Saving $$ Follow Up

This is impressive and an example of how you sometimes buy things you don't necessarily need (you can always donate them) to make money or break even...tonight Becky and I went to Wal Greens. Using coupons, she spent $2.00 and some change and got:

6 boxes of Benefiber sticks
1 Olay Quench lotion
1 Olay body wash
**Note: Before coupons, the total for the above hovered around $60!!

Total: $2.00 & some change
She received $10 in register rewards (FREE Wal Greens $$) and will submit a rebate to recover the cost of the Quench lotion which was $7.99. This deal was a MONEYMAKER...she just made $17 (in the form of register rewards and a cash rebate!!) Way to go Becky!!

My order was the same as Becky's but I also picked up 2 pkgs. of Chips Ahoy. Before coupons, my total was $65.
I paid $7.85.
I got back $12 in register rewards & will also submit the rebate for the lotion ($7.99 cash back!) My deal was also a MONEYMAKER. After rebate I will have paid 10 CENTS for my purchase and made out with $12 in Register Rewards!!

I am going back tomorrow to score some FREE shampoo and cheap, cheap, (I'll say it again...) cheap diapers!!

6 Ways to Save $$

My friend, Becky, and I have embarked on a money saving mission. In the past 6 months, here are some of the ways we have found to save money, get things FREE, and possibly even MAKE money! This is too good to keep to keep a secret...so here it goes...

1. Price match competitors ads at Wal Mart & Target. This past week, I saved $42 in price matching. I typically price match milk, bread, produce, meat, canned goods, yogurt, baby products, soda, cleaning and laundry supplies.

2. Coupons~ I also saved $24 in coupons at Wal Mart last week & an ungodly amount at Wal Greens this past week...although I wasn't keeping track, so I can't even give you a guess. Becky and I just bought the cutest little coupon organizers this past week. Click HERE and HERE to check them out. (Oh, and we saved money on shipping just by placing our order together!!)

3. Stock up when things are on sale. This past week, I bought 5 boxes of granola bars because they were $1/box (plus I had this cool coupon..."buy 5 boxes get $3 off."). I paid $2 for 5 boxes of Quaker Granola Bars! Score!

4. Rebates~ Yes, sometimes they are a pain and you have to pay for the product up front, but it's worth it. I bought 9 cleaning items (2 bottles of Windex, 2 cans of Scrubbing Bubbles, 2 cans of Pledge, 1 bottle of some earth friendly Scrubbing Bubbles, 2 boxes of Ziploc baggies). I did use coupons for every single item & paid a total of $20 up front. I submitted a rebate and will get $15 back. So, in the end, I will have only paid $5 for these 9 items!

5. Wal Greens Register Rewards~This is kind of complicated so click HERE for the low down. I haven't paid for toothpaste in who knows how long. Get all kinds of things FREE just by clipping a few coupons and using Register Rewards.

6. Let someone else do the homework for you. There are all kinds of money saving blogs out there. These gals take their job seriously and offer up the best deals from all the major stores. They also link out to great coupon sites and fill you in on the latest rebates.

Here are a few of my favorite $$ saving blogs. Click on the blog name and you should be on your way to there site!:

My Frugal Adventures

Money Saving Madness

Common Sense with Money

Life's Nuts!

So I've taken a little bloggie break, not intentional at all. I promise, I will be back. Things are a bit nuts lately juggling running here & there.

Check back soon, but in the meantime...check out some of the blogs that I read. Click on the blog name and you'll be on your way:

Barefoot Foodie (Disclaimer...a whole lot raunchy but she tells it like it is. Funny! Go potty before you read this or you will pee your pants from laughing so hard!)

My Frugal Adventures (Want to save money? Start reading her blog...lots of ways to save...something new every day!)

Blog Baby (I like the pictures on this site.)

SouleMama (I like to think I am as creative and crafty as this gal. Those that know me are rolling their eyes right now as they know I do not have a creative bone in my body!!)

The Polka Dot Chair (Someone tell me how I can get this gal to give my home a makeover?)

I'm Loving Me A Snow Day!!

Part of being a teacher is anticipating a snow day...whether you are looking forward to or dreading them calling off school. I, personally, look forward to them. Unfortunately, I was already in the shower when the call came in. I hurried out and made the mistake of crawling back in bed. I laid there with a little bed hog (Durham) and didn't really fall back asleep until after 8:00. Thankfully, Brandon got up with the kids and let me sleep in. Pure bliss!!

Kye and Camden played outside for a bit this afternoon. Kye showed Camden the ropes and Camden said the snow was cool. However, I'm not sure if he liked the snow or the hot chocolate he drank after playing outside better.

To my school friends...here's to another day (hopefully)!

The Haircut: Part II

Minus 4 inches of hair...introducing our big boy!

Merry Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas to all & may you have a blessed New Year.

With Love,

Brandon & Brooke

& 2 Santa's Helpers, a Reindeer, & a Crazy Elf

Durham's 1st Haircut (Before & After)

So after much deliberation...to cut or not to cut...my baby boy got his first haircut today. I knew it was time when I was spending more time on his hair, than my own. Then when I had to buy a bottle of hair detangler, I knew it was time. (Never mind the fact that when we go out in public, we hear things like this...She's so cute! Look how much hair she has!

Here's Durham pre-haircut!
And this here is the rat's nest! Real rats lived here...no joke!

The kid didn't mind one bit getting his hair cut.

This picture doesn't do his new do justice. I'll post more pictures soon.