$100 Challenge week 2

I did good this week.

All of these items below were either free, under $1.00, or they paid me to buy them. :)

Shall I break it down for you???

2 x Finish detergent gel pacs bogo at 6.99. Used 2 x 2.50 coupons=1.99/2=.99each

2 x Lea and Perrins sauce $1.99 each minus $2.00 coupon= +.01
4 x Chips Ahoy bogo $3.69-b1g1 free printable coupon=2 FREE
6 x Hershey syrup bogo $2.19-1/3 coupon(why I bought 6)=.76 each
2 x Bic Solei razors bogo $5.49 - $3.00cp on each= +.51 (overage) yeah!!


This was the rest of my grocery order.

I shopped just once this week. My total spent $83.81 and I saved $84.10.

Not bad, not bad at all!
Did you save a bundle this week??

Tell me about how you save your family money.

I think saving money, is just as effective for the family, as earning money.
It's all about being a good steward.

To join in the $100 challenge jump on over to http://www.thebellamella.com/2010/07/100-challenge-check-in.html

Finding the Deals...

It's been a while since I posted about grocery shopping and frugal finds. I'm still couponing every week but I no longer shop for the cheapest food at the market. After all, this is the sustenance that is going into our bodies. There are somethings you don't want just because it's cheap.




This weeks best deals and savings...I made a rare stop by the Food lion for a stock up sale on Edy's ice cream and fruit bars (Big girl birthday party coming up). With the Edy's the more you buy the more you save. They were 1.99-$1/2mf cp=1.49 each. Tostitos are bogo at 3.99 and I had a tear pad coupon for a free bag of kettle chips when you buy 2 tostitos. Remember all that homemade salsa we are about to make......I just found its match. (I likes me some tostitos and salsa when we're out by the pool.):)


In our efforts, to be choosier about our food, we have switched to all organic milk and meat. Some good friends, included us in the purchase of all grass fed beef. We purchased 1/4 of a cow for two dollars per pound. For $200 we filled our freezer with lean, delicious, hormone/antibiotic free beef.


Also, at Food Lion, All detergent for $2.99-$2.00 manf. coupon=.99 each. Good stock up price! I have six months worth of detergent in my stockpile but when I find it for $1.00.....stock it.

Last, my stop by the Publix (iheartpublix).

Quick list:

Orvill R. popcorn bogo 2.99-2x.75manf.cp=.75 each box.

Betty Crock. brownies at %50 off 1.31-$1/2=.81 each

Crystal Light bogo at 3.99-$1.00cp= $1.00 each (these are 4.00 regular price) I love Crystal Light and I had 14 on my list but they where out of stock, but I got my trusty rain check for next week. We really go through this stuff on hot Florida days. I need to replenish my supply. :)

Ritz bogo last week on rain check for 3.69-2.00cp=.85 each

Kellogg's cereal bogo 4.39-.70 blinkie=1.50 each (stock up price for cereal)

Infusium shampoo+conditioner FREE.....5.99 each -bogo publix cp -3.00 manf.cp -3.00 Walgreens competitor coupon.

Aussie shampoo and styling product on sale 2.39-2.00manf cp.=.39 each

Have I said lately that I love Publix. They really go above and beyond.....and shopping is always a pleasure. Not just because they have a awesome coupon policy and I get free shampoo. The staff are always so friendly, the store is always clean, and I love their Greenwise products. No one snarls at me when I hand over my stack of coupons. :) Over this past year, I see so many shoppers with their big coupon notebooks. That is not me!! I carry a tiny little binder and it is well organized. The notebook stays home, where all the planning is done before I get to the store. I have a list, my coupons organized (almost OCD like people) and I get in and get out. Mission Accomplished!!!

The YODA of coupons.....just jokin yaw...;p

Please don't think I feed my family brownies and chips for dinner. If you have never read my couponing101 post (August 09), then you probably don't get my method of shopping. I shop for the staples like milk and bread weekly but I stockpile the best deals each week. This way I never pay full price when I need something. We grow our own produce and what we don't grow, I buy locally grown. Eggs.....well those are fresh every morning.

I'm just curious, any couponing HOME ECONOMIST visiting here??

Lovely day to you!

(all of these deals can be matched up at southernsavers.com and iheartpublix.com)

On my heart

Tonight, I have something on my heart and I feel like there is someone out there struggling with her decision. A mother is trying to decide to stay a career mom or come home to be more of a full time stay at home wife/mother. I would say to her, first of all, make no decision without taking it to God in prayer. I try to make NO decisions without consulting The Father.
The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. Isaiah 58:11

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

I reference these scriptures because you may not be able to see how your family can make it with the loss of your income. I'm pulling from my own experiences with making this life move. When I put everything on paper (income/bills) I couldn't see how we could afford me not working, but I knew that God was telling me to "trust Him and lean not on my understanding." This was His will for our lives. On paper we couldn't make it, but in Faith we have made it.
Once, the decision was made and notice was given. I began to seek out ways to cut cost in our monthly spending. We paid off all credit card debt and dropped my cell phone service. I have a prepaid cell phone I keep for occasional needs. I spend about $120 a year for my cell phone usage. Not bad, considering I used to pay about $50 per month for a basic plan. Another BIG way of saving each month is in the grocery and toiletry budget. From my blog, you can see, I am big with the coupons and stockpiling. I also make the weekly rounds at CVS and Walgreens. They have great customer reward programs. I have not paid for shampoo and toothpaste in over a year. ;0)
Perhaps, you think that doing these things is too much work. Trust me its not as much work as punching a clock everyday all day. I love finding ways to save and provide for our family. When I worked, I had no time for coupons and shopping for the best price. It's kind of like my job one day a week to clip, plan, and execute this task. I have a huge full pantry and closet of necessity items to show for my efforts. I take pride in my work, whatever it may be.
The key to being a Happy stay at home wife/mother is Contentment. Learn to be content with each new day. Learn to be content to "make do" or "do without" certain things. You have to have a perspective of what really matters in your life. Is it getting your hair and nails done and shopping for new cloths? Or is it packing a picnic basket and spreading a blanket in the backyard with your children/husband? I would rather be with my family every moment of the day and be wearing consignment store cloths. Shopping and salons where never a big deal for me, but buying "things" for my children used to be a big money pit. Until, we put our lives into perspective. Sure, I still have my eye on that super cute playhouse for my little girl, but instead of charging it to a credit card, we are saving up.
Have a accurate perspective of what life will be like at home all day. Because the romantic notions (June Cleaver) wear off after the first week. I prefer, to channel Mrs. Walton. She was a simple, hard working mother, and she was always sewing or cooking something in her kitchen. Embrace a simple way of life. Don't let friends with careers make you feel resentful with your decision. Don't feel a need to keep up with what others do or have. Know everyday that what you are doing matters. Raising children and creating a peaceful comfortable home matters.

Proverbs 31:10-31 The Wife of Noble Character (summarized)
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life......

She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family...

She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks....

She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy...

She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a women who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise...

They never seen it coming.....

She who gathers money little by little makes it grow. Proverbs 13:11


It's been a while since I posted my awesome deal Thursday. That's because there really hasn't been that great of sales and savings. Publix stores have changed up their coupon policy some since so many wise shoppers have gotten on board the coupon wagon. So, I had to adjust my strategy and regroup my couponing mission. ;-) Well, I'M BACK and Publix can't keep a girl down.


First up CVS
OOP 12.00 after coupons and ECBs
I got 6x glade oil scented candle holders and 7x refills for about 3.00 3x bags of MM's 4.00, and 2x bottles of ensamble 2x dawn for 5.00. This was done in two CVS stores. Kickin hiny and taken names baby!! FYI, no I don't need all these smell goods but they make awesome Christmas gifts for ladies.
Okay, next up is club PUB. Since my freezer is stuffed full of whole chickens, chic breast and tenderloin, chuck roast, ribs, pork loins today was not a meat shopping day. Just the best deals going that we needed for the pantry.

Total spent OOP 44.52 total saved 105.33 cha ching!! The man behind me gasped when when the lovely cashier announced my savings. At first he was not liking the wait but when he seen how much my savings was, I think he understood.

Lots of freebies or near freebies going on...

Welch's juice bogo 2.99-2x1.00mf.=.99/2

Special K bogo 3.99-2x1.00mf.=2.00/2 plus 2.00 off milk wyb 2 kellogs c. peelie

Nestle refrig. cookie dough 3.39 bogo-2x1.00mf=1.39/2 x 8 (freezer stockup for holidays)

greenworks detergent 7.99-3.00mf-2.00pub cp.=2.99/1 (good buy)

Kashi cereal 2.50x2 -3.00x2 mf cp (mailer)= +1.00

Betty crocker pot. bogo 1.39-.40x2=.60/2

Ragu bogo 2.53-.75/2mf-.50/1 foodlion=1.28/2

Hunts tom. 1.39 bogo -.50/2=.90/2 + pam spray 2.50-1.25pub cp wyb hunts tom.

tylenol 40ct. 3.99-3.00 grn adv flyer cp. -1.00mf= free

Energizer 16ct. 9.97-3.50pb cp-1mf=4.57 (all those battery toys)

The best deal of the day is this large bottle of Bertolli EVOO for FREE!!! Had a coupon, no longer available.

Last of the deals today 12 cans gg veg .50ea at wolly world on sale. I know there are gg veg cps out there but I did not have them with me when I came upon this deal. These are usually .98 ea so a good deal without cp. I also have my produce pile not pictured. 10# russett pot. price match with local veg. market 1.89. Grapes 1.49lb wm.

That's all folks!! I just get tickled when I save some money!!