Here Are My Totals For The Year

Total grocery spending: $761.86
Total CPNs store cards, etc. $1459.41
A savings of 66%

I don't anticipate going to the grocery again through Friday. We have everything we need and more. We just gave away 4 boxes of food yesterday to the Rescue Mission.

I've got to tell you how this works. We gave 4 boxes to the Rescue Mission yesterday without anticipating anything in return. Within 2 hours, we received a call for business that will net us $500 tomorrow. You know the old, "what goes around, comes around?" Well, I didn't expect it to come around so soon! We are truly blessed in more ways than one. I have a love in my life, I know how to coupon, and I know how to give. We have received so much in return.

I hope you all have a Happy New Year and many coupon deals in your future! I read the other day that only about 3% of total coupons in existence are redeemed. What a loss for everyone else who don't know how to do this.

Please share your shopping deals and coupon goodies as you wish. I would love to hear from you.

I love all of you. I know I have been in your thoughts and prayers for a while.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I've been trying for days to post; system keeps crashing. I'm hoping Santa Claus has brought me a new connection.

I hope everyone is having a very merry Christmas. Here in Chattanooga, Tennessee, we got the first white Christmas in 41 years. Just the second in 100 years. My family's Christmas breakfast was cancelled because no one could get up the mountain where my aunt lives. We ended up a mile from home at Waffle House for breakfast. Drove around a little to see the sight.

Rick's family live in Michigan and they think it's a hoot that our city shuts down over a couple of inches of snow. I don't think there is a single snow plow in the entire state, much less any around here. We have salt and sand trucks, but, they haven't been in my neighborhood or my mom's yet. They are mostly taking care of the interstate and US highways.

I've never told Rick about my grocery challenge. It started out with one person and a few cats. Now, Rick has been living here since the middle of July. I've still only spent $762 total. I've used $1421.64 in coupons and store savings for about a 65% savings overall. I guess I should up it to $1200 for next year to feed 2 people, one dog and all the cats.

I'm 55 years old and this is probably the happiest Christmas I've had as an adult. I have a wonderful man in my life who loves me and cooks for me. What else is there?!!

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

Join Paybox With Me!

There's a new rival to paypal; it's called paybox. If you sign up from the link on this blog, you will receive a $25 deposit. It's not yet launched, so, get in on the ground floor and get a free $25 for joining.

The feature on the right side showing my spending and coupon use no longer works. I've been keeping up with what Rick spends at the grocery as well as my spending. Here's the figures year-to-date.

Spent: 707.05
Cpn Use:1180.66
63% savings

As you can see, I am well under my $1,000 budget for the year. We are really trying to use stockpile. We've also given away an awful lot of stuff in the past few months. You can start to see daylight in my house.

What Am I Thankful For? That Thanksgiving Is Over!

We went to Michigan to visit Rick's mother and brother. We had dinner at brother and sister-in-law's house. Very nice. They are likable people for northerners! We went to the island where Rick was raised. You reach it by ferry. We stopped at a restaurant on the island and had a window table. Rick pointed out the window to another island across the river. It was CANADA! I was within 1/4 mile from Canada. Closest I've ever been. Been to Tijuana, Mexico before. Never thought I'd go far enough north to see Canada.

Winter is about to hit. It only got up to about 48 degrees today. I missed Thanksgiving Day at home; it was 73 degrees. In Michigan, the high that day was 29.

We are really trying to use more stockpile. We took 4 boxes of food and household cleaners to his mother last week. You can hardly tell it's gone.

There's a little, tiny town in TN; Loudon. In Loudon, there is a Monterrey mushroom farm. You can get 4# bag of beautiful fresh mushrooms for $4 at the guardshack. I stopped by on the way home and picked up a bag. Rick was impressed. Really, the 8 oz. box of Monterrey mushrooms at the grocery are more than $2, maybe even $3. Now, we just have to USE them!

We're thinking of taking a winery vacation in the spring. There are a lot of little wineries popping up all over Tennessee. In fact, the Dept. of Agriculture for the state has a website with all of them listed. I'm thinking of a 4 or 5 day tour through east Tennessee and checking out all the wineries in the area. Should be quite a trip. Of course, about 75 miles from my house is the Jack Daniels distillery. They have tours every day. Great place to visit. No free samples. It's a dry county. When the distillery hosts a fish fry for travel agents and such, they have to transport all the liquor into the next county to open it. No joke! Liquor laws in Tennessee are old, old, old. In GA, you can buy wine in the grocery store. Thankfully, I live 7 miles from the GA line and can go to Bi-Lo to pick up a few bottles. Of course, we use the liquor stores nearby, but, it's a novelty to be able to buy wine in a Bi-Lo.

Well, it's time for me to buckle down and make Christmas baskets for all my clients. I have all the baskets, coffee, cocoa, chocolates, and candles. I just need to get busy. I like to have them all delivered by Dec. 15. Yes, they're homemade and you can tell, but, my clients seem to love them. I know a few of my paralegals like certain things and I fill up their baskets with Snickers or Dove candies.

I haven't had a real Christmas tree in over 30 years. Rick insists on a real tree this year, so, we are going to be out shopping this weekend for a tree. My tree is all Pillsbury Doughboy. The lights are 3" doughboys, the ornaments are the doughboy in different poses. You press the belly and he giggles. Need new hearing aid batteries for the decorations. They don't giggle anymore! I'm looking forward to a real Christmas with someone this year. The stockings are already out.

I'm glad to be back home. Traveling is nice, but, getting back in your own bed is wonderful.

Things Are Looking Better

I mentioned a few days ago that Rick and I were in for a rough spot. I'll be more specific. Rick is on parole for a DUI. He spent some time in prison for it. Last May, he had another DUI. Now, that's 3 parole violations; driving, drinking, and improper registration. He is also on probation here in Tennessee (no drugs or violence, just white collar crime). The probation officer here called today and said that the other state is not going to put him back in prison, only extend his parole for another six months. We've been sweating it out for 10 days, looking for the police to roll up to the house to arrest him. That is now behind us.

I am looking forward to meeting his family next week. I'll let you know how it works out.

We Had A Great Week

I do a bit of mystery shopping from time to time. We went to Georgia for a few days. Rick had the opportunity to golf with an old friend whom he had not seen in 7 years. We then went to south Georgia for a couple of days, then, back to Atlanta for another night. Mom kept the dog for us. We are going to Michigan next week for Thanksgiving to see "Mom." Rick is from Detroit. His brother is hosting Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday. It's a heck of a drive, about 12 hours of non-stop driving. I'm really dreading it, but, will do it for him.

You will not believe what happened at a restaurant in Columbus, GA. In fact, I will tell you the name, River City Grill. It is independently owned, not part of a chain. Rick ordered wings and when he got them, they were so overcooked and dry that they actually crunched when he bit into them. Now, I've got to tell you. Rick NEVER sends food back for fear that they will do something untoward with his food in retaliation. Even so, since I was enjoying my meal, he sent the wings back. The mananger came to our table and said she would personally check on them to make sure they were right. Shortly, our server came out with the wings. She said, "Just so you know, if you taste anything funny, I spit in your food." Well, Rick refused to eat them. When we left, I inadvertently left my glasses behind. On the sidewalk, I realized I didn't have them. Rick went back inside and our server was standing at the host stand, holding my glasses. Rick took them from her and said, "just so you know, I didn't leave you a tip because you said you spit in my food." She replied with "F*** off."

Have you ever had something like that happen to you? It is probably, no, certainly, the worst restaurant experience I have ever had and I do some restaurant mystery shopping in addition to us going out a couple of times of week. I'm 54 years old. I've never seen anything like this.

I went back to our hotel and related all this to the general manager. I told him that he would do well to never recommend this restaurant to any of his guests. He was appalled. I wrote a letter to the owner to describe our experience. I told him that I had made the GM of the hotel aware of this and to steer his guests to another restaurant. I also told him that I know his restaurant has a facebook page, and that I didn't know anything about facebook, but, I was going to learn about it just so that I could post a comment about our visit. I'm awaiting a reply. Somehow, I think Catherine is going to have a bad day tomorrow when that letter lands on the owner's desk.

I guess I can end by saying that after 54 years, I had not seen it all.

Rick's A Super Shopper

Rick knows to go to Bi-Lo on Sunday to snap up the meat bargains and other fresh foods that expire on Monday. I'm sure you can do it any day, but, he says Sunday is best. We spent about $80, but, had $65 in bonuscard specials and my coupons. Also, he is beginning to appreciate my couponing skills. We were able to get Eight O'Clock coffee for $2.14 per bag. He was truly impressed with that.

We are on a 3-day holiday away from home right now and I FORGOT to bring my coupon binder. Not sure that I would have used any Qs, but, I feel naked without my binder. Do you understand that feeling?

Rick was able to reconnect with a very old friend while we are away. They haven't seen each other in 7 years. They are on a golf outing today, so, I am here with you!

Bi-Lo has printable coupons every 4 weeks or so, highlighting their house brands. This time, it was "buy Kraft 8 oz. shredded cheese, get Southern Home 8 oz. shredded cheese free." They also had Hanover chili beans and Ro-tel. Rick would not let me use the cheese coupons because we have a drawer full of cheese right now. I am unable to get through to him that unopened, cheese lasts a long time and we will use it. In fact, I think when we get home, I will make a casserole using two bags of cheese just to show him! HA! That's funny. He doesn't let me cook. Oh, how many of you can say that your husband or boyfriend WON'T LET YOU COOK??

Rick and I are in for some troubled times ahead. I won't go into any detail right now, but, I will keep you up to date. We have struggled before and that was before we were so committed to each other.

Had A Great Coupon Day Yesterday

Bi-Lo is rolling out something new, I think. The catalina machine is spitting out store coupons, high value, to use on any brands. For example, $1 any paper towel, $4 off produce with a $20 order, $1.50 off any cough, cold, pain relief, $3.50 off of a $35 order, free roll of SH paper towels, free dozen SH eggs with a $15 purchase. You get the idea. Since these are store coupons, they can be stacked with a manufacturer's coupon. Yesterday, I thought I would see how much I could get for a little bit of money. The only thing I bought without a coupon was a bottle of olive oil, although it was BOGOF, so, not bad. I had about $32.50 order and paid $7.88. Rick was impressed! I think I'm getting through to him.

I am not a dumpster diver, but, I saw a woman throw her receipt away at the door of Bi-Lo as I was entering. I couldn't help myself. I went through the trash, just a quick look, and scored a free roll of paper towels and $4 off produce. Thank goodness I was alone. Rick would have grabbed me by the nape of the neck if I did that with him in tow.

The Blog Continues!

I would like to keep in touch with you through this blog. I won't be talking about coupons and grocery deals too much. Rick is the shopper, chef, and all around meal planner here now.

I think I may have mentioned to you some weeks back that Rick was building an observation platform, or a deck, if you will, in my side yard. It is now complete. It stands about 9 feet high in front, but, due to the steep incline of my yard, sits on the ground in back. It's a big 12'X12' area. We have a dining table with 3 chairs, my hammock chair, a couple of sling chairs, a grill, and a deck box. We carpeted it, too. We really enjoy it in the evening and have our cocktails out there. The cats like it, too. They like to walk the bannister all around and look out over the street.

I've had a bit of a hard time in using coupons since Rick has been here. First of all, I have other responsibilities and can't spend hours clipping, sorting, filing, putting into the database on HCW and such things. Oh, how your priorities change when there is someone else in the house! Anyway, Rick is the type who can't be bothered with .50 off a jar of Ragu. That said, I got his attention a week or so ago. CVS had some P&G products on sale, plus, $10 ECB back when you spent $25 on select items. I bought 2 large packages of bath tissue and some batteries. I had something like $15 in ECB and coupons, used a free gift card for the balance, and received a $10 ECB. When I got home, he nearly flipped when he saw the rolls and rolls of paper. I explained the whole deal to him and he said, "You mean you got all this and didn't spend a penny?" Righto. Maybe I'm starting to get through to him.

The tomatoes are all gone now. The last few weeks, the bell peppers had been rotting on the vine. In all, though, I guess we gave away about 100 pounds after Dad died. Sometimes, when I think about the homeless population and how many people are going hungry, just in my city, it's almost overwhelming.

My paper didn't have any coupons in it today. I've noticed that it happens from time to time, but, my mother gets them in her paper. I think my carrier is stiffing me on the coupons!

I'm Discontinuing My Grocery Challenge

Since Rick has moved in, he does all the grocery shopping and cooking. I have little input in the process. It just doesn't seem fair to present to you my stockpile use or my coupon use when someone else is "in charge."

As of last month, I had only spent (and I include Rick's spending) a bit over $500 for all grocery and related items. I'm well within the $1,000 limit I imposed at the first of the year. I have recently given away about $1,000 of my stockpile to the rescue mission.

Thank you all for reading. Thanks especially for your thoughts and prayers while my dad was sick and the aftermath. I think I told you that Rick and I picked tomatoes for a month after my dad departed and donated them to homeless shelters. That is my tribute to Dad.

It's Hard Getting Back To "Normal"

I hope you understand that it is hard getting back to my normal routine. My step-mother doesn't drive and she has her brother to care for. He is no longer able to drive, so, I take them to the doctor 3-4 times a week. It leaves no time for blogging or coupon hunting or double couponing or anything.

Rick has been an enormous help to me. My dad did not approve of me living with someone with whom I am not married, but, one of the last things he said to me was that he was glad I wasn't lonely anymore. That's about all the acceptance I could hope for.

I did find a couple of Bi-Lo catalinas to share with you.

Green Giant boxed veggies:
Purchase between 9/6/10 and 10/3/10.
Buy 4, get $1.00 OYNO
Buy 6, get $2.00 OYNO
Buy 8 or more, get $3.00 OYNO.

Smart source has some Qs for the veggies. Waiting for a BOGOF at Bi-Lo to cash in.


Friskies brand wet cat food:
Purchase between 9/10/10 and 10/3/10.
Buy 12, get $1.00 OYNO
Buy 24, get $2.00 OYNO
Buy 36 or more, get $3.00 OYNO

We (Rick and I) agreed to use up more stockpile. We do pretty well some days, some days we graze at the grocery store. We have given over $1,000 to charity in the past few weeks. It feels good to give it away, although, to tell you the truth, I have some emotional attachments to some of the groceries! Weird, I know.

I don't have the year-to-date totals in front of me right now, but, I am well within my $1,000 goal for the year. I know I will make it. There's just too much stuff in the house to fail!

Again, thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. It is odd to me that I don't pick up the phone and see a call from my dad. I guess it will just take time to get over it. In my dad's memory, Rick and I pick his tomatoes once or twice a week and take them to the homeless shelter in town. I know he would not like to see them rot on the vine.

My Dad Passed This Week

Bill exited this mortal coil to enter eternity on Monday, August 16, 2010. He fought pancreatic cancer for over 18 months. He was only bedfast for 5 days before he died.

My boyfriend picked out a new dress for me, accessorized me, and even offered to do my makeup, but, that I thought I could do on my own! He really knows how to do everything except maybe brain surgery. He prepared a feast for the family for an "after funeral" meal. He's won over everyone in the family.

I've made Rick promise to try to use up more stockpile in the near future and stay out of the grocery store. He has agreed to use up my stuff. Really, he has to; he wants the stockpile out of the house. He has plans for the two rooms I use for it. I've really allowed the couponing and stockpiling to take over my life and I need to get some order back.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers while my dad was sick. I know the difference between friends and acquaintances. Anyone who prayed for my dad is my friend, even if I've never met you in person.

Missing In Action

I'm sorry that I have not posted in so long. I'm sure you have all lost interest by now. I've had major changes in my life, some good. I am now living with a man, something I haven't done in over 30 years. The great news? He's a chef! He can make a 7 course meal out of spam and crackers. We have feasted for the past week on all kinds of creations from sea scallops and shrimp. Needless to say, I'm not doing too much shopping anymore. He knows what he wants and goes for it. My dad is supplying us with endless tomatoes and bell peppers. Rick makes miracles even out of that.

My dad is not doing well. He is near the end, I suspect. He can no longer eat or tend to his tomatoes. We went to the flea market 2 Saturdays ago and he slept in the car for most of the day. I will miss him so much, but, what I really want for him is an easy transition from this life to the next. He will be 79 this Friday. His dad lived to be 99.

Life is a lot different here these days. I have been an "old maid" for many, many years and thought I would never let anyone into my life. Truth to tell, the compromises have been easier than I would have thought possible. Rick is really good to me and he has done a lot of needed things around the house that I had just become blind to. I'm happy to have him in my life.

I haven't been searching for any good deals to pass along to you for quite some time. I've let you down, I know. I would happily pass on Rick's recipes except that he doesn't use any and just makes things out of what is available. His dishes don't turn out exactly the same every time, but, they are always good. I'm just happy that all I have to do is wash the dishes.

Once we get into a routine around here and I'm able to get back into couponing and searching for deals, I will post more. Thank you for your kind attention and all the great comments I have received from many of you.

Surprise! The Frog Turned Into A Prince

The frog can cook like dammit. He has shown his true colors recently and I think he is a prince. Remember, I'm an old maid and don't care much for "the dance." That said, I think I'll stick with this one for a while. I talked to his mother today and she told me things that he has said about me that he hasn't shared with me. I think he might be a keeper.

Last week, he grilled a meatloaf that I am just now enjoying. He combined ketchup with orange marmalaide for the topping. I don't know what else he put in it, but, I'm telling you, it was fantastic! The man can make a 7 course meal with Spam and crackers.

I've got some salmon in the fridge that defrosted and I need to cook it in a day or two. I don't know much about that except to stick it in the oven. Any help? I was thinking of stuffing it with rice, but, I don't know how to do that. O.K. I admit it. I'm a dunce in the kitchen. It's great that I have my readers to help me along.

I think that on Monday, I will start calling the 800# on the packages in my house. If it worked for my friend, it should work for me, right? I can't believe that a newbie taught me that trick.

I'm The Recipient Of A Bounty Of Groceries

A friend moved this week and left all fridge food for me. My refrigerator and freezer are overflowing. If I dare enter a grocery store in the next 2-3 weeks, you all have my permission to beat me with a stick!

My dad is getting more frail, but, refuses to give up. He tends to his tomatoes every day. He's made a new top for his trailer, painted it, and installed it himself. That's in anticipation of selling tomatoes at the flea market this summer. What a guy!

I have a new pet. My friend couldn't take the dog to the new residence, so, I now have a miniature pincer. She's a sweet girl and minds well. Of course, you all know that I have almost a dozen cats. It's going to take a bit of time to work all this out.

A friend of mine told me something that, quite frankly, I'd never thought of. She said she went through the house, looking at various food and cleaning products, called the 800# on the package, and asked for coupons. She said that it worked about 90% of the time. She received high value and free coupons for several things. It's just so simple and I never thought of it! Worse, she didn't know a coupon from a camel until she met me and I introduced her to the concept of double coupons at Bi-Lo. I know I'm going to get comments from several of you telling me you already figured this out and where has Vicki been!

I'm Back In "Normal" Mode Now

The frog just won't turn into a prince, so, I am home and on my own again. It's a relief, really. I'm an old maid, I'm pretty stuck in my ways, and I'm probably a whole lot better off being at home by myself. Let's just say it was a wild Six Flags ride. It's fun while you're riding, but, when you get off, you are dizzy and sick.

I did some pretty serious coupon shopping today, but, the cat food brought my % way down. All the typical Memorial Day items were on a great sale at my store, add to that double coupons, and wham! I'm back in the game again.

I don't know what to do about the layout on this site. It seems to be permanently broken. That being said, here are my year-to-date totals.

Spent: $311.43
Cpns, etc.: $644.86
% Saved: 67%

The boyfriend turned out to be a no-go, but, I learned a few cooking tips from him. He takes a box of Suddenly Salad, adds some olive oil, mayo, and Caeser salad dressing, throw in some crab meat, and you've got a great dish.

I think I mentioned this already, but, he used 2 envies of the fake crab meat, added Italian bread crumbs and an egg, and made the most incredible crab cakes. Oh, yum!

He could probably make a gourmet meal out of Spam and crackers! I know I told you about the shrimp, mussels, penne pasta, and broccoli. Everything came right out of the freezer and was the easiest thing to make. He is a master at using the correct seasonings and spices to a dish. I guess the thing I'm going to miss most about the relationship is the great meals he made for me.

I wonder, could you do the same thing with an envie of tuna using an egg and bread crumbs, and still have something delicious? I don't think I have any Italian bread crumbs in the pantry, but, I process stale bread and keep it in the freezer for bread crumbs. What would you add to it to make it "Italian" bread crumbs? I'm thinking some oregano, but, I don't know what else to add. Parsley? Anybody got any ideas on how to turn my homemade bread crumbs into something spectacular?

The "empty egg cartons for eggs" deal is working out well. If you live near a flea market, especially something "out in the country", you might just be able to find a chicken farmer to trade with. So, you find someone with laying hens and you offer to trade. What's the worst thing that could happen? He/she might say no. You haven't lost a thing by asking. I guess you could find the same thing at a farmer's market, too. I really like bartering. You just have to think outside the box to be able to trade what you have, or what you can do, for something of value from another. In the current economy, I would think that there is a lot more bartering going on.

I have to brag a bit. I went to CVS Pharmacy today with $4 in ECB and a coupon for Old Spice body wash B1G1F. I got back $8 in ECB. Not bad! I've pretty much quit shopping at Walgreens. After they ended their rebate program, I just couldn't find enough things I needed or wanted to earn Register Rewards.

Well, I'm slipping way below what I wanted in % saved. I was really trying to stay at about 70-72% in savings, but, have dropped to 67% now. I know, I know, that is still pretty good, but, I think I can do better. I don't figure in the value of my free eggs. Maybe I could do that. Well, it doesn't matter. I know what I'm saving and that's the main thing.

Homework for all my readers. I need some summertime recipes for tuna. I'm awash in it and need to pump up my protein intake as well. When I'm not getting enough protein, my hair falls out. True. My nutritionist told me.

No Activity At The Grocery

Well, I decided I'd stick with the frog for a while. I stay at his house most of the time and he can really, really cook. He claims to have attended a culinary institute for two years and I tend to believe him. The night I got home from Hawaii, he prepared a dish of mussels, shrimp, penne pasta, and broccoli in a rich red wine sauce. I was bowled over! One night this week, he prepared butterflied chicken breasts stuffed with wild rice. Our first date was a picnic and he did all the food preparation. What he did with a simple box of Suddenly Salad should get him an award of some kind. He did wonders with a couple of envies of the fake crab meat a few nights ago. Added an egg for binder and some Italian bread crumbs and made crab cakes. I confess I went back for seconds. So, as you can see, there has been no reason for me to darken the door of a grocery store except for cat food. Of course, this has just killed my "3-a-day" rule.

The Layout On This Site Is Completely Broken

There is no way for me to update my numbers in the right column. It's been broken for over a month, maybe two, and I don't see it getting repaired. Every time I try to update my figures, it crashes my system. That said, here's my newest totals:

Spent $239.29
Coupons, etc. 573.52
Savings 71%

Sorry I've Been AWOL

Sad story. I met a man, thought he was a prince, turned out to be a frog. I wasted 3 weeks finding that out.

I'm writing from 35,000 feet. I'm on my way to Hawaii today. I won't be posting for the next week as I will be eating out every meal. I've never flown first class before today and I've got to tell you, it's sweet! It's going to be especially important from LA to Honolulu as that is the longest leg of the flight. Coach seats are getting smaller and smaller, I swear! Up front, the flight attendants fawn all over you. If they only knew that I'm flying on an award ticket, not "real" money.

I'm sorry I don't have my totals with me right now. I think I'm around $200 for the year in spending. I'm at about 72% coupon use.

My dad is failing. He's on a new chemo treatment and it is causing him a lot of trouble and pain. All it is is injecting poison to fight the other poison. Neither one ever wins. I will say, though, that he is fighting the good fight and is pushing himself beyond all you could imagine. He's got 72 tomato plants in the ground right now. I guess he expects to live long enough to harvest the crop.

As I said, I've been in this failed relationship for 3 weeks and haven't been on the internet to find any good freebies or deals for you. I promise to do better.

Some Good News For My For My Dad

It seems that he has a tumor in his ribs, but, the doctor thinks he can radiate that thing out of existance in 10 days. There's still the tumors in his liver, but, we are daling with that as well. As I told you, my dad put out 72 tomato plants last week. He will definitely have to live long enough to harvest the crop and sell them at the flea market!

I haven't come up with any incredible recipes lately. I'm surviving on what is at hand. I'm thinking of using Rick's recipe for the Suddenly Salad. I have packs of crab meat and I'm sure I have paprika on the shelf. It was fantastic and I hope I can reproduce it in my kitchen.

I want to thank all of you for your prayers and thoghts for my dad. He has lived over a year since he was supposed to die from this ailment. He doesn't show signs of slowing down anytime soon. After all, he has a tomato crop to harvest.

I Learned Of Some New Ways To Prepare Common Foods

I was invited on a picnic last Sunday. The gentleman did all the cooking. All I had to do was eat! Anyway, he made a great dish out of a box of Suddenly Salad by adding a bit of mayo, some Caesar dressing, crab meat, and paprika. It was fantastic! He also made a marinate for sliced avacados.

My problem with cooking? I have no chemistry background. Cooking is chemistry. This goes with that and that goes with the other thing. I guess I just don't have much imagination in the kitchen. I'm trying to learn new things to be able to use more of my stockpile.

We saw the doctor on Monday. Dad's cancer has now spread to his lung and the liver lesions are growing. The doctor is trying to come up with a different chemo med that might extend his life a bit longer. He says it's worth trying because Dad is "high functioning." I mean, the life is draining out of the man and what did he do last week? He put out 72 tomato plants, mowed the yard and seeded the lawn. It takes him a long time to get it done. He says that he makes one pass across the yard, has to sit and rest, then makes another pass, sits to rest and get his breath back, on and on.

I don't know why this blog layout won't work anymore, so, I'll keep giving my totals in the body of the posts until I can figure out something else.

$142.68 Spent
$413.44 Coupons, etc.
74% Saved

Finally! Spring Is Here!

I spent a couple of hours today just lounging in my hammock chair outside. It's hard for me to just set my brain on "idle," but, I was able to do it for a while and I feel so refreshed.

There is something wrong with this blogspot. I cannot update my totals in the right column. I crash the system every time I try it. That said, here's where I am for the first 3 months of this year:

$134.05 Spent
$408.93 Coupons, etc.
75% Savings

I am averaging $45 per month. If I can keep that up, I'm going to make my goal with plenty of room to spare.

Someone on freecycle.com gave me 3 boxes of Gevalia coffee today. That's about $25-$30 worth of premium coffee. I was awfully appreciative to get it. In return, I gave someone else some bricks today. I'm not all that active on freecycle, but, I've given away quite a bit of stuff that way. I think today is the first time I've actually received anything through that site.

You ought to see my dad's tomatoes! They're about two or three feet high. He started the seeds in January in the basement under the grow lights. We'll have tomatoes by the first of June, I think. As sick as he is, I half expected that he would forego tomatoes this year, but, I guess he's just too stubborn to stop doing things. We see the doctor on Monday to see where the cancer is or isn't. I fear the worst.

Sorry I've Been Absent For A While

Between being out of town and being "dawg-sick" for a week, I haven't posted in some time. I've tried to update my totals, but, the system keeps crashing when I attempt it. Here's my totals to date:

$115.93 Spent
$373.25 Coupons, etc.
77% Saved

Needless to say, with being out of town and being so sick last week, I haven't been able to keep up with my "3-a-day" rule. I doubt I've used 3 stockpile items in a week!

There is one thing good about being sick for a week. I lost 10 pounds in 4 days. I know, that's not the recommended way to lose weight, but, I could afford to lose it.

Spring is so crazy. Last Saturday was 70's, yesterday, it snowed. Tomorrow it will be in the 70's again. And I live in the south, for goodness sake!

I received my (4) $6 Purina checks several days ago. Just in time, too, because the food bucket for the outdoor cats was empty. Every now and then, my favorite store has Purina cat chow on special for about $2.50 less than usual. Now, I have some "extra" checks and I can snap up a few when they are on sale.

Some time back, I made a batch of stew. Remember when I was begging for a recipe? Well, I have some still in the freezer. I'm feeling like I could eat some of that today. I've been too sick to eat anything that heavy or seasoned. I still don't feel well enough to get in the kitchen and whip something up, so, this is just the ticket today.

I've Done Well For A Couple Of Days

For two days, I've been able to adhere to the "3-a-day" rule. I'm really trying to use up stockpile as best as I can. I made a huge dinner yesterday and used some freezer stew today with cornbread. I can see some headway in my freezer lately. It doesn't seem so packed. I still have a few items in my dad's freezer at his house, most notably a turkey and some ground beef.

My dad is failing fast. I can see a serious decline in the past 4 days. My mother is in therapy after her quad bypass surgery. I've tried to talk to them about home health care, but, they are resistant. There's really very little I can do for them. I feel so helpless.

I saw your comments on having waffles for dinner and making baked spaghetti. I think I can do both. I tend not to eat much in the evening. I eat during the day mostly. At any rate, I've taken your suggestions under consideration. I may have waffles and sausage for dinner one night soon. I have a "goo-gob" of sausage in the freezer. You all know what a "goo-gob" means, don't you? It's one of my grandmother's words. It means you have more than you need.

I got a new heat pump installed today. I am so excited. I've been living with a single heater for 3 years. Now, I can have a warm house or a cool house now, as I please. It's wonderful.

I've got a couple of free coupons for Excedrin to redeem in the next few days. I also have some BOGOF Qs for Michael Angelo's dinners. I guess I will spend a few bucks on groceries for the next few days. I don't think it will hurt my percentages much.

I'm On A Roll!

Look at my totals for the year. If I can keep my spending at $83 per month, I will easily make my goal for the year. As it stands right now, I'm about a month "ahead" of myself.

Yesterday, I was able to do the "3-a-day." The only problem is that it makes so much food that I eat leftovers for a few days. I just can't quite keep up with the "3-a-day" rule, but, I'm really trying.

I had a brainstorm this morning. I have leftover mac & cheese and pinto beans. I also have some taco seasoned ground beef in the fridge. How about mixing some ground beef into the mac? It's already nicely seasoned and would punch up the mac & cheese.

I've had a really big mess in the house for a few days. I have some shelving that snaps together and I have had it up for years, storing my food in the open shelves. Well, I had some work done on my house a few days ago and one of the workmen needed to get to my heat/air vent in the floor. The shelving was just barely on the edge of the vent. He tried to push it over, and because these are "snap-together" shelves, the whole thing just collapsed! He did not tell me what he'd done and I only found the mess after they were gone. I've been working since midnight last night to put the shelves back together. Of course, I had to remove all the groceries, putting them all over the house, until I could get the shelving back up. I've been working for more than 8 hours and still not quite finished with the work. This time, I made sure that the shelving didn't cover the vent so that when he comes back, he can finish the work on the vent. One of the advantages of this problem is that I've been able to get a good look at all the food items on the shelf.

Cat food alert! Someone sent me enough Purina cat chow weight circles to redeem for (4) $6 checks on future purchases. That is such a gigantic help to me. I have two cats in the house and about five outside and in the basement. It fluctuates from season to season and whenever females are having babies, but, it has held steady at five for quite a while now. I've been missing a cat for about 3 months, which is about the time I first saw the coyote that apparently lives on my property. I see him all the time. We came face to face in the yard one day. I was frozen. I couldn't move, couldn't get away, and didn't want to spook him into attacking. He finally decided to trot away. You may think I live out in the country, but, no, I live less than 2 miles of the courthouse in a city of 200,000. I mean, lots are 50 feet wide and the whole street is lined with houses. I have some wooded area behind my house and I have seen his trail into the woods. Here's the kicker; the Wildlife Resource Agency will not come out to kill a coyote and if I kill him, I will be cited to court for discharging a firearm in the city limits. How's that for a "Catch 22?" Not to mention that all I have is a snub-nosed .38. I'd have to practically be close enough to kiss him to hit him with a little thing like that. I do use hollow-point bullets, so, if I hit him, no problem, he's down. It's just getting close enough, and besides that, who walks around with a gun in their hand all the time?

One more thing. I'm going to beat this into your brain. Do you have a wallet full of gift cards? CHECK THE EXPIRATION DATES!! I almost lost $30 at Office Depot this weekend. I "found" it yesterday and it expires today. That's much too close for comfort. You save up your MyPoints or other survey sites and redeem for a GC. Then, you forget you have it!

Geez! The Groceries I Have!

Due to some work on my house this week, I had to dismantle some of my grocery shelves. I didn't realize how much Hamburger Helper I've got and I have so much ground beef in the freezer. I have enough elbow macaroni to feed a small army. It's so easy to overlook what's on the shelf when there is just so much.

I have a lot of pancake mix. I guess I could make waffle mix out of it. I so rarely eat breakfast that I just forgot about all this stuff.

Anyway, looking over all this stuff that I've had to relocate in the house, I see that I can eat for a year off of stockpile. Yeah, I know, I just ate off stockpile for a year already.

I promise to get back on the "3-a-day" stockpile rule soon. I really try. I just ran across a bag of Christmas presents I received and there were 7 bottles of body wash. Oh, yeah! Like I didn't have enough!

My daffodils are coming up, although, my January jasmine didn't bloom at all last month. I can't wait for spring. We've had more snow here this year than we've had in the past 3-4 years total. You know, when you live in the south, you expect a mild winter. This has been awful.

O.K. Besides mac & cheese, what else would you do with elbow macaroni? I have a bag full of bread crumbs in the freezer. I hate to throw away those stale pieces of bread, so, I grind them to make crumbs. Your suggestions are appreciated.

Details Of My Speeding Ticket

Well, I had an attorney represent me in connection with my speeding ticket down in south Georgia last month. I am going to have to pay a fine of $210, but, the charge will be reduced to 59 in a 55 zone and it will not be reported to my state or my insurance company.

It's a good thing I'm not spending much money for groceries since I've been hit with a $210 fine.

I'm telling you about my speeding ticket because I just want to warn everyone what it costs to break the law. I know it has nothing to do with my grocery challenge. Believe it or not, I am usually very careful about my speed. It just got away from me on this particular time and there was the trooper to catch me.

I haven't been to the grocery store lately, so, I have nothing to report as to good deals or how well I've done. I think, though, that overall, I'm doing pretty well. I've made it almost 2 months this year and only spent $66. For my next cat food purchase, I have a $6 check to use from Purina.

Soup/Stew On The Fly

After consulting with my aunt,I decided to try this thing on the fly. I searched for recipes, but, couldn't find anything that exactly matched up with my ingredients. I decided to just "do it." It smells good,the broth tastes good, and I'm hoping for the best. I just didn't realize how much I was making. It's enough for a small army!

I was able to get some boxes of Martha White cornbread mix for about .09 per box. I think a skillet of cornbread is in order today. It's been snowing off and on all day and a good bowl of stew or soup (I'm not sure which to call it)is just the thing.

Anyone Have A Favorite Savory Stew Recipe?

Here's what I've got on hand:

1 lb. of cut up stew meat, thawing.
1 pint of vegetable stock, thawing.
1 cup (+/-) of frozen button mushrooms, thawing.
Canned chicken stock.
Russet potatoes.
Fresh carrots.
Lipton onion soup mix.
1 qt. home-canned tomatoes.

Of course, you know I have a full pantry. I just don't know what else should go into the stew. Slow-cooker recipe is great, but, I'll take whatever you are offering.

Are You A Hilton Hhonors & Priority Club Member?

If you are a member of the Hilton Hhonors program, you know that they have just devalued your points by quite a large %. Priority Club is taking advantage of that by offering a free 1,000 points if you are a current Hilton member. You must be enrolled in both programs to get the free points.

Here's the link:

http://www.pointsloser.priorityclub.com/?cm_mmc=IMMerch-_-PC_US_en-_-HiltonPromo-_-luckiestloser

Free Sample Of Cream Of Wheat

This looks like a really long URL; you might get there just by going to smartsampling.com, but, I'll try.

http://www.startsampling.com/sm/101055/captureAddress.iphtml?item=101055&lp=eml&source=BGEmail&ss_id=&key=380ebee951b86239a5e0bc1e27349f82

Get a free sample of one of their many flavors and offerings. The message says to expect it in 6-8 weeks. What the heck! Winter will be over by then!

January Has Given Me A Real Bump

I only spent $48 in January and used $250 in store cards, store-specific GC, and Qs. I feel really good about my progress. If I can average $83 a month oop, I can come in under my $1,000 budget.

I haven't given away much stuff this year; about a dozen 2-litre bottles of soda for my great-nieces and several jars of peanut butter to my parents. Last year, in one day I gave about $1,000 of stuff to my favorite local charity, the Chattanooga Rescue Mission. I don't necessarily think that you should make the homeless sit through a sermon every single night to get a "hot and a cot," but, other than that, I feel pretty good about what they do there. I'm ashamed to admit it, but, I don't think I could work with the chronically homeless on a daily basis. I think you need a very special talent to do that. I'm glad there's someone out there doing what I cannot do.

There's an entry over on HCW to get a Q for a free dozen of Eggland's Best eggs. I got the envie today, but, it didn't have a free Q, only 2 .50 Qs. This week, this brand is on sale for $2.72 at my double coupon store. The store brand of eggs is about $1.70 this week, so, I was able to get a couple of dozen of the premium brand for the price of the store brand. Maybe by spring, the "egg man" will show up at the flea market and I can trade my egg cartons.

My dad has already planted his tomato seeds. They should be poking up through the dirt in a couple of days. He will put them under the grow lights in the basement until time to put them in the ground in the spring. That means that he has about a 6-week jump on anyone else at the flea market with ripe tomatoes. He's the eternal optimist; we are already planning our flea market selling this summer. I guess I'm going to have to start going through my stockpile for things to sell. You wouldn't believe all he "taught" me about marketing last summer. He thinks he's the only one who knows how to present product. I just went along. It was fun anyway.

I made some taco seasoned meat this morning. I have sour cream and salsa. I have shredded cheese. I think I have a jar of petite diced tomatoes. You know what that means; the taco train is about to pull out of the station! I have boxes and boxes of taco shells, several bags of tortilla chips, and some flour tortillas. I always think of the cartoon character, Speedy Gonzalez, when I start up the taco train. How many of you are old enough to remember Speedy? Ariba! Ariba! Or something like that.

A Good Deal Today

I was able to purchase 4 tubs of Shedd's Spread and 4 pouches of StarKist tuna for a total of .47. At the rate I use margarine, these 4 tubs of Shedd's will last a year! I don't mind tuna salad sandwiches a few times a week, either.

I fell into the trap today. They were calling for sleet and snow and so I went to the store to get milk, etc. I just used a GC, so, I wasn't out any money. It's a good thing I did; we have so far gotten twice as much snow as predicted and it hasn't stopped yet. We don't do well with snow here. There are no snow removal vehicles and only a few sand/salt trucks. We so rarely get any significant snow that we just don't know what to do with it.

Just think; last week I was at a hotel with palm trees! Now, this!

My Speeding Ticket Details

I have consulted a lawyer in GA where I got the ticket. He says I shouldn't go there to contest the ticket, "not in this day and age," he said. He is in touch with the Solicitor of the court and trying to get it removed from my driving record, although I will probably still have to pay the fine. I'm really not happy about that, but, I can live with it if it doesn't go against my driver license. Really! Thirty-eight years with no record!

I had a big dinner planned for tonight, but, I'm feeling less and less like fooling with it. I have some leftover mac & cheese. I think I will have that and call it a day.

I'm Feeling More Like Cooking Lately

I've got tomorrow's menu all planned; Hormel Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, and peas. All either BOGOF w/ Q or double Q or some such great deal. Still have the cake from Sunday. The amount I will be preparing will make at least 3 dinners and all for less than $4. That's getting it down. There's a woman who publishes a newsletter or something called, "$5 a day dinners." She says she feeds a family of 4 dinner on no more than $5 per day. Oh, man! If I could squeeze 4 dinners out of a sawbuck! That would be sweet!

That said, I still maintain that cooking for one is a lot harder than cooking for a family. I have to eat the same thing for 3-4 days before it goes bad to get my money's worth. Wouldn't you get tired of that?

I hate to bore you, but, it's cat food time again. I think I have enough for about 4 days. I was hoping to stretch it out to February 1, but, I think I'm going to be short a day or two. I'm also low on cat litter. My cousin gave me a $25 Wal-Mart GC for Christmas, so, as much as I hate to shop at WM, I'll go there and get food and litter and use my GC. I wish I had some Qs for these items, but, I don't think there are any out there for my brands right now. Because of the weight circles and the Purina Pro Club, I only buy Purina cat food. After X number of bags, I can redeem for $6 check on future purchase.

Did I tell you I got a speeding ticket last week? I've been driving for over 38 years and have never had a moving violation. This really bites! The fine is $210. I got the ticket about 225 miles from home. They expect that I will just mail in the fine. I plan to go back and fight it. I will plead for leniency, hoping that my perfect driving record counts for something, at least once. What's the worst that can happen? I spend some money on gas and still have to pay the fine. They can't eat me!

I've Jump-Started My "3-A-Day" Rule

I've been up since 3:00 this morning. Just one of those days when I cannot sleep. So, I'm rambling around the house and decide that I'm going to make a huge lunch. After all, by noon, it will be about the same as dinner considering how long I've been up! Anyway, I'm using 8 stockpile items today. I'm having Hormel pork chops, a can of apple pie filling (don't you love apples with pork chops?), green beans, mac & cheese, and a lemon pound cake. Now, you understand that I will not be able to use 3 stockpile items tomorrow. I'll still be eating all of this for 3 days, at least.

The Hormel meat was BOGOF w/ a Q, the apple pie filling was BOGOF w/ a Q, green beans w/ a Q, mac & cheese, Wags Q + manu. Q, lemon cake mix was BOGOF, and lemon pudding w/ a Q. I'm not able to calculate just how much this meal has cost, it's just been too long since the items were purchased for me to remember the prices. I do know that it wasn't much.

I must confess to some stockpiling yesterday. Walgreens had Lindsay olives for .99 ea. w/ th in-ad Q and I had several $1/2 Qs. I ended up w/ 10 jars and cans of olives. I think my total for 10 was $5.67. My dad loves green olives and I like to use black olives in salads. I hope you will forgive me for my temporary lapse into stokpiling.

The "Free Egg" Deal Is Not Working Out

The guy who said he'd trade eggs for my egg cartons has not been at the flea market the last 3 times I went to see him. It's about a 45 mile round-trip for me. I've spent way too much gas to try anymore. Pooh! I really thought I had a great deal worked out.

I'm going to redouble my efforts to get back on the "3-a-day" rule. I suppose that can only work if I start eating again! I used to weigh 280 pounds. Eating was not a problem. I now weigh about 122 and I can hardly stand the thought of food. I don't mind cooking, but, once I get something prepared, I no longer have any appetite for it. I guess I could cook a big meal and take it to my parents. They are both sick. I would have competition, though. Their next door neighbor brings dinner to them almost every night. Apparently, the son in the household fancies himself a great chef (he's about 18 or 19) and I think he has just about taken over the meal preparation for the whole family. From what I've heard about his cooking, he may have a future.

The Junk Mail For GC Is Dead

I was just informed that I have referred my limit to the program for junk mail for GC. Sorry to all of you who were sitting on the fence. It's over. I earn from $20-$40 a month in GC. It was a great run while it lasted.

I've Really Blown It With My "3-A-Day" Rule

Last year, I said that I would use 3 stockpile items every day. Boy, have I fallen down on that rule! It's impossible to use 3 non-food items every day. A bottle of shampoo or body wash lasts a long time. I haven't been cooking lately. I'm really just turned off by food right now. I hope that doesn't last too long. Sounds dangerous. I have been eating off of a family sized vegetable lasagna dinner for a few days. Can't tell you how glad I'll be when it's gone. I'm not going to throw any of it away, though.

I was out of town for a few days on business, so, I'll use that as my excuse for not eating in and using stockpile items.

Maybe after the lasagna is gone, I'll hop back on the taco merry-go-round. You know what I mean; none of the ingredients are used up at the same time. You have to keep opening something new to go with the old and so on.

I should really try to use up some canned soup and chili. I'm overloaded with stuff like that. I'm not even going to look at the expiration dates!

I Made Good Use Of My Walgreens RR

I had $10 in RR that were to expire a few days ago. I needed milk and I also found some good deals on other grocery items Sunday. I bought about $20 worth of groceries and paid $1.67 and used my RR.

I've been out of town working for a couple of days. Just got home and my cats are nowhere to be found! They usually hear my car coming up the street and come down to meet me. Maybe the rain kept them in. The other possibility is that they were mad because they got locked out of the house for a few days. Hey, I gave them plenty of chances to get back in the house before I left. They were having such a hot time in the good weather that they wouldn't come in. Don't worry. My dad came down every morning and fed them.

Some of you are going to hate me for this, but, last night I stayed in a hotel in SE GA with PALM TREES on the property. I didn't want to leave. It got up to 70 degrees there today. I'm back in ole' Tennessee, though, in rain and moderately cold weather.

Update

My mom came home from the hospital tonight. She has just had quad bypass surgery and as far as I can tell, is in no condition to be released. What do I know? Anyway, she is doing as well as expected. Just wanted you all to know.

I'm Getting Way Too Cocky

Wow! I've made it a half a month and only spent $40. I'm feeling really full of myself right now. I can't imagine what I might need this month except maybe milk and bread. I can handle that with Walgreens RR, I hope. The first of February requires more cat food, but, you knew that. I have a Siamese tom who eats his weight in cat food every day. I weighed him the other day; 14 pounds. He's a monster. He also chases the spayed females. I think his sniffer is broken! Maybe he's just so "in love" that he doesn't care what he chases.

My mother may be going home today, at the most, tomorrow. She is not really in any condition to be at home, but, you know how it is these days. They boot you out of the hospital no matter what condition you are in.

No time for breakfast today, Dad bought lunch at the hospital, and I don't think I want dinner tonight. Cheap day! I have a mystery shop for a meal on Sunday, so, more free food!

Do you know about mystery shopping? You can go to www.volition.com and get a wealth of information about the who, what, where, etc. I work on and off for about a dozen mystery shopping firms. I think there are about 200-250 active firms in North America. Somebody somewhere is looking for YOU to do mystery shopping. You can't make a living at it, but, it's a great way to get free meals, a hotel stay, or make a few bucks at a retail store. If you see ads that say, "Shop your favorite stores and keep what you buy," don't believe it. Most of the retail shops require you to return the items you purchased to complete the shop. Either that, or they let you keep what you buy but don't pay you anything else. I like the hotel shops. They are usually ones in a group that issues frequent stay points to use later. Points: money in the bank. I'm traveling to Hawaii in May all on points.

I Think I'm On Track

I know it's early, really too early to tell, but, I've made it almost 1/2 the month and only spent $40. If that trend continues, I will be at about $80 for the month. If I can keep it at $83 a month for the year, I will come in at $1,000.

What would you do with 30 boxes of rotini? Other than sell at the flea market, that is! I keep browned ground beef in baggies in the freezer and plenty of pasta sauce on the shelf. What are the other possiblilities? I'm not much of a cook, to tell the truth. I'm completely overloaded with cooking magazines, books, and boxes of recipes, but, it's too much to wade through. It's the same as not having any, you know?

I earned $40 in GC from the junk mail thing I'm involved in. If you haven't signed up, you are missing real money. The usual is $20 per month. I just had a pretty good month for December. All I need is your name, address, and email address and I can get you in, "like Flynn." Old saying. If you're under 30, you've probably never heard that!

I know that I have mentioned in the past that I am disabled and receive Social Security Disability Income. I just found out that I can get my old 1930's house weatherized to the tune of $6,200 courtesy of the city. If you are over 65 or disabled, contact your local human services department for weatherization assistance. When I worked, I was on the top of my game and did everything on my own. Now that I am disabled, I have to depend on other people sometimes to get needed services. I hope this helps someone out there.

Do Any Of You Collect Coke Points?

Off and on, I have had other people who would collect coke points for me. My cousins were pretty active for a while, helping me "pay" for their mother's Delta trip to Hawaii. I drink only Coke Classic and I've been known to stop on the side of the road to scavange for points.

I think the program has been going on for 3 years or so. They have just extended it for another year. If you are not saving coke codes, you are missing some serious stuff. If nothing else, you can exchange them for coupons for free Coke. I have mostly used mine for Delta, Hilton (no longer a member), and Holiday Inn points. I have redeemed for some coke coupons in the past.

I look at this as "money." If I can collect enough points for a free hotel night, I've made money, right? It's the same as the program I'm in where I send in my junk mail and email for gift cards. Money! It's in small increments, I admit, but, it counts up.

This year, in addition to keeping up with money spent and coupons used, I'm also keeping track of GC, RR, and ECB that I receive for no money. I don't know why I didn't think of this years ago. Just a lapse, excuse me! These things are money, make no mistake about it. They have value and can be exchanged for something you want, which is the same thing with money. You have money, you exchange it for things you want.

I'm sure that if you are reading this post, you already participate in MyPoints, Greenfield Online, Harris Polls, etc. Sometimes I am overwhelmed by the number of surveys I have a chance to participate in, but, it all adds up. Were it not for these different programs, Christmas would have been a lot more bare in my family. I was able to give nieces, nephews, and cousins something of value that I had accumulated due to my participation in these programs.

We are usually looking for the big pay-off. Let's not overlook the small ones.

The Surgery Went Well

My mom had a quad bypass last night. She was alert and oriented to time and place this morning. I'm going to see her in about an hour. Of course, she is in SICU,so, visitation is extremely limited. She'll be in the hospital for another week, then, I guess in a rehab hospital for a couple of weeks before going home. They took out veins from her legs, back, and ribcage to form new veins for her heart. I think the surgery took about 5 hours.

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. God has been merciful. My dad was able to have his chemo this morning. Last week his blood platelets were 39; today, 305. Great news! This usually knocks him on his keister for a couple of days, but, I'm sure he will be at the hospital the whole time.

Hopefully, in a couple of days, I will be back to "regular programming" of deals and steals. Right now, my family is heaviest on my heart.

My Step-Mother Went Into Surgery About An Hour Ago

They have decided that they can "re-plumb" her heart system with veins from her legs and back. She went into surgery about an hour ago. I'm at home. My dad wants me to stay here. He is at the hospital and will let me know as things progress.

I hope she survives the surgery. She told the doctor yesterday that she only wanted to live long enough to bury her husband. That's what's been keeping her going all this time.

I Cheated A Little, But, Received $10 Walgreens RR

Wags had the Contour monitor for $14.99 with a $5 RR. They also had a deal when you buy $20 of Boost products, you get $5 RR. My dad drinks a 6-pack of Boost every day. My mother is in the hospital and she sent me to Wags to buy 2 packs. When I saw the deal, I bought 4 packs, had $1.50 Qs on all, and got a $5 RR for my trouble. She thought I did the right thing by getting 4 packs with the Qs. I earned $5 for my efforts.

I really messed up. I had several Tidy Cats $1 Qs expiring today and I meant to go to the store and use them. Well, I received such bad news about my mother that I never made it to the store.

My step-mother's doctor told my dad today that her heart is so compromized that there is nothing they can do for her. The doctor was upset that the other doctor hadn't told us 2 days ago and released her. She will go home tomorrow and I guess just wait to die. Her heart is 75% dead. My dad is also near death with pancreatic cancer. There's just no good news here today.

Thank you to all my readers for allowing me to vent this out. I appreciate your concern and prayers.

A Little Off-Topic, But, You Know Me!

Sometimes there are things more important than coupons and deals. My dad was refused his chemo treatment this week because his blood platelets were too low. We go back next Friday to see if they've come up enough for treatment. I fear that the end is near.

My step-mother had a heart attack New Year's Eve. She is currently in the hospital and will be getting "the full treatment" on Monday, whatever that means. We don't really know right now what they are going to do then.

I was hoping to make it a few days into the new year before I spent any money at the grocery. No luck; I shopped yesterday and today for necessities. Had to have that darned cat food today. It's a big ticket item, but, even still, I'm at 74% off so far.

I haven't been eating well lately. It just seems like too much trouble. I know I need to do better. On that front, at least, I have a bit of good news. The salsa, sour cream, and seasoned taco meat all ended up being used at the same time! How's that? You know how it is when you do tacos and nachos; there's always something left over or you have to open a new something or other to finish out today's stuff. I can't believe it worked out so well. Now I can turn my attention to eating something different. I won't feel bad for letting something go bad.

I went to the flea market again this morning, but, couldn't find the "egg man." I'm thinking of maybe putting a small ad in the classifieds to find someone to trade eggs for egg cartons with me. I'm not going to spend too much money looking for someone; it wouldn't be cost effective. My local paper has a "3-line, 3-day, free" ad deal. I'm not sure what category to put it under. I checked the paper today and couldn't find a "for sale or trade" column or "barter" column. Maybe they'll make up a new one just for me!

Oh, this is cool. Yesterday, I went to Bi-Lo to pick up a couple of things that I had free Qs for. With the bag credit, they owed ME a nickel. The cashier was unruffled. He called for the cashier with the key, did his little thing, and handed me 5 cents. That, friends, is a great feeling! It's not so much the nickel, it's just that the cashier knows how to do his job and doesn't give me any grief over it.

New Year, Resolutions Abound

I keep track of everything I spend, but, that doesn't necessarily mean I am careful with my spending! I have, over the past couple of months, gone way overboard eating out. These are the careless kind of expenses; I leave the house and drive through the golden arches for a cup of coffee and end up with a breakfast sandwich when I could have made coffee at home. I've also been tempted, and fell for it, to earn frequent flyer miles by eating at certain restaurants. There's always an excuse, you know. Anyway, new year, new me, I'm ready for the financial challenge of the year.

I have on hand the following GC that I have acquired at no cost:

$25 Bi-Lo
$25 Food Lion
$25 Wal-Mart
$57.95 CVS
$0.09 Rite Aid

Are you signed up with "Swagbucks?" I have a link to it in the right-hand column. It's a search engine, a place to recycle old cellular phones, and they also publish a bonus code nearly every day. I haven't figured out where to find it, but, my friends over at FlyerTalk post them when they find them. I was thinking that if any of you are a member, I could try to find the bonus codes every day and post them here. I usually earn a swagbuck every day just from internet searches. It's a pretty painless way to earn some GC. I've cashed in for several Starbucks GC over the past few months.