Monday, Monday…

What a Week!!!!!

I hope everyone had a Happy Father’s Day.

It seemed very busy for some reason.  Yet it really wasn’t.

Wednesday, when Eric was leaving for work….he heard one of our air conditioning units…humming loudly.  And the fan not turning.  Who knows how long it had been going like that.  We were without air conditioning for that Wednesday, Thursday and until 6:15 pm on Friday.

A few days before we had a huge electrical/Thunderstorm.  The repair man said, that just the static from the lighting can knock out a air conditioner.  And to turn the air conditioning units off at the breakers during any kind of heavy thunderstorm.  This is something I had never heard of.

Thank goodness, Eric knew this repairman through a friend at school.  If we didn’t find him…it would have cost us close to $400.00 to get it fixed.

I did get some AWESOME deals last week.

• 20-packets of Bumblebee Tuna for $.75 each. Had 20 $1.00/1 coupons.-$5.00 overage. (My commissary gives you the FULL amount of the coupon.)
• 30 rolls of Marcal Toilet paper-$.69.  Had 30 free coupons.  Total-FREE!
• Three boxes of Hefty OneZip storage bags.$1.79 each. Had 3, $1/1 coupons. Total for all 3 boxes-$2.37 or $.79 each.
• 4 Bottles of Hot sauce. $.79 each. Had 4, $1/1 coupons. $.84 Overage!
• 4 packages of Trident Gum. $.72 each. Had 2, $1/2 coupons. Total, after coupons. $.88 for 4.  Or $.22 each.
• Kraft BBQ sauce. $.89-Had a $1/1 coupon $.11 Overage!
• McCormick Seasoning Mix 3 packages. $.50 each. Had 2, $.75/1 and 1, $1/1. $1.00 Overage
• 2 Kraft Easy mac’s. $.74 each.  Had a $1.00/2 coupon. $.48 for both or $.24 each!
• 2 Velveeta shells and cheese. $.88 each. Had $1/2 coupon.  $.76 or $.38 each.
• 4 packages of Eggo Waffles. $1.95 each. Had 4 $1.00/1 coupons. $3.80 Total for all 4.
• 20 packages of Chinet napkins. $.90 each.  Had 20 $1/1 coupons. $2.00 Overage!

That is just some of my savings.  My total bill before coupons was $219. 92!  That is with the surcharge of $10.47. After coupons my bill was $111.66 with the surcharge.

The cashier was in training at the time and did not get 9 of my coupons and charged me double on several things.  This is being taken care of and I should be getting $16.08 back…still!

My total bill should have been $95.58!!!

Anyway, my coupon savings was $108.26 (That is 51% of my grocery bill). Before the mistakes were found when I got home.  I immediately called my commissary and notified them of the situation.  I also emailed them a complaint.  I should be getting a gift certificate mailed back to me in the amount of $16.08.

If you notify them within 24 hours of the mistake.  They will take action.  I notified them within 30 minutes.  PLUS!

Rule of thumb, always count your coupons before you use them ( I always do this.), never leave your groceries unattended while being checked out (yes, I stupidly did this), and if you still feel like you are owed a huge amount.  To me that amount is $5.00 or over.  Submit a complaint.

Almost forgot my Target Deal.

I bought 4 Dawn Pure Essentials Dish washing liquid.  They were onsale for $2.09 each.  Normally, they are $2.49 each.

However, I had 4 (I still have more of these coupons) $1.50/1 coupons. I paid $.59 EACH!!!!!!!

Total with tax was $3.15 (I hate TN tax…I believe it is either THE highest tax or the second highest sales tax in the states.)

Yes, I will use these since our dishwasher has been broke for the last 2 years.  It will cost more to fix it than to just purchase a new one.  We have other expenses first that we have to purchase as a dishwasher has taken a back seat. For the time being.

See, It DOES pay to use coupons.   It really pays off when you can hit a sale!

Since March 16, 2009-I have saved $1,016.99!!!!!!!!! I get better with each trip.  It does take time to learn everything.  I am STILL learning.

Stay cool on these hot days!

Take Care!

It does pay to use……

COUPONS!!!!!  Case in point!  My kids love my homemade brownies.  However, most of the time I start to late in making them for afterschool snacks.  Now, I really don’t care for pre-packaged food or cakes or brownies made from a box.

However, Phillsbury Brownies are okay for that quick afterschool snack or after dinner dessert.  My kids also like to put them in there ice cream….

My pantry is now stocked with this…

These have been on sale at our local Wal-Mart for $1.00 a box.  I am sure they will not be at this price very much longer.  I have a lot (I have about 13 left) of $1.00 off 2 boxes coupons.  Making them only $0.50 each!  I know it is a lot…but I am hoping it lasts us through Christmas.  If they have any left, I will probably pick up more boxes either Tomorrow or Sunday.

I know you all are probably getting tired of hearing about my coupons.  I think the savings is what is really blowing my mind.  Since March 16th, I have saved $551.91 on Groceries.  I have gotten $10.00 items for $0.99 cents!

I have had a lot of people online and in the grocery store ask me where I get my coupons.  I am thinking about doing a post about that.  It might take me a few days to get to it…since it is a busy time of year for us.  But I will get to it.

Have any of you turned on your air conditioners yet?  Here it is the middle of May and we haven’t even turned ours on.  I am so excited to see our electricity bill this month.

I hope you all have had a wonderful day.

Take Care!

Lots of Stuff…

It has been a VERY busy week. I can’t believe it is already MAY!  I did post a Bargain Bin Friday Yesterday.  For the simple fact that ‘real’ life got in the way.  I had things that NEEDED to get done.  And It took me ALL day!

The first thing that NEEDED to get accomplished was finding Aimee a Graduation dress.  All of the pink dresses in her size had been bought.  As well as the green in that same design.

So at Target she picked out the next best dress.  Which is cute….just not really what she wanted.  We purchased it (because it was the last on in her size), I told her to leave the tags on and if we find something better we will return it.

Soo…here is the red dress we bought…

It is REALLY long…has the tight gathering. And although it is REALLY cute…it makes her look like a stick! She is really tall and really skinny! Still cute on though.

She liked it, just wasn’t over the moon happy with it.  And I want her to have something she likes, feels good in and looks nice.  She deserves it.  This girl has NEVER received a ‘c’ on a report card.  She always maintain A’s and B’s and for the last few semesters has made straight A’s.  So she deserves to look beautiful on a day meant just for her and her achievements during elementary school.

Yesterday, as part of our errands.  Eric and I had to run to the Base to put gas in both of our cars (it is cheaper there than off post).  And to stop by the PX and see what they had, I also had to pick up printer ink.  I picked up David a couple of birthday gifts since his birthday is fast approaching.  We picked him up a Scooby-Doo Puzzle, and a Lego’s Car.  We also picked up Daniel some Basketball shorts.  Of Course we had to bring Zachary home a toy..so we picked up a Action figure for him.

As we were shopping for Daniel.  I spotted “THE” dress for Aimee.  They had a retro flower one and a pink polka dot.  Of course, Eric said, “Get the polka dot, I was thinking the retro looking one.”  Then I turned to David and asked him which one his sister would want (he isn’t even 5)

This is the one HE picked for his sister.

He picked the Retro Groovy Flower dress.  And Aimee was THRILLED with it.  We told her of the choice we had.  And she said, “I am glad you didn’t get the polka dots.  I don’t really care for polka dots on clothing.”

Here is the back.

The back is really pretty.  Plus, it will be cool for where the graduation will be held.  There are approx. 150 kids graduation from 5th grade.  Held in a small gym.

Plus, all the parents that come….etc.  So it will be packed and HOT!

And of course she had to have a new pair of shoes…

She didn’t want to have to fiddle with stockings.  Because she thought she would get hot.  So she picked out these cute little flip flops.  And they are dressy.  I tried to talk her into a silver pair…but she liked this one better.  It looks really cute together.

After that I went to the commissary to pick up a few things.  Then Last night, in the POURING rain I ran to Food Lion to pick up 11 box of Kelloggs cereal.  I only paid $0.50 a box for!!!!

I also went to Walmart twice yesterday.  David needed some new sneakers.  He was thrilled to get some batman sneakers that glow in the dark.  They were on sale for $11.00.

I guess, I should tell you how much I saved.  With Today (because I ran to walmart again to pick up some sale items that I had coupons for that wouldn’t be on sale tomorrow).  In Two days I have saved……drum roll please….

Within the last two days….

I have saved…

$110.00!!!!!

Bringing my total saved since March 16th to $401.56!!!!

Tomorrow, My house work is calling me so after I go and get my newspapers, I need to catch up on my house work.  And Laundry as usual.  Which is going right now and needs to be changed over.

I hope you all have had a fab Saturday!

Take Care!

My April Freebies…

There are multiple pictures….I just couldn’t fit them all into one photo.

These are all freebies from the net.  With the exception of one item that I got for free with coupon.

These HAVE to be my favorite freebie this month…

• Free Diabetic cookbooks Set of three. –No, I am not a diabetic. However, it never hurts to cook healthy.  I did have a grandfather that was a diabetic.
• Two Free Goose Berry Patch Cookbooks

• Free Food Pyramid—I gave this to Aimee

The Crest Freebies were made through Wal-mart they might still have them available.  The trash bag was made through Sam’s club and I believe has ended.

• Crest whitestrips advanced Seal-received a $10 off coupon and one sample strip.
• Crest Pro-Health Enamel shield toothpaste .85 ounce tube.
• Glad Force Flex trash bag

• Breathless Bethany Buttercup–I gave this to Aimee as well.  There is a really good chance that Zachary has asthma.  Asthma is what this book deals with.

• Keep Moving Free CD and Pedometer (this is from Tylenol) This one is another one of my favorites.

I don’t know if these are still active or not. I was disappointed in the Celine Dion fragrance sent sample.

• Space camp dvd/CD, double sided poster and info about space camp–This was given to Daniel
• Celine Dion fragrance sample

• 2-Pose samples –I got these at a “ALL YOU” booth in Walmart this past sunday.
• 2 -sample packages of schick slim triple razers. (I had already tried one)
• Cottonelle sample
• Goodnights sample

All of these samples have expired or been filled.

• Betty Crocker Warm Delights Minis-Molten Chocolate Cake-I am fixing to make this for David
• True Delights quaker chewy granola bars–Eric Gets this
• Sample of Quaker snacks.  These are gone.
• Gillette Shampoo and Body Wash
• Glade Angel whispers scented candle—This one I got free with coupon!

WHEW!!!!!!

That Took long than I had hoped it would!

I hope you all had a fabulous Thursday.

Take Care.

Busy, Busy Week….

It always seems that every year around this time…it is SUPER busy for our little family of 6.  And this year is NO different.

May is just a busy month.

There Are birthdays:

• Shawna (my sister)
• Grandma Coats (my sister and my grandma’s birthday are on the SAME day–How cool is that!!!)
• My mother in Law Betty
• My step-Dad Joe
• My best friend Deanna’s birthday
• And My Birthday

Then we have 3 June Birthdays:

• David’s birthday falls on June 1st!  He will be 5 this year!
• Brock (Eric’s Nephew.  Brock and David Share the SAME birthday which is REALLY COOL!  No we didn’t plan it that way…..it just happened.)
• Jason-My brother in law

And of course there is:

• Mother’s Day
• Aimee’s Graduation
• And Aimee’s 6th grade 3 day orientation at the end of May
• And David’s dental appointment

This week we are going shopping-AGAIN for Aimee a Graduation Dress…UUGGGHHH!  Some of the boys in the 5th grade classes are wearing TUXES!!!!!  This is only a 5th grade graduation and where they hold it—it get’s HOT!!!!  So Aimee decided she wanted to ‘dress’ up just a little more.  I don’t blame her one little bit.

She likes to shop at Target and Kohls.  Which is good because I have a $5.00 gift card to Target and a $10.00 gift card to Kohls.

First we will hit Target….and if they still have this….Then we will not go to kohls…

And This…

Then all we have to do is find her some white or black Strappy sandals or ballerina flats.  She also wants me to make her a coordinating headband.  So we will have to make a run to the fabric store.

Keep your fingers crossed that we are able to find that dress and shrug.  Aimee has her heart set on them.  If not, it is to Kohls we go.

Speaking of there ‘graduation’, they are no longer allowed to call it a graduation.  They are to call it a “Promotion Celebration”…which I think is STUPID, I mean silly!  Aimee’s teacher even thinks it’s silly.

Yesterday, I ventured out to Walgreens.  Now, I don’t normally shop there but felt I had to as I was looking at all the good deals a lot of people get at walgreens.

Anywho, Everyone who knows me just a little bit knows I love my house smelling awesome.  I love candles.  I collect them….and I love all sorts of fragrances.

I also love spray scents and such, as Glad, Febreze and Air Wicks.  Yes, I am a tade OCD when it comes to my house smelling good.

I just couldn’t pass up these deals…and I still have a few coupons left so I can go and pick up a few more later this week.  Crossing fingers that they still have some left.

I went to two different Walgreens.  I purchased  The two candles at one and the I scents kit at another one.

I bought Two Lumin Air Candles for $4.99 each (they were on sale…regularly, I believe they are $9.99.  I had 2-$3.00 off coupons making them $3.98 for both of them.  In total I paid $4.93! For both of them.  My total savings that trip were $17.50.  I also bought two more items with coupons!

My second trip I purchased the Air Wick I-Scents…

It was on sale for $4.99 cents.  I had a coupons for $4.00.  Making it $0.99! with Taxes I only paid $1.46!!!!

I have one more coupon left for each item.  I am hoping to get these in the next couple of days.  i would love to be able to pick up 3 more of the candles to keep in the bathrooms…I just don’t know if I will be able to.

I hope you all have had a wonderful start to the week.

Take Care!

Wal-Mart Finds…

I got all this FREE! By using coupons.

• 4 Tubes of Toothpaste
• 3 bottles of Vitamin Water (Eric took one to work with him)
• 2- sticks of deodorant

All the above were a $1.00 each.  I had $1.00 off coupons for each one of them.

Not Pictured

5-2 liter bottles of Dr. Pepper.  I had free coupons for each one of these!

I only had to pay sales tax.

I hope you all had a wonderful Sunday.  It is HOT here.  We still have our air off with our windows open and our fans running.

Take Care!

$57.60

That is how much I saved yesterday at the grocery (commissary) store!  My total bill without coupons would have been $162.27!!

With coupons I paid $104.64 that is with a tax/surcharge of $7.73 cents.  I wanted to keep my grocery bill under $100.00.  Without the surcharge, it was $96.91!

I just hope this lasts us a week….we shall see.

Just some of the items I purchased

• 3 Gallons of Milk- One of them was free!
• 5 pounds of beef
• 4 pounds of chicken
• 3.5 pounds of pork chops
• 4 packages of Eggo Waffles
• 4 packages of flavored instant quaker oatmeal
• 3-2 Liter’s of Dr. Pepper-All of these were free!
• Nestle’s Quick Chocolate powder Milk Mix-FREE
• 1 pound of buddig Turkey Deli-Cuts-FREE
• 7 packages of Bar-S wieners-FREE (I froze 5 packages of them)
• Colgate Total Toothpaste with free toothbrush. I paid $0.63 cents for it.
• 4 Big Boxes of Kelloggs Cereal.  I bought 2-Corn Pops for $0.37 each, Strawberry mini-wheat’s for $0.50, and Blueberry Mini-wheat’s  for 0.50!  These are the Good box cereals…NOT bagged!  However, I buy those as well.

I was in the store about 2.5 hours.  It was very well worth it.  I am still trying to figure out a good method of ‘buying’ my items.  Since I try to stick to a budget.  I always calculate it all out with tax/surcharge when a item goes into my cart.

So with this shopping trip it brings my To Date savings to $223.42!! Since March 16th!!!!

I am really kicking myself for NOT starting with coupons sooner.

The lady in the checkout behind me was amazed at my savings.  I think of coupons as tender!  It is cash given to you by the companies!  Why not use it???

I also received several comments about my binder. I can’t wait to go and pick up a newspaper tomorrow.

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

Take care!

Bargain Bin Friday #5

Freebies….

• Free sample of Nivea Happiness Body Wash
• Free Sample of Prilosec OTC
• Free Notepad and pen
• Chance to win Sharpie marker or Uni-Ball 207 pen-To the first 300 daily entrance.
• Free 1-2-3 Preschool projects sample pack.

Note: Freebies are a hit or miss kind of deal.  If it is a Walmart freebie, you will get those.  And pretty quick as well.  Like I said, it is just hit or miss.  You really have nothing to lose.  And remember when you sign up for freebies to use a ‘junk’ email account so you aren’t bombarded with spam mail.

My savings to date (using coupons since March 16th) is:$165.82!  I am having a lot of fun searching for good deals.

I spend about 30 minutes to an hour Monday-Friday, No time on Saturday and Then Sunday I spend about an hour…maybe a little over an hour.  Aimee , David, and Zachary help me clip out my coupons.  When Eric sees coupons he picks them up for me.  It really has turned into a family ‘thing’.

Plus, it is teaching our kids how to spend wisely.

I have got the lawn to finish mowing, Grocery shopping to do, have to dismiss Aimee from class early…(thankfully, she will still get credit for being there a full day), and come home and start my weekend chores! Boy, I  lead an exciting life! LOL

I hope you all have a wonderful Friday.

Take Care!

My Target Trip….

This evening Aimee and I ran to Target.    I got all this (the candles alone cost $8.79 Each) for $14.42.  That includes $2.53 in tax!

Here’s a little run down.  Not everything is pictured that I purchased.

Not included in the picture is:

• A Earthfriendly Target Bag $1.49
• Water Balloon Toy (this is for David’s birthday which is coming up) $1.00.
• And rainbow hankie…$1.00 Anything Rainbow Aimee just has to have!

In the picture are:

• 2-Glade sprays $0.97 each
• Neosporin $3.89
• Transformer Band-aid $1.89
• Batman Bandaids $2.89
• Glade Soy Candle $8.79 x2=$17.58

I had coupons for all the items in the picture.  Six coupons Total!

And they had a promotion buy 2 glade Candle items get a free $5.00 Target Gift Card!  This I will use to purchase Aimee a graduation outfit since she doesn’t care for the one I previously bought for her…she likes it….just not to wear to graduation.

Aimee has had perfect attendance all year long.  She doesn’t know it but Tomorrow I am going to surprise her and pull her out of class at 1 and take her shopping with me.  She likes it and likes to help me shop.

Oh, I had a reader, email me and ask me where I was from.  I am from Oklahoma.  Born and raised.  However, I no longer live in that state.  But All my extended family including my parents, sister, niece, grandmother and tons of cousins and there family still live in Oklahoma.

I hope you all had a wonderful Day.  I mowed today…and let me tell ya…I am sore!  I still have about a hour or so left of mowing.  I am going to try and get it done tomorrow.

Take Care!

Lost Fish & Wal-Mart deals!

Hey Guys,

Well, first off….the fish we bought for David for Valentines Day….died suddenly last night.  I feed them once a day and it is at night right before I go to sleep.  Eric was up late getting a 8 page file paper done to turn into today…so I stayed up just a little later than normal.

I took out the trash and then went to feed the fish…This was approx. 11 pm.  Loxie was swimming around fine…ate….as well as the other ‘oxies’ (Roxie, Doxie and Moxie).

I went to make Eric a pot of coffee because I knew he would need it.  Came back to chat with him for a moment looked in the foyer (where are fish are kept) and noticed a orange thing just sitting on it side on the bottom of the tank not moving.

I went for a closer look.  Knocked on the side of the tank.  She breathed one time and then swam into the middle of the tank…where she died. And, the other fish ‘tried’ to get her up.

I decided, I needed to get her out of there and get the tank cleaned because this happened all within 10 minutes of me feeding the fish and her dieing.

I got her out, cleaned the tank…the ‘oxies’ seemed fine.  I just wonder what happened within that 10 minutes where Loxie was swimming around fine..to when I found her minutes later.

I told Aimee this morning when she woke up.  I thought for sure she would be upset….but to my suprise she wasn’t and she continued to ask me this, “Did you give Loxie to Baloo (our cat) to eat???”  I was amazed, she said that.  She adores animals.  Her reply to my amazement was, “What she is dead, anyway.”

I told her I couldn’t do that to David’s fish.  And that if it died from eating something it shouldn’t, or something was wrong with it…we didn’t want Baloo to get sick from it.  She agreed.  WHEW!

We told David this morning, that the fish need a bigger Tank.  And when we get a bigger tank, we will get him a new fish.  We are not going bigger than a 10 gallon tank.  I think Fish are pretty and they are calming to watch…but also a mess to take care of.  And a 10 gallon tank will be perfect for our ‘oxies’.

———————————————————————————————–

Now on to my Wal-Mart Deals…

• 2/Air Head Xtremes Candy  $1.28-Used 2-$0.55 coupons making them …$.18 cents for both!
• Kraft Marshmallows $1.00-$1.00 of coupon-making them FREE!
• Bar-S Hot dog wieners $0.88-Used $.025 coupon making them $0.63
• Purina Cat Chow Indoor Formula 3.5 pound bag. $3.98-Used a $3.50 coupon printed from here. Paid $0.48

Making my grand total plus tax…$1.97!!!! I did have to pay tax on the full price of the items.

I did buy more items, these items I did in a separate transaction just to see how it went.  In total I spent $22.00 in Wal-Mart.

I hop you all are having a wonderful Monday!

Take Care!