couponing again

I decided to start couponing again.  I used to be pretty good at it.

I had a great stockpiling going and then

I stopped.

I stopped because I starting making my own detergent and buying 

all natural cleaners and trying not to buy

processed food.

Well, I stopped buying all natural items because I couldn't afford it any longer.

I still make my own detergent and use vinegar and water but 

my hubby missed my stockpile of 

Razors

Toothpaste

Toothbrushes 

Shampoos 

ETC

After bugging me and bugging me I decided to get back to it.

So, I am a beginner again without

Extra Care Bucks -ECB (CVS)

Register Rewards-RR (Walgreens)

or 

coupons

First thing I did was try to build out my coupons and lucky for me we get a weekly free newspaper with the Smart Source.

So...I had my kids go and get them from the neighbors or pick them up from the road. (I figured if they are in the middle of the road

no one wanted them anymore)

Here are my first 3 back to couponing 

transactions.  I have used coupons here and there but not to build a stockpile like before.  

I went Walgreen's and worked 3 deals..all of which can be done as a newbie.  Make sure you sign up for the Balance Rewards card before these transactions if you haven't done so before.

Transaction 1

Buy Scope (1 liter) $3.49 and get $2 RR

I used a printable $1 off (this is a link to swagbucks coupons)  

you can also go to coupons.com You have to search for it under personal care

Paid oop $2.49

Got back $2 RR (its like paying .49)

Transaction 2

Buy 2 Colgate 2/$6

Nice! sour heads $.99

Use 2-.75 off from 02/02/2014 SS (in the free newspaper)

Use $2.00 RR from previous transactions.

(note:  you need 1 item per coupon during check out.  I had 3 coupons technically with the RR so I got a bag of candy. You can use any filler instead. The cheaper the filler the better.)

Paid $3.49 OOP.

Got $4.00 RR

its like paying .51 cents for all that.

Remember if my filler was cheaper (bag of candy) it would have been less OOP (out of pocket) I promised the kids candy.  :P

Transaction 3

For this one you need the Red Plum from the 2/9/14 Sunday newspaper.  If you don't have that, I would save the RR for next week.

Buy 2 Nivea Lip A Kiss of Care and Color $5.29 Each (bogo 50%)

Used Redplum 02/09/2014 $3/2 lipcare

Used $4.00 RR

Paid 1.08

Received 2000 points on my Walgreen's balance rewards which is like $2 

If you stop at transaction 2 you will have $4 RR to use next week if you do all three you will not have $4 RR but you will have 2000 points.  When you reach 5000 points you can use on purchases.  That's like using $5.00

I paid out of pocket about $7 and got about $18.00 worth of merchandise.  Pretty good for a beginner.  Saved $11.00 

I hope my hubby is now happier with a budding stockpile of two toothpastes.  Lets see how this goes.

Hope Walgreen's doesn't mind me using their image.  But, we all love Walgreen's.  

What are we reading?

I have been trying to read to the kids regularly as part of my goals.  Also, I signed up to read 52 books this year.  YIKES!!!  So?  What are we reading?

Personal:  I read a book from one of my favorite authors.  Fannie Flagg.

I really enjoyed this book.  I didn't realize it was about adoption, but it was.  I had my own reunion with my own birth parents not so long ago and it was tough and sad and awkward.  (but it had its good points, and I am at least still on talking terms with my bio dad).  This little surprise adoption story let me work through some of my own demons and see things from outside the pain of adoption/reunion.  

I purchased this book so I could find a way to "get" my hubby to take the spiritual lead in our home, but I learned much more about how I should act, what is expected of me, and how I can improve myself and support my hubby.  Its a great motivator.  

Traveling Light is also a wonderful book that has me using my pen on almost every page.  Normally, I just read a book and hope I remember what page I read anything worthwhile.  But, with this book, I am underlining, highlighting and adding some comments and ideas.  Also, great motivator to improve myself.

I am also reading a fluff book about Zombies, the second book in the Hunger Games (again), plus a couple of books I started but haven't gone back to just yet.

Oh, and of course the scriptures.

Family:  Besides scripture study we are reading Mary Poppins and will be starting The Tempest, Pagoo, a fairy tale book and a biography..leaning toward one about Ben Franklin.

For little one:  I am just trying to read as many good books as I can.  Eric Carle, and Margaret Wise and even some audio books.

That is what we are reading as of today.  I love reading and downloaded lots of free ebooks on my Kindle app just waiting for me.  :D  Most of them classics.

What are you reading?

January Goals

January  Goals.

My goals for January are pretty big but I am going to try to break them down into weekly goals.

Mothering/Family goals.

1. Read to younger kids each night

2. have scripture study daily

3.have one fun outing (free) each week with hubby

Personal Goals

1.  Memorize Scripture Mastery with Victoria.  One a week

2. Read scriptures each morning

3. Walk 3 miles

4. Read my 2014 book list

Homeschooling

1. Follow our schedule 

2. Read a classic with kids

3. Work on my education buy studying Thomas Jefferson Education

Financial Goals

1.  save $200.00  by the end of the month

2.  Work on our menu planning

3.  Limit eating out

14 books for 2014

I started my list for the books I would like to read this year.  Many are books I started and never finished.  I intend to finish and tie up all loose ends.  

I divided my selections into 4 categories

1. Fiction

Pilgrims Progress-

Out of the silent planet-C.S Lewis

Water Babies

Bulfinch's Mythology

2. Non Fiction

The History of the Ancient World

Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Well Educated Mind 

The Law

I included the links on the Susan Bauer books because I really like them. 

3.Classics (some fiction might be classics too)

Don Quixote 

Walden

Utopia

Kim

Self Help ( I decided to use this for Mother training)

A mother's heart- Jean Fleming

Psalms for mothers-

Traveling Light-Max Lucado

My Heart Belongs to Him (study with Victoria)

I left 2 as floaters and I am still looking but it might be two books by the Eyres.

1. I didn't plan to be a witch

I don't intend to only read these books, I will still read but my goal is to finish these.

I will also have a reading list to have as family reading.