My 2/20 RA trip

The Gain detergent was from Walmart.  I price matched a local stores ad price of $3.99 and I used $1 off Q ... very decent price. 

$6.54 inc tax for 100 ozs of detergent.



Rite Aid

sweethearts - $0.50
chocolates - $0.50
6 Sucrets - $2.99 x 6 = $17.94
4 Tampax - $15.96
11 J&J - $2.99 x 11 = $32.89
2 J&J qtips - $5.58
1 milk - 2.55
2 Oreos - $6.00
1 chocolate cherry - $0.26

total - $82.18 - $25 Q's = $57.18 - $54 + ups = $3.18 + $6.45 tax = $9.63 total cash OOP

started with $16 + ups and I left with $6 + ups.  Very sad  :(  haha   maybe next week I can find a way to build my ups back up ...

saved - $116.59 after wellness, coupons and rolling + ups in 4 transactions. 

4 days later... Rite Aid trip

total - $1.60 + $5.06 tax = $6.66 total cash OOP
used $13 + ups

saved $115.96


3 Hungry Jack pancake mixes
3 Hungry Jack syrups
4 Ragu sauce
8 boxes ziploc storage bags
2 cans of Campbells tomatoe soups
2 boxes Saltine crackers
2 bottles of Gain fabric softner
2 boxes of Finish dish detergent tabs
8 Dove deodorants

Saved $29.18 @ Walmart today!

If you read my blog regularly, you know we have no real grocery store in town.  This weekend I headed out to Gulfport and went to the only store on the coast that offers double coupon.  I saved about $12 and spent $24 so not too bad.  Then I went to this new store that opened up called Froogals.  They had some really great prices on some items and I spent $66 on groceries.  I believe about $5 something on tax ... It was $71.XX ... but there there was a $7.12 fee added on to the final bill.  Wow ... ok, I still came out ahead, but it costs me around $10 in gas to drive there and back ... so with gas I figured I spent about $112 total.  Eyeballing what I brought home I would say it would have cost me around $175 at Walmart.  Was it really worth it??  Maybe.  I really just felt like getting out of the house and out of this town for a couple hours ... so it was worth it that day.  But I am not sure I will do it often. 

Today I finished up my shopping with stuff I needed, but didnt see a great deal on at the other stores (the double coupon store was CRAZY expensive on at least half their stock).  I spent $92 at Walmart.  I saved $29.18 price matching and on coupons.  ($8 on coupons and $21.18 price matching other stores meat sale prices)  We are set for about 2 weeks.  Maybe.  I just got word my almost 7 foot tall cousin is driving in Sunday from GA.  He is staying with us for 4 days... He is young... maybe 25???  I am sure he eats a TON!  And, my dad is still here... which adds a little to the food bill.  But my goal was to stay around or under $100 a week and I have been meeting and some weeks even staying under that ... so I am happy!!! 

No picture ... but lots of meat for dinners and breakfast foods (pancake/waffle mixes, bisquick for bicuits and gravy, syrup...) tomatoes, french bread, stuff to make roast beef poboys ... lots of good stuff for meals.

Stock up on crackers!! 16 boxes of crackers for $0.84 + tax!!

we go through Ritz like water around here...



Here's the scoop...


16 boxes of crackers for $0.84 + $2.23 tax = $3.07 TOTAL CASH OOP

used $23 + ups and got back $16 + ups. A little investment of my ups but so worth it considering these go for about $3 each

6 Ritz
4 Cheeze Its
2 Saltines
4 Wheat Thins (my favorite!!)


used 8 $1 off wyb 2 Q's and $23 ups ... got back $16 ups ... so it cost me about $10 in cash and ups ... GREAT deal!!  About $0.62 a box INCLUDING tax !! 

SO I think the Sweet 16 will be a Luau!!

I talked to my daughter this morning and she loves the idea.  I wasnt sure it would fly since we sort of did that for her 13th bday.  Minus the bonfire and DJ... this will be much more "grown up"  lol

PLEASE click on the link and tell me what you think of the invite.  I havent ordered it yet ... they are $0.95 each if I order 100.  I need to discuss it with the other mama too.  :) 

but click on this link and it will take you to the proof of the invite.  Please give me feedback!  Thanks!  Constructive criticism is welcomed!


http://www.purpletrail.com/invitations-cards/255339?share_design=MjU1MzM5

A Fight at Rite Aid???

ok, so I just ran to RA to get some buns and BBQ sauce... I decided to grab some of the $1.99 cereal too since I havent bought cereal since before Christmas!!  I didnt have my q's but I knew the Frosted Flakes were giving a + up ... I was just HOPING the Fruit Loops, Corn Pops and Apple Jacks would too.  No such luck.  oh well ... $1.99 a box is still cheaper than Walmart and we needed some sugary kids cereal.  All we had left was the "yucky healthy" stuff lol   (no photo)

So I am checking out and I use $18 ups and $1.28 cash ... get $5 + ups back.  But its all good.  I have so many anyway and I need to save my cash for produce and meat, gas etc...

So anyway, I am checking out and the cashier says,  "were you here last Sunday?"  I said, "yes, in the morning."  She said, "did you hear about the 2 couponers that got in a fight?" 

WTH????  hahahahaha  no... no one said anything to me.  I have to get the scoop on this though.  lol  She didnt have all the details, but now I am curious.  I wonder if one was the lady who gave me a dirty look this morning ... hmmmm I have never seen her before.  Maybe she was coming in early to avoid running into someone later??  lol   ohhhh I MUST get to scoop. 

cake anyone?? RA trip 2/6

ok, I walked in with $66 in + ups and left with $69 in + ups ... so I earned $3 in + ups!!

spent - $1.44 + $4.85 tax = $6.29 total cash OOP (so I got all this stuff really for $3.29 including tax!!)
I saved $127.89

8 Betty Crocker cake mixes
8 Betty Crocker frostings
6 Betty Crocker cookie mixes (2 not pictured - I gave them to the cashier)
3 Bio True contact lens solution
8 Bounty Basic paper towels
4 Lysol Neutra Air fabric mist
4 Scrubbing Bubbles
8 mentos
1 lemon extract (on sale)
3 Halls cough drops
1 Milk
1 Red Diamond sweet tea

So I get there at 10 minutes to 8 and notice no one has even opened the store yet.  Usually she gets there around 7:30... so shortly after I get there I see the asst manager pull in.  She starts unlocking the door and waves for me to come on in.  YAY!!  Then she locks the door behind us!  WOO HOO!!  I get RA to myself lol

But she unlocks the door at 8 and about 2 minutes later I see this woman walk in and I can tell she is there for the Betty Crocker stuff.  Yes I took all but 2 of the cake mixes, but I left around 20 cookies, 2-4 cake mixes and about 6 frostings.  She was back there for awhile getting her stuff and I was separating my items into transactions when she came up to the register (allowing asst manager time to get her paperwork done and get the registers ready...) well she had TONS of cookies and a few other things in her cart.  She did like 3 transactions (never offering to let anyone ahead of her ... RUDE) and when she finished and left the store I walked back to the cookies and saw she had taken all but 4 packs.  So I was like wth ... I grabbed the last 4.   The cashier was saying to me earlier she really wanted to get some, but was out of food stamps and she had 3 sick kids at home etc.... so I gave her 2 packs out of the 6 I purchased.  She was thrilled!  Then the same same woman walked back in when I was on my final transaction and walked straight to the back.  She came back empty handed and shot me a dirty look.  REALLY???  You take around 20 packs of cookies and give ME a dirty look when I decide to go back there and get 4 more GIVING 2 OF THEM AWAY!  lol 

whatever woman... I could have cleared the entire shelf before you even arrived so keep your snotty looks to yourself.

just daydreaming...

I am having serious 80's withdrawls and flashbacks of my teen years.  I loved high school.  I do not relive those days over and over in my head, but sometimes I miss it.  I miss the carefree days of no kids, responsibilities etc... I love my kids and my husband but there are times I crave a day of being 16 again

1985 to 1988

my blue Volkswagen Rabbit with the crank sunroof ... sneaking out and drinking wine coolers ... only worried about what I was going to wear out that Friday night or who might be there

simple times... no cell phones.  no computers.  happy with whatever you had and didn't really want or need more.  parties every weekend and always a group of friends looking to have some fun!

I do miss those days.  It makes me sad that my kids wont experience the simple things that I did.  They move so fast now.  Nothing really makes them happy for long.  They want more and they want it now.

Winn Dixie & RA 2/3/10 - saved $115.74

ok, so I went to the Long Beach RA since I was so close today and there is a Winn Dixie down the road.  They had some BOGO stuff and I thought I would grab some snacky foods for super bowl sunday! 

Here is my haul (minus 1 pack of Edy's fruit bars that fell out of the bag in the car lol)

Winn Dixie wasnt all that great for savings ... I got

6 packs of the Sea best frozen seafood - $5.99 - BOGO - $17.97 -  6 $1 Q's = $11.97
2 Armour meatballs - $4.99 each - BOGO - $4.99 - 2 $0.55 Q's  = $3.89
2 Ritz crackers  - $1.99 each - $1 off wyb 2 = $2.98
2 Hillshire Farms sausage - $3.69 each BOGO - $3.69

total with tax - $24.67
total savings with card and Q's = $38.35

RA ...

8 Edy's ice cream - $2.99
1 Edy's fruit bars  - $2.99
1 milk - $3.19 (ughh forgot to use my 20% off card)
1 tea - $2.79  (ditto on above statement ... but I did use my husbands and got a $20 + up for buying so much icecream so I am not too upset!!)
1 Hartz Clean n brush dog bisquits - $2.99 - $1 Q
1 Beggin Strips - $2.99 - $1 Q
1 Purina TBonz - $2.99 - $1 Q
1 Purina TBonz - $2.99 - $1 Q
1 Busy Bone - $2.99 - FREE wyb beggin Strips
1 BBQ sauce (I forgot it a Winn Dixie and needed it today) $1.00

Total - $1.37 + $3.52 tax = $4.89 total cash OOP
used $39 + ups but got $44 + ups back ... so once again a FREE trip to RA!! 

saved $77.39

I blinked ... and it's February!

My head is spinning... how can it already be February??  I am not ready yet!  Can we rewind??? 

Well I am determined to be more prepared for EVERYTHING this year!  I will not be taken by surprise ... So its time to start planning.  Ideas are welcome!  I am on a HUGELY tight budget for everything I do lol so help is needed and appreciated. 

ok, so it's Carnival Season ... and that is not the kind of carnival you take your kids to with funny (scary) clowns and rides... no Carnival season in my neck of the woods is much different :) 

Margaret is marching in some of the parades, and I have to march along side to make sure no one touches the girls... but I want to try to enjoy the season this year.  I havent really enjoyed it much the past few years.  I skip the parties and only go to the local parade.  Well this year my anniversary falls smack dab in the middle of carnival season... so we WONT be getting a room in NOLA for our anniversary this year (rooms are like gold during Mardi Gras in NOLA) so maybe I will drag my hubby to a couple parades instead??  IDK ... but I vow to try to enjoy at least 1 BIG parade and accept at least 1 invitation to a party this season.  The baby is getting older and no more excuses ont to get a sitter and have a little fun!

 Then Monday BEFORE Fat Tuesday, my sweet Moo Moo leaves for NYC with her dance team!!!  I have never even been to NYC!  wow so I need to try to save about $400-$500 to send with her for the week long trip.  The room, most meals and outings are all paid for, but everyone is saying NYC is crazy expensive and she will need some serious spending $$$.   So we will see... not sure what we will be able to swing, but I have a feeling it wont be quite that much, but she will have something.  How should I send it though?  A pre paid Visa?  Cash?  Cashier checks ??  I mean she isnt the most careful person, and in our family it isnt uncommon to lose things frequently... how would you send the spending money?? 

THEN, it will be April and my Moo Moo's Sweet 16!!!  I have to get this off my chest before I go on!    plug your ears ....

I HATE MTV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ok, I feel better.  MTV has put in the minds of kids everywhere that they are entitled to $50,000 cars and $100,000 parties!  I am so pissed!! 

So my Moo will be 16 the second day of April.  She was almost my April Fools baby... but was 7.5 weeks premature.  She is my little miracle!  I want a party for her.  She wants a huge blowout with a limo and everything  ughhhh  .. here are some of the pictures she has saved for ideas.  can I just say I HATE MTV!!!!!!!!!!

and this is the car she wants...  yes she wants a Barbie convertible ... hahahaha ... my little Barbie look alike wants a Barbie car.  ;) 

OHHHHH  and lets not forget the $600 dress she is dreaming of too ....  did I mention I FREAKING HATE MTV???????????????????

OH and to top it off ... prom is the weekend AFTER her 16th bday.  Yes, it is.  oh and NO!  she can not wear the same dress.  lol  ... I wouldnt even ask.  I wouldnt even want her to.  But people, I am having anxiety attacks over this. 

OKKKK  now we move on to May... Jordan graduates.  Of course, assuming they are still together, we will need a graduation gift.  More $$$...  not to mention we have a niece graduating and there are graduation parties out the ying yang.... all expecting gifts

Moving right along to June ... my first born... the daughter I had at the all too young age of barely 20 ... turns 21!!!!  and yes, she too is expecting a blow out. 

 Tay Tay (in blue) ... with a good friend Mal.  (my best friends daughter)  I seriously CAN NOT believe she will be 21.  I love this girl so much!  Where is the world did the years go????  I REALLY do remember her first day of kindergarten like it was just a couple years ago... this makes me sad.  It also makes me realize that the same thing is going to happen to Pooh soon... she starts kindergarten this coming school year :(

which takes us to summer vacation ... always expensive ... just the extra food alone breaks the bank lol 

Back to school clothes, supplies etc.... and MY BABY ... MY 4TH CHILD ... THE LAST ONE ... STARTS KINDERGARTEN!!!!  And the one I thought was the baby ... the last one (for 9 years he was) starts HIGH SCHOOL!!!!   SO MANY MILE STONES THIS YEAR!!! 

So back to school in August and then Joe turns 14 in Sept... I am telling you people... I have this weird feeling this year is going to be my whirlwind year.  My head is going to spin, and I am trying to get a grasp now before I blink and it is over.