So, couponing isn't always about just groceries. I mean, I love to get my groceries as cheap as possible, but it wouldn't be any fun if all I ever did was that. I have been couponing for over ten years now. I really don't coupon every day, and this blog will reflect that. Unless it is a fantastic fabulous free deal, I don't bother, and sometimes I just take a break and let the other couponers get the deals for a while, this keeps my sanity intact, keeps my shelves full but not cluttered, and helps us probably more in terms of lifestyle than the constant couponing and arguing with cashiers and all that craziness would.
This past week the deals I have focused on have nothing to do with groceries.
The first was dental work. UGH!!! No one likes the dentist, least of all me! I was told last summer that I would need $2500 worth of dental work. My dentist was all ready to just schedule me, and I stopped him and told him I wanted to do some research first and explore my options, and I told him that I thought one of the teeth that needed a crown could actually be pulled instead for braces, to fix the overcrowding problem in the top of my mouth. I scheduled a free consultation with the orthodontist, and sure enough, he verified what a previous orthodontist had said a few years ago, that indeed, that tooth could be pulled instead of crowned and would lead to lower costs and fewer problems in the long run. And, our current dental insurance would cover half the cost associated with adult braces, which is pretty rare, but luckily and thankfully we have good dental insurance through my husband's work. So, the total cost to do the necessary fillings, pull the teeth, and apply the braces ended up being almost the same as what just the dental work would have been. It still isn't cheap, but in the long run it will be a much better solution.
The second was wardrobe. I go through fits and spurts with clothes. Somehow, Basic Training has something to do with this. After spending three months having someone tell me what I would be wearing throughout my day, when it was all over, I couldn't get dressed anymore. My parents waited for two hours that first morning while I was in our hotel room trying to figure out what to wear. To this day, combining outfits has proved especially challenging for me, and I usually resort to figuring out a "uniform" and dressing that way. My husband had become especially tired of stretch pants, my last uniform, lol, so it was time to change it up. I spent a week or two walking around stores, figuring out options, figuring out accessories, trying to add color to my wardrobe without making it complicated and harder than it needs to be (my default is black), but also leaving me a "uniform" that I can figure out easily in the morning without getting stopped in my tracks. I found cute little black knit skirts, that fit perfectly, and t-shirts in a rainbow of colors that look incredibly flattering and go well with the skirts. The t-shirts are made by a company called "Zanana Outfitters", and at the store where I first discovered them, they were between $25 and $70 each. Well, that was certainly not budget friendly. Out of desperation I went to Ross. They had the same t-shirts, by the same company, for $5.99 each, all styles! Yay!!! They also had the same shirt by a different company, called "Black Dress" in more color variations. I was able to stock up on those shirts by driving to different Ross stores, and get myself a pretty wardrobe of color that even I can figure out in the morning, lol!
Then came accessories. This whole wardrobe thing is something I usually tackle once a season, I try to make it a point to go through and get rid of anything I haven't worn in a while, and anything that just looks beat up. I put once season in storage in another closet, move the new season in, and go from there. I am getting better at being organized about it, but I am still not where I would like to be. Anyway, accessories are something that I just don't understand sometimes. I am ok at coordinating things, but not perfect at it, and by the time I figure out what I am going to wear, accessories get forgotten and I am rushing out the door. I started refurbishing Coach bags about a year ago. I can get them super cheap in horrible condition, and refurbish them myself to make them look new again. It works out really well, and I am getting a really pretty collection of classic Coach bags that I really feel good about carrying, and I get lots of compliments on them. Refurbishing them takes a couple of days, and it can be frustrating, but in the end, I really like it. I get my info on how to do the whole refurbish thing from a website called "The Purse Forums", there is a thread under the Coach area that explains everything in great detail complete with before and after pics and an entire supportive community of ladies that do the same thing.
While exploring the purse forums this past week, and dreaming of my dream bag (a black Birkin, with gold fittings, by Hermes, if any of you win the lottery, it would be my one request!) I found a thread called "Ode to Horn". It is an entire thread devoted to the incredible Horn jewelry that Hermes sells. The stuff is gorgeous, and honestly I love it, but I would never pay $900 for a necklace, or $15,000 for a bag, but it is fun to dream. Anyway, I did a little search on E-Bay for some jewelry another Purse Forums member had purchased recently, called Bakelite. Found nothing, that stuff is also pretty expensive, if you can even find it. I then clicked the advanced tab and hit "search stores", and did a search for horn jewelry. I found an amazing store there, called QueCraft. It turns out that many of the Purse Forum members shop there for horn jewelry, and the rumor is that it is the same factory where the Hermes is made, the artisans simply use it in their off hours and sell their items separately. I placed an order, and they air-mailed it to me. I did not pay extra for shipping, and most people report that it takes 5 weeks to get their stuff, but my order was here in two days, as fast as Amazon. I have no idea why mine arrived so fast, but well, I was happy! Anyway, the stuff is beautiful! It perfectly matches my Coach bags and rainbow t-shirts and simple black skirts. And the shop will do custom work for almost the same price as what they charge on E-bay. You could design anything you want, and they will create it! I love them, and they will be getting much more business from me in the future!!
So, couponing doesn't always involve a coupon, or food, or the grocery store, it is a way of life, a way of finding the rare things in life that make it fun! So, while I haven't been posting much this week, I have been really busy, and my braces go on tomarrow. If you decide to order from QueCraft, please tell them I sent you, and please let me know if you like their designs as much as I do!
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