halloween

Decorations

that I can't claim.

These photos were taken in Charleston, SC

at my friend Leslie's house.

My family piled in the SUV and took a road trip to visit Leslie and her family a few weeks ago.

She said she loves to decorate for Halloween and I believe it!

I loved ALL of the flares of fall throughout her home.  

With a little "scary" thrown in, too.

How festive and fun!

Her home looked like something out of the Southern Living Magazine.

I loved it.

She inspired me to spice up my own home with some ORANGE and BLACK 

in honor of Halloween {pictures to come}.

Thanks, Les, for sharing your home with my crazy family!

saving money

This week the sales weren't that exciting plus I was overwhelmed by other things going on, so I didn't HURRY to the stores at the beginning of the week.  I HAVE found that to be the key to this "couponing/sale" game.  If you want to get the best deals, you have to hit the stores on Sunday and Monday to really stock up things you NEED.  Otherwise, you get the left overs.

I wasn't planning on hitting up the stores for the sales this week.  I did make one trip to Kroger at the beginning of the week which was VERY productive.  But, the other sales (at CVS and Rite Aid) didn't seem too appealing.  

However, I got VERY excited when I got my "Single Check Rebate" $ from Rite Aid in the mail on Tuesday.  

Remember a few weeks ago (week 2) when I actually PROFITED from my trip to Rite Aid?  

Well, I got my rebate check for $41.41.  

That inspired me to look over the sale papers again and hit the stores QUICKLY for just a few things.

It was a very random list of items that I got, but overall lots of BIG savings.  

Seriously random items - so no pictures!

Kroger Purchases

I paid $4.46 for $46.92 worth of groceries.  

Rite Aid Purchases

I paid $13.38 for $67.47 worth.

AND I earned $9 in Up Rewards (good towards my next purchase)

$1 in "Single Check Rebates".

So REALLY I only spent $3.38 and will be giving MOST of the items I purchased away.

CVS Pharmacy Purchases:

I paid only $9.27 for $136.22 worth.

Yep, you read it right.  That's a savings of 93%.

AND, I earned $10 EXTRA CARE BUCKS (good towards my next purchase.)

So technically I made $0.73 PROFIT.

I did get 3 boxes of Purex laundry 3-in-1 Sheets that made this trip completely worth the time!

SO FOR THIS WEEK...

All of these items should've cost me about more than $255.

I paid just a little more than $27 for all of it.

AND, I earned $20 towards my purchases next week.

In the end...

I SAVED 90% from my purchases this week.

halloween

I LOVE decorating for Halloween.

I love using pumpkins to add the feel of FALL to my home.

This is the first post of many this week that include my take on FALL and HALLOWEEN.

Consider it the aftermath (considering Halloween was yesterday!)

I am such a slack blogger!

This is the first project that I did for my son's school - the Silent Auction Fundraiser Basket.

The theme - Halloween, of course!

And I loved it!

saving money

This week:  Not soooooo exciting {like last week}.  BUT, I got lots of items that we NEEDED at really great prices.  I stocked up some staples for our household.

Rite Aid Purchases

I paid $31.69 for all of this.  AND I earned $2 in Up Rewards (good towards my next purchase).

The packages of diapers were just under $4.

YES, we are STILL using diapers, so this was a plus!

Lots of savings for this trip to Rite Aid...but no major steals.

Kroger Purchases

I paid $19.08 for all of this.  

6 Tubes of Kids' Toothpastes - FREE
1 Can Shaving gel - FREE
2  Containers of Similac Formula - made a slight profit
11 Packs of rice - $0.10 each
12 Boxes of cereal - about $1 each

I got LOTS of items to donate from Kroger this week.
I love giving stuff away!

Publix Purchases

I paid $11.23 for all of this.

No major steals, but stuff we needed at great prices.

I'll take it!

CVS Pharmacy Purchases:

I paid only $15.12 for all of this.

AND, I earned $10 EXTRA CARE BUCKS (good towards my next purchase.)

So technically I got all of this for just over $5.

Some I will give away and some of the Aveeno products I will actually use.

Not too bad!

So for this week...

All of these items should've cost me about more than $260.

I paid just a little more than $77 for all of it.

AND, I earned $12 towards my purchases next week.

In the end...

I SAVED 70% off my purchases this week.

AND, gots lots of stuff for MY family

and LOTS of stuff to donate. 

Week #3 - Experiment Totals So Far

I spent {out of pocket}

$71

For almost $400 worth of STUFF

A savings of over 82%