A Day of First

After a very, very, very long day alone with the kiddos, I was so excited to get a chance to do some couponing alone once they went to sleep and Daddy was home.  Some of the items on my list were ones that I hadn't bought in a long time (shampoo, razors and kleenex) due to my great stockpiling this time last summer when I knew we would have less money to work with this past school year.  Now my biggest hindrance is the lack of space available in the apartment.

Since Walgreens has changed their system from issuing instant store rewards to a points system, most of my drug store couponing happens at CVS.  During this trip I had one transaction total out to $0.00 - which I've never done before - and it turned out to be what they called in the couponing world "a money maker" because I received $5 in store bucks. I refer to store bucks as RR (register rewards).

Transaction #1
1 - Always liners ($6.99) +$3 RR
2 - Kotex liners (2/$7)
1 - Pert shampoo/conditioner ($3.99)
1 - Infusium shampoo ($5)
2 - Gallon milk ($3.49 each) +$2 RR
Before Coupons: $29.96

Coupons Used: 1/.50 Always; 2/$1 Kotex; 1/$2 Pert; 1/$2 Infusium; $1/Kotex and Always Store Coupon.

OOP = $24.86 + $5 RR

Transaction #2
1 - Gillette Sensitive Shave Gel ($3.79)
2 - Venus Embrace Disposable Razors ($14.99 each)
* Spend $30 on Gillette products earn $10 RR
Before Coupons: $33.77

Coupons Used: 1/$2 Gillette Shave; 1/$3 Gillette disposable razors; BOGO Gillette disposable razors (up to $11.99) - not quiet free but I only use 5 blade razors; $5 RR from Transaction #1.

OOP = $14.10 + $10 RR

Transaction #3
2 - Degree Active Motion deodorant (2/$8)
2 - Dove Go Fresh deodorant (2/$8)
* spend $15 on Dove/Degree products earn $5 RR
Before Coupons: $16

Coupons Used: 2/$3 Degree; 2/$3 Dove; $10 RR from Transaction #2.

OOP = $0.00 + $5RR

Transaction #4
1 - Gain Dish soap (.99)
2 - Puffs (.99 each)
2 - Bounty 6 pack papertowels ($5.99)
1 - Charmin Basic 12 pack bath tissue ($5.99)
Before Coupons = $20.94

Coupons Used: 1/.25 Charmin; 2/$2 Bounty; 2/$1 Puffs; $5RR from Transaction #4.

OOP = $14.82 + $5RR

Transaction #5
1 - Hefty Trashbags ($6.99)
1 - Diet Coke 2 liter (.99)
1 - Puffs Car Cup ($1.67)
Before Coupons =  $9.65

Coupons Used: 1/.55 Hefty; 1/.25 CVS Coke coupon; $5 RR from Transaction #4

OOP = $4.17

Total Value of Items: $110.32
Savings: $52.37

Wanderings through my sleep deprived mind

Things I am thankful for:

• Air conditioning at home and in the van.
• Chamomile tea with mint and jasmine...so nice at the end of a long day.
• Options: where to buy groceries, what clothes to wear, dishwasher or hand washing, and if I want ketchup or catchup.
• Kids who scream/cry "Momma, I wuv you" during nap time because they think I'll cave in to not letting them have a nap. Not gonna happen.
• A husband who has a full-time job with health and dental insurance for the whole family.
• Knowing that this body is only a temporary shell and one day I'll have a new, whole and healthy body and get to use it to praise and worship the Great I Am.
• A zoo membership that allows us access to such wonderful sights and sounds and amazing learning opportunities for the boys.

Things that frustrate me:

• Not one, but TWO flat tires on the jogging stroller.
• People who wander across a sidewalk and take no notice that they're stopping the flow of people traffic.
• Houston traffic.
• The inability to help every single homeless person begging for money/food on the street corners.
• Ironing clothes, washing and putting up dishes, and taking out the trash. ** But I am thankful that I have clothes that need ironing, dishes to wash because it means I was able to eat/drink, and stuff to throw away because it means I have stuff.
• Not having hover craft cars like everyone predicted we would have by the year 2000.
• Gasoline. Cost. So. Much. Money.
• Forgetting to brush my kids teeth at night.
• Mosquitoes. They suck. Literally and figuratively.

Yehaw

There are very few places that I can shop when both kids are with me. Mostly because there are no double shopping carts available (land yachts) or I'm afraid we would end up breaking more items than purchasing.  With that being said, I can handle some places when only a regular shopping cart is available.  Two days ago that place was Babies 'R Us.  They were having a sale on squeezy pouches and I had $15 worth of store bucks (yeah me)! 

After a couple laps around the mall for some Mommy exercise, we headed to the store. I made a beeline for the food isle, grabbed 40 pouches or various flavors and noticed store brand food was on sale: spend $35 get $5 off!  So I checked around and snatched up three bags of store brand yogurt snacks.  No trip is complete without checking out the sales and clearance rack.  I've also learned that when you find something that I like and will most likely never find two in the same size again, I grab it.  Today I found shirts featuring construction equipment which is J&T's current obsession - so two of those ended up in the cart.  I also snatched up two other fall shirts that featured animals wearing glasses - another current obsession.

During check out, the boys "help mama" unload everything and made small talk with another little boy in line behind us.  Between the sales and my store bucks, I spent $44 and ended up with 40 pouches of food and 4 long sleeved t-shirts....not too shabby!

The boys were so well behaved (for two year olds) during mama's little shopping spree that I decided to allow them to ride the mechanical horse and spider man car on our way out.  Needless to say, they each enjoyed the rides and, thankfully, we made it to the car without a melt down.

Tedder was a little excited and yelled "yehaw" the entire time.

Jack was the calm rider who enjoyed kicking the horse and saying "go horsey".

 

Thought for Today:

• Use coupons.
• Don't be afraid to take kids in public - they can smell fear.
• Remember it's the little things in life that our kids remember and cherish the most.
• Store brand squeezy pouches will be consumed just as quickly as high dollar ones.