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.
I love this movie. I enjoy the nostalgia of it. I would have to agree with Ralphie, that there is always just one present I have to have.
I thought this was just a hilarious video. I love this song and these guys do it great.
I thought that I would join The Sparrow's Nest Cyber Christmas Cookie Exchange. Here is my favorite cookie recipe. David and I would make these whenever we were craving something sweet.
No Bake Cookies
1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cup sugar
3 Tbl. cocoa
Bring to a boil and cook for 1 full minute. Remove from heat and add:
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 t vanilla
3 cups oats
Stir and drop on wax paper. Cool for at least 30 minutes. These just get better the longer you let them sit.
Good thing I don't have any readers yet. You'd think I had forgotten you. I promise to start writing now. I have more time and more thoughts.
To update, I am selling my house. Yes, another victim of too much money going out and not enough coming in. I will miss my little bungalow, but am looking forward to moving. I will be living with my middle niece and her family in the house that David and I lived in our whole time together. Guess that's where I should be, huh?
My little family is smaller, too. Duke decided to move on. One eveing this summer, he went out and never came home. I know what you're thinking, but I prefer to think he just found a new home. My oldest niece, her husband and two daughters were living with me at the time. There are times that I would have liked to find a quieter place to stay, so I certainly don't blame Duke.
I am joining the Etsy community. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5178136 is my shop. I will soon start adding items. I can't wait!
This is a test post from 
Hi Grace! I hope that you followed the link here to check me out. I realize that my blog isn't very big yet, but I am working on it. You can also check out my Flickr account http://www.flickr.com/people/7989478@N03/ to see my profile.
Go sign up at http://mydealoftheday.blogspot.com/2007/05/got-junk.html for a bloggy Junk Swap. Anyone who likes to thrift and second hand shop has treasures that she doesn't know quite what to do with. So, box up yours and get some new from someone else. Remember, one man's trash is another's treasure!
