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Archive for November, 2008

Feeling Good

November 20th, 2008 at 08:40 pm

Got a free 21 lb. turkey today from my supermarket. It was a promotion if you spent 300.00 or more over several weeks you were eligible for a free turkey.
We bought 2 boxes of stove top stuffing and the turkey to our nearest shelter. The shelter was just recently on the news b/c this year donations were far off from previous years due to the economy. They were very appreciative at receivng the turkey. That made hubby and I feel really good.
We also donated 25.00 to our local food bank.
25.00 to our local mission and 25.00 for
ASPCA.
I made some cuts to our budget this past week. I cut off a phone that we hardly use(landline). It was costing us 33.00/mnth. Put the YMCA on freeze for a while(67.00/mnth). This still holds our membership but stops them from automatically taking money from my checking account while I'm not using the gym. I also reduced my amount that I was putting into my sharebuilder account. I stopped putting money into my daughters savings and IRA(500.00).This money will be applied first to my outstanding credit card balances and then when they are finished the money will then go to the Florida mortgage.
Not any great savings at the supermarket this week. I will be making a roast beef tonight with mash potatoes and broccoli.

Pot Roast and Body Puffs

November 14th, 2008 at 06:12 pm

The pot roast was amazing. It was the easiest and most tasty pot roast ever. I served it with carrots and mashed potatoes.

For those of you who use body wash and use the body puffs there is a great deal to be had on the puffs. I priced them at CVS, they were 3.25 at Sephora they were 4.25 at good old Walmart they were 0.94. Big difference for an item that needs to be replaced at least once a month.

I also found a deal on the oil of olay age defying body wash. At CVS it was close to 9.00 at Walmart it was 5.63.

November 12th, 2008 at 07:08 pm

Ok, so I went food shopping yesterday and today and didn't have any coupons. Probably a first. But I did some of the shopping at Costco which doesn't except manufactures coupons. Today I went to Shoprite and bought a few things to supplement what I didn't get yesterday. No savings at all. But with all the food I purchased I know I will not be tempted to eat out this week. I guess I can considered that a savings.
Last night I made a wonderful salmon dish with an herbed crust and served it over a bed of baby spinach with a side of wild rice.
Tonight I am making broiled center cut lamb chops with herb roated potatoes and steamed broccoli. For dessert I have ice cream or Pumpkin pie.
I am also making a pot roast in the crock pot as I am writing this. The pot roast was on sale. I got a huge piece for about 6.00$. I foung a recipe from recipe czarr and it was so simple. a dry packet of brown gravy mix a dry packet of ranch mix and a dry packet of italian dressing meis. Mix all 3 together and add a 1/2cup of water around roast cover crock pot and cook on low for 7-9 hours. It received rave reviews online so I will let you know how it turns out. This will be for tomorrow nights dinner.

Some Good Savings Today

November 6th, 2008 at 10:49 pm

Jeez,another hit on the stockmarket,again today. I think I am just going to give up looking at it on a daily basis. My sharebuilder account is down 35%. I am really considering not putting money into it this month and holding out for a while until it calms down. It seems like every month I put in my 500.00 only to see the total go down 500.00. It really seems like a lose, lose situation right now. Don't even get me started on my annuity IRA which is even worse. The only thing that remained stable was my good old savings account. I know the money in these accounts are for the long haul, that's the only thing that is keeping me sane right now.
On the home front, I have been doing very well with not eating out and doing more cooking. Tonight we are having Garlic Porkchops with yellow rice and pink beans in sauce. The pork chop recipe is from mizznezz on recipezarr.com. It is really good. Last night I made chicken cutlet parm. with pasta and grilled asparagus. I don't really like cooking so this site really helps me out.
Went food shopping today used a bunch of coupons and then to cvs and bought some lipstick and makeup used coupoms for that and saved a bundle. They had the lipsticks for bogo,plus I had a 1.00 coupon and a store coupon for .50. The face make up was buyone get 50% off. Very good savings.

Nearing The End Of The Year

November 1st, 2008 at 01:51 pm

We are nearing the end of the year and I was just reviewing my goals and accomplishments. My goals really strayed from real life. I never thought that I would have purchased a home this year but I have and I am very happy with it. Instead of having put the money that I had wanted to in the stockmarket it went towards the house. What an accidental gift that was. Instead of having lost alot of money it was put towards something that has made us very happy and hasn't lost us a dime. In fact it may turn out over the years to be a very wise investment. That doesn't mean that I haven't lost old money that was in the stock market b/c I certainly have. To me it is a bundle to others maybe not so much. But I try not to think about it and just hope that over the long haul that the market will bounce back and that my retirement investments will once again be secure.
The other unplanned expense that wasn't a goal in the beginning of the year was a large family trip to Mexico.
We took our kids and their significant others and had a great time. It was a once in a life time trip and was totally worth every dime. We reconnected with our kids and their special someones.
There was alot of money spent this year and not nearly as much saved as in the previous years but I feel that it was money well spent and do not regret the choices we made as a family.
Even though we spent rather than saved this year it really was mindful spending. WE still thought long and hard before we spent and look for the best deals. We did not spend above our means and I think that makes a very big difference to our bottom line.