One thing I remember from a business class in college was a story about a case study involving students from a prestigious university (Harvard? Stanford? Yale?).  It was found that the most successful people had one thing in common. They wrote down goals for their future. In addition to this, they made plans to accomplish those goals. ​

Do not wait for the beginning of a new year to make your goals. Do not give up on them even if you fail multiple times. Do not wait for another year to come in order to “reset” that goal. I was speaking to my younger sister about this and I recalled that I had heard that January was the biggest month for gym memberships. Why? Because many have bought into the new years resolution to get fit and healthy. This goal would be more palatable if it were broken down into a daily goal. This way if you mess up, you get another chance tomorrow.

​One of my life time goals is to drink plenty of water daily. In order to do that I had to research and find out how much water was enough. I have concluded that the best amount to drink is your half your weight in ounces. To further assist me with my goal in this, I took containers that I normally drank out of and found out how many of those containers I would need to drink in order to meet my goal. Now I do not accomplish this goal everyday however I have been drinking more water than I would have if I did not make this a goal and found steps to help me accomplish them. How do you accomplish goals (big or small)?

P.S. Always plan and have a planner! This can alleviate unnecessary stress when it comes to planning and declining or accepting events.

//inspired by Scripture || Habakkuk 2:2

- Sherry Lola Quadri
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Fourteen months ago I was flipping through the channels one evening when I stumbled across TLC’s Extreme Couponing. I was amazed by the deals these everyday women were getting at the grocery store. I recall thinking to myself, “I’m a sharp gal and if they can do it, so can I!” It was then that another Coupon Diva was born….

I had become accustomed to doing the grocery shopping for my husband and myself. I fondly recall the $100+ shopping trips we would make on a weekly basis and still really feel as if we did not buy a lot of groceries. Of course I would look for sale items or select store brand products in an attempt to save some money. Never did the idea of coupons cross my mind.  I still recall my first grocery transaction using my coupons. I really enjoyed the rush of seeing my total decrease as the cashier scanned each coupon and reviewing my percentile savings printed on my receipt.

I am by no means an “extreme couponer”. However, I have managed to maintain a consistent 50% -70% savings every time I shop at the grocery or drug store. I have even become pretty savvy on obtaining “free” or practically free items.  I work hard to always have a full pantry, refrigerator and freezer. I stockpile EVERTHING from household items to bath/beauty products.  I have also transcended my couponing into retail stores for clothing and shoes. I refuse to pay full price for ANYTHING that I know I can get a better deal on with a coupon. My passion for couponing is very contagious as I have managed to get many of my family members and friends involved in this rewarding hobby.

My general couponing tips...

• Buy at least 4 newspapers every week to obtain the coupon inserts inside
• Select the best method that works for you to keep your coupons organized (binder, portfolio,etc)
• Follow online extreme couponers such as “KrazyCouponLady” or “Coupon Divas”. They do most of the leg work for you.
• Carry ALL your coupons with you at all times!
• Know your store’s coupon policy
• You tube has many “how to” explanations posted for beginner couponers
• Shop at grocery chains that participate in doubling/tripling coupons
• Drug stores( CVS/ Walgreens) are the best places to get items for FREE

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Couponing is a great way for families to save money. Couponing has allowed me to save SO MUCH money in just a little over a year. My only regret is not couponing when I was in college! Grab your scissors and get ready to start saving…