So last night I was doing my usual Sunday night activity – cutting coupons. First I cut out the weekly coupons and then go thru the ads for goodies.

I went thru the Rite Aid ad – just a couple deals I’m interested in and the Kroger ad really sad this coming week. And then I opened the Walgreen’s ad – ah delight.

To start I have the following register rewards (RR) from 2 weeks ago that I must use by Thursday end of day: a $6, 3 - $5 and 2 - $1.50. So I broke the list down by each RR.

$6 RR
Gillette Fusion razor $8.99 - $4 coupon = $4.99
3 cans (8 oz) cans of Hunt’s tomato sauce = $1.17
Total out of pocket (oop) = 16 cents give or take I’ll have tax on the razor
I will receive another $4 RR for the razor. In turn I can sell the razor for $5 at my yard sales this summer.

$3 RR #1
Excederin female formula $2.50 - $2.00 coupon = 50 cents
Excederin another formula $2.50 - $1.00 coupon = $1.50
2 rolls Big Bath tissue $1.00
Total OOP approx 7 cents (tax on tissue)
I will receive $2 RR for female Excederin

$3 RR #2
Excederin female $2.50 - $2 coupon = 50 cents
Goody hair scrunchies $2.99
Total OOP $3.50
I’ll get back another $2 RR for the Excederin and another one for the hair things.
I can either sell the hair things at the yard sales or put them in the donation box.

$3 RR #3
Excederin female $2.50 - $2 coupon = 50 cents
Can of Maxwell House coffee $2.50
OOP tax approx 7 cents
I’ll get the $2 RR for the Excederin

$1.50 RR #1
Can of Salmon (about the only fish I will eat) $1.49
Orbit multipack $1.09 (reported price I’m not positive) - $1.00 coupon = 9 cents
No tax all considered food oop under 15 cents

That is where I gave up last night. I still have 1 - $1.50 RR, another Excederin $2 coupon, and I think 2 $1.00 Excederin coupons. Then late last night I discovered another deal.

In yesterday’s paper we received a $3 off Neosporin AND Band Aids coupon. I also have the Walgreen’s Activity book with coupons for Neosporin & Band Aids character band aids. So I posted on Refund Cents asking if they could all be used and the verdict is yes!!! They can be used and my OOP will be about $1.50. I’ll keep the Neosporin but can sell the Band Aids at the yard sales. I think they will sell well we have lots of kids in the park and if they are cheap the parents will buy them.

Then to make the morning even better I received a coupon for free Excederin (up to $5.99) . Better believe I will be buying the biggest bottle of ANY kind of Excederin to use it even if I have to pass up the $2 rr. Beautiful time for pain killer to go on sale/special deal I was down to 2 small bottles in the cabinet.

I'm sure someone is wondering why buy all the Excederin seperate. The RR will only print for 1 bottle per order. Doing the orders in this manner means I will maximize my savings, my future RR and keep my OOP low. Also my store gets a stocking shipment in on Thursday - so if something is low I can go back Thursday late afternoon and finish up.

Happy savings, happy shopping and many blessings, Laura

Wal mart shopping

One of our neighbors offered us a ride to Walmart today. I jumped at the chance instead of riding the bus. Yeah yeah I know not using the public transit but it wasn’t just for me the neighbor was going anyways. I really needed to get out of the house I was getting stir crazy.

So I did find a few good deals:
Stacy Pita chips finally found them to use my free coupon. I got the plain with a hint of salt I liked them Greg does not care for them. $2.68
6 packets of Star Kist tuna $1 each and I used 3 $1 off 2 coupons = 50 cents each.
6 Progresso High Fiber soup $1.50 each and I used $1.10 off coupons = 40 cents each. I bought the Tomato Basil thinking I will use it for cooking. 2 Smart something macaroni $1.28 - .75 cents off coupons = 53 cents each. And the reciept is not help its just says Elbows and honestly I am to tired to go into the other room, dig them out and find out what brand they are. Besides that would require that I walk past Simba who is playful today and keeps attacking my feet (and anything else that strikes his fancy).
1 Cat chow cat food $3.27 – 1.00 = $2.27
1 Tide single load packet .97 - .35 cents coupon = 62 cents

Sub total $28.54
After coupons $13.83
Saved $14.71

Blessings

Gifts given and received

The Baby Bears brought over surprise Valentine's Day gifts. Unfortunately I was not home. They gave me another yellow ducky - he has a shamrock on his front and is on a bead chain. When he lights up pretty blue, yellow and green lights.

They also gave me a pretty white dish and boxes of candy.

Now for the giving of gifts. 3 weeks ago I lost my wedding ring - in the span of 3 hours it slipped off my finger. I was heartbroken. Well last week my dear friends B & J pulled me into a private room at church and gave me a replacement ring. Trust me this bad boy is not coming off!!! So along with saying thank you about a million times I made them a goodie basket. I filled a basket with a jar of homemade strawberry jam, a loaf of white bread, a loaf of banana bread and a loaf of Lemon Walnut bread. Then to be cute I left it on J's car seat so she couldn't get into her van after church.

I got an email this morning saying thank you for the treats.

Remember giving a homemade gift says I love you from the heart and means much more than just a gift you buy with money.

Blessings.

This weeks menu plan

Sunday (OK so I am a bit late) was blade steak, mashed potatoes, carrots cooked in beef broth and Grand Biscuits

Monday - chili in homemade bread bowls

Look how cute are they??? And just imagine how they tasted all that yummy yeast.

Tuesday - I have a meeting and will eat at my Dad's. Greg is having fend for yourself. With my luck it will be greens, ham hocks and beans. And since it is winter and with the house is shut up, it will stink for days.

Wednesday - I have church potluck and am taking chicken and noodles (at Greg's request). And I will leave Greg's share here for him.

Thursday - hot dogs and Greek salad (at Greg's request)

Friday - pizza night (meaty thin crust). Again another Greg request you know I think he got a little vocal about the menu this week. Hey it took some of the burden off me.

Saturday - Burgers with avocado mayo (new recipe)

Blessings

Happy Valentine's Day

I'm not one for flowers or candy all I want is something real simple to mark the holiday.

Greg gave me the big brown bear - you can tell how nice he is to cuddle with. The candy heart came with him.

I gave Greg the smaller litle brown bear and he sings. Sugar Pie honey bunch you know I love you etc etc etc. His cheeks light up to real cute but his singing upsets the bird.

Happy Valentines' Day and may you be blessed with much love.

Blessings from me to you

Some great shopping and this months' food pantry donation

Our Krogers was/is doing triple coupons this weekend. I didn't have many coupons that would triple (50 cents and lower)- honestly I wish they would super double (double all from 55 cents to $1.00).

I surprised myself I didn't just whilley nilley toss everything into my cart I thought and judged by what I would use.

Some of my good deals are:

6 Pillsbury grands biscuits with coupons and the Daytona $1.80 for buying 10 items special I paid $3.54 for all 6 BUT then a $4.00 on your next shopping order coupon came out.

I used my BOGO egg coupon

2 Free packages of Golden oreo cookies

2 Betty Crocker boxed potato mixes - 59 cents each and will get donated.

1 Betty Crocker pouch of potatoes - 9 cents and donated

1 can of Rotel tomatoes with chilis - 2 cents keeping them I'm about out of homegrown tomatoes. Don't worry over the past 3 weeks they have been on sale I have about 10 cans stashed away.

2 French's whorchester (sorry about the spelling) sauce - 49 cents and will donate 1.

2 Franks hot sauce - 9 cents each and I will donate both.

I also picked up the oat bran I was looking for and a package of wheat flour. That opens up different types of bread that I can make. I'm doing real well with the white bread - time to move on.

Blessings

Snow pictures

We didn't get as much as those on the Eastern Coastline but we got a nice amount. The National Weather service said 12.2 inches and the local tv station (within a mile of us) said 10 inches. I trust the TV station more than the Weather service.

These pictures were all taken about 3:30 pm after snowing and blowing for about 7 hours.

This is the snow bank in front of our shed.

An overall picture of both fields behind our place. You can see the fence line that seperates them.
The front of the mobile home but under the pine tree.