Layout:
Home > Archive: June, 2006

Archive for June, 2006

Went shopping today

June 30th, 2006 at 06:00 am

Well, I went shopping today. Mind you I took the two girls with me!
I am definately winding down on my SuperWalmart enthusiasm. The checkouts are too short and it takes sooo much longer to get through! Spent $165.00, saved $51 (no, those clothes and cereal were NOT on the list!! But DD1 does need some shorts. Would not have had a problem with her wanting clothes had I shopped at only the grocery store!)
Next stop was Aldi. Spent $25. Mostly fresh produce, spent a little more than I wanted to.
Next was Diebergs. Picking up all the meat for the 4th party. Spent $56, saved $22.
Lets see, todays totals:
Spent $246
Saved $ 73
Now, I could go into how I saved by running by Aldi and getting 5 packs of buns @ .59 instead of $1.29 or more at the grocery, but that is for another day!

Making the battle plan

June 29th, 2006 at 04:42 am

Tomorrow will be a spend day! I will get two paychecks and pay most of our monthly's. I also have to do some shopping. I have the list made, color coded and the coupons ready! I even have a gift card to help out. We are having a bbq Tuesday, so I have to buy for that as well.
Friday is the big day I get to pick up sweet DD2 from camp. I CAN'T WAIT!!!!! I know she will be mad, but I am going to run by the salon with her on the way home and have them do a shampoo, tick check and a trim. Then it is home for her fav meal. Roast (in the crockpot), mashed potatoes (or maybe cheese potatoes!) and corn with biscuits. Yum! Then we'll head for the show to see our movie. (DD1 has to babysit all weekend, or we would go then instead..) It will be fun! I am picking up candy for the show during shopping tomorrow and using some great coupons!

Small Successes!

June 28th, 2006 at 05:22 am

Took DD3 to both jobs with me today. She was very good and even helped. Made $20 at the second job which I am using to take the girls to the movies on Friday when DD2 comes home from camp.
Got my electric bill today. We have budget billing and my goal was to get my numbers down for gas and electric. Mission accomplished. The electric is down by $7 per month. Will keep working on it! It has been so dry, the water bill will probably be expensive!
Did some overspending, especially on gasoline!! So I will try to buy all of our picnic food (having guests for the 4th) as cheaply as possible to compensate in the budget. I think it will be no problem!

A full time/part time worker

June 27th, 2006 at 04:51 am

Seems like with three "part time" jobs, I am one full time working woman. Too bad I don't get paid like that! All my jobs make about $10 per hr. My youngest, DD3, says she misses me. I will take her with me to job 2 and 3 tomorrow. Not sure how much patience I will get out of her, but she will get to see me!
Today was a no spend day except to get evil gas for the bus! Had dinner waiting in the crock pot for when I got home. Threw together some fresh veggies and dip and I was saved from take out!
Accomplished getting the office cleaned. Now I just need to go thru the file cabinets. Maybe tomorrow.

Busy Money Weekend

June 25th, 2006 at 06:46 pm

Friday night went out for sisters birthday dinner Free! Yum! Then we went over to a friends house. She was having a garage sale, so we where there to early bird the good stuff! I spent $30! Got a huge bag of clothes and shoes and swimsuits for the girls, a couple of toys and then I "donated" a little extra as this was for her daughters band camp fund. The girls should be set for the rest of summer and the start of school. Need to start working on the fall wardrobes.
I got up Saturday morning to do more sales. Did'nt find too much. Picked up a couple of things at the neighbors, but I was really picky. I don't want to end up with a bunch of impulse buy junk!
We took my friend out for her birthday Saturday night. The big 4 0! My one friend had a BOGO for the buffet at the casino, so we went there. $20. Then we each gave the birthday girl $10 to gamble with and I flushed my $20 limit down the proverbial toilet right away. Glad I don't make a habit of going there! So an expensive evening in cost, $50, but priceless time spent with old friends. (And I mean old!! She's 40!) (JUST KIDDING!!!)
Today, Sunday, I am working. Got to pay off last night! FIL and DH picked up DD2 from camp for the morning and was able to run her up to my work for a quick visit. It was soooo good to see her in one piece and hug her!! Can't wait to bring her home, but glad she is out learning new things. Will still worry the rest of the week! Going to my moms for dinner, so free supper! Yeah!

Check

June 24th, 2006 at 05:54 am

One check in and everything applied according to budget. Went over just a little in groceries, will make it up with the next check by taking out a little less. Gotta go with the coupons and sales!
Worked a little this morning and used that check for a little mad money and got myself and DD1 some lunch. Also, got to go to a pre garage sale and spent $30!! Got a lot and it was for charity!
Going to the garage sales in the morning. Hope I find some goodies!

I are not dumb?

June 23rd, 2006 at 07:08 am

Just got a mypoints page to visit a website called tickle to get a test to test for my IQ. Happily they tell me I am smart. Too bad those things do'nt judge "street smarts!" I sure got a kick out of it!
Sent DD2 a care package to camp today, then took the other two to the pool with some friends for a few hours. Pretty relaxing day!

No choice no spend day

June 22nd, 2006 at 02:56 am

I took leftovers to work! Aktion033
After work I went to get gas (shot up 14cents in one hour yesterday) at Costco, but it refused my debit card. Guess it thought I did'nt have enough in the account to fill up the bus. Never have this problem anywhere else but there. Will have to pay higher price somewhere else tomorrow. I think DH gave me a coupon for 5cents off a gallon at Hucks. Will have to go there instead.

The van that ate my wallet!

June 21st, 2006 at 02:10 am

Wow! I took the van to the place DH insists we go to. They tried to sell me an $800 bill of goods! I wanted 2 new tires, an oil change and to know why the check engine soon light keeps going on and off irregularly. That was $800 without the tires!!!!!! I ended up with the 2 tires, the oil change and I let them blow my fuel injectors out. We'll see if that makes the light go off. So I ONLY spent $400 instead. Next time I am going to check around and too bad for DH. Even he says I got burned. I told him to take it himself next time. (haha)

Back to focus

June 20th, 2006 at 01:36 am

I am back to focusing on saving money. Turned the AC up 2 more degrees, no one has noticed yet!
Took DH to dinner last night and used the rest of the garage sale money.
Will work on fixing my trash picked clothes rack.
Trying to think of things I can start buying ahead on for Christmas, but can't think of a darned thing anyone needs! Too spoiled! One year I went in August to Walmart and put stuff in layaway, but found that the good deals actually come RIGHT before Christmas. Will have to think about it some more!

Coke Coupons

June 18th, 2006 at 03:54 am

Used my first Coke coupon at the SUPERWALMART on Thursday. Finally had chance to look at receipt... she gave me .89 back for ONE Coke - not five. Will have to make a trip back and it is not close. Will watch more carefully next time!

DONE

June 18th, 2006 at 03:52 am

No, not done paying off my debt! :-)
Done - with the garage sale. Two day total 243.00! Yeah! The rest boxed and taken to Goodwill for a lovely tax write off!
Done - Fathers Day BBQ over. Cleaned up, leftovers in fridge, Daddies happy.
Done - getting DD2 ready for camp. Drop her off tomorrow. Hope I won't make a big blubbering idiot out of myself!!!
Is June over yet???

Fathers Day Gifts

June 15th, 2006 at 05:58 am

Splurged a little on DH for fathers day. 2 shirts and 2 ties, he will probably return. Garage saled money jar from DD2, some $1 golf nicknacks from Target and the biggy, a round of golf at an exclusive local club. (Something he can't return!!! HA HA!) He has a tendency to return everything I buy him, so I usually get gift cards. When I told him about the round of golf he said "Did you get a deal on it?" Nope.
Good deal for MY dad. He wanted a book. Picked it up at Borders with a $10 gift card. Only cost .97! :-)
My FIL is getting Good and Plenty candy and a gift card to the movies. (He takes the girls to the show all the time! The least we could do!)
The BBQ will be here. Chicken, beans, corn on the cob, deviled eggs, potato salad, tuna salad, baked potatoes, steak, fresh veggies and dip. Ice cream cake for dessert (looking for a DQ coupon!)

Broken table

June 15th, 2006 at 05:51 am

Well....there is not much DH likes more than a good trash pick. After the girls music lessons the other day, we saw a table that had obviously fallen off someones truck and broke, so they left it at the side of the road. We have been looking for a pedestal table, so I mentioned it to DH if he wanted to go and get it. ZOOM. Turns out a little wood glue will get it and it even has one of those leaves in the middle of the table that fold out. But the over all size of the round part of the table was too small. I put it in the garage sale today for $5. No takers, maybe Saturday???

Had our sale

June 14th, 2006 at 11:44 pm

Made about $100 in the garage sale. Need to find more stuff for Saturdays sale! We were picked pretty clean, but I had it marked CHEAP! The girls helped and got their "cut" of the money.
Have to plan for bbq on Saturday for Fathers Day.
Packing DD2 up for camp. Am already fretting about her leaving. Try not to let her see. She leaves Sunday for two weeks!

Getting ready

June 13th, 2006 at 04:17 am

Still getting ready for the garage sale. Went to the dollar store to pick up some goodies to make signs with. This is exhausting, especially since I worked all day. Hope this is worth it!

Total Spendy Weekend

June 12th, 2006 at 06:12 am

Friday night, out with the bunko girls for dinner at the winery. Then friend (who was driving) wanted to go to the casino. Lost $16.
Saturday took two oldest girls to "Phantom of the Opera". They are so into that! Then out to dinner. A nice one, no gift cards. :-( Oh well, worth the price of the precious time spent together!
Today had to work. Filled up the tank - $50!!
Hopefully tomorrow can be no spend!!
Getting ready for our garage sale. Cross your fingers. Making money is great - getting rid of junk is priceless!!

Free Bracelet Kit

June 10th, 2006 at 05:05 pm

Merck is sponsering free cervical cancer awareness bracelet kits and they are donating money for each bracelet making kit sent out. It is all free, no shipping or anything. They don't even try to sell you anything!
Heres the link:
https://www.maketheconnection.org/order_beadkit/default.asp
Enjoy!

Did the shopping

June 9th, 2006 at 02:27 am

Well, I went to three different stores to try to save the money. Really tried using the coupons. I had two of the girls with me, which does'nt help the "wannas", but I think I controlled it pretty good. I bought a lot of stuff to make things with, instead of premade stuff.

ALDI - 47.37
Dierbergs - spent 38.79, saved 21.79
Shop n Save - spent 95.75, saved 16.19

Not as good as I wanted, but I think this is it for a while. I still have the meat stockpile from my rebate check, so we will lay low with this and see how long it can last.

Found another one

June 8th, 2006 at 02:04 am

Yes, another no spend day!! Tee hee! I did order DD2 some jeans, but will take back the ones that did'nt fit and actually come out ahead!
It is nice having the girls home from school. (Already sick of I'm bored from DD3!!) We are setting up for the garage sale. Tomorrow will drop DD1 off at a pool party and then DD2 and 3 and I will go work at job #2 for a little bit and then hit the the grocery stores. Tomorrow is the extra $10 off a $50 purchase day at one and is honored by the others! Plus, we'll hit Aldi. Stock up to feed these hungry beast now that they are home.
Looking for something fun and frugal to do with the girls after the garage sale is done. (Park, water park, something)

Where did it come from???

June 6th, 2006 at 05:55 am

I had a NO SPEND DAY!! (echo, echo, echo). Not sure how it happened. Gave birthday gifts to the girls at work (bought on sale in advance), picked up breakfast with a FREE coupon, ate lunch at work and kept the kids too busy to want anything! Threw together a dinner (not a healthy one, but did'nt order out!) and then stayed home tonight. I know tomorrow will not be another one, so I guess I will enjoy this small success!

Spending like crazy

June 5th, 2006 at 02:28 am

Enter June..... I am spending like money is growing on trees. Not sure what is spurring this urge on, but the girls are sure enjoying it (and taking advantange of it instead of trying to help mom out!) Nothing crazy, clothes for DD2 to take to camp and camp things, redoing DD3's room (paint and such) before her new bed gets here (already paid for that!), and a few things for DD1. Took them to the mall, do'nt ask me why, I guess I was trying to make up for the Oklahoma disappointment. Lunch, Claires, cha ching. Today I took them out to lunch after church and then to Walmart. Must pull in the eating out reins! Tomorrow is another day!!

No show for the girls

June 5th, 2006 at 02:23 am

Took the girls to try out for the alumae production of "Oklahoma" at my high school. They sure got a get out of trying out and did the reading and sang like pros. Kind of iffy on the dancing! Anyway, turns out they did'nt have enough people, (and no men) for the show, so they called it off. The girls were disappointed, but not crushed. It was a good experience for them.

Hello June

June 2nd, 2006 at 04:38 am

Here is a list of my May goals:

May goals:
*start walking 3x's a week (Nope)
*list some things on ebay or half.com (DID)
*follow 50/30/20 budget (DID)
*no new debt (NOPE)
*look into new employment (DID, NO RESULTS YET)
*add SOMETHING to my $20 goal! (DID)
*work on a garden or at least a couple of tomato plants (DID)

Almost accomplished everything!

June Goals:
*No new debt
*start walking twice a week
*redo DD1 and DD3's rooms cheaply
*add something to the $20 challenge
*have a monster blow out garage sale and get rid of some of this JUNK!

Added $10 to my $20 challenge! Yeah!


More coupons

June 2nd, 2006 at 04:31 am

Received two more Coke coupons today! Will serve these up at my birthday party!

Recouping my losses

June 1st, 2006 at 06:08 am

The boss paid us today AND cut me another check to replace the one that bounced. Immediately after work, I drove to HIS bank (way out of the way, but....) and CASHED both those suckers! Now I will take the money and put it in my bank. Hope the DH lets me quit this job soon. He is really disgusted. I have been looking for kids that might need child care over the summer, but no luck yet. I want to find some kids that my kids like or would enjoy getting to know. Cross your fingers. Even 3 or 4 at $50 a week, could buy my freedom from the job. We'll see!