Last night we had the grilled portabella mushrooms and used up romaine, tomatoes, munster cheese...and a bottle of Lawry's marinade. I haven't purchase that brand in years, but it was free after coupon, and I needed something to add a bit of flavor. WOW. They turned out GREAT, and I think I made up a bit of ground in getting DH back to a veggie diet! YUM!

Tonight...broccoli and beef. A steak left from last week, just a touch, loads of broccoli, and the rest of the marinade. Serve on some rice...that'll do!

We finally received one of the Canon rebates, $20, the Biotene rebate ($2), and a survey payment $5, so $27 into the challenge.

Current savings:\\
2006 $20 challenge: $4956
2006 grocery savings: $6661

Still trying to think of another way to add up grocery savings for NOT spending. Hmmm...must think...

DH was putting away his pile of "stuff" so I could clean house, all those weird things we get in the mail that need to be dealt with, and...

the AmEx statement had a $72 check attached! It's another costco rebate, only from the AmEx side of it. YEAH!

Now, what to spend it on this time...could be meds...or fresh produce...or meat (although I'm not much of a meat eater, and I'm ready for more veggies!). This time DH can decide.

So...

Current savings:\\
2006 $20 challenge: $4929
2006 grocery savings: $6661

We finally received one of the Lysol rebates, $4.89. Something to add to the challenge. I'm trying to figure out something new for the challenge...

also in the mail, more coupons, of course. Another FREE Amy's product coupon, some Bob's Red Mill...the organic companies are GREAT about sending coupons. After all, they don't have the marketing budgets the major players do, and publishing those weekly inserts and putting coupons in stores is expensive. So, when the customers come to them, they have their target audience (obviously you are interested in their products), and are pleased to send coupons to encourage you to purchase their products

So, the challenge...

Current savings:\\
2006 $20 challenge: $4857
2006 grocery savings: $6661

Not quite sure how to count the money we save by NOT shopping...maybe I will start a no=spend challenge for myself...

I'll be the first to admit, I rarely do try me free (TMF) rebates. First, I don't want to have an item just to have it...I'm already overstocked on life and stuff. And, it seems complicated to keep the receipt for a single item, remove the UPC (which will probably start a war with me, and either tear or I'll burst open the package). If I wait to take the UPC off until after I've used the product, the chances of finding the rebate form AND the receipt AND it still being before the deadline, well...I've got too much to do.

But, having accumulated all these TMF and other rebates, I actually sat down and cranked them out today!

First - Resolve new dual action carpet cleaner. NICE, just a form and receipt, no trying to get the UPC off the cleanser (definite hazard there!). $6.

Second - Boost with Benefiber, also easy, and $8. Boost we use anyway, so trying the benefiber version was not a stretch.

Third, the new Act restoring mouthwash. Very easy. $6.

Fourth, well, not TMF, but $5 coupon rebate on Land of Lakes. Their cheese blocks are usually $4.19 each, but they were on sale at 2/$4, and after a $1 coupon on each, the $12 purchase requirement (3 blocks) was easily met, for $3. I bought 6, but it was a great deal!

Sunny D was on sale, so I did the movie ticket rebate. We rarely go to the movies, but a ticket without restrictions is impossible to find, and would cost us $12 EACH at our theater. Of course, we'd hit the matinee...

I still haven't done the FREE Advil PM 20 count, I think I used the receipt on something else.

And, having a form for Aquafresh White & Shine or Extreme Clean 4.3 oz or larger, and a separate form for just the White % Shine, means I can do them both...but I've got more toothpaste stockpiled than we can use in a year. Of course, those rebates are good through '08, so if the product is still around, I may just use one later.

MEAT...well, DH is still in charge of that one. $25, but it's due this next week. No nagging, though, he asked to be in charge of it, and whatever happens, it's fine. I love him LOTS more than the $25. As long as HE loves ME more than the steaks...

Today I received a $50 Home Depot card from My Points. I think I purchased some Avon or Lancome, free gifts and sale, all that. Things I would have purchased elsewhere anyway, in my new TAKE CARE OF ME OCCASIONALLY state. The Home Depot card, definite bonus.

Well, maybe I wouldn't have purchased bath gels, and stuff, without the additional incentive of the gift card and the free gifts and the half price sale. But, this is one thing I am TRYING to learn. A bit of self-nuturing. I'm horrible at it, but I'm trying to get better. A nice bubble bath is a great start.

I also received two $20 rebates from amazon.com, g/cs of course. $40, but I won't add that in to my totals until I use them. DH still wants that software, but I'm hoping for, maybe a new vacuum? Ionic Breeze?

Shopping, well, that was fairly excellent. Dropped by the store to see if they had more Oreo coupons, and use another meat coupon. They had a package of premium cut beef, originally $39.45, on sale for 17.45, and we had a $10 beef certificate WYB 5 oral-b, so we picked up a few more packages of floss. We run through loads of it for health reasons. DH wasn't happy...until he saw the meat. We'd never purchase something that expensive.

I've seen people in other stores finding sample sizes of floss, 18 cents a piece or so. Five of those for $10 of beef would be excellent. No such luck here. But, I'll take the savings we did find.

Also picked up cranberry juice at BOGO, and more salad. Last day to use the $2 coupon, and at BOGO it came out free.

So, new totals:

Current savings:\\
2006 $20 challenge: $4852
2006 grocery savings: $6661

Mercy me! Oreo has a coupon out now, buy any two oreo products, get $3.99 in free milk. Any two Oreos means...those little teeny snack packs count. Suddenly, this simple little coupon became the hottest deal around. 20 cents for cookies and free milk during the summer when kids are home EATING.

Oops! Not quite what Nabisco was looking for. And so...while the displays remain up in almost every supermarket, the tearpads of coupons have been removed. Making the coupon even hotter!

For our trains, well, if you hoped for the coupon, the 3 I had were traded...for around 30 other coupons for train members. The beauty of knowing people's wish lists.

Still, much to ponder. I'm still trying to get my mindset around coupon trading. It's fun, and fascinating. But tracking thousands of coupons that closely takes too much mental energy!

Then again, I don't have a five year old wanting Oreo's and milk.

Pretty good day, other than not getting home in time to be online. So much to read, so little time!

Did indeed receive $21 check back from Novartis for the Lamisil I didn't like. They really seem to be a good company.

Meat, well...we have a $10 off $10 or more meat, Safeway, when purchase 5 Oral B items. I found the coupon in the pharmacy aisle, displayed with all the $10 - $20 packs of Oral-B and other products. Found the $1 each floss, bought 5 and a $14 back of meat reduced to $10.

Now, there is a rebate, $15 back with purchase of $20 meat, charcoal, and BBQ sauce.

Charcoal is half price this week, $3.99 a bag, have a $2 coupon, and a $2 rebate. But the rebate requires the receipt. So, that's a complete loop ($4 for product minus coupon minus rebate is free, but receipt is used).

Also have a buy charcoal, get free BBQ, and since charcoal is half price, that's pretty good, and fits the meat deal. And the $14 of meat receipt would count towards the meat purchase.

But we still have that $25 on $75 on meat, which I was so positive we would never use...purchase $75 in MEAT?????

But then Jeffrey asked me to show people how to cut costs shopping, so I did a free ham deal and a free chicken deal, and so much more, so now I have all these receipts, I probably have purchased that much meat! Yikes!

I have all you to thank for that, or DH does. He loves meat. Protein.

Of course, now we are having a bit of a disagreement...what to do with so much charcoal. Three years ago we were BBQing all the time, and bought up a bunch. DH left it under the BBQ cover over three winters of snow and ice, and three summers of heat and rain. So, *I* say it won't light, and we need to pitch (recycle). DH says it is still perfectly fine. We'll see...

In the meantime, he has been inspired to take the cover off, remove the wasp nests and what nots, and is scrubbing off the rust to refurbish and repaint. YEAH! BBQ! We've had POURING rain for two days, 7 inches in the last 24 hours, I think they said. I know it was 5 yesterday.

I spent the rest of the time in the store looking for the elusive Oreo coupon. A nice find, I posted, buy any two Oreos, any size, get $3.99 free milk. I didn't pick extra's up, because we don't eat oreos or milk, except when the kids are in. Turns out they are a hot item, and no one else seems to have them. So many requests.

The rest of the evening...chasing down coupon trains that have gone MIA.

Anyway, $75 to add to grocery challenge, and $26 dollars (haven't added in last one) to the $20 challenge.

Current savings:\\
2006 $20 challenge: $4802
2006 grocery savings: $6629

Another 30 day challenge for Purina One has been offered...

http://www.purinaone.com/radiochallenge/intro.htm

free bag or $6.50, I think, off any Purina One. I requested the cat and dog coupons, I know a train member that can use them.

I traded a coupon for PetSmart for more $2 Huggies coupons. We have a new train member, jstanawa, who can use them, if I hurry! They expire 6/30. I suppose I could have used the PetSmart $10 off, but I just can't store any more dog food myself, and I've got to find some "super dog" toys before I purchase any more. The Corgi destroys every toy within 5 minutes. I've given up stitching them (although - frugal tip: binders thread is super strong! it outlasted the rest of the toy each time).

I'm still waiting for a few train member hopefuls to PM their mailing info; one of the challenges of running the trains is getting everyone together in the same locale at the same time.

Received $5 from ACOP from a survey today. Brings the total challenge up, but too much work to do right now.


No words of wisdom today. Well, maybe...sign up for your free dog food!

I got my check today! Yeah! A bit more to go into the challenge. Haven't taken any in awhile.

I have accumulated quite a bit in amazon.com gift cards...over $200 this year from surveys...I was hoping for something fun, like an ionic breeze air cleaner but now DH is thinking word processing software. That silly MS Office package! We had the 2000 version, so I hoped we could upgrade for half ($250), but when we tried to load it, turns out IT was an upgrade package, and since the original went out with the old computer, we are starting from scratch.

Used to use word perfect. But we've been using Word/Excel/Powerpoint for years now. Ah...

what does anyone else like, and how do you get the cost down?

Current savings:\\
2006 $20 challenge: $4786
2006 grocery savings: $6554

I purchased a Dove facial cleanser after using a free sample, which I was fine with, but after the second time...AGH. Skin was beyond irritated.

I contacted them, and they suggested other products.

Tried them...WORSE.

So, I actually contacted them again (my new commitment to stop losing money), and they sent a pile of coupons, and...today, a check for $28! They also offered to pay any medical bills. I didn't have any, and I certainly did not pay that much for the product. I didn't keep a receipt (who plans for these things?).

A nice reward to my commitment to following up instead of just throwing things out and taking the loss.

Into the challenge it goes...

Current savings:\\
2006 $20 challenge: $4766
2006 grocery savings: $6554

I received two free movie ticket vouchers from referring a friend to the entertainment book. I've previously won 4 tickets individually...gave them away. Received the Johnny Walker free movie code...gave it away, or at least offered it on my blog somewhere...DH hates to use free ticket vouchers. BUT...SIX months after receiving them, and having them prominently displayed on the refrigerator...we used them!

Quite by accident, well, sort of. We haven't been to the movies in more than six months. We haven't done much of anything, except save and work and do projects. But I SERIOUSLY needed to veg today, away from the house and all the things begging or demanding to be done.

So, DH said, how about a movie?

I said sure, how about the tickets?

He said...umm...I don't know...ummm...they probably aren't good on any current movies...there are exclusions (NOT!)...

So, being totally enthralled by the trading game, I said, hey, maybe I could post them and trade them for some coupons!

He looked at me, frowned, and said, no, I want to try to use them.

I said really?

He said, well, maybe...

I said, oh, I'm sure I could find someone to trade...

He said, no, I am going to try to use them...

Who knew, the psychology of free tickets = embarrassment. Unless someone ELSE wants them!

So, nice day, not the best movie, popcorn and a drink. Saved $24, assuming we would have gone.

Ah, a saving tip...you cannot take your own food into most theaters. Unless you have a medical condition that requires you to eat specific foods or at certain times. Call ahead and discuss with the manager if you are bringing in something obvious, like a paper bag, and ask him to leave a note at the front saying you can bring in your own food.

Diabetes, cancer, allergies, headaches, in training...we bring in protein bars, etc., even organic popcorn. There is no invasion or strip search, just a phone call. Savings...?

We did drop by Barnes and Noble on the way home...the additional 15% off coupon, stacked with the 10% membership discount on two clearance books...$75 down to $20. Still money, but something DH has been wanting awhile. I won't add it into the challenge, since we would not have purchased it without the discount...but NICE.

Current savings:\\
2006 $20 challenge: $4764
2006 grocery savings: $6502

Started out simply enough, we had a few things to pick up on clearance...Safeway is having Tums for $1, and we have $1 coupons, Ensure for $2.99 and we have $1 coupons, etc...remodeling sale...

Dropped by Target to see if the Biotene really was cheaper there...we pay $7.50 minimum per bottle; it is regular $5.15 at Target (WOW), and on unadvertised sale for $3.99! THANKS FOR THE HEADSUP JEN!

So, I checked, yep, the sale tag is out. They only have 6 left, but HAPPY, take them to the register, get rung up, give them my last $5 g/c for Target (MUST STOP GIVING THOSE AWAY!). As we walk to the jeep, I am looking at the receipt...does not make sense...we were charged full price. Quick debate with DH on going back in, but we do...waited, were sent to CS, to a VERY grumpy clerk who said they were NOT on clearance and NO STORE IN CA has the same sales as MD and it was not possible...I did get her to walk back to the aisle and see the tag...turns out the sale expired yesterday...but since they were marked, she had to give us the price and refund the difference...but she was TICKED OFF that someone left an old tag up. Wow, hate to work for her!

Took forever, but very worth it. DH uses at least 60 bottles a year...so saving $2 - $2.50 regularly, or this, around $4.50 each, well...$120 or more saved EACH YEAR by changing stores. More if I have survey gift cards or other rewards for Target. Hmmm...

So, we dropped by the next store, which was completely backed up in check-out, so we went for the self-express. Hmmm...always a bad idea with coupons. It works sometimes, but there always seem to be problems. And of course, the clerk was NOT responsive to the computer locked up blinking light...first when a coupon got stuck, then when an item went through as unscanned and it was rescanned and then we were charged twice, and in the meantime our "buy 4 get one free" summer rebate was cashed out and lost...and Breyer's was BOGO, but the computer was not coded for my coupon, so the clerk voided the transaction, took my $6 coupon, and of course the computer then removed my free half of the BOGO...and charged me for it...and on and on...

It's just SO much nicer to work with a person.

We went to Giant, where the cashiers are friendly and know us, never mind processing loads of coupons, make sure we get a deal, even remind us to get rainchecks! Of course, we never let them get shorted. Coupons ring up twice, or they input $5 instead of $0.50, we correct them. Couponing, and saving, is only at the manufacturer's expense, only by the rules.

Still, a VERY long day, and stressful. I keep thinking I am just going to send my lot of coupons off to someone and stick to buying what we need...then I'm reminded that we do SAVE money...and we did make a donation in our friends name...the savings really help us do what WE want with our money.

So, for today

Current savings:\\
2006 $20 challenge: $4738
2006 grocery savings: $6502

Okay, I doubt anyone wants to hear about my $20 challenge any more, but I'm still tracking my progress.

I haven't had time to take any surveys recently, but I got TWO checks today from previous surveys...

$22
$50

And, this week, two products to test. Testing products is FREE product if you like it, and this week's hair products were actually labelled with the brand name that's not cheap.

Current savings:\\
2006 $20 challenge: $4738
2006 grocery savings: $6370

I needed a challenge today. Having a down day, and wanted a tangible success. And, I needed something interesting to blog about. The question was asked about how I shop/save/spend...so, I gave myself a challenge.

My challenge: get a months worth of stuff, or at least grocery products across the board (hey, I've already got a HUGE stockpile - one more tube of toothpaste and I'll be in the dog house with DH, and the freezer is PACKED), for as little as possible. Keeping it real.

Realism, well, I did NOT want to use any FREE PRODUCT coupons, or do anything that every one else can't do fairly painlessly, and routinely, once they have built up their savings muscles (good analogy, Baselle!) It's not real to save up all your super show stopper coupons and dump them down in one fell swoop and then claim the wonders of couponing.

Well, I do plan to do that for an article, but as a different challenge. Today was just, well, rather spontaneous.

So...here's what I brought back, for $27:



Yep, that's crab-stuffed fresh salmon, fresh organic beef, four pounds of premium bacon, fresh asparagus, corn, portabella mushrooms...peanuts for my dear squirrels, dog food, drinks, CheerFree, Dole...an array of what WE needed to balance our STOCKPILE.

Part of our three month plan.

How? It started this morning, got today's ad, nothing at all exciting, but I made a list, cross referenced against coupons and our stockpile/needs, and went out shopping, with DH in tow, of course.

The details, well, Jeffrey has requested an article, and it shall be coming once he is back and running. Stay tuned!

Back to the savings challenge:

Totals before savings, $310. So, saved $283.

Also received the Mopar rebate from the car...great and surprising find! $40

Current savings:\\
2006 $20 challenge: $4668
2006 grocery savings: $6370

Well, not quite, but even better.

My DH can only use Biotene mouthwash since his radiation treatments. It hasn't been easy to find locally, so I've been ordering from drugstore.com.

It's $7.29 a bottle. He uses 3 - 4 bottles a week.

I found it locally in limited quantity last week, at $7 a bottle. No shipping. But, alas, no coupons yet.

I contacted Biotene, and told them of my plight. Drugstore.com is a preferred vendor, linked and highlighted on their website. In my email to Biotene, I noted that I had purchased over 100 bottles from drugstore.com to date, and asked if they had samples or coupons available.

In their GREAT kindness, they are sending a free travel kit with all their products. Very nice.

Even better, and more surprising, Biotene responded that I could find their mouthwash much cheaper at Target.

It's around $5 there!

That's a minimum of $120 savings each year. That's BETTER than a one time coupon! And since I have contacted several other companies (crest, colgate, etc.) to see if their products would be suitable, and they aren't, it's a small miracle for us.

Of course, I received 3 travel kits for Tom's of Maine, valued at $10 each, which I have no use for. Stocking stuffers maybe? Hmmm...

One email, $120 a year.

Who knew!?!

But pretty close. Safeway we saved 90%. Weis, Ensure was on sale, regularly $10 down to $7, and had several $1 coupons from the trains...so stockpiled. Not quite half, but then again, they have a rebate for a FREE ensure 6 pack with every 5 (or 6?) purchased, so looking forward to the freebies!

Saved $72 total, between the two stores. So...

Current savings:\\
2006 $20 challenge: $4628
2006 grocery savings: $6087

Finally something in the mail for the challenge...

$50 from mysurvey.com (rapidly becoming a favorite)

$5 from Pinecone

$167 from Costco, the yearly rebate. This is really more on my success in reducing Rx costs, as I had not signed up for the higher level membership until October, when I realized I needed to transfer my scripts over, and the cashier was having a heart attack, so to speak, since we were NOT the higher level and were losing quite a bit of cash back with our level of spending.

It wasn't retro active. But, for the few months that we've been in, and getting 50% discounts on meds compared to our previous pharmacy, it's great. And, since the new insurance is covering more now, we'll be reviewing the costs to make sure the benefit continues to outweigh the cost. For now...$$$

Current savings:\\
2006 $20 challenge: $4628
2006 grocery savings: $6015

Hmmm. I've been so busy lately, I haven't even taken time to evaluate how much I've saved since I joined this site and started FOCUSING on saving.

I just looked over at my info, and realized between the "extra money" from the $20 challenge and the "grocery savings", I've saved over $10,000 since Jan. 1.

That doesn't include all the savings realized since October 1, when DH and I started this savings challenge.

This is one of those strange examples, where a financial crisis turns everything around for an even larger financial success.

We had just become complacent, not focused on spending, but completely ignoring our ability to save. Then an error at the bank, and we were living on no income and no access to savings for 6 months. So, back to our roots. Coupons, sales, STOP BUYING, STOP WASTING. A bit more thinking. We priced out Rx and saved $1K a month. We canceled magazines and memberships; ones we wanted to keep we canceled and found other ways to have them for free. We checked out rates, our insurance costs, our credit cards. Insulated the attic for free. Bought energy saver light bulbs for almost free. So many ways that money needlessly slips away while ones back is turned.

So, DH started adding it up. Besides the $10K saved in grocerys and the extra income trickling in, we've saved an extra...

$15K, in addition to the $10K. That's $25K that we normally would have spent, SAVED in six months! And, even though we knew many of the things to do before I joined the site, we weren't doing them!

Saving Advice really inspired us to think outside the box, reminded us of what we should have already been doing, and gave us new ideas. Everyone in the community has provided such friendly encouragement, good advice, and much appreciated support.

I might add, this savings was DESPITE having some major life crises, health issues, unforeseen expenses, and many barricades to "success".

I should be celebrating, but I still have mulch to lay...I want to claim that $4500 savings on Spring gardening!

If I can offer any encouragement, it's DON'T GIVE UP. I have been through a whirlwind. Emotional fire storms. I mean, how many times do you find out you have cancer, your dog has cancer, your father is not your father but BTW he is dying, your family abandons you, you have no income or access to savings...I haven't been through nearly as much as many of you. But hopefully it's been enough that you can see that you can have some financial successes, even in tough times.

One of my personal challenges this year is to stop just throwing out products that I try and can't use. It easy to just move on and take the financial loss, but much harder to live with the financial loss.

A few weeks ago, I received a free sample of a Dove facial cleanser. I liked it. It went on sale, I had a coupon...but the store didn't have it in stock. They did have a similar Dove product on sale, and that my coupon worked for, so I purchased it. But, when I used the cleansing pillow, it scratched my skin, and I promptly broke out in a rash.

I put it aside for a few days. But, I do have this commitment, and this blog to keep me committed (or to have me committed?). So, I emailed Dove about the problem.

Even I don't know everything that goes on in the marketplace. Turns out that Dove had a major recall of one of it's facial cleansers a few months ago. Completely unrelated, but...

I received via overnight express:

1. post-paid mailing address to return the product

2. full refund of the retail price, even though I had noted I used coupons and sales

3. four coupons for free full sized Dove products, retail over $20

4. a self-addressed envelope to send a note from my doctor in, should I wish any medical costs be reimbursed.

Hmmmm...

so I emailed P&G about the expired coupon they sent me. HOW RUDE OF THEM! They responded that it was in fact supposed to be a coupon for a free product, and they would send not only that free product coupon, but additional ones.

Piping up is paying off!

I won't add the $ to the challenge; I will be donating the coupons to the coupon trains.

I will be renewing my commit to contact the manufacturers when things don't work out. I don't plan to continue to MAKE money this way, but I don't plan on wasting as much, either.

Mail call today, and full of coupons...

Fairfield farms not only sent a brochure with coupons, but a personal letter, and additional coupons, which they noted in the letter were going to expire the end of June, but the ones in the brochure are good until 2/07. Please use

Gerber newsletter came, packed with coupons.

Dove newsletter and samples came, packed with coupons. Hair care samples are freebies of the day; Nexxus samples also came. They are actually travel size bottles. Can't wait to try them.

DH cleaned out the coupon box for expired and soon to expire (end of month). Teamwork! It's great to have a DH who helps to save...and realizes that it's not in a "little way". This week's receipt he STUDIED with pride.

And...while I was running through the days 200 new emails, he submitted a rebate for his Biotene. I love that. I give him the receipt and the rebate forms, now, and he pretty much takes care of them.

We did get a bounce back on one rebate from the computer...but since I PAID Circuit City to file them all for me, they get the aggrevation of fixing it. When there are 10 or more stacked rebates, requiring multiple receipts and UPCs and codes, and the rebates are more than $500 total, I'd rather "waste" the money having them guaranteed and processed by someone else who does it for a living. Especially since our local news has carried multiple stories on rebates not being processed from this state. Dell, apparently, is the worst. I don't have a Dell, so didn't have to deal with that.

We did get another $50 rebate through, though. Adding it in to the challenge...

Current savings:\\
2006 $20 challenge: $4401
2006 grocery savings: $6015

DH needed to go into to town, to the bank, today, so I decided to tag along and check out the sales and new in store coupons.

Quite a few BBQ items are on sale for the holiday weekend. BOGO for Ball Park hot dogs, Hebrew National, and Hillshire farms. Coupons from Sunday's inserts, and a $10 rebate on $20 from sara lee (the manufacturer of all).

Rebates are separate from sales, and BOGO already puts everything half off. So the $10 on $20 of product is free in the end. But...DH and I were pretty tired from all that mulching, and in the end, we purchased $40 worth, which is $20 BOGO, but...

I have another rebate, $25 on $75 of meat, over a three month period. Rib Eye was also more than half off, and I had wine tags, courtesy of a friend at DAGG, for $ off any meat. So, we treated ourselves, well, DH. I'm not a huge meat eater.

Our total bill for the store was $123, but $42 after sales and coupons. I'm stocked on meat, but at $62 for this trip, a bit more over the next month, and I could get the $25 rebate. But, then I use up the receipt and rebate for Sara Lee. Hmmm...

I handed this one off to DH to figure out. FINDING deals, I'm good at, but CHOOSING, that's tough. Especially with MEAT, since deals, coupons, and rebates aren't that common.

Anyway for the grocery challenge, that's $81 saved (before rebates).

And, for this store, the years savings shows at the bottom of the receipt...over $1000 at this store. Last November when I started focusing on saving, sales, and coupons, the total for the year was less than $300.

Does shopping sales, using coupons, and stockpiling help with costs? Does for us!

YEAH

Current savings:\\
2006 $20 challenge: $4351
2006 grocery savings: $6096

I have been trying to use up part of my stockpile. But, the purpose of stockpiling is to stock up when prices are at their lowest, then ride out the high priced days without spending. So...I did break down and SHOP some of the seasons sales.

The first store had some good sales...Oust for $3, but I had $2 coupons, so $1 each. Wishbone, not my favorite salad dressing, but a few flavors are okay, and BOGO plus a $1 coupon came to FREE (it actually printed that on my receipt, since the price was less than 0). Lipton sides, 10 for $10 means $1 each, and doubling a 50 cent coupon...FREE.

And so it went.

Total before savings: $87
Total AFTER sales/coupons: $17

AND...$7 catalinas good on next purchase of anything at the store.



Second store, well, I did go back to Safeway with my coupons to see if they had restocked the clearance items...and they had! $72 of spices, $8. Okay, I bought 2 apple fritters too...$9 total.

Total before: $72
Total after: $9

Total Savings: $159 for $26, $133 saved. I sense another article coming out of this...

Current savings:\\
2006 $20 challenge: $4351
2006 grocery savings: $6015

What goes around comes around. Call it karma, luck, divine intervention, but it does.

I received another request for the Kraft calcium coupon booklet. So I dropped by Safeway on my way home to pick one up, and some dry mustard (ran out on the BBQ sauce today). Turns out Safeway is having a clearance on McCormick and Spice Island spices...90% off select! If only I had my $1 coupons with me!

But...garlic salt, 44 cents, season all, 29 cents, dry mustard, 44 cents, PURE vanilla (regularly $8!) was $1...so I picked up $65 in spices for $8.

Now I'm set for awhile, and saved $57!!!

Current savings:\\
2006 $20 challenge: $4351
2006 grocery savings: $5882

Today brought $5 in rebate from Green Giant (I don't even remember this one!).

The Kraft food and family magazine did arrive, with an insert, but only one coupon for my region.

Working on the mulching. It started to rain, so I took a break and wrote up some Rx savings tips (you did ask for them ). Now...back to the mulching!

Dinner, agh...was supposed to cook beef ribs, but didn't get them started yet, so tv dinners, Lean Cuisine and lots of protein bars, probably.

Back to the MULCH PILE (it's winning the war so far!)

Current savings:\\
2006 $20 challenge: $4351
2006 grocery savings: $5825

I saw divaJen's note about having to cancel three times...now I'm worried...DH monitors our cards online and I assumed he was watching for the charges, but he says he hasn't noticed anything...but I'm going to recheck everything. Major chunk out of my challenge if it's been billed. I hope no one else has had trouble!

We have just received a notice that the maintenance/warranty on our dryer is about to expire. The cost to continue is $200 a year. Ridiculous!

But, somehow, DH and I both fall prey to these expenses fairly easily. He just purchased a new laptop, which seemed a great deal on sale at $1000. When the clerk rang it up, he said of course we will want the extended warranty, and the accidental warranty and maintenance agreement. DH said yeah...and the total shot to $2K.

I said WAIT A MINUTE (one of those times when we balance each other )...just how much is the warranty? Well, for four years, and for complete coverage and maintenance and connection to all your other devices, it's $250 a year.

Okay, so our house HAS been hit by lightning, and we've lost some modem and power supplies...

...but in four years, DH will likely rather buy a NEW computer, than that to have paid twice for the old one!

I did in fact fall for this five years ago, when I purchased the washer dryer set on my own. Busy day, needed item, a warranty and maintenance contact where they will maintain the items for four years, clean out the lint trap, repair and replace anything that's wearing out...$100 each item each year...but in the urgency of the moment, it seemed completely reasonable.

I asked DH about this today. After all, his policy is, if you are buying a premium item and paying a premium price, why does it need a warranty? If you pay extra for quality, it should have quality. If not, what are you doing?

So, why are we buying warranties and maintenace contracts? His simple response: "I never thought it all the way through."

The reality is, we don't USE warranties and maintenance contracts, except on the vehicles. Anything breaks, we fix it ourselves.

EASY: There is NO WAY that we can SIT ALL DAY to wait for a REPAIR person to come fix something that isn't broken. So out with the maintenance.

EMBARRASSMENT: There is NO WAY I am going to let a repair man see the gunk in my lint trap, or how dirty my refrigerator is (I'm told it's not, but, well, produce sheds!).

I'm sure I could get through all the E's.

Now, DH and I have designed, built, repaired and maintained state of the art equipment. We can replace bearings and washer and take things apart and put them back together.

Yet, we keep falling for the contracts.

So...DH is going through all of our warranty/maintenance/contracts and deciding what we NEED (cars), and what to dump, or get our money back.

And, I'm sticking with his question...if we pay premium for quality products, why DO we need a warranty or maintenance agreement?

We've been trying to live off of the stockpile, but there are some things, well...the point of stockpiling is to keep a stockpile at the best price possible.

So, today, we took the sale circular, made a list, coordinated it with the coupons, a $10 g/c from Club Mom points, and...

Total before savings: $95
Total after sale/coupon/gc: $24

Savings: $71

And, several of the items have coupons on the boxes for future savings!

Current savings:\\
2006 $20 challenge: $4346
2006 grocery savings: $5896

Well, we already dug through all the closets, boxes, storage, and DH's old office (still boxed up!). We recovered $800 in coins, dollars, travelers cheques...and some old coins. 1890 - 1960, some they don't make anymore like the Eisenhower dollars...anyway, probably not worth much, but more than the original value. So DH is going to be looking up their value.

Also found a pile of currency from Singapore, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand...I used to travel there so much, every other week, I never bothered to convert it (always seem to lose money in the conversion), and just grabbed the currency for whatever country I was going to. Then, of course, it made a great show and tell, and later part of a school project...

add in DH's from his time in the Hague, and we plan to convert it all and put the cash into the extra income ($20 challenge). Crossing my fingers...although I'd feel pretty silly if it was worth MUCH...I felt like an IDIOT when we collected $800 in lost money around the house!!!

DH and I received our eBates checks for last quarter...total of $172. We caught some sales and double points days, free gifts, and used coupon codes as well, so really didn't spend a large amount compared to the value of our purchases, and only necessary items, medical for DH, etc.

I am happy with this "found" money! Wish I had been using cashback programs before last October!

Also received two free Daisy sour cream coupons in response to an email, and two additional Earth Day coupon booklets in response to my request.

So...

Current savings:\\
2006 $20 challenge: $4346
2006 grocery savings: $5825

Need to add another category for other savings.

Also, postage for train welcome packs last week was $8, and for the two trains today was $6. So, train mail is $14 out.

DH and I are still catching up on all those little projects. Today is rainy and cool, so up into the attic to get that insulation in! He asked me NOT to join him this time, something about me still being a bit sick, and the possibility of my fainting or otherwise falling through the ceiling. DON'T ADD TO THE PROJECT LISTS!

He did run out of insulation so, off to Home Depot for a small amount more. Also picked up some fertilizer, twine, and a second pitch fork. Lesson of the weekend...do NOT try to SHARE one pitchfork with someone else while you are both trying to put down mulch with it...OUCH.

So, $98.28, and had the $100 gift cards from MyPoints, so NOTHING SPENT! The trick of using those cards is to not spend extra money!

Then, a quick run into the grocery; Birds Eye on sale 40% off, plus coupons...saved $32, paid $12.

Rebates came today, $60, and another $12 in surveys. That brings totals up to...


Current savings:\\
2006 $20 challenge: $4174
2006 grocery savings: $5825

Not counting the home depot, as it's not groceries, and I spent the cards, so not adding to anything.

Pot roast is in the dutch oven...it's not a savings if you throw it out, in my book. I'll throw in the carrots, onion, and potatoes later. Leftover onions...onion soup! Yum!!!