Forgot to mention...

Look what we did last Wednesday night.  We lucked into Cardinals' tickets again and zipped off to St. Louis for the evening.  We drove to Fairview Heights and then took the Metro right to Busch Stadium.  Such an easy way to get there.  Free tickets with  great seats helped for a fun night.  Plus, they won!  We also got to see Albert hit another homer which sweetened the evening.  

For those of you not familiar with Albert, that is him warming up on the jumbo-tron.

In the Freezer

*Corn: both on the cob and off

*Strawberries:   some individually frozen,  some sliced and sugared, and some chopped and frozen waiting to make jam

*Peaches: sliced and sugared

*Green Beans, 4 quarts given to us: blanched and frozen

*Blackberries:  3 lbs, individually  frozen and bagged

Yum, it will taste like summer for a long time. 

Shopped till we Dropped

Shopping to near the point of exhaustion is not a good thing.  Super double coupons at Kmart is however.  Sister and I know the grocery section of that store very well after our marathon trip yesterday.  Has anyone else ever spent 3 HOURS in a Kmart?  Granted, it was a yukky, muggy, hot day, but 3 hours?   I know we are crazy.  But, I will tell you the deals were sweet.  I definitely went over my usual spending , but that is how I shop.  "Buy at the rock bottom price, buy lots, and don't buy again for months".   Thing is, I spend less on these "marathon" trips than I used to spend weekly. 

This is how our day went:

• Walgreens #1
  
• CVS
  
• Lunch at Quizno's (those little Torpedo thing are good)
  
• Kroger
  
• Back to her house to put Kroger stuff in fridge
  
• Walgreens #2  (great deal going on with Kraft Velveeta Shells and Cheese, and we cleaned them out)
  
• Kmart (3 hours)
  
• Walgreens # 3 (sorry we took all of the Shells and Cheese, they will get more)
  
• Back to her house to transfer all my loot from her car to mine and to pick up Kroger goodies
  
• Said good-byes and I came HOME
  

**We used to shop for fun things and spend our money on cute things for our houses, clothes, craft things and then eat too much at a fancy restaurant for about $20.00 plus tip.  Now we bargain and  grocery shop and eat for less than $10.00 total.   Are we getting old, or have we learned to be frugal?  Both probably **  Thing is, we are still spending time together, and enjoying our company just as much.  We have just learned how to do it in a fun way and spend less. 

I do not have a picture.  When I got back home with all my loot I was just focused on putting everything away.  We had also shopped at Kroger (not for 3 hours) and there I purchased about 6 pounds of boneless chicken breasts due to a sale and coupon match ups (yes, there are even coupons for chicken).   I separated those and vacuum sealed them for the freezer.  I also had blackberries that were on an amazing sale to lay out on cookie sheets and quick freeze.  I had so much to put away and organize, that I just did not even think of taking a picture.  

I am just about couponed out though.  My high value ones are gone.  Either that, or even with doubling it was not a good deal and I kept my coupon,  You gotta pick and choose your deals.  I do have one more planned trip to the local Kmart this week to buy our dog food.  I have $2.00 coupons for that and I want to double them , but they were out.  

I am tired though.  My legs ached through the night!  I must have logged about 5 miles in that store yesterday wearing flip-flops. Mistake.   

Today I am off to a meeting at school, yeah it's starting.   My bargain hunting days will slow down, but for the last month I have feathered the nest very wisely!  We are set.

KMart Double Coupon Deals

This is why I save those coupons!  

First of all, I will say that my Kmart does not mind multiple transactions.  There is a 10 coupon limit, and my Kmart allows 10 coupons per transaction.  We did several. 

 

Total if no coupons were used:  $304.96

Total after coupons :                           $81.39 

-minus a $10.00 Kmart card $71.39

-minus a $5.00 rebate I will get for the cereal,  so our total was really, $66.39   

Not bad when you look at all I bought.   It is hard to make everything out, but there are Christmas presents there, cat food, cereal, cleaning supplies, some food items, health and beauty, and on and on! 

Tomorrow I am going to sister's town and going again, but this time I will focus on food only.  She has a super Kmart and I can get some great deals on frozen foods and meat products there.    

Walgreen's Paid ME !

Once in a while I actually get paid to buy things.   Today I went to Walgreens with a stash of coupons and a $3.00 Register Reward.  When all was said and done, I earned a $4.00 Register Reward and they had to give me a  37 cent credit on a "W" card.  Click on the picture to read the receipt, it is pretty sweet.  In reality, I earned $1.37 total to buy this stuff.  One dollar was the extra in the Register Reward and the 37 cents they put on the card.   See why I like to use coupons!      

Huge Blessing!

Husband and I were graciously given corn from two of our friends today. 

What a blessing this was!  Our family has quite a history of putting corn up for the freezer.  Before husband and I were even married I would help "do" corn.  I have done corn for over 30 years.  We used to get corn from a relative, then when he retired from farming  we were lucky enough to find another source.  Last year due to my health issues we did not do corn, but fortunately we were blessed by some people from our church who did some for us.  

Today, when husband got off of work we drove to a field and picked our corn.  Just the 2 of us.   About 6 bushels!  We were also given about 1 bushel today already picked from someone else.  We then headed home to begin husking,  and our "silking team" arrived.   Three  friends dug right in and silked their way through the mound of corn.  I started as soon as I could inside with the blanching, and cutting.  Truth be told, husband and I finished just after midnight, but oh, what a wonderful feeling to have two freezers full of corn!  (Ours and husband's parents) 

Grand total:

99 quart bags cut off the cob

20 bags of 4 ears each, on the cob

60 ears given away

 Just a portion of our bounty, isn't it beautiful?

   Cut and ready for bagging

  Nearing completion  

Look what 7 cents will buy...

Just so you all know I am still bargain hunting, even though I have not posted a deal for ages, I bought all of this for only 7 cents out of pocket.  The rest was paid for in coupons and extra care bucks.  ( I earned back $11.00 more)

Great way to buy items for the classroom wouldn't you say?

Writer's Block...

I have taken a break from writing and hope to get back into this soon.  I just do not know what to write about right now.   I am to doing a few deals and coupon trips, but I don't really want to write about that.  I have not done much lately around the house, so not much to write about there.  My health is great, so nothing much on that, and we do not have anymore trips planned in the near future.   So I guess I am a bit boring right now.

There are some deep thoughts going on in my mind, but I am not willing to put those into words yet.  

Check back every now and then and I might surprise you. 

Ahhh Summertime

This week husband and I ran away from home again.  We were invited by husband's sister and brother-in-law to share Cardinals' tickets so we went to St. Louis for one night.  We were gone only about 36 hours but it was a good trip.  We squeezed in the following:

A chance to see "our" Cardinals win a home game.

A quick trip to the St. Louis Zoo - reminder, do not go on a holiday weekend.   It seemed like there were 7 million people there.  But hey, it's free.  We visited the bears and apes, and then left. 
Last, we went to Albert Pujol's restaurant.  I was very impressed with the food and prices there.  They let us hold Albert's ESPY award for MVP.  His first!

Nice to get away, nice to get home. 

Frugal Update

In case you are missing my "frugal -look what I bought for pennies- posts", I have pretty much taken a break from shopping.  We just do not need much at all.  The stockpile is huge and we are living out of that  and the  freezer and pantry.  I did go to the grocery after we got back from our trip to replenish a few things, but mostly I am using up what we have.  I am saving money and adding a bit back into savings after vacation spending.  

I am still buying my Sunday papers, because a great coupon is always good to have.  When the next Kmart doubles rolls around, I am sure I will be there.  I just am not chasing every deal right now, because my past deals are serving me well.  

I think they only thing I really need right now are potatoes.  That and milk.  We ALWAYS need milk. 

Getting back into the swing of things...

Gee, it is hard to un-vacation.  (made up word , I know)

I do have the suitcases empty, all nestled together and placed in the closet.  I bought new suitcases for this trip because all we had were a collection of old, somewhat broken down , suitcases that were currently housing my winter wardrobe.  I decided that a nice set of designated "trip only" suitcases were in order.  We have another trip coming up and it is about time we had a decent set of luggage.  These were on sale and an extra 30% off so the time was right.   They served us well on this trip.  

I do still have odds and ends all over the place  from vacation yet to deal with.  I did put a dent in that today, but there is still more later to finally put away.  

Like I said yesterday, it is HOT here.  What a shock to the system to go from fall temps to blazing hot summer overnight!  Thank you God for our air conditioner.  

I am missing my bargains and deals, and I am sure that before the week is out I will have to make a few trips to satisfy my urges.  Any amazing deals out there? 

While I am working through the house, I am also playing a lot on the computer (10 days without was causing withdrawal symptoms).  

Look at what I did at a neat site,   dumper.net

That is our cat, Abby and I just put her in a museum!   I played around yesterday with some baby pictures and they were adorable!

Vacation

One of my favorite scenes from the trip
Yum, dinner on the patio at the condo.

Vacation!

View on our way up Mt. Greylock
Along our way to the summit of Mt. Greylock
On Mt. Greylock, along a trail.

One Happy Guy!

Hubby at The National Baseball Hall of Fame

VACATION

View from our condo.
Our kitchen
Living room / Dining room

Wow is not a good enough word, but I said it about 1000 times in the last 10 days.  Eastern Massachusetts is just gorgeous.  We spent our vacation in the Berkshires and they live up to their reputation.  I am amazed at what God did in His creation.  

We had a fantastic time and went to a bunch of places!  Here is the quick list :

• First night in Erie, PA-  we ate  at a fun  place, Quaker Steak and Lube then drove up to Lake Erie for a bit 
• Arrived at our condo in the Berkshires.  Ahhhh.  Nice place, good accommodations,  cool temperatures (returned home to sweltering heat)  It rained a lot, but we managed to dodge the raindrops enough to have a lot of fun.  
• Visited Vermont 3 times,  The Bennington Pottery place is disappointing.  When you have a son who throws clay on a wheel to make pottery it is sad to see pressed pieces sold as "hand-made" 
• Bought maple syrup and great cheeses in Vermont
• Drove down to Connecticut just to say we did, then  turned around and headed right back
• Went to 4 museums:  The Norman Rockwell, The Clark (art collection) The National Baseball Hall of Fame, and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Something for everyone. 
• Went to Mt. Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts. 3,491 feet.  Not a record by any means, but when you consider that we live in a town with an elevation of 597 feet, it is impressive.   We drove to the summit and then climbed a tower that was 92 feet tall to look out . 
• Stepped foot on the Appalachian trail.   Okay, I walked on it for about 10 feet. Interesting story there. 
• Went to Stockbridge, Mass. /  Saw the famous Red Lion Inn--did not eat there, lunch would have been at least $75.00 for 3 of us. 
• Saw scenery that takes your breath away
• Laid out by the pool, in 64 degree temps!  It was sunny enough to keep us warm and the pool was heated. 
• Cooked most all of our meals at the condo.
• Loved The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, Ny.    Quaint town, shops line the streets for about 4 blocks, mostly with a baseball theme.
• Rocked in Cleveland at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  We found it interesting that some of our favorites are not inducted yet.  ( I kept saying indicted --big difference)
• Rested, watched movies, ate on the patio, and generally felt blessed to go on such a great trip!  
• OUCH---spent $5.99 for one gallon of milk when we ran out mid-week.  A trip to town is at least 20 minutes one way so we bought a gallon at the resort across the road, it had a "grocery store".  I sure am glad that I am frugal on most days! 

Chicken and Strawberries

I could live on those two foods.  Well almost, I must get my potato quotient in there.

Last week bone-in chicken breasts were on special for 88 cents a pound.  I bought about 16 pounds.  I roasted most of it (some I pulled off the bone after roasting, some I left as is and  we will thaw those and throw them on the grill for a few minutes all sauced up) , I  de-boned some of it into boneless -skinless breasts and tenders ,  cooked down any trimmings into a delicious broth,  and now I have it all divided up in the freezer.  Today we purchased strawberries at 49 cents a pound!  Husband and I both bought some so now my freezer is packed with an assortment of sliced and sweetened, crushed and frozen ( I will pull those back out to make jam when I am ready) , and a tray of whole berries that are freezing individually so I can bag them whole later.  

Shopping the way I do (stockpiling) allows me to take advantage of the really big sales without feeling that my family will suffer that week if I put most of my grocery money into one or two items.  

Even if I spend all my grocery money on a few items, there is always something in my freezer or pantry that I bought up on a previous sale and I make my meals from what I have on hand.  

I love being frugal.

Return to Blogging

School is out now and I really hope to keep this up a bit better.  As I sit here today there is a gentle rain coming down so I am naturally forced inside today.  My flowers will get a drink and I will get to focus on the inside of the house.

I have many projects that I want to work through this summer.  A few have already been accomplished and  today I should knock off a few more.  We are getting ready for vacation soon.  Can I just tell the world how very excited I am about this year's vacation?  This is HUGE to me after what we went through last summer and I plan to soak up every possible bit of joy there is to be had.  

We will be going to  gorgeous area in Massachusetts.  I have never been to that state, so I will add another one or two on my list.  I need to learn how to spell it though since I am going there. (thank goodness for spell check)  We will focus on mostly scenic, outdoor activities,  and just relax!  

I am taking an unofficial break from crazy couponing.  I will still buy the papers if I think they will benefit me, but I have a huge stockpile now and I do not want the stockpile to outlive my family.  There is just so much toothpaste one can use.  Actually it is time to thin it out and give a goodie box to someone in need.   I just do not feel the need to chase every bargain.  We will live out of our freezer, pantry, and stockpile for a while.  My grocery bills over the last month have been quite small because of all of this and that excites me.  This way of shopping really pays off.   I am sure I will take advantage of the super deals out there, I made $8.00 this week at Walgreen's and I won't stop doing those deals (Ecotrin aspirin, I bought 4 boxes with coupons that made them free, then got back $2.00 on each in register rewards--I paid a total of 8 cents and made back $8.00)   I just am slowing way down for a while.  Don't worry, I am not going back to my old ways.  I will return in full force later on.  I am too good at this to stop.  Ha. 

More posting to come so check back more often.

Special note about the post below...

In case you think that I would share intimate details from prayer requests and small group meetings with the world on my blog without care, please know that I sent a rough draft of the following post to my friend for her approval.  I just do not want anyone to think that I would break the trust we held in that group. 

For Tom and Lois:

I have heard the old quote :  "Some people come into our lives and quickly go.  Some stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts."

I must say I am feeling those footprints right about now.  Today I have thought a lot about some very special people in our lives.  

 I need to share tonight about friends who will be moving far far away very soon.  Tom and  Lois came into our lives about 12 years ago.  That is my best estimate.  I first met them at our church.  I remember one particular night I saw them, I don't think they saw me though.  They were sitting in our sanctuary, pretty much alone, and were praying.  That attracted me to them, and I was really thankful that before long they became a part of our small group.  We had a great small group.  It became an intimate and trusting group.  One where we could share our deepest longings and our most painful hurts.  We learned that Tom and Lois had recently spent over a year in the Ukraine as missionaries and had fallen in love with two little boys.  I still remember their names, and often I say a little prayer for them.  We all prayed back then that God would find a way to bring those boys into their lives permanently.    It was not to be.  God had plans unfolding, but we just did not know it yet.  

Our group grew closer and closer and sometimes we even let Tom and Lois know where we were meeting (inside joke) 

Nine years ago, my family experienced a major house fire, and this group carried us through that time and gave us a welcome home party after our renovations.  I still have the little bear fireman on my kitchen counter that Lois gave me to "protect" my kitchen from future fires.  

We waited, prayed, and cried for them and with them as God revealed His amazing plan and brought two perfect sons into their lives after a lengthy return trip to the Ukraine.  Watching this incredible family has been a joy.  This was always meant to be.  

We prayed for other events in their lives as well. We prayed for health issues and  for Tom to find a good job, (God , can we have a "do over" on that one?  We meant a good job close to us!)  

Tom and Lois have touched our own family in a profound way.  They love our boys and have devoted themselves to both senior high and college ministries.  Our boys have experienced genuine love and acceptance from both of them.  You know how special you feel about someone when they  genuinely love your children.  

As my health issues unfolded during the last year,  I was touched by the little things that Lois did for me.  She gave me a bracelet early on when my cancer was diagnosed to show me how God could make beauty from ashes.  When she learned that I was having trouble sleeping due to my fears and concerns, she made 2 music cds for me.  One for my days, and one for my nights.  Just today I was listening to one of them, and I thought so much about Lois.  I thought about how she ministered to me in such a real way.  About how she saw a raw and real need and met it.  

This is a couple that actually my husband and I have spent very little time with in the last year, but a couple that have made a huge difference in our lives.  They are leaving our area and I know we will miss their touch on our lives in a terrible way.  The northwest will be  very blessed when their family settles in and begins to share that touch.  

God be with you Tom and Lois and family.  

What a Deal !

I so love my coupons.  Today we were in another town to pack youngest up to come home for the summer.  While there I was able to take advantage of some amazing coupons from Target.  I had 52 coupons in all,  (glad you weren't behind me?) about half were Target printables, and the others were manufacturer coupons.  Many of them were Kraft coupons that I printed this week at home.  Target allows you to "stack" coupons by using one Target coupon and one manufacturer coupon on the same item.  Big savings result. 

I love when I am able to get grocery items at such a good deal.  Many of my bargains are health and beauty items.   The total before coupons was just over $102.00 .  The receipt below shows I paid just $42.48.  I saved over $60.00!   This portion does not show all the coupons.