Today's Goals

So today's goals were supposed to be something like this:

1. Work for 3 hours
2. Feed Kids breakfast
3. Get something productive done today

4. Return library items
5. Make lunch for the kids

6. Clean up the house

7. Get ready for work

8. Go to work for a couple hours

9. Come home and eat dinner

10. Do some more productive stuff with the kids/husband or just be lazy- my choice.

I am in no mood to do anything and it's not even 2pm.

What do I do?

I'm frustrated- I think I'm expecting too much of myself or maybe I'm just not dedicated enough.

I'm going to just be lazy. I'm at least good at that.

-Crystal

This Mother Hubbard

This Mother Hubbard

Went to her Cubbard

To feed her poor kids some lunch

But When she got there

The Cubbard was bare

It's Grocery Time for this bunch!

Yet This Mother Hubbard

Clips coupons and saves

Shops frugally and still can't afford

The food that we need

With 8 mouths to feed

It's becoming too much of a chore

So this Mother Hubbard

Will find work of some other

At nights when her hubby is home

Then one day Mother Hubbard

Will buy milk, bread and butter

And perhaps buy the doggy a bone!

Queen of my Castle

If I were the queen of my castle

The first order of business would be

That all decisions would be mine to make

Or at least have to pass through me

If I were the queen of my castle

Everyone would do their share

Whether it be taking out trash and recycle

or at least cleaning up their shaved hair

If I were the queen of my castle

they’d ask “anything else before I go?”

I could wave them through if they’re worthy

or I’d ask them to do one more chore

If I were the queen of my castle

The food I buy would never disappear

And if anyone would like to eat something

They’d at least TRY to bring more food here

If I were the queen of my castle

Jim- my king, would support every wish

And everyone would keep a clean kitchen

and not expect ME to clean every dish

If I were the queen of my castle

I’d be greeted each day of some kind

And then maybe the king or the princes

would ask me to speak my own mind

If I were the queen of my castle

I’d never have to yell, scream or shout

But it’s because I’m not even a princess

I just watch kids, clean all day and then pout

If I were the queen of my castle

I’d be lovely and beautifully GREAT

But because I am stuck with just wishing

'Requesting' would just lead to debate

Walgreens -Trip 5

So, I made it through the entire week of not buying 'just because I had the coupon for "IT" ' (as I laugh at myself) - lol

But when I FINALLY scored some extra Peanut Butter coupons this afternoon, I knew I HAD to go to WALGREEN'S today!

Here is the pic from a blog post I read earlier this week that sparked this shopping trip.
(from krazycouponlady.com)

So, my trip went a little something like this...

75 cent peanut butters, check- times that by 6- no problem... what a huge savings within it self!
Tomato soup's on sale for 99 cents? Awesome, but Walgreen's has a coupon for 59 cents up to 3 cans. Woot woot, I'll be doing that, thank you! Mandarin oranges, 2 for $1- awesome, kids will LOVE these! Cereal is cheap too (kinda) 5 for $10- but I have coupons, that makes them $1.50 each... oh ya. That's a good buy! Oh wow, buy 4 bags of M&M's and get $5 back at the register. Cha ching!

Thirty something dollars and 3 separate/different Walgreen trips later- I came home as one proud COUPONER! ;o)

Here is a pic of what I scored tonight!

I forgot to tell you the best part!!!
I intended on spending $2.99 for each of the Maxwell House Instant Coffee's (that is WITH the current Walgreen's coupon from last Sunday's paper) but when I got there, I saw a small peely coupon for 55 cents off.

Turns out, when I looked at my receipt- I scored this delicious, most addicting flavored instant coffee for just $1.09 PLUS my 55 cent off coupon!!!! Cha ching Cha ching!

I am going back tomorrow to score some more. :o)
I am one happy camper- thanks to my Frani Freebie Friend- she helped me score all the peanut butter and has given me the skills and confidence to move forward. Woot woot!

Crystal's Crazy Coupons-Trip 4

Trip 4 wasn't so 'special' but I couldn't pass up 4 cent Turkey slices, right?

Exactly- so I went.

I only had 1 coupon but imagine what I could've done if I had 10!

I went to Safeway tonight with

the intention to buy only 5 items.
1. 2 packages of lunchmeat 4 cents each

2. 1 package of Glade scented oil refills, 50 cents (is what I thought I read somewhere)

3. 1 big tub of country crock butter, $1.49

4. 1 package of store brand shredded cheese, $1.99

5. 1 bag of kitty cat treats, 75 cents.

Well, Even though my $5 trip multiplied quickly as I arrived, I still managed to get $28 worth of stuff for just $13.

Check it out:

1. Lunch Meat
2. no refills- my brain couldn't rap my head around it, or maybe I just couldn't find it. (so I got Bleach instead)
3. 1 small tub of country crock butter, (damn fine print!)
4. 1 package of store brand shredded cheese
5. 1 bag of kitty cat treats
and then for the add on 'excuses'

I saw the clearance items: Dole juice and Yoplait kids yogurt- 50% off!
The personal sized watermelons, just $1.49 and because I couldn't get my BIG tub of butter- I got the sticks instead. Not on sale, but still under $2. (I plan to do a lot of baking soon so I know these will come in handy)

Here is my total. :o) are you ready?

Yup, only $12.78- saving almost as much as I was spending.

And even tho that's only 50% savings, my goal is to one day see that 50 number climb to 80 or even 90% savings!!!

It's gonna take time, it's gonna be a lot of work. But I think I can do it! :o)

Crystal's Crazy Coupons-Trip 3

For Trip 3, I'm gonna give this one to Jim. He surprised me today when he took the kids to K-Mart today (instead of the intended McDonald's.) He wanted to buy Brooklyn a new pair of shoes.

Of course, buying his little girl a pair of shoes DOES come along with some obvious repercussions... such as: "but daddy, that's not tink

-a-bell suez!" and then Matt saying, "I want dis daddy" and "I want dat daddy". Once 2 pairs of shoes were picked out and a toy for the boy, Dad couldn't help but check out the mens clothes for himself- he could see CLEARANCE marked every which way he turned. Couple of outfits later, he found himself in the women's section- hoping to surprise his wife for an outfit as well...

You get the idea.

As I cringe to the sounds of bags approaching me when they arrived home- I found myself asking "how much did you spend?!!"

"Here, let me show you everything 1st."

I was for certain after I saw the 2 pair of little girl shoes, Lightning McQueen foam puzzle set, a pair of men's shorts, men's pants and a shirt, then add on my 'cute' outfit (pink shirt and blue capri's) and not to mention the licensed character socks for each toddler, and a My Little Pony doll... I KNEW the total was well over $100.

But surprisingly enough, he SAVED more than he spent! Check it out!

Now if only I can convince him to take a coupon with him when he goes, he'll be trained! ;o)

Crystal's Crazy Coupons-Trip 2

Next day, went to Fry's-
with $41 in my pocket. Hoping I would 'stay-on-task'. But truth be told, they had a lot of GREAT DEALS, and hey- we haven't b

een able to go grocery shopping in WEEKS. With the fridge being out and the money being tight, it was time to get the essentials again.

Here's how I did on Trip 2.

My total was just a little bit over $60- but I saved $36.72.

Here's a glimpse of my receipt.

I'm not as proud as an EXTREME COUPONER would be, but I'm proud to start. I'm proud to be on the look-out for great deals. My years of practice to 'stick-to-a-budget' have prepared me for this decision to start using coupons and combined with my anal retentive ways, I'm sure I'll be a success!