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Archive for August, 2006

Stockpiling Growing......Growing......

August 30th, 2006 at 07:41 pm

I have always liked to take advantage of sales but this last month especially when I have seen items on sale I have been trying to stock-up on them.

I would like to have by Christmas time a three month stockpile that I just continue to rotate food from. When I first started this challenge I thought a three month stockpile would be impossible but I have made huge strides and think by December I should be set. I am now only grocery shopping every two weeks and only spending around a $150 dollars because I am able to take advantage of store sales.

If you want to see my stockpile pictures I posted them on my other

Text is blog and Link is http://toysonsale.clubmom.com/toys_on_sale/2006/08/the_fruits_of_m.html
blog.

If wonder why I never post the pictures here it is because I am a freelance writer for Clubmom and once I post the pictures on their site they own them. I can't then go and post them on other sites but rather have to link to them. I appreciate your understanding, no one has complained about it but I am sure some of you have wondered why I just don't post the pictures here.

Again, thank you all for your understanding.

I also want to thank Flash for all her stockpiling advice I posted a link to her site on my other blog because she is hands down my official stockpiling superhero!

New Mailbox and Great Yard Sale Finds

August 27th, 2006 at 02:48 am

We have a new (mentally stable) mailbox up and ready to receive mail for Monday...if you have no idea what the hell I am talking about check my previous post. Don't miss out on the mailbox saga, you'll be sorry.

My husband went to Lowe's and bought a new post, mailbox, and numbers. As we were getting ready to put it in the ground this morning the father of the girl who hit our mailbox pulled into our driveway. I felt really bad for him you could tell he was beside himself with embarrassment at the pure carelessness of his daughter. My husband showed him the receipt from Lowe's and he was more than happy to reimburse us for everything. He even asked if he could put the mailbox in for us. I was so proud of my husband he shook the guy's hand told him all he wanted was the money and as far as he was concerned the matter was closed; end of story.

We put up the mailbox, fixed the stonewall, and I replanted some of my flowers that were uprooted. End of Story -- I hope!

In other exciting news I went out yard saling this morning and got tons of great deals:
5-6 sz boys clothes 95 pieces for $10.00 all in excellent condition
0-9 month clothes 65 pieces for $5.00 some even have the tags on them
9-18 month clothes 50 pieces plus snowsuit, 6 hats & Mittens sets for $7.00
3 Knit women's sweaters for $3.00
Little People Barn, Garage, Farm, Zoo, Bus, Plane and over 15 people for $10.00
10 Hard Cover Disney Books for $1.00
Leap Frog Preschool Case, Pad, 5 games for $10.00
2 Decorative Metal Trucks for 1.00 (they are really neat and vintage looking I am going to have to do a little research on those)

I am so happy about the clothes it works out to a little over 0.10 a piece!

Mailbox Was Destroyed

August 26th, 2006 at 12:52 am

My mailbox was destroyed but the car that hit it looks worse.

I have pictures of my mailbox but unfortunately none of the car that hit it because she didn't stop until half a mile up the road from my house when it died also. One dead mailbox, one dead car my mailbox is American made obviously her car wasn't because my mailbox kicked her car's ass!

Not sure what she was doing I am guessing talking on the phone because she ran over my lawn, stone wall, and hit my mailbox. Her fender was smashed, her passenger back tire flat, her passenger side mirror bent in and smashed her passenger window!

Here is the pictures:

Text is Pics and Link is http://toysonsale.clubmom.com/toys_on_sale/2006/08/mailbox_commits.html
Pics
scroll down they are there for your viewing amazement

Coupon List for Trading

August 22nd, 2006 at 02:51 pm

I am excited I spent yesterday getting my coupons all listed into a database on my site. You don't realize how many coupons you have until you put them in a spread sheet form. I have hundreds if not close to a thousand coupons.

I am doing a coupon exchange (free...benefits both of us) you send me unexpired coupons in a SASE and I send you back the coupons you were looking for.

I have people sending coupons from all over the US so it gives a wide variety of coupons available.

The only thing I am really lacking in is diaper, wipes, and formula coupons. If you have some and would like to trade let me know.

Or if you just want to check out my list of coupons up for trade here is the link:

Text is coupons to trade and Link is http://toysonsale.clubmom.com/toys_on_sale/2006/08/hundreds_of_cou.html
coupons to trade

Saving Money with one car

August 17th, 2006 at 04:20 pm

We are still a one car family. It has made things a little difficult yesterday I went grocery shopping at 6:30am so that I could use the car before my husband needed it to go to work. It was a marathon shopping lots to get in a very little amount of time.

Who needs a gym membership when you have marathon shopping!

We are saving gas money with only having one car and before I went food shopping I was also having to get creative with meals.

The other night we didn't have much food and I had no car to go buy some, hence, a new receipe was born...my own creation....

One Car Chicken Dinner:
5-6 Chicken Thighs - skinned
Rice a Roni Herb and Butter
10.5 oz Condensed Mushroom Soup
1 1/4 Boiling Water
Olive Oil
Goya Adobe All Purpose Seasoning
Garlic Salt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a casserole dish mix Mushroom Soup, boiling water, and Rice (including the rice seasoning packet).
Place thighs on top of rice mixture brush with olive oil, All Purpose Seasoning, and Garlic Salt.
Cover and cook for 90 minutes.

Everyone loved it...good thing...it was all I had.

Thankfully after my Wal-mart shopping I am stocked up at least for the next two weeks!

Got Me Thinking!

August 15th, 2006 at 07:25 pm

Right now we are a one car family. Yep, my husband's truck is still not fixed.

I have gone through a range of emotions with only have one car. In a way I am happy because at least we still have a car to fall back on, it would be really awful if my husband's truck was our only vehicle. Also, we are spending less because we do not need to pay for gas for the truck. I need to go grocery shopping and just haven't had the time with only one car so I have been getting creative with some of the left overfood and can goods I have on hand.

I guess in reality there are many things we can do without we are just no always happy about it.

The list of other things I would miss if I could no longer afford to buy them:
Green Mountain Coffee
Diet Pepsi
Cascade Complete Gel
cellphone
internet
cable tv
Charmin Toilet Paper

I could do without all of those things but they would be missed.

Text is Sarah and Link is http://toysonsale.clubmom.com
Sarah

Curbside pick-up

August 15th, 2006 at 01:26 am

I haven't quite got up the nerve to dumpster dive though I have heard some great stories from many of you that really make me consider it. I am still on the edge not quite ready to make the big plunge into the dumpster.

We still have only one vehicle so on one of my marathon errands this morning before my husband had to go to work I went by a house that had stuff on the curb with a free sign next to it. I pulled up and took the whole box I figured anything I didn't want I could either donate or throw away. It had some great things in it all my size!

I got on sweatshirt, two long sleeve shirts, 3 short sleeve shirts, 3 long skirts, and 1 bathrobe. It also had dinosaur sheets there were a few holes in them but I think I will just make some pillow cases out of the sheets for my son. There was also a latch hook kit complete with instructions, and a chute and ladders game in perfect condition.

The kids and I played Chutes and Ladders after dinner, I forgot how frustrating that game is! It might end up on my curb with a free sign on it!


Text is Curbside Pictures] and Link is http://toysonsale.clubmom.com/toys_on_sale/2006/08/frugal_day_frug.html
Curbside Pictures]

Yard Sale Pics.

August 13th, 2006 at 06:26 pm

I went yard saling on Saturday with my two kids (3 & 4) I didn't think it would be fun but we turned out to have a great time. They didn't even look for toys for themselves but rather searched for things they knew I could sell on Ebay.

They always surprise me!

Text is Link and Link is http://toysonsale.clubmom.com/toys_on_sale/2006/08/my_heart_stoppe.html
Linkto pictures of my yard sale finds.
Scroll down to the bottom.

-Sarah

Okay, My Cup is Empty!!

August 11th, 2006 at 11:09 pm

I was so optimistic this morning, no worries I didn't need a car.

Then today I needed a car to do some errands and my husband had to go to the dentist so I dropped him off and did my errands and then came back and picked him up.

Not a big deal except my errands took too long the kids were cranky my husband was cranky and well you guessed it I was cranky, too!

What a spoiled brat I feel like. Never did I think having one car would be a big deal. I guess you don't know how fortunate you are until you are with out!

Text is Sarah and Link is http://toysonsale.clubmom.com/toys_on_sale/2006/08/you_ever_ponder.html
Sarah

My cup is half full!

August 11th, 2006 at 02:19 pm

My husband's truck is broken (I know nothing about cars so that is the best explantion I can give) so we are a one car family.

It is not to bad because I work from home so I have just been planning all my errands at night when he comes home.

One car has been an inconvenience but it has made me realize if we needed extra money cutting down to one car would be a great savings and could be done.

Just sitting here trying to find the silver lining.....are you convinced??

Text is Sarah and Link is http://toysonsale.clubmom.com/toys_on_sale/2006/08/you_ever_ponder.html
Sarah

Dumpster Diving

August 10th, 2006 at 04:31 pm

I have been pondering this one for awhile.

Dumpster diving is frowned upon in looked at negatively in the eyes of many but I think that there are many positives:

Good for the enviroment - reuse & recycle

One man's trash is another man's treasure

Sometimes mass-merchants throw away things that are perfectly good as part of their returns process. Instead of it going into a landfill you could actually make a profit on it.

I might be looking at dumpsters in a new way? Keep you posted.

-Sarah

Text is Additional Post on Dumpster Diving and Link is http://toysonsale.clubmom.com/toys_on_sale/2006/08/you_ever_ponder.html
Additional Post on Dumpster Diving

Sending Back the Love!!!

August 9th, 2006 at 03:39 pm

Until recently I wasn't a poster on this site. I have been a member for almost a year but I only looked I never contributed.

Almost a year to the day I registered I have started posting and started my Finance Blog. I was a little scared at first but all of you have show me such warmth and compassion.

I think it is about time I send some of that love back. On my other blog I have posted SavingAdvice.com as one of my favorite places to visit! I am also offering if you have an online website and would like to offer my readers a discount I will post the name and link to your site.

I know many of you have your own online stores and some free advertising and extra traffic thrown your way I think is another great way to show the love!

Hugs,
Sarah

Text is http://toysonsale.clubmom.com and Link is
http://toysonsale.clubmom.com

Lines are a little cloudy!

August 8th, 2006 at 04:05 pm

Spending because you want something not because you need it where do you draw the line?

Is it okay to buy something just on "want" alone if it is a really good deal?

I try never to pay full price and only buy things when they are on sale no matter whether I "need" it or "want" it. But if something is just on clearance, prices slashed, marked unbelievably low whether I truly need it I end up buying it. The same goes for yard sales I don't always need everything I buy I just want it.

Am I really spending responsibily or am I just filling my urge to spend?

I am starting to question my motives.

-Sarah

Text is http://toysonsale.clubmom.com/ and Link is
http://toysonsale.clubmom.com/

OH NO! Not my shed!

August 7th, 2006 at 03:15 pm

My neighbor came over yesterday and asked to borrow my wooden "free" sign. We live on a very busy road and whenever we want to get rid of something we just stick it on the curb with my homemade "free" sign.

Before I went to bed last night I noticed that she laid the sign against my shed. I didn't give it much thought but my sub-conscious must have been going crazy because I dreamed all night that people kept coming and trying haul away my shed.

Beware of those free signs!!!!

I, of course, went yard saling this weekend if you want to see the pics:

Text is http://toysonsale.clubmom.com/toys_on_sale/2006/08/yard_sales_bart.html and Link is
http://toysonsale.clubmom.com/toys_on_sale/2006/08/yard_sale...

Shower = Productive = Debt Free

August 4th, 2006 at 02:24 pm

Well if you read my last post I was pondering an e-mail I received that the first step to being financially responsible is to get up and start your day right and take a shower and get dressed. I am usually up every morning around 5:30am but I never get a shower in until well after noon time. So this morning (even though it was dark and rainy) I decided to take a shower and get dressed. I have already seen evidence that I am probably more productive. I have made my grocery list, eaten breakfast, gotten some computer work in, and will be ready to leave the house soon for grocery shopping. I guess in that sense I am way ahead of the game because if I had not showered I would not be able to leave early to go grocery shopping. And I learned from the Saving Advice Grocery Shopping Quiz the best time to grocery shop is first thing in the morning. *LOL*

I will continue to give this a try and let you know how it is going for me.


Questions and Ponderings?

August 3rd, 2006 at 04:04 pm

I have been thinking about this one for a long time and I need opinions. I received an email about frugal living and the main premise of it was to get up every morning (even if you have no where to go) and take a shower and get dressed right away. Doing that one thing will make you a more productive and organized person therefore helping you to save money.

Shower = More Productive = Debt Free

I am not sure what I think about this. It takes me forever to get myself showered and dressed in the morning. I have a 3 & 4 year old and I work at home and frankly a shower and getting dressed is usually last on my list. I make an effort to get a shower in and look half way decent before my husband comes home but that is usually the best I can do.

Would I be more productive? I was going to give it a try this morning but I have been at my computer all morning and it is 11am eastern time and I am no where near showering.

What are you thoughts?

Also, any yard saler's out there? Want to let me know if I forgot anything?

Text is http://toysonsale.clubmom.com/toys_on_sale/2006/08/how_to_have_a_s.html and Link is
http://toysonsale.clubmom.com/toys_on_sale/2006/08/how_to_ha...

-Sarah

Little Money, Big Results

August 2nd, 2006 at 07:22 pm

I have been able to save quite a bit of money this year from my garden. Instead, of buying the plants I started all my plants from seed in mid-February I am guessing that none of my vegetable plants have cost me than .15 cents each. That includes plant food, soil, and cow manure. It makes everything from my garden taste that much better knowing that it is basically a free food!

I equate my vegetable garden to my feelings about life, it is not how much money you spend but rather your time and effort that gets results.

I might not take the road most traveled but it is the only road I know.

Part II of Hard Day

August 1st, 2006 at 04:15 pm

Back from the Vets, Bailey has lipoma (small cyst full of fat) on his belly. I guess it is fairly common, they don't hurt, they can get larger, and he can develop more than one.

Sounds pretty simple right? This information was not explained to me so simply I had to pry for it.

When the doctor came in the examing room she touched the cyst on his belly said that she should aspirate it and check the fluid under the microscope but most likely it is lipoma. Then she said, "Let me check Bailey's teeth while we have him under to remove the cyst we can clean his teeth also."

My response: "Hold on, one I have already had a quote to clean his teeth and it is $300, he will never be getting his teeth cleaned. Two we don't even know what the cyst is I am not about to discuss removing it until you are able to identify what it is."

Vet: "Okay, let's aspirate it, if it is just clear, oily fluid, I don't even need to put it under the microscope it is most certainly lipoma."

-Vet took a sample and put it on the slide it was clear, oily liquid.

Vet: Definitely, lipoma you may want to get it removed.

My Response: "Why does it need to come out is it hurting him? If I have it taken out could he still get more?"

Vet: It is not hurting him and I have seen dogs with ten to twenty of these things, in fact my dog has one about the size of a baseball.

My Response: "Okay, it is not hurting him and your own dog has one yet you want me to pay to get it taken out."

Vet: "Well it is something to think about. If it is because you are worried about paying for it we could set up a finance plan for you."

My Response: "It is not that I can't pay for it, but it sounds very impractical to even consider taking it out at this point. The six years that I have owned this dog things have seemed to get progressively worse in the "Vet World" seems like you guys prey on people's love for their pets and encourage things that are just plain not necessary.

Vet: "I can understand why you would feel that way but if you decide you want it out here is a quote for the surgery."

Cost of surgery: $618.36

Is that not insane!

Hard Day

August 1st, 2006 at 11:41 am

It is early and I already know it is going to be a hard day. One of my dogs has a cyst on the bottom of his stomach. It has already doubled in size in a weeks span so I know that it needs to be checked out. But just to bring him in and see the vet it is $52, and then they are going to take a sample of the fluid which is another $25.

I know the money has to be spent it is just a little discouraging because I did so well on my groceries and other expenses this week that I had quite a bit extra from my grocery fund. I was going to move it into my savings fund but now it looks like it will be spent at the Vet.

I guess I can be thankful that I have the money to pay the Vet bill.