I am Still Alive

I was doing so well with my blog...posting daily for the most part. Yes, it was mostly boring stuff about my plans for that day and that type of stuff, but at least I was posting.

I'm just stopping in today to say that I am going to try to get back to posting daily!

It's been kind of crazy around here with so many things to do, so many places to go etc. I am still working on quilts for Christmas. Right now I am in the process of cleaning to get ready for out of town company coming in for Thanksgiving.

Once Thanksgiving is over I want to get out my gift tote and start going through to see what I have for who and get presents wrapped.

I want to change my blog up to include a freebie link each day as well as include my coupon shopping trips and things like that. I want to make it interesting.

If you have any tips for me, please leave me a comment. Thanks!

Grocery Shopping 10/28/09--Savings 72%, Spent $15.26

I only had a little to spend, in fact, I came so close to what I had that I came home with .26 left in my pocket!

The store (Kroger) is having the special of when you buy 10 of the certain products you get an additional $5 off your grocery bill. I did this twice today (plus bought 1 1/2 gallons of milk)

I used coupons on every item (except the milk) I am going to list the sale price, then the price minus the .50 for the bonus, and then the price after coupons. My store doubles coupon up to $1 in value, meaning a .50 coupon is $1 off, coupons over that are taken up to the $1.

4-Brown N' Serve sausage, on sale for $1.39 making them .89 each, I used 4-.35 coupons making them just .19 each!

2-Tombstone Pizzas, on sale $2.99 each, making them $2.49 each. I used $1.50/2 coupon making them $1.74 each. And, I have 2 of the 17 UPC's I need for the Help Pay Your Bills mail in offer.

4-Chex Mix at $2.19 each, 1.69 after discount. I used 4-.50 coupons making them .69 each bag.

3-Keebler cookies on sale for $1.49 each, .99 after discount. I used 1 coupon for $2/2 packages and 1 .55 off one. Making them just .49 each!!

4-Sunny Delight, on sale for $1.49 making them .99 after discount. I used 4-.25 coupons making them just .49 each! (we need the vitamin c right now!)

3-Betty Crocker boxed potatoes on sale for $1.49, making them .99 after discount. I used 1- .40 coupon and 2-.25 coupons, making them .19 and .49 each!

Milk is not on sale and has risen some in price. Gallons now are $2.69 and half gallons are $1.79

I saved $15.10 with coupons, plus the additional $10 off for buying the 20 products.

My receipt shows that I saved $12.76 on sale prices for a total of 72% saved :)



I am very happy with today's shopping!

Walgreens Shopping 10/18/09

This shopping with sales and coupons and trying to get the best deals is, like someone else on gather stated, a full time job.

I spent about 2 hours going over the ad, looking through coupons, reading other's blogs about the deals.....and trying again and again to find the best way to get the best deals. I was reading ways to do it in one gals blog....in each transaction she only paid pennies plus tax. However, she was buying items I really had no use for, and apparently had many multiples of coupons, which I don't.

Anyway, I did 3 transactions today. The photo I've done with each transaction items in one group.

First Transaction:

I used my food stamps and bought 2 bags of m&m's on sale 2 for $5 and rec'd a $1 Register Reward (RR). I also bought 2 packages of Trident Layers gum on sale for 2 for $2, used 2-.75 coupons and got $1 RR.

I paid .11 tax and used $5.50 in my food stamps.



Second Transaction:

1-Fusion MVP razor at $8.99, used $4 coupon and got back $6 RR

2-Oral B Cross Action toothbrushes on sale 2 for $6, used 1-.75 coupon, and got back $3 in RR

2 pairs of stretch gloves, used Walgreens coupon to get them 2 for $3

Walgreen 22 ct pantyliners, used Walgreens coupon to get them for .79

1 Aleve 75 ct bonus box, on sale for $4.99, used $1 coupon

2-Sure Deoderants, on sale with Walgreens coupon $1.50 each, used one $1 coupon and 1 $1.50 coupon

1 Halls Refresh on sale for $1, used .50 coupon and got back $1 RR

I also used $7 in RR's I had from last week and the $2 in RR's I got from the first transaction.

I paid $10.98, of which $10 of it was my $10 gift card I earned from mypoints.com



Third Transaction:

Quilted Northern 9 roll pack on sale for $3.99, used $1 coupon

2-Glade Tin refill packs on sale 2 for $5, used $2 coupon and got $1 RR

3-8 1/2 x 11 bubble mailers on sale 3 for $1 with Walgreens coupon

Bic Comfort razors 4 pack, $3.99, used $2 coupon got back $1 in RR

2-Pert Plus shampoos, on sale 2 for $5, used 2-$1 coupons and got $2 in RR

I then used the $10 in RR's I had gotten in the 2nd transaction.

I paid $3.34 and I have the $4 in RR's to use next time around.



In all: I paid a total of $5.50 in food stamps and $14.43 in cash or $19.93 ($9.93 if you subtract the gift card that I used) I saved $16.25 with manufacturer coupons, $7.16 with Walgreens coupons and $20 with register rewards for a total savings on $43.41 not including sale prices.



I would have been happier to have spent less, of course, but all in all I think I got a LOT of stuff for less then $20. There were just some things that we needed this week like the Aleve, the toilet paper, the pantyliners, deoderant, and the gloves (Jasmine and I neither one had gloves for this winter) (some of the items, toothbrushes, men's deoderant, and all the razors are added to my gift tote)

Mail Call! Week of October 11

I feel like I had an exceptional week this week, and sure would take this kind of week each week!

I rec'd:

magazines: Elle, Seventeen, soap opera digest and Ladies Home Journal

$10 McDonalds card from videosquares

$10 McDonalds card from gsn

$10 Walgreen card from mypoints

Kashi coupons from vocalpoints

EmergenC samples

Burt's Bees acne sample

letter from my doctor saying my mammogram shows no sign of cancer



Not free I rec'd:

My Jerky Direct autoship

Blockbuster movie Mama Mia



In my email:

$25 paypal from gather

$1.42 paypal from cloudcrowd



If you are not a member of videosquares and would like to join, please contact me, I will gladly send you an invite. It's a lot of fun games and you earn points to cash in for all kinds of prized and/or gift cards. It's free to join!

Saturday October 17, 2009-freebie link included

oh my my my! It's been over 2 weeks since I've written my blog!
Life's been pretty crazy away from home with extra doctor appointments and such...and I am fervently working on completing these quilts for Christmas on top of that.
As far as the doctor appointments for myself...my doctor tells me that all my bloodwork, x-rays and lab show everything is normal with me. My mammogram showed no signs of cancer.

My youngest daughter also celebrated her 13th birthday in my absence from here. She is officially a teenager now and she had one awesome birthday!!

I've been trying to rethink how I want to do my blog to make it more interesting for my readers. One way is to list at least one freebie each time I post.
Today's freebie is Brunswick free bowling passes to print out. These can be handed out on Halloween night as an extra treat, or used for yourself. I printed out a few pages of them to add to my candy I am handing out. Brunswick Happy Halloween Free Bowling Passes There are 6 passes per page you print.

I made Giant Squid on squidoo!!! I also graduated Rocketmoms as well. I have been doing a lot of updating over at squidoo, but have a lot more to get done. It's been so much fun being part of the Rocketmom's and I look forward to this next session to start. Keeps the creative juices flowing, so to speak.

I'm still working away at gather too. I just got in another $25 in paypal!! I'm heading out the door to the Goodwill store and Wal-mart for final quilting supplies to finish the quilts.

For now, I will close, but I will try my best to post a little something each day again. Need to get back into my habits here.

Have a great Saturday, and if it's too cold where you are, stay warm!
Marsha

Monday September 28

Good Morning!
I used to do so well, typing into my blog daily..now it's only 2 or 3 times a week...
I've just become so busy these days!

Yesterday was a FULL day. We went to church...after church I got m Walgreens lists and coupons ready to go and then went shopping. Once home we ate some ham and beans....then we headed to my mom's for her birthday cake and ice cream. Right after that we were off to church for youth group meeting. Whew! Run, run, run, and run some more.

This morning started early running my son a few places. Right now I need to be upstairs getting Jasmine up. I really want to get going on her schoolwork for the day and get that done.

I just updated my Our Unschooling Journey 4 squidoo lens. I think I would like to continue these lenses, but we aren't really unschooling so I am thinking on a name change. It's nice for me to keep a running journal of the work that is being done.

I got in my Mail Call! Week of September 20 and my Walgreen's Shopping 9/27/09 posts on gather. I've still been putting in 3 photos a day from the Kansas State Fair. I hope to get in a photo essay today along with 3 more photos, my usual daily post for my group, and a video.

We are to have a yard sale this next Saturday. According to the forecast, as of right now they aren't calling for any rain that day but the high is 64. I will keep watching it. In the meantime I have a box of clothes yet to price...a bag of misc. to price, and 2 small boxes of books to get priced. I do hope the weather holds up and that I can make a few dollars.

I better run and get Jasmine up and her day started. Have a great Monday.
Marsha

Wednesday September 23

Good Morning!
I got up early due to my son calling and needing to get in for his jacket and clean clothes, but that was ok. It means I've gotten some things done.

I've worked on a lot of commenting in gather. My latest post (other than my daily one) is Putting In A Sidewalk--Photo EssayI can make my goal today too of another $25 paypal redemption!

I haven't looked to see what this weeks Rocketmom's assignment is for squidoo, I need to do that today. Yesterday I updated Blankets For Christmas with another finished quilt.

I've spent 2 hours sewing on another quilt today. Including the one I am working on I have 4 more to make to make my goal of one for all my children and grandchildren for Christmas. Think I can get them done by then?

Bowling was fun last night. We won't know if we won or lost since the opposing team has to make up the games.
Tonight is choir practice for Jasmine. I'm not going to forget to take her this week!! I am working on making placemats, coasters and hotpads for our new table. I will work on those while she practices.

No other real plans for the day :) I like it!
Have a great Wednesday,
Marsha

Monday September 21

Good Morning...almost afternoon here.
I woke up this morning to a thunderstorm. Two days in a row now. And, guess who 2 nights in a row didn't roll up the windows on her car.

Yesterday was such a busy day. After church we had a luncheon, then I had to go to a church council meeting on the constitution. Almost 2 hours that meeting lasted. The constitution is an interesting piece but I was frustrated!

I came home and got my list and coupons ready and did my Walgreen's Shopping 9/20/09
It just seemed a whirlwind yesterday of running here and there.

I am in hopes of staying home today....all day! I've been piddling around getting some things done on the computer and some things done around the house, and doing schoolwork with Jasmine. Good ol Monday.

Yesterday Steve was playing with the cat and ran into a chair leg. Half of his foot is black and blue. Safe to say he broke his toe. I've been wondering how he is doing at work today unloading and loading his truck all day into stores. I am also wondering how it will be for bowling tomorrow night. I think he should go see a doctor, although they don't do much for broken toes.

I'm trying to get back to updating or building one squidoo lens each day. Today I updated Forever by Judy Blume--a Book Review.
I've applied for giant squid again...I am hopes that with the help of being accepted into the Rocketmoms training I will be accepted this time around. Will the 3rd time be a charm?

I am doing a yard sale in less than 2 weeks and don't even have one tote of things priced yet. I need to get to work on that. I will also take the crafts that I have made to try to sell. I hope it goes well as I need to make some money so I can start shopping the thrift stores for quilting supplies.

Guess I better run for this day. Here's to a great start to your week!
Marsha

Saturday September 19

Good Morning!
I am not past my disappointment and all about the refund, but all I can do for now is move on and pray it works out and I still get it.

Time to share what I've shared on gather since last posted here as well as things I've done on squidoo.

Squidoo:
I just finished updating Our Unschooling Journey 4
I added another blanket done on my Blankets for Christmas lens.
This week's assignment with Rocketmoms was to build a lens around Travel the World with the Rocketmoms. I built mine on Dillon's Nature Center--Hutchinson, KS

Gather:
Flower Photo Essay--Last One This Season
Two More Blankets/Quilts Complete
We Got a New Kitchen Table
and 36 Odd Things About Me
I'm also sharing 3 photos a day taken at the state fair in an album Kansas State Fair 2009

In other news...I survived the week. I'm feeling really tired but I made it. My son is still staying with us. We are working on getting the swimming pool emptied and taken down for the season. We got in trouble with the city for emptying it onto the street. They say it's human contamination and against the law. It had to be emptied into a sewer, and that didn't mean the grates in the street either.
I got my middle daughter to the dentist for her partial impression, now we wait for them to call and say they are done.
Tomorrow is the first day of Sunday school at church so I am keeping all the grandkids overnight tonight. I actually look forward to it....just hope I can get to sleep at a decent time.

I think that's it for now. Have yourself an awesome Saturday.
Marsha

Friday September 18

Good Morning...although so far it's not.
I had to start out early running....then the mail comes and I get a card from the Kraft $20 rebate saying I didn't submit proof of purchases from 20 valid items frm the offer. It doesn't tell me what I am missing though, or how many. It says I can resubmit by Oct 2 with what I need. It gives me a toll-free number but it's not valid.
So...I'm on the phone with Nabisco and this gal can't tell me anything...or give me a valid toll free number to call. Yes, I am upset...I NEED that $20!! I didn't buy all those Oreo Cakesters, etc, Capri Sun pouches, etc because I wanted them. I bought them to get the $20 rebate.

Anyone have any idea what I would have done wrong?? The post card just states that I did not include proof of purchase of at least 20 valid Kraft products. It tells me to submit the missing/valid items by Oct. 2 to the address on the top of card, and include the card with my submission. However, how can I do that if I don't know what was missing. It gives me a toll free number to call for questions but the number tells me it's not valid.

I called a toll free number from the website of the offer. This gal is telling me that I needed to send in the UPC's. I read her what the offer form says which is Send: original, store-identified cash register receipts dates between 7/1/09 and 12/31/09 with dates and prices of all 20 items from the participating products circled. She then read that too online and told me she didn't know what to say then. All she can do it forward it with my phone number to the promotions department and they will call me within 7 to 10 business days.

If they make it the 10 business days that will put me past the Oct. 2 deadline so either way I am screwed.

I had taken all the UPC's off the products, but then read the form and didn't mail them in with the cash tape. The really sad part is, if that is what is missing, I cleaned my desk off a few days ago, throwing away the UPC's...and the trash has already been taken.

If anyone has any advice, please let me know. I really was counting on getting that $20...and as I said, I need it!!