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Archive for April, 2006

April Goals

May 1st, 2006 at 05:01 am

walked with mom for 55 min

Went to the grocery store this morning. Spent $41.39. $8 on a book and 2 newspapers. Got 3 large tubes of Aquafresh toothpaste for free. Plus each tube gets 3 free music downloads. I'll give them to my niece. I also got 2 free packs of Dentyne Ice Gum.

My goals for April were

1. Walk at least 20 days for 35 min

Done

2. Pre-pay mortgage - $1500

Done

3. Spend $450 or less on household items

Spent $510.37 went way over. Partly on groceries because I did a lot of stocking up and also because I shop on Sundays and it was a 5 Sunday month. I also overspent on gas and I'm not sure why it's $35 more than I expected. I know it went up, but not that much and I didn't drive more than normal. This is a bit of a mystery right now.

4. Get my mutual fund paperwork from last year updated and organized in their binders.

Not done, worked too many overtime hours this month to fit this in. I know it won't get done next month either because of my vacation. Will put it back on the list in June

5. Re-do budget.

Not done. See excuse for goal 4.

Not a great month goal or budget-wise.

Net worth increased by .99% at least it's an increase Smile

Sold a book on half.com it's been over a month and a half since my last sale so that was nice, even if it was only $2

Ordered a miniature camper kit for my niece for her bday. $24.94

Free things this week

Schick Midnight Razor
Glad Flex bag
Wendy's Frescetta sandwich
Dentyne Gum and mints
2 packages of Dentyne Gum
3 tubes of Aquafresh toothpaste
9 music downloads.

Finished reading the library book Lara Croft Tomb Raider The Cradle of Life by Dave Stern. Sci/Fi Adventure. Ok

Shopping

April 30th, 2006 at 05:49 am

Went shopping with mom today.

First stop Barnes and Noble. Got 2 books for my niece and 2 for me. Had a 15% off one item coupon that I printed out, one for me and one for my mom. Spent $26.83

Next stop Family Christian bookstore. Mom had a 20% off everything coupon. I found a financial book I'd been looking for for a while called How to Save Money Every Day by Ellie Kay. Spent $5.12

Next stop the bank where I deposited 2 rolls of quarters and several rebate checks. I also got cash and travelers checks for my vacation

We went to Fargo's for lunch. It's an old fashioned pizza parlor. We had a coupon for buy 1 salad get 1 free. We each had a salad and split a small pizza. Yummy! The total was less than $10 and mom paid since I drove.

We went to the mall and I bought nothing.

Next stop Linen's n' things. Found some strawberry glasses my mom wanted so got them for mother's day. Had a $5 off $15 purchase coupon. Spent $23.97 With the book I got her, mother's day is done now.

Went to JoAnn's where I bought nothing.

Went to Target where I bought a lot. I wish there was a super Target close to me, the prices on the groceries were terrific. I get sugar free Log Cabin Syrup, at the grocery store it's $3.50 the same bottle was $2.59 plus there was a $1 off coupon attached. Got 2 bottles. Walnuts are very expensive in the grocery store, got 2 lbs for about half of the grocery price. Got 21 oz of mixed Macadamia, almonds and cashews for $6.94 they sell for $9.99 in the grocery store. It would probably be worth the gas to go there once a month and buy non-refrigerated groceries. I saved $16 on just 3 things that I buy a lot.

I also bought some fun stuff for me, using my extra fund. A small CD player that I can move from room to room while I'm cleaning and listen to CDs. $25. The new Toby Keith CD. $14, a book at 25% off, 2 plastic drinking glasses and a bunch of snacks for the trip. Total spent $91.87

Next stop was Wendy's were I had a coupong to buy 1 get 1 free for their Frescetta sandwiches. Spent $4.18 Had one for dinner and will have the other for lunch tomorrow.

Final stop was Maggie Moo's for ice cream. Mom paid again.

Got my mail when I got home and got a 6.99 rebate from Gillete razors in the mail and Free Dentyne Gum and mints.

Fun day but very tiring. Smile

more snow

April 29th, 2006 at 04:51 am

snowed again today so no walking. Just a light snow, but it lasted most of the day.

Doing some searching for rental cars for our Canada trip. We need one to get from Calgary to Edmonton. It's looking like $200 for the 2 days. It'd be a lot cheaper if we were returning the car to the same pickup. Need to make a decision and make the reservations this weekend. I wanted to go with Enterprise since they pick you up, but they are closed that day. It seems like Monday, May 22 is a holiday in Canada. Victoria Day. Who Knew?

Finished listening to the library book on tape On the Run by Iris Johansen. Mystery/Romance. Very good.

Cleaning

April 28th, 2006 at 04:20 am

walked with mom for 55 min

mjrube94 I sent you an email.

I decided I was going to start cleaning my house on Thursday nights instead of waiting till the weekend and taking all my weekend time. I worked for 2 1/2 hours tonight cleaning the downstairs and I am really tired. But it feels good knowing it's done and I'll have more free time this weekend.

Got a free Sckick Quattro Midnight razor in the mail today.

Finished reading my book Decision at Doona by anne McCaffrey. Sci/Fi Ok

more good mail

April 27th, 2006 at 04:30 am

walked with mom for 55 min

Got the $20 Exxon gas cards from Great Fun in the mail today.

mjrube94, if you still want to swap,
reply to this post and I'll send you an email with my address and you can send me yours.

I also got a free Glad Flex trash bag.

Does anyone know of a good website to buy cheap nuts?

Finished listening to the library book on tape The Body of David Hayes by Ridley Pearson. Mystery. Very good.

very good mail day

April 26th, 2006 at 04:14 am

walked with mom for 55 min

I got two $50 checks in the mail for my computer rebates. I think there is one more left. I also got a $25 GC to Barnes and Noble from My Points. So $125 total. Very good mail day

The ground was covered with white stuff when i got up this morning, but it quickly melted. It was still chilly when we walked at 5:00 but it was blue skies and gorgeous. We've been seeing some of the first wild flowers on our walks. My parents live in a forest and I love walking there, it's always interesting.

Finished listening to the library book on tape Dark Guardian by Christine Feehan. Supernatural/Romance. Very good.

50 million interuptions and counting

April 25th, 2006 at 04:16 am

we had a small snow storm and it was cold today so no walking.

I could not believe this day at work. I feel like I had 50 million interruptions. First one way, then another way, then on to something else and most of it was a total waste of time. I felt so frazzled by the end of the day and don't feel like I got anything accomplished.

But since I didn't walk the evening felt longer and I was able to relax and enjoy it.

Finished reading the library book Prior Bad Acts by Tami Hoag. Mystery. Very good. Also read two of the Money magazines I picked up at the library.

a soap box lecture

April 24th, 2006 at 04:08 am

walked with mom for 55 min

Went to King Soopers for groceries this morning. It just wasn't my day. They were out of radishes, jewish rye bread, and Dove chocolate. I spent $31.93 on food and $12 on books and magazines.

Went to Walgreens and spent 1.07 then to Albertson's were I got the radishes that King Sooper's was out of the onion I forgot. Spent $3.79

Got gas for 2.76/gal spent $15.58, ouch!

Went to TGIF for lunch. We had a $5 off $20 coupons. I spent $8.25

I fixed a big batch of chili, a big batch of oatmeal and chopped up all my veggies for the week.

Parade had a big article about how the American Dream is impossible for most people anymore. It gave examples of people who have too many bills and no savings. I realize that some people have things happen that make it hard for them to get ahead. But a lot of the so called middle class make enough money to live better than they do, they just don't having the knowledge and/or self-discipline towards money. Waiting to save up the money for something before buying it instead of putting it on the credit card and paying for it two or three times.

It's the tone of these articles that get to me. Like this state of affairs was imposed on these people and they have no say in improving thier situations by spending their money better, by going back to school and getting an education in different fields, by getting better jobs or by doing any of the hundreds of things people can do to make a good life for themselves in America. Things that they don't have the luxury of doing in other parts of the world.

Millions of people live the American Dream in America. Millions of people save money. Millions of people have a good life and raise a family on less than $50,000 a year. How come we never see articles about these people? Maybe it's because they aren't victims and have taken charge of their lives instead of going around blaming the government or business or society for their inability to save money.

filling out forms

April 23rd, 2006 at 05:20 am

walked with mom for 55 min

Filled out forms for 3 rebates today. The $25 Great Fun/Buy.com rebate. The 14.95 Kingston USB rebate and the $10 NetMagazine rebate.

Used my new USB to back up my PC. So easy!

Got a $30 rebate in the mail for my computer. Still have 2 outstanding rebates from the original 11.

I got my bill from DirectTv today and it shows they will have a free Total Choice Premier weekend May 19 - 21. Free HBO Starz, Showtime, Cinemax and 3 sports stations. I'm going to be on vacation that week so will miss it.

Went to the library and checked out some back copies of Money and Real Simple. I like the Real Simple magazine, but man do they have a lot of advertising.

Finished reading my book Sharper Than A Sperent's Tooth by Simon R Green. Sci/Fi. Very good series. Smart. I've always like reading about mythology and this series is a modern twist on a world where gods and mythical beings are real. Lot's of references to my past mythological readings.

good mail day for me too

April 22nd, 2006 at 05:29 am

walked with mom for 55 min

I had a good mail too. I got my other book from Barnes and Noble. Got my free USB and I got the CDs I ordered for my niece's bday.

Need to fill out the rebate forms tomorrow and get them in the mail.

By the way if you have a Discover Card and go to Barnes and Noble through their site you can get a 7% cash back bonus. That could be doubled depending on how you cash in your rebates from them. Probably best reward deal out there for Barnes and Noble.

Finished reading the library book Crazy Cool by Tara Janzen. Romance. Very good.

dinner out

April 21st, 2006 at 04:53 am

walked with mom for 55 min

Went to Village Inn for dinner. Spent $7

Was a good day for allergies only had to take the pills once. I'm hoping the 12 doses I got in the Tylenol Severe Allergy pills for .49 cents will last through the whole season for me. I usually only get the allergies for a few days in the spring and then again in the fall.

Got one of the books I ordered from BN today. The one for mother's day.

Also got my flex health payment reimbursment for medical expenses.

Finished listening to the library book on tape Inner Harbor by Nora Roberts. Romance. Very good.

Tired

April 20th, 2006 at 04:17 am

walked with mom for 55 min

The worst thing about allergies is they make my eyes water and then I get sleepy.

Sent for the $20 in Exxon Cards from Great Fun. They replied to my email saying their records say it's Exxon and not Circuit City, even though I printed out the page that shows Circuit City. They want me to call an 800 number. But I'm not going to mess with that since someone offered to swap cards with me. Much easier to do that.

I do feel that it stinks that they do that, especially when I told them there isn't an Exxon Station in Colorado so the cards were worthless here.

Finished reading The Ship Avenged by S.M. Stirling. Sci/Fi. Ok.

office day

April 19th, 2006 at 04:27 am

went into the office today. Spent 3 1/2 hours in meetings. I'd like to know when they expect me to get any work done.

Went to Staples and got printer ink. Had an old cartridge to recycle so got $3 off. Spent $56.37 This comes out of my maintenance/repair fund.

Went to Barnes and Noble and had a 15% off coupon on top of my 10% off membership. Spent $6.56 on one book. Still using my free GC.

Went to Wendy's on the way home. Spent $6.42 got dinner and chili for lunch tomorrow.

Got an email from Great Fun telling me how to get my $20 in Exxon Cards. The deal was I would get $20 in Circuit City cards. I sent them an email saying I wanted the Circuit City cards since we don't have any Exxon stations in Colorado and they would be worthless to me. We'll see what happens. That stinks changing the deal after the fact.

another magazine purchase

April 18th, 2006 at 04:39 am

walked with mom for 55 min

Got my haircut at Great Clips. Spent $11 had a $3 coupon I printed out from the Entertainment website.

Ordered a year of Family Circle from the magazine website where I get $10 back. Spent $11.97 but it's only 1.97 after the rebate. I figure I should get the 1.97 back in coupons.

I have a bunch of rebate forms I need to fill in and send out. Maybe this weekend.

allergy attack

April 17th, 2006 at 05:45 am

Had my first allergy attack of the season and it was brutal. My eyes were watering so bad I couldn't trust myself to drive to moms to walk. Vicious headache too, but it's cleared up now. I had some free allergy pills to take and they eventually kicked in.

Got groceries this morning. Spent $51.57, saved 39% according to the receipt. Salmon was on sale so I stocked up, which is why it was so high. Got 2 free 3oz bags of Starkist Fresh Pouch tuna.

Canceled the Mypoints insider's club membership today. I don't do enough online shopping where shipping costs are involved to make the monthly cost worthwhile. It nice that you can cancel online and not have to call them.

Had grilled salmon, potato salad and watermelon for dinner, very good. Watermelon was on sale at 49 cents/lb.

Free stuff this week

1 GB USB flash drive
Greeting Card
Swiffer Duster
Aquafresh Extreme Clean toothpaste sample
Degree Ultra Clear deodorant sample
2 3oz bags of Starkist Fresh Pouch tuna

Finished reading the library book Memory in Death by J.D. Robb. Mystery/Romance. Excellent books. Love this series.

online shopping

April 16th, 2006 at 04:38 am

walked with mom for 55 min

It's my dad's bday today so gave him his presents. I had already given him the Entertainment book, but also gave him a $25 GC to the Outback and 2 bags of black jelly beans, his favorites.

Went to my sister's for a turkey dinner. Spent quite a bit of time with my niece picking out CDs that she wanted for her bday from yourmusic.com $5.99 each and no S&H. She picked 6 CDs and her mom wanted one too. I ordered 5 of them to be sent right away and put 2 of them in my queue to be sent at the end of this month and the next. Spent $29.95 and my sister gave me 5.99 for the CD she wanted, so total for Niece bday so far is $23.96 for 4 CDs.

I went to buy.com earlier and found a 1GB USB flash drive for $38.95 with free S&H and a $14 mail in rebate + the $25 GreatFun rebate, plus I get 3% back by going through Nesteggz rewards so the total cost will be -1.22 cents Smile I've been wanting a USB for a couple months now.

I also went to Barnes and Noble online and ordered a book for my mom for Mother's Day and The Average Family's Guide to Financial Freedom by Bill and Mary Toohey for me. I had a deal from Citi card that if I used thier website I would get $10 back on my first purchase plus 4% of the purchase price rebated back. I spent $32.35. Shipping and handling was free. I'll get $11.29 back from Citi, and I saved 10% with my membership card. The finance book for me cost $2.16 vs the full price of $13.45 and the book for my mom was $17.99

Got a free greeting card in the mail from WalMart.

Finished reading the library book The Prey by Allison Brennan. Mystery. Ok too cliched and too much foreshadowing. It gets boring when you know what's going to happen next.

3 years of Kiplinger's magazine for $4.91

April 15th, 2006 at 05:42 am

walked with mom for 55 min

Got a free Swiffer Duster sampler in the mail.

I read several finance blogs a couple times a week. One of the blogs is

Text is http://www.mymoneyblog.com/ and Link is
http://www.mymoneyblog.com/

Today they had a link to
Text is http://www.magazinepricesearch.com/ and Link is
http://www.magazinepricesearch.com/

Which compares prices on subscriptions.

They showed a 3 year Kiplinger's Financial Magazine subscription for $4.91. 14 cents each! I buy Kiplinger's a couple times a year and read it at the library most months. It's my favorite of the financial magazines because I think it's geared more towards average people than the others.

Any ways I clicked on the link and was told to use code DCMPS40D $40 off of 10 magazines. I completed the order and I was only charged $4.91 after the discount. But it gets even better. When I checked out I was given the change to join GreatFun for $1 and get a $20 GC to Circuit City. Plus if I joined GreatFun I would get $10 discount on another magazine. What a deal!

But wait there's more. (I had to do that Smile ) I checked on fatwallet and when you join GreatFun and you make a purchase at Buy.com you can get a $25 rebate. There's no minimum purchase so you can just spend $25. I did this last fall and it worked great although it took quite a while to get the rebate back. Here's the url for the rebate form
Text is http://www.ecustservice.com/premiums/greatfun/25buy/ and Link is
http://www.ecustservice.com/premiums/greatfun/25buy/

So to reiterate
3 years of Kiplinger's personal finance magazines for $4.91
1 month trial at GreatFun $1
Total spent $5.91
Get $20 GC to Circuit City
Get $10 discount on another magazine purchase
Get $25 rebate back from Buy.com

Finished listening to the library book on tape Origin in Death by J.D. Robb. Mystery/Romance. Excellent series.

more samples

April 14th, 2006 at 04:29 am

walked with mom for 55 min

Got a Aquafresh Extreme Clean toothpaste sample and a Degree Ultra Clear deodorant sample in the mail today. And they both came with coupons so I can get trial sizes for free too Smile

I signed my parents up for the Red Robin e-mail club because it's my Dad's Bday on Saturday. They got the email to get a free burger and are planning to use it tomorrow.

Wednesday

April 13th, 2006 at 04:12 am

walked with mom for 55 min

Got a $10 GC from Walgreens

Finished reading my book The Truth About Love by Stephanie Laurens. Romance. Very Good. It took me 3 days to read this, which is a long time for me. It' only 421 pages long, I just haven't had a lot of time to read. Frown

gas for car

April 12th, 2006 at 04:10 am

walked with mom for 55 mni

I've been working till 10 or 11 everynight for several days now. I decided to take tonight off. Went to Rosie's for dinner. Spent $8.50. This will be a bad month for eating out. When I work so many hours I don't want to fix anything and I don't plan ahead.

Got gas $2.59/gal, spent $24.24. The station accross the street had it at $2.69 so I figured I should fill up before it went up another 10 cents. Totally ridiculous.

Got a $50 rebate from my computer. I think there's only 3 left.

Finished listening to the library book on tape Freedom's Ransom by Anne McCaffrey. Sci Fi. Very good. This is one of my favorite series from her. Basically rebuilding civilization type of story.

Niece day and bargains

April 10th, 2006 at 05:10 am

walked with mom for 55 min

Got lots of bargains today.

Got groceries early this morning. Spent $25.64. $2.25 for newspapers and $7.80 for stamps. Got a free 8 oz bag of egg noodles.

Got $10.00 in gas

My niece came over and we went to lunch at Reb Robin. Spent $6. Had $10 free GC from xmas.

We went to Kmart and I spent $28.64. I got a plastic portable file storage box for $9. I was looking for a footstool to put my feet on under my desk, to help my legs. This was the perfect height, the price was right and I figured it could double as storage. Smile I also got a v-neck t-shirt for $5 and a bag/purse/organizer to carry on the airplane for our trip. It's big enough to carry a change of clothes, plus it has organizer stuff for noteblooks, sunglasses, credit cards, pens/pencils etc. It was on sale at 30% off. I paid $14 for it, black leather looking material.

After that we went to see Ice Age II. Spent $10.25. It was really good. Cute.

Next stop was the Dollar Store. Last year I bought several Fiesta Ware plates from Linens N Things one at a time using the 20% off coupons for about $5 each after coupons. The Dollar Store had the same plates for $1 each and bowls. I bought two plates and two bowls and 15 Peeps for the nieces to share. Spent $5

We went to Cold Stone and got ice cream. I had a BOGO coupon so only spent $5 with tip.

Last stop was Walgreens. I spent $9.66 and saved $11.46 plus I get $3.50 back in rebates. They had 50 ct Excedrin on sale for $5.49 + $3.50 back in rebates making it $1.99. I had a $1.00 coupon so I got 50 ct of Excedrin for .99 cents. Very good deal. They had Tylenol Severe Allergy 24 ct on sale for $3.99 plus a Walgreens coupons for $2.50 and I had a manufactures coupon for $1.00 so it only cost me .49 cents. Very happy with both of these purchases.

Free this week

Sample Dove Calming soap
1 8oz bad of egg noodles

I came home around 6:30 and started working again. Hope to finish by 11:00.

3 tons of work to do

April 9th, 2006 at 03:07 am

walked with mom for 55 min

Besides walking and going to the library, I've been stuck in front of my computer working all day. At least 10 hours.

I have 3 tons of work to do in the next month so probably won't be doing much reading or anything else for a while.

Last night I finished reading The Mom's Guide to Earning and Saving Thousands on the Internet. Make money with mystery shopping, surveys, and point programs by Barb Webb with Maureen Heck. Financial. I thought this was a pretty good book. Especially if you are new to these subjects. Lots of good websites are included in the book too.

Best Buy rewards finally

April 8th, 2006 at 04:43 am

walked with mom for 55 min

Got the Best Buy rewards from when I bought my computer in January in the mail today. But I only got half of what the sales person and their website said I should be getting, so another phone call. BLEAGH! Got $15 in rewards.

I still have 4 rebates outstanding on my computer, but expect them to get here eventually.

Finished listening to the library book on tape River's End by Nora Roberts. Mystery. Excellent book. I just love Nora Roberts books. She always has characters that you feel are real people. She has great story lines, great dialog and really makes you see her story in your mind and hear her characters. It's a good thing she writes so much, I devour her books.

pre-payment to mortgage

April 7th, 2006 at 04:28 am

walked with mom for 55 min

Afterwards my dad was telling me how much the new tires he needs is going to cost him. I asked him if he'd looked on the Internet. No, he's not a computer person and he can't talk mom into doing too much for him, because she get's tired of it.

He had called around town and the cheapest quotes he got were $850. So I found the same tires online at Discount Tire that he could go to in town and get for $760. That included mounting, taxes everything. Saved him over $80. He thought that was pretty cool.

I keep trying to get both of them to expand their computer capabilities since they have the time to do this kind of research.

Met an old co-worker for lunch. Spent $9. Was nice to catch up.

Sent off this months pre-payment for the mortgage $1500

I need more time to play

April 6th, 2006 at 04:32 am

walked for 55 min with mom

Went to dinner with parents at Rosies. Spent $6.50

I wish, i wish, i wish, i was retired. I need more time to do all the neat things there are to do on the Internet to make and save money.

I'm reading The Mom's Guide to Earning and Saving Thousands on the Internet by Barb Webb with Maureen Heck. I've only read one chapter so far and then went to thier website at

Text is www.momdotcom.net and Link is
www.momdotcom.net Then I spent two hours looking around and filling out freebie offers. Good stuff.

Under their extras tab are some really cool tracking forms for rebates, shopping lists etc. If people are into mystery shopping they have a whole section on websites for that too.

I wish I had more time to visit some of the other websites they listed in their book. Maybe this weekend.

I'm not a big shopper, either online or off, but I do like to get good deals and if I had more time I could ferret them out, track them and take better advantage. I don't take advantage of a lot of things because it's just one more thing to deal with and manage.

Tuesday

April 5th, 2006 at 04:09 am

walked with mom for 55 min

Got a free sample of Dove Calming night soap bar. I personally think it stinks. I'm not a flower smell person, they seem to give me headaches, but it's free and I can always pass it on if I decide not to use it.

Finished reading the library book One Last Look by Linda Lael Miller. Mystery. Very Good.

flex account

April 4th, 2006 at 03:40 am

walked with mom for 55 min

DirectTV still has Showtime on tonight. I didn't see anything I wanted to see that I hadn't already seen this weekend, so I didn't get to take good advantage of the freebie.

Had a Dr appt this morning to check if my blood pressure has come down with the meds. It was 124/80 very good. She also took another blood test to see if I'm low in potassium, calcium or magnesium. I've had horrible cramps in my calves when walking this last week and she thinks it's a side affect of the meds. I hope they send it to the right lab this time, they sent it to the wrong one last time and it cost me $100 because it was out of network.

Went to McDonalds for breakfast after the Dr appt and spent $4.84

Got the March Walgreens rebates already. Expecting another $10 GC from them too.

Got information from my flex account, they paid my claim. My flex account still had money in it from last year and they told us we could use it up till March of this year. They took this claim out of this years account. I don't understand that and need to call tomorrow to find out what the deal is.

I hate calling people on the phone about accounts and things.

Booked our hotels in Edmonton for the extra night we are staying in Canada. $83 each. So far I've spent $2578.83 and I haven't gone anywhere yet.

Applied for my $10 rebate from the My Points insider club. I got my first two CDs from Your Music. The Wanda Jackson CD was really good. And I absolutely love the ZZ Top Rancho Texicano CD. I've been chair dancing to it all afternoon.

Finished reading the Smart Shopper magazine and printed off a $5 off $25 purchase coupon at Party City for my mom from one of the cites listed in the mag.

Finished reading Kiplinger's magazine. This issue is about How to save money on everything and the had a lot of the same stuff that was in the Smart Shopper magazine.

Finished listening to the library book on tape Winter Prey by John Sandford. Mystery. Very good. I love this series and the main character Lucas Davenport. He has some great lines.

Free stuff and errands

April 3rd, 2006 at 05:01 am

walked with mom for 55 min

Went to the grocery store and spent $21.50 on food and $7.49 on a new paperback. I buy a lot fewer books than I used to, but still like to purchase ones that I know I will read over and over. I can't believe the prices on some of the new paperbacks, $9.99 for a paperback if you pay full price. and $7.49 when I get 25% off. Ridiculous. I don't like the new format of a lot of the paperback either, taller and thinner. The books look wierd on my bookcases.

Got a free Sunday newspaper at the grocery store when I was leaving. Saved 17%. Got two 15 ct boxes of Pizza Rolls for .10 cents each.

Went to Barnes and Noble and spent $18.55 used my free GCs. Got a Kiplinger's magazine How to save on Everything. And a new magazine called Arthur Frommer's Smart Shopping. This is a really good magazine, costs 2.99 and has a ton of money saving ideas and a lot of good websites to go to to find bargains. Well worth the money. Also picked up a book called Mom's guide to saving and making money on the Internet. Looked interesting. I had a 15% off coupon that I printed out from the Internet.

Went to Big Lots and spent $1.25 on a box of salt and 2 large bottles of spices.

Next met my parents at Red Lobsters. Had a coupon for $3 off 2 meals. My meal was only $6 including tax and tip. Popcorn shrimp, I love that stuff.

Last stop was Long's. Got a free Lady Speed Stick 24/7 deodorant. I had a $5 off $25 purchase coupon from the Entertainment book. They had chopped walnuts on sale at 1 lb for $3. A very good deal. I had just bought some at the grocery store for $6.99 a pound, so I stocked up and bought two more pounds at $6 total. I like to put a handfull of them on my oatmeal in the morning. I spent $22.74.

Free Stuff I got this week.

A Sunday Newspaper
A sample of Purpose Moisturizer
Lady Speed Stick 24/7 deodorant
Free Showtime movies

Finished reading the library book Crazy Hot by Tara Janzen. Romance/mystery. Pretty good.

April Goals

April 2nd, 2006 at 04:50 am

walked with mom for 55 min

My goals for April are:

1. Walk at least 20 days for 35 min

2. Pre-pay mortgage - $1500

3. Spend $450 or less on household items

4. Get my mutual fund paperwork from last year updated and organized in their binders.

5. Re-do budget.

Finished listening to the library book on tape Dark Paradise by Tami Hoag. Mystery. Very good.