Free Toothpaste

Dillons is running a deal where you buy 10 specific items and get $5 off at the register.

Colgate Toothpaste was priced at $2.19 but was marked down to $1.49.

$1.49 x 10 = $14.90

$14.90 - $5.00 = $9.90

$9.90 for 10

Now the best part...Dillons doubles coupons up to $1.

I had 10 coupons for $.50 each which doubled up to $1 each.

$9.90 - $10.00 = + $.10

So I made 10 cents on my purchase.

There should be no stinky breath in this house!

cheap stuff makes me happy

4 pack of Razors...$6.54 each x 10 = $65.40

5 buy one, get one free coupons worth $32.70

Target offered $5 gift card with the purchase of 2.  So I got $25 in gift cards.

$65.40

- $32.70

- $25.00

 $7.70 for all 10 packages

That means I paid .77 cents per package or .19 cents per razor.

Why haven't I been couponing all these years?

That's right...

I jumped on the coupon bandwagon.

I've always wanted to figure it out.  I have finally realized that it is all about stocking up.  That way you can buy things super cheap and access them when you need them.  No more paying full price.

I am building up my "store" with all kinds of stuff.

Today I got my first FREE deal.

Walgreens was selling these toothbrushes for $1.  They are normally $2.99 each.

I had a coupon for $2 off two of these toothbrushes.

I had 10 coupons so I got 20 FREE toothbrushes.

Holla!

(P.S. I didn't realize you have to pay tax even when you get them free.  That means I spent $1.40 in tax for $20 worth of toothbrushes.  The bill would have been $64.16 if they were full price)

The Chair

I saw this chair while we were furniture shopping and I wanted it. 

But...it is not practical to spend hundreds of dollars on a chair that is just for fun.

So, I chose more practical furniture but I did not forget about the chair.

Then today, while perusing craigslist for used furniture I came upon this beauty.

Holla!

I am picking her up tomorrow.

Often God blesses me with the little things.  I feel extra loved today. 

Thank you to the Johnsen Family

Before Bubba was born I hit a bunch of garage sales.  I was so excited to find sweet baby boy clothes for my new little man. 

I noticed a totally cute pair of red gap sweat pants at one garage sale.  I scooped them up and bought them along with a bunch of other clothes.

I washed them and put them away.  It wasn't until many months later that I put the pants on him.  He looked so cute in these fuzzy red pants!  It wasn't until he crawled away that I noticed something...

These pants were embroidered.  With a family name.  Two thoughts came to my mind...

1. Who embroiders their baby's pants with a family name?
2. How did I not notice it?

Still, they are cute pants, all warm and snugly.  So...Bubba wore them, then Wubba, then baby Q, who knows who else might one day wear these pants.

So to the Johnsen Family, I say, "thanks for the pants!"

Ebay

Bubba just continues to grow up.  This also means he continues to grow out of all his clothes. 

Bubba has two younger brothers so his clothes get passed down.

I have figured out which brands have the strength to make it through multiple rough and tumble boys.  The problem is that those clothes are usually pretty pricey. 

So, I thought I should probably take a note from the Duggar Family.  They always say, "Buy used and save the difference."  I decided to go on ebay and see if I could find some gently used clothes that still had enough life in them to make it through our bunch of boys.

Check out my loot!

5 pairs of pants

9 shirts

1 coat

Holla Holla...I'm savin' Dollas! :)

A man and his TV

TVs seem to be very important to men. They need them to be large and clear and noisy. Women don't tend to worry about it. As long as we can see the shows we wish to watch we are generally fine with whatever TV is around.

My husband has been VERY patient. We haven't upgraded to a decent sized TV for a long time. He has watched football games without being able to read the score. He has watched movies without being able to read the subtitles.

Why has he been so patient? Why not just run out and buy the TV you want. I have two words for you...Dave Ramsey. We took financial peace university last winter. We have been following a budget and meeting goals. The TV didn't even come close to being a priority. Until now.

EJ's birthday is coming up and we have set aside some funds for his big day! He is turning 30 in January! Also, EJ's parents were willing to kick in his birthday money for this big purchase. He researched, he compared, he shopped and then today (on Cyber Monday)...he pounced!

Sad EJ, with this pitiful little TV.

Happy EJ, with his new girl. She is 42inches of pure plasma beauty. I'm not even going to be jealous tonight when he spends more time with her than with me.

Of course, when you are Daddy, you let your little ones watch their special movies on your new big TV. The first movie to be watched on the plasma? Veggie Tales: St. Nick. You are a good Daddy EJ!

Get Your Motor Running!

Pretty Princess and I took the boys out and went "treasure hunting". We went to more garage sales than I can count. We just kept heading to the next one and let GPS (pronounced Gyps) lead the way. Gyps became a good buddy by the end of our three day treasure hunt. When EJ asked me where we went I told him that we just went where Gyps told us to go!

My most exciting find was this Power Wheels Jeep. I got it for $30! For those of you who don't know...these bad boys sell for several hundred dollars. The Jeep served to be a major frustration for 2 days because I couldn't find the right replacement battery. Pop told the boys they have a pretty stinky pit crew! As you can see, EJ really enjoyed pushing the boys around the yard.

When I finally got the right battery and charger (which totaled around $91 plus tax) the cowboys were off and running! They love this thing! They drive to the garden, then they drive to check on the chickens, then to the barn, then to the pumpkin patch. Sometimes they drive around in circles just because they can! Bubba is getting pretty good at turning the wheel and knowing when to put it in reverse. There are two speeds on this Jeep "turtle" and "rabbit". As you can imagine we are currently on "turtle".

I'd say these smiles are worth the treasure hunt!

Garage Sale Victory!

The boys and I went hunting for treasures last Thursday. We found several "little" treasures that thrilled them beyond belief. We also found a fantastic buy that thrilled their Mommy! Check out all these mason jars... I paid $12 for this whole lot. There are 77 jars. EJ figures I got them for about 80% off retail price. We still need plenty more...we are hopeful we will have lots of salsa, spaghetti sauce, pickles, etc to put up.

First Pair of Wranglers

Bubba is so proud of his new Wranglers! Aren't they adorable. I have to say I got a heck of a deal on them. I found them at a used clothes store for 5 bucks. In the past year Bubba has really grown tall. He's not a baby anymore! Jeans he used to wear are falling down around him because the waist is too big. Wranglers fit the bill!