Morgan Manages Mommyhood

The other day I went to the cabinet where I keep the chocolate chips to grab a handful and I couldn’t find them. Then I remembered. They were in a jar with the lid one as far back in the cabinet as I could put them. I’d need to either climb on the counter or grab a chair to get them. In that moment, I thanked my past self and went on with my day.

Do you ever eat just because it’s there? Do you ever snack because it’s accessible and easy? I know I do. These are some of the scars that a lifetime of over eating and free range snacking have left. Even four years after losing 45+ pounds, I still have trouble with mindless eating, over eating, and snacking when I’m not hungry. I have to plan ahead in order to combat my weak moments. I have to make my stronger, present self accountable for my weaker future self.

We see it all the time. On Monday, we vow to eat great, work out daily, and live a healthier lifestyle. By Wednesday, we’ve all but forgotten our goal, and by Friday we’re telling ourselves that we’ll “start next Monday.” Lather, rinse, and repeat. It’s too easy to submit to temptation when you pretend that it’s not there.

Got leftovers? Either chuck ’em or freeze ’em. Tasty leftovers are an easy target when they’re sitting pretty in the fridge. I am definitely likely to take a bite here and there if they’re easily accessible. If it’s enough food to make a serving, I’ll throw them in the freezer for an easy meal later. If not, I try my hardest to just throw them out to avoid temptation.

Put it somewhere harder to get to. If it takes me a few extra steps to get to a tempting food, I’m more likely to build the willpower to say no. You will be reminding yourself why it is where it is, and more likely to stop.

Double wrap it. If I can’t freeze it, or don’t want to throw it out, I either wrap it two times in plastic wrap or foil or twice in a baggie. Again, make it harder to get to, and you’re more likely to resist later!

Write a note. This used to work great for me when I would bring meals and snacks into my office at work. If I let myself, I’d eat all of it before 12 and then have to go out at 3 for a snack. I KNOW. I started putting post-it notes on things, telling myself when I could eat them. That way, I could re-evaluate whether I was hungry or bored at work. Did I really need to eat my snack before lunch, or did I just need to get up and stretch my legs.

Set an alarm. My weakest time is nighttime, when I slowly snack the world away. This year I imposed a 9 o’clock rule. Except for very rare treats or emergencies, I don’t eat after 9 pm. Sounds fine and dandy, but its upholding the rule that’s tricky. I found if I set an alarm for 9:15 I am more likely to not eat or snack after 9. It’s a visual reminder of the pact I made with myself.

 

Look, if you’re the kind of person who has willpower of steel, ignore this post. But if you’re like me, you need an extra push. This is what helps me keep my present self accountable for the future, to help me prepare for weakness. I hope it helps you too.

Linking up with Running with Spoons for Thinking Out Loud.

How do you keep yourself accountable? Do you have willpower of steel, or do you need tricks to help along the way like me?

 

Does anyone else miss the days of opening up the fridge at your parents’ house and going to town on all the groceries they just bought? Man were those the good days. (Also, sorry mom and dad. And even more, sorry dad because I still do that when we come to see you.)

Grocery shopping is expensive, guys! While we eat pretty clean, have a membership card at Sam’s Club, and try to keep an eye on sales, it really adds up each week, and I can see it getting more and more expensive as the little dude starts eating more . So what do I do? I use my phone.

The thing is, there’s tons of ways to get discounts, coupons, and rebates for the groceries you buy if you just take the time look. I don’t have the patience, the printer, or the Sunday paper subscription to clip coupon. But that doesn’t mean that there are no other places to look. Apps and mobile coupons can help you save big $$! Below are my favorite apps that can help you save money on groceries this week!

Open this post on your phone and you can click on the links to open the download page for each app directly on your phone. 

**Some of the link in this post are referral links. This means that if you get and use the app using my code/link, I receive a bonus. I will note which ones are referral codes, and I greatly appreciate anyone who uses mine!**

Ibotta

I downloaded Ibotta a while ago and didn’t use it, then on a whim tried again last month and now I’m hooked! They offer rebates for some “any brand” items, as well as different name brand items. Sort by whatever store you’re headed to, and a huge list of potential rebates comes up. You have to unlock them by watching a short clip or answering a question, but the rebates are from $.20-$5.00 on average. Take a picture of your receipt after you buy and submit it to earn your cash back. Have your friends join and you can earn team bonuses as well. (For example, this month, if you redeem $5, and your team redeems a total of $10, you receive the level 1 bonus of $2.00, which puts a total of $7 into your account! But don’t worry, no one can see what you buy!) If you use my referral code or link, qumsmfo, when signing up, you’ll join my team and we can help each other get that goal! (Full disclosure: I will receive $2.00 as a referral bonus is you use my code. Thanks for supporting me!) Get your money sent to Venmo or your PayPal or in the form of gift cards such as Starbucks and Amazon when you hit a $10 minimum.

SavingStar

Link up your club cards to this app (for stores without club cards like Target you can submit a picture of the receipt) and earn rebates for your purchases. They offer a weekly ‘healthy offer’ of 20% back on a produce purchase (this week it’s bananas). You can earn cash back on name brand purchases of food, household supplies, and over the counter medicines. It’s usually a buy 2, get $.75 kind of thing, but they also do something called ‘one or many’ where you spend a certain amount on one or many trips to earn your rebate. (Right now, they have spend $30 on SC Johnson Home Care products, get $5. If you buy Glade, Windex, Ziploc, this is easy, especially since you are usually given a few months to reach the goal) With no minimum required, you can cash out directly to your bank account, PayPal, or Upromise account, or give it as an American Forests Donation.

Apple // Google

Checkout 51

This is another receipt rebate app. Take a picture of your receipt with qualifying purchases using the app and earn money back. Each week they have a different fresh food that you can choose from five options to claim as well as a gallon of milk. If you claimed both each week, you’d earn $.50 a week, they also have name brand products you can redeem. Some are definitely not the healthiest choices, but others are! This week there is a $.75 option for Kashi cereal or snack bars. Once you earn $20, they will send you a check in the mail.

Apple // Google

Snap by Groupon

This app is owned by Groupon which is cool. They offer coupons on produce as well as name brand, but the produce ones go quick, so keep an eye out for them. Again, take a picture of your receipt and submit to earn your money. Right now they have an offer for $.75 off Wonderful Almonds. Like Checkout 51, you can request a check when you hit $20. (Full Disclosure: Using my referral link above earns me $1)

Local Grocery Store App

We shop most often at ShopRite, and I quickly found out they have a Mobile App you can use and link to your club card. From there you can select and load digital coupons from their site to your card that are automatically applied at the register.

Cartwheel

If you don’t know about Cartwheel, I’m about to make. You. Life. I love Target. LOVE Target. Cartwheel is an app made by Target that gives you discounts on your purchases at the register by scanning a barcode off your phone. You can select and load different offers (there are usually over 1000 offers at one time!) based on what you are buying, with discounts from 5-60%. There is a limit to how many offers you can load at once, but the more you use it, the more offer ‘slots’ you get. You can also use it with mobile coupons…

Apple // Google

Target Mobile Coupons

There are a bunch of different codes you can text to Target to enroll in a monthly text service to receive different types of coupons that will be sent to your phone. Again, at the register a barcode is scanned and the discount is applied. Usually its X dollars off, but also percentage coupons are offered.

Pampers Rewards

If you use Pampers (Huggies does this as well!) you know that there are codes on wipe and diaper packs that you can enter into the Pampers Rewards site that you can redeem for toys, magazines, coupons, gift cards, Shutterfly goods, and more! I always forget to sit at my computer and put them in a bunch at a time, so I downloaded the app and now I can put them in when I remember/when I’m nursing Ryan/when I have a a spare second. If you remember to put in at least one code per month, Pampers will reward you every 3 months with a different prize. If you follow Money Saving Mom, she occasionally posts freebie codes you can enter for points without making a purchase.

Apple // Google

ShopKick

I’m pretty new to this app, but the concept is, each store you go into that qualifies, you make sure the app is open and earn ‘Kicks’ or points that can be later turned into gift cards. If you link your Mastercard or Visa, some stores award you with extra kicks per dollar spent. (Full disclosure: If you sign up with my link, I will receive 2000 kicks per 3 referrals) Choose from the rewards store what you’s like to redeem with your kicks, including gift cards to a ton of different stores, (Target, Macy’s, Nike, Walmart, Tiffany’s  to name a few) coupons, magazines, or goods (125000 kicks gets you an iPad, and 6,250,000 gets you a cruise around the world. No, really.)

RetailMeNot

I’m sure you use RetailMeNot to get coupons while online shopping, but did you know that if you download the app, you can use it in stores as well? I try to check this app each time I’m shopping to make sure I’m not missing out on savings!

Apple // Google

Pick and choose which ones are best for you and your family. I use these apps to help make my grocery list and when I get back I make sure I submit my receipts to the proper apps. No, I don’t save hundreds each week, but I can usually count on around $5 or $10, not including when I get bigger saves. It adds up!

Do you use any of these apps? What are your favorite ways to save money on groceries? What ‘untraditional’ ways do you use your cellphone? Let me know in the comments!