I don't know where October went. Halloween is tomorrow, which as a married adult with no children, isn't as much fun as I remember in years passed. Not losing my love, is fall. The holidays are right around the corner, the scenery is changing, and I tend to increase the baking. Today I baked a Apple Walnut Pie... I hope it turned out, otherwise, I quit trying to make pie.
Also, today, the hubby assisted me in a shopping trip to Shoprite. They had some pretty good deals this week, but nothing compared to my trip to Rite Aid. I took a picture of what I bought, and planned on showing how I did it, but there were a lot of personal products purchased, so I will forgo the list. I will tell you that I spent less than $30 and saved over $50. I am getting the hang of this!
I decided to put up links for some awesome websites I found. I think they are going to be an excellent resource with Christmas right around the corner.
Awesome websites for online shopping:
Shop at Home: Do your internet shopping through this site and get coupon codes and CASH BACK! (Totally worth signing up!)
No More Rack : has 8 deals a day, up to 100% off. (Yes, 100% off!)
One Sale A Day: has 5 deals a day, also up to 100% off!
One Kings Lane: Excellent clearance prices for household decorations, accessories, etc.
Most importantly, today my mommy had chest tubes put in to help with the fluid in her lungs. She is in a lot of pain, and trying to rest, so I have been resisting the urge to text her and call her every five minutes. Thank you for all your prayers.
I realize this all sounds frantic and sporadic, but this post pretty much reflects how my brain has been functioning lately. I am scatter-brained, and for that, I am sorry. Until next time, which is hopefully after a long night of deep sleep. :-)
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Undefeated...
Ok, so I titled today's blog undefeated, because I feel that word describes so many aspects of my life. Not only is my team undefeated (Go Pack Go!), my family is undefeated, and I feel undefeated. So I've decided that "undefeated" is my word of the week.
The new job is going well, and I am figuring out how to balance everything. The key is a good partner. My husband is awesome, I think we make a pretty good team. We are now sharing the responsibilities when it comes to the cooking and cleaning, much more than when I was home all day. Lucky for me, and unlucky for my waistline, Chris is an excellent cook.
The couponing is going well too. I am finding that it is difficult to commit sufficient time to couponing when working a full-time job, but I am making it work.
Deals this week that I've cashed in on:
Like L'OCCITANE en Provence - USA on facebook and you can get a FREE hand cream ($10 value)
They will send you a coupon in your email... I picked mine up today!
Friend Kodak on Facebook, and you can get a coupon for 20 free photos.
The coupon can be redeemed at CVS, Target, and a few other stores. With all the wedding and honeymoon pictures, I will take any free prints I can find!
Received a $15 credit when I signed up for One Kings Lane, with it I bought Hamilton a new collar.
(On clearance for $19, used my $15 credit. Final cost, with shipping $8.95)
FREE 8x10 Canvas at http://www.canvaspeople.com/
(all you have to pay for is shipping! For me that was $14.95)
Keep an eye on samples.target.com
(I have some free K-cups for the Keurig coming my way!)
At Shoprite this week, I got some pretty good deals. One I was particularly excited about was:
CoverGirl products are 50% off.
I bought FOUR lip glosses (which I was in need of) @ $3.75 each
Then I used TWO $8 off two CG products coupons
(Final cost= free!)
Also, I won TWO giveaways that I entered on blogs that I follow on Facebook. So, I should be receiving my envelope full of coupons in the mail soon, as well as my Hello Kitty Nail Stickers. No, I will not be sporting them any time soon, but I know someone who might like them, and she has a birthday coming up! :-)
And to think, it is only Tuesday. Wonder what other deals I will stumble across!
The new job is going well, and I am figuring out how to balance everything. The key is a good partner. My husband is awesome, I think we make a pretty good team. We are now sharing the responsibilities when it comes to the cooking and cleaning, much more than when I was home all day. Lucky for me, and unlucky for my waistline, Chris is an excellent cook.
The couponing is going well too. I am finding that it is difficult to commit sufficient time to couponing when working a full-time job, but I am making it work.
Deals this week that I've cashed in on:
Like L'OCCITANE en Provence - USA on facebook and you can get a FREE hand cream ($10 value)
They will send you a coupon in your email... I picked mine up today!
Friend Kodak on Facebook, and you can get a coupon for 20 free photos.
The coupon can be redeemed at CVS, Target, and a few other stores. With all the wedding and honeymoon pictures, I will take any free prints I can find!
Received a $15 credit when I signed up for One Kings Lane, with it I bought Hamilton a new collar.
(On clearance for $19, used my $15 credit. Final cost, with shipping $8.95)
FREE 8x10 Canvas at http://www.canvaspeople.com/
(all you have to pay for is shipping! For me that was $14.95)
Keep an eye on samples.target.com
(I have some free K-cups for the Keurig coming my way!)
At Shoprite this week, I got some pretty good deals. One I was particularly excited about was:
CoverGirl products are 50% off.
I bought FOUR lip glosses (which I was in need of) @ $3.75 each
Then I used TWO $8 off two CG products coupons
(Final cost= free!)
Also, I won TWO giveaways that I entered on blogs that I follow on Facebook. So, I should be receiving my envelope full of coupons in the mail soon, as well as my Hello Kitty Nail Stickers. No, I will not be sporting them any time soon, but I know someone who might like them, and she has a birthday coming up! :-)
And to think, it is only Tuesday. Wonder what other deals I will stumble across!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Hello Again, Working World
The blog has been on the back burner, along with many things I had been doing on a daily basis since June. Last week I started working in Philadelphia. My new roles as both business professional and wife, are two very different roles for me, that I need to acclimate myself to simultaneously. Both very positive changes in my life, might I add. I had a few months to begin figuring out "wife", and as part of that role, I worked out different ways to live on a budget (couponing being one of them). I think I got pretty good at it.
Just as I started to adjust to how my day is carried out, I got a job (finally)! I find it so rewarding to know that I am financially contributing to our family again, along with how nice I find it to be taking the train into the city, dressing like a business woman (I never thought I dressed like I would've like to as a teacher), and being a part of the "hustle and bustle". As odd as it sounds, I forgot how much I liked being at a desk. I find it much less stressful when I get to do my job without the impressionable eyes of twenty-something middle schoolers watching every move you make. Don't get me wrong, I love teaching, and hope to teach again, but I don't hate working in an office. (I know, I have only been there a week.)
Anyway, I think my point is that all of a sudden there aren't enough hours in a day. I told the hubby the other day, teachers do have it made, I had no idea. I used to hate that my long commute as a teacher meant I didn't get home until 4:30. Now, I don't get home until about 6:30 and I think, "How in the world am I going to do anything other than eat dinner, shower, and get to bed". Luckily, I married a great cook, and when he gets home first and decides to cook, I know I am in for a treat.
So, how does everyone do it? Wife, Worker, and Independent Woman? Is it possible to be all three? Figuring my day out, the breakdown seems I have eleven hours as a worker, require eight hours of sleep, which leaves me five hours to do everything else (both as wife and woman). I will give it another few weeks and hope I can tackle the day to day needs of the house. Well, I hope I can get the laundry done at the very least. If I can manage to extend the day to 26-28 hours, maybe I will be able to stay more on top of the couponing!
;-)
Just as I started to adjust to how my day is carried out, I got a job (finally)! I find it so rewarding to know that I am financially contributing to our family again, along with how nice I find it to be taking the train into the city, dressing like a business woman (I never thought I dressed like I would've like to as a teacher), and being a part of the "hustle and bustle". As odd as it sounds, I forgot how much I liked being at a desk. I find it much less stressful when I get to do my job without the impressionable eyes of twenty-something middle schoolers watching every move you make. Don't get me wrong, I love teaching, and hope to teach again, but I don't hate working in an office. (I know, I have only been there a week.)
Anyway, I think my point is that all of a sudden there aren't enough hours in a day. I told the hubby the other day, teachers do have it made, I had no idea. I used to hate that my long commute as a teacher meant I didn't get home until 4:30. Now, I don't get home until about 6:30 and I think, "How in the world am I going to do anything other than eat dinner, shower, and get to bed". Luckily, I married a great cook, and when he gets home first and decides to cook, I know I am in for a treat.
So, how does everyone do it? Wife, Worker, and Independent Woman? Is it possible to be all three? Figuring my day out, the breakdown seems I have eleven hours as a worker, require eight hours of sleep, which leaves me five hours to do everything else (both as wife and woman). I will give it another few weeks and hope I can tackle the day to day needs of the house. Well, I hope I can get the laundry done at the very least. If I can manage to extend the day to 26-28 hours, maybe I will be able to stay more on top of the couponing!
;-)
Monday, October 3, 2011
"Hey, are you one of those extreme coupon people?"
This is the question that the ladies behind me at the Shoprite asked. I loved it! The main reason I have decided to blog about my deals is that my aunt Beth started couponing when I told her I was having success with it. Then, she started emailing me questions about how I was doing it. When you sit down and create a plan of attack, it really is kind of easy once you get in the store. I now have a firm belief that I shouldn't have to pay full price when I go shopping, and if I need to stock up to prevent paying full price, I will.
In addition to my Shoprite trip, I also went to Rite Aid, Acme, Walgreens, Dollar General, and Walmart. When all receipts were added up, I had spent a grand total of under $75. (This included my weekly grocery shopping and the purchase of Transformers on blue-ray.) So, for those of you interested in trying couponing, here are some examples of what I got today:
Big deals at Shoprite this week!
(some of the items were needed for a recipe I pulled up on my phone for dinner, so a few things altered my game plan... they are not included in the calculation below)
Lysol disinfecting wipes:
Sale price: $1.99
Used a $1.00 coupon
Total: $.99
Pam cooking spray:
Sale price: $2.49
Used a $.50 coupon (doubled= $1)
Total: $1.49
Added bonus: ($4 mail-in rebate)
4 Yoplait Greek Yogurt cups
Sale price: $1.00 per cup
Used two $.50 off 2 cups coupons (both doubled)
Total: $2 (or $.50 per cup)
Johnsonville Italian Sausage:
Sale price: $3.99
Used a $1 off coupon
Total: $2.99
2 Betty Crocker cookie mix bags (the holidays are coming up!):
Sale price: 2 for $4
Used two $.40 coupons (both doubled)
Total: $1.20 per bag
Celestial Seasons Box of Lemon Tea (will come in handy come cold season):
Sale price: $1.99
Used $1 coupon
Total: $.99
Barber Chicken Cordon Blue:
Sale price: $2.99
Used a $1 coupon
Total: $1.99
Multigrain Tostitos AND Salsa
Sale price: $2.99 each
Used a $1 off both coupon
Total: $4.98
2-liter bottle of Diet Pepsi
Sale price $1.25
Used a Free w/ purchase of tortilla chips and salsa coupon
Total: FREE
Bag of Birds Eye Steam Fresh Veggies
Sale price: .99
Used a $.50 coupon (doubled)
Total: -$.01
Box of Fun-da-middles coupcake mix:
Sale price: $2.49
Used a $.75 coupon (doubled to a $1)
Total: $1.49
2 bags of Nestle Halloween candy:
Sale price: $1.87 per bag
Used a $1 off 2 bags coupon
Total: $1.37 per bag
(This is awesome if you have noticed the prices of Halloween candy!)
2 bags of Haribo Gummy Bears (I don't know why I bought them):
Sale price: $.88 per bag
Used two $.30 coupons (both doubled= $.60)
Total: $.28 per bag
(I had a $5 off coupon from an entertainment book)
GRAND TOTAL: $16.41 (plus tax)
My stash from Acme, doesn't look as impressive. However, if you notice, one of my items is Transformers (blue-ray). So, here is what I did:
Old El Paso Taco Dinner Kit:
Sale price: $2.03
Used $.50 coupon (doubled)
Total: $1.53 (for an entire dinner!!)
2 Lipton Diet Green Tea bottles:
Sale price: $1 each
Used $.50 coupon (doubled)
Total: $.50 per bottle
2 bags of Halloween Candy (Skittles and Starburst):
Sale price: 2 for $4
Used two $1 coupons
Total: $1 per bag
Acme is having a knockdown deal with General Mills Products: (Buy 5 for an additional $3 off)
Senerio:
2 boxes of Original Cherrios:
Sale price: $2.48
Used two $1 coupons
Total: $1.48 per box
2 boxes of Chex Cereal:
Sale price: $2.48
Used a $1 off two boxes coupon
Total: $1.98 per bag
1 box of Nature Valley Granola Bars:
Sale price: $2.48
Used $.75 coupon (doubled)
Total: $.98
-$3.00 for buying five GM products
Total for all five products: $4.90
And finally, Acme is running a deal this week: buy an 8 pack of enegizer batteries and Transformers, get $5 off.
Enegizer Batteries:
Price: $6.99
Used $3.00 coupon
Total: $3.99
Transformers (on Blue-Ray: you can get the DVD for cheaper)
Sale price: $24.95
$5 instant coupon
Total: $19.95
GRAND TOTAL: $36.39 (tax included)
(If you aren't interested in the Transformers/battery deal, the shopping total is under $10)
Last one I'm going to share for the night is my deal at Walmart. Ladies, we know makeup is expensive (and I am a snob when it comes to my MAC obsession, but I have decided inexpensive items are ok. As long as I wear my MAC foundation and eye shadow, I feel great!)
What I bought:
Covergirl eye liner:
Price: $4.44
Cover girl blush:
Price: $3.74
Used the $8 off two CG items in this weeks newspaper
Total: $.18!!!! (yes, that is $.09 each)
Two NYC mascaras:
Price: $1.00 each
Used a Buy One Get One Free coupon
Total: $1.00
Old Spice travel size body wash:
Price: $.97
Used a $1 coupon
Total: -$.03
GRAND TOTAL: $1.15 (plus tax)
Tomorrow I am heading to Target. They have some great deals this week. Remember, Christmas is right around the corner, so if you find a deal, get it (even if you don't know if you will use it now).
In addition to my Shoprite trip, I also went to Rite Aid, Acme, Walgreens, Dollar General, and Walmart. When all receipts were added up, I had spent a grand total of under $75. (This included my weekly grocery shopping and the purchase of Transformers on blue-ray.) So, for those of you interested in trying couponing, here are some examples of what I got today:
(some of the items were needed for a recipe I pulled up on my phone for dinner, so a few things altered my game plan... they are not included in the calculation below)
Lysol disinfecting wipes:
Sale price: $1.99
Used a $1.00 coupon
Total: $.99
Pam cooking spray:
Sale price: $2.49
Used a $.50 coupon (doubled= $1)
Total: $1.49
Added bonus: ($4 mail-in rebate)
4 Yoplait Greek Yogurt cups
Sale price: $1.00 per cup
Used two $.50 off 2 cups coupons (both doubled)
Total: $2 (or $.50 per cup)
Johnsonville Italian Sausage:
Sale price: $3.99
Used a $1 off coupon
Total: $2.99
2 Betty Crocker cookie mix bags (the holidays are coming up!):
Sale price: 2 for $4
Used two $.40 coupons (both doubled)
Total: $1.20 per bag
Celestial Seasons Box of Lemon Tea (will come in handy come cold season):
Sale price: $1.99
Used $1 coupon
Total: $.99
Barber Chicken Cordon Blue:
Sale price: $2.99
Used a $1 coupon
Total: $1.99
Multigrain Tostitos AND Salsa
Sale price: $2.99 each
Used a $1 off both coupon
Total: $4.98
2-liter bottle of Diet Pepsi
Sale price $1.25
Used a Free w/ purchase of tortilla chips and salsa coupon
Total: FREE
Bag of Birds Eye Steam Fresh Veggies
Sale price: .99
Used a $.50 coupon (doubled)
Total: -$.01
Box of Fun-da-middles coupcake mix:
Sale price: $2.49
Used a $.75 coupon (doubled to a $1)
Total: $1.49
2 bags of Nestle Halloween candy:
Sale price: $1.87 per bag
Used a $1 off 2 bags coupon
Total: $1.37 per bag
(This is awesome if you have noticed the prices of Halloween candy!)
2 bags of Haribo Gummy Bears (I don't know why I bought them):
Sale price: $.88 per bag
Used two $.30 coupons (both doubled= $.60)
Total: $.28 per bag
(I had a $5 off coupon from an entertainment book)
GRAND TOTAL: $16.41 (plus tax)
Old El Paso Taco Dinner Kit:
Sale price: $2.03
Used $.50 coupon (doubled)
Total: $1.53 (for an entire dinner!!)
2 Lipton Diet Green Tea bottles:
Sale price: $1 each
Used $.50 coupon (doubled)
Total: $.50 per bottle
2 bags of Halloween Candy (Skittles and Starburst):
Sale price: 2 for $4
Used two $1 coupons
Total: $1 per bag
Acme is having a knockdown deal with General Mills Products: (Buy 5 for an additional $3 off)
Senerio:
2 boxes of Original Cherrios:
Sale price: $2.48
Used two $1 coupons
Total: $1.48 per box
2 boxes of Chex Cereal:
Sale price: $2.48
Used a $1 off two boxes coupon
Total: $1.98 per bag
1 box of Nature Valley Granola Bars:
Sale price: $2.48
Used $.75 coupon (doubled)
Total: $.98
-$3.00 for buying five GM products
Total for all five products: $4.90
And finally, Acme is running a deal this week: buy an 8 pack of enegizer batteries and Transformers, get $5 off.
Enegizer Batteries:
Price: $6.99
Used $3.00 coupon
Total: $3.99
Transformers (on Blue-Ray: you can get the DVD for cheaper)
Sale price: $24.95
$5 instant coupon
Total: $19.95
GRAND TOTAL: $36.39 (tax included)
(If you aren't interested in the Transformers/battery deal, the shopping total is under $10)
Last one I'm going to share for the night is my deal at Walmart. Ladies, we know makeup is expensive (and I am a snob when it comes to my MAC obsession, but I have decided inexpensive items are ok. As long as I wear my MAC foundation and eye shadow, I feel great!)
What I bought:
Covergirl eye liner:
Price: $4.44
Cover girl blush:
Price: $3.74
Used the $8 off two CG items in this weeks newspaper
Total: $.18!!!! (yes, that is $.09 each)
Two NYC mascaras:
Price: $1.00 each
Used a Buy One Get One Free coupon
Total: $1.00
Old Spice travel size body wash:
Price: $.97
Used a $1 coupon
Total: -$.03
GRAND TOTAL: $1.15 (plus tax)
Tomorrow I am heading to Target. They have some great deals this week. Remember, Christmas is right around the corner, so if you find a deal, get it (even if you don't know if you will use it now).
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Today's Mini Couponing Adventure (and Yesterday)
Another short blog. I have found that I am having most success with couponing in the personal needs department, which I think is great because a lot of that stuff is really expensive, and we all need that kind of stuff.
Today I went to Walgreens and I bought:
Pantene Pro-V Shampoo (reg price $5.29)
Pantene Pro-V Conditioner (reg price $5.29)
Re-nu contact solution (reg price $7.99)
Two tubes of Colgate Optic White Toothpaste (reg price $4.99 each)
Two packs of Five gum (reg price $1.49 each)
A Reese's Fast Break Bar (I honestly don't know how much)
The Pantene was buy one get one half off, I had a $3 off coupon,
The Renu I had a $2 off coupon and receive a $5 register rewards,
Toothpaste was two for $7.98, I had $2.50 in coupons, and get $6 in register rewards,
The five gum was on sale for $.99 each and I had a coupon for $1 off two.
I split my purchases into two so I could use my RR and when all was said and done I paid $5.61 for $32.12 worth of stuff. I consider that a successful trip! (I might start doing my couponing in Delaware because of that $5.61, more than $1 was sales tax.
(I had to buy the Fast Break bar to use the RR on my second purchase)
Yesterday I went to Walmart. I bought a lot of stuff I have been holding off on (face wash, eye drops, baby powder) I still worked my magic and this is how it went:
Clearasil face wash (reg $5.87)
Visine (Reg $3.62) (needed during allergy season)
2-pack of Reach toothbrushes (reg $3.97)
Johnson's Baby Powder (Reg. $2.97)
Six 12-packs of Shick disposible razors ($1.97 each)
Total: $28.25
The big key to this trip was the $6 off 2 packs of shick razors. Each coupon gave me and additional credit of $2.06 (times three was a $6.18 moneymaker). On top of that I had:
$1 off baby powder
$2 off Reach toothbrushes
$2 off Clearasil
$1 off Visine
When all coupons were deducted my total was $5.77 ($4.25 before sales tax)
For those of you are trying this out, let me know what deals you find and how your couponing is going!
Today I went to Walgreens and I bought:
Pantene Pro-V Shampoo (reg price $5.29)
Pantene Pro-V Conditioner (reg price $5.29)
Re-nu contact solution (reg price $7.99)
Two tubes of Colgate Optic White Toothpaste (reg price $4.99 each)
Two packs of Five gum (reg price $1.49 each)
A Reese's Fast Break Bar (I honestly don't know how much)
The Pantene was buy one get one half off, I had a $3 off coupon,
The Renu I had a $2 off coupon and receive a $5 register rewards,
Toothpaste was two for $7.98, I had $2.50 in coupons, and get $6 in register rewards,
The five gum was on sale for $.99 each and I had a coupon for $1 off two.
I split my purchases into two so I could use my RR and when all was said and done I paid $5.61 for $32.12 worth of stuff. I consider that a successful trip! (I might start doing my couponing in Delaware because of that $5.61, more than $1 was sales tax.
(I had to buy the Fast Break bar to use the RR on my second purchase)
Yesterday I went to Walmart. I bought a lot of stuff I have been holding off on (face wash, eye drops, baby powder) I still worked my magic and this is how it went:
Clearasil face wash (reg $5.87)
Visine (Reg $3.62) (needed during allergy season)
2-pack of Reach toothbrushes (reg $3.97)
Johnson's Baby Powder (Reg. $2.97)
Six 12-packs of Shick disposible razors ($1.97 each)
Total: $28.25
The big key to this trip was the $6 off 2 packs of shick razors. Each coupon gave me and additional credit of $2.06 (times three was a $6.18 moneymaker). On top of that I had:
$1 off baby powder
$2 off Reach toothbrushes
$2 off Clearasil
$1 off Visine
When all coupons were deducted my total was $5.77 ($4.25 before sales tax)
For those of you are trying this out, let me know what deals you find and how your couponing is going!
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