flash's saving Blog

Okay, here is an example of how I get a great buy on regular items like clothing.

My husband needs a new super long robe for walking the dog at night. He's 6'5", so shopping is harder and prices are MUCH higher.

This year, I checked out Rochester Big and Tall, Casual Male (used to be Repp) Big and Tall, and found one I really liked. $145 at Rochester, similar but not quite as nice for $90 at Casual.

I received a catalog in the mail for King Size Direct with a coupon code for 40% on one item, and they had the identical robe that I liked in the Casual catalog. Checked both out in GREAT detail on line to confirm they were the same robe. The King Size Direct was only $64, and with my discount it was $45.

I went through eBates, which has 5% cash back (I think) at King Size Direct, and an offer for free shipping.

It came, and they sent me another catalog with more offers and a clearance section.

So, $140/90 + S&H down to $42.

Another interesting way to save, is to check out some of the freebies. This site has a pretty good list. Somethings, like a sealer for an open champagne bottle for FREE, when this is something I wish I had every year, perfect stocking stuffer for my husband.

I've made out okay on some of the "Free Trials". Urban Nutrition has quite a few products. If you check them out, start to order, put in your info, then close the window when you see what they want for S&H on this "FREE" trial, usually $7-8, they usually will open a window that asks you to come back for S&H of $1.95. Close that window, and they often come up with yet another window for a free $10 g/c for Starbucks or Blockbuster, and $1.95 shipping. So, now the freebie is a better deal. They do commit you to autoship, but I've done this their pet treats; when she had surgery and had diet changes after I'd already ordered, I canceled without ANY problems, and they still let me keep the gift card.

Quite a few "free trials" will do this with one price, then a lower one, then a deal for the trial. Not all of them. And if you really aren't interested, be careful. I signed up with VetBalance when my dog was sick, but when she had surgery I canceled per their instructions, and they refused, and it's been a mess getting out of it.

I've been asked to post some methods for getting great deals on the internet. Since we are pretty rural, shopping is 30 miles away, I do most of my shopping on the internet. So, lots of "tricks". So, I'll try to break this down into a few organized posts lol.

Freebies.

I rarely take the BizRate surveys when they popup (HOW irritating), but I do occasionally, especially when I'm looking for deals. Note, if you do rate a vendor, BizRate will ask if they can send you offers. Some may be great, some may be spam. Your choice.

BizRate will give you a "$100 shopping spree". Some good deals, but if you aren't careful it CAN become a spending spree, because they offer a limited selection of magazines, DVDs, stuff, and each requires $2 or so processing fees.

Be careful on the magazines. Time at $2 a year is a great bargain, but they WILL autobill you the next year at $77, or the current full price, so if you do sign up for these make yourself a reminder to CANCEL them in 9 months. If you want to keep them, find another cheap way to do it. Maybe another BizRate survey, maybe one of the other great sites I can tell you about.

DVDs, very limited selection. But, I did pick up Disney's Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and a 3 Stooges DVD at $2 a pop for gifts. (forgot to count those in my totals).

REMIND YOURSELF you dont' have to "spend" their $100s, just get things that you would buy anyway. Otherwise it is NOT a savings!

Have a cold, fever over 100, so didn't really think it would be a great day in savings land.

But, received my free samples from Wei East today, coupons from General Mills, a free movie ticket in the mail, and another freebie that I'm drawing a blank on (blame it on the cold, not age :-).

I skimmed through the latest freebies and found the free membership to American Greetings. com. The free year works for existing memberships, and since I am responsible for my entire family (you get three accounts), I just saved $30!!!

This site actually has saved me money in the past, because it allows me to set up reminders for all the holidays and special occasions, with emails to my inbox at whatever time I specify (I usually go two weeks in advance). Enough time to buy and ship without express delivery charges! It also let's me set up ecards ahead of time to be sent on the day...so if I *do* forget to send a gift or card, they will still receive an ecard on the right date. There are options for sending egifts, also. Love the create and print section for making stuff for my sister's school.

Not bad for a sick day!

I finally had a chance to review all the total costs. Considering we are buying for over 20 people, it's been a challenge.

Forgot to previously log that I received a free $60 metacel for my brother with purchase. He lives on this stuff, so nice gift.

So,
ORIGINAL PRICE OF GIFTS: $2999.
ACTUAL COST/EXPENDITURES: $765.

COST OF SHIPPING: $110
EBATE rebate earned: $113

So, the rebate will balance the shipping, which wasn't too bad given that several boxes went priority, and that there are SO many boxes and gifts (49 gifts).


Not bad, total cost of gifts and shipping is still less than we paid for shipping alone last year. But it is still quite a bit of money, and I still have hubbie to buy for.

My other challenge is always to STOP shopping once I've chosen everyone's gifts. December is festive and full of "good deals", and there is a holiday spirit in shopping and wrapping etc. so close to the holidays. BUT, it's not a good deal if I don't need it and already purchased something. Hubbie is really difficult, since he is here, and there are no logistics of shipping, and such a joy in giving him gifts!

But this journal will force me to account for my spending and keep track of it all, which really helps. Hopefully.

Snow day. The stores are already cleaned out, yet there are LONG lines for everything. Milk, bread, TP, batteries, ice melt...

Coming from CA, I always thought this was quite odd. If it's winter and you live in a cold climate, why not stay prepared?

Milk, I always have powdered and evaporated on hand, just in case. Bread, in the freezer, and also staples (yeast, flour, etc.) in case I have time to bake. Great for a snowy day, and the smell and warmth from the oven helps keeps the chill out from our patio door. TP, stocked up on last month, good sale, double coupons, room in basement to store it. Ice melt, MD ran out on Saturday and picked up the first of the season, put it out BEFORE the ice came. I HATE THE ICE UNDER THE SNOW. We didn't have that in California :-).

Batteries, I check and restock in the summer, when they have sales. Each summer we have horrible lightning storms and the power is out several times a week, so each summer I put together a "lights out" kit. Unscented pillar candles ($1 each), matches and a lighter, battery operated lanterns (gift for MDs birthday), microbial hand wipes (no power, no pump, no water, since we are on a well), etc. It all goes in a big plastic storage box in the garage, easy access, and has glow in the dark stickers from a halloween clearance sale all over the outside so we can find it in the dark.

Part of the holiday decor is thick polar fleece blankets, festive but always ready to snuggle in if the heat goes. A few duraflame logs and some firestarter sticks from a clearance last winter.

The one thing I am wasting money on, I always buy windshield wash fluid with deicer in it, and somehow MD never fills the jeep with it, and it gets buried in the garage until I buy another gallon. We have quite a supply now. Hopefully we'll use it this year!

Been updating the Freebies/Coupons section while MD trims the tree. It is taking much longer than I thought to test and clean out all the expired links, offers, spam, and update offers if available. I'm down to Food/Cooking, and it is down from around 20 pages to 10. Better. Just keep plugging away.

It is nice to check out all the offers and sites. Have found a few things I'm interested in. Hopefully a few good deals for others too. Now to scrub down the residue off the computer. Wow, some of these sites really dump the trojans and data miners on!

Did complete my daily participation in two panels. Did get through the chores, got some coupons ready to mail off to someone else, little things. Only thing I spent on was the dog's meds, and, well, since she keeps NAILING MD's fingers when he tries to brush her teeth and RINSE her mouth :-), I think we can afford a doggie toothbrush that has a handle. The vet-supplied finger brush, a rubber glove for his finger that he is supposed to brush the dog's teeth with? well, who's idea was that???

I don't play sweepstakes, as I NEVER win, but I have started playing instant wins. I rarely play the ones with few prizes or only big prizes, since I don't really have time or luck to waste. I play the ones with lots of little prizes. I never win much, but it's really come in handy for cutting gift costs this year. Examples:

Juicy juice, won 2 $5 gcs for Scholastic, found spiderman books and toys on sale, and got 3 items for only $4 (shipping). (Everyone I know has won at this site)

VISA, won a $10 gc at disneyshopping. Never shopped that site before, but they had a sale on personalized cinderella sweatshirts, $25 down to $15, and a special 25% off on all personalized stuff, and free shipping that day. So, for $2 I have the PERFECT gift for my little niece.

Won two Nestle crunches, so will go into stockings.

Won a baseball cap. Great for my nephew.

One of the shopping sites had BizRate, which I really NEVER do, but I did, and received their $100 shopping spree. Of course, nothing was free, you had to pay charges on everything, but they did have two DVDs for free, $2 processing, Cinderella and Snow White. Perfect for niece!

That purchase led to a buy one get two free DVD from deepdiscountDVD, which I'd never used, but they did have good prices and a Jackie Chan movie my husband doesn't yet have, so for $9 I got 3 DVDs for gifts.

That site also had a DVD my husband wanted for my father, which was $30 at amazon.com and $13 at that site. Bought it, it came, the quality is great.

I've also won two Vaseline moisturizer bottles from their site, where they actually invite you back to win again. Perfect for my mother with dry diabetic skin. (everyone I know has won at this site)

Ah, and a pack of candy just for entering at Mike and Ikes (?) which my nephew will like.

So, while it's not much, these little things have added up to quite a few free and really cheap GOOD gifts!

Katwoman, I'll post more later about some of the ways I receive internet deals/discounts/etc.

Forgot, dog went to vet yesterday, and the mouthwash they prescribed is $40 for 8 oz. Looked at 1-800PETMEDS and it was $30. Googled it, and found two other sources for $11. Also found a great sale on Cosequin, so stocked up. I paid $40 for 180 capsules, when they are $50 for 90 at other sources. So even though my pampered pet is costing a fortune right now, at least we are controlling it a bit.

Tonight, free soup and bread from the great deal a few weeks ago. And a deep breath. Dad is doing better, dog is doing better, haven't heard from the MRI yet, but we have ENDED a tough week, and I'm looking forward to this one.

Today, getting the decorations FINISHED. Yesterday I scrubbed the house down and put away the non-holiday decor that was replaced with the holiday decor today. MD is putting up the tree. Actually found a use for a bag of craft picks that I picked up two years ago for 5 cents a piece, when I was crafting, and almost pitched them out last year. This year, they filled up a new Lenox bowl (gift) BEAUTIFULLY. And cheap!

I think one of my favorite cheap decorations is to take a nice bowl, crystal or china or colored, not expensive but classy, and fill it with round ornaments. The cheapest ball ornaments we've had for twenty years just take on a whole new look in a cheap crystal bowl. I also like to fill opaque bowls with picks, add a bit of nice ribbon, especially wired ribbon, and just make an arrangement. Baskets are great, too. I've filled some with pinecones from the yard, tossed in a few picks and a nice bow with remnants of craft materials, and friends actually asked to buy them from me last year.

Lots of candles, too, hand painted or rub-ons or whatnot. I'm so allergic to scents, that getting the plain white candles and adding my own designs really works best. And candles in the craft store are only $1 for a pillar, so I feel like I'm saving.

The one area I blow money in decorating each year is on TOWELS of all things. Our bathrooms are all white, and I want a nice rich color for the holidays, red or green, burgundy or blue would be okay. So every year, I buy towels that are not supposed to fall apart, and every year I find myself and all my laundry covered with red or green fuzz. Especially nice when washing my hair. WHY CAN'T SOMEONE MAKE A RED TOWEL THAT LASTS?

We did GREAT on last weeks challenges. The holidays for all 25 members of our out of state family is taken care of, purchased, packaged, mailed. I still need to tally up the overall costs and savings. I will be happy to respond to the comment to provide more detail on different online discount methods that really paid off this year. Later.

This week's challenge for us is to go through all the Medicare Part D forms, advice, plans, etc., and get it sorted out for everyone in my family. AGH. But, well worth doing. I'm really interested to see what our projected savings will be, since everyone's meds have been SO high this year.

But, that can wait for tomorrow, when the medicare site is not so busy. Getting on is impossible!

We DID get the dog in to the vet, who FINALLY agreed to take her off the antibiotics.

Now we are supposed to feed her yogurt, specifically DANNON yogurt, to get her colon back to normal. I was very surprised, but the vet was adamant that DANNON yogurt was the only yogurt we should use. Good thing I had a coupon!

Still needing Cosaquin and pain killer and special foods. Will be searching for bargains on those this weekend. My dog is WORTH the money, but that doesn't mean I spend it without finding a bargain.

It's been quite a hectic day. MD packaged up all the gifts to be shipped, and 7 large packages, priority, went for $100. Quite a bit to me, but they were heavy, oversized, and it certainly beats the $1500 we spent on shipping three years ago (we still aren't talking about that one!). It was really neat, MD loves putting shipping off to the last minute, getting that holiday feeling going, and we often end up FED EXing things I purchased months earlier. So, we actually purchased, wrapped, and shipped gifts for 27 people, and it's DONE!!! I'll total up the spending and savings later.

We did buy the insulation, this week's challenge, and as I posted earlier we went a different way, layering insulation of lower quality to achieve the higher insulation value, and saved $700! We got the role we needed FREE! My kudos to Home Depot for telling people how to do this.

Need more coupons? Find the home page of the vendor you want, and use the CONTACT US link. Tell them about a product you like, one you would like to try, problems you have had, etc.

Some companies, like Nestle, will tell ya tough luck.
Some companies, like Conagra (Brawny, etc.) will send you a set of coupons, with a note about this being a once a year request.

Other companies will surprise you with "a few coupons". Birds Eye, wow, I could not find a coupon for their products, emailed them, and TWO DAYS later I received 6 coupons for $1 on their products, and some lesser ones.

Purina, could NOT print the Beneful coupon, emailed that it was the ONLY dog foog my pup will eat and did they have any by mail, and received 4 $1 off coupons.

Olivia, have a "request a 35 cent coupon" on their page, which is an email link to contact them. They sent 4 FREE PRODUCT (p to $2.19) and several other coupons.

I wrote to IAMS about my dogs health and asked them for recommendations, and they sent samples, coupons, and information.

Of course, you've heard the Rubbermaid story, I asked where to get a part and they sent a refund and TWO sets of replacement parts.

Not all companies are generous. But those that are do tend to get my loyalty. Smart business practices is what coupons are all about for them.

Hope that answers some questions. Good luck, and good savings!

I've been asked how people can get MORE coupons.

One issue that has come up, is that so many grocers are refusing to accept internet printed/downloaded coupons. There has been fraud and abuse. I've spoken with the VPs at Boodle, Coupons Inc, etc., and they are negotiating.

Until then, here is a tip. For coupons which go through the "bricks" center, some manufacturers pay the incentive to allow you to request the coupons by mail. Basically it's a "trouble with printing click here to receive by mail" link, but not always easy to access. I've posted those links when I find them.

If you haven't used the mailed coupons before, you should know that they are EXACTLY the same coupon, same dollar value, etc. However, two benefits. ONE, they are printed on veri-fi paper, which is a heavy gray paper with logos on the back, and it's able to be autheticated similar to treasury bucks; scratch the back of the paper with a coin and logos appear. Because of this, MOST GROCERS WILL ACCEPT THEM as manufacturer coupons without question.

SECOND, they tend to have longer expiration dates, usually months instead of weeks.

So, if you can't use internet coupons, the "request by mail link" may be a great option for you.

Started out great. FINALLY got some sleep. Woke up late, 7, and couldn't wait to log on and get saving.

I had a full inbox, though, and so many messages about my father and his short term prognosis. I ended up just getting through all those before my doctor's appointment at 11 and my MRI at 1:30. Also cleaned out my coupon box, nice unemotional task. I'll send the expired ones to the Army, and the ones I realize I can't possibly use before the expiration date to the coupon train.

FORTUNATELY (or not?) the MRI imaging center is located close to Costco, so I spent my time usefully...we picked up prescriptions and MORE BABY WIPES. Poor pup. Sampled some Mrs. Fields chocolates, which were actually disappointing. I had used a free Ghirdelli coupon recently and it is SO smooth. Mom always used Ghiradelli for her confections, but those were for customers, and the family rarely had such a treat. Now I want more! So, planning to send my coupons for Ghiradelli to SOMEONE ELSE before I fill ALL the holiday candy dishes with them!

I'm hanging in there. I've actually had a nice chance to ponder how MUCH this site has helped me focus my savings and hold myself accountable. It's also been great to receive additional ideas for saving, and remind myself of a few practices, like cleaning out my hubbies change drawers.

I HAVE gone over a bit on Christmas for my parents, but in a small way, not the big screen tv fiasco of 1990 way. And the savings I've seen on other things has really buffered the impact of my small splurges.

Oh, last savings of the day, I suppose, I added up all my coffeemate UPCs for the stir-it up rewards. 30 points shy of 3 free coupons. RIDICULOUS how many coffeemates it takes to receive a coupon for a free bottle, and I am NOT wasting the stamp to send the UPCs in until I am sure I have enough to receive the coupons with ONE stamp!

Okay, just getting ready to go fry by BOGO free chicken, and pondering the forum discussion on ethics of saving.

30 years ago, Foster Farms used to have an unconditional product guarantee on all chickens, in whatever form or pieces you purchased them. If you were dissatisfied for ANY reason, just send in the label POP and they would send you two coupons for free replacements, be it two whole chickens, two packages of breasts, no specifications other than that it was the original product purchased.

We were DIRT poor. And, my mother was raised on a chicken farm, and had a chicken farm until they were lost in a drought. So...she was picky about her chickens, and a super saver. She purchased one chicken, found a few pin feathers, sent in for her coupons, purchased two additional free chickens, found some discoloration on one, sent in for two more coupons, etc.

TECHNICALLY, the chickens weren't perfect. CERTAINLY the intent of the offer was not to provide free chickens for life. And reality is, we couldn't afford to eat bread crusts, let alone buy meat or protein.

I've always wondered how she balanced the ethics of all those free chickens with the ethics of a mother feeding her family. This is a balance in saving. Someone always pays, there is never a perfect balance.

Thought for the day. Got a free chicken to fry!

Okay, we have FINISHED gifts for everyone except each other. Things are ready to ship. I DID get caught up in emotions a bit, and spent more on my father and mother than anticipated. But I love them, and there is so little I can do from the east coast to let them know I'm with them. DVDs and diabetic food will help my Dad pass the time and hopefully eat a bit, and the warm smells of cinnamon buns and gingerbread in the Philosophy products will remind my Mom of the special childhood times we spent.

I did go through eBates, use online coupons, free shipping, free gifts with purchase, discount sources, etc., to get the cost of their gifts down from $620 to $95.

Also, my ex-SIL, I love, and I'm tucking in the Yves Rocher snowflake throw and rose lotion and other free wtih purchase for $90 to FREE.

Now I just have to total it all up, ship, and get on with hubbies gifts!

Well. We did not INTEND to shop today. But my doctor actually recommended it to destress. Ah, if he only knew. So, went into the store with NO LIST, and a few coupons I grabbed on the way out.

Didn't do too bad, $90 down to $59. Mostly we had to get "emergency" supplies for our dog, since she has had the runs for two weeks since her surgery and meds. So, baby wipes and Oust and chicken and different dog food and some doggie shampoo. We did get a BOGO on chicken, so I can cook that up, and a free can of mighty dog to try. The dog is losing weight, so got to get this fixed! Also got a BOGO on Oust, some fresh broccoli and cauliflower on sale to cook and serve with the chicken.

I am a bit bummed that the vet just told us to switch to a smaller dry dog food, so I used my free 4 pound Purina One coupon and others, and now I have a stock pile of dry food that she can't eat. Maybe the wildlife will. Switching to canned dog food, well, she has ALWAYS hated it. So hubbie stopped me from using other canned dog food coupons until we see if she will eat anything. SIGH.

But, it really, there were SOME savings, and it did get me away from the email for awhile. All the news about my father's illness and speculation on his lifespan seem to be filling up my inbox. It WAS a nice break to roll through the aisles, pick up a few coupons, and not spend $200 just to fill the cart like we were doing this summer. Progress. Not perfection, but progress.

I've written before about how I cut my drug costs a few months ago from $2K a month to around $1K. I don't have drug coverage, so this is out of pocket for me.

What I hadn't counted in savings was what I was ALREADY saving by pill-splitting. Thanks for reminding me, Katwoman!!!

Pill splitting is NOT taking only half of your dose. It is buying the larger pill and SAVING by cutting it down to the size you need.

One example, Zoloft. I take for my PTSD. If you go to an online site and price out the various forms, you will see how the price ranges:

30 tablets of 25 mg: $77
30 tablets of 50 mg: $75
30 tablets of 100 mg: $76

So, even thought I STARTED at 50 mg dose, getting the 100 mg and splitting them in half saved 50%. Going to 150, my doctor gave me a choice of a script for the 100mg, taking 1 1/2 per day, or 50s, taking 3 per day. Zoloft is a fairly slow uptake with good half life, so getting the dosage exact each time is not so much of an issue. 145 mg vs 150 mgs, my body won't know, and it averages out over time.

So, taking 1.5 of the 100 instead of 6 of the 25 mg is a difference of $110 versus $450!!!

Some pills are much more difficult to split or require an EXACT dose. I still save money by having my doctor write scripts for a combo. (In the above example, using 1 100 mg and 1 50 mg gives exactly 150, but saves between $30 and $300 a month. )

In the pill that I have to use a combo for, since a precise dose IS required, using a combo of 1 100 and 1 25 each day instead of 5 25's (only doses it comes in) saves $700 a month!

This is savings before I even start shopping for best drug prices. At the pharmacy I WAS using prior to comparing prices, the difference on the 125 mg combo was $1500 a month!!!

So yes, splitting pills makes sense. For the manufacturers, the cost of producing the pills doesn't vary much, so the cost that gets passed on doesn't vary that much.

BUT NOTE, you should not split capsules or tablets that crumble. Most pills that can be easily split are scored (line running down the middle to ease in snapping), and tiny pills are most easily split with a thumbnail rather than the huge pill splitter. ALWAYS ask your pharmacist or doctor before splitting pills. They DO understand the cost difference, and WILL advise you well.

So, if I add in the savings from using the best combo of pill sizes with my previous posted savings from price comparison, my monthly savings goes from an original of $5000 a month to the now $1000 a month. Still way too much, but WOW.

Trying to help my parents sort through all their drugs and insurance and medicare info to select a drug plan. They aren't computer literate, let's just say they are TERRIFIED of the computer. So, trying to sort through the plan sites. The government site is helpful for sorting through all the plans in their area with their SSI and med requirements, but the site is BOGGED down, and it's a pain.

But it's worth it. No way could I sort through all this myself. And, since their meds were $12K last year, even buying from Canada, the plans actually do help them. If we live through the process :-)

Okay, in between all the phone calls on health matters, I buckled down and did some serious shopping/savings.

For my littlest niece, used a $10 disney g/c win, a 25% discount promo, and a sale to purchase a beautiful personalized princesses sweatshirt, regularly $25 plus shipping, my total was $2.

For my littlest nephew, used 2 $10 g/c for Scholastic from hubbies win on Juicy Juice and sales to purchase $20 of spiderman activity/coloring/other books for $5 shipping.

For my other niece and nephew, costco sales on two toys, with coupons, total $60.

For DJ25 and hubby, two $100 g/cs for the new house, but eBates, coupons, etc. down to $100.

For DJ13 a $90 electric keyboard with features (!) on sale for $59, minus a Sharper Image $20 coupon minus rebate minue free shipping minus 20% friends and family, so approximate $30.


For DR16, let hubby do the shopping, Target gc for $100 (OUCH!) but he is like a son.

so, down to parents, hubby, and shipping costs.

So for today, $435 down to $237. Not nearly as much savings as I planned, but the gift cards will be appreciated, and will DEFINITELY save on shipping costs! Everything is DEFINITELy worth more than the money I paid, is perfect, but still higher than budget. Need to review where things are overall.

Sister just called, and Dad is doing better. We don't need to fly out there this weekend, which is a savings, but mostly a relief. Now I can joke, I ordered him a peanut-of-the-month club, so he had better stay on this earth for the year! Deep breath.

Guess I should stop the stress spending! Shopping for the holidays while waiting for health tests is NOT a good way to save!

Well, it has been a bumpy week personally. Father is in heart failure, or not, and trying to get answers from the west coast while I'm on the east coast has been a roller coaster. So, we've been rearranging schedules, moved my MRI to Friday, trying to get the dog into the vet for travel while she is still recovering from surgery...

In the midst of this, we are still managing to focus on SAVING. I actually finished shopping for CA family and got everything wrapped. Now we just need to get it shipped, and we will be SO far ahead of the curve.

I was surprised on the first shipment we made. 9 pounds, bone china, great buy except for the shipping charges. Previously we've shipped at the last minute, and shipping was over $500, so our goal is to get them out. Anyway, I priced the ship with USPS, and $17 to ship standard ground, and $17.50 to ship priority 2 day. I know the size versus weight of the package changes costs, but this seemed odd. USPS worker said they are encouraging people to get things out of the queue, so it benefits them if you do priority now. Who knew.

So, we ARE making progress in our weekly goal. Have to total spending so far later.

Well, didn't get the decorations up. Had a family medical crisis, everyone is holding their breath, and I had to reschedule my MRI for Friday.

That said, we did figure out the insulation and saved!

We planned to put in R-39 for the attic, but the cost of insulation was $700. Even with the 10% coupons, $100 g/c, and $150 rebate, we would never get the cost back or justify spending that much.

BUT...Home Depot had some free pamphlets on insulation which noted that it was possible to layer levels of insulation to achieve the higher level. So, since we already have R-13 in the space, we bought one roll of R-19, which will bring it up to R-32, and it was only $51 total. Throw in another $20 for hanging tape, and with the $100 g/c it still came out FREE. THAT's a cost we can recover!

Hubbie says savings is $600.

I'm not sure how to count it, but hope to see some decrease in the heating costs, and definitely less chill in the bedroom walls! Certainly less expenditure than we had planned for.

YEAH!!!!!

Well, I'm still having a Humph after the holidays, but I'm working on it.

I made a 13x9 pan of Turkey Divan and used up the white turkey, gravy, rolls, uncooked broccoli, stuffing, and some mayo that had been open awhile. Always strange to me that MD likes the easy recipe better than the fancy one that DOESN'T use up leftovers.

Had planned to use half the turkey for turkey manicotti. But, he did think I was overcommiting myself, with all the other plans we have for the weeks. So, chopped up the dark meat until it was small enough for our sick little dog to eat while her mouth heals from the surgery. The ricotta, non-fat, I purchased for half price minus a coupon, and it will last another week along with the free eggs (thank you Land of Lakes!), and it's easy enough to throw together the pancakes and filling for the manicotti next week. Toss the unopened bag of cranberries into the freezer, and leftovers are all accounted for. YES!

Today, need to research my parents prescriptions, get them enrolled into some of the discount programs, and review their medicare D. I've been urging my sister to go to the medicare site for months, but she waited until enrollment is underway and she can't get into the web site.

It is an EXCELLENT web site. You enter all the prescriptions and some basic medicare info, and they come back with various insurance plans that would be best for your $$ and needs.

Pfizer and some of the other sites have also come up with great literature on how their programs are changing, since discount cards etc. are out the door. Pfizer is GREAT with helping sort out how to afford their meds. I'm printing out some info to send my parents from www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com.

Better get to it!

Well, of course hubbie and I must receive and ship everything to complete last week's challenge, so that has rolled into this week.

Also, we are really feeling the NEED for the insulation in the attic. I finally received a 10% off everything coupon from Home Depot, we have a $100 g/c from MD's bday, and Home Depot has a rebate on insulation, $75 off every $250. Sounds expensive, and outer wall/attic insulation is! The higher the number/insulation factor, the more it costs. MD is calculating out how much we need. I already priced it, so hopefully we will have a good idea of the costs before we purchase.

So this week - finish up the gifts to CA, and purchase insulation. Hopefully install the insulation, but we need to put decorations up inside and out, and with medical and all, that may be pushing it. We'll see.

Okay, we did not get everything packed and shipped last week, but we did complete the purchasing. Already posted the in-law sales, don't know shipping yet. MD did wrap up and prepare the heaviest items for shipping yesterday, so that will go in tomorrow.

So, for Hanukkah gifts:
We found a beautiful Lenox china menorah, was $172, got it for $38.38, and a Lenox Hallah tray, was $200, down to $63, plus a Lenox coupon for $30, brought the total down to $72, plus shipping. More than I planned to spend, but it is DJ25's first house after living with hubbie and two kids in a 600 sq ft garage while she went back to school and saved for the house. So, finally, she has room for nice things, and she loves to entertain.

Christmas:
For brother, a leather Executive Gift set (writing pad, portfolio, card case, memo pad, all leather, and a calculator), was $50, got it for $5.96 at an outlet sale BEFORE Thanksgiving.

For sister, a leather messenger bag specific to carrying papers, which is what she needs. She uses a purse for everything else. Was $100, got it for $8.96 at the before Thanksgiving outlet sale.

Also purchased clothing during the summer for DR1 and DR21, which is already at my sister's house, original cost was $272, final cost was $23. So they are taken care of.

So, $794 for $110. But, the Lenox was not on my list, so not sure if it counts as savings.

Still have my parents, nieces and nephews and little ones to go...

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In addition, DR1 and DR21 are both extra large extra tall, so I caught the Casual Male big and tall sale BEFORE Thanksgiving. Will send these to my sister in CA to balance out Christmas and then over the year for birthdays or as needed.

So, got 3 pairs of pants, one sweater, two dress shirts, a sweater, and two long sleeve tee's in 2XLT and 4XLT, original price total was $272, total final was $66.

Thanksgiving wasn't bad, I think we spent a total of $50. Now the trick will be to use all the leftovers! Friday we had thanksgiving rerun. Now it will become turkey divan, turkey manicotti, stale could make bread crumbs to top the divan...and things we didn't use after all I need to get into the freezer!

Last night we had an easy dinner that was basically free. A few weeks ago a local store had Campbell's Select soups on sale for $1.29 each, but also a deal that if you bought 8 items on the page, including these, you received $8 off at checkout. And Campbells had a separate deal, buy more than 3 cans, receive a store credit of $3, which they also applied at checkout. So we got bread to use up the rest of the money. There was no limit, not sure why, but we did stock up for the winter at that price!

I'm just in a slump, trying to get past one holiday and on with the next. MRI is tomorrow, so the tension is NOT helping focus on savings. I like to spend when I'm tense, and looking for holiday gifts is the wrong time to do it!!!

So, time to get back on track!

'Tis the seaon of sales!!!

The problem for me is, that doesn't always mean savings.

I realized this a few days ago, while I was ordering some diabetic candy for my mother. A pound was $15, but shipping was $10!!! BUT FOR ONLY $5 more I could change to a 2 pound box with the same shipping charge. I started to do it. It was a "better buy". It was also an extra $5 I COULD SAVE. Mom doesn't need the extra candy, but I do need to save the extra $5. There are other gifts to buy for her that I need that $5 for!

Black Friday has it's own challenges. Everything on sale, everything hectic, caught up in SPENDING and catching those great deals. I have to remind myself that the great deal is SPENDING LESS, not necessarily BUYING MORE for the same money. Yes, I've budgeted a certain amount for a purchase, and it is SO tempting to SPEND that amount -- if I can find something cheaper, I want to roll the savings into MORE GIFTS. I'm tempted to buy things that are on sale that are not actually what I wanted to give. And in the crush of a "hot deal" day, it's so difficult to step back and think about what I am spending and why.

The reality of savings, and taking advantage of sales, is that I MUST stop and think. The GOAL is NOT to spend the budget, but to get the gifts I WANT to give for as far under that budget as I can. There is a balance in the question "do I need the extra gift, or do I need the extra money in the bank".

My mother taught me as a child "everything is ALWAYS 'on sale'. That is up to the store. Whether or not it IS a sale is up to you".