Living without cable...

So almost 3 years ago I was a TV junkie. Always had it on loved every minute of it!

Then the boyfriend and I moved into our house and decided not to get cable. Well, he decided! 

He grew up without it so really wasn't that hooked on it.

Since I was a poor college student at the time I agreed. Did I miss it in the beginning? 

Ummm yeah...that's an understatement. 

But with the creation of instant streaming through Netflix and Hulu Plus I don't even think about it. 

Sure there are times when I miss me some Lifetime Network...or the continuous Friends reruns. 

But I'm really saving a ton of money. 

For Hulu Plus I pay $7.99 a month. That's it. 

Netflix only $8.59

(I only have streaming not DVD's. I jumped ship when they changed the way they charge.)

So for $16.58 a month I get unlimited access to all my favorite TV shows and a bunch of movies. 

I like them because I can access them on all of my devices:

 Xbox, Wii, iPhone, Laptop, Desktop, iPad...everything

So this sounds like a plug? Yeah I know but I thought I'd just share this idea for those of you who might be tired of paying for cable with a bunch of different channels that you never watch. 

I'm not being compensated for this post. I just thought I'd share it since I talked about my cable-less existence last week....womp womp womp...

But if you want to try out Hulu Plus if you click on this link and sign up you can get 2 weeks free. 

In this spirit of full disclosure if you do click on the link/sign up I get 2 weeks free too...

I spend too much on groceries...

Hi! My name is Jessica and I spend way too much on groceries!

Seriously how is it possible that I spend over $300 on groceries a month for two people? Yes the boyfriend does eat like a teenage boy in a growth spurt but this is still ridiculous. Even with spending that much on groceries we still eat out at least twice a week.

I did venture into crazy coupon territory for awhile and I am slowly slipping back in there... I may or may not have spent an hour inputting all of my coupons with description, value, quantity, type, and expiration dates into an excel spreadsheet this morning. It's just such a hassle to think I have a coupon for something and sit there in the middle of the aisle while I search for it in my handy dandy coupon organizer! Yes I'm one of those...one step below the binder.

I like to keep it real...I'm writing this post at my desk and needed a picture, Instagram to the rescue!

I started meal planning about 5 months ago and it helped tremendously with staying on track! But I fell out of my groove. It's really hard to plan meals all the time. I didn't really grasp the whole put them on a cycle thing. I was always looking for some new recipe. Especially since the boyfriend absolutely refuses to eat leftovers unless they're the ones that are hiding in the back of the fridge and I can't remember when I made it... it has happened.

So I will not become the crazy people who buy 35 bottles of mustard or have 400 rolls of toilet paper stashed under their kid's bed. But I am going to make more of an effort to use coupons and meal plan. Hopefully find coupons for the things I need for my meal planning.

I'm not over exaggerating am I? How much does a couple usually spend on groceries? Keep in mind this does not include food for our 3 dogs.