I’ve been seeing a lot of ads and promotions for alice.com and decided to give it a try. Count me in on something that can save me valuable time. I signed up for the free account and began to search the site for items I typically purchase. Initially I was disappointed with the number of product offerings, but after searching more I found plenty of things that I normally buy. Although, I would hope they can expand soon.

Here’s what I purchased:

• Hair conditioner
• Paper towels
• Baby formula
• Tissues (each box counts as one item)
• Coffee
• Storage bags

You have to buy six items for each order, but shipping is free. This is the selling point for me. The second they start charging for shipping I’m outta there.

The box came and all of the items were in order. Nothing spilled, all packed neat and tidy. Who doesn’t love getting a big box in the mail?

This bottle of conditioner came with an alice sticker over the lid and not a drop spilled.

All of the packaging is “EarthAware,” recycled film, which is pretty cool.
Pricing

Pricing seems fair. I did some quick cost checking on a few items and think they are in line with my regular grocery store. I am sure you can find items cheaper if you price check and shop around, but I think alice.com is about convenience as much as price.

Site Features

The site has a lot of unique features that help frequent buyers streamline his/her purchases. Here are a few highlights:

• Ability to put items in your cart, but not purchase.
• Save items for future purchase.
• Note how often you buy items and set reminders.
• Online coupons are automatic.

Planning Needed

One sticking point for me is that you really need to plan this shopping adventure. Don’t wait until you need an item to buy it from alice.com; buy at least a week before you need it. Also, communicate with other shoppers in your home. I purchased the large size of paper towels, but failed to tell my husband (see above photo). While I was eagerly awaiting my alice.com order, my husband came home with the large size of paper towels. Now we have a year’s supply of paper towels.

Overall, I am pleased with my purchase and want to place another order. I just need to find out how online ordering falls into my monthly budget and make sure my husband knows I’m making a purchase - we don’t have room in the house for more double orders.

(Disclosure: I was not paid for this post, nor did I receive a gift card for my first purchase.)

I received an advanced copy of the new book from “The Coupon Mom” back in December. It’s taken me this long to digest the book and write this post because there is so much great information in it. I was excited when I had the opportunity to read the book because I’ve seen Stephanie Nelson on television and she makes it look easy.

In her new book, “The Coupon Mom’s Guide To Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half,” Nelson shares her secrets on getting the most for your dollar. She starts by talking about what type of shopper you are: busy, rookie or varsity and has advice throughout the book based on each shopping type.

What I like about the book is that Nelson is not only a mother and savvy shopper, but she’s well spoken and clearly uses her business background to help shoppers learn techniques that can help save their families a lot of money. Here’s some of what I’m taking away from the book:

• Even though I’m a busy working mother, I can save money with coupons. Nelson’s personal strategy is not to spend hours every week cutting coupons; instead, she saves the circulars each week and puts a date on the front. No clipping coupons yet. When she’s ready to shop, she consults her Web site’s Grocery Deals database to find the best deals for the week. The database will tell her which circular to find the coupons and then she simply clips the coupons she’s using for that shopping trip.
• Knowledge is power, or in Nelson’s case, store and pricing knowledge is money. She says to learn what is on sale, when at your local grocery and drug stores (as well as other stores) so that you know when to buy what. An example she gives is that her local grocery store puts chicken on sale once a month. She knows when this happens and buys four weeks worth of chicken when it’s on sale.
• Combine store coupons with manufacturer coupons to receive maximum benefits. Before reading this book I didn’t even realize there was a difference between a manufacturer coupon and store coupon, let alone that you can use them both on an item and save big! I think this is the secret to how Nelson can go into a store and get $100 worth of groceries for pennies (see video below).
• Sign up for and use couponmom.com. Nelson’s Web site is a goldmine. This is where the time saving techniques really come into play. Every week her site is updated with local discounts. The magic is that you can find discounts in  your local area simply by clicking a few pages of her site and you be rewarded with a grid that tells you what items are on sale, which coupons to use, where to find the coupons and it will show you a final price you’ll pay for that item. It also shows you when you can get things for free using sales and coupons. You don’t have to do the legwork, just use the database to find the deals.

The book also has chapters on wholesale clubs, the breakout of drugstores and their rewards programs, how to use couponmom.com and chapters about how to save buying meat, vegetables, dairy and sweets. She even throws in some recipes that she uses with her family. This book is like an encyclopedia for saving money. Well worth the read because even if you implement only one of her strategies, you’ll surely save money.

If you don’t believe it or haven’t seen Nelson in action, watch this short clip where she gets $100 worth of groceries for 25 cents!

Photo credit: Stephanie Nelson

Related:

• CouponMom.com
• Stephanie Nelson’s Coupon Mom show airs on You Tube every Thursday. “In her new series, Nelson teaches real families how to save BIG by sharing her infamous tips and tricks on how to get the biggest bang for your buck without sacrificing quality.”
• “The Coupon Mom’s Guide To Cutting Your Grocery Bills In Half” Amazon link and reviews
• Time.com’s Q&A with Stephanie Nelson, “Coupon Mom: How To Cut Grocery Bills In Half“

My husband has been trying to get a study night outside the house for three nights now. Tonight is the only night it worked out. It’s because we planned it, to the T. I knew he needed to go.

Last night, it was a disaster. It took me longer to get home from work than usual. The kitchen was a disaster. We didn’t know what to make for dinner. We watched the Space Shuttle launch, which in itself is worth a change in schedule, but had we planned the activities around watching the Shuttle we would have been better off.

So, today we did things a bit differently:

• I picked up the kids from school while he started dinner so that we could eat on time.
• I got a shower immediately after dinner, knowing if I waited even 10 minutes my window of opportunity would pass.
• We told my son about it early on so he wouldn’t have a meltdown.
• He even had his shoes on, ready to leave the house, before we sat down to dinner.

Planning to this level is how it has to be right now. With two kids, one being a baby, it’s nearly impossible to get some things done around here. With proper planning, we can do it, but the key is planning.  Here’s hoping it will go as well next week when he needs to do it again.

Our local grocery store chain, Publix, sends out a newsletter to parent’s based on their kid’s age. The latest issue contains a section on making family time a priority. It’s a good reminder to schedule this time into our busy lives. Here’s what it says:

This spring, focus your efforts on renewing family bonds. Hold a family meeting and establish priorities for the new season. Start by setting goals involving the people who matter most to you. Designate at least one day a week as Family Day, insisting on spending uninterrupted quality time with the ones you love. Decrease invading activities that take you away from your family throughout the week, and above all else, focus on renewing your family.” (Source: MOPS International.)

– Publix Preschool Pals Newsletter, Spring 2009

Keywords here are:

• Establish priorities
• Set goals
• One day a week is Family Day
• Uninterrupted time
• Decrease activities that take you away from family

I think it’s a great reminder that we often tend to overlook because we are busy trying to figure out what to get on the dinner table. This week, try to take some time away from all the distractions to spend some quality, uninterrupted time as a family.

Photo credit: http://www.sxc.hu

Here it is in all it’s glory — my official what to take to the hospital list. I looked over a lot of lists out there, but couldn’t find the right one for me. I like to check things off. To have a pretty list with columns and check boxes. One with lines where I could personalize my list.

I had to create it on my own. So, now I’m sharing it with you.

Please feel free to download and use this packing list as you prepare to go to the hospital to meet your new baby.

What to Pack

Below are some highlights from the printable list with explanations. Be sure to download the official packing list to see the entire list under each category.

Paperwork –pre-register at the hospital. This is a must. It will save you time and allow you to go straight to triage when you enter the hospital. Bring all of your paperwork with you when you go to the hospital.
Insurance cards, pediatrician information, pen, notebook for your thoughts, birth plan, ID (driver’s license), baby book with footprint/handprint page, address book with phone numbers to call loved ones after baby is born.

Clothes — You won’t really need an outfit except to wear for your journey home. Instead, bring a nightgown (a nursing nightgown if you plan to breastfeed) and robe, slippers, socks (for the birth if you want), going home outfit, flip flops, nursing bras and nursing pads.

Toiletries — Most lists say to bring sanitary pads so I kept it on my list, but the hospital will most likely provide these for you. You’ll get really big ones. And, some hospitals provide special paper underwear to use while you are there so you don’t have to worry about ruining your new set from Victoria’s Secret. Bring all the regular toilitries that you would to a hotel. You’ll be taking a shower at some point and will want to feel fresh.

Relaxation — Bring items that make you comfortable. For the most part, these are things for during the birth. A back massager is good for your spouse to use while you are in labor. A rice sock can be made by putting rice in an old tube sock and sewing it shut. It can be warmed up in the microwave or cooled down in the fridge to be used on your stomach while in labor. I admit that I created one of these for my first pregnancy, but didn’t end up using it. Hard candy to suck on since you won’t be allowed to have any food. Pillow spray if you want that special relaxation smell while in bed. Your own pillow if that suits you.

Electronics — don’t forget to bring your cameras to document the occasion. Make sure your batteries are charged and/or you bring battery backup. And, don’t forget the flash cards.

For your Partner: A watch to time contractions, toiletries, change of clothes (but not too many since he can go home), clothes to sleep in. If your partner typically sleeps commando or with a lovely pair of undies you might suggest he bring some PJs that would be suitable for others to see him in. Entertainment — he’ll have downtime while you are in labor and might want to read, watch TV or play a video game if you have a portable gaming console. I’d suggest you discuss this ahead of time so you know what you are getting into.

For baby: Infant car seat. They won’t let you leave the hospital without one. Cute outfit for the baby’s first hospital photo. Bring more than one, in different sizes. I had one for my son that ended up bring huge. Going home outfit. Receiving blanket — you only really need this if you want a special one. The hospital gives you plenty of the white, with blue and red striped ones to use while you are there. Infant caps. Again, the hospital slaps one of these on your baby right away so you don’t have to bring your own, but if you want your baby to be seen in a cute cap, bring your own. You don’t even really need to bring your baby any clothes. The hospital will put him/her in those little white t-shirt tops with the parts that fold over the babies’ hands. And, they usually provide diapers.

Other: cash — vending machines, valet parking, you name it you might need cash. Don’t forget your purse and wallet. A good idea is to have a small purse that will fit inside your luggage. My hospital makes you carry your luggage from room to room. Here’s the scenario: you are rushed to triage to wait for a room (husband is pushing screaming wife down hallway while pulling luggage), you get moved to the labor room (finally!) husband pulls luggage while you are pushed in wheel chair (hopefully), and then after the baby is born you get moved to your regular room, husband drags that suitcase along. The less bags he has to manage the better. And, remember you are not going to be in charge of the luggage or your purse so make it manageable.

• Download the Hospital Packing List now

Photo courtesy stock.xchng.