• Living on a Budget: Groceries $40 for 4

    Another great week doing Groceries $40 for 4. It was another busy week but I managed to break away this past Saturday morning to go to the Sav Mor Box Sale with the family. If you haven’t been before and you live in the Greenville area it is worth the time to stock up on food items. It felt great saving some of the grocery shopping cash this week while stocking up on some items for our pantry. Below are my grocery shopping adventures for the week!

    Sav-Mor Sidewalk Box Sale - A Table Full for $16!

    We bought 107 items and paid $16.00 total which means we spent less than $0.15 per item!!!  You can often get some excellent deals at Sav Mor’s Box Sale.  I was hoping to stock up on snack items for our family since I will be traveling a little and I wanted to make sure there were plenty of easy snacks to take as well as  meals that could be made quickly for our family.  Our dining table was full once we unpacked the boxes!  We even got some Organic / Whole Wheat food items for the family.  We purchased two boxes at $7.00 each and the case of chips was $2.00 giving us our total of $16.00.

    Sav-Mor Groceries from the Saturday Sidewalk Box Sale:

    • 8 Bags – 18 oz Laura Lynn Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips (they sold these for $2.00 per case, we got 1 case)
    • 4 – 4 packs Vermont Organic Strawberry Banana Applesauce
    • 1 – 25 count Milkshake Straws
    • 1 – 4 oz Kettle Baked Potato Chips – BBQ Flavor
    • 2 – 26.5 oz Hunts Pasta Sauce
    • 1 – 14.5 oz Sliced Potatoes
    • 1 – 64 oz Laura Lynn Fruit Punch Juice
    • 1 – 3.5 oz Quaker Vanilla Creme Brulee Rice Snacks (Whole Wheat)
    • 2 – Annies Organic Alfredo Shells & Cheddar
    • 1 – 4 pack Gerber Yogurt Blends
    • 2 – Roasted Chicken Gravy Packs
    • 1 – Roasted Turkey Gravy Pack
    • 6 – Simply Organic Alfredo Packs
    • 2 – Molly McButter Fat Free Natural Sprinkles
    • 2 – Laura Lynn Woven Wheats
    • 6 – Hamburger Helper Lasagna
    • 6 – Brach’s Candy Hearts
    • 1 – Pasta Roni Chicken
    • 2 – Mrs. Fields Rainbow Chocolate Chip Packages
    • 2 – Mrs. Fields Snickerdoodle Packages
    • 1 – 15.4 oz General Mills Total Cinnamon Crunch
    • 3 – 15.25 oz General Mills Total Blueberry Pomegranate
    • 1 – 16 pack Betty Crocker Fruit Shapes, Gushers, Rollups, By the Foot, Fruit Stickerz
    • 3 – Betty Crocker Fruit Rollups
    • 4 – Betty Crocker Fruit Stackerz
    • 1 – 10.5 oz Kraft Marshmallows (4 flavors)
    • 1 – 8 pack Chi-Chi’s Flour Tortilla’s
    • 8 – Land O’ Lakes Caramel Hot Chocolate Packs
    • 1 – 9 oz Annie’s Natural Organic Dijon Mustard
    • 2 – 10 packs Propel Raspberry Lemonade
    • 13 – 4 packs Starkist Chunk Light Tuna (the sticker on the packages read $4.98 each and they didn’t expire until 2012, so that is a huge savings – it would normally cost us $64.74 to buy them)
    • 4 – 6 packs Quakers Simple Harvest Dark Chocolate Chunk (the sticker on the packages read $3.28 each – it would normally cost us $13.12 to buy them)
    • 5 – 6 packs Quakers Simple Harvest Trail Mix (the sticker on the packages read $3.28 each – it would normally cost us $16.40 to buy them)
    • 1 – Carr’s Whole Wheat Crackers
    • 1 – 8 pack Ocean Spray Oatmeal with Cranberries
    • 2 – Nutritious Living Hi-Lo with Strawberries
    • 3 – 14 oz Captain Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch
    • 1 – 16 oz Captain Crunch

    Sav Mor has been doing their Box Sale for several years now.  They will occasionally offer additional discounts as well.  For example, last Saturday you could get a case of Tortilla Chips for $2.00 which meant you were getting the chips for 25 cents per bag.   There is more information I want to share with you about how the sale works so  I will be going into more details about the Sav-Mor Sidewalk Box Sale in a later post.

    Groceries at CVS

    Groceries from CVS:

    • $2.85 at CVS for Kellogg’s Fruit Loops ($1.16 for the box), Kellogg’s, Rice Krispies ($1.16 for the box), and CVS Honey Wheat Pretzel Twists (of clearance for $0.49 cents)

    Groceries from Bi-Lo (I didn’t have a chance to take a picture this week, but wanted to include our milk purchase):

    • $6.04 at Bi-Lo for 2 gallons of Milk ($2.99 each)

    I am excited to see us doing better on our Groceries $40 for 4 budget.  This week we spent $24.89 on groceries so it was a pretty good week regarding saving extra grocery cash.  We did better this week because I a little extra time and went to the Sidewalk Box Sale at Sav-Mor.  I was able to stock up on a few extra items this week for the pantry.  I am still trying to work out all the details of how to make the budget most effective for our family and I think we need some weeks have been easier than others.  It was nice to share some of the items we picked up this week with some friends too!  Love being able to get a great deal and share with others.  We’ll see how next week goes, it should be interesting because my husband is in charge next week of the $40 grocery budget since I will be traveling!

    It is my goal to give you regular updates on this budget section so you can celebrate the good weeks with me and thump me on the bad weeks!  As always you are welcomed to join the journey with me.  I would love to hear your story and how you are doing too.  The purpose of our family doing this it to watch our grocery spending while allowing us to feed our family, enjoy life, share with others, and yet stay on track with our budget.

    Living on a Budget is a series of ways our family uses a budget to help keep us accountable with our finances.  Life doesn’t always go as planned.  We have used some of the ideas I will be sharing for years while others are ones we are just starting to implement as we continue finding ways to be creative and have fun with what we have been given.  Having a plan in place allows us the freedom to be smart with what we have been given, get more creative when it is a tight (week, month, year or a season) and when necessary live a much more simplified life.  A budget helps us stay on track so we have more opportunities to enjoy the many blessings we have been given as well as share what we have with others.  There is so much more to life than having all the stuff.  We may not have the newest or greatest items in our house, we drive used cars, and wear hand-me-down clothing…..however, if our family is taken care of and have love for each other and others we have more than all the riches in the world.

  • CVS: Spent $0.52 and Got $17 ECB’s Back!

    CVS has a few great deals this week.  I was happy to get some items this week for free with ECB’s  plus I was able to utilize a few of my B1G1F coupons.  I also picked up a couple products for an upcoming event!   This week I was able to get the items for $0.52 plus tax ($3.24) making my out of pocket $3.79 and received $17.73 ECB’s to use on my next CVS purchase.  Here is what I purchased this week.

    • 1 – Biore Nose Strips – $7.50
    • 1 – Biore Blemish Control Face Wash – $7.50
    • 2 – Airwick Freshmatic Kits – $6.00 each
    • 4 – Airwick Freshmatic Refills – $5.00 each
    • 1 – Russell Stovers Chocolate Coconut – $0.74
    • 2 – Lifesavers Mint & Winterfresh – $3.49 (B1G1F)
    • 1 – Super Miracle Bubbles (16 oz) – $1.99
    • 1 – CVS 12 Hour Nasal Relief – 4.89

    Here are the coupons I used on the items.

    • Used $7.50 Biore B1G1F Manufacturer Coupon
    • Used $4.00 Airwick Freshmatic Manufacturer Coupon
    • Used $4.00 Airwick Freshmatic Manufacturer Coupon
    • Used $5.00 Airwick Freshmatic Refill B1G1F Manufacturer Coupon
    • Used $5.00 Airwick Freshmatic Refill B1G1F Manufacturer Coupon
    • Used $30.97 ECB coupons from prior purchases

    I received $17.73 ECB’s back today:

    • $10.00 ECB’s for Airwick Products
    • $5.00 ECB’s for Biore Products
    • $1.99 ECB’s for Super Miracle Bubbles
    • $0.74 ECB’s for Russell Stover

    This week I was able to save over $77 at CVS by purchasing these items and using coupons.

    When you shop the CVS sales regularly and have ECB’s that you can roll over toward future purchases the bonus ECB’s start adding up (Green Bag Tags and Beauty Club).  As you can see from my shopping trip today you don’t have to purchase a lot to save money when shopping at CVS.  Plus you can use the additional ECB’s you receive towards your next purchase.  You can pick and chose what is best for your family.

    I would love to hear your CVS shopping story for this week!  For those of you who shop regularly at CVS please share how you were able to save this week!  Although the weekly ad sales are similar every family and situation is different so you may have found items better suited to your household.  In your comment please feel free to share a link to your blog article showing us how you were able to save shopping at CVS.

  • CVS: Allegra 180 (30 Count) for $2

    For those of you who are suffering along with me during this heighten pollen season there is a way to get relief without breaking your budget.  I was able to get Allegra 180 (which I used to take with a prescription) for $2.83 without using any of my ECB’s from previous purchases.

    Here’s how you get it:

    • Buy 1 Box of Allegra 180 (30 count) on sale at CVS this week for $18.83
    • Use $5.00 coupon for Allegra you receive by scanning your at the in store kiosk
    • Use $4.00 coupon for Allegra you receive by scanning your at the in store kiosk (I was able to use both store coupons, so go ahead stack them)
    • Use $2.00 Allegra Manufacturer’s Coupons Attached to the in store displays (Walgreens also has $2 off coupons on their displays), take one and use it when you check out
    • Receive a $5 ECB back with your purchase

    Our originally the Allegra 180 for a month was $18.83 but by using and stacking the 3 coupons plus the ECBs.  You can’t beat $2 for allergy medicine for 30 days.  If you are like me you may only have to use it once in awhile so it could last you even longer.  Make sure to always scan your card at the in store kiosk whenever you can.  I make it a habit to do it each time I am in the store, sometimes I use the coupons and other times I don’t but it doesn’t hurt to check it out!

    Another great way to help with allergies is buy local honey and have a teaspoon twice a day.  Most of the year I do great but during high pollen season I can really get stuffy and my eyes start itching.

    When you shop the CVS sales regularly and have ECB’s that you can roll over toward future purchases the bonus ECB’s start adding up (Green Bag Tags and Beauty Club).  As you can see from my shopping trip today you don’t have to purchase a lot to save money when shopping at CVS.  Plus you can use the additional ECB’s you receive towards your next purchase.  You can pick and chose what is best for your family.

    I would love to hear your CVS shopping story for this week!  For those of you who shop regularly at CVS please share how you were able to save this week!  Although the weekly ad sales are similar every family and situation is different so you may have found items better suited to your household.  In your comment please feel free to share a link to your blog article showing us how you were able to save shopping at CVS.

     

  • Swagbucks: Earning A Little Extra

    swagbucks-logo

    Swagbucks…..what is it?  That was my thought initially as well.   A couple friends mentioned it several times so I decided to check it out for myself.  Even though I have only been part of Swagbucks for a few weeks I must say I am impressed.  I have been able over the short period of time accumulated quite a few Swagbucks and earn several gifts, including Gift Cards to places like Amazon, Starbucks, and more.  Are you looking for ways to get a little bit extra, make your budget stretch, money for gifts, special occasions, gift cards, or just for fun?

    I want to give you a little information on Swagbucks and how you can enjoy the perks as well!  Swagbucks is FREE to join and you can earn many gifts you can use for your family or share with others!

    Starting Out – What is Swagbucks?

    • Swagbucks is a search engine that gives you rewards (like Google).  You earn Swagbucks for searching and bonus ones through various searches and tasks you can do online.  Typically you earn between 5 to 20 Swagbucks for searching each day.  There are many ways to earn additional Swagbucks (I discuss those a little later in this post). 

    What Do I Earn With My Swagbucks? (Below are a few of the items categories, they typically have thousands of prizes to choose from every day)  Always make sure to check out their “On Sale” and “Hot Deals” categories first before cashing in your Swagbucks because they may have an item or gift card you want on sale or at a discount!

    • My Favorite is for Gift Cards – Amazon, Starbucks, Restaurant.com, Barnes & Noble, Target, Macy’s, Bass Pro Shops, Lowe’s, and MORE!
    • Cash – PayPal
    • Apparel & Accessories
    • Books & Magazines
    • Consoles & Video Games
    • Electronics
    • Kid Items
    • Gift & Reward Cards
    • Health & Beauty
    • Jewelry
    • Kitchen Items
    • Movies & TV
    • Music
    • School Supplies
    • Sports & Collectibles
    • Trading Cards
    • And MUCH MORE……

    How Do I Get Started?

    • It is free to join!  All you have to do is fill out a form to get started!
    • Only 1 account per household is allowed (they will close all your accounts if you try to do more than one per household).

    Are There Really Any Benefits?

    • YES!  I have been able to cash in on multiple prizes and gift cards even though I have only been using it a few weeks.
    • If you are already online you can easily begin earning gift cards, prizes, and more just by doing things you already do every day.  You can spend your Swagbucks as you earn them or save them up for gifts (birthday, Holidays, weddings, baby showers, Christmas, anniversary, and more).
    • It is possible to earn a gift card (or several) every month!

    How Do I Earn Additional Swagbucks?

    • Install the Swagbucks Toolbar – when you install the Swagbucks toolbar you will earn Swagbucks for searching online.  If you prefer to not install the toolbar and continuing using your current sofware (Google, etc….) you can still get rewards by going to Swagbucks hompage and searching online directly from their site. Swagbucks will often give you a free code in your toolbar as well which will add free bonus points to your account.
    • Print Swagbucks Coupons – every coupon from Swagbucks that you print and use at a local store earns 10 additional Swagbucks.  Get the coupons by going to Swagbucks homepage, click on the “Earn” tab, then select “Coupons” and it will bring you to the current coupons that you can use.  I go through the coupons once a month and print the items that I buy regularly.  Once you have used the coupon 10 Swagbucks will be added to your account within a few weeks (their website says up to 12 weeks, it usually does not take that long).
    • Swagbucks Blog – follow the Swagbucks Blog to get additional free codes.  They typically have at least one free code a day on their blog.  In additional to that you have a current update on their giveaways and any Swagbucks News.
    • Swagbucks Facebook –follow Swagbucks on Facebook and you will find the latest Swagbuck codes.  Members post to the wall, start discussions, or make comments that will help you find the bonus codes.
    • Swagbucks Twitter – follow Swagbucks on Twitter and you can receive Twitter specific codes.  Several times a week they will randomly award their Twitter followers with an additional 100 free Swagbucks which will be added to your account when they use the hashtag #Swagbucks.
    • Daily Poll – every day you have the opportunity to participate in the Swagbucks poll and receive 1 additional Swagbucks.  While this does not seem to be a lot it takes a matter of seconds to complete the poll and the points really do add up over time.
    • Swagbucks TV – this is an easy one to do if you are working on the computer throughout the day.  When you are on Swagbucks homepage, click on the “Earn” tab, select “Swagbucks TV” and chose from a variety of items to watch.  The length of the videos are typically from 30 seconds up to 5 minutes.  Every 10 videos you watch you earn 3 Swagbucks.  The reason why this one is easy to do is you can click on a video and have it running while you continue working, cleaning, or other tasks throughout your day.  Swagbucks will allow you to earn up to 25 three point rewards within a 24-hour period, which means you can get up to 75 additional points by multi-tasking throughout your day.
    • Games – if you enjoy playing various games on your computer this may be a great way to earn additional Swagbucks.  I have tried several games and tend to stick to the ones that I do well at.  Please Note:  There are a lot of free games available to play and earn bonus Swagbucks, however, they do have some you have to pay Swagbucks to play.  I stick to only the free games so I don’t have to use my Swagbucks on games.
    • Special Offers – you can earn an additional Swagbucks when you complete special offers.  Click on the “Earn” tab and select “Special Offers” to see of list of ones you can choose from and complete.  Many of the offers require no credit cards or payment to earn the additional Swagbucks.  Please Note:  You will only receive the specified listed Swagbucks if you complete the special offer, if you stop in the middle or don’t complete it for whatever reason you will not receive any credit for the special offer.  There are some free trials that you can sign up for then cancel later, I would recommend only participating in these offers if you are already considering the product.  If you do cancel make sure to keep track of the information and dates so you will not be charged for it.
    • Groupon Swagbucks – you can earn additional Swagbucks by purchasing a Groupon deal through the Swagbucks website.  Click on the “Earn” tab and select “Daily Deals”.   You can earn an addtional 150 to 450 in Swagbucks by purchasing a Groupon you were already going to get through Swagbucks.  (Note:  450 Swagbucks can earn you hundreds of prizes, including, a $5 Amazon gift Card). If you are already planning on purchasing a Groupon deal consider going through Swagbucks so you can earn a little extra.
    • Bonus Video’s & Offers – on the Swagbucks Homepage you will often find a bonus video or offer than takes on you only moments to watch or complete and you will earn additional points.  Many times 1 video will be worth 2 points or more.
    • Surveys – you can earn additional Swagbucks by taking surveys.  This is a great opportunity to earn bonus Swagbucks if you enjoy filling out surveys especially if you qualify for a bunch of the ones they are offering.  They do pre-qualify the surveys so you’ll have to meet their qualifications to participate in each individual survey.  They give you the amount you will earn as well as the estimated time to complete the survey up front.  You have to finish the pre-qualification and survey prior to receiving the additional Swagbucks.
    • Trade In – You can earn additional Swagbucks by trading in old electronics, books, phones, MP3 players, games, consoles, and more.  If you are not using it or considering donating the items anyway check out how much you can earn in Swagbucks by trading it in.  Go to the “Earn” tab and click on “Trade In”.  You can look up the items you are wanting to get rid of and find out how much you can get for them by searching for that specific item in the Trade In section.  How to do it – Look up the item, print out the pre-paid shipping label, save your receipt, and mail it in.  You will receive the amount in your account once they have processed your item.  Please Note: you must have at least 600 Swagbucks in your account to qualify for free shipping.  It doesn’t take too long to earn those points and by trading in your receive even more Swagbucks.
    • Bookmark Regular Pages – bookmark the websites you visit daily (such as Facebook, Twitter, etc…) and search for them using Swagbucks.  Go directly to the bookmarked page through Swagbucks instead of directly to the site and you will earn a decent number of Swagbucks each week.  Make sure when you are search for the same sites you use a variety of search terms because your account could be flagged if you search the same thing (aka “robotic”) every day.
    • Tasks – under the “Earn” tab if you select “Tasks” you will be able to see a list of variety of different tasks you can do to earn Swagbucks.  Every task is different and you earn a variety of different amounts based on the task you chose.  They do tell you when you start the task how many minutes they anticipate it to take for you to complete.  Please Note:  Although, you can earn more Swagbucks doing these tasks they typically take a little more time.  Make sure you have enough time to complete the task so you receive your additional Swagbucks.
    • No Obligation Special Offers – you can go through the “No Obligation Special Offers” every day and earn additional Swagbucks.  You don’t have to sign up for the offers and can choose to skip through all the ones they show you (unless you prefer to sign up).   You will earn 2 Swagbucks from doing this additional offer.  It typically only takes a few seconds to complete.

    One other quick note I want to make so you will be informed about Swagbucks – you can earn as much or as little as you want to on your account.  However, you are only allowed to purchase 5 of the same item per month.  For example, if you want to purchase $5 Amazon Gift Cards at 450 each (which are stackable when purchasing on Amazon) the maximum amount you can order in a month would be 5 – $5 Amazon Gift Cards (2250 Swagbucks).  If you want more Amazon Gift Cards you will have to purchase a higher amount or wait until the following month to purchase more at $5 increments.  Or you can chose a wide variety of other prizes with your Swagbucks.  It is your choice so pick the ones that best fit your family.

    You can earn many neat prizes by using Swagbucks during you daily tasks online.  I don’t have the time to do every single activity that they offer, but even if I do a few the points add up pretty quickly over the course of a week.  Like I said before I have only been doing this for a few weeks and have already earned gift cards to purchase items for my family.  Pick the handful of activities that work well for you and do them regularly.  You can choose to save your Swagbucks or use them as soon as you can.  I have done it a variety of different ways.  Right now I am choosing to save up my Swagbucks to get something for a gift.

    I would love to learn more about how you earn Swagbucks.  Congratulations if you have earned some great prizes already using Swagbucks!  Please share in the comments below some of the prizes you have purchased using Swagbucks so the readers can see how it has benefited your family!

  • Save A Lot: Deals for the week of April 6 – 12, 2011

    The Save A Lot deals are similar to the ones from last week so if you haven’t had a chance to stock up on these deals you can do it this week.  The weekly ad deals are listed below for your convenience.   Sign up for the Smart Shopper Club, by doing so you will get a $5.00 off of $25.00 coupon!

    Meats and Seafood

    Frozen Chicken Leg Quarters (10 lb Bag) – $0.39 per lb

    Bone In Shank Portion Ham – $0.99 per lb

    Beef Eye of Round Roast – $2.99 per lb

    Bone In Pork Sirloin Roast – $1.29 per lb

    Schooner Tilapia Fillets (12 oz) $2.99

    Pick 5 for $19.99 promo on going: Pick any 5 specially marked packages of your favorite cuts of fresh, frozen or smoked meats and pay just $19.99 (about $2 per pound).

    Fridge and Freezer

    Imperial Spread Margarine (16 oz) – $0.50

    Fairgrounds Jumbo Hotdogs (16 oz) – $1.00

    Oscar Mayer Bologna (12 oz) – $1.00

    Banquet Family Size Entrees (26 to 28 oz) – $2.00

    Portside Battered or Breaded Fish Fillets – $2.99

    Hillshire Farm Sausage – $1.99
    Use $1/1 printable coupon from Hillshire Farms
    $0.99 each after coupon

    Goldleaf Deep Dish Pie Shells – $1.99

    Creamy Whip Whipped Topping – $0.89

    World’s Fair Ice Cream – $2.49

    Crisp Not from Concentrate Premium Orange Juice – $2.69

    Mrs Smith’s Fruit Pies – $2.49

    Household

    Colortex Big Mopper Paper Towels (6 pack) – $3.99

    Solutions Window Cleaner – $0.99

    First Force Pine Cleaner – $1.00

    Axis Liquid Bleach – $0.99

    Clorex Disinfecting Wipes – $2.49

    Sparkle Paper Towels – $0.99

    Solo Laundry Detergent – $1.79

    Produce

    Seedless Red or Green Grapes – $0.99 per lb

    Yellow Onions (3 lbs) – $1.49

    Fresh Iceburg Lettuce – $0.99 each

    Grocery

    Ralston Cereal – $1.50

    Shelby Grove Sliced Peaches (29 oz can) – $1.00

    Maxwell House Wake Up Roast Coffee (34.5 oz can) – $4.99

    Portside Chunk Light Tuna – $0.53

    Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix – $0.45

    Wylwood Vegetables – $0.49

    Wylwood Crispy Onions – $1.99

    Kaskey’s Cream of Mushroom Soup – $0.69

    Kaskey’s Onion Soup Mix – $0.79

    Kaskey’s Chicken Broth – $0.59

    Potatoes on the Side Instant Mash – $1.39

    Libby’s Pineapple – $0.99

    Ginger Evans Cake Mix – $0.99

    Ginger Evans Graham Cracker Ready Crust – $1.29

    Ginger Evans Brown or Powdered Sugar – $1.49

    Ginger Evans Cherry Pie Filling – $1.99

    Nabisco Snak-Sak Cookies – $1.29

    Kool-Aid Jammers – $1.79

    Taco Bell Taco Dinner Kits – $1.59
    Use $1/2 coupon from February ALL YOU Magazine
    $1.09 each after coupon

    Bubba Soda (2 liter) – $0.69

    Diet Mountain Holler (2 liter) – $0.69

    Diet Crisp Zero, Diet Mountain Holler, Bubba Zero, and Bubba Caffeine Free (12 packs) $2.29

    Remember you can use the $5/$25 printable coupon to sweeten these deals!  Plus you can earn up to 5 additional $5 off $25 coupons for sharing the coupon with your friends.

    For more information about Save A Lot’s coupon policies go here.  If you find additional deals or savings please let me know and I will add them to the list.

  • Life Simplified: Set the Timer!

    It has been a really busy few weeks and I don’t anticipate that it will slow down any time soon (maybe in May).  The girls and I will be traveling over their Spring Break so I have a lot to get done before our fun time begins.  If you are like me I want everything to be caught up before I leave on a trip  – bills paid, house cleaned, emails returned, inbox empty, garden planted and weeded,  etc….  however, the “to do” list is generally much longer than the hours available in the day. When I am working on a project I want to stick to it until it is completely finished.  There are major benefits having this personality, however, the downside is that I may get that one project completed but there are 27 other projects that haven’t even been started.

    One of the ways that has helped me stay on task and be more productive (I have been using this a lot lately) is to set the timer.   I have a small timer that I can take with me from room to room.  My timer has been well used the past few weeks, I even lost it for a couple days while getting ready for the yard sale!  I anticipate it will continue to be used in the upcoming weeks as well as I prepare to travel with the kids.  I set the timer for an increment of time to help motivate me and keep me focused on getting the task done.  When the timer goes off that means I am done with that project for the moment and need to move onto the next task (which can be very hard for me at times especially if I am really close to finishing the task I am currently working on).  Here is an example of some of the activities I do during a day with my timer (every day is different so this just an example of activities I set the timer for throughout the day):

    • 30 minutes – Exercise
    • 45 minutes – Quiet Time
    • 10 minutes – Prep for Dinner
    • 10 minutes – Eat Breakfast
    • 30 minutes – Check & Respond to Emails (sometimes I do this 2 to 3 times a day)
    • 60 minutes – Blog Posts
    • 60 minutes – Work Projects
    • 30 minutes – Pick Up the House
    • 60 minutes – Fold & Put Away All Laundry for the week on Laundry Day
    • 30 minutes – Lunch
    • 45 minutes – Homework with the Girls
    • 45 minutes – Make Dinner
    • 30 minutes – Dinner Clean Up and Wash Dishes
    • 15 minutes – Packs Lunches for the Next Day
    • 30 minutes – Clipping Coupons
    • 30 minutes – Matching Coupons with Weekly Ads
    • 30 minutes – Pay Bills & Balance Accounts
    • 10 minutes – Power Clean My Desk (or on some days find my desk)

    If I get to all the tasks that had on my list that day I will reward myself with 30 minutes of “free” time which usually means spending extra time with the family, reading, writing, or something else rewarding yet beneficial.  A lot of times during breakfast or lunch I will spend time reading or answering emails as well.  I have found that days when I work on the computer I don’t get anything done in the house and days that I spend concentrating on home projects I don’t get any work done so as in my attempt to try and balance life a little bit more the timer has become a fun trick that works well for me.  Although the computer work is important I do have some moments when I get sidetracked by a great article or Facebook or something else and before I know it the time has flown by and an hour has passed (same things happens on home projects).  The timer helps me track the time better and alerts me especially when I have gotten distracted from the task at hand. I do not set the timer for family time or family oriented meals and tasks because those are important for the entire family.

    Now if I could only find a way to set a timer for travel time, shopping and waiting to check out, ha!  Although I must say I am becoming a little more efficient in shopping too by only going directly to the items I need and not “browsing” through the entire store.  Not everything works well with setting a timer but there are some tasks I noticed will consume larger amounts of time if I don’t put a time limit on them.

    How do you balance it all as a Wife, Mom, Business Person, etc…?  Do you have other ways that help you stay on task?

    Photo by ellie

  • Living on a Budget: Groceries $40 for 4

    It was my fourth full week of doing my new cash budget system – Groceries $40 for 4. This week I was able to get quite a few items with my $40 budget thanks to clearance items and coupons! Although it has been a learning process the last few weeks this one went pretty well. It is always a learning and growing progress for our family. We are continuing to utilize the food we already have in our pantry and freezer. Below are my grocery shopping adventures for the week!

    RiteAid Groceries

    Grcoeries from RiteAid:

    • $2.16 at RiteAid for Cake Mix (25 cents), Hamburger Dinner (25 cents), Onion Spices, Ground Cinnamon, 2 Tomato Juices (25 cents each), Individual peanut packs, Combos, and two free Easter Candies.  Plus I used an UP Reward towards the purchase.
    FREE Mushrooms at Walgreens!

    Groceries from Walgreens:

    • $0.00 (FREE) at Walgreens for 4 cans of Geisha Mushrooms (used the Walgreens Coupon Insert and Register Reward to pay for the mushrooms! Can’t beat free!
    Groceries from Bi-Lo

    Groceries from Bi-Lo:

    • $36.52 at Bi-Lo for 4 gallons of milk (froze 2 gallons), 1 pack of Cheese Crackers,  2 Slow Cooker Packs, 2 Applesauce Packs, 1 Loaf of Bread, 1 box of Uncle Bens Rice (on closeout), 4 bags of Individually Wrapped Chocolate Covered Raisins (on clearance for 75 cents each), 1 bag of Chickpeas, 2 packs of Pasta, 2 packs of Cheese Sauce Mix, 1 jar Raspberry BBQ Sauce (on closeout), 4 bags shredded cheese, 2 bags sliced cheese, 1 package of fresh Chicken (99 cents / pound).  I used several store and manufacturer’s coupons plus I had a coupon from Bi-Lo for $5 off the entire purchase which helped bring the amount down below $40.

    It was our fourth week of the challenge – Groceries $40 for 4 and we spent $38.68 thankfully we did better this week .  I was able to stock up on some great dairy items this week – Milk (even froze 2 gallons), Cheese (which freezes well too), Chicken (enough for 2 to 3 meals for our family) and snacks for after school!  I am still trying to work out all the details of how to make the budget most effective for our family and I think some weeks have been easier than others.  I used some coupons, bought clearance items, and utilized weekly ad discounts to help save us a little extra on our grocery budget.  I hope to do better next week!  We’ll see how I do!

    It is my goal to give you regular updates on this budget section so you can celebrate the good weeks with me and thump me on the bad weeks!  As always you are welcomed to join the journey with me.  I would love to hear your story and how you are doing too.  The purpose of our family doing this it to watch our grocery spending while allowing us to feed our family, enjoy life, share with others, and yet stay on track with our budget.

    Living on a Budget is a series of ways our family uses a budget to help keep us accountable with our finances.  Life doesn’t always go as planned.  We have used some of the ideas I will be sharing for years while others are ones we are just starting to implement as we continue finding ways to be creative and have fun with what we have been given.  Having a plan in place allows us the freedom to be smart with what we have been given, get more creative when it is a tight (week, month, year or a season) and when necessary live a much more simplified life.  A budget helps us stay on track so we have more opportunities to enjoy the many blessings we have been given as well as share what we have with others.  There is so much more to life than having all the stuff.  We may not have the newest or greatest items in our house, we drive used cars, and wear hand-me-down clothing…..however, if our family is taken care of and have love for each other and others we have more than all the riches in the world.

  • New Upromise eCoupons for April 2011

    Turn Your Everyday Spending into College Savings!

    Upromise has posted their new eCoupons for the month of April 2011.  Remember to activate your eCoupons to get additional savings.  If you have not yet signed up for Upromise you can get more information regarding on our experience or directly at the Upromise website.

    This month they have 45 coupons you can activate for bonus savings.  Once you activate your eCoupons all you have to do is scan your rewards card or purchase the items at the store and the cash will be added to your account.  You don’t even have to carry any coupons to get the rewards!

    You can go to their website for more information on the Upromise program, it’s free to join.

  • Save A Lot: Deals for the week of March 30 – April 5, 2011

    The Save A Lot deals are listed below for your convenience.   Sign up for the Smart Shopper Club, by doing so you will get a $5.00 off of $25.00 coupon!

    Meats and Seafood

    Frozen Chicken Leg Quarters (10 lb Bag) – $0.39 per lb

    Bone In Shank Portion Ham – $0.99 per lb

    Beef Eye of Round Roast – $2.99 per lb

    Bone In Pork Sirloin Roast – $1.29 per lb

    Schooner Tilapia Fillets (12 oz) $2.99

    Pick 5 for $19.99 promo on going: Pick any 5 specially marked packages of your favorite cuts of fresh, frozen or smoked meats and pay just $19.99 (about $2 per pound).

    Fridge and Freezer

    Imperial Spread Margarine (16 oz) – $0.50

    Fairgrounds Jumbo Hotdogs (16 oz) – $1.00

    Oscar Mayer Bologna (12 oz) – $1.00

    Banquet Family Size Entrees (26 to 28 oz) – $2.00

    Portside Battered or Breaded Fish Fillets – $2.99

    Hillshire Farm Sausage – $1.99
    Use $1/1 printable coupon from Hillshire Farms
    $0.99 each after coupon

    Goldleaf Deep Dish Pie Shells – $1.99

    Creamy Whip Whipped Topping – $0.89

    World’s Fair Ice Cream – $2.49

    Crisp Not from Concentrate Premium Orange Juice – $2.69

    Mrs Smith’s Fruit Pies – $2.49

    Household

    Colortex Big Mopper Paper Towels (6 pack) – $3.99

    Solutions Window Cleaner – $0.99

    First Force Pine Cleaner – $1.00

    Axis Liquid Bleach – $0.99

    Clorex Disinfecting Wipes – $2.49

    Sparkle Paper Towels – $0.99
    Use $2/1 coupon when you buy Sparkle Paper Towels & Angel Soft from insert Red Plum (Expires 3/31/11)
    As low as FREE (plus overage) after coupon

    Solo Laundry Detergent – $1.79

    Produce

    Seedless Red or Green Grapes – $0.99 per lb

    Yellow Onions (3 lbs) – $1.49

    Grocery

    Ralston Cereal – $1.50

    Shelby Grove Sliced Peaches (29 oz can) – $1.00

    Maxwell House Wake Up Roast Coffee (34.5 oz can) – $4.99
    Use $0.75/1 coupon from insert 2/13 Smart Source (Expires 3/31/11)
    Use $1/2 coupon from insert 2/13 Smart Source (Expires 3/31/11)
    As low as $4.24 after coupon

    Portside Chunk Light Tuna – $0.53

    Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix – $0.45

    Wylwood Vegetables – $0.49

    Wylwood Crispy Onions – $1.99

    Kaskey’s Cream of Mushroom Soup – $0.69

    Kaskey’s Onion Soup Mix – $0.79

    Kaskey’s Chicken Broth – $0.59

    Potatoes on the Side Instant Mash – $1.39

    Libby’s Pineapple – $0.99

    Ginger Evans Cake Mix – $0.99

    Ginger Evans Graham Cracker Ready Crust – $1.29

    Ginger Evans Brown or Powdered Sugar – $1.49

    Ginger Evans Cherry Pie Filling – $1.99

    Nabisco Snak-Sak Cookies – $1.29

    Kool-Aid Jammers – $1.79

    Taco Bell Taco Dinner Kits – $1.59
    Use $1/2 coupon from February ALL YOU Magazine
    $1.09 each after coupon

    Bubba Soda (2 liter) – $0.69

    Diet Mountain Holler (2 liter) – $0.69

    Diet Crisp Zero, Diet Mountain Holler, Bubba Zero, and Bubba Caffeine Free (12 packs) $2.29

     

    Remember you can use the $5/$25 printable coupon to sweeten these deals!  Plus you can earn up to 5 additional $5 off $25 coupons for sharing the coupon with your friends.

    For more information about Save A Lot’s coupon policies go here.  If you find additional deals or savings please let me know and I will add them to the list.

  • Walgreens: Spent $1 and Got $4 Register Rewards Back

    I went to Walgreens to stock up on some of their deals this week.  I spent $1.49 including tax at Walgreens this week on health and beauty purchases and received $4 Register Rewards back from that visit to use towards my next purchase at Walgreens.  For those of you who haven’t used Walgreens Register Rewards here’s what I got and how I spent only $1.49.  I had a couple other Register Rewards but they were more than $1.49 so I have to save those for another trip as well

    • 2 – Colgate Toothpastes (both Colgate Total) – $3.00 each with $4.00 Register Rewards Back
    • 1 – Classic Game Set in a Silver Tin – Checkers, Chess and Tic Tac Toe (on clearance) – $2.19
    • 1 – Walgreens Pack of Healing Bandaids (30 count) – $1.29
    • 2 – Jumbo Crayon Packs (great road trip material for the girls backpack – $0.90 each
    • 2 – Ban Deodorant – $1.99 each
    • 3 – Aluminum Foil (20 ft) – $1.29 each

    The total was over $21 with tax before using coupons.  Here are the coupons I used on the five items.

    • Used $1.50 Colgate Manufacturer Coupon for 1 toothpaste
    • Used $1.00 Colgate Walgreens Store Coupon for 1 toothpaste
    • Used $0.75 Ban Manufacturer Coupon for 1 Ban Deodorant
    • Used $0.75 Ban Manufacturer Coupon for 1 Ban Deodorant
    • Used $1.00 Walgreens Ban Coupon Insert for both Ban Deodorants
    • Used $1.80 Walgreens Aluminum Foil Coupon Insert for all 3 Aluminum Foils
    • Used $14 Register Rewards from previous purchase

    I received $4 ECB’s back today:

    • $4.00 Register Rewards for Colgate

    Walgreen’s Register Rewards will expire two weeks from the date they are printed so you will need to make sure to use them before their expiration date.  I always keep the ones that are expiring the soonest on top of the stack to make sure to use them first.

    Another important fact regarding Walgreen’s Register Rewards you will need to know if you haven’t used them before is you can only use 1 coupon per item.  If you use a manufacturer’s coupon for every item you are purchasing you will not be able to use any Register Reward for that transaction.   If you do have a coupon for each item then check Walgreen’s weekly ad because they will have items on sale each week for pennies up to $1 that you can use as “filler” items but they won’t raise your total too much.  Once you get started using coupons and rewards you may discover, like I did, how to purchase many of your health and beauty items for nothing or very little.  Since using coupons and reward programs I rarely pay full price for any of our health and beauty items plus I usually have extra to share with guests visiting us or to give away.

    For those of you who shop regularly at Walgreens I encourage you to share how you were able to save this week!  Although the weekly ad sales are similar every family and situation is different so you may have found items better suited to your household.  In your comment please feel free to share a link to your blog article showing us how you were able to save at Walgreens.