WAGS DEALS

I am totally excited about my Walgreens shopping tonight!!! Here is a brief summary, questions, just ask!

HUGGIES JUMBO DIAPERS $10.00
SPEND $25, GET $10 RR

I bought three packs = $30
Register Rewards = - $10.00
I used 3 1.50 MFC = -4.50
I used 3 $1.00 off Wags coupon (in coloring book) = - $3.00
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3 packs Huggies (96 diapers), for a total of $12.50 (13 cents/diaper!!!)

ADVIL PM 4.49
$2 RR
$1.50 off coupon from Insert
----------------------------------
.99

CREST PRO HEALTH TOOTH PASTE 2.49
$1 RR
1.50 MFC
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FREE PLUS OVERAGE!

Woot!!! Can't beat those deals. I also got a crazy random $2 RR...not sure how.

OOP = $26.48
Register rewards back = $15.00

total = $11.48

If only the doves deal had worked....see milkallergymom.blogspot.com for that bargain!!!

Oh little monkey boy...

Rowan is absolutely INSANE!!!!!!!!!!! For those of you who do not already know, we made a trip to the emergancy room AGAIN! He dove head-first off the bed onto the hardwood.

Anyway, thanks for all the calls and prayers...he is doing just fine, and is back to jumping off furniture...ahhhhhh

PAIN, pain, go away...

Okay, so the last couple of days have been awful... Yesterday I went back to my orthodontist, and got braces put back on my top eight front teeth. My front tooth just has a mind of its own, and doesn't want to cooperate! He is doing it for free, so I thought why not...get 'er done, right?

Also, I somehow managed to do something to my back. My shoulder blades literally feel like they are on FIRE, and have a weird numb sensation that I cannot really explain with words. So, after several hours of calling my doctor repeatedly, I got a prescription. I think I should have probably gone to the chiropractor...

Fun day!

Rowan and I have been fighting off some bug. Yesterday Rowan was running a temperature and not feeling so well. He was very grumpy all day! Then, this morning, I woke up with a major sore throat. I felt awful all morning and afternoon. Tonight I am feeling a little better, so I hope whatever it is, is going away!!! PRONTO!
Today, my friend Hope and her two little girls, Elise and Caroline, came over. We had a lot of fun talking and watching the kids play so well together. It was actually really nice to be able to just stay home all day! :-) I feel like we haven't really stopped all month. GO-GO-GO-GO-GO!!! I don't recall February always being like this???

Baby steps count!

Today, I took a HUGE step. I called all the credit card companies, and cancelled allll of our cards!!! I paid them all off while Jamie was in Iraq last time, but we had managed to pile up some CC debt on one card. I am very pleased to say that we are now CREDIT CARD DEBT FREE, and it feels freaking fantastic!!!

Cards we got rid of:
Capital one platinum
Macy's
Victoria's Secret Platinum angel
Sear's
Sam's
Express platinum
Limited Platinum
Kay's Jeweler

At our worst, we had over $5,000.00 on all the cards. We are now out of debt as far as credit cards are concerned!!!! CAN I GET A WHOOP WHOOP???

Secondly, I have applied to get our car loan through a local bank instead of through Chrysler financing. I am looking at dropping our interest rate from a WHOPPING 14% to 7%, much improvement, right? Also, we are taking it from a 6 year loan to a four year loan, and it will STILL lower our monthly payment by over $130.00. We will continue to pay the higher monthly payment, since we already have been. Hopefully we will get out of this loan much sooner than we had expected.

Yesterday, I ordered our annual FREE copies of our credit reports, so I am anxious to see our "FICA SCORES", hale the holy! :-)

We are taking desperate measures to get ourselves out of debt. We do not have anymore debt than the average American, but we like Dave Ramsey's theory, "Live like no one else today, so you can live like no one else tomorrow"...here is to a debt free tomorrow, my friends!

Our overall financial goal is to be debt free in 39 months. We are working our tail ends off to get it done!!! WHOOOOOOOHOOOOO!!!

BECOMING DEBT FREE...is it possibe?

Hi everyone! Been a long while, huh? Sorry! Life has been keeping me so busy lately. February has been a month of many appointments. Dentist, doctor, orthodontist, gyno, you name it! Not to mention, Rowan and I have been sick off and on, and I started a new class!
I am quite excited to tell you that I am taking the Financial Peace class at my church, and absolutely LOVE IT! The class is by Dave Ramsey, and I am learning so much. I thought I was doing all that I could to save as much money as possible; in fact, when I signed up for this class, Jamie said to me, "why are you taking a class to be a tight-wad when you already are one"? It was a relevant question!
I am learning that living on credit alone is no way to live, and Jamie and I have said a MAJOR financial goal. We hope to be completely DEBT free in 36 months. That means, no credit card debt, no school loan debt and no vehicle debt. The house will take a little longer, but we are hoping to have it paid off in FIVE YEARS, instead of the 20 we planned.
Living on a budget has proven to be a little difficult for me. I am not a big spender by any means. My weakness, as I have learned, is eating out and grabbing a snack and coffee too often. Now, we will be spending more on groceries and saving in the long run. It's a challenge, but I do treat myself to the occassional coffee every once in a while.
I will keep this blog updated with each baby step we accomplish. For those of you familiar with Dave Ramsey, I am proud to say we have baby step #1 DONE!!! Check!!!

News

Wow, I just realized that it has been a while since my last post. Life has been keeping me busy. Rowan is at the age that he needs constant attention and direction...or redirection! He is a lot of fun. He's learning a lot of new things, and keeping me on my toes.

I think Beau may be the bigger challenge though!

So, I just have to give a shout out to my amazing realtor! I absolutely loved working with her. She was exceptionally patient with me. Well, in December, she helped my brother-in-law and sister-in-law find their perfect house! It was their first time buying as well, and Linda was awesome! Recently, one of my close friends has been house hunting. She wasn't having much luck, and wasn't too fond of her realtor, so she gave Linda Pontnack a call...in ONE day, Linda found them their perfect house! She is amazing!!!!!!!!!! I am so psyched for my friend, Melissa, and her family!

Also...I have to mention my new book. I started reading, Accidental Mother, by Rowan Coleman. I LOVE IT!!! If I didn't have a toddler to take care of, I wouldn't put this book down! It's well-written, and I cannot WAIT to finish it. Next I will read her second book, Another Mother's Life. WOOHOO NEW BOOKS MAKE ME HAPPY! If I only had the time to read....

SCOTTISH TERRIER

So, I really hate to do this, but I am going to anyway. While my husband was home in September, he bought Rowan a dog. We named him Beau (AKA "BOBO"); he is a full-bred black Scottish Terrier. He is six months old, current on all vaccines, and is registered.

I am having a difficult time trying to train him; I just do not have the time to spend one-on-one with him like I should. He is a very lovable dog, loves to be held and cuddled. He is 16 lbs, and probably will not get much bigger.

I am desperate to find him a good home. He is great with the older kids, but my 21 month old is scared of Beau. Beau likes to run and play, and it intimidates Rowan.

Please, if you know anyone who is looking for a canine companion, contact me via a message on here. We payed $300 for Beau three months ago. We have also kept his shots up and have purchased many toys, snacks, food , large kennel, grooming items, leash, collar and all the essentials. I would gladly send all of his belongings with him to the right home.

When I get a chance, I will put up a picture. THANKS!!!

Back to the coupons!

So, now that I have all-day access to the internet again, I am hoping that my thrifty coupon shopping will pick back up. I had a nice stock of meds, diapers, and all things baby and decided I could slack off on the shopping until after Christmas. Then I had a nice trip to West Virginia for three weeks (mid Nov. to beginning of Dec.), and I did absolutely NO coupon clipping that entire time! YIKES! Since I have returned home, I have fallen into the rut of no coupons...I know, I know, what happened!
So, I need to build up my coupon folders again and get back into the savings. I am almost out of my stock of diapers and meds...and,.,,,,,gulp, I paid FULL PRICE for Ny-Quil...that was a tough one to admit!
New Year, new start. Let's get couponing!!!

Happy Saturday!

Okay, first, let me use this blog to say I AM SORRY to my wonderful husband...I AM SORRY I WAS GROUCHY with you when you called me this morning! We had a rough night lastnight, and I just wanted to sleep! Rowan kept waking himself up coughing, the dog got out of his cage and pooped all over the darn house, Rowan was in bed with me and peed through his diaper and all over me. In the middle of the night, I had to change clothes, wipe Rowan down and change the bedding. My phone rang 17 times between 7 and 8 this morning, and I was ready to kill someone. THEN, I shut the ringer off on my cell phone, and you called the house phone...which was right next to me. I know, it was no excuse to be angry with you, I was just frustrated...so, I am sorry!!!

Other than all that mess, I have had a really nice day. Jenn and Lee came over to visit this afternoon. It was great to get to spend some time with them. I had an appointment to get my oil changed, and they babysat! That's right, I didn't have to take the boys with me! What a treat!!! Usually, when I take the car in for an oil change, I am chasing Rowan around...by the time I leave, I am worn out...but today was nice. It only took them 30 minutes, and I read a magazine in the waiting room! THANKS JENN AND LEE!!!!

Rowan really took to Aunt Jenn while I was gone, and he sat on her lap the whole time! How sweet is that? We went to lunch at Applebee's, and the boys (for the most part) were well-behaved! Well, except that Rowan smacked the waitress when she wouldn't wave back to him and tried to snatch an old lady's purse...lol

We got home a little while ago, and it is time for Rowan to take his nap now...whew!