Monday, February 8, 2010

Walgreens and CVS 2/8/10...

Ok kids!  Today was CVS and Walgreens day, and I had the pleasure of my hubby for company!  I know I am still not the best at this, and my totals may still seem high, but for us, considering what we used to spend, this is amazing!  Hubs was certainly impressed! Here we go!

 

This is what we got at CVS.  Keep in mind I went in with 7.49 in ECB's.  
First Transaction:

                                    5 Boxes of Nabisco Crackers        5/$10.00
                                                                                (1)/$1.00 off 1 coupon
                                                                               (2) $2.00 off 2 coupons
                                 
                                     1 Fusion Razor                            $8.99
                                                                              $4.00 off 1 coupon

                                    4 Nivea Lip Care                         $3.99 & $2.99
                                                                            (2) B1G1 coupons

                                     Total BEFORE Coupons and ECB's :  $32.95
                                                                             $7.49 ECB's
                                                                             $9.00 coupons
                                                                             $7.98 from Nivea B1G1 (both $3.99 free!)
                                   
                                     Total AFTER:                  $ 8.48 (Doesn't include tax)
                                      ECB's Received:             $12.00 (Yay!  Money Maker!)
 

Transaction 2:

                                       Tide Stain Release 10 Packs            (6) for $3.99
                                            Used (3) B1G1 Coupons, and (3) $1.00/1 Coupons

                                       Pampers Easy Ups                           $8.99
                                                                                     Used $1.50/1 coupon

                                        Total Before Coupons:                  $32.93
                                        ECB's Used:                                 $12.00
                                        Coupons Used:                             $16.47

                                        Total out of pocket:                       $4.46 (Doesn't include tax)

Total Savings in CVS today was:  $69.89...WOW!!!!!!!

 

On to Walgreens...We started out with $6.00 Register Rewards (RR).
And because it is getting late and I am really tired, I am giving you the short version.  We spent $17.87 out of pocket and saved $54.79.

So, I now I didn't get things reallt for free, but right now we are still building a stockpile, and for us, those savings are amazing!  I am hoping to get better and really start to be selective about what is too good of a deal to pass up!

I did go grocery shopping too, but I felt kinda bad about it.  I spent $86.00 and only saved around $60.00.  Still ok, but the last two weeks I saved half or better, so I was a bit disappointed!  There were a few things I should have waited to get until I went to Wal Mart, but I just didn't feel like hitting ANOTHER store!

Tell me how you did this week!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

The Basement...



Well, I committed to doing the 28 day organization project, and I have been super good about putting in one hour a day working on the basement. 6 bags of garbage and 2 yard sale bins later and I still feel like I am getting nowhere! Why was I saving all this stuff??? So, here we go...these are some before pictures...

This is really the hubby's side...but I have managed to overtake it!

This is part of the play area...we even have a carpet on the floor somewhere!

 
"The Workout Room" - hahahahaha


 
And this would be my scrapbook area.  Or the black hole that houses all the junk I insist on keeping for no good solid reason.

Obviously I have my work cut out for me.  Oh, and obviously one hour a day won't be cutting it.  That's all I can manage during the week though.  I will have to give some thought to getting down there for a few more hours on the weekends!  It is a basement.  An OLD and unfinished dirty musty basement, and we rent.  Any suggestions on how to make it SEEM a little bit more "homey" would be GREATLY appreciated!


Monday, February 1, 2010

New Beginnings...

So, the Grammy's are over.  Taylor Swift got the biggest award!  Yay!  Then I crashed, and by crash, I wish I could have meant sleep.  No, I crashed so hard emotionally I don't know how I didn't wake up my hubby!  I was forced to my knees in such anguish I was not sure I would be able to rise again.  There has been too many things lately.  Things that should make me run to Him.  I know I need to fall into those protective arms of my God.  Yet still, I turn away.  I can fix it.  I can make it all better.  I can make family rules.  I can be the better person.  I promise not to yell at my kids.  I will forgive.  I will stand behind my husband without getting all crazy out of control.  I can do it myself.
Reality check:  NO, I can't.  It simply can't be done.  I am not meant to stand alone.  I am meant to lean on my God and let Him bear my burdens.  I am to give Him my hurts.  Give Him my worries.  Put ALL of my trust in Him.
And at 12;26 am on this February 1st, that is exactly what I did.  I turned back around and I said yes.  Yes, Father, I need you and i will trust in YOU.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths."  Proverbs 3:5-6

This has been my "life verse" since I was baptized in 6th grade.  I am finally ready to live it.  Welcome, Father, please come in and live in my heart.  I have made plenty of room for you...

A new task for February...

I was checking out what Jennifer had to say tonight (or this morning, since I am NOT sleeping at 1:06 AM) over at Saving and Giving, (please check out her blog, I love it!) and I came across a challenge.  A challenge that I need to document in order to be accountable and it is perfect for me!  I will have 28 days to organize a room.



So, which room did I pick?  Well, as luck would have it, the huge discussion here lately has been the dreaded basement.  It needs to be cleaned and organized once and for all.  I don't think it will ever be pretty and homey - we don't have that much time or money, and let's remember, we rent - but we NEED it to be functional!  So, for the next 28 days I will be organizing the craft/plat area of the basement.  IF I should be done with that half before the 28 days are up, I may even be ambitious enought to dig in to the other side!

I will post my before pictures tomorrow!!!

Oh and by the way...
Please forgive me is the buttons I have snagged, or links I have tried don't work!  I am still figuring all of this out!