Vicki's Grocery Challenge

A Major Savings

2012-02-09T07:15:00.002-05:00

I think I'm getting back into the couponing game. A few days ago, my local store had Green Giant boxed veggies for $1 a box, usually $1.76 each. I was able to trade for some .60/3 coupons. I ended up buying 30 boxes of GG veggies for $18 total. Rick was playing golf that day and you would not believe how he roared when he opened the freezer for some ice and was greeted by 30 boxes of veggies! He totally freaked. I tried to explain that I only paid $18 for about $53 worth of groceries. Some guys just don't get the grocery game, do they? This week, the 8 ct. tube of Pillsbury Grands biscuits, regularly $2.19, I think, are $1. I'm trading for some more coupons. Wait 'til he sees a refrigerator full of biscuits. Oh, yeah, when I buy 5 of them, I earn an extra .20 in fuelperks. Yes, I'm back in the game!

Yeah, What A Deal!

2012-02-04T19:01:00.002-05:00

I only learned yesterday that my local store has Green Giant boxed veggies for $1 each, usually $1.79. I was able to get someone in FL to send me 10 of the 3/.60 coupons for use by next Tuesday. I just KNOW they will arrive by Tuesday. She's super. Rick is going to have a fit when I bring in 30 boxes of veggies, but, he'll be glad during the lean months. Men are like dogs; you just train them and train them and then they respond to your commands. I'm hoping Rick is just like a dog!

I received (3) free 12-pack Coke coupons yesterday. I'm O.K. with cokes, but, the price has risen precipitously. You used to be able to get 4/$10 and now you're lucky if you get 4/$13 or so. Thankfully, I drink more wine than coke!

I have about 6 Redwood Creek wine posters. I'm thinking of approaching the manager of the local liquor store and see if she wants to buy them. I'd trade for a box of wine. Five litres, of course!

I Don't Know How To Get Rid Of That Ad for "Paybox."

2012-01-31T14:59:00.002-05:00

Forget paybox. It changed names, is a complete dud. I just don't know how to get that ad off my blog. I'll try harder.

I sometimes repeat myself, so, bear with me. I participate in a program with Small Business Knowledge Center in Chicago. In this program, you send them your junk emails and snail mails on certain topics, mostly credit card, banking, financial, travel. Other stuff, they send you a list of what they are looking for. You earn points for all the junk you send them. For every 2,000 points, which you could probably do every month, you earn a $20 GC of your choice. I've been doing this for about, I think, 4 years. I just learned that they also accept your credit card bills. I'll go first and see if they hijack my accounts to steal from me. I doubt it. They have always been upfront and honest with me. I get a credit report update every 3 months and nothing bad has ever happened to me for participating in this program. I'll be happy to sign you up, if you wish. Just send your name, address, and email address and I can get them to shoot you an invite. I'll tell you this; once, I accidentally sent them a new credit card I had just gotten. They sent it back in a few days with a note that it looked too important for them to have. Nothing bad happened. I do earn a few points for referring you. I will give you that. I don't want to be dishonest about my motives. Having a $20 GC to Chili's or Ruby Tuesday's comes in handy sometimes. I gave my nephew a $20 Red Lobster card for Christmas that I earned from SBKC.

Foo! Food Lion is going out of business in my city. My step-mom and I are going tomorrow. I think what's left will be 75% off. Looking for coffee and canned goods. I never really shopped FL, so, I won't miss them too much. My only concern is that it's going to increase WalMart's business, and, have I ever mentioned this before, I HATE WALMART!!! The Walton's are morally bankrupt and treat their employees poorly. Get off your soapbox, Vicki. Sorry.

Well, if you want to sign up for the free GC, let me know. It's a great program.

I'm Probably The Last To Know

2012-01-20T13:35:00.001-05:00

Did you know that you can turn in your empty Starbucks coffee bag for a free tall brewed coffee? How many bags has I thrown away? Too many. Just learned this. It's on the side of the bag, but, who reads that stuff, anyway?

Do You Mystery Shop?

2012-01-18T16:44:00.002-05:00

I don't know if I've ever mentioned this, but, I am a mystery shopper. I'm pretty picky about the shops I will take. If I have to drive 30 mile round trip to do an $8 shop, no way. I prefer hotel and some restaurant shops. Rick and I just got back from a 5 day trip of hotel mystery shopping within 100 miles of home. We have 4 more this month. I hate to admit it, but, I do the "cheap" stays. To balance that, we sometimes do "high dollar" shops. This month, I will earn enough frequent stay points to go to Destin, FL for 3 nights free. I have about 150K of Hilton points that we are saving to go to Key West this fall. By working the points programs, I have gone to Hawaii with my aunt 4 1/2 years ago, Manchester, NH, for a week 3 years ago, and another single trip to Hawaii about a year and a half ago. That time, I went first class on the air, stayed 7 nights at the Hilton Hawaiian Waikiki. I'm telling you, if you have the time or inclination to do mystery shops and you are a member of the hotel's frequent stay program, you can get a free vacation. I admit that I have some CC that are attached to my frequent stay memberships, but, mostly, I earn from staying at hotels on someone else's dime. It's nice to get away from home for a few days. I guess if you have a few children, it would be harder to do. I'm pretty much foot loose and fancy free. I can pick them up at the drop of a hat and go.

I don't have any really great coupon deals to pass along to you right now, so, I thought I would plant the seed for mystery shopping. Doesn't pay anything, but, you get a nice night out and earn some points, if you sign up with their programs.

If you are interested in mystery shopping, go to www.volition.com and see the listings for mystery shopping. There are over 200 companies in North America that you can sign up with. I know, it's a drag signing up with each one individually, but, it might be worth the work for you.

Happy shopping!

Vicki

O.K. A New Year, A New Me

2012-01-05T20:26:00.002-05:00

I have determined that we need to clean out the freezer before we buy any more groceries. We have more than 20 meals in the freezer, plus vegetables and such to boot. I will not allow Rick to go to the store before it is done. Today, I defrosted some of his "slumgulliom", which is German for "what's in the pot." Something like that. Anyway, we ate 6 month old soup today. I took a pack of beef kabobs out tonight for dinner tomorrow. Rick will have to figure out what to do with it. I'm really going to bear down on him to use what we have instead of filling up the freezer again. A good selection is all well and good,but, you have to prove that you know what to do with the old stuff before embarking on a new shopping trip. We have rice, potatoes, and mac & cheese to kill a horse. I think we should live off of stockpile for awhile. I don't know if I can Rick on board, but, I think I can. What advise would you give in my situation? Rick is the chef. He is mostly in charge of dinner, however, I make the best scrambled eggs for breakfast, so, he has to stand back. We have sausage and bacon galore for breakfast. I can do a pretty mean meal out of that. I also know how to make southern biscuits and gravy, if called upon. Oh, man, a breakfast of biscuits and gravy I can do. It's high in cholesterol, fat, and such. Kicks up the blood pressure quite a bit. Puts pounds on the hips. So, sue me!

Are Any Of You Frequent Flyers?

2012-01-03T20:00:00.002-05:00

Over the past few years, I have earned enough mileage and hotel points to get 3 great vacations. Four and a half years ago, I took my aunt to Hawaii. A couple of years later, I had enough flight and hotel points for a week in New Hampshire. Last year, or should I say, in 2010, I went back to Hawaii at no cost for hotel and flight. I have enough points (almost, I'm working on it) for a free week in Key West and enough points for 2 free air tickets. If you have the right co-branded credit cards, and spend on your credit cards, you can do this, too. I don't pay cash for anything. Not even a $1 for a cup of coffee at McDonalds. I pay the balance each month and earn scads of points for these things. I know it goes against conventional wisdom to use a credit card for everything, but, if you don't overspend, you can pay the balance and not incur any interest charges. The points just keep rolling in. If you sign up now for the right credit cards, you get a bonus of points good for air or hotels. I use American Express Hilton Hhonors, American Express Delta Skymiles, and Marriott Rewards Visa. I have a few others, but, I don't use them too much. These are my main ones. I should say that if I refer you to Hilton Hhonors American Express, I earn a few points. I don't think I earn anything on the others. This is just to let you know that you can earn vacations with your regular spending.

I'm Trying To Get Back In The Swing Of Things.

2012-01-03T19:31:00.002-05:00

I hope to have some deals and things for you in the future. I'm trying to get back into the couponing mode. Rick has made me stop and think about stuff I am buying. We just recently gave away 20 boxes of a baking or frying mix. I forgot the name brand. He's trying to get me in line with his thinking and i am revolting as much as I can! We are regularly giving to the rescue mission and the homeless day shelter. I can finally see the walls of my pantry.

My local store, Bi-Lo, had, for a few months, been spitting out great coupons on the register. Haven't seen anything in a while. I was getting paper towels and plastic cups free for a while. I have to guess that they are just not being so generous now as I am buying about the same things.

Woo-hoo! Firefox is my savior. I'm not getting the crash anymore like I was with IE. Who knows how this stuff works? I'm just glad to have found a platform to interact with you.

Are you interested in mystery shopping? Please leave me a note and I will tell you all I know about it. (Well, that wouldn't be much,but, I'll try.)

I don't get any in-store tearpads for coupons around here. They just don't exist. All I know about is the insert coupons and the few I trade for to get non-insert coupons. I don't know what is wrong with this city, but, NOBODY puts out the tearpads. I would complain, but, I don't know where to start.

We have a freezer full of meat to consume. Rick is kind of the "I'm bored, I'll cook," or "I'm sick of cooking, let's go out." I'd like very much to clean out the freezer before we buy more.

Before Christmas, we bought a few gift cards with extras. They give $5 or $10 when you buy a $25 GC. We are enjoying the benefits.

Have you tried Logan's Roadhouse lately? They have some great meals for about $11 or $12 and they will feed 2. We got the meatloaf with 2 sides and it was more than we could eat between the two of us. Of course, we drink our weight in liquor, so, it balances out.

I'll try to keep you up to date with specials and such. I've made a New Year's resolution to do better for you.

I Have Not Fallen Off The Edge Of The Earth

2011-12-29T09:42:00.002-05:00

I am sorely embarrassed that I have not posted since June. I kept having a problem accessing the site. When using my desktop and IE, it would crash my system every time I tried. I just accidentally stumbled on it using Firefox.

Rick and I are still together. We work together, as well. We serve civil warrants, divorces, lawsuits, etc. for many lawyers.

I suppose I'm not doing the "grocery challenge" anymore. I have made a concerted effort over the past 2 or 3 years to use stockpile. Since Rick moved in, we have given away hundreds of $$ in goods to the rescue mission and the homeless day center. While I still have a fairly healthy pantry, it's nothing compared to what I was working with a couple of years ago. Rick does 95% of the cooking here and he does not use canned goods, well, except cooking soups, and prefers less processed foods. So, the shopping is mostly up to him. My coupon use has fallen off greatly because of that.

I do want to brag about one great deal, though. I had a birthday about 10 days ago. Rick told me that he wanted to buy a new computer chair for me, but, it couldn't be a surprise because he wanted me to pick out what I wanted. My old chair was broken and falling apart. Well, when I found out I was getting a new chair, I went to work to find all applicable rebates, coupons, sales, etc. We settled on a beautiful leather chair at Office Depot. The chair was $149.99 and the 2-year protection warranty was 14.99, plus tax. This came to $180.24. After all my deals, we paid a total, including tax, of $79.29. In addition, I used my frequent shopper card and earned cash back on the purchase. Just think; the average person looking to spend $75 on a chair would have gotten a flimsy, plastic, cloth covered chair. I got a well-made leather chair with padded armrests.

We have absolutely nothing planned for New Year's Eve. We are early to bed, early to rise people, so, we may get a bottle of bubbly and open it about dinner time.

I hope you all have a happy and prosperous new year. Keep up those frugal, saving ways. Clip those coupons, get those deals!

Vicki

Oh, Man, Do I Feel Badly!

2011-06-25T15:30:00.003-04:00

I haven't posted in two months. That's just unacceptable. I think I have mentioned to you in the past that I suffer from depression. It just crops up sometimes and I have to "roll with the flow" until it subsides.

Things are going well here. Rick has just "wowed" me with another one of his creations. He made something today that he calls, "slumgullion." I think it's a German word for "whatever you throw in the pot." He used a really discounted piece of smoked sausage, a box of veggies we got at 1/2 price, a pouch of rice with saffron that I got for probably .25 or less, an envelope of seasoning that was also about .25 and some things out of the refrigerator that he refuses to identify. It was fantastic! It had a hint of BBQ sauce and some toasted sesame stir fry sauce. I think the only thing he didn't put in it was garlic. The man is a genius. I just wish he could remember what he put in that meatloaf last year that I went crazy over.

Needless to say, today he used 4 or 5 stockpile items to make his dish. I find it hard to impose a value on him to use stockpile. He is a "whatever will be, will be" kind of fellow. I try to clip coupons and keep him on the straight and narrow, but, it's almost impossible. I was able to get two packages of smoked sausage for .99 ea. after doubles and promos this week. I also favored Rick with 2 cans of Emerald Nuts cashews. They were BOGOF and $1 Qs on each. He loves them but we can't really afford them at $5.99 ea.

We've been eating out way too often. When we get done with work, we just want to sit down and be fed. Chili's should make us a shareholder!

Oh, speaking of Chili's, we had a horrible experience at Chili's in Buckhead, Atlanta. The bartender treated us like 2nd class citizens, sent out overcooked food, actually laughed at me when I asked about happy hour. He snorted and said, "Happy hour? You're in Buckhead."

We were on a mystery shop in Buckhead. I can't reveal the name of the hotel, but, the room was $400 a night plus we were able to get room service for dinner. It was cool! I would never stay in a $400 hotel room if I was spending my own money. I guess none of you would, either. I think the most I would ever spend is about $150 and that's only if it's near someplace I really, really need to be.

We have 2 more mystery shops to do in ATL next month. One is over $200 a night, plus dinner of $120 and breakfast of $50, and the other is only, ONLY!, $149 per night. Rick says that he used to be happy with a $39.95 room at the Red Roof Inn, but, that I have spoiled him with my mystery shop locations. He now snubs anything less than $100 a night. We performed 2 "cheap" mystery shops this month and he was thoroughly disgusted with them. Sorry, Dude. This is how we make money.

Summer has been in full swing since last month here. We had something like 20 days of 90+ degree weather in May and the first part of June. Yeah, June 21 may be the first day of summer, but, we've been sweltering since May 1 or so. Don't mean to complain. I love it here. The cicadas were out last month after their 13 year hibernation. They are all gone now. What a life. You live underground for 13 years, come out, live for a month, mate, bury your eggs, and die. Hmm.

We are working, although, it is hit or miss sometimes. Our best client has been so far behind that we haven't had anything from him in 3 weeks. Kind of hurts when you've been spoiled with $2K of business every month.

Keeping a lid on grocery spending, although, don't even ask how much we spend in restaurants and liquor stores. It's a crying shame how much money we waste. I was living frugally before I met Rick. Now, it's "I want this." He's just used to a different level of living than I am. We're trying to work it out.

Thanks for reading. I promise not to desert you.

Vicki

Happy Easter!

2011-04-23T13:24:00.002-04:00

It's the time of year of rebirth and renewal. It feels so good to be outside right now. Rick has planted an awful lot of azaleas, rhodedendrons, and hibiscus. My house is becoming a home.

Well, got rid of all the cats. It was hard, but, they will have a more comfortable life with others. I sent Daisy away, too. The no-kill facility said it's O.K. that she's not litter box trained. They can place her.

I've really got to get busy clipping and filing coupons. I hate to admit it, but, I've let my coupon binder go practically empty. I don't even carry it into the store anymore.

I've gotten Rick to use much more of the stockpile. The 3-a-day rule died a long time ago, but, we're still working at it.

Work is going well. Rick and I work well together. We are getting more clients every month.

The only "deal" I've done lately is the 5/$13 coke 12-pack products. Shouldn't drink that much coke, but, what are ya gonna do when you live this close to Atlanta? Oh, BTW, in the south, you never call it soda or pop. You don't even call the other products by their name. Here's how the conversation goes when you have a guest in your home. "Would you like a coke?" "Sure. What do you have?" "Well, I have coke, sprite, diet coke. Which one?" So, all soft drinks are generically called coke around here. You have to get specific after that.

My dad has been gone 8 months. I can hardly believe that much time has gone by. Rick went out and seeded the lot and it is looking very good.

We are planning to go to the lake tomorrow to celebrate our first year together. We actually had our first date on Easter last year, which was on 4/4, as I recall. We are considering Easter Sunday as "our" day from here on out.

Have a blessed and happy Easter tomorrow.

Spring Is Here And I Am So Glad!

2011-04-09T16:36:00.003-04:00

Sorry to be away for so long. We have been working a lot. Eating out a lot too much because it's just so tiring after a day of working together and don't want to go home and cook. We are really trying to do better. Rick understands that I need to keep a lid on expenses.

I am giving away my 2 indoor cats on Monday. I'm turning them into the no-kill facility here. Both have been altered, so, they shouldn't be too hard to get a new home. I will miss them, but, they have been outside since last summer and they deserve having a loving home to live in. I only have Daisy left at home. She's strictly an outdoor cat. Can't teach her to use the litter box. There are a couple of ferals hanging around, but, I think if I can find a farmer with a barn to take Daisy, I can shoo away the strays and ferals. It kills me to do it, but, I must.

My couponing is not going well. I have a dining room full of coupon inserts to clip and file. Can't redeem them if they are not in the binder, huh?

Oh, I heard the other day that on some cable channel this fall, there will be a series called, "Extreme Couponing." I don't have cable, thank you, Lord, so I won't be sitting in front of the TV every week to see what other people are doing.

My life is so different from when I started this blog. I have Rick now. I never thought, at least for the last 35 years, that I needed anyone. I do. It's good.

It's Almost "Happy Spring!"

2011-03-13T12:35:00.002-04:00

I know the calendar says it's still winter, but, it's 70 degrees here yesterday and today and we are landscaping. Rick is very good with these kinds of things. Me, I don't even notice. I mean, I notice when he makes everything look nice, but, living here alone all these years, I just quit taking notice of my surroundings.

Rick and I have decided to give up all our cats. He's keeping the dog, a miniature Pinser. Our cats aren't too bad, but, having to feed them downstairs and giving them a way in and out has attracted many strays and ferals. They have done several hundred dollars damage to the heating ducts under the house. If we get rid of "our" cats, we can close off entry into the basement, quit putting feed out, and the others will move on to more friendly environs. Rick is allergic to cat dander, so, my beloved pets had to be moved outside. I just think it's better all around to try to find loving homes for them so that they can have some companionship.

We've been working quite a bit lately and eating out way too much. It's just too much to work all day and then come home and try to cook something decent. Rick said the other day that he was getting tired of cooking, so, I'm going to have to brush up on my cooking skills and help out. I did prepare dinner last night and Rick has put a chuck roast in the crock pot this morning for tonight's dinner. Of course, the size of the thing means we'll be eating it for three or four days!

I was pleased to find some bargains at the grocery the other day. There was a P&G Q for $3 off Gain fabric softener. My Bi-Lo had it on sale for $2.99 and lucky me, I had 2 coupons! Free softener to last for a while. I also had one Q for BOGOF Swiffer refills. Those wetjet pads are almost $7 a box! I once made the mistake of buying the CVS brand which is supposed to work with Swiffer wetjet. It does not and I bought 2 boxes. They don't have a sticky side to stick to the mop head. So, in trying to save money, I wasted it. I did take back the unopened box for a refund but I didn't have the moxy to take back the open box. You know, I might just take a run at trying to take back the opened box. It clearly states on the box that they can be used with Swiffer wetjet.

So far this year, I have only spent about $176 on groceries and used about $400 in Q's. It's hard to keep it under tight control the way I used to, as Rick likes to go the the grocery and just roam the aisles, throwing things in the basket willy-nilly. Since he does most of the cooking, I can't really say much about his shopping habits.

I must confess one thing about my grocery shopping; I've started buying those pre-cooked, boiled and peeled eggs from Eggland's Best. Yes, they are pricey, but, I always have a coupon, doubled, and besides, they are a great convenience. When I first saw them in the store, I said, "Now, that's pretty lazy to buy eggs already boiled and peeled!" Having to eat those words now.

Well, Rick is calling for me to help in the yard. He's putting in azaleas and other stuff I can't pronounce or spell.

We'll talk soon.

I'm A Bit Slow

2011-02-23T15:14:00.003-05:00

I just finally figured out how to post my photo on this site. I apologize that it is 20 years old, but, I'm too old and ugly to have a new portrait done!

I just made out like a bandit at Bi-Lo last week. They had all Stouffer's single serve and French bread pizza for $1.98. That's about $2 off the regular price. While Rick is an excellent cook, we are working a lot lately and those micro dinners come in handy.

I had to have Ole Blue Eyes put down last week. He was hit by a car, I think, and then hit in the head with a brick. Too far gone to help, not quite dead. It was painful and Rick really loved that cat. He was a huge Siamese with the prettiest blue eyes you've ever seen. We actually had another name for him at home. We called him Big Balls. I know, that's tacky, but, his hindquarters were dark brown and the rest of him light brown. When he walked away from you, all you could think was, "What big balls!" I hope this paragraph passes through the internet police. I don't mean to offend anyone, but, after all, they show!

We have picked up new clients and doing pretty well. Rick is very good at this job. I thought I was pretty good for the past 25 years, but, Rick is REALLY good! I went to northern Alabama last Saturday and served someone with the same last name as mine. My great-grandfather was from the same town. I'm sure this deadbeat is a distant cousin, but, I didn't delve into it.

Speaking of which, I have been working on my family tree for a while now. One distant cousin wrote a book about some of my family. I've gone onto www.ancestry.com and created a family tree. I've filled in all the gaps that I could from Harold's book. I've gone back to 1727 in one line and 1677 in another line. Along the way, 1st cousins married, so, the family tree is sort of twisted. You can't really blame them. Where do you find someone to marry when you live out in nowhere and don't know anyone? One of my greats was a French Hugenot with Napoleon. He was a minister which was looked upon with as great esteem as the President or Commander. I drew a blank after a g-grandmother who was part Cherokee Indian. I would like to know more about her people. Not far from here is a Cherokee reservation in North Carolina. If I had another generation or two before here, I could probably go to the reservation's library and find more info. Oh, so much to do and so little time to do it!

No coupon news, I'm afraid. I just haven't had the time to look. I'm grateful for the work we've got. I shouldn't complain about not having enough time for coupons and deals. As I have time, I will be more diligent.

Sorry I Have Been Absent For So Long

2011-02-17T16:58:00.002-05:00

I don't know what the problem is with this blog site, but, I can't update my totals and if I try to log in on my desktop computer, I crash every time. I can access on my laptop (I hope!), but, I don't think of signing in too much since I do 90% of my work on the desktop.

Our work is going well. We have picked up a few more clients since Christmas and have hopes for more.

We went out of town this week for a few days for Rick to go golfing with a friend down in GA. We had an indoor pool and hot tub at our hotel, so, it was great for both of us. We were one exit away from a Tanger Outlet Mall, but, thank you very much, I did not go. I should have gone to the underwear store, but, I didn't think I could survive all the other stores. I'm in love with the Lenox store and always buy chrystal that I don't need. How many champagne flutes can one woman use?

Funny story. I was out of state one time many years ago. I think I was in Illinois, but, don't quote me on that. Anyway, we stopped at an outlet mall and the Lenox store and the chocolate store were next to each other. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven! I really prefer Gorham crystal, but, when I find a deal at Lenox, I jump on it.

My favorite grocery store has a great deal on single serve Stouffer's this week, I think $1.98 each, usually about $2.99 each. I'm thinking of stocking up on lasagna and mac/cheese to keep the pressure off of Rick to perform in the kitchen every night. We are really doing a good job of using stockpile items and cleaning out the freezer. We still give a lot away to the rescue mission. I think about the women especially at the mission. I guess it doesn't matter if you are male or female, but, it seems like being a woman and being homeless would be harder. Women are more vulnerable to predators. They are victims more often. I am so thankful for all that I have. I have a home, a car, and food to eat. I don't have a lot of extras, but, I am able to keep my head above water. I have some credit card debt, but, I also have the ability to have credit. That's a lot more than a lot of people around me. The economy has dealt a hard blow to a lot of people and I'm hoping that we are climbing our way out. I have a lot of confidence in the current leadership that we will right the boat.

I just heard a piece of news. The President of the United States did not receive an invitation to William and Kate's wedding. He did receive an invitation to visit Buckingham Palace in May. I guess that's the consolation prize!

Rick is pushing me to get rid of all our cats. I had one put down last week. He had been hit by a car while apparently out chasing a female. He had a brick fall on his head the next day. I couldn't help him. It killed me to have him put down. Rick wants me to give up all my cats. He has one he particularly likes and I wonder if she will go the same route he has in mind for all the others. We can turn them into the local animal shelter and it is a "no-kill" facility. Most of my cats are litter trained and very affectionate, so, it shouldn't be too hard to get them adopted out. I can't imagine giving up my little Sonny. He came to me at 6 weeks with a dislocated hip. His mama took the rest of the litter and moved on, leaving him here. That was years ago, but, I feel so responsible for him. She knew I'd take care of him. Now, I have to give him away.

We've been working so much that Rick has not been his usual self in the kitchen. We eat out way too much because we are on the road working. I'd like to have a few nights at home when we are not too tired to cook.

More Snow!

2011-01-16T13:31:00.002-05:00

Egad! We don't get measurable snow every five years, but, this year, twice so far! We had our first white Christmas in 41 years and last Monday, it snowed another 8 inches. Schools have been closed all week. We were able to get out and do a bit of work this week, but, many areas were not accessable.

Today is Rick's birthday. I offered to take him to breakfast, out to dinner, whatever he wanted to do. He chose to stay in and watch football and just hang out with me at home. Great guy! Of course, I did the same for my birthday last month, just stay at home and vegitate.

Our new client is working out well. We're getting slammed with work from them. We also picked up a new client a couple of days ago. They don't have the volume of business as the other new one, but, every client is important to me.

My paybox account is now over $600. I just signed up about 7 weeks ago or so. I'm not sure how this thing is going to pan out, but, I've got my fingers crossed.

We've spent more than we should have for the first 2 weeks of the year. Rick is, shall we say, not a miser when it comes to grocery shopping. So far this year, we have done the following:

$76.48 Spent
$97.63 Coupons, store deals, etc.
56% Savings

I'm going to try to keep a rein on him for the rest of the month and hope we do better in future.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

2011-01-01T16:40:00.002-05:00

There's nothing like starting a new year with a blank slate. No spending for groceries, nothing in the debit side. I just built my new spreadsheet for 2011 a few days ago. It's nice to see all blank lines.

It's kind of dreary here today, but, in the 60's. Not like a week ago with 6 inches of snow on the ground.

I mentioned paybox a few days ago. I signed up about a month ago and I sign in every few days and participate in surveys and such. My initial $25 gift has grown to more than $350! If you haven't signed up for paybox, you really need to. So what if it never gets off the ground? What have you lost, maybe 5 minutes a day of participation? If it goes as planned, you've made a lot of money for little time investment. I was so thankful for the woman who signed me up that I sent her some money out of my account. Rick signed up under me a few days ago and his account has already grown to more than $120. It sounds too good to be true, but, I think it's the real deal. Enough said. If you want in, I'm happy to have you.

Rick and I are starting the new year off with a bang with a new client for process service. We are to pick up 8 new papers on Monday out of county with more promised as we prove ourselves. I think I have explained this in the past. We serve court papers. It's really a great job. We work pretty much when we want to. We don't have to "clock in" to a job every day. We don't do the same thing every day and we don't see the same people every day. It's new and exciting all the time. I'm excited about the new clients and new prospects this year.

I think I am going to stick with $1,000 grocery challenge for 2011. I think we can easily make it with the stockpile in the house and my frugal shopping strategies. Rick is more of an impulse buyer, but, I think I can keep him on the straight and narrow most of the time. Stick with me for the ride!

Here Are My Totals For The Year

2010-12-28T17:05:00.002-05:00

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!!!

2010-12-25T14:14:00.002-05:00

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!

2010-11-30T15:35:00.002-05:00

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!

2010-11-29T17:44:00.002-05:00

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

2010-11-18T13:54:00.002-05:00

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

2010-11-15T15:41:00.002-05:00

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

2010-11-10T11:07:00.002-05:00

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

2010-10-31T09:48:00.002-04:00

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!

2010-10-17T10:29:00.002-04:00

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

2010-10-06T12:51:00.002-04:00

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"

2010-09-11T16:00:00.002-04:00

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

2010-08-21T09:12:00.003-04:00

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

2010-08-02T16:01:00.002-04:00

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

2010-06-12T14:52:00.002-04:00

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

2010-06-11T07:38:00.002-04:00

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

2010-05-27T15:28:00.002-04:00

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

2010-05-22T13:58:00.002-04:00

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

2010-05-06T14:18:00.001-04:00

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

2010-05-04T13:33:00.002-04:00

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

2010-04-14T18:00:00.003-04:00

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

2010-04-08T11:52:00.002-04:00

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!

2010-04-01T14:18:00.002-04:00

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

2010-03-23T09:15:00.002-04:00

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

2010-03-08T21:20:00.002-05:00

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!

2010-02-28T09:38:00.002-05:00

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!

2010-02-26T16:52:00.002-05:00

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

2010-02-20T11:31:00.002-05:00

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

2010-02-16T14:17:00.002-05:00

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?

2010-02-11T10:36:00.002-05:00

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?

2010-02-04T05:05:00.002-05:00

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

2010-02-02T13:12:00.002-05:00

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

2010-02-01T12:57:00.002-05:00

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

2010-01-29T18:20:00.003-05:00

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

2010-01-27T14:38:00.002-05:00

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

2010-01-26T13:41:00.003-05:00

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

2010-01-24T08:24:00.002-05:00

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

2010-01-23T12:50:00.002-05:00

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

2010-01-22T16:39:00.003-05:00

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

2010-01-22T13:59:00.002-05:00

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

2010-01-20T15:25:00.002-05:00

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

2010-01-15T20:07:00.001-05:00

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

2010-01-15T15:16:00.002-05:00

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

2010-01-13T14:16:00.002-05:00

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?

2010-01-09T12:40:00.003-05:00

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

2010-01-08T15:08:00.002-05:00

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

2010-01-07T15:21:00.002-05:00

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

2010-01-05T18:06:00.002-05:00

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!

2010-01-02T14:42:00.002-05:00

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

2010-01-01T08:58:00.002-05:00

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.

It's The End Of The Year--Here's How It All Turned Out

2009-12-31T10:13:00.002-05:00

As you can see, I spent $1,233.28 for the year. For all coupons, store discounts with my frequent shopper cards, store-specific GC that I was able to obtain free of charge, the total is $3,457.89. That represents 74% of my grocery shopping. I feel really good about how it turned out for 2009. I didn't make my challenge number, but, I came pretty darn close.

I've thrown out all the 12/31 expiring Qs so that I won't be tempted to go out to redeem "just a few more" today. It's a nasty day out and I won't be going out again except to deliver a cat to someone this afternoon. I'm going to wear blinders so that I can't see the stores as I pass by!

I'm wishing all of you a very happy new year. I hope you have big plans tonight, or, at least can stay awake long enough to greet the new year! I should talk; I'll probably be asleep by 9:00pm!

2009-12-30T16:42:00.003-05:00

I had (10) $1 WT for meat, cheese, produce, bakery, and seafood. I used 8 of them today for various produce, meat, and cheese products. I spent a total of $12, but, used about $12 in Qs for it all. I guess I will have to go back tomorrow and use the last 2 Qs tomorrow. It's just a crime to let such good Qs go to waste. Yes, I've gone over by $27 for the year and I expect I will spend another $3-$4 tomorrow. What the heck? I've already blown my budget. I may as well go for broke.

ICK! I opened the produce drawer in my refrigerator and found long forgotten roast beef and Swiss cheese tucked away. I may have to call in the Haz-Mat team to get rid of it! I hate that! I can't believe I forgot really good food in the fridge. Well, I know I'm not the first, but, I hate to admit it, anyway.

I've already thrown out all the 12/31 expiration coupons out of my binder. Too late to trade them, not going to buy stuff just because I have Qs. There was a giant bundle of them and I thought, "How much money am I throwing away?" I know the statistics of how many coupons are redeemed as opposed to the number available, but, still, it kills me to throw them away.

I have no plans for New Year's Eve. Well, check that; I have a bottle of bubbly in the fridge and I expect to consume it tomorrow night, but, well before midnight! Early to bed, early to rise, makes you an old maid!

Ronzoni Garden Delight Pasta

2009-12-29T12:40:00.002-05:00

O.K. I don't know whether to be proud or ashamed of what I did today. As I told you earlier, I bought 25 free Qs for Ronzoni Garden Delight pasta from someone at HCW. I've looked in every WM in town. I had found it last month in a city about 35 miles away. I had to be about half-way there on business today, so, I made the trip. I really had considered just letting the Qs expire because I knew I wouldn't find 25 of them on the shelf, even if I went there. As it turned out, I made the trip today and there were EXACTLY 25 boxes of rotini on the shelf. I bought 25 boxes = $41.00 and I paid $1.23 tax on all. I'd say I spent an extra gallon of gas from my last point of business to make the trip to Dalton. Not a bad return for $2.40 of gas.

I hope this doesn't turn out to be my "white elephant." I hope I like this stuff.

Great Grocery Christmas Presents!

2009-12-26T17:03:00.002-05:00

I received the following for Christmas:

$25 WalMart GC
$25 Bi-Lo GC
$25 Food Lion GC

My parents gave me some money, but, that goes in general revenue. I can spend that for anything (the "anything" is my trip to Hawaii in May).

The FL GC is going to be spent on 1/1/10 for cat food! Yes, that's 2 bags. The WM GC may be spent on 1/1/10 for cat litter. I have some Qs exp on 1/5/10 and I'm almost completely out. I now have an extra cat (took in a lost cat this week) to feed and fill the litter box.

Merry Christmas To Everyone!

2009-12-25T05:17:00.002-05:00

Let's all take a day off from couponing and spend the day with family and friends. For those of you brave enough to host the big dinner, I say, "good on ya!" I just hope you paid less than full price for all the food you will be serving. Knowing you got a good deal just makes it taste better, don't you think?

On the home front, I wanted to tell you that my step-mother fell on Tuesday and broke several bones in her face. She is not well to begin with and this is a big setback for her. In fact, when she went to the ER, her BP was 235/125. It's a wonder she hasn't had a stroke,or worse, with BP that high.

My dad had chemo on Wednesday of this week. He is always in bed for a couple of days afterwards, sick and unable to do anything. He perks up just in time for the next treatment. What a roller coaster ride that must be.

I'll be enjoying Christmas breakfast with a host of aunts, uncles, and cousins. Somehow, I always get out of dishwashing duty! That's a real holiday!

As You Can See, I've Gone Over

2009-12-19T12:59:00.002-05:00

I'm disappointed in myself for not being able to do this. I had to buy cat food today and I redeemed those free Freshpet Qs for my nephew. It put me over by about $5.00. I still have a $4 rebate due, but, that's not going to "balance the books" this year. I will most certainly have to buy a few more groceries this year.

It's been a wild ride this year, watching my spending and poking around through stockpile for things I'd forgotten I had.

I guess I should set up some rules for next year's challenge. These are the things I can think of. If you have any other suggestions, please chime in.

I will spend no more than $1,000 out of pocket.
I can use any FREE GC received to reduce spending.
I can use grocery rebates to reduce spending. If I get a rebate for buying a computer or something like that, those do not count towards my groceries.
I will certainly be using coupons for nearly everything I buy.
If I sell stockpile at a yard sale or flea market, that money reduces spending.

What else?

How Would You View This?

2009-12-18T15:05:00.002-05:00

Last summer, I took a lot of stockpile stuff to the flea market for several weeks and sold about $450 worth of stuff. Should I have applied that money against my grocery spending? I never really thought of it that way until now. I guess it's good that I didn't do that or else I would have been tempted to spend more money on groceries. Even though I didn't count that income against grocery spending, I'm still going to come in very near my $1,200 budget. I guess in that case it doesn't matter too much.

I doubt that I will sell anything at the flea market next year. My dad has a nice trailer that hitches to his car. He is very sick and I doubt if he will be able to do the flea market thing next year. To be honest, he won't be here next summer. I guess I could do a yard sale at my house a couple of times and see if I can unload some stockpile. The flea market just gets you so much foot traffic, all at one time and in one place.

Well, did I blow it by not using my stockpile sales towards groceries?

It's Coming Down To The Wire

2009-12-17T18:33:00.002-05:00

I have a big $2.25 left for the year. I have $6.74 expected in the next couple of weeks from rebates.

I was able to buy about $20 of dog food for my nephew for just tax. I plan to do it again next week and the last day or so of the year. The Qs expire 12/31. It's a worthy cause. He's out of work. He and his wife had been living with his parents for several months and just got into their own place this month. He's a good kid, but, not exactly focused on the future. I guess that could be said of most of us at some time or another.

I received (3) $6 checks for Purina Cat Chow today. Woo-hoo! Good stuff! And, I just blew a big chunk of my CVS GC yesterday for a small bag of cat food. Bad timing, huh? That's O.K. It'll all work out sooner or later.

I had a nice meal with my parents today. We had to celebrate my birthday a couple of days early since my dad has chemo tomorrow and that always wastes him for a few days. I'll be taking him, of course. He is usually glassy-eyed when they finish with him on chemo day. They gave me an electric blanket for my birthday. I'm luxuriating under it right now. The cats have found a whole new heat source and don't have to sleep on top of me to absorb the body heat. They all look so content.

This Offer Has Nothing To Do With Food, But, Still, A Good Premium

2009-12-16T06:38:00.002-05:00

Need some new luggage tags? Go here: http://baggagelabel.klm.com/

I've ordered a set for myself and they are really nice.

Do You Want Free Gift Cards?

2009-12-15T15:04:00.002-05:00

I am a member of a program in which I send all junk email and snail mail pertaining to insurance, bank accounts, mutual funds, etc. I have posted this in the past but just wanted to remind you about it. I can sign some people up as referrals on my account. Each piece of junk mail is worth X points. When you get 2,000 at the end of the month, you earn a $20 GC of your choice from gifts.com. If you are interested, or want more information, email me at vickiburtonlives@bigfoot.com. If you wish to join, I will need your name, address, and email address. It's really a great way to earn GC. I earn 2,000 points nearly every month. With all the junk mail out there for term life insurance or credit cards with "less than purr-fect" credit, you should be able to earn 2,000 every month. I do earn a few points when you sign up, but, I don't earn anything for your continued activity. I am just offering these referrals because I want to share the love. I have been a member over a year and I've raked in about $240 or so in free GC during that time. There are many choices of GC; retail stores, restaurants, CVS. It's free money, people, just for your junk mail.

I Hang My Head In Shame

2009-12-14T15:59:00.002-05:00

I cannot believe that I did this, but, yesterday I spent $7.50 to buy some free Qs from someone over at HCW. It's not something that I need right now. It is strictly a stockpile item. I can't believe I'm down to $4.04 left and I would do something like that. Go ahead! Throw stones! I deserve it!

On the other hand, I made someone else very happy with the trade. That should be some consolation to me. Maybe I'll be rewarded for my "good deed."

I'm on the last night of my 4-night run of hotel mystery shops. I can't wait to get home tomorrow and get back to normal at my house. My animals will probably snub me for a day or so for leaving them alone for so long. Of course, my dad has been there to feed them, but, they don't consider that as having someone around.

Don't You Hate It When You Have A Free Coupon For A Product You Can't Find?

2009-12-12T17:44:00.002-05:00

I had a fistful of the Ronzoni garden something-or-other and had looked all over town for the item. I'm out of town for a few days working and I found them in the Wal-Mart in one town. Yes! Free food! I have also redeemed some Qs for a frozen entree since my hotel rooms have fridges and microwaves. I've spent a whopping 36 cents in the past 3 days or so and feeling pretty darn cocky with $11.XX left to spend for the month!

I have a wad of the free Freshpet and only found out today where to find them. I hate to spend what little money I have left for the tax on these items, but, my nephew has a big dog, doesn't have a job, and I want to help him feed the dog for a couple of weeks. I guess I will spend the rest of what I have in my budget to get his dog food for him. I've never asked him to reimburse me for whatever I've spent on him and now doesn't seem like the time to start.

I think I miscalculated a few days ago. I am only expecting $6.74 in rebates soon. I'm hoping they come in before 12/31 so I can "balance the books" with my spending and rebates received.

I'm Going To Bore You With More Cat Food News

2009-12-09T18:15:00.002-05:00

I just sent off to Purina enough weight circles to get (3) $6 checks on my next purchases of large bags of cat food. I'm always looking for Purina weight circles, so, if you run across any, let me know and see what we can trade. Heck, if I can figure out how to trade egg cartons for eggs, I surely can figure out how to trade for Purina weight circles!

I have to admit that I didn't eat at home today. I had a Q and a GC for TGI Fridays. Enjoyed a really good meal and spent nothing out of pocket. I had gotten the GC to give as a gift to a friend for Christmas, but, we are "on the outs" and I decided to use the GC for myself. What if we make up before Christmas? Not likely. It's really hurtful as we have been best friends for 40 years, but, things change, people change, it's just gotten too hard to keep the relationship afloat. My therapist insists that she will call and make up before she needs another ride to the airport! That seems to be all she is interested in. Oops! I'm sorry. Too much information.

Just so you don't think I've changed my M.O., I have all the "fixin's" for tacos in the fridge. Once all the components are assembled, it's an easy meal.

I will be out of town Friday-Tuesday. I'll be online, though. I have 4 hotel mystery shops lined up. Dad is taking care of the animals while I am gone. I'm going to be able to see my paramour once or twice during that time. Yes, paramour. Old fashioned word, new age relationship. He is NOT a boyfriend. He doesn't qualify. We have, for 16 years, been sexual partners, nothing else. Well, I take that back. We both like baseball. That's actually the only thing we have in common. Oops! Once again, too much information! Oh, what the heck! I'm an old maid! I deserve a little recreation. Now, wouldn't ya'll just love to have a man who comes to your house, does his job, and leaves? You never have to cook him a meal, pick up his dirty socks or do his laundry. You never have to hear him snore or far*. I think I have a great deal!

Ah, well, good deals coming my way for cat food with the Purina checks I'm going to receive. If I'm lucky, my grocery store will have Purina as a BOGOF deal before long. THAT would be sweet.

A Rebate Received Yesterday

2009-12-08T12:08:00.002-05:00

The rebate was only $2.99, but, that's a big deal when you have less than $10 for the rest of the month. I now have about $12 to spend. I also still have $65 in CVS GC and still quite a bit of free Qs to redeem. I have a lot of Freshpet that I was going to redeem for my cousin. He's having a hard time and I wanted to help him feed his dog. I can't find this item in any store around here. I admit that I haven't been to Wal-Mart yet. I really hate spending money at WM. I think I will stop in, though, and see if they have this item. It's a refrigerated item, I think. I also have several Qs for a free box of a new Ronzoni pasta called "garden" something or other. I can't find them anywhere. I've even looked in Atlanta.

I'm in "cooking mode" today. So far, I've made a lemon pound cake (my dad loves mine, or so he says!), I've prepared a pound of taco beef, and boiled 4 eggs for making tuna salad. I've used 6 items out of stockpile in addition to 8 eggs and condiments from the fridge. I realize I've fallen down on my "3 a day" use of stockpile items, but, I'm trying to make up for it all today!

Heads up! My CVS manager just gave me the news that there will be MAJOR FARs on 2/14/09. He didn't go into detail, but, told me that I didn't want to miss it. I'll see if I can squeeze a little more information about it over the next few days.

I Have An Announcement To Make

2009-12-06T12:31:00.002-05:00

Even though I haven't made it all the way through the year yet and seeing as how I only have $9 left for the month, you may think I'm crazy, but, here it is.

2010--$1,000 oop!!

Yes, I am going to get through the entire year on $1,000 out of pocket, depending on my stockpile and any free GC I may be able to obtain. I will also use any rebates to reduce my oop. That will be rebates or refunds for grocery and related purchases. If I buy a computer and get a rebate, that wouldn't count for groceries.

Ya'll are going to have to hold my feet to the fire for the next year. I see prices going up on everything, or else, they reduce the ounces and charge the same price. I'm definitely going against the upward trend by reducing my budget, but, you know, that's what makes it a real challenge.

Oh, I didn't get my "free" eggs yesterday. It snowed here yesterday morning and I expected that no one would show up at the flea market in the snow, so, I didn't go. It is several miles away and I just didn't think it worth the possibility of wasting gas to go and find no one there. I still have 2 dozen, so, I plan to go see the egg man next Saturday.

Just for those of you who are used to snow in the winter, I can tell you that it has been many, many years since we had snow in the fall. We don't even get one snow every year, but, when we do, it's usually in February or March.

$9.21

2009-12-05T13:20:00.003-05:00

That's all I have left for the year. I fear I will go over by a bit; however, I have $19.73 in rebates due in December (I hope!). Maybe if all the rebates come in, I wll make it. It's really important to me to be able to pull this off.

I can look back on the year and see where I could have cut back. I didn't have to buy that big bag of Glade products, even though there were great Qs for them and the $5 Target GC deal. I could have just walked away from it. I've bought way too much toothpaste, even though most of the time it has been for pennies, not dollars.

I am still leaning towards a $1,000 challenge for 2010. Tell me why I shouldn't. I'm open to your ideas.

I Blew It Today And It's Only December 3

2009-12-03T17:43:00.002-05:00

I stopped in to buy some cat food today. Came out with over $32 worth of stuff. I guess I felt like that Stouffer's lasagna family sizes were too good a deal to refuse. I have a whopping $10 left for the year. I have about $10 in rebates due in December, but, boy, am I going to go sliding by the seat of my pants into 2010. For sure, I will be ignoring the Walgreens and CVS deals for the rest of the month.

I got all my Christmas baskets done and most have been delivered. I'm going to get the rest of them delivered tomorrow afternoon. I think my clients appreciate the thought, although they all say, "Oh, no, I can't eat that stuff!" Yeah, so what's a little chocolate in your stocking at Christmas? A moment on the lips, forever on the hips!

I can't believe that I am considering a $1,000 budget for 2010 when I can't even stay within $1,200 this year and I know prices are going up, up, up. Somebody, please, knock some sense into me!

What A Meal!

2009-12-02T14:29:00.002-05:00

I took my dad to dinner last night. I was performing a mystery shop. Can't say where we went but he had a beautiful ribeye steak and I had an amazing fillet of salmon. His appetite is good. I'm thankful for that.

I took him to his radiation treatment today. The news is not good, but, we have high hopes. Quite frankly, the radiology oncologist was surprised that my dad was still alive. He had a lot of questions for him about his pain and how he was doing. Dad has committed to 10 radiation treatments for the next 2 weeks. After that, probably more chemo. I'm not sure, but, I think my dad is thinking of dropping out of treatment. The doctor told him today that without the radiation and chemo, he had 90 days or less. He didn't give an estimate of time if he continues with the treatments. I suspect it's not much more than that, although, I guess when you think you're making headway, it doesn't seem so bleak.

For those of you who are believers, I want you to know that my dad is ready to go. He has no fear of what may lie ahead of him after this life. I cannot be sad because I know that he will be walking streets of gold soon. To meet the Lord, to see your loved ones, it all must be so wonderful that our human minds cannot even process the glory. I have miscarried 3 times through the years. My dad will see his grandchildren before I see them!

Please forgive me for getting so off-topic. This blog is all about saving money and living on less. Sometimes, though, there are other things higher on my priority list. I hope you understand.

$47.52

2009-12-01T17:08:00.003-05:00

Well, I have $47.52 left for the month of December to stay within my $1,200 budget for the year. I made it through November on $31, so, this should be a cake-walk. I'll have to buy a couple of bags of cat food, but, I think I can keep MY spending to a minimum. Except for a loaf of bread, I can't think of a thing I need right now. Next Saturday, I'm going to the flea market and trade in my egg cartons for 3 dozen eggs. I haven't finished the last 3 dozen I received, but, I'm thinking of baking a couple of cakes this week, so, that should take care of a lot of them.

I'm currently holding onto about $85 in CVS GC. I receive them for pharmacy refills. Oh, yeah, my store finally got a scanner! I haven't gotten anything really good from it yet, but, I'm hopeful. I'm down to $1 in ECB. I know most of you are very good at rolling those ECBs and getting more and more. I'm not really into that too much. I get what I can and use what I want. I really don't see the sense in buying items that I will never use, even if they are FAR. It just chews down my GC and sometimes I can't find something to buy to roll my ECBs before they expire. That kind of forces me to buy stuff I don't need and I don't really like that.

I was taking stock today of all my free coupons for groceries. I have close to $100 worth of them. That's a good feeling. When you get down to nothing, there's free Qs for food!

Well, it's a new month and I see good things ahead. I'm heading out to dinner in a few minutes with my dad. It's important to spend time with him other than in doctors' offices. I will keep you updated on his progress.

I Did A Great Job In November

2009-11-30T15:00:00.002-05:00

I joined a group of people over on HCW in a challenge for the month of November. I said I could do it within $50. I actually only spent $31.47 on groceries for the month! Woo-hoo! I think I still have about $48 for December to come in at budget for the year.

I finished making my Christmas baskets for my lawyers, paralegals, and secretaries. I usually pick up baskets at thrift stores and yard sales all through the year and paint them myself in red, green, and gold. I cheated a little this year. Last year, after Christmas, I found some holiday buckets @ 75% off. I think they are usually $1.29 or so. Anyway, I was able to get 25 of them and only needed 22 this year, so, the fact that I hadn't haunted the thrift stores and yard sales didn't come back to bite me. Anyway, there's a pack of gourmet coffee, 2 envies of chocolate w/ flavors, and lots of Christmas wrapped individual chocolate candies. Each has a candy cane or two and a big poinsettia is clipped to the side of the bucket. Some glittery garland is strung across the top and little colored stars and candy cane cut-outs are sprinkled throughout. I figured everything I use to make these, purchased at retail value, comes to about $8 each. Of course, you know I didn't spend anywhere near that much, right? I think I may have spent about $60-$70 for everything.

My dad and I are going out to dinner together tomorrow. I'm performing a secret shop and it's a great excuse to have some private time with him. I think he is quite discouraged by the news he received last week. I can't say that I blame him! It hit me pretty hard, too.

I cancelled my Florida trip for my birthday. I need to be close to home. Dad needs me to drive him to chemo and radiation. I don't think I would enjoy FL too much knowing what's going on at home.

O.K., I Admit It's Not Grocery Related, But, I'm Still Just As Excited

2009-11-28T15:28:00.002-05:00

Today, I received a $30 GC from Office Depot for past purchases and trading in old ink cartridges. I also received a $10 GC to Chili's, etc. The Chili's GC was from points earned doing surveys. No, I don't remember which one!

I don't know if I've shared this before, but, I am a mystery shopper. I pretty much only do hotel shops. I limit it to those kinds of shops due to the points I can earn in the different company's frequent stay programs. I have enough points in one program to stay a week in Hawaii next May. I really can't give more details than that due to the confidentiality agreements. If you have heard of mystery shopping and think you would be interested, my best advice is to go to www.volition.com to check out all the mystery shopping companies in North America. There's nearly 300 of them the last time I checked. You have to sign up with each one individually and that takes a lot of time, but, you will be rewarded with free dinners, free hotel nights, and some, not much, cash. If you see an ad that says you can go shopping at your favorite stores and keep all that you buy and be reimbursed by the mystery shop company, don't believe it. It's pie in the sky. Almost every retail store shop I've ever done requires that you return the purchase in a separate transaction. Fees are usually in the $10 range. I don't really do retail that much. I prefer to stick to my hotel shops. I do them a lot and practice makes perfect. I'm pretty good at it. Just a thought to those who have some time on your hands.

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

2009-11-26T11:00:00.002-05:00

I wish all of you a very happy Thanksgiving Day. I hope that you are able to spend time with family and friends today. I will spend a few hours with my parents and some of my step-mother's relatives.

I don't have any "grocery" news for you today, but, I did receive a GC for a free order of Bang-Bang Shrimp at Bonefish Grill in the mail yesterday. Bonefish is very expensive and I have only eaten there a couple of times, but, I think I could drop in to visit the bar and use my GC. It says, "with purchase," but, does not specify any further.

I've noticed quite a bit of this lately; you eat at a casual dining restaurant and get a receipt with a code. You answer their brief survey and give you a validation code to get something off your next order or to get something absolutely free. I have a $4 off an entree Q for O'Charley's that expires Sunday. I understand that they have a pretty good Sunday brunch, so, I may give it a try. It helps that I have a free $10 GC to eat there! In fact, I used a free GC to eat there and then received this Q! That's like hitting a home run, isn't it? I also have a Q for a free appetizer at TGI Fridays. Same deal; I used a free GC to eat there and then got a Q for more free food. Actually, I have two free appetizer at TGIF; I received a Q good for today only for a free one. They open at 4:00pm today. I guess I'll have to go after I recover from our turkey dinner!

Take a moment today to tell someone how they have enriched your life and that you are thankful that they are in your life. You never know; it may be your last chance. There's real power in thankfulness.

News About My Dad

2009-11-23T15:29:00.002-05:00

Dad learned today that his cancer has spread to his liver, hip, and ribcage. There are multiple lesions in these different places. Because of his wife, he is pursuing further treatment. The doctor gave him the choice of continuing treatment or letting nature take its course.

I Finally Broke Down & Bought Some Groceries Today

2009-11-20T15:05:00.002-05:00

My store was having an incredible sale on apple pie filling, Comstock, I think. I had a Q and it was BOGOF. Who can pass that up? Anyway, I bought a few needed items and some not-so-needed items. You know how it is. Great buy, Qs, you just can't resist.

I received a puny little $1.74 in rebates today. I counted that against the total I bought. I'm expecting about $36 in rebates before the end of the year. That's going to buy a lot of cat food!

I have happened upon a sure-fire way of staying at home in the evening and not going out to a restaurant. I have 1 lb. portions of browned ground beef in the freezer, many envelopes of taco seasoning, sour cream, and tortilla chips. I have an abundance of salsa as well. I keep some ground beef in the fridge and with a jar of cheese or a bag of shredded cheese, I'm well on my way to tacos or nachos. I love that stuff. My cats love to lick the plate after I finish. A little meat, some cheese, they are just in heaven. It's a wonder they ever go back to cat food after I give them stuff like this.

Off-topic and sad; I had to serve papers on a woman today with a restraining order that she cannot have unsupervised visits with her children. The youngest is 3 years old. I don't know the whole back-story, but, a judge was convinced to take her children away and to demand supervised visits. She seemed like such a nice girl, but, there's no way for me to know much about her. My job is kind of crummy sometimes. It's a living; what can I say?

I'm Feeling Pretty Cocky

2009-11-19T16:05:00.002-05:00

I'm seriously considering a $1,000 grocery budget for 2010. I know I have a lot of cats to care for, but, I've been digging around the house, taking inventory of all my stuff, and I think I can do it. Just think how long 50 bottles of body wash will last, not to mention the 20+ bottles of shampoo and conditioner. I have so much toothpaste that I haven't even tried to count it. I think I have 40-50 toothbrushes. I have a huge inventory of facial cleanser and moisturizer. I can't think of anything else I could possibly need.

The food? I can eat tuna fish sandwiches until I die! I get free eggs from the flea market, so, making tuna salad is not a problem. The freezer is full. I could give up cokes and start drinking more tea. I have more boxes of tea than I can count. The pantry is still full, even though I've been living off of it for a year and a half. As you can see, I'm trying to talk myself into committing to a $1,000 budget for the year. Maybe I'm way off base, but, I can see a year's worth on the shelf.

How much penance will I have to do if I fail?

A Great Shopping Day

2009-11-17T15:57:00.002-05:00

I was able to use over $31 in Qs today without spending a dime. I received a rebate last week, so, what little I bought today, I used the rebate money to pay.

I received $125 in GC today for no money. I received $50 CVS, $25 TGI Fridays, $25 Olive Garden, and $25 Chili's. Twenty-five dollars in CVS GC was due to a prescription being filled. The rest I received from a program where I send my junk email and snail mail about insurance offers, financial offers, credit card offers, all that sort of thing. I've mentioned this before, I think. I've been a member about a year and have received about $350 in GC for my participation.

The more I think about it, the more I'm inclined to continue the challenge for 2010 on $1,000 total out of pocket. I've spent the day going through my non-food stockpile, counting, boxing it up, rearranging, cleaning. Even after selling at the flea market for over 2 months last summer, I still have more than 50 bottles of body wash! I didn't even count the tubes of toothpaste. There was just too much. Something I found while digging around; a large supply of good quality facial cleansers. If I can just ignore the drug store flyers in 2010, I'm going to be in good shape.

My best estimate for cat food and cat litter for a year is $500. There's not much I can do if I go over; I'm not turning away a pretty face. When females are in heat or gestating, they take up under my house. A couple of times a year, I get a glimpse of kittens coming out from under the house. I'm such a sucker for felines. I'd really like to have a Labrador, but, I don't think that would be a good mix for all the cats. If I'm going to have a dog, I'm going to have a "real" dog; something big that can bark like he's going to kill someone.

How About Some Feedback On A 2010 Challenge?

2009-11-13T15:40:00.003-05:00

I'm thinking of continuing my challenge into next year. I was thinking of making it the same as 2009, but, I think I want to make it more interesting. Now, consider, I've been living off of a lot of stockpile for the past year and a half. I'm also giving away some of it for Christmas gifts. I sold a lot at the flea market during the summer, too.

I'm really seriously considering a $1,000 oop budget for 2010. I think I could do it. Well, I WISH I could do it. What happens if I fall on my face?

I was just looking over my pantry and I find an awful lot of tuna, rice, and boxed and pouch potatoes. There's enough jelly and jam for an army unit. As long as the bakery lady gives me her egg cartons, I'm getting free eggs at the flea market. As far as non-food items, I'm good. Plenty of shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc. Plenty of paper plates (I hate to wash dishes), plenty of dish detergent (when I HAVE to wash dishes), and cleaning supplies. I think I actually have enough aluminum foil for a year or more.

Let me know what you think. If you have any good recipes for stockpile stuff, please send them to me. I've got so many cans of French's French fried onions that I'm actually sick of looking at them! I know about rolling chicken in the crumbs to bake, but, what else can I do with them? I'm still sitting on a few jars of roasted peppers and marinated roasted peppers. Don't have a clue what to do with them. Come on, people! Help me out!

Let me know what you think about my 2010 plans. I need some input.

Finally, Home At Last

2009-11-12T15:16:00.002-05:00

My road trip is finally over. I'm back home with my kitties now. I'm too tired to go the the grocery today. I'll have to go first thing tomorrow as I have no milk or bread. Basic stuff, right?

Every hotel where I've stayed since Saturday had a free breakfast. One place had free room service for dinner. The other meals I've eaten on the road I have used GC for which I received for no out-of-pocket. I'm really reaching here, but, also think about all the electricity I've saved by not being at home!

I received a free, full-sized box of Betty Crocker potatoes in the mail yesterday. Not only did I get free potatoes, the box had 3 BTFE on it. And a coupon. Is that like hitting a triple? Free potatoes, some BTFE, and a Q.

I received a $6.99 rebate while I was gone. That's going to help my grocery totals. I guess I'll use it tomorrow for some basics.

Still On The Road, Still Not Spending Any Grocery Money

2009-11-11T10:24:00.002-05:00

I have spent $20.79 on groceries so far this month. It is the 11th, so, I'm looking good for now. I've been on the road working for the past few days and will get home tomorrow. I stayed in a very expensive hotel last night (on someone else's dime, I have to say!) and was able to order room service for dinner. I also had a complimentary breakfast that would have cost about $18. So, I guess I'm bragging a little when I say that not only am I not spending any grocery money, I'm also not spending any restaurant money, either. I also earned $100 in GC from my involvement with a company that collects junk mail from its members. That's the one for which I have offered referrals to you. If you haven't signed up, you can still do so. Just send me your name, address, and email address and I will get you signed up. You can email me at vickiburtonlives@bigfoot.com.

Please take a moment today to honor our veterans. If you see a soldier in uniform, buy him/her a cup of coffee or a soft drink. Spend a moment to thank them for their service. We are free because of their service to us.

Free Eggs, Free Food, Fun Stuff

2009-11-09T08:11:00.002-05:00

Well, I found the "egg man" at the flea market Saturday and traded my egg cartons for 3 dozen eggs. I asked him if it was O.K. to do this every 3 or 4 weeks and he agreed. Oh, yeah, he sells roosters, goats, and rabbits there on the weekend. I think I know what happens to the rabbits. I'm not sure what fate awaits the goat. If it was a nanny, I'd suspect someone wanted it for its milk. The billy, though, I'm not sure about.

The wedding on Saturday was beautiful. We were treated to a 5-course, sit-down reception. The food was fabulous and all the wine served was from Chile. The bartender was busy making mojitos and another drink that I can't spell that is considered the "national drink" of Chile. The hotel where we stayed that night had a complimentary breakfast. It was rather complete, not just a continental.

The hotel I'm in now had a manager's reception yesterday evening with free drinks for 2 hours and a full, cooked-to-order breakfast this morning. I was able to get a rock-bottom rate at this hotel, probably 1/2 the regular rate. I just happened upon a good deal here. At any rate, free drinks, free breakfast, it works for me.

I'm Going To Cash In On Those Free Eggs Tomorrow

2009-11-06T14:21:00.002-05:00

The flea market out of town near here goes on only Saturday and Sunday. I'm going to go see the "egg man" and trade in my cartons for free eggs. Later in the day, I'll be traveling to Atlanta to my cousin's wedding. I'll be on the road for 5 nights. I perform mystery shops for several companies at hotels and restaurants. That's what's keeping me busy for the next week. I will still be living "close to the bone" throughout my travels. I don't expect to spend much money while I am gone.

I've spent $20.11 so far this month. I have joined a group on HCW to spend no more than $50 in November. I think I can do it. I'm going to have to! The end of the year is a little ways off for now and I'm closing in on my budgeted amount.

Cheer me on. I need your support. I want to be accountable to you and show you that I can really do this.

November Is A New Month

2009-11-05T18:04:00.002-05:00

I have only spent $17.64 so far in November. I realize it's only the 5th, but, I think this is pretty good. I have used $77.55 in Qs so far this month. I'm burning it up! I think I have found a way to post my progress on the blog. Not sure if I've gotten it right. We'll see. Amy was kind enough to encourage me to find a way to show my running totals. Oh, my local grocery store, Bi-Lo, has a survey invitation at the bottom fo each receipt. You can win $250 GC each month. Haven't won, but, they are offering a Q for free potato chips at the end of each survey. Sweet! That's something I don't usually buy, just because of the price. It's nice to have a bag or two around for snacking. Really, 6 oz. or so of potato chips for $3-$4. That's expensive.

A Good Deed Today

2009-11-02T19:39:00.002-05:00

There's a spay and neuter clinic in my city that helps low income people have their animals altered. I think it's around $40 for a cat and $8 for a rabies shot. Dogs cost a little more. I have been deluged with the Qs for free Friskies cat treats lately. I took a sackful of 10 packages to the clinic today. Eileen, the director, said, "Why? Where did you get them?" It seemed to me like she's not used to having people donate things to the clinic. I just said, "Oh, I had some coupons." She thanked me warmly. I've had several animals altered there. It's the only way I can afford to have so many kitties.

I'm away from home on business tonight. I stopped off at a grocery, redeemed one of my free Michael Angelo's entree Qs, and took off. Luckily, I have a fridge and micro in the room. I guess I was assuming a lot there, you think? Maybe they wouldn't have that in the rooms. I knew, though, that they offered a continental breakfast and there's always a micro in the lobby with the breakfast area, so, I figured I could fix my dinner somehow. I paid .28 tax for the entree. I'm telling you, tax on food is a killer. Here, it's 7.75% on edibles and 9.25% on non-food items. I guess it's a trade-off. My state does not have an income tax and the property taxes are very reasonable. I was in Boston earlier this year and was told that their property tax rate was so high that they received their tax bills every QUARTER!! EEK! Can you imagine?

I have a bet going with a coupon friend for the World Series. I'm rooting for the Phillies and she's a die-hard Yankees fan. The bet? A 2 ounce envie of Qs to the winner. Ahem. If you've read the sports page lately, you'll understand that I'm working on pulling Qs out of my binder tonight! I have a funny feeling I'm going to lose this bet. Thank goodness it's not for real money. Oh, wait! Coupons ARE real money! What have I done?

I realize that it is only the 2nd day of the month, but, I'm feeling very confident that I can make it through November on $50. Truly, I'm going to have to do it to ever dream of making goal this year.

You know, I've been looking over my stockpile lately and I'm thinking that I may continue my challenge for 2010. I'm even thinking of cutting it from $1,200 to an even $1,000 for the year. That would be for one adult and 6-10 cats per day. Someone told me that if I knew how many cats I actually had, that I didn't have enough. There's no telling how few or how many show up for breakfast every day.

I'm still ticked off about losing that $5 rebate at CVS yesterday. It's a hard feeling to shake. Hopefully, in a few days, I won't be so hard on myself and can get over it. Gee! Five dollars! How could I have been so careless? Take a lesson from me, ladies and gentlemen. Make a list. Make notes. Follow notes. Don't make the same mistake I made. If only one of you learns the lesson, it will be worth telling you that I really messed up.

One rather big purchase on the horizon, but, it's gifts, not groceries. I make baskets for my clients and paralegals at Christmas. I always put in the Millstone coffee packets and hot chocolate envelopes. I'm going to have to spend about $40 on that to get my baskets done this year. Food items, yes, grocery spending, no. They are gifts. Do you agree?

Totally off topic, but, I am going to Orlando for my birthday in December. This year, Disney was giving a free ticket to any park on your birthday if you signed up. My birthday is within a week of Christmas and I've decided to go to Epcot Center. I don't have children, so, I've never had any real reason to go to Disneyworld or any of the other parks. I realize that the "free" ticket is going to cost me $500-$600 for travel, hotel, eating, but, you know, I'm getting old and there's things I should have done years ago that I'm just now getting around to. I'll be staying in a hotel with a full kitchen, so, I'm sure I'll be using free Qs for my dinners while I'm there. I can have a lot of fun on a small amount of money. Never had much money, always wanted to have fun, so, I learned how to do it on a shoestring without feeling deprived.

First Day Of The Month EEK! Spending Already

2009-11-01T15:19:00.003-05:00

I had to pick up a few things from the grocery today. I spent $17, but, used more than $70 in Qs. Quite a %, don't you think?

I found some chicken drumsticks marked down, then, with a store Q, AND a man. Q. Awesome! I got 3 pounds of drumsticks for $1.77 plus tax. Sixty cents a pound sounds awfully good to me.

A funny thing happened to me at Target this morning. I knew I shouldn't have done it, but, I was itching to do the Glade Christmas scents deal again for another $5 Target GC. I ended up buying 10 items for the promo, using lots of really great Qs. At the register, the computer prompted the cashier to only give me (1) GC. I didn't want to argue with her, so, I went to customer service. After a lot of back and forth, even the supervisor said the deal must have ended. How can that be? The cashier gave me (1) $5 GC. She had no clue, so, I said, well, I'll just return 5 of the items. She was happy to oblige. Since I had used so many Qs and really worked at making it a great deal, the credit she put on my CC was actually more than what I had originally paid. I still haven't figured out how it happened. All in all, I came away with 5 Glade candle items, 1 bottle of shaving cream, I recieved $2.35 after all the charges and credits were done, I received a $5 Target GC, and I was able to send off for a $5 cash rebate to my cousin. She saves Coke codes for me. I try to do something for her as often as I can. Now, that is a seriously good deal!

CVS had an ECB deal on the Glade this week. I did one of those and besides using some good Qs, received $3 in ECB for the deal. I also bought the Softsoap hand soap in the designer bottles. Here's where I messed up. There is a $5 rebate on the Glade items and a $4 rebate on the Softsoap. I should have done 2 transactions so that I would have 2 cash tapes, but, messed up and put it all one one. It's not that bad. I've maxed out the $5 Glade rebates, so, I only "lost" a rebate I could have sent to my cousin. She won't know the difference, but, boy, does it nag me to have made that mistake.

I need to take a pledge right now to stay away from further Glade deals. I have a bag full of Glade candles. I don't usually buy stuff like that, but, when it's free or nearly so, with GC and rebates to go along with it, I guess I'm just weak.

I've got about $33 left to spend this month. Let's see if I can do it.

Oh, yeah, another great deal I came across. I know a woman who owns a bakery in town. She's been saving empty egg cartons for me and you can imagine how many she goes through with a bakery. I went to a local flea market today and found a man who sells eggs. I made an agreement with him to exchange 16 empty egg cartons for a dozen of fresh eggs. He didn't have any eggs left when I was there, but, next Saturday, I'm going to get 3 dozen eggs free for just 48 egg cartons. By the time I us all those eggs, I'll certainly have enough egg cartons to do it again. Please, ladies and gentlemen, give me a big hand for putting that deal together!