Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Update on Husband

The surgery itself was a little more detailed then even the doctor thought but after 2 hours and 45 minutes they finally got the new knee in and and he was off to recovery. Finally made it back to the room around 2:10. Last night wasnt too bad for the pain. However today hasnt been very good. They took him to physical therapy this am and after that the pain hasnt been controlled. They have upped the meds with no results plus given him extra shots along with it. So they cancelled PT for this afternoon. Also one of the problems has been bleedings. they have have given him 2 units and he's lost around 700cc today so far. So we are waiting on the doctor to come in and hoping that more surgery isnt warranted but am prepared for whatever it takes. He is also having trouble with itching from the pain medicine and they don't seem to concerned with that. So remember us in your prayers tonight....... that this will turn around.

Monday, December 29, 2008

I'll be gone for a few days...




My DH is having a total knee replacement. We leave this afternoon and it's scheduled tomorrow morning at 7:30. Please keep him in your prayers (and us too) that everything goes allright and we are home safe and sound in a few days. He is having it done in St. Louis. My oldest son is going with us and my youngest is staying here with his Aunt Cindy. So he can play with his toys and games that he got for Christmas. Our daughter who just started a new job will have to work but we will keep in contact with her regually. Have a GREAT New Years Eve! and I'll see you as soon as I get back

CVS 4.00 off coupon



Go here to print your coupon. 4.00 off 20.00. If you use these with your other coupons you can get some really good deals. Until I learn the click here trick you will have to copy and paste this site in your browser. Then you can get the coupon. I'll work on that click here. : )

http://cvs.p.delivery.net/m/p/cvs/eml/preview.asp?cid=14238315814&mid=1770293519&pid=664694

Coupons and another way to get them

This site is great. If you read the sale bill on Sunday and see something that is going to be free after coupons or of little out of pocket expense but you only have 1 coupon you can go here and buy the coupon. You pay her for the shipping and it's really very cheap, exspecially when you are going to get them for free. She ships fast. I have ordered on Monday and got them on Wednesday.

http://www.thecouponclippers.com

Go take a look

Walgreens

I don't post alot about Walgreens mainly because there is not one close to me. But there soon will be. :)
Here's a list of freebies with coupons that you can get from Walgreens.

Robitussin or Dimetapp: buy 5 for $20
Use 5 $2/1 printable coupons for Robitussin or Dimetapp
Receive $10 Register Rewards
Final Price = FREE

Orajel Cold Sore Medicine: $8.49
Use $1/1 coupon from 10/26 SS insert
Receive $8.49 EasySaver Rebate
Final Price = FREE plus $1 overage


Revlon Matte Collection Blush or Eyeliner: $9.99
Use $1/1 coupon from 12/7 or 11/16 SS insert
Receive $9.99 EasySaver Rebate
Final Price = FREE plus $1 overage


Revlon Matte Collection Eye Shadow: $4.99
Use $1/1 coupon from 12/7 or 11/16 SS insert
Receive $4.99 EasySaver Rebate
Final Price = FREE plus $1 overage


Revlon Matte Collection Lipstick: $7.99
Use $1/1 coupon from 12/7 or 11/16 SS insert
Receive $7.99 EasySaver Rebate
Final Price = FREE plus $1 overage

Coupon Schedule for 2009 and Stockpiling

You might wonder why this would be a great tool in saving money. But, if you know when the coupons are going to be in the papers you then can decide how many papers you need to get. Now, I know your saying why would I get more then one paper? Well think of stockpiling and how many coupons you have on hand right now.
If you have lots of coupons on hand then you won't need to buy as many papers. But on the other hand if you have if your just starting off and have very few coupons then you will need to get those coupons up there. Why you ask? Well take this example that I did 2 weeks ago.
Kroger had Cottonelle onsale for .99. I had a coupon for 1.00 off any size. If I had only had 1 coupon I would of only gotten 1 pack. But instead I had multiples and I got 14 packs. THis is what is stockpiling. I won't use 14 packs this week. But I know that I will be good for some time. I got off the track a little, here's the list thanks to Southern Saver for letting me in on the deal. Keep it tucked away so you know where it's at and you will know when we are getting coupons and when we arent. Do keep in mind that sometimes Proctor and Gamble will throw in inserts on the no insert weeks.


2009 Coupon Inserts Schedule

January
4 – 2 Smart Source & 2 Red Plum
11 — Smart Source & Red Plum
18 –Smart Source & Red Plum
25 –Smart Source & Red Plum

February
1 — Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
8 — Smart Source & Red Plum
15 –No Inserts scheduled
22 — Smart Source & Red Plum

March
1 — Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
8 — Smart Source & Red Plum
15 — Smart Source & Red Plum
22 — Smart Source only
29 — Smart Source & Red Plum

April
5 — 2 Smart Source & 1 Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
12 — No Inserts
19 — Smart Source & Red Plum
26 — Smart Source & Red Plum

May
3 — Smart Source & Red Plum
10 –Smart Source & Red Plum
17 — 2 Smart Source and 1 Red Plum
24 — No Inserts scheduled
31 — Smart Source & Red Plum

June
7 — Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
14 — Smart Source Only
21 — Smart Source & Red Plum
28 — Smart Source & Red Plum

July
5 — Procter and Gamble only
12 — Smart Source & Red Plum
19 — Smart Source Only
26 — Smart Source & Red Plum

August
2 — Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
9 — Smart Source & Red Plum
16 — Smart Source & Red Plum
23 — Smart Source & Red Plum
30 — Smart Source & Red Plum

September
6 — No SS or RP Inserts - Labor Day One Procter and Gamble
13 — 1 Smart Source & 2 Red Plum
20 — Smart Source & Red Plum
27 — Smart Source & Red Plum

October
4 — Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
11 — Smart Source & Red Plum
18 — Smart Source & Red Plum
25 — Smart Source & Red Plum

November
1 — Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
8 — Smart Source & Red Plum
15 — Smart Source & Red Plum
22 — Smart Source Only
29 — No Inserts scheduled

December
6 — Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
13 — Smart Source & Red Plum
20 — No Inserts scheduled
27 — No Inserts scheduled

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Stockpiling and what you need to know

I've started this several times and never quite got it finished. Today is the day. So grab a drink and sit and read. This will help you realize what you need and what you don't need.

Some of the things you need to know about stockpiling

Do NOT stock pile things you won't use – some people find "bargains", stock pile them then realize that they will never use the product. However, if you know a friend that does use them and you get them for almost nothing or nothing then STOCKPILE it and give it to the friend. I never EVER turn down a free item regardless of what it is.


Do NOT stock pile perishables unless you know you'll use them before the expiration dates – again this would be wasteful.And with this said I think we are all pretty smart to know that that head of lettuce isnt going to last 3 months.

Make sure you have the necessary room for your stock pile BEFORE you buy. Buying 100 cans of soup for $.10 might be a great bargain BUT if you have no where to store them it becomes more of a hassle. But then again there is always under the bed. All kidding aside, I have a friend that uses her basement with a shelving unit sat up and that is where she stores her excess. Kind of like her own grocery store.

Start out organized so that you do not have to play catch-up later. If you throw everything together in your pantry or cabinets well there will be no way for you to know what you have and what you need to use up before it expires. If you let it expire without using it then you have defeated the purpose of stockpiling.


Keep a running inventory of your stock pile.My running inventory is I can see what I have. I know when the toothpaste is getting low etc.


Use the stocking method of "First in – First out": in other words rotate your stock. When you buy more of something put the oldest items towards the front so that you use it first. It takes a little bit of time when you are putting up your groceries but it will help you in the long run.



Here's a good strategy for stockpiling on a budget. Each week commit a certain amount of your grocery money to stockpiling, and even if you do not think you have enough you would be surprised just how far $10 will go if you shop the sales. Get your local grocery store fliers out, if you have and use coupons pull those out too. Circle the sales, and make your list, based on your wish list, the sale fliers and your coupons if you have any. Try to stick with loss leaders, (items that are usually on the front page, and are usually such a good deal, that the stores lose money on them, in an attempt to get you in their store, to spend more money). If you can find coupons to match the sale items then so much the better. As you purchase the things on your list, cross them off.

Another thing to do is when you are making your meals for the week. Look at your stockpile and make your menu's from what you have. You will be SURPRISED at what you save on your grocery bill. What you save can be used in next weeks stockpiling grocery run.

How much you stock pile depends on how many are in your family and how much you have room for. If something where to happen today and I couldnt get to the grocery stores for 3 months. I would be fine. We might not eat the roast and potato's but we would eat and we would be able to brush our teeth.

My rule of thumb is:
1. if it's free, I'm going to take it
2. if it has a long shelf life it's a keeper
3. if it's something I know I'm going to use then it's on my shelf
4. A sale is a sale, I'm there

I hope you have gotten something out of this. How do you stockpile? How much do you keep in your cabinets or how many times a month do you go to the grocery store?

Bottom line: STOCKPILING reduces your grocery bill in the long run

Coupons today and CVS

Proctor and Gamble said they were not putting out coupons this week but they did! $63.00 in savings in the little flyer in todays papers. Looks to me like they are getting a little chincy with their coupons. A few that are in there are:

Nice and Easy 2.00 off one or 5.00 off 2
Herbal Essences 1.00 off one
Pantene 3.00 off 2 or 1.00 off 1
Head and Shoulders 1.00
infusium 3.00
Olay body wash 1.00
Secret .25 (.25? man they are killing us with these little coupons)
Olay Definity 3.00, 1.00, 1.00
Bounty .25 for paper towels
Bounty .25 for napkins
Dawn Hand Renewal dish soap .25, .50, .50
Downey .25
Tide .35
Cascade .50
bounce .25
Charmin .25
Cheer .35
Scope .75
Crest .50, .75
Folgers .25, .50
Duracell .75
Tampax .50
Metamucil 1.00
Old Spice deodorant 1.00
Gillette 1.00 and 2.00
Fusion Razors 4.00

There are a couple more but you get the idea of what kind of coupons are in todays papers. so now we jump over to the CVS ad and how you can use some of these coupons.

Pantene Pro-V 2/7.00
use 3.00 off 2 in P&G coupon
Get 2.00 EBC
final cost makes them 1.00 each after EBC's

Dawn Dish soap BOGO 1.49
use 2 .25 off in P & G
makes them .37 each

Crest 2/5.00
use 2 .75 off in P & G
makes them 1.75 each
I don't think this is a great deal but if you out of toothpaste it's a allright deal

Fixadent 3.99
.75 off in P & G
makes it 3.24
again not a super deal, dollar store can beat this price

colgate Toothpaste 2.00
EBC 2.00
final cost .99

that's a few of the deals at CVS, not a good week for them or Us. But hey there's always next week.









Saturday, December 27, 2008

After Christmas Sales.........and a nap

Well I headed out to take my Harley Davidson boots back that I got for Christmas. I did love those boots and thought they looked really sharp that is until I put them on my feet. I felt like I was walking around with bricks make that Concrete bricks on my feet. Man where those thing's heavy. So I took them back and got my DH money back. It was a nice gesture of him to get me those for Christmas but I couldn't see with the price of the boots keeping them if I wasn't going to wear them but once or twice and then pack them away.
So then I ventured over to the CVS store for the Holiday mark downs. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT that was the gal at the register (since they know me by first name since I'm always in there for my EBC's) if they were going to be marking the big items down. As I really had my eye on the 99.99 digital picture frame and had a 30.00 off coupon. But anyways she informed me that they were sending all the Christmas stuff besides lights, animation, candy, decorations back this year. There would be no markdowns. DID she say NO mark downs? Geez, was I disappointed and I came out without buying anything.
So then I headed to the local Bath and Body Works. Well there I made a haul as they had 75 percent off. So I stocked up there. Great for birthday presents though out the year. Wasn't just Christmas things either.
Then I thought you know what I'll just wonder in Dillards. Not thinking that I would buy anything but to just look around. Well I found DH a pair of pajama's (since he's having a total knee replacement on Tuesday)that were originally 75.00/then they were 43.50 and I got 75 percent off them! which made them 10.87! That was a really good buy!
So then I got over to the purses and one of my weakness is Kathy Van Zeeland purses. I simply love these purses but would never pay full price for them. Well today and today only (that's what the sign said) they were 30 percent off the lowest price. So I found one that I loved that had been marked down to 45.00. So that made it 31.50. And since I took the Harley Boots back, I said Merry CHRISTMAS to me. I even had money left over from the boots. Should of looked at another Kathy Van Zeeland purse but that's all right since I just ordered a spring one from online. It was at a savings too. bigger then this one but we won't get into that one. I'll save it for a later posting.
So then I went to borders to try and find me a book to read while I hurry up and wait at the hospital. I did find one on the mark down rack. Sharon Osbourne. Hey reading is reading guys.
Ran in Walmart to see what they had and they had plates, napkins and saucers, Christmas of course and even coke ones for 50 cents so I picked up a few of them for next year along with a bottle of diet 7up. And home I came.
So over all it's been a good day I would say...... now I'm ready for a nap

$3.00 off $15.00 CVS coupon







A big thank you too http://www.dealseekingmom.com/ giving us the heads up on this coupon. If your not familiar with CVS and couponing I'm going to help you out on this today. Cvs has what is called EBC's. EBC's are what CVS offer's when you buy certain products. Example last week they had Excedrin 20 count on sale for 3.99. You would then get 3.99 EBC's when you checked out. This would be 3.99 free money to use on your next purchase. Whether it's next week or you could turn around and buy another one right then. Pay with your EBC and it's FREE! Simple as that. So if you had gotten say 4 boxes of Excedrin for 3.99 each, total of 15.96. Used your 3.00 off 15.00 coupon. you would pay 12.96 for the Excedrin, get 15.96 in EBC's and actually made money off the deal. 3.00 to be exact. THen this next week you can buy 15.96 in products, use another 3.00 off coupon which brings your total to 18.96 free stuff. I always print more then one. Exspecially if they are in the newspaper. The only thing that I have found is make sure it prints with color on it and they will take it.I have never been refused a internet printed coupon from being taken at the register.
One more thing is I always look to see what is on sale that is giving EBC's. This way from week to week you have your EBC's and can use them and get things free. This leads to stockpiles of stuff. I'll do a posting later on stockpiling and how it can grow fastly. I know this is a little confusing at first but once you catch on it becomes easy. Later today when the CVS flier comes out I'll post the scenarios of how this will work with the ad for this week that starts tomorrow. So go get your coupon and if you don't have a rewards card from CVS you can get it online by going to www.CVS.com or going to your local CVS pharmacy. Here's the link for the coupon

http://activepaper.olivesoftware.com/Repository/BCC/2008/12/26/BCC_2008_12_26_FINAL.pdf

Until I figure out how to put the just click here on you will have to copy and paste this on your browser. I am sorry for that but being new here I have alot of learn.

it's on page 29.

Friday, December 26, 2008

New Washer and Dryer




I got it! Yea for me. Front load washer and dryer. I'm so excited, I've allready went though the house finding things that I need to "wash". Here's a picture of them if it comes though. Well one of them anyways but you get the drift. Now if I could only find a rebate for these. I did find a rebate for the delivery fee but a rebate for the actual washer and dryer would be nice. : )

CVS specials for the week of 12/28/08

CVS doesnt look to good this week but here are few things that I found that could be free or pretty close to free.

Nature's Bounty Vitamins or Supplements BOGO sale (PSA $4.49), use two $2 coupons and get back $3 ECB (WYB 2, Limit 1) = $2.50 profit. Sale also includes glucosamine which starts at $19.99.
Colgate Total Advanced Toothpaste $2.99, use $1.50 coupon and get $2 ECB (Limit 2) = $0.49 profit

Olay Cleansers, Scrubs or Makeup Removers (4.2 - 6 oz.) - BOGO 50% off sale, use $5 coupon (home mailer Q) or $5 off 2 coupons (11/16 RP or 12/14 P&G) and submit for $15 gift card (when you buy one Regenerist moisturizer or two cleansers) = FREE or profit depending on prices

These are good for the whole month of December so make sure you get them before the 31st.


CVS December Monthly Deals - good through 12/31


Complete Multi Purpose Solution (12 oz) $8.99, use $2 coupon and get back $8.99 ECB (Limit 2) = $2 profit

Theraflu $6.59, use $2 coupon (10/19 SS), get back $2 ECB (Limit 5) and submit for Mail in Rebate (10/19 SS - will only give you price minus coupon value) = $2 profit
Rolaids Soft Chews (12-42 ct.) or 3-Roll Package $2.19 - $2.99, use $1 coupon (9/14 SS, 10/5 RP) and get back $2 ECB (Limit 5) = FREE or profit

Bodi Heat Patches (3 pack) $3.99, use $1 peelie coupons on package and get back $3 ECB (Limit 5) = FREE

Walgreen Deals

Wanted to tell you about a few Walgreen deals.

Register Reward Deals
$10 RR wyb $20 worth of participating products:
- Oral B Cross Action Vitalizer Plus Toothbrush ($4)
- Vicks Pads ($4)
- Vick’s Throat Spray ($4)
- Vicks VapoRub ($4)
- Vicks Nyquil/ DayQuil 44 Custom Care ($6)
- Vicks NyQuil/ DayQuil Plus Vitamin C ($7)
- Vicks Soothing Vapors ($7)

$10 RR wyb $20 worth of Dimetapp ($4) or Robitussin ($4)

$9 RR wyb $30 worth of participating products:
* FiberSure ($10)
* Metamucil ($10)
* Pepto Bismol ($5)
* Prilosec ($26)

$4 RR wyb $20 worth of participating products:
* Crest Toothpaste (2/$6)
* Crest Whitestrips ($19)
* Head & Shoulders $6
* Herbal Essences ($6)
* Infusium ($6)
* Nice ‘n Easy Hair Color or Root Touch-Up ($6)
* Oral-B Action Pro Health Toothbrush (2/$6)
* Pantene ($6)

$3 RR wyb $10 worth of participating products:
* Care Bears Baby Wipes ($5)
* Desitin (2/$6)
* Johnson’s Baby Oil (2/$6)
* Johnson’s Baby Powder (2/$6)
* Johnson’s Baby Wash ($5)
* Pediatric Electrolyte ($3)

Front Load Washer and Dryers and after Christmas sales

I'm off to look for a front load washer and dryer. One would think that the prices on these things would drop. I mean it's not like they are made of silver and gold. I just want a easy cost effective means to wash and dry my clothes. I do hang out my clothes when it's better weather. But the weather in my part has been in the 20/30's and well I just don't like stiff clothes right now. So I'll let you know what I find. Anybody find any good bargains today? I plain on hitting the after Christmas sale at CVS for sure. Let me know what you find

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Swagbucks

This is a wonderful site. It's basically a search engine. I use it every time I search and win swagbucks. these bucks can be traded in for prizes and giftcards. I save them all year then trade them in and use them as Christmas presents. A super way to save. Add it to your blog today or just to your internet page.

http://swagbucks.com/?cmd=sb-register&rb=271017

Merry Christmas

My wish is for you and your family to have VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!