Changing to More Frugal Ways

I have been trying to find ways to cut back on cost around here.  Hy-Vee had a sale on boxes of Jello Pudding for $.69.  When I went to the store to buy a box I saw that they have the Hy-Vee brand was only $.49 for its everyday price.  I decided that pudding was pudding and brought home the Hy-Vee brand.  The box said it was worth 4 servings, but I was able to make 5 serving from one box for my daughter's school lunch.  Unfortunately she forgot her lunch today and was unable to give me her take on the taste.

I also found these deals at the stores this week:

Fareway:

 $3/2 Campbell's Chunky Soup

Fareway coupon $3/3 (limit 3, one coupon per customer)

Manufacturer coupon $1 off of 3 

Final Cost: $2/3

Hy-Vee Two Day Thur/Fri Sale

Rice-a Roni $.99 box

Manufacture coupon $1/4 (facebook like coupon)

Final Cost: $2.96/4

Pays To Wait

About a month ago I received a magazine that had a coupon for $5 off of $10 purchase at Hallmark.  I really wanted to get my yearly ornament.  I have been getting a Hallmark ornament since birth and I refuse to give up this tradition.  I started doing it for my kids as well.  Since they get the ones that are trendy for the most part, I did buy theirs early with a coupon.  My son got a Spiderman and my daughter got a penguin in a police car.

Today I went into Coach House and I asked what the price was, and the lady working said they were ringing up less than 50% which is what the sign said.  I got these two ornaments for less than $10!  My tree theme is penguin, which isn't the most popular ornament but they always have  penguin ornaments in stores at christmas.  I get the best deals in Jan on ornaments for next year.

Maybe I shouldn't of bought these but I'm still happy I found them at this cost.  Happy Birthday to me!

Pottery Barn Friends and Family

 

Friends & Family 

Shopping Event

Awhile ago I sign up for a back to school registry for Pottery Barn Kids.  Just yesterday in the mail I got an invitation to their friends and family event.  It is Oct. 13-19, 2011.  It is also good on sale merchandise, but not on any items online or you need to order.  It also cannot be combined with other offers.  I get out of work early and have no class on Thursday so I plan on heading right over to see if there are any good bargains.  If you didn't get an invitation you could always call your store and see if they have any extra invites.

Pottery Barn Silver Plated Dog Banks $9.99

PB kids $12.99

Timely Returns

So today I finally returned this tube of sealant I bought from the hardware store almost a month ago.  It took maybe five minutes, but I just never made the time.  I was able to get back $6.33.  I think the more time that passes, the more you will just hold on to the item, or the store is less likely to take the item back.  It is best to put the item in your car with the receipt if possible.  I just happened to be driving by the store and remember I had this return, otherwise who knows how long it would have been.  It wasn't a large amount, but every bit counts.

Today I did spend money at the  vending machine(ugh, it is so temping now that I have the cash in my wallet).  It was $.60 for a candy bar, and then I also visited Costco tonight and picked up some photos I had ordered.  I found that Costco was the cheapest for 5x7 photos, at $.39 each.  My total was $2.89, and I also bought a pop for $.75.  So my total spent today was $4.24.  I also priced some items since they have some coupons coming out soon.

Oh Boy! Oberto beef jerky

$14.49, coupon for $3.50 off

Kirkland Signature Diet Green Tea

$9.99 for 35 bottles, coupon for $2 off

Scotch-Brite Sponges

heavy duty 21 count $12.55

multi-purpose 18 count $11.79

coupon for $2.75 off

Kleenex 

Family 10 boxes of 260 count

$16.85, coupon for $3.50 off

Cheerios49oz 

Honey Nut

$6.79, coupon for $4 off of two boxes

37.5oz Multigrain 

$7.69, coupon for $4 off of two boxes

Cottonelle Ultra Bath Tissue

36 pack

$18.89, coupon for $3.50 off

Haagen-Daz Vanilla Milk chocolate almond bars

$11.99, coupon for $3 off

Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner

6 24oz bottles

$8.79, coupon for $2.50 off

Clorox Wipes

4 packages of 78

$11.99, coupon for $2.50 off

Glide Floss

6 pack

$12.99, coupon for $3 off

Tampax 

Pearl regular 96 count

$13.88, coupon for $3 off

Super 96 count

$13.88, coupon for $3 off

Duo pack 108 count

$12.99, coupon for $3 off

Always

Long super 90 count

$11.99, coupon for $2.50 off

Ultra thin regular or overnight 96 count

$11.99, coupon for $2.50 off

I always go online and look ahead to see what the coupons are at adamcos.com.  Next I will budget how much money to bring to Costco so I can bring cash, and not be surprised at the register.

$29.04 left to spend this week.  I will be going to the farmer's market Thursday night and hope to keep it $5 or under.  I also am leaving for out of town on Friday so I hope to just spend $10 on eating out that day which will leave me with $14.04 left to spend on Saturday, when I will be in a very rural area, with no where to spend my money except maybe a gas station. Well, we'll see. :0)

Use Your Resources

My cute Fossil wallet, with money in it!

So today, there was a lot of money spent.  But that's OK.  I gave my sister $10 for the kids since she is taking them to my parents house for the week, and I will meet up with them on Friday.  I also spent $2.00 on the vending machine at work today (this habit needs to die).  I went to Aldi's and bought what I needed for weekly grocery and then some (cuz we all know I can't stick to a list), and to the Bread Outlet.  Here is a breakdown:

Aldi's

1lb of jalapeno peppers: $1.29

3 cans of jumbo biscuits in a can: $1.29 each ($3.90)

8oz cream cheese: $1.29

2 8oz cheese chunks: $1.99 ($3.98)

french dressing: $1.29

3 snack size trail mix:$.49 each ($1.47)

English muffins: $.99

skim milk: $2.79

Bread Outlet

1 loaf of bread, hamburger buns, and hotdog buns: $.99 each ($2.97)

sourdough bread loaf: $1.59

I didn't spend any money yesterday so my total spending for the week is: $33.56.  $33.28 left to spend.  This could be hard this week because I have an itch to buy something at my job.  I have so many things I could buy and many reasons, but none of them are a need.  They are a want.  I might have to make a deal with myself where I can buy something if I make it for 4 weeks with not going over $70  a week, just so this itch will subside.  I really need to not spend anymore this week since I will be traveling.  I don't take gas out of this funding, so you won't see that added in to my totals, but I'm sure I will eat out at least once on the road.

ReStore knobs and handle.

On another note I thought I should mention that if you need some home supplies to see if there is a Habitat for Humanity ReStore in your area.  Their inventory is always changing due to what people donate, but it also a good place just to look.  Our store has great prices on 5x7 rugs, cabinets, and doors. Use this Link to find one in your hood: Habitat ReStore.

Pottery Barn Remake

I've had my eye on one of these backpacks since we went to one of the National Geographic events at the store. My son loves superheros of any kinds (remember this post). The price for the small backpack is $39.50 and the measurements are 12" wide x 6" deep x 15" high. I have been waiting months for it to go on sale. I contemplated making a registry and then buying something small to get a coupon, but that doesn't seem to be very economical and I will end up with something I don't need to save some money.  So my second thought is to make my own Batman Backpack.  I can buy one at JCPenney's.

This one is on sale for $29.99, orginally $40.  It is 16¾x13x8½".   If I wait for another $10 off of $25 coupon or use a $10 reward coupon, it would be $19.99.  Or I could wait for an even better sale but I don't think these will go too low before school starts.  Amazon also has them for $22.99 if I can find something to make the shipping free.  I figure I could get a black or grey one.  Then I will go to ebay and purchase a patch.

It has to be at least 2" tall by 3-3/8" wide to cover the Jansport logo.  The one I found would be $3.50 with free shipping and be 3.5" x 2".  So the total if I can get the backpack for $19.99 would be $23.49.

Too Much Dust!

As I was starting to clean for company yesterday, I realized I had a lot more to clean then I first thought.  Once I started thinking about people coming over, some I don't know so well, I started to see my house through another view.  I have dust everywhere, and my fridge was dirty.  It took me a couple more hours but I think I had everything in decent condition.  We were outside most of the time, but I'm glad I cleaned the house. I have today off and I will be able to concentrate on whatever I what.  Not sure what I'll do, but it will be so relaxing.  After staying out late to watch a fireworks show with the kids, I feel like I have a hang over even though I didn't have any alcohol.

There is also a good deal in USA Weekend, found in the newspaper, with a decent deal on Oprah Magazine
.
12 issues for $1, plus a free tote.  Order online at: mytote.theoprahmag.com.

Happy 4th of July!

The Devil Wears a Smile on His Face

I told my husband, if he needs deodorant he should go to the store himself.  He thought that since I was going out any way, I should be the one.  I knew it was going to happen. I know I'm not strong enough.

I went in for 1 item, which turned into 11+.

It started with me going to the photo section. I have been trying to finish old scrapbooks of my kids and I found an old memory card. There I spend 90 cents on some prints.  I then went over to the personal care section and found some deodorant for my husband.  I remembered how the one I am using has a tendency to pop out when I open it, so I though as long as I'm here I should get some for myself.  On the way to the cash register, I remembered I ran out of the double sided squares I use for scrapbooking.  I passed the easter section and picked out some tape from the scrapbook section. I resisted buying some more scrapbook paper, even though it was a good deal.  I figured I can raid my sister's stash or just be really creative with what I have already.  All this hard work shopping got me craving for some Reece's Pieces, which came in a cute carrot shape for easter.  They only cost a dollar! But then I started to think, how much would a normal box from the candy section cost?  So I walked over and found the dollar deal in a box with more inside.  But on my way back they had clothing clearance racks in the aisle: $3, $5, and $9!  I found  a fleece jacket for my daughter for $3.50, a cute t shirt for my son for $3, four pairs of pants, and one sweatshirt for my kids and nephew, all for $2 each!

I wouldn't say this was a total bust because most of these things we will need, and I did pay cash for them.

The scrapbooking is an important thing because I was the youngest of 3 and barely have a photographic childhood to show for it.  I have spent a lot of scrapbooking lately since my son's birthday is coming up and I like to have his past year finished to show family.  Scrapbooking is definitely harder to do the more time passes since the pictures where taken.

I have also paid off a lot of debt since we got most of the tax money back.  If I can stick to budget this year without racking up the debt it will be a very successful  year for me.