Eat CHEAP

For merely $2.00, you can purchase $25.00 gift certificates for fantastic restaurants in your area, HERE! Normally, these same GC's go for $10-$15, so don't miss out on this great deal!!!

9-6-9

I am a little bummed that this week's paper has NOT A SINGLE insert to offer. NO COUPONS? Geesh!

But I did find this great deal to share with you!!! Smokey Bones is offering a Buy One Get One Free entree deal, with THIS coupon, good until tomorrow, 9-7 ONLY!

The B1G1 coupon CAN be combined with THIS coupon, good through 9-9, for $10 off your purchase of $20 or more. That could make for one heck of a dining out deal!

Enjoy your long weekend, and I hope many of you take advantage of this great offer from SMOKEY BONES!

Walgreens and CVS 8-31-09

I didn't do so bad today!!! I think I COULD HAVE done better, but again, I was shopping with my two year old.................LOL

CVS
_______
4 M&M .89/ea. I used coupons for FREE Hershey's received in the mail = 0
2% Deans milk = 1.99
Glade Fragrance Difuser, sale 6.99, used $4/1 MFC = 2.99, received 6.99 in ECBs
Reeses PBC = .89
Carmel = .33
Spongebob cookie = 1.50
Aquafresh Iso Active toothpaste 4.99, used $1 MFC = 3.99, received $3.00 in ECBs

I used 3.00, 3.79, ECB's
I used $4/$20 from pharmacy booklet

TOTAL OOP = $1.63!!!
ECBs EARNED = $9.99

WALGREENS
______________
3 jumbo packs of huggies 11.00
I used in ad coupon for $8.99 each
I used 3 $3/1 printable MFCs
I used $1/1 wags coupon from coloring book
I used 15% off coupon good for today only = $4.49 per pack.
I will submit to Caregivers for a total of $3.75/pack

1 pack of Huggies pull ups
I used in ad coupon for 8.99
I used $3/1 MFC
I used $1/1 wags coupon from coloring book
I used 15% off coupon
(SEE ABOVE) total 3.75

Carefree pads 1.99
I used $1/1 coupon = .99, received $2 RR

Secret Deodorant 2.99
I used in ad coupon for $1.99
I used coupon for 15% off
I used $1 MFC = .84
Used B1G1 Free coupon = 2/.84

Laundry detergent
used 15% off coupon = 2.12

I used $3.00 off RR
Total OOP = $16.77 with tax

WAG Q savings = 14.55
WAG advertised savings = 2.47
NFC Q savings = 20.80
TOTAL SAVINGS = 37.82
I earned $2 in RR

My WAGS trip was pretty much a nightmare, as my son was wearing down and screaming throughout the store. I could have saved more using more RR, but...I was ready to GO!!!

16.77 OOP- $3.00 in Caregivers rebates - $2 earned isn't so bad, right???

CASH FOR CLUNKERS AT BABIES R US/TOYS R US?

So, check THIS out (thanks to babycheapskate)!!! TRU and BRU is offering trade in on your useds, unwanted baby items!!! Take in the items you no longer use or need, and get 20% off your purchase for a new item!
This deal starts August 28th and will continue through September 20th. For all the details, see the post HERE!

New Walgreen's coupon!

Just when I thought I could be formally disappointed with Walgreen's for their lack of deals this week, they put out a new coupon for $5 off of a $25 purchase! To print your coupon, click HERE.

Looking for a great buy on baby wipes and diapers? Here is a good scenerio!

Purchase 4 Jumbo packs of Walgreen's brand supreme diapers, on sale for $5.99 = $23.96

Purchase 2 packs of Hugies wipes for .79 each after coupon = $1.58

Huggies wipes are $2.79. Use the coupon for $2/package. You can find this coupon at the front of the store in the back to school book!

Your total for FOUR packs of diapers and TWO packs of wipes will be $25.54
Use the above coupon for $5/$25 = $20.54

Financial thoughts.

I have not stopped thinking about finances since my post last night; when I totalled up OUR household debt, I am pretty sure my heart fell to the floor. It can be very overwhelming!!!

Our generation grew up believing that debt was simply a way of life. It was expected, and accepted, to take out loans to finance our own education. If you were like me, it started out small. I took out small loans to help pay for SOME of my college courses. I continued to work full-time to pay for the other part. Eventually, I got overwhelmed...I was working two jobs, one as a retail manager, and one as a waitress, and going to school full time (15 - 18 credit hours/semester). I was also living on my own and had bills to pay!!! Of course, I couldn't just live in any ol' apartment! Oh no...I had to have the best! I rented a duplex for $750.00/month! I thought I was making good choices, but I was only starting my dependency on financing my future.

Eventually, I quit working to go back to school full-time and focus on my education. I was 23 at the time, and moved back on campus...a bit of a blow to my ego, if I do say so myself!!! Before moving, I had a large garage sale (my very first!) to make enough money to get me through the semester, hoped for the year! I also had to give up my precious puppy, as it was forbidden to have pets on campus. It was, at the time, the most difficult thing I had ever done.

After just a couple of months of living on campus with three roommates, I realized that the money I had hoped would finance me through the year was dwindling, and I knew I had to get a job. Fortunately, I found a great opportunity at a Youth Center; I could work when I wanted and got paid fairly well.

Eventually, I was working with three kids instead of just one. But that didn't last forever...eventually the program closed, and again, I was at square one. No savings. No income...but bills to pay! So, I started taking out more money for my student loans, a little bit to live on in addition to what I needed to pay for classes. If I couldn't afford what I needed, like groceries, I put it on a charge card!!! I had several credit cards: Kay's, Express, Limited, Victoria's Secret, Structure/Bath and Body Works, Sears, Sam's, and Capitol One! Anything I needed was available with the swipe of my plastic magic!!!

I finally graduated...but with a hefty amount of debt to account for!!! I had a whopping $48,000 in school loans and somewhere around $8,000 in credit card debt.

Eventually, my car decided to take a crap, and I didn't have a vehicle to get me back and forth to school and work...with no cash and no credit left to do what I needed to do to FIX the problem, which was the starter, I decided it would be better to simply buy a new one. I got financed for the loan, added my personal loan to it, and drove off the car lot with a new car, and another $28,000.00 in debt. I didn't have to make my first payment for 90 days, so I thought this was for sure the way to go!!!

Eventually, it all caught up with me, and I was left with financial debt up to my EARS!!! I can safely say that there is no worse feeling than learning that your financially SCREWED!!! I felt like a caged animal, ready to break out, but unable to do so.

My husband and I have since made some accomplishments with our finances, and we realize the consequences of financing our future. It isn't worth it!!! We want to get OUT OF DEBT completely; while we have made progress, we have a ways to go still.

Admitting that you have debt, and don't want to go down that road anymore, IS HUGE!!! It is difficult to talk about; it isn't a proud moment when you realize what your financial choices have amounted to. Keeping up with the Jones's is a tough job, and we all want to have the BEST! Is it really worth the stress? No. I am tired of living outside of our means, and refuse to raise my children believing that is the norm.

I want to make our financial struggles, ups and downs, public. By doing so, I hope to hold myself more accountable. Each day we make financial decisions, and I want to make better ones! Join me on my journey to FINANCIAL FREEDOM!!!!!!!

DEBT CONTROL

I am looking forward to retaking Dave Ramsey's Financial Freedom classes starting next week!!! I signed up in January for my very first time in his class. My best friend, Autumn, and I enjoyed every class and learned SO MUCH! Since beginning the class this year, my family and I have made more conscious efforts to manage our finances and become financially FREE! To do so, we have had to cut back a lot on our spending, and in doing so have been blessed to do more for others.

We look forward to learning more our second time around, and hope to implement more of his strategies in everyday life.

Unfortunately, we were not always wise to the limitations debt can put on us, and it was entirely our fault for getting ourselves into debt...one day, hopefully soon, we will realize our dream of living completely DEBT FREE!!!

Debts consist of:
Mortgage/refinance loans
Car/vehicle loans
School/college loans
Personal loans
Credit cards
Business loans
Credit debts
any other money owed

Before we start the class, I am going to add up our total debt and compare it to where we were at the beginning of 2009. I WILL BE POSTING HERE WHAT OUR CURRENT HOUSEHOLD DEBT IS!!! If you would, I would absolutely LOVE to know where you are at with financial debt. You can post anonymously if you prefer. I would like to get an average debt per household for FIFTY readers!!!

THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING!!!

Our Household Debt Total: $107,825.47
Whew! Putting it out there for the whole world to see is a little stressful!!! We have been working hard on reducing our debt, and it has been quite a challenge. While Dave Ramsey says that you do not have to include your mortgage in your total debt, I have chosen to include it. Regardless, it is money that we owe, and money that we are paying interest on.
We are proud to say we are out of credit card debt!!! :-) We are still paying on one of my school loans and my car loan.
Our next step is to pay off my car, then the school loan, and THEN the mortgage! Hopefully we can refrain from adding to our total debt anymore!

WALGREENS 8-24-09

I didn't do so bad at Walgreens! If only I could quit the Pepsi...

Remmell Mascara 40 % off, $3.59

I used $2. MFC

Remmell nail care 40% off, $2.39

I used $1 MFC

Remmell nail color 40% off, $2.09

I used $1 MFC

2 Smart Rinse Listerine, 2/$8.00

$3.00 RR earned

I used TWO $1/1 MFCs

I used TWO $1/1 WAGS Q from colorbook insert

Tylenol B1G1 Free, 2/$4.99

I used TWO $2/1 MFCs

Tylenol B1G1 FREE, 2/$4.99

I used TWO $2/1 MFCs

Advil Liquigel $4.49 /Thermacare $5.99(purchase one of each, receive $4 RR)

I used $1/1 Advil MFC

I used $3/2 MFC

4 Glade Fabric/Air Odor Eliminator on sale 2/$5.00

I used TWO B1G1 coupons, = 4/$5.00

Pepsi, 4/$12.00 (NOT PICTURED)

I used Wags Q, Buy 4 get one FREE = 5/$12

TOTAL BEFORE COUPONS = $33.53

I also used register rewards towards my total:Register rewards count as MFCs

- $2.00

- $5.00

- $4.00

- $3.00

TOTAL OUT OF POCKET = $19.53

Register Rewards earned on this transaction = $7.00

Wag coupon savings = $2.00

Wag advertisement savings = $33.17

MFC coupon savings = $39.00

GRAND TOTAL SAVINGS OF $74.17

CVS shopping trip 8-24-09

I did well today at CVS!

4 Pepsi 12 packs (not pictured), sale 4/$12.00

$3.00 ECBs earned

2 Glade Sense and Spray starter kits, sale 2/$10.00

$3.00 ECB's earned

I used 2 $4.00/1 MFCs from yesterday's insert

Carefree Ultra Protection, $3.79

$3.79 ECBs earned

I used 1 $1/1 MFC

Huggies wipes, $3.49

I used $2 off coupon from CVS printout

I also used .75 MFC

Kotex B1G1 Free, 2/$1.49

I used two $1/1 MFCs

TOTAL BEFORE Q's = $30.77

TOTAL AFTER COUPONS = $17.02

I also used a CVS coupon for $5 off of a $25 purchase = $12.54

And I used $4 in ECBs I earned last week = $8.02 Out Of Pocket

Total savings of = $22.75

And I earned $9.79 in ECBs for my next shopping trip!!!

Break time!

Hi fellow bloggers, couponers and loyal readers. I wanted to take a quick minute to post an update, in case anyone is wondering where I have been all week! While there are some great deals out this week, I have decided to give myself a MUCH needed break from the bargain shopping.
Earlier in the week, I hit my nearest Kmart for the double coupon deals, and became quite frustrated when the trip did not go as planned. Moms, you know how difficult it can be to do couponing with a toddler in tow...'nuf said? I decided to take my two year old son with me this time, as I had other plans for our trip too. Rowan did not do so well...he was crabby, didn't get his full nap, and was hungry. On my end, I forgot my coupon list and shopping list at home, which is 40 minutes from Kmart! Not worth going back for... I spent a good two hours in Kmart trying to match up my coupons with sales. I won't try that again! Also, I noticed that Kmart has a little trick up their sleeve...when double coupons roll around, they seem to mysteriously mark items up...and THIS made me furious!!! So, I picked up a few items, but nothing near what I had hoped.
Since that trip, I have decided I would take a break from the deal shopping for the rest of the week! My stock pile closet is nicely stocked, and I am hoping that we can get through the rest of the month on what we already have, thus saving on shopping time and saving money in the process!