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Archive for August, 2009

Another Productive Day in the kitchen

August 31st, 2009 at 05:06 pm

I managed to get the entire kitchen clean yesterday...I had already done one wall...so it was just a couple others that had to be done. I cleaned the walls and all. I got down on the floor and cleaned where the floor met the cabinets(dirt seems to gather there). The kitchen is now spotless...walls, cabinets, floors, and all! It feels so good to come into a clean kitchen. I also organized the shelves. Since I have started stockpiling, I need to know what we have. So I organized and all seems to be easy to see now. I know what we have and what we don't. The next goal is to purchase a stand up freezer. We have a chest freezer, but I can hardly ever find stuff in there and I can never tell what all we have! Not an urgent goal, but something for the future. Next is the laundry/mud room. It really isn't that big, but I need to come up with a solution for the floor. It constantly gets muddy when it rains...and any rug I put there never seems to last. Think I might go look at Dollar General for a larger rug that would fit in there and not slide around. The walls need to be washed and the floor needs to be scrubbed. Will start that maybe tonight...we will see how I feel when we get home!

I made my house payment on Friday...making an additional $25 payment. Not much, but something. All of my first of the month bills are coming out tomorrow. Good thing I just went and checked...forgot to set up two credit card payments!

Standing on the streetcorner begging for money

August 29th, 2009 at 11:34 pm

We had a fundraiser for cheerleading this morning. We stood on the street corner begging for money. We collected donations at a 4-way stop. In four hours, we collected almost 700 dollars! YEA! When it is divided it will be about $50 per child. YEA! That is one competition fee down. It was amazingly hot though. I just don't do well in the heat. It makes me want to hurt people. fortunatly it was over before I could act.

Went to CVS today to get my free handsoap...it was a coupon on the website. And I managed to not buy anything else while in there! I didn't go to food lion to get more meat because by the time we were done begging for money, I was extremely ill and just wanted to go home. Not sure why the heat does this to me, but it isn't fun.

People were looking at me!!!

August 28th, 2009 at 11:51 pm

I went to Food Lion today with my list and my binder of coupons. More than one person looked at me funny!! But SO WHAT!!!

I was disappointed with the items at Food Lion because out of the 5 things on my list, 2 of them were not at this store. Oh well. But BONUS!!! Ground Beef was on sale for .99/lb!!! There were people walking out with full buggies of ground beef! I only got 8 lbs...but should have probably gotten more since it will freeze. Might go back tomorrow...hopefully it will still be on sale. This brings my total for the month to $127 saved between coupons and sale shopping! OH yea!!!

Ingles Shopping

August 28th, 2009 at 04:30 pm

Well...I didn't do as good as I would have liked at Ingles with the coupons. Especially since I see some of the things I bought were on sale at Food Lion! Must remember to check each place before I shop. This is a learning process.

Anyway...I had 6.35 in coupons, 1.25 in doubled coupons and 26.20 in sale items. So the total saving was 33.80. I only bought items that were on sale unless I absolutely needed them. That fact I am proud of. But I still think I could do better. I need to find coupons for meats, chicken, beef, etc. I don't have any for them.(I know Whitestripe...more beans!! LOL) But I am on a roll...won't give up now.

That brings my monthly total to 94.41...not including the check for $13.49 that I will be getting back from Rite Aid. Pretty impressive for my first month of couponing...and the most important thing is that I am not buying things that I wouldn't have bought anyway!

Oh...almost forgot. I had to go to Atlanta yesterday and stopped at QT to fill up(paid 13 cents more a gallon...could kick myself but couldn't make it to jasper for the cheaper price...should have stopped on the way down.) Anyway...QT had pepsi 12 packs 4/10, making it $2.50/12pack. The cheapest I have seen in a while. I got 4 at QT. I thought I should have gotten more, the way our family goes through soda. I stopped at racetrac to get a snack and they also had pepsi products on sale, so I got 4 more. We are set on sodas now for a few weeks. YEA! I did not include those savings in my totals because I never pay full price for sodas.

CVS and Rite Aid

August 27th, 2009 at 01:04 am

Okay...I went to CVS and Rite Aid today. I had my lists all ready based on what coupons I had and what was on sale. Below is what I got.

4 Boxes Kraft Mac and Cheese - $4
-4 ECB from last week.
Total .12
Received 2 ECB

Schick Quatro - 8.99(normally 11.99)
- $4 Coupon
- $2 ECB
Total 3.62
Received $2 ECB

That was it fo CVS...overall pretty good. Rite Aid is really where I saved though.

(3) 12 packs coke products...3.33 each
& $1 off 3
Glade Sense and Spray 6.99(regular 9.99)
Duracell 4 pack 5.49
Glade Sense and Spray refill(3.49)
Colgate toothbrush 4.89
glade lasting impression 6.99(regular 9.99)
duracell 16 pack 9.99(regular 13.99)
kotex pantiliners 2.50(regular 3.99)
kotex pads 2.50(regular 3.99)
colgate toothpaste 2.49
lysol wipes BOGOF 3.49
Composition books 1.99(buy 1 get 3 free)
spiral notebooks .99(buy 1 get 3 free)

Total $65.69
Coupons - 23.75
total = 41.94
SCR - 12.00
Total spent = 29.94

So total for coupons was $35.75!!! That is awesome. I don't have breakdown of what each coupon was for. But the air freshners ended up being free! I combined sale prices with coupons and saved a bunch! I hadn't shopped at Rite Aid before so I am real impressed. And the best part is that I didn't buy anything I wouldn't have bought anyway, except maybe the air freshners, but they ended up being free! I haven't figured the totals on my coupons yet for the month. I will update once I figure that out.

UPDATE: Monthly Coupon Savings - $60.61!!! Awesome!


My 1K list

August 26th, 2009 at 05:31 pm

As I start this list, I think it will be a short list...I have never had over $1k to spend at once! Most of the items that are over that amount were purchased by others for me. Does that count?

Several Cars...most recent is $6K

House and 4 acres...$85K

Vacation...$1200

That is about it.

My sister paid for us to go to Disney a few years ago.

My inlaws at the time bought the washer/dryer when we moved into the house.

My ex inlaw sold me his 50" tv real cheap and a practically new refrigerator when ours quit working.

My sister gave me her old(but hardly used) furniture when she moved.

I guess I live a very simple life. It is very disappointing to see this in writing. I have nothing so show for all the money I have spent over the last 13 years of working!!! I am very blessed to have my family fill in the gaps when things have happened because, like I said, I never have 1K to spend!

Coupon and Sales Update

August 24th, 2009 at 04:17 pm

I didn't do much shopping this weekend, but I am really starting to stock up on items that are on sale. I went to Food Lion yesterday because they had laundry soap on sale and found that they also had Glade plugins and clorox bleach on sale,, which I had coupons for. I saved $7.73 with coupons and $8.99 on sales items. So a total of $16.84 was saved. That is awesome! I am now in the postive for cumalative coupon/sales savings. Taking out the newspapers and the organization supplies, I have saved a total of $14.68 on coupons over the last three weeks. It will be more from this point forward because I already have the supplies. I will need to purchase more baseball card holders, but can wait a week or so for that. I already have my list for CVS and Rite Aid. Will save more money when I go there on Friday(Payday). I have turned this into a game to see how much I can save. I am pretty pumped.

Productive Day

August 22nd, 2009 at 10:03 pm

Got up early this morning and went to a football game...it is the earliest I have been out of the house on Saturday in months! Felt good! Then I came home and started cleaning the kitchen. I have decided to break it into sections. I did the section to the right of the stove, the stove to the sink.. Will get up and finish the rest of that counter in a little bit. My sister told me to try the magic eraser...that thing is awesome!!! I am pretty discouraged though because my hand starts to cramp when I try to use the sponge! I am getting old!

My daughter needed new tennis shoes desperately. I couldn't fit it into my budget for the next couple of weeks...(Will have to use savings to get through next month). I asked my mom to buy her shoes and she agreed. So that is good. My daughter got her shoes and I was honest with my mom about not being able to pay her back. I feel good about where I am right now financially. I am such a better place than I was a year ago!

My Turning Point

August 21st, 2009 at 02:14 pm

My turning point came when I was seperated from my second husband. The power was scheduled to be disconnected and I didn't know what to do. I had accepted the fact that my bank would pay up to $500 overdraft so I used that regularly to pay power, gorceries, etc. Doing this made me further behind! Up until this point, I had relied on my parents to bail me out...I no longer was willing to do that. I bucked up and asked my sister for a loan. Not only the power situation, but Christmas was coming and I had no idea how I was going to get anything for the kids. I actually found this site through another one and have been here ever since. I found hope and encouragement. No judging when I make bad decisions. Just help to make better ones the next time. I would like to say that I haven't had to borrow money from anyone since then, but it isn't true. The difference is that when I borrow money now, I pay it back when I say I am...usually the next payday. I haven't bounced a check since November of last year...and I have a small amount in savings.

Crazy Busy Week

August 20th, 2009 at 09:28 pm

I haven't posted much this week as we have been crazy busy! Thank goodness it is almost Friday!!!

I took a look at my budget for September. Everything is looking good. I have homeowners insurance due on the 28th of August. I debated about moving the money from the household maintenance account to help pay for it. In the long run, I decided to do that. After all, it is for household expenses. I wish I could just pay it and not touch the maintenance account, but I am not to that point yet. Hopefully soon.

I gave my sister $20 and asked her to pick me up three bottles of tide laundry soap. It is on sale at Kroger and we don't have one around here...total savings is $12 on three bottles!!! YEA!!! Still going strong with the coupons. I re-organized the book so that each coupon has it's own pocket, instead of each category. It should make it easier to find the coupons.

My son is still staying with his dad. He got pulled over on Monday. It was a huge deal because he still has his probationary license. He has 3 citations and has to go to court on Sept 8. This is all a little redemption for me. His father thought that I was just exxagerating and being overprotective. Boy is he learning!!! I don't know what the plans are for him coming home, but I am just taking it one day at a time. When he loses his license(most likely) he will have to come home to get to school.

One last thing...Chik-Fil-A opened in the town I work in. This is like a death sentence for me! They have the best biscuits and gravy. And since we haven't had a chik-fil-a, the sandwiches are calling to me! I have no will power. But I figured it up today.. breakfast $3.50...lunch $6.00 That is $9.50/day that I have spent Tuesday and Wednesday of this week(didn't come to the office Monday, but still got dinner when I brought my daughter down to cheerleading). That is almost $50 a week. $100 a pay period. $200 a month. Ordinarily I don't look at things this way because when they say save $200 a year, that doesn't impress me. But $200 a month! That impresses me! I have got to buck up my will power! I got breakfast today(before I figured it up) but ate the bagel that I have in the fridge for lunch. I can resist! I can resist! I also need to start eating healthier anyway...I weighed myself the other day and I have never weighed as much as I do right now! I have got to get serious about this! as soon as I pay off a couple of the credit cards, I think I am going to join curves again. It really worked for me!

CVS Savings

August 19th, 2009 at 01:22 am

I purchased at CVS:

(2) 10 pack pens
(2) Garnier Fructis Shampoo(big Bottles)
(1) MultiVitamin(would have waited til on sale but DD needed them)

Total Spent - 27.23...received 6.98 ECB

(1) 12 pack Charmin TP

Total 12.99
- ECB 6.98
Total Spent 6.92..received 3 ECB

(4) 12 pack dr pepper

total 12.00
- ECB 3
Total Spent 9.36...received 4 ECB

Total Merchandise 50.44
Total ECB Used 9.98
Total Spent 40.46

This doesn't include the sale prices one items. Still have 4 ECB to use. Will probably go get more Dr Pepper.

Coupon Savings

August 17th, 2009 at 03:41 pm

Well...I went to Dollar General this weekend for most of my shopping. I used coupons for a bunch of stuff! Of course, they don't offer double coupons, but the items I think would have been more expensive at Ingles. I plan to compare them when I go to Ingles next. But I saved $5.10 in coupons! And there were only a couple of things that I wouldn't have bought without coupons, such as the fruit by the foot that my daughter loves, or the cleaning supplies(which were on sale so it was bonus savings!).

I am keeping track of how much it is costing me to do the coupons(binder, sports pages, and the paper each week). So far, I am still $9 in the hole, but hopefully that will not last long. I was very disappointed with the amount of coupons in the paper yesterday. Not sure why, but there was only one section in the paper I got. Does anyone know of websites that offer the coupons out of the paper without purchasing the paper? Not really a trading club because I don't really have time to do that, but would like to get the coupons each week.

Decision made..sort of

August 14th, 2009 at 03:38 pm

Well...just by chance I found a house for sale yesterday. It needs some cosmetic stuff done, but it would be perfect for my situation. It is 90% owner financing with at 10% down payment. I would put my current house on the market and rent it until it sells. I don't have the 10% down and was considering borrowing it from someone. BUT WAIT!!! I thought this through and have decided not to do it.

Finally...I am making smarter decisions...as hard as it is. I am the type of person that pushes for what she wants and makes it happen and sometimes regrets it later! But I talked to my sister and she basically confirmed my fears of relying on other peopr(renters) to make the current payment. I just don't want the stress of that and I am not in a position to cover it during an eviction. So here is what I am leaning toward doing....

Putting my current house on the market. I am not looking to make a huge profit, but would like to pay it off and have a decent down payment on another house. I think that if we price it lower than others in the area, it might sell relatively quickly and won't have to worry about the condition of the house too much.

I will be saving for a down payment on a house and still improving my credit score in the meantime.

If my house sells, I will move into an apartment until I can get a house.

This is my plan so far. It seems like it is a smart plan. Maybe another house will come available when I am able to purchase without those fears and maybe this house will still be there. But I am trying very hard to not make a stupid mistake again just because I want something so badly!

Uh Oh

August 13th, 2009 at 03:12 pm

Well...after many months of no power disconnect notice on the door...I came home to one last night! I failed to call and make arrangements to pay the bill on Friday. Yesterday was only 1 day outside of the grace period!!! I thought for sure it would be okay until the 14th! They usually wait until the 18th to send someone(isn't it sick how I know that!) But I got online last night and did a e-check online. Now I am just hoping that it doesn't hit my account until tomorrow.

DH is still on the couch. We had a pretty heated discussion last night. I just don't see his point and he doesn't see mine. Neither of us are willing to cave. This latest round of issues is because he couldn't get in touch with me for an hour while I was at my friends house and I failed to tell him I was going there. He has major trust issues and I have had it! He actually hinted last night that I should give up myy friend. He said that he gave up his friends in order to not cause problems between us. Sick...right! My friend is a little pushy and overwhelming, but I have tried to distance myself from that part of her. I haven't seen her in almost a month and don't talk to her like I used to. BUt giving her up completely would be very hard.

Anyway..that is where we are at right now. The Great Divide.

my $12.50 Tv

August 12th, 2009 at 02:07 pm

My mom called me to tell me that her 27" tv in the living room wasn't working anymore. It had the display on it that they use when in the showroom. "I should be your next tv..." She had unplugged it and it wouldn't reset. So she was going to go buy a new tv. I couldn't talk her out of it. I thought I knew how to fix it, but she didn't listen. We went and helped her put up the new television set and I volunteered to take the old one to the dump. My dad, sensing an opportunity, asked me to take the other tv that had been sitting outside their garage with it, since we were going anyway. Well, I had no intention of taking the tv to the dump! We took it home, plugged it in, hit both volume buttons at the same time and it worked! My daughter now has a 27" tv in her room. It cost me $12.50 to take the other tv to the dump. So I paid $12.50 for her television! This is a funny story because ordinarily my parents don't spend money like that.. They manage as long as they can with what they have. So the funny part is that my mom probably just wanted a new television and this was her opportunity to convice my dad that they needed one. So unlike them!

In other news, my budget is created for the next month. If all goes as planned, everything should be on time by the end of next month. YEA!!! It is such a relief!

My DH is moving out...I think. It is very hard to tell what is going on. He doesn't talk. We got into an arguement yesterday morning and he said that he was going to come back and get all of his stuff but it was still there last night. He came home around 9:30. Didn't speak to me. Slept on the couch. Left this morning without speaking to me. So I don't know what to expect.

My son is staying with his dad for a couple of weeks. I hope this isn't a long term thing, but you never know. I seem to be handling all of this well. I am more mad than hurt. I have hit the end of my rope.

Stay tuned for further developments in "The Days of Amy's Life!"

Unexpected check

August 11th, 2009 at 03:09 pm

When I checked the mail yesterday there was a refund check from a hospital for $323. I am not sure why...but I am not questioning it. It is amazing because I wasn't sure what I was going to do to get through the week! It is amazing how when I start to budget and put my money where it should be how money just turns up when I need it!!

Boring Weekend...sort of

August 9th, 2009 at 10:05 pm

I have had a pretty boring weekend. Although it started out bad. My son told me that he wanted to stay with his dad for a while. I was devestated. But then I realized that it was probably best. His dad has the same rules as I(probably more) but for some reason my son will respect his rules easier than mine. So we will see how it goes. There is a calm that came over me yesterday.

I haven't spent any money this weekend. Still have a half tank of gas.

I cut my coupons this morning and will do my shopping Friday. I hope to save alot of money! I will let you know.

Credit Score Moving on Up!

August 6th, 2009 at 08:37 pm

I got my credit score at credit karma at the first of the year. I got it again yesterday. It has gone up 40 points! YEAH!!! It was real low. Now I am almost out of the poor area and into the fair section! YEA!!!

My kids got their school clothes yesterday and did very well. I had given them a set amount and they didn't go over it. DD was $80 under but then I ordered her some shorts online.

I am at home today with a UTI. Waiting for the doctor to call in a prescription. UGGG!!!! Very uncomfortable.

Nothing New On Financials

August 5th, 2009 at 06:32 pm

There really isn't anything to report on the financial side...Kids are going school shopping today. Start school tomorrow. Where did the summer go?

Coupons

August 2nd, 2009 at 07:26 pm

I am going to try coupons again. I have come up with a plan. I ordered some baseball card plastic organizers and I put the coupons in them. I can quickly see what coupons I have! I ordered the newspaper to be delivered on Sundays. So hopefully I will be able to save some money!!! Thought about doing the grocery game again, but I am going to try it by myself first and then see if I need to join. Last time Idid it, I wasn't at a point to stock up, which is how you save money with it. Now I am. So I think I could save quite a bit of money! Will let you know.