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Couponing: My CVS trip

May 21, 2012 8 Comments

I am by no means an extreme couponer (although a certain coupon show sucked me in when it first aired…goodness gracious), but I love to snatch up deals on products we use/love so I definitely use coupons.  I used to visit CVS and Ralphs every week or two to grab spectacular deals with coupons, but these last several months I’ve yet to do a “real” coupon trip.  What happened to me?  I’m blaming the holidays…which were months ago. ;)

Last night I decided to organize my coupon binder and get to it.  Minus coupons and ExtraBucks, I spent only $5.58 at CVS today.  I use a different shampoo than the one pictured, but my husband doesn’t have finicky hair.  Score!  The detergent is not my preferred brand for our clothes, but for less than $1.50 I will use it for bathroom rugs, scrap towels (for the garage, washing the car), etc.  We love raisins and my husband’s back is killing him so I grabbed those deals as well.

I also scored some fabulous deals at Ralphs:  Tide HE for under $2, Heinz Ketchup for about $1, and more.   Ahh, feels good to be back on the wagon.

What about you?  Do you coupon at all?  Where do you prefer to use your coupons?

Filed Under: Budgeting, Couponing, Homemaking, Shopping & Deals, Uncategorized Tagged With: , ,

In the mail

April 30, 2012 6 Comments

Here are some of the freebies I received in my mailbox over the last few weeks.  Excuse the dark pic..yick.

      • Saveur Magazine

      • Martha Stewart Living Magazine

      • Shape Magazine (April and May)

      • Men’s Fitness Magazine (April and May)

      • Family Fun Magazine

      • Baby Talk Magazine

      • Ladies Home Journal (1 free issue)

      • Shout Color Catcher sample

      • Quaker Oatmeal Squares

      • Versace Yellow Diamond perfume sample

      • Quaker Soft Baked Oatmeal Cookie

      • güd (Burt’s Bees) Body Lotion sample

      • Bigelow Tea sample & coupon

      • Letter from a dear blogging friend (had to throw that in there because it was such a treat to find in the mail today)

I’m going through Amazon withdrawals.  I am.  I feel dizzy and a little nauseous.  Get anything fun in the mail lately?

Filed Under: Budgeting, Freebies, Shopping & Deals Tagged With: ,

In the mail

March 23, 2012 Leave a Comment

Here are some of the freebies I received in my mailbox over the last couple of weeks.  I’ve lagged on signing up for the free deals, but still received a few fun items to test out and read.

      • Saveur Magazine

      • Martha Stewart Living Magazine

      • Clean Eating Magazine

      • Thriving Family Magazine

      • Purex liquid detergent and coupon

      • Tide Pods sample

      • Ecover Zero detergent sample

      • Beneful Baked Delights dog treats

      • A box filled with Jelly Belly treats for Easter and for munchkin’s class–I have a sweet, generous friend who has THE coolest link to JB. :) Thanks Jes!!!

I’ve behaved myself and not purchased much of anything online (patting self on back)…how boring though.  What about you?  Find anything good in your mailbox lately?  Any cool items for the upcoming holiday?

Filed Under: Budgeting, Freebies, Shopping & Deals Tagged With: , ,

In the mail

February 23, 2012 10 Comments

Here are some of the freebies I received in my mailbox over the last two weeks.  I’ve also pictured items I ordered online that were a steal of a deal and used Swagbucks to cover the cost of most of those items.

      • Saveur Magazine

      • Ski Magazine

      • Martha Stewart Living Magazine

      • Baby Talk Magazine

      • Family Fun Magazine

      • Working Mother Magazine

      • Crest White Strips sample

      • Herbal Essences Shampoo sample

      • P&G coupon booklet

      • John Frieda hair care samples

      • Prepared Pantry Holland Rich Dark Cocoa: This was 50% off and had such rave reviews, I had to try it.

      • Wilton 12-piece Cupcake Decorating Kit: This was on deep clearance on Amazon.  I snagged it with Swagbucks.

      • Pacific Organic Free Range Chicken Broth:  Another great sale on Amazon.  Though I prefer homemade broth and stock, I like to have a great brand on hand for back up.  There are 24 8-oz boxes.  Swagbucks covered much of the payment.

      •  Bob’s Red Mill Natural Raw Wheat Germ: How I love Amazon.  This 4-pack was a steal.  I add wheat germ to muffins, breads, oatmeal, smoothies, etc.

      • Don’t Make Me Come Up There! by Kristen Welch: This book is on my book list for the year so I grabbed it with Swagbucks when the price dropped.

What did you find in your mailbox this week?  Do you use Swagbucks?

Filed Under: Budgeting, Freebies, Shopping & Deals Tagged With:

Mailbox Freebies

February 8, 2012 Leave a Comment

Here are some of the freebies I received in my mailbox over the last two weeks.  I did receive more, but I either ate it, used it up, put it away, or my little one added it to her hidden stash for her “market store.”

  • Shape Magazine

  • Clean Eating Magazine

  • Ski Magazine (not pictured)

  • Martha Stewart Living Magazine (not pictured)

  • Baby Talk Magazine

  • Family Fun Magazine

  • Men’s Fitness Magazine

  • Thriving Family Magazine

  • Keurig Cafe Escapes Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa 12-pack (we don’t have a Keurig so I’ll pass this on to a friend)

  • Rachael Ray Nutrish Just 6 dog food

  • Seventh Generation Natural Dish Liquid (4 samples)

  • Biore Blemish Fighting Cleanser

What did you find in your mailbox this week?

Filed Under: Budgeting, Freebies, Shopping & Deals Tagged With:

Deliciously Organic: Buying Organic on a Budget

February 6, 2012 Leave a Comment
Labeling for products that meet the USDA-NOP s...

Image via Wikipedia

I was chatting with a friend the other day about budgets and the ever-increasing price of groceries.  She has been considering purchasing some organic food items, but expressed concern over the especially high price of organic food.

I hear ya, sister.  While we aren’t a 100% organic household and I don’t necessarily aim for us to be one either, there are several organic food and household items I do buy regularly.  I agree that buying organic can be a budget-buster, but I will also say that there are many ways to cut the costs of “going organic.”

I recently saw this post over at Deliciously Organic and sent it to my friend.  A quick internet search will unveil a million tips and tricks for buying and transitioning to organic foods and products, but I think this post titled 15 Tips for Buying Organic, Real Food on a Budget is helpful for those who are tiptoeing into the organic world.  Each “tip” includes a link to more detailed information or organic recipes.  Definitely worth a peek if you’re on the fence about organic food.  I recommend wandering through just for fun, too–it’s filled with recipes and helpful tips about travel, workout gear, and more.

Are you an organic household?  What are your must-have-organic products?

Filed Under: Budgeting, Uncategorized Tagged With: , ,

My cash envelopes

January 26, 2012 4 Comments

I often get asked about my cash envelopes when I pull them out of my handbag so I thought I’d share them here.  Aren’t they sweet?

They stay shut because of a mini magnet sewn into them.

Which means they stack  and stay together–my idea of genius:)

I know crafty folks can make these, but I purchased mine from a lovely Etsy shop last year.  Allison of Divvy Up (formerly TresMarias) was such a pleasure to work with (like I did any work) and I had my envelopes just a few days after ordering them.  I highly recommend Divvy Up  if you’re sick of paper envelopes getting trashed in your purse or if you’re considering the cash envelope system.  I didn’t hate using paper envelopes, but I like pretty things and having these be cute, cozy, durable, and practical is a plus for me.

If you’re super crafty (and by super, I mean craftier than I am), Allison also sells her cash envelope pattern on Divvy Up.  She let me know that her shop is undergoing some changes so stay tuned for new items in her shop soon.  I suggest contacting Allison via her shop contact link if you’d like to chat about an order–as I said, she’s wonderful to work with.

Do you use some type of cash envelope system?  Or do you have your own similar system?

Filed Under: Budgeting, Organizing Tips & Tools, Shopping & Deals Tagged With: , , ,

My 2012 Book List

January 22, 2012 6 Comments

Photo courtesy of Claire Brocato

I’ve put off posting my booklist for 2012 because I keep making changes to it, reviewing it, making more changes, and so on.  Stifling personal progress!  So I went back to my original list, am sticking with it, and finally posting it today.

I love to read other people’s book lists and many of those lists  inspired me while I created mine.  Crystal Paine of Money Saving Mom has been instrumental in motivating me to create and stick with my 2012 Goals (which I’ve not posted, but will do this coming week).  Crystal writes about public accountability (posting yearly and weekly goals) and how this helps her stick to her goals–I think highly of this concept.  I liken it to public shaming (although I don’t think that’s what Crystal has in mind) and I’d like to avoid that.  She also shares her book lists each year which encourage me as well.

My book list plays a large role in my goals for the year–each group of books offers me something different; outlets with inspiration, education, motivation.  And as I work on my disciplined life and accountability, my hope is that at least some of these books aid me in my quest to meet this year’s goals.

I’m including 34 books on my list.   A few of the books are short e-books and quick reads (I don’t own an e-reader, but I downloaded the Kindle for PC software for free which enables me to read the short e-books).  A couple are cookbooks (I read more cookbooks in bed than I do novels).  In addition, I’ll read other books that grab my attention throughout the year, but I’m “committing” to just those on my list.

Many of these books have been on my bookshelves for some time while others come highly recommended or have been on my mental book list for years.  I’ve requested the ones I don’t own from my public library–I can’t say enough positive things about the library.  I do miss the Dewey Decimal System though.  Remember those card catalogs?

Without further ado (because I’ll change it if I don’t hurry up already) here is my 2012 Book list.

Faith, Family, & Parenting

Seasons of a Mother’s Heart by Sally Clarkson (I’m hoping her books are as amazing as I’ve heard they are!)

Calm My Anxious Heart: A Woman’s Guide to Finding Contentment by Linda Dillow (Highly recommended by so many.  Can’t wait to begin this one)

The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers: Reclaiming Our Passion, Purpose, and Sanity by Meg Meeker

The Me Project: 21 Days to Living the Life You’ve Always Wanted by Kathi Lipp (I hear so many wonderful things about Kathi’s books.  Had to put a couple on my list)

The Husband Project: 21 Days of Loving Your Man–on Purpose and with a Plan by Kathi Lipp

Don’t Make Me Come Up There! by Kristen Welch

Read for the Heart: Whole Books for WholeHearted Families by Sarah Clarkson

Educating the WholeHearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson

Homemanagement & Homemaking

One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler by Tsh Oxenreider (e-book)

Plan It, Don’t Panic by Stephanie Langford (e-book)

Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider (e-book)

Keeping House: The Litany of Everyday Life by Margaret Kim Peterson

A Life That Says Welcome by Karen Ehman

The Cook’s Illustrated Cookbook: 2,000 Recipes from 20 Years of America’s Most Trusted Cooking Magazine  (I read the magazine in bed so why not the book?)

The America’s Test Kitchen Family Cookbook

Interest

One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd by Jim Fergus

Imperfect Justice: Prosecuting Casey Anthony by Jeff Ashton ( I need closure.  Sadly, this trial consumed me and I.need.closure)

The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom

Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell (yay!)

Persuasion  by Jane Austen(re-read)

Best of Stillmeadow by Gladys Taber (So tough to find her books!)

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson  (started, but never finished)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

Entre Nous: A Woman’s Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl by Debra Ollivier (A little light-hearted fun)

Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand

The Help by Kathryn Stockett (I’ve resisted this one for a long time, but since a copy sits on my shelf I’m giving it a shot)

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Stout

Nicholas and Alexandra: The Classic Account of the Fall of the Romanov Dynasty by Robert K. Massie (A trip to Russia piqued my interest)

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

Finances & Budgeting

The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave Ramsey (I’ve listened to and watched Dave as well as followed some of his writing, but I want to dive into his books this year.)

The Money Answer Book by Dave Ramsey

Financial Peace by Dave Ramsey

The Money Class by Suze Orman (I’ve always liked her straightforward style and money smarts.)

The Money Saving Mom’s Budget by Crystal Paine

I’d be thrilled if you shared books you are reading/plan to read this year, some of your favorite reads, or thoughts and feedback on books on my list.  If you’d like to provide a link to your book list, I urge you to do so!

Photo courtesy of the talented Claire Brocato.  Thanks, Claire!
Filed Under: 2012 Goals, Books, TV, & Movies, Budgeting Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

New Year Ramblings

January 10, 2012 2 Comments

Only 10 days into the new year and I’m feeling like 2012 is going to be an above average year.  Nothing has happened, but I think nothing happening is a good thing.  I don’t thrive on excitement–I like a little adventure, but my idea of adventure is going on a hike and picnic with my family or testing out 5 new recipes in a week each starring a different protein.  Not exactly the mind-blowing, electrifying adventures people crave.  But that suits me just fine.

We ended 2011 with family and commenced 2012 with family as well.  A positive and heartening way for us to bid adieu to last year and welcome the new one.  To top it off, I’m continuing this feel-good month with a visit from my friend Jennifer.  Good for the soul.

We met in high school French class (Je voudrais un Orangina, un chausson aux pommes, et une croque-madame, s’il vous plait) and am I ever glad I had the bad junior manners to sit next to that sassy senior.  Years and years later, she remains a steadfast friend no matter what season of life I’m in.  Jennifer is honest and kind.  Tough and attentive.  Real and loyal.  She’s what a best friend should be.  We laugh until we’re crying, we text like it’s going out of style (is it?).  If I need to hear the truth, she provides it.  When my mind is buzzing with irrational thoughts or when I make excuses for, oh say, not going to the gym, she becomes the no-nonsense coach I want to yell, ”You can’t make me!” at and stomp out of the room.

Most importantly, Jennifer is there in the good and the bad times (even though we live miles and miles and miles apart).  The good times in my life far outweigh any bad moments, but still, you want your friends and family there for you during even the most minor icky moments.  I can rely on Jennifer.  As it says in Proverbs, “A friend loves at all times…”

Sappy, sappy.  I spy with my little eyes good times ahead for me this week and this year…and I’m oh-so-thankful.

In other unrelated news, the doorbell rang this week and I bolted to the door to find my Gooseberry Patch and coconut oil orders!  Nope, not exactly.

Laugh if you must.  But I’ve been pouncing on online toilet paper deals for about 6 months and I LOVE IT.  I appreciate the price, the convenience, and I appreciate it when the FedEx or UPS delivery man tucks the Charmin box to the side of my front porch instead of leaving it right on the welcome mat.  I also appreciate not having to run to Target for t.p. where I inevitably find $100 worth of items I suddenly need.

I did get my coconut oil and Gooseberry orders today and look forward to their help with my menu planning next week.  I still welcome any suggestions with the coconut oil.  Any baked goods suggestions? :)  My little one asked me to make gnocchi and broccoli with the coconut oil.  I’m thinking no, probably not a good idea.

Besides our regular weekly happenings, I’ve been tweaking and finishing up my goals for 2012 which cover so many aspects of my life–everything from books I plan to read, to DIY projects I hope to tackle, to daily habits I’d like to form .  I’ll be sharing them soon and I hope you’ll share some of your goals for the year with me.  I’m also working on redesigning this blog (ack!) with the help of Google and many online tutorials.  Stay tuned…or don’t–you might be waiting a long time.  I do not know what I’m doing!

Time to finish up my household organization tasks for the week(btw, how are you doing with the Organized Home Challenge?).  But maybe a cup of tea with a few biscuits first.

Wishing you success, happiness, and health in 2012!

Filed Under: 2012 Goals, Budgeting, Shopping & Deals Tagged With: , , , ,

Mailbox Freebies

January 6, 2012 3 Comments

Sometimes it’s the little things that make my day.  A hug and kiss from my little girl.  A funny text from a dear friend.  A doughnut.

Lately, the “little thing” has been my mailbox overflowing with freebies.

Glorious, mini (and sometimes full-size!) freebies!  I’ve slacked the past several weeks when it comes to signing up for freebies, but that’s okay because this week I had a freebie or two in my mailbox daily.  Giddiness:)

Here’s most of what I’ve received in my mailbox over the last two weeks.  Not too shabby.

  • Shape Magazine (boy do I need this)

  • Saveur Magazine (boy do I not need this, but I love it)

  • Ski Magazine (didn’t sign up for this so will pass it along to a friend)

  •  Dove deodorant, full size (wanted to test this out, so perfect timing)

  • Organic Valley activity book, bumper sticker (ha!), recipe pamphlet, and a slew of high value coupons (love dairy coupons–always a bonus when I can save a little on dairy products which we consume like starving beasts)

  • $2 off Tide coupon (our brand of choice)

  • Woolite extra dark sample and $3 off coupon

  • Pillsbury 2012 calendar (I nabbed this with the hope there would be some recipes…there are:)  I love to find recipes in this type of publication and then experiment and fix it up for my family’s tastes)

  • Olay Professional ProX refining mask & complexion renewing lotion (using it tonight)

  • Pond’s wet cleansing towelettes, “Evening Soothe with chamomile & white tea” (ahhh)

  • Amlactin body lotion samples and $3.50 coupon (my dad says this is the lotion for dry skin…and my feet are begging me for a miracle right now)

  • IcyHot Naturals sample

  • Eucerin face and body lotion samples

  • L’Oreal Youth Code day/night cream sample

  • Dove hair care & nourishing oil care samples (okay, noticing a trend here…I suppose I signed up for all these with expectations of fountain of youth-type results)

  • Frizz-Ease samples (a fave)

  • TRESemme shampoo & conditioner samples

Whew.  That’s a lot of samples.  And I’ll use them.  I like to toss them in my beauty bag for short trips so I don’t have to pack large bottles or check my small suitcase.  But mostly I like to receive them to test out products before I buy them.  Nothing irks me more (ok, exaggeration, lots of things irk me more) than wasting money on health and beauty products that I end up hating.  I welcome freebies with open arms.  Not to mention, if I do like the product, the sample usually comes with a high value coupon and that’s what I’m really looking for when I open the package.

Share your freebie stories in the comments if you’re also a Freebie Lovin’ Lass.  Love to see what was waiting for you in your mailbox this week.

Filed Under: Budgeting, Freebies, Shopping & Deals Tagged With: ,

I hereby declare a New Toy Ban!

January 4, 2012 3 Comments

Despite the fact that my husband and I feel our daughter has more than enough toys scattered about this house and despite the fact that we made a pact to severely limit the number of toys that enter this house, Annalise received new toys for Christmas.

(pause for a large, exaggerated sigh)

My main issue with toys is that she isn’t interested in the majority of them.  This means that all those little cutesy pieces of plastic lose their appeal after 4.5 minutes of use.  And, like Gremlins, they somehow manage to multiply and divide themselves across all rooms in our home.  And then you hear me grumbling and kicking them out of my way when I step on one or 5 throughout my day.

My second issue is that there are plenty of children who would love the toys my daughter so casually tosses aside.  Thus, we are in the process of going through all her toys together so we can donate them to a better cause than our household clutter.  In addition, I prefer her to use her imagination with a few toys she adores (like her baby dolls and animals, kitchen, art & craft supplies, and books) as well as regular household items.

For example, today she decided our counterstools were a cage she was trapped behind and had to escape with her precious animals, used a few boxes as icebergs to “float” from room to room, created a library for her babies and herself with dozens of her books and spent over an hour reading them to our dog.

At the last minute I tried to capture the sweet moment, but by the time I returned with camera in hand, she was sitting atop our patient Golden Retriever, arm extended over her head, twirling a piece of yarn in the air, shouting, “Giddy-up, HorseDog!  I’ve got a town to save!”  Poor HorseDog.

Let’s not forget the cost of toys.  This gal loves a good bargain.  But bargain or not, waste is waste.  Money is too hard-earned for me to buy items we don’t need or love.

Implement toy ban!

Today’s source of frustration, prompting me to declare a toy ban, is the ten minutes I spent attempting to open a box.  A little box which held a tiny toy.  A toy Annalise doesn’t seem overly thrilled to receive.  I could rant about the person who decided this was a great gift except I bought it for Annalise months ago at the Great Target Toy Clearance (I’m not sure if that’s the official name, but that’s what I believe it was named by eager shoppers of this annual sale).  Do not let me shop that sale again.

After a scene (sadly reminiscent of the Mommy Dearest no-more-wire-hangers catastrophe…don’t worry, Annalise was not a target…it was all about the toys) which included a lot of grumbling, flailing arms, shouts of, “I’m imposing a toy ban!”, sweat, and exhaustion (no joke, real sweat, real exhaust) the toy was released from its unnecessary Alcatraz box and I walked away with 2 cuts and a need for coffee and a baked good.

And that’s why today is the official start of the New Toy Ban declaration in this household.

Is anyone with me on the toy issue?

Off to grab a cookie.

Filed Under: Budgeting Tagged With: , ,

2 am shopping…Gooseberry Patch After-Christmas Sale has started!

December 23, 2011 4 Comments
Gooseberry Patch

I couldn’t sleep.  Anticipation of Christmas?  All the ironing I keep putting off?  Leftover blueberry coffeecake in the kitchen calling my name?

Need to sleep.  Prefer to sleep than iron (the only household chore I dislike).  So I thought I’d wander around ye olde world-wide web for a bit (from the comfort of my bed, of course) to tire out my eyeballs.

Eureka!

If you’re a Gooseberry Patch fan (as I’ve mentioned 3 million times that I am), you’re in luck!  They’ve started their after-Christmas sale early and boy did they mark down some great items.  I’d suggest shopping asap if you’re a GP fan because they tend to sell out of items very quickly during this annual sale.  I placed my order a few minutes ago (and saved about 70%!) and am now ready to rest peacefully…successful shopping always wears me out:)

Happy Shopping!

zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Filed Under: Budgeting, Shopping & Deals Tagged With: , , ,
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