About Diana Chastain & her Blog
Diana is a winner of Top 25 Couponing Moms - 2013
What advice would you give to a mom who wants to start couponing?
I wrote a post with my 10 Tips for Beginner Couponers. But here they are in summary; Don't and get every single deal at every single store at first, memorize your store's coupon policy, be kind & considerate, get organized, don't print every coupon in existence, there are four main coupon sites, make sure to keep track of your ecoupons, figure out your stock up price, don't trust coupon buying sites, and you aren't going to get everything for free. http://www.nannytomommy.com/2013/02/10-tips-for-beginner-couponers.html
How much do you save yearly using coupons?
I save roughly $4,000 a year. On average about $400 a month using coupons.
The hardest thing to save money on are fruit, meat, and dairy items. Overage helps, shopping sales, and sometimes learning that you don't necessarily need that item.
I don't just save on groceries using coupons, I use coupons when shopping for clothes or even getting my oiled changed! I always look for the best deal and hunt down that best price.
What is the best resource you've found for finding coupons?
I love printable coupons. Coupons.com is my favorite.
What are your favorite Blog Posts?
Diana's Answers
How do you save money at the grocery store?
I coupon! It has saved a TON of money. I have got some great deals on things and it has been like another pay check for our family.
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How can you help your gay child?
Dang all the drama posts were removed!
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Is it common for breastfed babies to use pacifiers?
I'm still breastfeeding my 10 month old daughter and she uses a pacifier. I was against them in the beginning but they have saved my life. I was exhausted she wanted to suck all the time. And I couldn't be a human paci. She was already sleeping in our bed and I was sleeping very well because of that. But since we introduced a paci, she moved to her bassinet and is now sleeping in her own bed. She has been a lot happier since we found one she likes which makes me a happy momma.
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Cloth diapers: yea or nay?
I want to try them with my next child. I wish I had used them with this child. Although I think they are time consuming I know they would have saved a lot of money.
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What's your family's favorite nostalgic, silly, or practical holiday tradition? (If there's an image that goes along with your tradition, please share a link.)
After Thanksgiving, when we decorate our tree we always watch Elf.
The first weekend of December, we meet up at Hardee's and then watch the McDonough Square Christmas Parade.
We also, of course, make sure we go see Santa in the square one Saturday in December.
And then on Christmas Eve, we go eat at The Varsity and then head over to take pictures at Centennial Olympic Park. Then we head home to the in-laws to read "The Night Before Christmas". We all take turns. And when I was officially in the family I got joined in, and then when my Brother-in-law came along he was joined in as well. And once the grand kids get old enough to read, we will each only get a page. :)
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Ouch! Do you have a trick to keep kids from biting? Please share a link or a picture if it's relevant to your answer.
When SweetPea bit me during nursing (although very rare), I would pull her in like a hug and she would release, then I would give her a teething ring and tell her that is what she bites.
I am still working on the toddler biting. She would only bite when she was frustrated when others stole toys and such from her. But she did get bit back one day and that seemed to calm it down a lot. Not the best solution, I'll admit. So if you got a better one I'm all ears!
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You know you're a mom when... (please fill in the blank!) and link to a picture if it's relevant.
You know you're a mom when watching horror movies/shows is so much harder. When you like the smell of baby spit up. When you 'stay up' until 10pm on a week night. When you go 'out' and realize you have a gummy bear stuck in your hair. When your 'good' day is putting on a bra and shoes. When you can't remember the last time you had a hair cut, but just spent an hour photographing your son's first. When your socialization consists of online mommy groups. When you walk around every day knowing a piece of your heart is walking around the outside of your body.
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What's your child's favorite thing to do in the snow? Please include a link to a picture if you have one.
The last time we had snow in GA, it was called SNOWPOCALYPSE! LOL It actually was more of an ice storm than anything else. Anyways, hardly having snow in GA and my daughter being barely a month old at the time, our favorite thing to do in the snow is snuggle on the couch and just try to keep warm. :)
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What are the most important things to do while on maternity leave before going back to work?
Make and freeze meals. Crock pot and pop in the oven types. Long hours of working away from baby, the last thing you will want to do is cook.
Make sure you have great child care set up. Research references and actually call to follow through. Make sure day cares are up to codes and qualifications they must meet by law and research to know what these laws for your state are.
Make sure your wardrobe is washer and dryer safe. Who has time to even go to a dry cleaners?
Try and get a stockpile of Breastmilk up and ready to go if you are breastfeeding. And with this, you may not be a bad pumper (like I thought I was), it may just be you need a good pump. Check with your insurance about the possibility of them buying yours or covering the cost of a rental.
Know your work place's policy on making time to pump as needed. If you only get one break a day, maybe they could split it up. Also ask where the proper places to nurse are (don't forget an outlet if your pump is electric) and the bathroom is NOT a suitable place unless YOU are comfortable with that.
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What's a cute or creative way to decorate the walls of a child's room? Please include a link to an image.
Home made mobiles, wooden hand painted letters of name, tulle balls as hanging accents.
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Aside from a birth certificate, what legal documents should a parent file after having a child?
Social security cards
And although this isn't a legal matter, health insurance paper work.
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What helps you stay organized? Whether it's a special coupon binder, calendar app or color-coded closet, we want to know all the little tricks and products that help keep your life organized. Please share a photo if you have one.
I have a TON of apps on my phone that have been very helpful in my saving money process, as well as parenting. My Sweet Pea was always at the low range in weight and I was constantly monitoring it while I was breastfeeding and I had an app for that. :)
I have MC app on my phone to keep track of my menstrual cycles because for the LIFE of me I can never remember when I go to the doctor PLUS it gives you a guesstimate to let you know when you are ovulating, I have the Gerber app (now the Toddler 2+) so I can keep up with Sweet Pea weight plus it will send you a reminder to take a photo everyday, and then I had an app when I was breastfeeding that help me keep up with Sweet Pea's diapers so I could make sure that she was getting enough milk.
I have a variety of apps to help with my weightloss journey including my fitness pal which I LOVE.
But I have posted about the apps I think are handy fr frugal moms.
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Are your kids hooked on a toy, clothing item, or style trend that makes you crazy? If so, tell us why and share a picture!
My daughter has a BILLION and one stuff animals that she insists on sleeping with. I don't care of it and I don't like that I have to keep up with everyone but it's not worth the battle. When I was a nanny, it bothered me that the boy I cared for did this. I use to get so annoyed when I made his bed, so I tried to control how many he slept with at nap time so hopefully it would transfer to night time and I wouldn't have to worry about them the next day. Next worked but now that I have my own, I have found it isn't worth it to fight over it.
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What's the most unique or fun way to announce a pregnancy that you've seen? Please share a link with a picture if it's relevant.
My sister-in-law got her step-daughter to wear a shirt that said Big Sister on it. She also told her husband's parents by wrapping up a framed picture of her first ultrasound. And then she announced the sex by posting a picture of her step-daughter holding a itty-bitty onesie with a tutu that said, "Miss April". I posted a link to my post of how we announced ours. I had so much stress during my pregnancy, I never had time to think of cute, creative ways to announce my pregnancy.
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Valentine's Day braids. A flower-bedecked headband. What's your little girl's favorite way to do her hair? Please share a Pinterest-worthy picture if you have one!
My daughter LOVES to have bows in her hair and I just learned how to make them and am getting very excited to learn how to make different designs. My sister-in-law is pregnant and their last name is Peacock so I am getting very excited to go crazy with that theme.
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What are you most looking forward to as a mom in 2013? Please include a link to a picture if it's relevant.
Getting my family on a BUDGET and all of our finances in order so we can start trying for baby number two. :)
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What's the single most precious memento you have from your children's infancy that's not a photo? Please incude a link to a picture if you're willing to share!
The outfit my daughter came home from hospital in. My mom used the same outfit for my brother and me, so while going through stuff when we moved out, for some reason he got it. :( I want Sweet Pea to always have her outfit. She wore it more than once since she was so tiny and in newborn clothes longer than anticipated. But I have it saved and it means the world.
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