage.
12. Place your wet swim suits or other wet clothing inside plastic bags to transport between the pool and home.
13. Put children’s sippy cups in a plastic bag to prevent accidental spills in the diaper bag (I’ve learned the hard way there is no such thing as a “spill proof” sippy cup!).
15. Place a plastic bag inside a bucket or pot next to your sink when you peel fruits or vegetables, or clean and de-bone chicken or other meat. Then simply transfer the bag to the trash for easy cleanup.
16. Before you send your kids out to play in heavy snow, put plastic bags over their snow boots to keep feet drier.
17. Use them to bag up unneeded food and hygiene supplies (that you got smokin’ deals on, right?) and donate to local charities or shelters.
And those are just a few ideas. Have any more to share?
What do you do with your plastic bags? How/where do you store them at your house?
Coupon Preview for 4/18
There will be TWO insert in your Sunday paper…..
Red Plum
SmartSource
If you are not getting the paper, you can find some fabulous deals here!
Check out our Boise, Idaho and National newspaper deals!
More Snapfish Discounts
Snapfish is still having a 10th anniversary party!
Have you been checking in daily to see the discount offers?
Today they are offering $10 off when you spend $30 and
10 FREE 5X7′s with any purchase.
Snapfish is celebrating with thousands of giveaways- including 10,000 (yes10,000)
FREE 5″x7″ photo books. You just spin the fish for your chance to win!
I spun today and did not win, but I did get a coupon code for FREE PHOTO PRINTS!
So you will not go away empty handed.
Spin to win! Let us know if you get something good!
Last week Fab FruGAL Meridian Mama won a 16×20 Collage Poster!
Party ends April 10th!
PS Don’t forget Mother’s Day is May 9th.
Perfect time to create something special for mom!
