My First Real CVS Shopping Adventure Was A.........

Success, to say the least!

I saved over $32.00 on my first time there with no ECBs!

Here what I did:
I had a $4.00 off a purchase of $20.00 coupon; so I figured I'd start with that.
I had some items I wanted to purchase such as diapers, wipes, snacks, etc.

Since I already had some regular coupons in addition to the $5.00 off Huggies coupons, I'd thought I try CVS and see how I come out.

I bought:
1 Pack of Huggies Diapers
1 Pack of Pull Ups (Huggie's Brand)
3, yes..3 Huggies wipes
VO5 Conditioner
Betty Crocker Brownie Bowl
Bag of Pretzels
1-2 liter Sprite
1-2 Liter Cherry Coke

I had a coupon for EVERY item listed except for the sodas, shampoo, and pretzels...

Here's what each item cost:

1 Pack of Huggies-9.88 (on sale) -$5.00 (Huggie's coupon) = $4.88
1 Pack of Pull ups-$9.88 (on sale) but it rung up as $17.99 and I got it for FREE!!!
3 packs of Huggies Wipes $7.99 - $3.00 off (Huggies Coupon) = $4.99 for all 3!
VO5 Conditioner = $0.99
Betty Crocker Brownie Bowl $1.66 -$0.55 off = $1.11
Bag of Pretzels = $0.79
Both 2 Liter sodas = $3.00

So my total OOP was $12.47 for all this stuff!!!

Saved $32.81 according to my receipt

And I earned over $16.00 in ECBs (Extra Care Bucks) AND another $4.00 off a purchase of $20.00 coupon for next time! (I think we already had $16.00 in ECBs and just didn't know it..LOL)

I will surely be visiting CVS again in the near future and printing out more Huggies Coupons..LOL!

Macy's is doing it again & Wallpaper Progress!!!!

If you go to Macy's today and wear the color red, you'll get 20% off your purchase (exceptions apply). If you are a Macy's charge customer, you'll get even more off. I probably will be going there today! Since I still have to get some things for our new home, I might as well get a discount while I'm at it.

BTW: My husband was loving the pots/pans I got 2 days ago. When I told him they were $100, he said that was a good price; when I told him I paid $40 out of my pocket, he was shocked and amazed.

P.S. We are making great progress with the wallpaper. Thanks for all the ideas/suggestions you all gave us. We tried the hot water and tide detergent and it worked! Even my husband was shocked at how well it worked and we didn't even need to buy that expensive wallpaper remover they sell at Lowes/Home Depot. As for getting the excess glue off, I saw an online suggestion; one man said he used duck tape and it worked GREAT , so I'm going to try that. We also have some family memebers coming over to help us; we have a great family!

In addition, we had a wallpaper company come and give us an estimate to see how much would it cost if they removed the paper. You wont believe the price they gave us; to remove the top wallpaper in our dining room (we have a chair rail), 1 wall in the living room, our foyer (which isn't big), the wall going upstairs, and the hallway upstairs (which is small, not big at all); guess how much: $800!!!! Yes, $800 big ones. $800 dollar bills! Of coarse we said no way! They must be crazy!! LOL.....That's food shopping for 4 months!!! NO way, Jose!!

I'll keep you all updated.

Deals & Updates!

When I checked my blog this morning, I realized that I failed to put up a post yesterday. I was out of the house most of the day; running errands, going to Bath and Body Works, Circuit City, Target, Macy's and BJ's. Even though I did all that when I was done, I went straight to our new house to remove some more wallpaper.

While I was out, I took note of the sales that were happening in the stores. As a side note: I have been going out to stores more often lately and that's because we have to buy things for our new home and of coarse we have a budget set for that.

Bath and Body Works: They had some 75% off deals that looked interesting but I didn't get any of that. They did have a Japanese Cherry Blossom perfume that I thought of getting because my husband got me a huge gift set for Christmas. The perfume was $24.99 but discounted 75% off would have been $6.24! I did have a coupon that said if I bought something that totaled $10, I could get a free item worth up to $12! So I bought a Sea Island Cotton scent gift set that was only $10 and I got a Sea Island Cotton bubble bath for free!

Circuit City: I went in again to see if they further discounted their items and it seems they did, but not too much. They did have the WII remote for $22, regular price would have been $30.( we need an extra remote) but I left the store empty handed, unlike other people in the store ( I'm glad I can say no to myself).

Target: I LOVE target, I really do. Unlike Walmart, they are very helpful, the aisleS are orderly, bathrooms are cleaner, the bright red colors everywhere makes me feel cherry, and they have better quality items. They are however MORE expensive than Walmart, but I like the customer service. I did pick up a Shovel ( which was $17!), garden gloves ( our new home has one!), trash bags, and some other things. Sales at Target aren't as grand as other places but they do have some GREAT clearance deals when you can find them. I also saw some size 2 huggies that had like 150 diapers on clearance for $14.68 and I had a $1.50 off coupon so I could have gotten them for $13.18; regular price was $30.00!! That over 50% off! It was hard for me NOT to get them, but I didn't know of any children in my family who currently are in size 2 diapers.

Macy's: I absolutely LOVE this store. They have high-end, quality items that are affordable. I had a 10% off coupon; I got a stainless steel pots/pans set that was $100, but after discounts I got it for $40! That's $60 off!! One lady who bought the same set was a Macy's credit card customer and she got the same set for $15. Man, sometimes, I want to be a Macy's credit card customer (because off all the extra discounts), but then I think of the bill and I change my mind. I also got Issy a cute red coat/jacket that was $75.00; of coarse I didn't pay that crazy price. However it was on clearance for $30 but then because I had red on yesterday, the cashier gave me an extra 20% off, so I paid $16 for a coat that was $75; even my husband was shocked!

BJs: This is a place like Costco/Sam's Club. You can buy items in bulk from here. I totally recommend places like this if you use more of a certain item. We bought diapers, wipes, cereal, bacon, lotion, body wash, etc. You pay a membership fee but they give you coupons and you can use coupons out the newspaper and internet!

After I did all that, I went over to our home and started taking off more wallpaper, gathering trash, etc. Boy was I tired when I got home a little after 7pm and all this with a 2 year old.

Have a great day!

Old Navy, Circuit City, Kohls!!!

Yesterday, I ventured out to look for a gift for my hubby's birthday. As I was out, I decided to take note of any major sales that were going on.

Old Navy....
This place had the BEST sales by far. They had women's shoes and sandals marked down to $.99 cents. Yep, ladies you saw correctly, 99 cents. There were women in there trying and buying those shoes. I went to look but didn't see any that I liked. They had some brown flip flops for children and I got Issy a pair for $.59 cents, regular price $3.50

I then got a kid's jumper, pair of children sneaker's, and a hat for $5.70! Yep the clearance prices were further discounted to an extra 50% off. I got the sneakers for $2.24, they were originally $7.50! I got the jumper for $1.48, it was $12.50 regular price! And the hat we bought was $.99 cents; regular price $3.50!

So before the any discounts my bill would have been $27, but with the sales the total was $5.70! Saved over $21!

Next Kohls....

I really like Kolhs. They sell a lot of well made items but they can be very pricey. While there I didn't see too many good deals. They did have some office furniture like lamps, desks, etc. 50% off. After I did the math, it still was a good enough sale so I didn't purchase those items. I did find however a wedding frame that I have been wanting to put in our bedroom but it was too expensive. But here it was on clearance for $7.99, so I most certainly snag that. I also found a shirt and shorts for $6.70 on clearance. Regular price $33!

Circuit City....

Although they are going out of business, I didn't see too many good deals. They have items on clearance, but not enough clearance, if that makes sense. most of it was 10%-20% off. I didn't purchase anything.

Budgeting, Future Deals, Misc......

Budgeting.....

If your like me, you probably have searched and searched for a budget sheet that you could stick with, easy to follow, and easy to explain to your spouse or to someone else. I have downloaded and printed so many budget sheets trying to find something that would work for me and my family. When I failed at keeping a budget, I just blamed it on not find a good budget spreadsheet.

I finally had an epiphany, when after months and years of over drafts, negative accounts, no savings, and many sleepless nights; i realized that it was me. I was the reason for my family's constant decline regarding our finances. My husband and I also printed out our monthly statements from both of our accounts and decided we would go over them the old-fashioned way; with a pen and calculator.

After totaling the numbers after our bills, and food; we saw that we spend almost $2,000 just in DINING OUT in 3 months. Can you believe that $2,000! That is a lot of money. Think of what we could have saved, just in reducing our dining out consumption. I was so disgusted at myself. I was so angry that I, NOT my husband, but I caused all this because I was too lazy to cook and when I did cook I didn't want what I made.

I had no discipline at all. None what's so ever. And all the while causing my poor husband to feel like he couldn't depend on me. That was the breaking point. I always want my husband to feel like he can depend on his wife; that he can count on me if he cannot count on anyone else. I knew that I had to show my GOD and my husband that I could raise from the ashes and be responsible.

I found a budget sheet that worked and most importantly, I stuck with it. I made sure I knew at all times what our bills were, how much I was spending, rethinking an item before I bought it, researching sales at stores, using coupons, and being frugal. Now, my hubby feels so happy that he can count on me. He doesn't even check the accounts anymore. He just comes to me! That makes me feel so happy, more that any sale could ever do.

Now, I have set goals for my family, got approval from my hubby, and have more knowledge about financial matters than before. I also see the LORD stretching our money and using it to help others. We also are in the final stages of buying a house. So, there it is....our testimony regarding how we started on the wrong track but ending up on the right track.

Looking back, I cannot believe that I would actually get upset when my hubby would try and tell me I should be responsible with the money. I felt insulted. I felt like I am an adult and if I spend money, then don't question me. I believe that is why the Lord, had to bring me to the lowest of low. He had to make me humble and most importantly submissive to my husband. Boy, sometimes I just wanna slap myself for how I acted in the past, but I just thank GOD that he helped me get over that hurdle and I thank GOD for my husband who stuck with me through the good times but the ever so hard times we had. Love you dear!

Anyhoo.......Future Deals....

It seems that because of the economy, there are many stores that are unfortunately going out of business or having huge sales.

These are some of the places I'm keeping an extra eye on for things for my family or for others....

Kohls
Babies R US
Children's place
Walmart
Circuit City
Old Navy
Target
Macy's
JCPenny

When visited at the right moments, you can walk away with so many items and pay pennies on the dollar for them.

For example,
I bought about $95.00 worth of items from BABIES R US and paid maybe $23 for it all!!!!


Misc.....
Nothing..I just feeling really good, deep in my soul and go to closing on our home THIS Friday! Thank You Jesus!!!!

Great shopping deals

Box of Donuts

24 count box of Sprite can soda

BBQ Chips

Gallon of 2% Milk

Box of mutli-colored pasta

2 boxes of DiGornio Garlic Bread/Pepperoni Pizzas (Yum)

Reynolds Foil

Kellogg’s Fruit Loops

Kellogg’s Raisin Bran (Hubby adore these)

Kellogg’s Strawberry Mini Wheats (Hubby loves these)

Kellogg’s Blueberry Mini Wheats-(Hubby likes these)

Pillsbury Pie Crust

Bananas

Fresh Garlic Bread

Bag of Garden Salad

2 Sunday Papers (One for me and my mom; loads of coupons)

Huggies Wipes

Total BEFORE Coupons/Savings: $66.54

Total after & out of pocket cost: $30.00!!!!

Saved OVER 54% and if you noticed, most of the items are name brand which in this case was cheaper than generic.

Shopping Deals

You are probably wondering how did I manage to get this much stuff and for what price. I'll first list everything I bought, how much I paid out of pocket, and much much I saved.

As you can see from the picture above what I got, but I some of the items you can't see because they are so small.

I usually shop once, maybe even twice a month for our non-food items. This includes baby items such as diapers, wipes, clothing; or household items such as laundry detergent, trash bags, tissue, paper towels, toothpaste, mouthwash, etc. I budget $150 a month for these items, which is pretty good. I usually buy diapers, wipes, chicken, soap, toothpaste, and a host of other things in bulk, so when you figure that into $150, I come out pretty good and it's usually cheaper that way.

Here it goes:

Huggies diapers
Johnson & Johnson's children soap
2-pack air freshener
Multi-surface pledge cleaner
Dryer sheets
ALL Laundry Detergent
Ring Pop
Cooking Spray
Baking cups
box of freeze pops for Isabelle
Body wash
Dial liquid hand soap
Suave deodorant
Ziploc Bags
2 Bounty Paper towels
Quiltern Northern Toilet Tissue- 6 pack
3 boxes of Puffs Plus Tissue
South Park Desk calender for hubby
8 Containers of Luvs baby wipes
28oz of baby wash ( the biggest you can get)

Total BEFORE savings/coupons for all items in picture = $69.19

Total AFTER & Out of Pocket = $49.61!

Saved $19.58! I had $80.00 budgeted for this bi-weekly shopping trip so I am $30.39 UNDER Budget!!!!!