O Christmas Tree and Thanksgiving Sale Haul

Thanksgiving day I was able to shop online and finish putting lights on the tree. We had dinner by noon and headed out to Walmart at 6pm. It seemed a lot busier than last year. I got everything I really wanted except for the 6qt crockpot. It wasn't the exact model I wanted any way, so the search will continue. Then we went to Target and waited in the car for an hour till most of the line was inside. Again it was really crowded, but we were in and out in no time. My sister and brother in law had no plan, so I don't think they did as well as I did, but really Black Friday is not a day to browse people! Next was Kohls were we waited in line for a little over an hour, but we had $10 off coupons to not waste. We then hit the mall which was jam pack full of teens! I thought our town had a curfew but apparently in is not in effect on Thanksgiving day. It was so crazy and it was just a social hour for the teens. We were leaving the mall and heading home by midnight. My sister and her husband went home to bed while my other sister and I went to Micheal's and the other mall, both were not bad per crowds. We were in bed by 2:30am.

Friday we got some shut eye and then were back out. Shopkick had 200 points at a lot of stores plus lots of big scans at Target. My phone died since I didn't charge it but I still got 1200+ kicks.

Here is a picture of my haul from Thanksgiving night. I haven't totaled what I spent yet. I think I'm over what I wanted to spend, which isn't good but there is still time to return or my family might want to give something I bought to my kids. It is so hard not to over spend when there are so many good deals. It isn't the best time to but most clothes, but I think it is a good time to buy home goods. I think Justice had a good deal with the plastic bands for the hot item Rainbow Loom. They had 40% plus 20% and they were buy 2 get 2 free. Three hundred packs came out to be $1.90 pre-tax. They are 400 count packs at Micheal's for $3.99, but you couldn't use a coupon.

Friday I came home about 4pm and was able to decorate. I still have two days left for the weekend and I plan on relaxing, exercising, and starting my Advocare Challenge on Sunday. Tommorow early I will post all the websites I have bookmarked to help with the Challenge.

Sorting Snacks

I'm going to the zoo today with my son and his class. We have been asked to chaperon a group of kids. As chaperons we will need to bring:

Snacks for our group

Band aids

Hand cleaning wipes

Antibacterial gel

A cell phone

Facial tissues

I bought a box of Cheese Nips and some snack bags. The box said 10 servings so I divided them into 10 snack bags. Now I will have enough snacks for ten kids or I can use any extras for the kids lunch. I then took the liner out of the box and put the snack bags back in the box. This will help keep them from being crushed during transport and easier to carry.

I also found that Walmart has two sections for wipes: one in the baby section for diaper wipes an then a baby section in the shampoo/personal care aisle. I was able to find a cheap brand for $.97/40 wipes in the later Aisle to keep cost down . Everything else I had on hand!

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!

Making Ends Meet.....So Far

Picture taken by my boy.

I think I did really well this last week, but that was also thanks to my sister.  As I mentioned I was going out of town, and my first stop was my older sister's house.  We went to Old Navy and I was in line to buy a shirt, but she was unsure if she would make enough to use her coupon of $10 off of $50.  I tried to pay her but she said she didn't mind paying for for it since she had her coupon.  So I got my son a cute shirt for $2 and didn't pay.  Then she treated me to an awesome dinner at a Japanese steakhouse.  You know the one where they put on a show.  I have always wanted to go to one, but you have to get there early to beat the crowd.  As mentioned I was in a rural part of the Midwest for the family reunion on Saturday and part of Sunday, so no money to spend there.  I didn't even have cell phone reception!  Once on our way home Sunday I spent $12 and some change, I'll round to $13 since I can't remember.  Today I spent $1.75 on vending machine at work since I wasn't really prepared, plus $4.23 on Lil Ceasars Pizza.  I went to Walmart and spent $2.98 on 5lb of sugar, and I bought $2.94 for about 4lb of chicken hindquarters, and I also had to buy anti itch solution ($4.69, cause I forget to buy at Walmart) after the weekend of giant mosquitoes.

So my total for the week is $29.59.  $40.41 left to spend.  I have $21.44 from two weeks ago and $17.86 from last week.  I plan on spending some money this week on some household item and more groceries so I'm sure to go over this week.  I'm glad gas is going down because I have a lot of running around to do this week, plus my daughter's birthday is coming up soon.  I'm winging the meal plan this week too!  I hope for things to be back to normal next week because we are back out of town after this coming weekend.  I'm in overload!

Summer Exhaustion

Okay, not much to do with summer, but I think I'm funny sometimes.

Summer is starting to takes it's toll on me.  It was a hot day, but didn't get above 90 which is good.  There is talk about a storm coming soon.  I wanted to go to Aldi's today because we are short on toilet paper and milk, but I just wasn't in the mood.  ( Crazy,I know, me skip out on a good excuse to spend money).  My husband had a meeting today so I had to drive out to my sister's house to pick up the kids.  When we got home I heated up some leftovers and cut up some more watermelon.  The summer sucks my energy and appetite so I just plan on using what is around here at the spur of the moment for meals.  I did bike to the library with the kids today so I didn't totally crash on the couch.

So my challenge to myself to stick to the list just wasn't working.  I'm a sucker when it comes to my kids and buying them things.  Most of the time I take my kids with me shopping because my husband is at work or I just feel the need to enjoy the little time when have together.  I know soon they will be teenagers and will be avoiding me at all cost.  I swear sometimes I black out when we are together.  My son was being a little hell raiser Saturday when we were running errands.  I was trying not to spend money, but when I'm out and already near shops I like to go around and look anyways ( I guess just to torture myself ?!?).  So I was swearing in my head that I wasn't going to buy him anything, yet he really wanted me to go back to the party store for a $20 green lantern costume.  Then we got to Joann Fabrics, I saw my sister there shopping, so we starting looking around together.  We wandered into the summer clearance section which was 70% off.  There areas are like my kryptonite.  They had a kid's rake on clearance for around $3, and I have been wanting to get some so my kids could help in the fall.  Before I knew it I was loading the kid and the rake into the care, thinking "What happen?"

So I found a new inspirational blog: $12 a day
We aren't in the same situations, but she would like to spend $10 a day and save $2 for future purchases.  My budget ( I use that term loosely because is it really a budget if you never stick to it?) for grocery shopping is $70, which would be $10 a day.  I have 4 people to feed, which isn't too hard to feed for $10 a day but I always end up buying non food items.  So far this week I have spent $5 on kettle corn at the fireworks show.  I have even been places this week and have not spent money, which is a big deal for me.  I have also a few rewards at work: $5 off a $10 purchase and $10 off a $10 purchase, plus I still get my employee discount.  I think I am going to buy some curtains for my son's room.  They are black with tabs on the top, and I want to put some kind of batman symbol on them and do his room that way.  If I can do it so it is removable, they will work for when he is older, which could save me money in the future.  They are on clearance for $8 each, so I think I can handle that this week.  My nieces and nephew also are staying with us on Thurs and Friday, so I have to plan on their eating too.  I'm confident I can do this this week, as we do have a good supply of food in the freezer.  Only time will tell.

Fourth of July To Do List

I just had to take this picture!

So 4th of July has always been a special holiday for me.  When I was a kid, my grandparents lived in South Dakota, where fireworks are legal.  They also lived out in the country.  They had a split level house and the upper level had a balcony off of the living room looking out the front yard.  One year the family bought a bunch of fireworks and we had a spectacular personal show.  I wish I lived closer since I still have family in South Dakota, but we have started to form new 4th of July memories.  The city parade goes right by my house, which is great because we don't even have to go anywhere.  I have always had pictures in my head of inviting people over to BBQ and to have fun before the parade, but I have a fear of being a host.  This year my daughter will be in the parade so I have told people that they could always come by to get a good spot.  Being that we are early in the parade route you are guaranteed candy.  My sister is also coming over, with her neighbors, and then I also told my friend she could come over.  Now I'm getting a little nervous.  I really don't know how to pull this off.  So I am going to have hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, lemonaide, watermelon, fruit, and maybe potato salad (scroll down the link) if I can pull it off.

So today I need to:
finish putting clothes away
clean kitchen
30min pick up
wash the floors
go to Joanne Fabric's for a good scrapbook sale
price match at Target
Hy-Vee for 2 day 4th Sale
return pop cans
move containers to the basement from garage that were in the rummage sale

I'm sure there is more I need to do and the parade is on Sunday so I still have Saturday too.

"Stick to the List" Challenge

My full intention today was to stick to the list when I was at the store.  I put the list on my cell phone so I wouldn't forget it at home.  Here was my list:
Scrapbook 8x8 size and paper to go inside (part of my father's day present)
garden shears (the bushes are needing trimming)
baby decorations (for a friends shower)
Xbox 360 live 12 month membership
tennis balls if under $2 ( for t-ball practice)

So I get to the store and start with the Xbox membership.  Online they are $46.94 at Walmart, then it said that I could buy the same thing at the store for $48.94, so I was thinking I would like it sooner than later.  They said it was in stock, but when I got to the store they only had an empty space for a $59.94 card, which it is sold for $59.99 online.  I was disappointed, but right next to the display was an EA Sports Active 2 game.  It was on clearance for $25 from $59.94.  I couldn't pass it up and therefor veered from my list.

So I walked out of the store with no Xbox membership, but a new game.  Walmart also only has 12x12 scrapbook supplies so I wasn't able to get those.  I plan on going to Micheal's and using a 50% coupon, plus they have scrapbook paper on sale too.

I also wrote down some items for future shopping list:
tomato plant $1.65
pepper plant $1.15
plastic pitcher $2.00

So here is a challenge:

I'm starting a challenge for 30 days.  I want to make a list before I go to the store and stick to it.  I will not be able to add items when I'm in the parking lot.  If I find something I think I need, I will write it down and consider it for the next trip.  It is especially hard for me to stick to the list when I have my kids with me, but I think if I get them involved in helping me shop with the list it will help.  I sometimes tell them if they see something they want I will put it on their Christmas or birthday list.  It's not saying no so they seem to like the idea.  At the end of the 30 days I"m going to compare my figures to last month to see how much money I can save by doing this.

So far today I would call this a failure. -$25 in the hole.