2010 Goals

As 2010 is rapidly approaching, I have had a little time to sit back and reflect on this past year. We have had a lot going on and I am not where I would like to be at this time. This next year is also going to be exciting as I am going to be a grandmother in February. Hopefully we can make it til then!!!


This next year I have set my goals and I will be updating as I go forward.
Savings account started and funded with 1500.00
Grocery budget reduced
Stockpile built up
small trip in the summer

Please join me as I travel this next year.

Budget Christmas Challenge

I am always looking for ways to save money especially at Christmas and at Little People Wealth it looks like I can really save a lot this Christmas.

Free Signature Body care item Bath and Body Works

Received in my email this morning. Free Signature Body care item with 10.00 purchase. Use code 1219 in stores and FREESC online. Good until 09/27/2009

Sunshine Rewards

This is a website that I have found. You can earn cash by reading emails, participating in offers, cash back for shopping. They offer paypal, and lots of different gift cards. Please check it out.

New CVS

We have a CVS opening up hopefully this week as we got an ad today in the paper. Now I need some help with the deals here. I hope I can get this right and not spend a whole lot of money this week.

This was sent to me in an email and thought it was just awesome

1. Passing the Purple Hat to You IN honor of women's history month and in memory of Erma Bombeck who lost her fight with cancer. Pass this on to five women that you want watched over. If you don't know five women to pass this on to, one will do just fine. IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck (written after she found out she was dying from cancer). I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day. I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. I would have talked less and listened more. I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded. I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace. I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.. I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains. I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life. I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime. Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle. When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.' There would have been more 'I love you's' More 'I'm sorry's.' But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute.look at it and really see it . live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!! Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.If you don't mind, send this on to all the women you are grateful to have as friends. Maybe we should all grab that purple hat earlier. Please send this to five phenomenal women today in celebration of Beautiful Women's Month. If you do, something good will happen--you will boost another woman's self esteem.
2. KEEP IT LIT! IN MEMORY .. . . . ..These are the colours that represent the different cancers. All you are asked to do is keep this circulating, even if it's to one more person, in memory of anyone you know who has been struck by cancer. A Candle Loses Nothing by Lighting Another Candle. Please Keep The Candle Going!
This one I do ask that you please send on. By sending this on, you will think and realize how you've been blessed, up until now. This is a disease which affects all families... no one is exempt!

Flu!!!!

With the start of the school year, comes sickness. Meaghan woke up Saturday morning running a fever of 101 with body aches and headache. So off to the doctor we go, flu test comes back negative, all other tests come back fine, must be a viral infection. Yesterday, fever goes down and then back up. Yesterday evening it shot up to 103.2 and she was getting real dizzy, so off to the emergency room we go. There was people everywhere all wearing masks. The doctor said even though the test the day before came back negative, most times it would come back positive the next day and she had the flu. She is going to miss a whole week of school. Now to keep Emily from getting sick with it. It would be worse on her since shes pregnant.

Menu for the week

Here is my menu for the week:

Sunday: Spaghetti with garlic toast
Monday: Chicken and Dumplings
Tuesday: Ribeye steaks pasta salad
Wednesday: hamburger steak, rice and gravy
Thursday: pork chops potatoes
Friday: leftovers
Saturday: leftovers

Back again!!!!

Since I have last posted, life has indeed been hopping. I found out that my oldest daughter is pregnant. Right now, she is almost 4 months along, we will find out in Oct. what she is having. It has been a real tumultuous 2 months since we found out. Her school is going real good and she is doing so much better this year. Knock on wood....

This past week has been real hard at work. My hours were cut back dramatically from around 30 or so to 10-15. I now work only on Fr and Sat. and one Sunday a month. I was really upset when I found out, but after having time to think about it, it really is for the better. When I was working 5 days a week, I was also having to have dr. appts for her, dentist appts for both the girls, wic appointments for her and therapy appts for both girls. On top of that, taking care of the house, and taking care of my husband and myself. It was almost impossible for me. Now I am home during the week and dont have to worry about leaving work to take them to appts. I am planning on working on my blog more, cooking more, putting things on ebay and mystery shopping for extra money. This can be done!!!!! I know it will be okay.!!!!!!!!!

Walmart and Save a lot finds

I work in the beauty salon inside Walmart and when it is slow, I like to go look for clearance items. I found this weekend 2 full shelves of clearance items. Mainly pickles and most under 1.00. I was able to snag quite a few jars of Peter Piper pickles for the girls. I also found Ball park franks 2for 3.00 with the 1.00 off 2. They were 1.00 each.

If you have a Save A Lot, check for store coupons. I found 2 the other day expiring 7/30 and 9/30. One for 1.00 off diamond fall sugar when you buy 10 kool aid packs and one free tostito chips when you buy cheese. Cant remember the brand of cheese but its like Velveeta. Hope yall are able to get some good deals

Mailbox today

I got my buzzagent razor today. It looks like a good one. I also got coupons from conagra with a free hunts ketchup and the rebate form for 34.00 more in coupons. Cant wait to use these.

End of school year

Today is the last day of school for my oldest daughter Emily. Meaghans last day was yesterday and is so ready for it. Now I am really needing to get back to couponing especially snacks since they are home all the time. Usually summer is the time my grocery bill goes up since they are home all the time. What are some deals going on right now for snacks. Leave me a comment and let me know.

Oppostional Defiance Disorder

If you have a child with this, you know how difficult life can be. My oldest daughter was diagnosed with this last fall and iy has been hard. I have been told I am a bad mother, that all she needs is a good whipping and been made to feel like a complete failure as a mother. When you have children there is no handbook to tell you how to raise them, you do the best that you can. Right now we have begun an intensive home therapy designed to keep her out of long tem care. We have been trying to get her in this program since Oct and they finally came through. Hopefully this will be her salvation and after we complete this program she will be better.

Working now

I am sorry I have not posted in a couple of weeks but I started a new job on 3/16/2009. I am a licensed hairstylist and have had to go back to work to help out with income. I have been working a lot of hours and only have 2 days off. I am still going to be blogging every week and once I get my routine down, I will be posting my menu plan again.

Spring Break

The days are getting longer and the days are warmer and that means spring break is right around the corner. Growing up we used to go on trips. We cant go anywhere as my husbands work is busy that week. He is housekeeping supervisor of our local mall and it is super busy that week. Leave me a comment as to what your plans are for spring break.

Wish upon a Hero

I was surfing the web a couple of months ago and came across this awesome websitehttp://www.wishuponahero.com. It is people helping people with the little things that you may need or want.. There are a lot of heartwrenching stories on there and when I feel really down about my situation, I go on there and read the stories and I feel so much better.

With our stockpiles, we should be able to help out when we can. I hope everyone gets as much out of this as I do.

Kroger Deal Today

David and I went to Krogers today grocery shopping. I had 100.00 for groceries for two weeks as we had to buy a tag for our car and really needed to get it done today.
Kroger total before coupons: 95.28
total after coupons 47.71
52% saved


bought 5 toaster struedels 3@.79
2@.49
5 totino pizza rolls @1.79
strip of kroger yeast
2 mentos gum at .49
3 Nesquick chocolate milk at .59
8 pks of cottonelle toilet paper @1.98
bag of Riceland brown rice 1.99
Hormel pepperoni @. 97
I also picked up chub of hamburger meat for 5.99
family pack of chuck steak for 6.00 manager special
2 family packs of chicken thighs for 3.00 each also manager special
Sanderson farm boneless skinless chicken breast for 1.79 lb got almost 3 lbs.

Went to Save-a-lot for the rest
picked up canned corn
black beans
green beans
baked beans
2 pk egg noodles
2 pk spaghetti noodles
butter
milk
eggs
5 cans biscuits
2 cans crescent rolls
2 cans cinnamon rolls
big can of coffee
bell peppers
onions
3 bricks of mozzarella cheese
1 brick of colby jack cheese
3 small cans mushrooms
3 cans cream of chicken soup
box of freezer bags
total 57.81
Kroger total 47.57
total for the next two weeks: 105.38
went over by 5.38
Not bad for really just starting out

What is Once a Month Cooking

Once a month cooking is cooking and freezing meals to save time and money in the kitchen during the week. I have tried many ways of accomplishing this and actually cooking 30 meals at once it overwhelming to me so that went out the window. I tried breaking it down to 2 weeks at a time, a little better but still hard for me. Now what I do is when I am making something like spaghetti sauce or chili or something that I know will freeze good, I will put the extra in the freezer and I have that for later. If I want calzones in a week or two, I know I have the spaghetti sauce, all I need to do is make the rolls. As I plan my menus, I will let you know what will freeze good and you can make extra to put in the freezer.

Whats for Dinner,mom?

Today I am starting my menu for the next week. I actually have to go grocery shopping tomorrow for the next two weeks but I am going to stay on target for the next two weeks.

Tuesday-roast in crockpot
rice and gravy
vegetables
Wed. playoff burgers
baked beans
Thurs. chicken tettrazini
some vegetable(dont know yet)
Friday Homemade pizza veggie and pepperoni
Sat Savory Beef w/egg noodles
green beans
Sunday Pizza rollups
vegetables
Monday barbecue chicken with cheesy biscuits
corn

Most of my recipes for the next two weeks come from the book once a month cooking by mimi wilson and mary beth lagerborg. This is actually a fabulous book. I used to to do once a month cooking before I left my job. Now I use it just every day I make the recipes.

Snow March 1, 2009

Look at what we woke up to this morning

Menu tonight

Tonight it is just me at home yeah!!!!! Emily is going out and Meaghan is going to their dads for the weekend and my DH is working so I am going to be here by my little lonesome self. I made Davids supper for him before he left so that is what I am going to have some myself. I made
hamburger patties, mashed potatoes and whole kernel corn. Tomorrow night David and I will both cook and dont know yet what it will be.

Happy Birthday!!!

Today is my oldest daughter Emilys birthday. It is hard to believe that she is 15 years old today. Seems like only yesterday, I was in the hospital having her and now she thinks she is grown. We have been through a lot the past year but I know she is going to be okay. I love you a lot Emily Happy birthday my sweet child.

Kroger trip 2/17/2009

Just getting started on my quest to bring my shopping totals down. I know Kroger just came off a few weeks of great sales and I was able to get there for one week but I haven't gotten that down so here is my total for yesterdays trip. I did good anyway

3 boxes Trix cereal
2 boxes Honey Nut cereal
2 Kelloggs Frosted Flakes
3 cottonelle
2 Kids yogurt cups
2 GG frozen vegetables
2 GG steamers
5 toaster struedels
1 Hellmans mayonaise
1 5 lb chub of ground chuck
2 Kraft salad dressing
2 dial liquid soap

Total before sales, coupons 94.38
Total after sales, coupons 31.67
Total savings 62.71