Ways I saved money last week

COUPONS!

I had BOGO coupons for the Pantene and free coupons for the popcorn and Breakfast On The Go. Yay! (retail value $13.96)

I bought a few Crest coupons online and saved them for the $1.00 per tube sale. (paid about $1 for them) My store still doubles....so 8 free tubes of toothpaste! I still have 3 left from my last stock up, so I will share the wealth. I had 2 $2.25 coupons off of 2, for the vitamins and they were BOGO, so 4 vitamins for $13.50. (retail $36) Thats 200 days of vitamins so this will last a good while! (just in time for cold season) :-)

While I was running errands, I stopped at Arbys with my free drink coupon. Yay.

I went to the thrift store, looking for new work clothes, and used a 50% coupon on one item and a 25% coupon on another.

I found stocking stuffers, on clearance, at Hobby lobby. (at 50% off) I am now done with stocking stuffers!

I found a great gift for a good friend there as well. She and I both know we shop clearance sales for gifts, so I don't even have to hide the sale tag on the gift! That makes three people I'm done shopping for. Come on Christmas! Sweet!

future empty nest syndrome

After raising a few kids, which includes LOTS of mess and stress, I'm missing the chaos.

I have just one more at home.

It's too quiet.

Luckily I get my grandbaby once or twice a week.

That little booger can sure make a mess. I remember how upset I would get at my kids destroying the house I had just cleaned.

I wish I hadn't done that.

I need a time machine. I want a do-over.

I feel like empty nest syndrome is going to destroy me.

Ways I saved money last week:

* I had class all day and was too tired to cook. Family wanted take out. I went to Arby's with a coupon. I bought 4 sandwiches and 3 fries for $9.68. (saved $6.76 with the coupon) They were happy. I got to go home and just sit! ☺
* I went grocery shopping and spent $98, I saved $28 with coupons.
* I had planned to meet a friend for lunch, but she had to cancel. I saved the gas and the money I would've spent on lunch. {eating at home alone, not as fun but much cheaper!}
* all of these were free, with a coupon. Actual value $5.50

*These were free, after a buy 3 get three 3 coupon.

OH MY GOSH.....

.....ITS ALMOST CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

photo credit: vanderbilt.edu

Have you started to prepare? I have started my Christmas crafting. And it will cooler here this week. {whew, finally!} Perfect time for the seasons to start to change, right when I'm preparing for my crafting. The cooler weather really gets me in the mood for holidays!

Coupon savings so far

While I am in no way an "extreme couponer", I do love to use coupons. There's nothing better than saving money! I keep track of my monthly savings, in an effort to beat the previous years' total saved. A personal challenge. When I beat it, I high five myself! LOL

In 2010, I saved $1,053.92

In 2011, I saved $1,656.51

In 2012, I saved $1,468.99 (didn't improve that year, sadly)

These are my totals so far:

Jan $213.21

Feb $79.90

Mar $131.50

Apr $78.62

May $162.81

Jun $99.35

Jul $174.51

Aug $162.10

Total so far: $1,102.00

I don't count savings from store loyalty cards, only coupons that I've clipped or loaded onto my grocery card. (ecoupons)

I count not only grocery coupons but retail, eating out, auto, entertainment etc. (Anything that I clip or add to my coupon binder) I think I'm on track to beat last years' total! Sweet!!

My new favorite laundry soap

My new favorite laundry soap!

I have tried several of the homemade recipes and my laundry never really got as clean as I'd like. And my whites turned yellow! I gave up until I found this recipe. Not only does it smell amazing, my clothes are so clean!

The cost to make it came in under $25 and should last 1 year. {I will keep track of that} I strongly recommend that you shop for ingredients, at Walmart. I priced them at my grocery store and this would have cost over $5 more!

Very pretty new laundry soap!


Laundry soap

1- 4 lb 12oz box Borax
1-3lb 7oz box Washing Soda
1-3lb tub Oxyclean
2- 14.1 oz bars Zote or Naptha soap
1-4lb box baking soda
1-2 55 oz bottles of Crystals fabric softener (I used one)
Grate soap and add ingredients, in layers to help mix, into a large tub. {I reused a laundry soap tub from Sam's Club} Store in a cool dry place. Use 1-2 tablespoons per load.



the ingredients for the yummy smelling soap

UPDATE: This is the most amazing soap I have ever used! My hubby's stinky work clothes are no longer stinky! Until he wears them again, of course! I highly recommend it!