Little Dude climbs the stairs

Little Dude decided to show me who's boss when it comes to climbing the stairs!

                                           ....I don't think they make a baby proof product for this!

Cracker stock up

I was looking at a preview of the Farm Fresh ad for 6/13 and I saw an awesome deal on the cover!
http://www.farmfreshsupermarkets.com/savings/viewcircular?promotionId=79522&sneakpeek=y

Go to smartsource.com and print the $1/2 Nabisco Cookie/Cracker coupon (print it twice). Wednesday Farm Fresh doubles coupons up to 1.00 so this coupon becomes $2.00! They're running a special where you buy 4 participation products and save 2.00 instantly. So this means the crackers are on sale for 2.00 each when you buy 4. After the coupons they become $1.00 a box! Great stock up price!

Sears Outlet Tuesday Free Apparel Day 6/5/12

Here's my big score from yesterday's Sears Outlet Tuesday Free Apparel Day!
My friend's daughter is having a birthday soon so I went shopping for her birthday present. A few more outfits and I'll be done. My outlet store was also having a buy 1 get 2 free accessory sale. I got 3 belts for $4.00=tax! What a great deal! I really hope Sears Outlet keeps this program going for a long long time. It's awesome!

Farm Fresh and Harris Teeter trip 6/6/12

Had a great trip at Farm Fresh today! Being Wednesday the $1.00 coupons were doubled so that gave me some awesome deals.
Here's my haul from Farm Fresh today:

What I got:
(1)Crave cat treats: $1.59-.50 coupon doubled= $.59
(4)Ken's Dressing: On sale $1.00 each-(2)1/2 coupon doubled= All 4 free!
(2)Kraft Dressing: Sale $1.09-1/2 coupon doubled= $.18
(2)Kix cereal: $2.49-(2) .75 coupon doubled=$1.00 each
(4)Ocean Spray Cranberry and Cranapple Juice $3.99-Bogo coupon=$1.99 each!
(1) Sierra Mist 2ltr: $1.34-1.00coupon doubled= Free+overage!!!
(2)Kings Hawaiian bread: $3.49-1.00 coupon doubled= $1.49
     *I need to check my store. I could've swore the sign said they were $2.69 each, not the $3.49 they rang up*
(1) 1/2 gallon whole milk: $2.39
(1) 1 gallon 2% milk: $3.19
(2) Country Crock butter: $2.38-1.00 coupon doubled=$.38 each!
(3) YoBaby Yogurt: Sale 2/$5.00-2.00 coupon= $1.83 each!
(2) Beechnut stage 5 fruit pouches: $.99-1.00 coupon doubled= Free+overage!!!
Total+tax: $24.83
Total saved: $33.32 (59%)

I forgot to take a trip of my trip to Harris Teeter but it wasn't as impressive this week. All I got was 2 family size Stouffers lasagnas for $5.99-2.00 coupon=$3.99 each.

I had another great deal at Food Lion on some baby lotion and soap. I need to find my receipt so I can post about it.... I think I need to get more organized.

There's a what in my yard??

BOOM I heard yesterday shortly after 12 noon. Everyone on my street went outside to see what made the incredibly loud noise. I was greeted with the sight of a car. In my yard. Come again???? 18 year old+new car+speeding+left turn= big headache for me.

The nose is pointing to the direction he came from. He lost control after he turned and the car did a 180 and swung right into my yard.

                                           The bricks saved my tree (and himself from harm).


Thankfully no one was hurt and the kid is going to come with his dad this weekend and level out my new racetrack and turn it back into the weed filled front lawn it was.

Groceries week of 5/27

I'm trying not to go grocery shopping till next week so I can use up what I've got and start fresh next week to keep better track. I had to run out to Food Lion to get a 1/2 gallon of whole milk for Little Dude so I've only spent $2.37 (after tax). We just ran out of eggs today and cereal yesterday so breakfast will be something like oatmeal or toast for the next few days. Lunches have been leftovers or sandwiches. Tonight we're having spaghetti (yum!). I have everything I need in my pantry. It's one of those meals I try to always have the ingredients on hand for. I haven't figured out dinners for the rest of the week yet. I'm going to try and get a better post for next weeks menu and grocery shopping before the week is half through, promise!

What's the point of my grocery budget?

I have a budget of $300 a month to cover all food, animal food/litter, baby diapers/wipes, and household stuff (cleaners, garbage bags, etc). I actually thought I was doing a fantastic job keeping within my budget until I started tracking all our expenses on www.mint.com. As I watched over the first few months I realized I was actually doing horrible! Starting May 27th I'm going to start keeping a written record here of what I spent and what meals I made for each week for the next month. I'm hoping this will show me where I'm failing at so I can fix the gap. Since my budget is supposed to cover all household stuff, 2 adults, a baby (who eats like a toddler), 2 cats, and 1 German Shepherd I have considered if I needed to raise it to $350, but I really really really don't want to.I know I can do this! (In my mind I'm thinking of the Little Engine that could "I think I can. I think I can. I think I can")

One of my favorite blogs is www.moneysavingmom.com. This lady is awesome and inspiring to me! She posted this deal: here and after printing my coupons Little Dude and I went shopping today. Regularly $8.99 a package * 2=$17.98. Minus sale price, store coupon ($2.00 each) and MQ coupon ($2.00 each) they come to $2.99 each * 2= $5.98(before tax). That's a huge savings!!

After tax I spent $6.68 cents. The cheapest the commissary had was $6.00 when I bought a package last week and used my $1.50 coupon from a Sunday paper (I didn't keep track of which one). That package is going back and I'll put my returning $4.50 back in my budget. Yes, you read the picture correctly and saw that I purchased a medium and large package. I don't know how often I'll actually get to a pool or beach this year so I got a package for next year. I figure is all else fails I can return the large for another medium for this year.