Hello Swarm Moms!

Today is the day to rise and shine and say Hello to your new life!

Your assignment today is to get up and get going.  There is no time like the present to create your better life.  Today is Sunday and this means COUPONS! Get your walking shoes on and head out to get your paper.   I understand newspapers are going the way of the land line telephone, but really, this is a super easy way to start saving some money.  It is just a wonderful coincidence that other positive and wonderful things happen as a result (i.e. your week begins becomes less stressfull because you can plan out your meals, you (hopefully)  won't run out of toilet paper because you bought enough for the next 7 days and the best, most positive result of all (blow the horns  da da da dum!) you spend time with your family in a proactive and life learning way in which all get to contribute and grow some new skills.

This is a great way to have your kids participate in each others lives.  You know how it is, the kids are growing and moving in ten different directions, almost all of them away from each other and home.
So...Swarm encourages moms to actively recruit your kids for this activity. There is a job for everyone. Have one child cut out all the coupons, while another categorizes them. Mom can create a meal plan for the week or walk around the kitchen checking the list of grocery items needing to be purchased.  Next week have the kids trade duties if they want.

Have your kids think about the meals they want and they can search your new and old coupons for items they like.  Mom can supervise and teach about choosing healthy veggies and fruits as side dishes for the entrees.  It really can be made fun.  And Mom, even you have teens who don't want to help out, this is one of those family chores that you must insist they join in on.  There are so many ways they can help out: meal planning, cooking, cleaning out the fridge (yeah, they won't like that one), planning deserts and snacks for lunches, etc... Remember that this is family time in its truest form and for many, it's most fun form.  Enjoy this time with your kids. Make your time count.  They really will be grown up and gone in the blink of an eye.

*** The information from this blog is meant to be paired with the information from the August 2012 blog titled, 'Coupons'.  There is much, much more information on saving money via coupons in that blog.  Happy days to you!

ONE LAST THING

When you buy the paper, take a minute and make sure that the coupons are actually in the paper.  It is possible that the coupons were not put into the paper or that someone has come along before you and removed the coupons.  It is free money and a bit of a temptation for some.  If you get home and discover the coupons missing, phone the circulation desk of the newspaper and let them know.  Swarm did this and the paper sent out coupons that day which were received in the mail two days later.  This may seem frivolous to some, but would you throw out  $20.00 to $25.00 in cash?