Marcy @ "Stretching a Buck" wants you to save on your groceries @ Kroger. She is giving away a $25 giftcard to Krgoer. Her giveaway will end at midnight on 12/19. She shows us everyday ways to save money for your family.
Here are the answers to the "get to know you" questions that Jen gave us for the swap. Sorry it took me so long to get them posted!
1. What is your favorite Christmas decoration? Snowmen! My husband and I started collecting them when we first got married. Now they remind me of him. I also collect angels.
2. What colors/themes do you decorate for Christmas? I have some things that are very midcentury retro and some that are child-friendly, like homemade in art class stuff.
3. What Christmas item would you love to have? Something from your heart.
4. Favorite goodie & hot drink? I love fudge and hot chocolate of any kind. Something that is special to your neck of the woods would be nice.
5. Are you a crafter? If so what crafts do you do? I try to craft. I like paper crafting and received a sewing machine last year for Christmas.
6. What is your favorite pink item in your home? My favorite pink item is an old quilt I found at an auction. Cozy and cute.
7. What do you collect? I collect cat items, quilts and interesting vintage travel items. Anything vintage is cool with me.
8. Do you have special family traditions for the holidays? Not really. We like to go Christmas shopping on Black Friday and try to go to church on Christmas Eve.
I just found this wonderful blog and that of her sister C Jane. Please help the Nielson family by donating though the button on the right. You can also go to the Nie Recovery website http://www.reachelandrew.com/NieRecovery/Home.html to see how you can help.
FourSistersInACottage.com: ~Halloween Swap Details~
Check out this Halloween Swap! I can't wait!
Well, actually everyone won! But, I would still like to thank the academy or at least Samantha at http://savingforourfamilysdreams.blogspot.com/ for giving away Fuel for School" coupon brochures she was able to pick up at her Kroger grocery store. Go check out Samantha's bog. It is full of helpful tips to raise a growing family on less money.
This week's $5 CVS challenge from http://www.kingdomfirstmom.com/
Transaction #1
Alavert (12-15 ct) @ $5.99 earns 3 ECB
Children's Advil Infant Drops @ $5.79 earns 5.79ECB
Total $11.78
less $2 CVS coupon
less $4 printable for Alavert
less $1 printable for Advil
is $4.78 OOP to earn 8.79 ECB
Transaction #2
Buy 2 NutraNail Bullet Proofing Your Nails @$5.99 each earns 3ECB each
Total $11.98
Less $2 CVS q
Less $3 off 2 printable for NutraNail
Less 5.79 ECB from #1
is $1.19 OOP to earn 6 ECB
So you can stop at the first transaction to have 8.79 ECBs to use later or do both to spend $5.97 and have 9 ECBs for later.
Samantha from "Saving for Our Family's Dreams" is showing off her recent Kroger trip. She did a bangup job for only $30. She wants to help us do the same. She is having a coupon giveaway. Click on the title above to go to her blog post.
I just signed up for this search. I earn 1 point for every search and up to 100 points for every referral. These points add up and can be traded in for gas cards. Definitely a good deal! Click on the title t0 join up!
Frugal Freelancer: FLBYU CONTEST & GIVEAWAY! Coupon Organization
I love this organizer. I try to use as many coupons as I can when grocery and CVS shopping. I like to think that if I can get the items we use cheaper, than Cassie and Steve have more money to pay other bills.
Here is my progress at CVS. I enjoy shopping there, and as SB wrote in her assessment, it is one way to scratch the shopping itch without breaking the bank. SB has obviously spent less cash out of pocket, but a lot of the cash I spent was on my FSA card for medicines and other health care items. If I am figuring correctly, I have a 77% savings. However, I am down to only 3ECB.
I also use CVS to purchase diapers, soft drinks and household items we need. I live with my niece and her family. I hope that I am contributing more than the actual rent I pay them. If I can get these items cheaply or even free, Steven's paycheck can go farther, and Cassie can stay home with Jaxson.
Connecticut Charm has the partners for the Preppy Spring Swap up. If you are Amy S (my wonderful partner), would you please email me? Thanks!
I have been "doing CVS" for a couple months now. Quite a few Christmas presents were very inexpensive or even free. My sister and nieces are starting to jump on the bandwagon. But, I have never really kept track before now. I found this spreadsheet (link in my title) today via another blog. So I will try to update my totals each month.
I am starting with $20.98 ECBS.
In the last few days, I have purchased $117.06 worth of items, using $54.99 in coupons, $41.95 ECBs and $20.12 out of pocket. I have earned $36.96 in ECBs. This is an 83% savings.
Connecticut Charm has graciously decided to host A Preppy Spring Swap. I can't wait. If you are interested in joining, Click on my title to get the details!
I swear that I will start writing again. It's been busy for the last couple months. I am almost completely out of the old house. I took quite a few pieces of furniture and 2 pallets of boxed items to the auction this week. I am hoping to make a little fun money. I figured that most of it came from there, so might as well take it back. In fact, some of the items I was hoping to sell on Ebay or at the flea markets still had the original auction tags on them. I have quite a bit of stuff at Cassie's house and a full 5' by 10' storage unit. I am getting better at letting things go. It still hurts to get rid of David's things, but some of the things I have been keeping are silly. Like a vest that I didn't even like or ratty old t-shirts. I do have quite a few of his nicer shirts that I sleep in when I am feeling a little lonely.
His grandma died a couple weeks ago. She had been sick over a year. She had colon cancer, same as David. I know so many people who have had this disease. Someday, maybe we will find a cure or even stop it from even starting.
