It's Sunday and that usually means Grocery Day and my attempt to keep it under $250. This was the first time this year I failed. Grrr. And it's weird, because it doesn't seem like we bought that much. I really thought we would be under, not over.
Anyway, here are the numbers.
Spent: $257.24
Great Deal Savings: $33.34
MFG Coupons: $7.25
Store Coupons: $2.00
We are getting low on the coupons. All the wonderful loads of them we got at the beginning of the year are quickly running out. Guess I need to start looking for more on-line or something.
So $7.24 over. I know it is not much, but it is really upsetting me. I had been doing so well with the groceries. Guess I will just have to make up for it next time.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Just saved us $1800
DH and I went to the Bank to open a new joint savings account for our 2011 Disney Vacation. While we were there, they reminded us we were pre-approved for a CC. Well, we told her thanks but no thanks. And then she just casually mentioned it would be 0% interest for the first 12 months on a transfered balance and continued on about our Disney Account. I guess DH and I both got to thinking. We are currently paying an outrageous 14.25%. So we asked her what the interest rate would be after 12 months and she said 7.9%. So we took our one CC bill that we are paying off, the CC I am working on not using, and transfered it over to this new one. It will save us at least $1800 this year. Woohoo!! We also plan to use our tax return to make a big payment, so maybe we will get it paid off this year if not early next year. So while my DH was frustrated with having to go into the bank with the kids today, he came out very happy with the results. LOL
Update on my week!
No Starbucks!!! That is my third week in a row.
I bought lunch one day while we were up at the school working on PTA stuff, but I have taken to buying just one meal for Keira and I to share, so it was only $7.00 and some change. I have learned if I use my one lunch out per week on a day when Sevi is in school, I save even more money then if I choose a day she is home. D'uh!
I made a payment on the CC a week ago.
I did spend some money at the Book Fair on some books for the girls and one for Julia's teacher. It supports the school and Julia needed some easy readers now that she has learned to read. So not too bad.
Update on my week!
No Starbucks!!! That is my third week in a row.
I bought lunch one day while we were up at the school working on PTA stuff, but I have taken to buying just one meal for Keira and I to share, so it was only $7.00 and some change. I have learned if I use my one lunch out per week on a day when Sevi is in school, I save even more money then if I choose a day she is home. D'uh!
I made a payment on the CC a week ago.
I did spend some money at the Book Fair on some books for the girls and one for Julia's teacher. It supports the school and Julia needed some easy readers now that she has learned to read. So not too bad.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Cash for Gold and Silver
Score!!!
I hosted a "Cash for Gold and Silver" party yesterday. When I had originally signed up to do this, I had no idea I would be making any money off it. My intention was to set it up and host so all of my lovely Mommy friends could come and make some quick and easy cash. Two weeks before the party I was talking with the organizer and she mentioned my share. I was confused. So she explained to me how it works.
Well, to make a long story short, I earned a total of $349 yesterday. $131 of it was just for hosting. Plus I get $50 for every person who hosts a party off my party. I already know of 4 actual parties set up and a few more thinking about it. So that is another $200.
I used my $349 to pay for a camera seminar I really wanted to go to. I have been dying to learn how to take digital photos better. I use to rock with the film stuff, but everything is digital now. Plus it is a weekend out. I have never been away from my 3 girls for a weekend. Oh my, what is my mind going to think.
I am not planning what I will do with the rest of the money because I don't actually get it until after the parties have taken place. So that would be like counting yur chickens before the eggs have even hatched. But it is exciting to think about.
One Mom got $2500 at my party for 3 gold coins she brought. WOW! Sadly, I did not get a % of it. But it really didn't bother me. I did this so the Moms could make money. I was very happy for her.
No Starbuck's this week and I have only gone out to lunch once. Not too bad.
I hosted a "Cash for Gold and Silver" party yesterday. When I had originally signed up to do this, I had no idea I would be making any money off it. My intention was to set it up and host so all of my lovely Mommy friends could come and make some quick and easy cash. Two weeks before the party I was talking with the organizer and she mentioned my share. I was confused. So she explained to me how it works.
Well, to make a long story short, I earned a total of $349 yesterday. $131 of it was just for hosting. Plus I get $50 for every person who hosts a party off my party. I already know of 4 actual parties set up and a few more thinking about it. So that is another $200.
I used my $349 to pay for a camera seminar I really wanted to go to. I have been dying to learn how to take digital photos better. I use to rock with the film stuff, but everything is digital now. Plus it is a weekend out. I have never been away from my 3 girls for a weekend. Oh my, what is my mind going to think.
I am not planning what I will do with the rest of the money because I don't actually get it until after the parties have taken place. So that would be like counting yur chickens before the eggs have even hatched. But it is exciting to think about.
One Mom got $2500 at my party for 3 gold coins she brought. WOW! Sadly, I did not get a % of it. But it really didn't bother me. I did this so the Moms could make money. I was very happy for her.
No Starbuck's this week and I have only gone out to lunch once. Not too bad.
Monday, January 19, 2009
The Week In Review
Last week was pretty good. I had a ew medical expenses we were not expecting, but I did not have to use my CC for them.
I had a doc appt. on Monday - $20
Took lunch to Juls and her BFF - $11
MRI Wednesday - $50
Friday - Friday was a weird day. $11.00
Friday I took the two younger girls to a jump town playdate ($11.00). Then we went to lunch with our friends and I left my purse at the jump place. So my girlfriend spotted us or lunch. Ordered and sat down. Everyone's food came and then our order came...minus mine and DD#2's. So we waited and waited. A waiter came by and asked what we ordered and then we waited some more. Finally I got up and found a manager and he got our food right up. He took our meals off the ticket and gave us a $5.00 GC to come back. I gave that to my girlfriend to cover DD#3's meal. So in the end, I got lunch free. Good karma I tell you. My girlfriend was kind enough to pay and then in the end we got it for free
I did not get a Starbuck's this week. Yay me! Although, I call it a make up for having two the previous week.
I don't have much on my schedule this week. I did take the girls to downtown or lunch with Daddy. Ended up spending $6.00 on DART fees because the DART would not print Julia's ticket. Grrr.
And then I am hosting a "Cash or Gold and Silver" party on Wednesday, so I hope to make $$$$ and not spend it. I bought snacks and drinks for this and it was included in my great grocery shopping yesterday.
I had a doc appt. on Monday - $20
Took lunch to Juls and her BFF - $11
MRI Wednesday - $50
Friday - Friday was a weird day. $11.00
Friday I took the two younger girls to a jump town playdate ($11.00). Then we went to lunch with our friends and I left my purse at the jump place. So my girlfriend spotted us or lunch. Ordered and sat down. Everyone's food came and then our order came...minus mine and DD#2's. So we waited and waited. A waiter came by and asked what we ordered and then we waited some more. Finally I got up and found a manager and he got our food right up. He took our meals off the ticket and gave us a $5.00 GC to come back. I gave that to my girlfriend to cover DD#3's meal. So in the end, I got lunch free. Good karma I tell you. My girlfriend was kind enough to pay and then in the end we got it for free
I did not get a Starbuck's this week. Yay me! Although, I call it a make up for having two the previous week.
I don't have much on my schedule this week. I did take the girls to downtown or lunch with Daddy. Ended up spending $6.00 on DART fees because the DART would not print Julia's ticket. Grrr.
And then I am hosting a "Cash or Gold and Silver" party on Wednesday, so I hope to make $$$$ and not spend it. I bought snacks and drinks for this and it was included in my great grocery shopping yesterday.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Grocery Day
So today was grocery day. I can't believe it has been two weeks already. So I worked on keeping it at or below $250 again. Steve worked on the coupons and then I grabbed what we needed to match the list I made or add to our list the coupons we had.
Total Bill - $254.04
Store Savings - $17.17
MFG Coupons - $11.45
Store Coupons - $4.80
Final Bill - $237.66
So YAY me!!! We did it again. I am so proud of myself. And that final bill even included diapers this week which is not a part of our grocery budget. So you can even take $11.79 off that for a total of $225.87. Almost $25 under budget. Woohoo!! I still have a couple of items to buy from Schwans, so it was really important to keep it under budget.
Total Bill - $254.04
Store Savings - $17.17
MFG Coupons - $11.45
Store Coupons - $4.80
Final Bill - $237.66
So YAY me!!! We did it again. I am so proud of myself. And that final bill even included diapers this week which is not a part of our grocery budget. So you can even take $11.79 off that for a total of $225.87. Almost $25 under budget. Woohoo!! I still have a couple of items to buy from Schwans, so it was really important to keep it under budget.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Accountability
Apparently I do care about what people think of me more then I thought. LOL
It is a very cold morning. A stay in bed and curl up with the blankets kind of morning. But instead, I had to get up and get two kids off to school. I did not eel like making breakfast but I did for them. Get them off to school and am heading home when I realize how hungry I am. Hmm, I am really thirsty also. I could run through McyDs and grab an Sausage McMuffin w/ Cheese and an Iced Hazelnut Coffee. better yet, I can run across the street and go through the Starbucks drive thru after McyD's and get a nice hot Mocha or Carmel Apple Spice.
But then I thought of this challenge and my weight loss goals. I thought of all the ladies who are participating and have been so supporting. I came home instead and had a bowl of chex and am about to make some hot cocoa or something. Ho hum! Guess the accountability thing works.
It is a very cold morning. A stay in bed and curl up with the blankets kind of morning. But instead, I had to get up and get two kids off to school. I did not eel like making breakfast but I did for them. Get them off to school and am heading home when I realize how hungry I am. Hmm, I am really thirsty also. I could run through McyDs and grab an Sausage McMuffin w/ Cheese and an Iced Hazelnut Coffee. better yet, I can run across the street and go through the Starbucks drive thru after McyD's and get a nice hot Mocha or Carmel Apple Spice.
But then I thought of this challenge and my weight loss goals. I thought of all the ladies who are participating and have been so supporting. I came home instead and had a bowl of chex and am about to make some hot cocoa or something. Ho hum! Guess the accountability thing works.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
4 Phone Calls To Save $700
Dialing For Dollars
Phone in a more favorable interest rate. Do you carry a balance on your credit card from month to month (even just occasionally)? Call the customer service number and ask for a lower interest rate. Shoot for a rate reduction of one-third (for example, a new APR of 12% as opposed to the current 19%). On a $6,000 balance that you want to pay off in one year, you'll save $198 in interest and about $200 on payments over a single year. This tactic works best for customers with an on-time payment history, knowledge of competitors‘ offers (see the going rates at bankrate.com) and a sink full of dishes (to keep you occupied if you're put on hold).
Sweet-talk your way out of late fees. Even the most punctual bill payer can forget to put the check in the mail. Call, apologize profusely (bonus points for particularly creative excuses) and tell your card company that the check really, truly is in the mail (make sure that it is). Then ask to have the late-payment fee waived just this once, pretty, pretty, pretty please. A little groveling will save you an average of $35. Now mark your calendar with next month's due date, because the late-fee forgiveness will only fly once, maybe twice a year.
Dial down your car insurance premiums. If your current deductible is less than four figures, call your car insurer and raise your deductible to $1,000 (at least). Upping it to that level from $250, for example, could slash your premiums by 15% or more. (That's $135 in savings if your current annual cost of car insurance is $900.)
Hang up on high cell-phone cancellation fees. Don't get stuck with a dud cell-phone plan just to avoid a steep early cancellation fee. You can dump the plan and skip the penalty termination fee ($170 on average). Start with your provider: If it has changed the terms of your contract in the past 30 days, you may have the right to terminate the deal without getting financially slapped on the wrist. If you missed the deadline or no changes were made, your next step is to hook up with a cellular exchange service (for example, celltradeusa.com) which will help you transfer your carrier (and remaining contract) to a cell-service shopper for just a small fee (typically $20).
Phone in a more favorable interest rate. Do you carry a balance on your credit card from month to month (even just occasionally)? Call the customer service number and ask for a lower interest rate. Shoot for a rate reduction of one-third (for example, a new APR of 12% as opposed to the current 19%). On a $6,000 balance that you want to pay off in one year, you'll save $198 in interest and about $200 on payments over a single year. This tactic works best for customers with an on-time payment history, knowledge of competitors‘ offers (see the going rates at bankrate.com) and a sink full of dishes (to keep you occupied if you're put on hold).
Sweet-talk your way out of late fees. Even the most punctual bill payer can forget to put the check in the mail. Call, apologize profusely (bonus points for particularly creative excuses) and tell your card company that the check really, truly is in the mail (make sure that it is). Then ask to have the late-payment fee waived just this once, pretty, pretty, pretty please. A little groveling will save you an average of $35. Now mark your calendar with next month's due date, because the late-fee forgiveness will only fly once, maybe twice a year.
Dial down your car insurance premiums. If your current deductible is less than four figures, call your car insurer and raise your deductible to $1,000 (at least). Upping it to that level from $250, for example, could slash your premiums by 15% or more. (That's $135 in savings if your current annual cost of car insurance is $900.)
Hang up on high cell-phone cancellation fees. Don't get stuck with a dud cell-phone plan just to avoid a steep early cancellation fee. You can dump the plan and skip the penalty termination fee ($170 on average). Start with your provider: If it has changed the terms of your contract in the past 30 days, you may have the right to terminate the deal without getting financially slapped on the wrist. If you missed the deadline or no changes were made, your next step is to hook up with a cellular exchange service (for example, celltradeusa.com) which will help you transfer your carrier (and remaining contract) to a cell-service shopper for just a small fee (typically $20).
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