May has arrived...

...And our temperatures are starting to feel like summer... no May flowers here! :-)

It seems we are sprinting to the end of the school year. Activities are building up to the final shows and parties, the end of the year parties at school are shaping up, and I am beginning to worry that I won't be able to keep my kids busy once it all ends! In the meantime, I have no extra time to think between now and June 8.

I was able to pick up some "real" work (you know, the kind where you get a paycheck at the end), so that's complicating the matter. In fact, I really shouldn't be blogging right now, but, as they say: "all work and no play..."

I was very excited after giving my couponing presentation to a couple people at the College of the Desert. That was really fun and I hope I get to do it again. I talked about how to get started...I feel like I need a follow-up workshop though to really go through the process and do a whole shopping trip with everyone!

My couponing has been crazy...on again off again. I still managed to save 40% at Vons last week, but it makes me wonder if I couldn't have saved more. I have to let it go and do what I can, though...no one is perfect. The Vons Just 4 U program has been great...there are alot of online coupons, personalized deals, and unadvertised club deals that you can find on that website. Also, they recently released an iPhone app, so I am in hog heaven. When I have an app where I can do all my couponing and list-making in the car, at dance class, or waiting for my DD during pickup at school, that saves me so much time. (If I ever have to downgrade to a regular mobile phone, I think I will go through serious withdrawal!)

I know it is late, but if you can get to Vons before tomorrow, they have a great deal on lots of items...buy 8 and receive a discount. Specifically, I was able to get Rosarita refried beans for 80 cents a can. That's about as cheap as they come. It actually worked out pretty nicely since I was running low! There are some other items included in the sale as well. They generally run this type of sale over a couple weeks, so hopefully it will continue into next week too. In a couple hours I will know for sure...ads will be in my mailbox. :-)

Also, the new P&G coupon insert came in the paper this weekend, so that's an exciting time in the couponing world. (And I swear I am NOT being facetious. It really *is* exciting!)

This month should be very interesting for shopping and meal planning. I am going to crack the whip and really try to stay way under my budget for this month. It will be difficult since it will be very tempting to go out when we are so busy. But this is when it really counts. If I get to the end of the month and we have only gone out a couple times, I will be really proud of the effort I made to save money. And if I get to the end of the month and we went out more than I wanted, it is time to step up the meal planning efforts. I will let you know what my meal plans are and how things go.

Come tell me how you are doing, too.
Good luck to you!
--Katie