Couponing to Disney

I got started couponing when we PCSed to California when I was 7 months pregnant.  My husband was training at DLI to become a linguist and had NO free time between his classes, every day Marine duties and studying and homework.  I felt alone, I was bored and I was literally all the way across the country from my friends and family.   I tried going out and meeting people but it seemed like everyone had kids and were busy with play dates and doing other mommy things. I also tried joining the family readiness group, but there wasn't really one established yet for the USMC (there is now!)  So I decided to start a new hobby - couponing!

My favorite blog was Hip2Save.   I watched all of Collin’s videos for beginner couponers and read her posts daily.  I spent hours each day reading, clipping, and learning about how to coupon!  By the time I had given birth to Juliana I had made a stockpile so I wouldn't have to go to the grocery store until Juliana was about three months old (we were part of a local CSA program who delivered fresh produce right to our door weekly)!! That was a huge help as a new parent.  I had enough laundry detergent, toiletries and paper products that lasted us about 6 or more months!  I also donated to the local woman’s shelter, care packages for troops, and was able to provide the animal shelter with a huge supply of pet food and other pet products (it is REALLY easy to score free pet food… our cat and dog have special dietary needs so we can’t use any of it but if its free or cheap I grab it for donations)!

After I had my daughter, my couponing hobby was put on the back burner.  I did it a little, mostly when we needed things.  When we PCSed I had given away what was left of my stockpile.  We would just go to the grocery store, often without a list and just throw whatever we felt like in the cart.  We quickly noticed we were spending a ridiculous amount of money on food… about double what the average family of 4 spends!  My husband suggested I try to start couponing again.  I knew it would be an easy solution but when was I supposed to find the time or energy for this?! It is HARD to do with a toddler, I am not going to lie! And even harder being exhausted from being pregnant and having a toddler! She wants to play, read books, do crafts and paint and go outside NOT watch mommy coupon or get dragged around to a million stores.   Plus, once Juliana started eating table food I really changed the way our family ate!  I tried to cook healthier food, eat organically and less processed things. Was I really going to be able to coupon for things I could cook with and healthy items? Maybe even organic items??

With some practice and patience, I have been able to find coupon deals on healthier options.  Yes, if a box of cookies is free or will give me overage I snag them up as a treat but I am definitely more selective on what I coupon for. For example, if there is a box of cocoa puffs on sale with a coupon for $1, I won’t get it.  While cereal is expensive and that would have been a good deal, I would rather use that $1 to spend on fresh produce or something else.   I have also cut out using all chemical cleaners which has saved us a TON of money.  We do all our cleaning with baking soda and vinegar! I started making homemade snacks instead of buying them.   I got reusable baby food pouches (Little Green Bags) and make applesauce or different purees to fill them with, make our own popsicles, and I even make homemade crackers and granola bars (Pinterest is a lifesaver!).  If I can get granola bars and popsicles for free, great! But I don’t usually buy them unless I am feeling lazy or don't have the time that month!  My daughter loves to cook. It is probably one of her favorite things to do.  So making snacks is a fun activity for us to do together and she actually makes it a lot less work for me! We have made a ton of recipes from Weelicious and The Sneaky Chef - I can’t say enough good things about their recipes!  During and especially after the holidays, baking items go on sale and you can find a ton of coupons for those things.  It’s a good idea to stock up on these items then if you want to try making your own snacks!  

My husband knows that I am planning on training for a half marathon while he is away.  It just happens that the Run Disney Princess Half Marathon is around the same time as when he is supposed to get back.  I mentioned how I would love to do this race (dress like a princess and get a really pretty medal for my first half? Yes please!).  We had originally planned on not going to Disney until both kids were older, but he got all excited and we starting talking about how much fun we would all have (Julie will be almost three!) He said we could go for post deployment leave BUT he made a stipulation … I would have to Coupon to Disney!  I was feeling little disappointed and let down - intense couponing with a toddler AND a newborn?! ALONE?!  But I am not one to back down from a challenge, especially one from my husband who is Mr. Know-it-all and Mr. Perfectionist.  I can do this!  My husband told me to save all my receipts and where it says, “you saved $___ today!”, that amount would go in our Disney fund!  I know it is going to be hard to do, but I think in a way I need this.  I need this way to feel connected with my husband while he is away, I need something to keep my mind off the loneliness and I need this motivation!  Now that Juliana is a little older, I plan on having her help me some.  I’m not sure how yet, but I need to figure out a way to make this fun for her too!  I will mainly be focusing on the Commissary (I think focusing on one store will be less of a hassle) and maybe CVS or Walmart if I have time and the deals are good. 

My family is worried that I am trying to do too much… they keep telling me, once the baby comes things are going to change!  Yes- I know things will change. My life as a military spouse is constantly going through major changes! I will get frustrated. I will get stressed.  I will probably feel overwhelmed and cry myself to sleep some nights!  Regardless of what I do (even if I sit on the couch for months), it will suck and I will feel all those emotions.  But as a military spouse this is just how life is. You just need to suck it up and push through it for your kids, for your spouse, for the other spouses who are going through their first deployment and for the spouses whose other half is never coming home.  I have learned that I am stronger than I think I am. We will kick this deployments butt!! 

I will be starting to Coupon to Disney early, before he leaves… That way he can help me get started and the longer I save for, the better!  I will be posting my weekly Commissary list and maybe some other stores so you too can coupon for whatever your goal is! Check out the 'Couponing' page on my blog page for a "how to" section! You can also check out the 'Couch to Crazy' tab where I will be updating my progress on my run training.