Homeland - $10.50

Homeland doubles coupons up to a dollar, once per transaction (they won't keep doubling the same coupon). Sometimes this works out really well...


2 Kraft cheese: 2/$4 - $1/2 (coupon doubled)=$2


1 Quaker oats: $2 - $0.60 (doubled)= $0.80

2 Quaker Chewy Bars: $4 - $1/2 (doubled)= $2

2 Quaker Life cereal: $4 - $1/2 (doubled)=$2

2 Wheat Thins: 2/$4 - $2/2=$2

2 Pace Picante Sauce: 2/$3 - $0.75/2 (doubled)=$1.50

1 Kraft Mayo: $2.50 - $0.75 (doubled)=$1

1 pkg. Chinet plates: $2.50 - $1 (doubled)=$0.50

I also used a Homeland coupon for $3 off for buying 5 Quaker products.

My total before coupons was around $28; my total after coupons was $10.50.

Woo hoo!!! Okay, well, I was impressed. ;-)

Homeland

What I bought:
2 8-oz. bags of cheese (2/$4)
2 cans of Hormel chili ($1 each)
1 box of Swiss Miss ($1)
2 bottles of Suave ($1 each)
2 6-oz. cartons of blueberries ($1 each)
2 avocados ($1 each)
1 cucumber ($1), not pictured

My total after coupons and tax: $12.67.

The Suave was free after Homeland doubled my coupon, and the chili was 45 cents a can after my coupon. I probably could have gotten the avocados and cucumber cheaper at Aldi, but I don't know when I'm going, and I needed them. :-) The blueberries were a great deal, though!! I make buttermilk blueberry pancakes with them, and they are GOOD! Nathan and Evan also just like them raw.

Yesterday and today

I started a post yesterday, but it took on too much of a ranting note for my tastes. ha No, it wasn't about politics; it was actually about my frustration with Quicken and the fact that my child decided that he didn't want to use the potty during the time I was frustrated with Quicken. :-) I was a bit tired last night. However, I did get Quicken figured out, and I also swept, mopped, and vacuumed. Yay!
Today I have started my deer broth (I had to use an ax to get the leg bone down to fit my crockpot!), taken the kiddo to get a haircut, read books, and played Legos. I know there are other things to be done, but I haven't thought hard enough about it yet. I am definitely a "list" person. :-) I would actually love to take a nap, but I feel slightly ridiculous since I slept from 9:30 last night until 7:00 this morning. I didn't even hear the alarm! Oh well.

My first time...

So, Nathan and I were reading books this morning, and he handed me a book that was given to him at the library (the library had given everyone at library time a few baby books). I was reading it to him when I noticed something odd about the page on the left. Hmmmm, thought I. Then I kept going. I couldn't get a very good picture of the next page (I would be showing you who was pushing the stroller with the twins), but I did manage to get a good one of the facing page... See anything interesting?

Walgreens 01-18-09

My total after I went in and got my money back...$13.14. And I got $4 in RR back, too. I was a bit irritated because I forgot to use my $4.50 in RR from last time, but they don't expire for a while, so I'm okay.

Magic Erasers (LOVE these): 2/$5

Kleenex: 2/$1.98

Kotex: 2/$6 (then got $1 RR for these)

Tylenol: 2/$10 (then got $3 RR for these)

I used two $0.40/1 coupons on the Kleenex, two $1.50/1 coupons on the Kotex, and two $4/1 coupons on Tylenol. I actually made a dollar on the Tylenol and spent a dollar each on the Kotex. The magic erasers were the most expensive items, but they work really well on our bathtub. The Tylenol rang up $7.49 each the first time around (instead of $5 each), and I figured that out on my way out of the store as I was doing my mental total in my head. ha So I went back and got my $5.40 back. ;-)

What I'm up to

I’m not being as productive today as I was yesterday. Even though yesterday brought some issues that I didn’t greatly enjoy (my son had bowel trouble which began with him soiling, terribly, two pairs of underwear and ended with me giving up and putting a pull-up on him), I still had a fairly productive day. We went to the library for library time, made bread (my first try in a long time), made yogurt, swept the kitchen, let the dogs in, swept the kitchen again, and vacuumed the whole house. Okay, so it doesn’t sound so impressive once I write it out, but I felt really productive! We all really liked the bread recipe I used, so I definitely think I will be making bread again.
I think I have mentioned making Avocado Yogurt Dip; I use avocado, yogurt, and a bit of red pepper. Yesterday I made the dip, left out the red pepper, and added chopped red onion. It was very good! We ate it with pretzels, but I’m trying to think of something better to eat it with…any ideas? I’m trying to stay away from white flour lately (it and sugar seem to give me grief), so I may just have to buy some whole wheat crackers. I wish there were a veggie that went well with avocado dip. I tried carrots…nope.
Hmmm, what else can I talk about… Oh! I am reading through Charlotte Mason’s homeschool series, and I really enjoy the reading. I am almost finished with the first book Home Education, Training and educating children under nine. I don’t know why I always feel obliged to say this about books that I enjoy, but “I do not agree with everything in the book.” Ha There is so much good in the book, though, so many ideas and useful tips. I would almost go as far as to say that every mother should read this book, whether she chooses home, public, or private school. I have many other thoughts about this book, but I’ll save those for a later post.
Well, that is all for now. I can’t believe I was actually in a writing mood today! Now I need to transfer that motivation to some chores around here.

Walgreens 01-12-09

Two Listerine, two Celestial Seasonings tea, and one Revlon eye pencil: $22.48 plus tax, minus $15.49 in coupons ($3 off $10, $10 RR, $3.49 Celestial Seasonings): $5.65.

I paid $5.65 on my Walgreens gift card (and used my $10 RR). I got $4.50 RR and will get $10.99 back on my gift card.
My loss: $0.16

And Evan had just told me this morning that we needed more mouthwash!! ;-) Okay, I was impressed. ha

Walgreens 01-10-09

Four Garnier Fructis gel and one Orajel overnight patch: $20.45 plus tax.
Minus $13.00 in coupons: $9.26.
I spent $9.26 on my Walgreens gift card, and I will get $9.34 back on my gift card. Then I will send in for the Orajel rebate and should get $8.oo back for that.
My profit (about): $8.08

Walgreens 01-10-09

Three Flintstones children's vitamins and one bottle of Flintstones (at Mom's, not pictured).
$20.00 plus tax, minus $7.00 in coupons:
$14.77.

I spent $14.77 in my rebate cash and got $10 Register Rewards back. I am also going to send in for the 1/2 price rebate, so I should get $6.50.
My profit: $1.73.

Alone

I will be without the physical presence of my child for two days next week. I'm a bit unsure of the outcome. The last (and only) time I left him for a couple of days I was with Evan the whole time. This time I will be at home...where he should be. :-) Hmmmm.
My mom offered to keep him for a few days, and I accepted (I could hear the surprise in her voice). I was a bit unsure at first but then decided that there are many things I could get done in two days. So I am now going to work on my list. I must have a list. I am in a "get 'er done" mood today, so I am hoping I can recapture that mood again next week. :-)

Walgreens 01-09-09

I am not posting a picture today. :-) I am cold, and I don't want to get the Ben & Jerry's out of the freezer. ha
My deal:
2 Ben & Jerry's pints of ice cream 2/$6
2 Garnier Fructis $2.99 each
1 Walgreens brand bottle of hand sanitizer 99 cents (had to get this because my coupons were two cents over the cost of the items)

Used two $3/1 Ben & Jerry's coupons
Used EasySaver coupon on Garnier - $2 off each
Used two Garnier $1/1 coupons

I paid $2.07.

I should have found a bag or something that cost less, but the hand sanitizer was close, and I needed some for my purse. :-)

Walgreens 01-08-09

My total: $8.46

Milk 2.79

Milk 2.79

Dish soap 1.69 (clearance)

Dish soap 1.69 (clearance)

Garnier Fructis 2.99

Garnier Fructis 2.99

Garnier Fructis 2.99

Before coupons: $17.93 (without tax)

Used Walgrens EasySaver coupon on Garnier: -$6.00 (on three)

Used three Garnier Fructis mfg. coupons: -$3.00

Used two Seventh Generation online coupons: -$2.00

Plus tax

Homeland Today!

I spent $12.55 at Homeland today.

Milk $2.88/gal.

Kellogg's $4.29 for two (BOGO)

Blueberries $3.00 for two

Broccoli $1.39

Eggs $0.99/each

Total would have been: $17.56 (with tax).

I think I did pretty well!! :-)

New Year!

It's a new year. It's amazing how time flies.
I'm glad I can look back over 2008 with fairly stable emotions. Last year at this time I was looking with hatred upon the year of 2007. Nathan had surgery (not major, but not easy for a 7-month-old and his momma), and we lost Nicholas. It was a year of dashed hopes and much pain. This past year had its ups and downs, but I feel that I finished the year with a brighter outlook. It was a healing year. I feel ready to hope again. I don't feel as if I'm carrying a huge raw wound around trying to dodge offense and pain.
So, we are on to a new year. I have no idea what it holds. I do have hope, though. And hope is good.