Lets spend less than $24 at the stores today!!!

Its a rainy Monday morning and while everyone wants to stay inside I dropped the kids off at school early and Red and I headed in to town to see what kind of deals we could find.

Stop #1 had to pick up a prescription at Walgreens so thats a good enough reason to go in and check out what is on clearance or deals... I had a $1 coupon from last week that needed to be used, I didnt find much I was really looking for FABULOUS deals. 

But I found some Fructius Conditioner just one type was on clearance for $1.99 so I had to grab up those 2 bottles knowing I had $1 on 1 Manufacturers Coupons to use also.  Then I needed a filler to use that $1 Walgreens Coupon so I threw in a Cruch cany bar since they were 39 cents this week.

My subtotal after coupons a whooping $1.37 plus tax!! For 2 conditioners and a candy bar, not a large shopping trip but a good deal never the less.

Stop#2 Walmart ... so I really dont care to shop at Walmart but we were waiting on my mil an so there was time to kill and I wanted to see if any of the Halloween had been further marked down .. the 50% off seasonal sales dont cut it with me.  Lo and behold its down to 75% .. ideally I buy at 90% off unless its something I know wont last. 

So my Walmart trip included 2 Litttle Purple Pails very cute for gifts or something - clearanced down to 24 cents, a Halloween tee for Hannah it was $1.22 on clearance, 2 cans of diced tomatoes normally 87 cents but used a $1 off 2 then 2 bags of fruit puffed marshmallows for 1.25 each and 50 cents coupons. 

My cost was $4.44 before tax.

Then we ran in Schnucks and met my MIL since I was there I figrured the specials were worth looking at.

I got 6 boxes of Barilla Pasta, on sale for $1 each some whole grain some reg.  I had 2 coupons on the grain ones that were save $1/2

I got their meal deal for the week, you purchase an eckerich saususge and you get a FREE bag of frozen veggies, browie mix by betty crocker and a side dish of butter noodles.  The sausage was overpriced in my opinion at $4.19, however I had a $1 MC and a $1 Schnucks catalina from last week so essentially making that sausage $2.19 and everything else free so I can handle that.

I then purchased 2 things of Tony C rice mixtures they were normally $2.65 but clearanced for $1 each and 2 things of Chicken Rice that was $1 a piece since Red loves chicken rice.

I also purchased 2 Boxes of Betty Crocker potato mixes on sale for $1 and used $1/2 MC. 

My final cost came to $12.44 before tax!

With Red with my MIL I made one last stop at Kmart.

Box of Reynolds Crock pot Liners $2.19 used $1 coupon that doubled to $2 so 19 cents cost but this was actually my friend Carlas she met me at Kmart to learn a few pointers ..

Woolite Pet Carpet Cleaner $3.99 used a $1 Kmart coupon from the Holida Savings Book and a $1 MC coupon that doubled to $2, so 99 cents was a DEAL!!!\

1 Box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch used a 50 cents coupon doubled to $1 they were 2.50 so $1.50

Purex Laundry Pods sale for $3.50 used $1 MC doubled to $2 cost $1.50

409 Carpert Cleaner $2.50 I didnt have any coupons for this but we needed some and thats a decent price

2 Snack Boxes of Teddy Grahams or Cookies they were $4 a box great for kids lunches

1 Carton of Eggs - this is their Free item of the week so I had to take it valued at 1.99

2 2 Liters of Dr Pepper and Diet Dr Pepper on sale for $1 had a $1/2 MC that doubled to $2 so these were Free I am not really a Dr Pepper fan but if I am deseperate I might drink it plus holidays are coming up and other events I can use at ... Ill probably just have out at my pinterest party in a few weeks :)

Then I had a $10 P& G Coupon to use.   so drum roll please.... $4.68 after coupons and before tax!!

So fr roughly $23/24 when all was said and done with tax I did pretty good on this mornings quick deal ventures!!

Loving our New CVS!!

So a few friends wanted to know how I got everything I did at CVS for just cents over $20 ... so here is the info!!

MC = Manufacturers Coupons
TC = Total Cost
ECB = Bucks CVS gives out

CVS Transaction #1

(4) Dawn Handwashing Soap @ 99 cents each used .75 cents MC on all 4 cost 24 cents TC 96 cents
(2) Packages of Pampers Baby Dry @ 8.99 each used 2.00 MC on each cost 6.99 each TC 13.98
(4) Covergirl Eyeshadows Buy 1 get 1 50% off totaling 11.06 used 3.00 MC on each 2 items TC 5.06
(1) Package of GE Chips @1.00 used 1.00 CVS Coupon TC FREE

Cost after Coupons $20 then I had a $3 ECB that I used so cost $17 plus tax earned a $10 ECB for next purchase

CVS Transaction #2

(2) Boxes of Vanilla Wafers sale for 2/$5 used 1.00 MC on each cost 1.5 each TC 3.00
(1) Hostess Cupcakes 8 pack 2.99 TC 2.99
(1) Dawn Handsoap @ 99 cents used 50 cents MC TC .49 cents
(4) Herbal Essence Shampoo/Conditioners @2.99 each 11.96 cost used 11.96 MC TC ALL WERE FREE
***I had coupons that allowed up to 6.99 credit on 2
(2) Dial Mens Soaps @2.29 on markdown used 1.00 MC on each cost 1.29 each TC 2.58
(2) Nivea Lip Shimmers @2.99 each used $3 MC TC 2.98

Cost $12.04 plus tax - then used my $10 ECB from above and paid just over $2 for everything

So I only paid $20 and a few cents for all of these items

I am loving this new CVS!!

Busy Days ...

This time of the year is always busy for me, I am finishing up my last minute Halloween orders generally scrambling to make our costumes and then there are school events for the kids.  Today was one of those busy days, I did some couponing then went and had lunch with Hannah then we did a pumpkin project in her class.  Once home I needed to pull together last minute things for their fall parties tomorrow and wow its not almost 10 pm and I am JUST sitting down. 

So I have attended everyone of the kids parties at school - never missed.  However now that two are in the same school their parties are at the same time and well I am in charge of Calebs party for the fall, Hannahs for the winter, Calebs for Friendship and Spring .. is open.  So my kids will have to take turns with me being at their parties.

For Hannahs party I just needed to send in an added treat they already have some so we decided to do something creative, I gave Hannah some options and she picked these bats for me to make.  They were super easy since I used the silhouette to cut the bat and then just stuck the hersheys chocolate inside sealed the wings closed with a little adhesive and glued on the eyeballs. 

I think they came out pretty good probably the best thing about my day today was hitting up our new CVS ... I can tell already that place and I are going to hit it off. With my coupon binder in hand I was ready to take on the store then I remembered the kids were with me and so it was a quick run in.. I need some time to go and check out the store further.

Lisa

Let me OUT!!!

That was my feeling today..... I have been in the house most of the week while Caleb recovers from his tonsils and adenoids being removed and getting a 3rd set of tubes, the boys have been at each other and so I was ready to get out today.  I escaped for the day shopping and even bought a few new outfits. 

I am hoping to get in some couponing this week but its only a 3 day week for school so couponing doesnt happen when the kids are home.

As I went over the lesson for our Sunday School class tomorrow I needed to come up with an activity some weeks our book has activities I use and other weeks I try and come up with something .. pinterest is fabulous for ideas.

This week we will make door hanger to remind us that God Provides, the kids are going to learn about how God provided for Moses and the Israelites in the desert.

I am pretty sure my husband is going to say what in the earth is that on the hanger... well its a quail .. I know its a little different looking perhaps even a tad owly looking but oh well the kids will enjoy putting these together and listing a few things that God provides for them. 

I thought about bringing bread for the snack but I decided we hadnt had doughnuts in a while and the kids just love having those for our snack... what am I saying they love any food for snack.

This week I plan to work on some new things for our classroom, one is a turkey that will say we are thankful for ... and have each of the kids names on it.

Ill post pictures of it when its done.  I have been taking pictures of the kids doing various activities this quarter and plan to make some tiny little picture books of them and the activities with perhaps prayer reminders on each page.

I think its time to relax and sit back and watch some tv.

Lisa

Moses and the Parting of the Red Sea

Its been a while since I have posted and not for lack of couponing or creating its just been run run run and yesterday my Caleb had his tonsils out he did well with the surgery .. oh and he had his adenoids removed for the 2nd time and his 3rd set of tubes, lets just say we are very very good customers of our ENT between the three kids and all their ears, nose and throat issues.

So I was sitting here browsing my favorite site.. pinterest and wanted to do a snack and craft for my Sunday School class tomorrow, now our resource book has loads of great ideas but I like to add my own creative touch to teaching the lessons and make it fun!!

After finding nothing that I loved on pinterest I resorted to just a google search and read a forum post about someone doing a cake with the sea parting so I ventured up to the pantry and I just happend to have a white cake mix.. checked my jellos... hmm no blue but I have food coloring so I figured we will see what we can do.  I baked the cake in a 9 x 13 pan let it cool and cut a path out of the cake down the center. 

I mixed up some jello to set - well my first batch was red .. I tred but honestly my food coloring efforts failed I had purple so I dumbed that and started back in the pantry with green jello .. so I mixed that up and threw in some blue food coloring it looked a greeny blue but good enough. I covered the cake with a layer of cool whip I actually wish I had dyed it blue first then the sides had blue jello pieces laid on them for a wiggley look of water, the center area was covered in graham crackers then I took little teddy grahams and added icing to their feet and stuck them along the path.  The front one is moses so I used my edible markers and did some coloring on him finally a pretzel staff for him.  Not my most creative project but considering all three kids were home and one is 1 day post op I did what I could with what I had and I will say that my class of K kids will be so excited to eat cake, cool whip and jello at 10 am that they will think this is the greatest creation.

Last week they loved the flys in our snack bowl and the frogs I threw on them during the lesson .. yes we had discussed the plagues.  They all begged to take plastic frogs home and I am sure all of my parents were pleased for some extra things in their house.

I am just about out of the busy time for my business and although I love being busy I am ready to start creating some things for Christmas!!

Lisa

Happy Fall ...

I love the fall ... cooler weather and a chance to redecorate with fall tones, pumpkins, mums and more!!! This fall has been busy so far I thought with 2 in school now that I would sit and relax sometimes that is NEVER the case. 

Its the busy season with my business, then we had our school bookfair, local events and more.

Tonight me and Ms H started some fall decorating, I whipped together this quick picture for my front entryway table.  Just took a picture I dont use anymore modge podged some scrap book paper on the front and then hot glued little pumpkins put on a stand and a new look for FREE used everything in my house you cant get better than that!!! I love it too!

 So this is how my entry way came about tonight, I will probably tweek a few things the branches I had in my stash and they were brown I took them outside and threw a tad of black spray paint on them for a different look. 

I will take better pics during the day its hard to see how cute my new pumpkin pic is!!

Where are you?

That was a text I got while out this afternoon.  I needed to run to Joanns for a few items and remembered when I saw Kmart that I had a $10 P&G coupon that was good this week, so I couldnt help myself but to go get some deals.  Usually I try to prepare some and read the latest blogs for info on deals to get but my favorite blog didnt have the coupon match ups for Kmart posted yet so I tackled this trip solo and I have to say not too shabby.

I spent a whopping 59 cents, which is good because my husband always likes to say well why do we need this or that, I like to say if its free or next to nothing why not?? I mean at worst I can donate the items if we really have too much in our pantry. 

(2) 8 pk Rice Krispie Boxes 2/$5 used $1 coupon which doubled
(2) 12 pk Cracker Snack Boxes by Keebler $4 each used $1 coupon
(2) Bags of Halls on clearance for $1 used $1 coupon on each
(4) Packages of the 8 pk Juicy Juice individual Juice Boxes mark down to $2.19 each used $1 coupons on each that doubles making them 19 cents each
(2) Rimmel Listicks clearance $1.32 used $1 coupons on each making them 32 cents each
(2) Jugs of Sunny D $1.09 used 55 cents coupon
(1) Rimmel Lip Liner on clearance 33 cents used $ coupon usually doesnt give you overage however mine did do overage of 67 cents
(1) Veggie Straws $2.99 they are the free item for rewards members this week so it took off the 2.99

Total before tax was 12.36 then I used a $10 P&G coupon I earned the other week when buying hopefully my LAST pack of diapers ... so 2.36 then I was able to use some of my Reward $ to get my total OOP cost to 59 cents.

Not bad if you ask me!! My husband can text me anytime asking where I am if I am getting deals like this. I am not sure if I will do any other couponing this week since there was no coupons in the paper now dont forget that they just reloaded coupons on Target and on www.coupons.com so I have been printing new coupons. 

Lisa