Recap of last two weeks shopping for the month

Meijers
Spent: $65.24
Saved: $99.10

Here's what I bought (in three trips):
2.14 lbs. bananas
3 cans tuna
4 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 can nacho cheese soup
3 boxes Little Debbie Snack Cakes (I'm pregnant and this is a CRAVING!)
1 Energy Drink (my 16 year old was helping me shop that day)
2 Packs Nestle Cookie Dough (earned back $1.00 Upromise)
2 Boneless Sizzler steaks
2 Pks. Hot Italian Sausage
2 Pks. (6 total) Boneless Skinless Chicken breasts
2 lbs. deli Turkey breast
2 lbs. Deli ham
1.57 lbs. apples
2 packs shredded cheese
30 boxes of Muellers pastas (seeral different varieties)
2 pks. Kraft cheese slices
1 pk. bacon
3 Ph. Formula eye shadows
1 pk. hot dog buns
1 Pizza kit
1 doz. lg. eggs
2 Dole bagged salads
1 head of lettuce
2 roma tomoates
2 gal. of milk
3 Pace salsa's
1 Axe shower gel
1 pt. strawberries
1 bag chex mix
sliced watermelon
1 can refried beans
2 pks. taco seasoning


Walgreens:

Spent: $7.45
Saved: $36.79
Earned: $11.00 in register rewards

Here's what I bought:

2 Rembrandt Toothpastes
1 box ecotrin
2 Bayer Quick release
4 Walgreens Brand childrens aspirin
1 Nivea Body Wash
4 Bliss candy bars

CVS:

Spent: $7.76
Saved: $269.88
Earned: $61.00 in ECB's

Here's what I bought:

6 sets command hooks
1 bottle soft soap scrub
1 Palmolive dish soap
1 Schick intuition razor
Edge shave gel
2 bottle Excederin Menstrual
8 bottles of Aveeno face wash
12 bottles of Tresemme
6 Loreal Eye shadows
1 Bic Soleil Razor
2 Act Rinses
2 Crest Prohealth toothpastes
2 Bayer Quick Release
Stamps
P. Formula Powder
2 P. Formula concealers
CVS Recycled bag
Axe Body Wash

Keep the dime, toss the Penny??

I was recently watching the local news and the broadcaster made a statement that made me start thinking even more about how money is viewed by many. I don't even remember the subject matter, but vividly recall hearing him make the statement "keep your dimes and toss your pennies" as he pushed a dime into his pocket, and tossed a handfull of pennies on the sidewalk. What is wrong with our culture that we think nothing of tossing money away? Sure, it was just a few pennies, but it was MONEY.

I have read many posts on MSM money under the subject "Find a Penny, Pick it Up..." and they made me feel grateful to see that there are still people in this world that find the value in a found penny. I decided to keep track of all of the "found" pennies (and change) that I happen to pick up from the road, the couch cushions, the car wash...anywhere that I may find it. (this does NOT include any change that I get back from a purchase, or money that may be in the bottom of my purse as that is already put into a change jar to go towards debt) In a few short weeks, I have found $1.32. For my own fun, I am going to save all of my found money for one year and add it to my debt as one big (or small) snowflake. It will be great to see how much money I can find that others have just tossed away. Wish I had been standing nearby when that broadcaster tossed that handful of his unwanted pennies way

Dave Ramsey, and accepting blame

I had the opportunity to attend an event last night that opened my eyes to what is happening in the economy. It was called Town Hall for Hope, and it was a live, interactive web-event hosted by Dave Ramsey. Some of you may recall that I have become interested in his methods of getting out of debt, and am working on Baby Step Two of his program. (I will take the time to explain the program in more depth later on) The lecture last night was blunt and to the point, and really made me stand up and admit that the mess I am in financially is all of my own fault. (well, mine and my husbands) The problem now is....what do I do about it?

The first thing I did (today) was to sit back down and make a list of everything we have coming in each month and everything that we have going out. I created a budget for us for next month. Then I sat down and listed all of our debts, from smallest to largest. My goal was to have all of our debt (besides our home) paid off by the time I am 45. That is a little over 7 years from now. Reality really sunk in when I started listing all that we owe...and then I did one of the worst things that I probably could have done to myself. I added it all up, to see what the total amount owed is. Let's just say it was an overwhelming number, and one that brought me to tears. How did we get so far into debt?? And how are we going to get out of it with the fear of another layoff at my husbands school, with me not currently working, and with another baby on the way?

I can't answer that today. I may not be able to answer that tomorrow, or even next week. What I do know was that I took the first step in doing so, by facing the mess that we have created in our financial life and accepting the blame for creating it...and now I need to take the next step....finding any way possible to pay it off.

Savings Angel

In my last post I mentioned a new site that I am trying out called Savings Angel. It is a great coupon site, that matches you up with the best deals at your local stores. It not only tells you what the best deals are, but exactly where the coupons are that help you to maximize your savings. You become a member and you have access to all of this information, and even more savings tidbits.

Does it cost? Yes, it cost $19.95 a month in the beginning, but you can cancel membership at anytime. It is a month to month charge, so if you are not happy with the money that they have helped you save...simply call up the help desk and decline the next months membership. What is even better about the site, is that if you really do love it (and love the money you save by using it) you can refer others to the site, and they will actually pay you for each person you refer that signs up.

The referral program pays you $10 for each new sign-up + $5 each month for those who continue with them. And all you have to do is share your experiences. Even something as simple as, "I'm getting a bunch of incredible deals through a website called SavingsAngel. If you use my affiliate number, 24493, you can try it out and I get credit!"

And even better....you can actually MAKE money from your referrals. If you refer more people then the cost of your membership, they will pay you that referral bonus directly!! What can be better than that??

Are you interested yet?? Check out the website, at savingsangel.com, and if you decide to become a member, please use my member number 24493!!

My Love/Hate relationship with the Sunday Paper

As a couponer, I look forward to getting up Sunday morning and looking at the ads and coupon inserts in the Sunday paper. Often I already know what is going to be on sale, and what coupons I can expect, but there is something about actually seeing the ads that gets me excited for shopping that week. I browse through the ads, make lists of things we need, or things I can stock up on at each store, and then go through my coupons and see what I can match up. Recently I signed up for an online coupon matchup/saving site called Savings Angel, so I use that in conjunction with my older proven Sunday morning method. (I'll tell you more about Savings Angel in a later post)

Recently, however, I have started to hate the process of looking at the ads on Sunday mornings. It has nothing to do with coupons, or planning my shopping trips for the week. It has everything to do with watching my family decide that they NEED everything they see. This last Sunday was a rough one for me. I was already stressing out about money (and the neverending lack of it!!) and listening to my family just added to my financial stress. How do I convince them that they do not NEED all of these material things?? We have everything that we need. Are there things that I would love to buy? Sure!! I am human...and American too, but I also have started to realize that there is a BIG difference in the things that I want, and the things that I actually need.

Thus, my love/hate relationship with the Sunday paper has begun. I am not sure how I will deal with it every Sunday, but am anxious to figure out a way....

My Shopping for the Week

I had a great week shopping, and saving tons of money. Here is where I went, what I bought, and how much I saved and spent for the week.

Walgreens:

Bought:
Skintamate Shave Gel
Edge Shave Gel
2 Colgate Max Fresh Toothbrushes
9 Dove Trial size Deodorants
3 Degree Trial Size Deodorants
One A Day Woman's Drink Mix

Spent: $6.41
Saved: $22.70
Earned" $6.50 in Register Rewards
Rebate sent for: $1.49 for the One A Day Drink mix

Meijers:

Bought:
14 jars Pace Salsa
6 loaves of Arnold Whole Wheat Bread
2 bags of Dole Salad
4 Ortega Taco seasoning packs
2 bottles of Powerade
2 boxes pizza rolls
4 cans Chef Boyardee
Colgate Wisp
2 Bags Hostess donuts
2 Axe Body Sprays
1 Bag croutons
2 Contained of fresh mushrooms
2 lbs. bananas
2 Roma tomatoes
3 Healthy Choice mixers
2 boxes Thai noodles
1 green pepper
1 red pepper
8 jars Beechnut Baby food (earning $1.00 for Upromise)
1 can tuna

*This was done in multiple trips over the week.

Total Spent: $29.58
Total Saved: $148.73

CVS:

Bought:
15 2 liters of Pepsi products
2 boxes Excederin Mentrual tablets
2 Nivea Lip Balms
2 Packs Trident Splash gum
3 packs Mentos gum
2 Venus Embrace razors
20 Colgate Total Toothpastes
7 Loreal HIP lipcolors
2 Pantene Shampoo's
1 Pantene Styler
2 Sobe lifewaters
1 Stayfree Maxi pads
1 Carefree Maxi pads
2 bottles Maxwell House Instant coffees
1 box Huggies Baby wipes
1 Colgate Total Visible White
1 Natural Dental Rinse
2 Gillette Shampoos
2 Sure Deodorants
2 Maybelline Great Lash Mascaras

Spent: $17.39
Saved: $311.74
Earned: $82.94

Not too bad for my first week back!! :) Stay tuned, next week I have trips planned to all of the above and also Walmart.

My First official "couponing" trip this month

So, I decided that I just need to do it...get back into couponing again. I finally have my energy back, spent some time rereading all of my favorite sites, printed and searched for the right coupons, and headed to my local grocery store this afternoon, to try a small run.

Here is what I bought:
2 Loaves Arnold Whole wheat bread (Used 2 $1.00 off Mealbox Q's)
2 Bags Snyder Tortilla Chips (earned .50 for Upromise)
1 Bag Cheetos (.55 cents off MQ)
1.40 lb Shaved Deli ham
1.5 lbs. Gala Apples
1.5 Lb. Bananas
2 Jars Pace Salsa (used 2 Free IP MQ's and $1.00 Mealbox Q)
2 Bottles V8 Fruit Fusion (Used 2/$2.00 off IP MQ's and $1/2 Mealbox Q)
1 26 oz. Box of Milkbones (Used Free MQ up to 4.99)
2 lbs. Ground beef (used $2 off peelie coupon from the Snyders chips!)

I spent $4.49, and saved $36.13. After looking over my receipt I realized that I was overcharged for the Milkbones by .50 cents and one of my $1.00 off coupons did not come off....so I will have to have that adjusted tomorrow when I go back for more Pace and bread.

I am proud of myself for FINALLY getting back into the swing of saving. I plan to use the bread up for sandwiches this week, and use the beef, salsa and chips to make nachos one night. I will likely head back to the store a few more times to stock up on the really cheap/free stuff, and will pick up a few other things for meals...but I think I will easily be able to keep our grocery budget around $50 for this week, while still adding to my stockpile. Yippee!!!