Garden Update

squash, zucchini, and cumber

Our summer vegetable garden is around six weeks old and it is growing wonderfully!

squash blooms are beautiful, but you can only see them in the early morning before the sun's rays hit them

I have plucked this basil back a least four times

a lovely lavendar bloom from our bush beans

our okra are growing very tall and they now have several pods on them

very, very tall tomatoes

I can't wait to eat it!

yummy pole beans

I hope to have some picture of actual veggies on my next update.

My First CVS Trip!

For the last two months I have been interested in trying to play the "drugstore grocery game," especially after we found out we were pregnant and would be needing lots of diapers. Well today I played the first hand in my new pastime. And I went straight to the "jack-pot."

Transaction #1
1 Pampers Cruisers @ 7.99
1 Pampers wipes @ 2.99
1 Listerine Smart Rinse @ 3.49
1 Listerine Smart Rinse @ 3.49
-------------------------------
-3$/15 CVS coupon
-2$/2 Pampers
-1$/1 Listerine
-1$/1 Listerine
Total: $12.46/ECB (Extra Care Bucks) earned: $6.98 (Listerine 3.49x2)

Transaction #2
2 Pampers Cruisers @ 7.99
-------------------------------
-3$/15 CVS coupon
-2$/2 Pampers
-$6.98 ECB (from above transaction)
Total: $4.60/ECB earned: $5.00 (buy $20 Pampers)

Transaction #3
2 Pampers Cruisers @ 7.99
-------------------------------
-3$/15 CVS coupon
-2$/2 Pampers
-$5.00 ECB (from above transaction)
Total: $6.78

Total spent OOP (out of pocket): $ 23.84

I would have to say that I did pretty good for my first trip, especially since all of the diapers (175) alone would have cost over $50 dollars at Target or Wal-mart!

If you are considering the "drugstore grocery game," here are some helpful links:

- CVS 101
- CVS coupons
- CVS deals this week

Celebrating My Second Month of Coupons

All of these items were bought with coupons.

Each item cost $.00 cents (plus tax)!

Here is the breakdown: (+ means what I was credited; if I don't have a link to the coupon it means the coupon came from the Sunday paper or online and is now expired)

4 boxes of Live Active Cereal (48 oz) @ +.02 cents per box
25 bars Johnson and Johnson Buddies soap @+.06 cents per soap
6 packages of Huggies Baby Wipes (96) @ +.01 cent per package
5 boxes of Zantac (40 pills) @ +1.02 dollars per box
2 boxes of Scotch Brite toilet scrubbers @ .00 cents
12 boxes of Kotex pads (216) @ .00 cents per box
6 Clean and Clear Facial Scrubs @ +1.01 dollars per tube
2 Clinic Happy Perfumes @ .00 cents per bottles
1 Kashi Go Lean Crunch Cereal (12 oz) @ .00 cents per box
2 boxes of Hello Kitty Band-Aids (20) @ +.01 cent per box
4 All Small & Mighty detergent (8 loads) @ +.01 cent per bottle
1 Herbal Essence Shampoo (trial size) @ +.01 cent per bottle
1 Herbal Essence Conditioner (trial size) @ +.01 cent per bottle
1 Frizz-ease Mousse (trial size) @ +.01 cent per bottle
1 Adidas Deodorant (2.8 oz) @ .00 cents per bottle
1 Joint Juice (16.9 oz) @ +.82 cents per bottle
25 boxes of Royal Jello @ .00 cents per box
3 tubes of KY @ +.40 cents per tube
30 Archer Farms Ground Coffee (52.5 oz) @ +.01 per bag
Total:$ +++15.57
Estimated cost for these items: $ 168.64

Because I actually made 15.57 dollars, I decided to include a picture of everything I was able to buy with the overage money.

All of these items were bought with coupons.

Each item cost .99 cents or less (plus tax)!

Here is the breakdown: ( - means what I spent; if I don't have a link to the coupon it means the coupon came from the Sunday paper or online and is now expired)

3 Ocelo sponges (26) @ -.14 cents per package
6 Flamless candles @ -.99 cents per candle
5 bags of Lays Cracker Crisps @ -.50 cents per bag
4 Degree Deodorant @ -.50 cents per bottle
4 Bushes Grillin Beans @ -.25 cents per can
2 Childrens tooth brushes @ -.38 cents a brush
2 Smucker's Magic Shell @ -.25 cents a bottle
1 box of Couscoss @ -.25 cents a box
Total: $---13.37
Estimated cost for these items: $ 88.57

So you do the math 15.57-13.37=
Total $+++2.2o
Estimated cost for all items in both pictures: $ 257.21

YES, coupons really work ! (Check out my first month of savings here)

If you are now considering using coupons, check out some of these wonderful "Money Savings Blogs" for links to great coupons and tons of free samples!

Money Savings Blogs

• The Thrifty Soaper
• A Garden of Blessings
• More Than Enough
• Budget Helpers
• The Grocery Cart Challenge
  

This Week's Shopping!!!

This is my shopping for the week of May 11-17 th! My goal is to only spend $50 dollars a week. I spent a grand total of $58.23 on all of these items, slightly over budget, but I am simply thrilled at what I was able to buy and stock up on.

Each of these items cost between $2 and 3 per item!

Each of these items cost between .50-.99 cents!!

Each of these items was absolutely totally FREE!!!

Total spent: $ 58.23
Total saved with the help of coupons: $103.15

(Maybe this does not look like a lot of complete meals but because I have been stocking up on food and toiletry items for about four months, I really didn't need any other food items)

I love coupons!

Supper Sample Sunday!

These are the free samples that I received in the mail this week!

Go to The Thrifty Soaper to see other people who have received samples this week.

Celebrating One Month of Coupons

All of these items were bought with coupons.
Each item cost .14 cents or was free!

This post is dedicated to my first month of using coupons. For several months, I have pondered over the long debate: Do coupons really work? and Should I even waste my time?

Well the great debate is finally over! COUPONS REALLY WORK!


As I mentioned above, each of these items was .14 cents or free. Here is the breakdown: (+ means what I was credited; - means what I spent)

14 boxes of Honey Bunches of Oats cereal (203 oz) @ +.02 cents per box
9 bars Johnson and Johnson Buddies soap @ .00 cents per soap
10 packages of Clean Team wipes (620) @ -.14 cents per package
15 packages of Ocelo sponges (26) @ -.14 cents per package
6 bottles of Bath and Body Works soap (52.5 oz) @ .00 cents per bottle
2 boxes of Zantac (16 pills) @ +1.02 dollars per box
3 boxes of Scotch Brite toliet scrubbers @ .00 cents
(3 handles and 12 scrubbers) per box

Total: $ 1.18
Estimated cost for all items: $ 151.05

So YES, coupons really work and I should definitely "waste" my time!

If you are now considering if you should "waste" you time, check out some of these wonderful "Money Savings Blogs" for links to great coupons and tons of free samples!

Money Savings Blogs

• The Thrifty Soaper
• A Garden of Blessings
• More Than Enough
• Budget Helpers
• The Grocery Cart Challenge
  

My Summer Vegetable Garden

Here is a quick peek at our garden! I hope you enjoy!

We already have several bell peppers growing!

We have one tomato growing!

If you have posted pictures of your summer garden, leave me a
comment so I can see you veggies!

Supper Sample Sunday!

These are the free samples that I received in the mail this week!

Go to The Thrifty Soaper to see other people who have received samples this week.

(In the back: Day Lillies; In the front: Petunias)

Thanks again to all who voted for the type of plants for my flowerbed! The results were tallied a few weeks ago. Now here are the live results!

****

Check out my sidebar to view my recently planted Vegetable Garden.
Has anyone else planted a garden this spring? If so, what did you plant?

Who Says You Can't Buy Anything for less than a DOLLAR

Recently I came across some really great coupons thanks to A Garden of Blessings and More Than Enough.

I purchased all 12 of these items for .82 Cents!!! I know that you may not believe me but it is completely true and I will tell you how I did it. I promise there was no magic or stealing involved.

And for anyone who might be asking what we are going to do with six boxes of cereal when we already have 10+ in the pantry, a wonderful creative woman created a yummy chocolaty recipe using this chocolate cereal.

First, I had a $2.00 off coupon for one box of this new Chocolate Honey Bunches of Oats. I discovered that Wal-mart was carrying this new brand. The first Wal-mart I went to was selling the box for $2.08. I bought the cereal with the $2 coupon and paid .08 cents! The second and third times I went, the boxes were on sale for $1.98. I bought five boxes receiving a total of .10 cents in return. Therefore, all six of these boxes combined cost a total of .00 cents! And I actually received .02 cents in return! Can you believe someone paid me to take six boxes of cereal out of their store!

Second, I had a $3.00 off coupon on any two Huggies Clean Team products. I purchased the refill wipes for $1.64 each. Two packages of wipes @ 1.64 = 3.28. After my $3 off coupon, I paid .28 cents. That's .14 cents per package!

Total: .14 x 6 = .84 - .02 = .82 cents
I love Coupons!

Another Trip to the B&B

Ok, I know what your thinking, 'She's addicted.' Well maybe I am. But who wouldn't be when the deals are this good!

*Pampers diapers (88) for 12.99 (Two Baby Shower gifts)
*Baby wash and lotion 1.99 (Two Baby shower gifts)
*Candy for going to the movies .25
*Pecans .50 x 2
*Makeup 2.00 dollars
*Mouse 1.00 (not the mouse I normally use, but I will try it for 1 dollar)
*Body Wash 1.99
*Lasagna .50
*Wheat Blend Spaghetti .50 x 10 (I stocked up and bought 10 boxes. It is good until 2010!)
*Contact cleaner case 1.00 (This was the best deal I found. This cost 5.00 at Target)

Estimated Cost:86.00
B&B Total: 34.20

Deals, Deals, Deals

If you have read some of my older posts, you know how much I love a good deal. These are some of my most recent "good deals."

Saltine Crackers for .49 cents a box!

Grape Jelly for .53 cents a Jar!

Thank you Target coupons and clearance!

Stocking Up at the B &B

My sister-in-law and her mother introduced me to a local 'bent and dent' back in January and I instantly fell in lust for this wonderful store. I made another visit to the B&B last week. I wish I had thought to take a picture of the store (warehouse). It is nothing glamorous. Actually, I learned to bring wet wipes for my hands due to the overwhelming amount of dust and dirt on the boxes. However, the appearance of the building and the cleanliness is instantly overlooked when I see those orange price stickers.


The stickers read wonderful news such as: Covergirl powder $2.00, Zicam cold remedy $2.00, Covergirl eyeliner $1.00, Planters nuts 2 for $1.00, Baked Beans 28 oz. $.79, Starbucks coffee $3.99, colorful party napkins 3 packs of 20 for $1.00, Nature Valley granola bars $1.49, Covergirl lipstick $1.00, Crest toothpaste $1.00, Bertolli extra virgin olive oil 25.5 oz. $4.99, and Ouchless hairbrush $.50. Most of the items are marked down 50 to 75% off grocery store prices.


My sweet husband suggested we stock up on items we know we will use. So that is just what I did. I bought 10 boxes of cereal, 11 cans of whole tomatoes, 5 Covergirl powders (when you find a deal that good you must buy it all), 5 boxes of granola bars, 3 boxes of oatmeal, 4 pounds of macaroni noodles, 2 100 fl. oz. of laundry detergent, 10 cans of tomato sauce, 3 boxes of pizza crust, 2 boxes of barley..........etc.

I spent a little over 3 happy hours in the store sifting through the piles and piles of boxes trying to find the furthest away dates on the boxes. I estimate these items would have cost around $300-350 dollars at the local grocery store. My cost at the B&B, $142.40.

Inspireco---Surprise Easter Eggs

If you have not visited Inspireco, you must visit soon. Inspireco recently posted an Easter project that was so cute and creative, I instantly went out and bought the material to make my own "Surprise Eggs."

For the simple directions click here.


For the text/paper strips, I looked around the house and found an old forgotten Cliffs Notes on Pride and Prejudice, which is one of my favorite stories. This makes looking at the eggs extra special. However, I do realize Pride and Prejudice has nothing to do with Easter. I suppose scraps from the Bible would have been more appropriate. I will have to think harder about the true meanings behind my future craft projects.



Inspireco used lovely ribbon, jewels, and buttons on her eggs. I found pastel paper flowers on sale at Hobby Lobby and then chose matching ribbon that was also on sale (I love sales). I already had the buttons on hand.