Well, I finally went ahead and got a CVS card. I wanted to see what all the hype was about and I am pleasantly surprised. The CVS I went to had everything I was looking for. I matched the Sunday flyer to some coupons and took DD shopping with me. I bought 14 items, 11 of which were on sale, used 6 coupons and got $2.00 back in Extra Bucks. My total for all 14 items was just 16.19 (that includes tax). Not too shabby for a 1st timer!!

We then headed to the grocery store armed with a list, the recipes for the week, and all my coupons. I had the coupons I knew I would use picked out already but brought all of them with us in case I had forgotten something. We bought a total of 49 items. Saved $18.25 using my Bonus Card and saved $10.20 in coupons. I also received 2 coupons for .50 off my next purchase and a coupon for some of the yogurt we bought. My total for the 49 items was $98.99. I was happy I kept it under $100.00.

So with all this food here is what I plan on making this week:

Breakfast pizza-kids helped me with this tonight. It was yummmy, easy, quick, and allowed me to get out of the house and to the gym.

Pot Roast in the slow cooker with mashed potatoes and a veggie

Hungarian Pork Chops with egg noodles and a veggie.


I usually only make 3-4 meals a week due to busy schedules (then the kids eat Spaghetti-Os), leftovers, and I hate to admit it but eating out. DH usually takes the family o dinner once a week since I do all the cooking. It's his contribution

Anyways, I am all set with lunches for the week and not forsee any unnecessary spending as of yet. I am giving DD $5 to buy a book at the school book fair tomorrow and I have budgeted myself $2/day for coffee, something I haven't been able to give up yet!

So, this weekend I met my sister and one of her friends in Buffalo for some shopping and dinner. Her friend is a very savvy shopper and was telling me about the great deals at JCPennys this time of year. I wasn't really planning on buying anything but thought I would look around. Boy, there were deals that I couldn't pass up!!
For example:

Nike Reversible Winter Coat for DS: originally $80 purchased for $11.98

Pink velour pants for DD:
originally $24.99 purchased for $5.99

Hoodie for DD:
originally $19.99 purchased for $2.98

For myself:
Dress pants for work
originally $36 purchased for $10.79

Dressy jeans that can be worn to work
originally $36 purchased for $8.99

Nike Fleece Hoodie
origianlly $48 purchased for $14.39

I bought even more but won't bore you with the details. I suggest that if you are in need of anything for the winter season RUN to your nearest JCPenny! I also received survey invites in which I will get a coupon for 15% off my next purchase.

So, I knew my night in Buffalo was going to be expensive but I had no idea what deals I would find!

This friends, is precisly why I love shopping!

Just transferred $25 to my new on-line savings account..yippee! That felt good. I can't wait until the numbers start adding up

I am also going to the gym tonight which makes it 3 visits this week and 3 visits last week. I am trying to go at least 3 times a week and so far I have been able to keep it up. I am afraid that I will lose interest before going becomes a habit. What is it, like 3 weeks of doing something new and then it becomes a habit? I haven't really seen the benefit yet which I didn't really expect to after just 2 weeks but just like my savings account I wish it would hurry up and improve.

Might be a slightly expensive weekend. We are having 2 of my dh's work friends over for dinner tomorrow night. I am making lasagna and we will have bread and salad. I am sending dh out to the grocery store in the morning so he will be paying for dinner (remember we have seperate finances) and he will pick up dessert at the local bakery as well. I will stay home and clean up the house.

Sunday we are taking the kids to the museum and we are not members so I am afraid it is going to be pretty pricey. I will have to remember to feed the kids before we leave and bring some snacks so we don't have to buy over priced food for lunch. The kids are looking forward to it and it should be fun.

Next week I have to figure out how to add some time in my schedule to work overtime for those well needed additional Christmas funds. I still have a lot to do in order to be ready this year...ugh!

Just got back from a trip to the Home Depot. Spent about $50 for a programmable thermostat (we still had the old round dial kind), batteries for the smoke detectors(very important since I am cooking more now) and some plastic for the windows. I am looking at this money spent as an investment with the hopes that it will lower our gas and electric bill. My husband is out today so I am going to try to install the thermostat myself. The box says it ony takes 4 easy steps so I am hopeful

I am also going to order some thermal backed curtains for the kids rooms. They have decorative curtains and mini blinds right now but I can feel a draft when I walk by the windows. The windows in our house are old and need to be replaced, we just don't have the funds right now. I figure I will do what I can to ensure the kids are warm and toasty and hubby and I will just have to layer on the clothes.

I am off to install a thermostat