Journal Entry 002

I don’t know exactly how to start this post without sounding like a whiner, so um… let the whining begin.  Last night on Twitter I wrote:

I’m in a sour mood.. don’t know if it’s fatigue, sickness, stress, melancholy, or what… but I need a boost. :[

And that about sums it up. I’ve just felt really down lately and I’m sure it doesn’t help that I’m fighting off a cold. I think the problem is that there are so many things I want to accomplish right now, and so many new ideas running around in my head, but when I look around all I see are half finished starts and unmet goals.

My home…

… is constantly in a state of chaos and makes me feel closed in and hugely frustrated. I’ve been sorta following the FlyLady program and sorta not. So I’m starting fresh! Today is day one of baby steps.. and I will stay with the system to get to day 31. I WILL! And I won’t let the interim chaos drag me down. I WON’T!  (I think I’ll need to read this post DAILY to remind myself of my steadfastness) 🙂

My Fitness…

… is stagnant. I didn’t lose anymore weight this last week but, thankfully, I didn’t gain any either (like I did the week before + 1lb). I also didn’t go to the gym at all last week, and I guess I’ll blame that on my cold, but the real culprit is probably just laziness.

So I’ve decided to start small here as well. For this week I’m going to concentrate on drinking ONLY water. This is a real issue for me because usually all I drink is diet soda. I’m still going to follow my Weight Watchers plan, and try to get to the gym, but my real focus is going to be water consumption.  The main reason for this is that water will, of course, help me in both weight loss and over all health. And I’m hoping healthier means happier as well.  I’m also hoping that I can make this a habit so that drinking water becomes natural for me and not a concentrated effort.

My hobbies…

… are stressing me out, and really, that’s ridiculous! I’ve challenged myself to complete a pair of socks during the Olympics by taking part in the Ravelympics, and I am woefully behind which has made me a little depressed.  So, I just have to remind myself that the challenge was FOR FUN, and that I’m not a complete failure if I don’t finish on time. I am knitting every chance I get, though those chances are few and far between, and I’m a slow knitter. I’m doing my best and that’s what counts. Right? (elementary school life lessons are haunting me here) 🙂

So… little slow steps:  shine my sink today (baby step 1), drink my water, knit when I can, and try to not let the rest of the chaos get me down!

Wish me luck! 😀 (pretty please)

Weekly Savings Review 2/14-20/2010

Total Spent = $34.11

Total Saved = $134.91

Saved approximately = 80%

FINALLY met my goal and spent less than $60 in a week! It helped that I had already done a lot of spending stocking up over the first two weeks of February. (Week 1, Week 2) But, I was also able to avoid coupon temptation and only used them, for the most part, when I found an AWESOME deal.

I also applied for some great rebates this week and you can read about all of that here.

Below is the breakdown for this week’s savings. If you want a detailed breakdown for a particular store just click on that store’s name.

Walmart

Total Spent = $10.15 Total Saved = $32.32 76%

Walgreens

Total Spent = $0.52 Total Saved = $6.49 93%

Aldi

Total Spent = $10.84

Publix

Total Spent = $0.45 Total Saved = $17.98 98%

Target

Total Spent = $7.07 Total Saved = $23.87 77%

Bi-Lo

Total Spent = $0.33 Total Saved = $8.29 96%

CVS

Total Spent = $4.75 Total Saved = 45.96 91%

Rebates – Olay, SC Johnson, Staples, P&G

I used to ignore rebates completely (I know.. what a waste) because I felt like they were too much hassle, but I am now starting to learn what a great savings tool they really are. Especially when they are added to coupon and sale price savings. And, seriously, what’s the hassle? Fill out a form, attach the receipt, address/stamp an envelope, and put it in the mail. Easy peasy!

This month I submitted $25.98 in rebates plus a rebate for $100 in coupons.  That’s not the whole story though because when you look at what I spent for the rebate required products you will see that I am actually MAKING MONEY on most of these rebates.

Here’s what I did…

Oil of Olay Rebate

I bought (3) Olay Definity face washes at $7 each on clearance at Walmart. I used (3) $3/1 Olay Definity product coupons which made the total $12. After the $15 rebate I made a $3 profit.

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SC Johnson Rebate

I bought (3) Glade Plug-ins Scented Gel Warmers for $5/3 on sale at Target. I used (3) $1.50/1 Glade Plug-ins Scented Gel Warmers coupons which made the total $0.50. After the $5 rebate I made a $4.50 profit. This rebate can be used a total of three times and is good through the end of June, so you can bet I’ll be looking for more deals.  🙂

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Staples

Technically I don’t include office supplies in my household spending allowance (even though I print 100’s of coupons using office supplies) because the majority of our office supply usage is for business of entertainment purposes.  In spite of that I wanted to include this rebate here because, let’s face it, money back is money back!

So, I bought (2) packs of Multi-purpose Bright White paper for $4.99 each on sale at Staples. They were giving back a rebate of $2.99 each (limit 2) this week only which made each pack of paper just $2.

A great thing about Staples’ rebates is that most of them can be done online making the whole process that much easier! 🙂

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Proctor and Gable Coupon Rebate

I came across this Proctor and Gable rebate (spend $50 and get $100 in coupons) this week and realized I had already spent $50 on Proctor and Gamble products this month. Actually I didn’t really spend $50 thanks to coupons, but the price before coupons of the above items was $50.29 and that’s what counts.

I bought these items in multiple stores in three transactions, and I’m not exactly sure what I actually paid for them (that’s more work/math than I want to do right now) but I can guarantee that it wasn’t $50.29! I’ve heard that in the past the coupon books from these types of rebates have been really great so I’m definitely looking forward to getting mine this time around.

If you know of any other rebates that are available right now please let me know… I’m on a REBATE HUNT! 🙂

CVS Trips 2/14-20/2010

Total Spent = $4.75

Total Saved = $45.96

Trip 1

Spent $1.95 Saved $18.98

I started this trip with $2, $2, and $5 ECBs

I bought:

• Aussie Shampoo $2.99 (reg price $4.29) – get back $2 ECB
• Colgate Total Advanced toothpaste $2.99 (reg price $3.89) – get back $2 ECB
• (2) Crest Pro-Health Enamel Shield rinse $3.50 (reg price $5.39) – get back $3.50 ECB x2
• CVS Green Bag $0.99 – get back $1 ECB every 4th visit

I used:

• $1/1 Aussie product RP 2/14
• $1/1 Colgate Advanced January All You
• (2) $2/1 Crest Pro-Health rinse PG 2/7
• $5.98 CVS Discounts
• $5 and $2 ECBs

Product Total: $0.99

SC Tax: $0.98

Total Paid: $1.95

Total Saved: $18.98

I ended this trip with $2, $2, $2, and $7 ECBs

Trip 2

Spent $2.80 Saved $26.98

I started this trip with $2, $2, $2, and $7 ECBs

I bought:

• Cover Girl Clean foundation $6.00 (reg price $6.99) – get back $5 ECBs wyb 2
• Cover Girl Clean pressed powder $6.00 (reg price $6.99) – get back $5 ECBs wyb 2
• (2) Neutrogena Shampoo $6.99 ea – get back $5 ECBs wyb 2

I used:

• Cover Girl B1G1 = $6/1 PG 2/7
• $1/1 Cover Girl product PG 2/7
• (2) $2/1 Neutrogena Shampoo printable
• $1.98 CVS Discounts
• $2 and $7 ECB

Product Total: $0.98

SC Tax: $1.82

Total Paid: $2.80

Total Saved: $26.98

I ended this trip with $2, $2, $5, and $5 ECBs

There were problems with getting the items to ring up correctly at first and due to the confusion I forgot to have them swipe my new Green Bag Tag. 😦 I had my bag in my purse and everything. I’m going to have to learn to make it a habit and to not let myself get distracted. 🙂

Bi-Lo Trip 2/14-20/2010

Total Spent = $0.33

Total Saved = $8.29

I bought:

• (2) Land O’ Frost 1lb Honey Ham Premium lunch meat $4.29 ea

I used:

• (2) $2/1 Land O’ Frost Premium printable
• $4.29 Bi-Lo Discount (from B1G1 sale)

Product Total: $0.29

SC Tax: $0.04

Total Paid: $0.33

Total Saved: $8.29

Target Trip 2/14-20/2010

Total Spent = $7.07

Total Saved = $23.87

I bought:

• (3) Glade Plug-ins Scented Gel Warmers $5/3 sale price
• Oreo Golden Double Stuffed $2.79 sale price
• Oreo Cakesters $2.79 sale price
• NYC Lip balm $1.91 clearance price
• (2) 3.5lb Iams Premium Protection dog food $7.54

I used:

• (3) $1.50/1 Glade Plug-ins Scented Gel Warmers (source?)
• Free Oreo Golden Double Stuffed home mailer
• Free Oreo Cakesters wyb Oreo cookies tear pad
• $1/1 NYC product
• (2) $3/1 Iams Premium Protection dog food
• $5 SC Johnson Rebate

Product Total: $5.47 (after rebate)

SC Tax: $1.60

Total Paid: $7.07

Total Saved: 23.87

Technically I saved more than $23.87 because many of the items were on sale so, if I had remembered to write down the regular prices, I could have shown the savings difference from the sales.  Oh well 🙂

Publix Trip 2/14-20/2010

Total Spent: $0.45

Total Saved: $17.98

I bought:

• (3) 8oz Breakstone sour cream $0.99 ea
• (4) Yoplait Fiber One 4pk $2.50 ea
• (2) Country Crock spread 2pk $1.99 ea
• 20oz Diet Coke $1.39

I used:

• $2/3 Kraft products from tear pad Breakstone included
• (4) $1/1 Yoplait Fiber One printable
• (2) $0.50/1 Country Crock printable (Doubled)
• $0.50/1 20oz Diet Coke tear pad (Doubled)
• $6.98 Publix Discounts
• $1.50 Double Coupon Discounts
• $2.00 Catalina from Kroger for Pillsbury purchase

Product Total: $0.35

SC Tax: $0.10

Total Paid: $0.45

Total Saved: $17.98

Aldi Trip 2/14-20/2010

Total Spent: $10.84

I bought:

• 2.14lbs Lean Ground Beef $6.19 ($2.89/lb)
• Gallon 2% Milk $2.79
• 4.49lbs Bananas $1.75 ($0.39/lb)

Product Total: $10.73

SC Tax: $0.11

Total Paid: $10.84

I think I’m going to start pricing some of the items I regularly buy here (milk, eggs, ground beef, bananas, etc.) at my other grocery stores so that I can show how much I’m saving by buying these things at Aldi.

Walgreens Trip 2/14-20/2010

Total Spent: $0.52

Total Saved: $6.49

I started this trip with $3, $3, $1, and $1 RRs.

I bought:

• (2) 4lb bag Imperial Sugar $2.09 (sale price)
• 25oz Morton Salt $0.99

I used:

• $0.10/1 Walgreens coupon for Imperial Sugar x2
• $0.49/1 Walgreens coupon for Morton Salt
• $3 and $1 RRs

Product Total: $0.48

SC Tax: $0.04

Total Paid: $0.52

Total Saved: $6.49

I ended this trip with $3 and $1 RRs.

Walmart Trip 2/14-20/2010

Total Spent: $10.15

Total Saved: $32.32

I bought:

• sm bag Iams dog food $5.76
• (3) Olay Definity face wash $8.94 ea
• Poppy seeds $2.62
• 4pc Valentine’s Heart cookie cutter set $3.00
• 18ct Eggs $2.24

I used:

• $1/1 Iams dog food
• (3) $3/1 Olay Definity
• $7.32 Walmart Clearance Discounts
• $15.00 Olay Rebate

Product Total: $8.12 (after rebate)

SC Tax: $2.03

Total Paid: $10.15

Total Saved: $32.32

The best part about this trip were the Olay washes. They were on clearance for $7 ea, add the $3/1 Olay coupons I had and I got them for $4 ea. After the $15 Olay rebate (which I mailed off today) they were FREE plus a $3 overage!