A time for spending

I'm taking a few weeks off from couponing. Our pantry is full, we've got enough to live off for a few weeks without much need for groceries (just the basics..milk, bread, and eggs). I am on a spending craze. It really feels good to take a break and buy clothes and good yummy wine without a thought about coupons. I think this will be a good routine for me so I don't get burnt out on saving money.

What I have realized is that I tend to focus all of my attention in one direction at a time.... Baby... Groceries... Whatever. Now with the hiatus from groceries, I'm back to countdown to periodoom and the onset of boobwatch. Ah, what fun!

-- Post From My iPhone

Any number of things

Life is crazy.

Dealing with some family issues, it's surprising to me how little I let me get stressed out now. The current situations, which I will not elaborate on, would have left me in tears and freaking out...now, it's just another day.

Work is great, too much of it, but great. I just got a job offer to work for a bigger line, which means more commission, a raise, and less hours. A triple threat of lovely. Plus I use all of the products so I'll actually save money by working there (free stuff every few months).

Speaking of saving, grocery deals all around. I'm still mad at the crazy buy it all lady, but hey, what can you do. I was able to buy alot of stuff tonight for about 12 dollars, so I am at peace with my coupons. I hope albertsons always does doubles! Super good and cheap food.

I did buy a pregnancy test. Hey, it was on sale. I know i know, it just doesn't add up in case I do turn out to be one of those that tests don't work on, but you can't hate on me for trying. I didn't focus on the ovulation the last few months, so I would like to officially declare that "we are not trying!" to the universe... Just in case it helps.


-- Post From My iPhone

Caught myself

I checked the calendar and I think I'm at 10 days past ovulation. I should be slapped on the hand. Why do I put myself through this torture?

Standing in the time out corner.

Thankfully, with last month's mistaken symptoms, I think I learned my lesson. My gigantic sore boobs and sweet tooth are just signs my period is on the way. Not that I'm surprised at this point.

Such is life.

(in grocery news, I managed to get 190 worth of groceries for about 40 bucks!)

-- Post From My iPhone

Grand Opening

Okay, so I think I may have this grocery thing all backward. I seem to be spending more money than I used to for groceries, but it's like crack...I just wanna save more and more money. I don't feel good unless my car is full of the stuff....like a fix.

I start out the fun at Albertsons... boy I used to hate Albertsons with their lower height aisles and the magical "urine like" smell that always seem to permeate the aisles (anyone else notice this? no matter the store?) But, with all the amazing deals I just can't seem to get away from going there at least twice a week.

This week - Eight or so transactions (purex detergent is my new BFF, so cheap!)....$31.58

What I got:
(20) boxes Mac and Cheese
(4) capri sun boxes
(7) purex detergent/softeners
(3) V8 juices
(8) boxes of kelloggs cereal

Savings of: $79.01 or 72% savings!

Target and Clearance - like music to my ears! $35.23

What I got:
(1) lock for locker (full price, but needed it for work)
(1) Lysol Spray for .02
(3) Value Pack Hefty Garbage bags
(2) Scrubbing bubble cleaners
(4) Mr Clean cleaners
(1) eaten immediately bag of chocolate
(2) BBQ sauce
(2) Kashi waffles
(1) Shaving gel
(2) dog treats
(2) bags of litter

Savings of: $38.92 or 53% saved!

Also did a walmart run, but only saved like 16 dollars so not worth the extensive post....but I did end up with a 105 grocery tab at the end of the week for all stores...a little over double what I normally do. Ash has requested that I stop buying cereal, bbq sauce and mac & cheese..but I reminded him I have a young brother going to college soon and that we have the potential to donate quite a bit this year (maybe enough to claim on taxes!) so he changed his tune quickly.

I feel like I own a small grocery outlet at this point, I had to reorganize my pantry and laundry room just to fit it all! Makes you realize how much stuff we just store and never use...I feel a garage sale coming my way!

Grocery Games

This last week my budget was tight, I was paying out copays to doctors to determine if I was with child, so the grocery budget got a little smaller. Thankfully, I am now armed with a smarter "don't buy without a coupon" mentality, so it hasn't been nearly as bad as if I was still just throwing things into a cart and guessing what my total would be.

Best deals this week were definitely the coupons from coupons.com and Target, I got 12 boxes of crackers and 2 boxes of snacks for $4.50. Although this deal is gone, it was just as good as the cereal, and we go through crackers around here like crazy. I also snagged free 3 boxes of hefty ziploc bags, 2 free glade plugins, and tons of groceries at Albertsons for 12 dollars. So the real total was about 20 dollars all together!

It was a good week.

Most of my coworkers are now asking for advice on this stuff. The good coworkers. I might start coming up with lists of the best deals from my searches of the internet and handwrite them out a list, printing them out some coupons I find as they both don't have computers. They want me to charge them a dollar. I might just do it.

Cool things I've learned this week:

You can go to Target and use their kiosk to print your target grocery coupons, saved ink!

Old Navy will be having a HUGE sale on flip flops this weekend, Saturday they are just a DOLLAR! I will be getting at least 5 pairs, if not more.

Ikea's sale this weekend is my best friend. I needed new curtains for my large 98" tall windows and they have them on sale for 9.99 for two (target is usually 29.99 for one, as is Ikea) and their standard chair Poang for 39.99 (regularly 99.99) that I wanted for the nursery. Yes, I said nursery....I'm breaking my rule of not buying anything yet, but its so cheap! and it's just a chair....I can use it elsewhere if I had to.

Another trip to Target...

Nothing like saving some money on my birthday...

Considering I have nothing to do tonight, Ash is at work, friends had homework (I did too), I thought I'd strike while the iron was hot and get some of the deals at Target.

Total before discounts: $45.73

Coupons $17.60
Gift Card Received $5.00

Total OOP $11.49
Gift Card Balance: $2.49

76% savings!

Grocery Scores

I did okay this week on the grocery thing. I actually fowled up at the Safeway here, I didn't buy enough to qualify for the 10 dollar coupon the second time around and kicked myself in the car!
Scored just a few deals in particular.

First trip to Target - 2 mayo, tp, cat food, and 2 cat treats - $10.59 after coupons, saved 49%

Second trip to Target - 5 boxes of Special K and 2 iphone accessories - $8.00 after coupons, saved 73%

Trying to Rule the Grocery Game

In my quest to find other things I can get obsessed about during this two week wait, I've tried to pick up good habits that could aid in reducing our bills. In the past, I tried out the grocery game and found that during the three week trial, I didn't actually get any real advice. All of the almost free deals or stockpiling habits weren't things we would actually use or eat, so it really didn't make sense for me to spend money on it just so I could save some. And the rebate crazy of Walgreens or Rite Aid weren't worth the hassle either. In the past week however, I found the website Money Saving Mom and am convinced again to give it a go.

I try to budget us $50 a week for basic groceries, although we tend to get extras during the week or eat out alot. I still need to learn how to make some basic meals at home, oh what I would give for a good basic meal plan.

This $50 budget doesn't really allow me to stockpile stuff, like buy 20 things of dish detergent because it's just 50 cents after coupons. So, I've decided to try this thing out on my own, find deals, work the system, and see what I can't come up with.

This is my first shopping trip that I am going to post, loaded with coupons in hand, I tried to get all my money's worth out of Safeway. They had a deal going on, when you buy their living well products, you got a $10 coupon towards your next purchase.

First Purchase:
Total Before $74.86
Coupons $16.75
Out of Pocket $42.27
savings of: $32.59 (or 48% I think)

I think I did okay, but it's really just the first go.