Clearance Crusader

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!

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.

I have been thinking about doing a coupon exchange for a while now. I think if I can get enough people to participate this could really work out well for everyone.

Well today I went to the post office and got a PO Box so that I wouldn't have to give my street address over the internet. (I am sure if someone wanted to find out where I lived it would be easy enough, but I still feel better having a PO Box.) Now, that I have the PO Box I am ready to get started. I already have a few people committed to sending coupons and I have a slew of coupons so it should be easy enough to start the process of doling out coupons as the envelopes come in.

Does this sound like something you might be interested in? It could be in addition to your coupon train, I would ask that you send me a max of 30 unexpired coupons and a self addressed stamped envelope. You may also include a note of coupons that you are in particular need of.

I will return 30 different coupons to you. Hopefully, most of which are of items you use. Also to help you track your coupons on my clubmom blog I will post your first name, last name initial, city, and state when I get the coupons and when I send them out.

For more information and my address:

I had a really good yard sale morning. I only had time to go out for a couple of hours but in that time I was able to get some good finds.

I always try real hard to find toys that my kids can use their imaginations and I was able to find two boxes of creative building sets. I also found two age appropriate board games.

I found the cutest....cutest....cutest doll couch you have ever seen. My little girl loves playing with her dolls and this is just perfect for her.

I found a Buzz Lightyear costume that my son has wanted for a year now. So my little super hero is on cloud nine.

And I found over 75 cross stitch pattern books, $3.00 for the lot!!!!! I am still a little in shock about that one. I know I would be able to sell them and make a pretty good profit but I haven't decided yet if I want to sell them or keep them for my own use.

If you want to see the pictures:

I have been on quite a few coupon trains and it seems like a lot of the time they never completely make it around (never been on a coupon train on this site)

Through my other blog I am thinking about offering a coupon exchange. How it works:

They send me 30 - 50 unexpired coupons and a self addressed stamped envelope and I send them back 30 - 50 coupons.

I figured if there was enough people who joined it would give everyone a wide variety of coupons.

I would also get a PO Box so my address would not be public.

What do you think of this idea? What am I missing? What are the flaws to this idea?

More info on my other post:

I was right once I got myself organized I realized I had a lot of double stuff that I don't need to keep buying. I also seem to have an over abundance of beauty samples. I think I can check personal items off my stockpile list because I seem to have enough for a whole year.

It feels soooo wonderful to have things a little more organized. It feels like a huge weight is off my shoulders.

When my house is organized I feel almost like my life is organized.

Weird? Or right on?

Check out the pictures of my samples, and also my organized desk, vanity, and closet.

I have no money saving tips today just a whole of yammering.

You in to yammering, rambling, and whining?

Feel free to check it out.

But you have been warned!!

My kids are to young for school but this does not stop me from taking advantage of the back-to-school sales. I was happy to find a 10pk of Crayola markers for .88cents at Target. But this morning I saw a Staples flyer and they are selling 10pk of RoseArt markers for .49cents!

Granted the difference between the two is minimal but I hate it when that happens. You think you got a good deal only to see it or something compariable priced lower.

Major let down!

It is like buying a sweater on the clearance rack for $5.00 only to see it a couple of days later down to $2.50!

Oh, well what are you going to do I guess in the long run it only matters that I look for sales and never pay full price. That is all I can really do.

I found a Back-To-School Budget Calculator for anyone who thinks it might help them get a handle on back-to-school expenses.

Hope it helps.

My yard sale finds are up and posted with pictures and descriptions. It was a hard yard sale weekend because we got a ton of rain so I could only go to a couple of them before it started raining.

Also, check out the link to see if your state is participating in a tax exemption for school clothes and supplies.

I have tried all day to get myself organized and it just feels like I am climbing a mountain and no where near the top.

To save money I make my own curtains, kids clothes, and quilts, blankets, crib sets to sell.

I am able to get great deals on material because I usually only buy it at yard sales. But there is just not enough time in the day to get everything done. Am I really saving myself money or am I just under valueing my time. It would be so much easier and less time to just go to Walmart and buy clothes instead of making them.

What is my time really worth? I am saving money by doing everything myself but my days are long and my nights are short.

Just a thought....or two.

How much is your time worth?

One thing I love about this site is that most people find ways to eat healthy even on a budget.

I applaud all of you for outstanding efforts to come up with ways to provide healthy food to your family while on a tight budget.

For more ideas on a eating healthy on a budget check it out!

Okay so here is the question I have been pondering for the last couple of days. If I was more organized would I have more money?

I was thinking about it and I would assume yes.

I would know exactly what I had, and what I still needed. I think that often (even though I am frugal) I get wrapped up in the need to consume. Doesn't it seem as a society we can never have enough things? We have so many choices there is never just one type of crackers, there are hundreds of different ones to choose from, never just one cleaning product, but hundreds of different ways/types of cleaners.

Every think about that when you are grocery shopping? Standing there not only comparing prices but looking at all the damn varieties. How can a whole aisle be devoted to chips, how can there really be that many variations?

Okay so here is my next challenge, stop with constant consuming of unnecessary things and get myself organized. I have so much I don't even know what I have.

Here is the link, to take a look at my pantry, closet, vanity and desk.

Okay so I thought I was pretty money savying and new (though did not always apply)proper spending habits, ways to save money, ways to stay out of debt, etc. etc.

Well I took this quiz to gauge my "spending habits" and low and beyond I do not know as much as I should. I scored 80 out of 100, I look at it as; room for growth and large potential to learn how to spend wisely.

Curious how you score:

Link for the quiz is at the bottom of my post at Clubmom.

Well today was one of those day that I thought I was going to get a lot done but by 7:30am this morning and two phone calls(yes that is two phone calls before 7:30am)I just knew it was going to be one of those days.

I had plans to go to Home Depot to scout out some shelving for my non-perishables that I am stocking up on. And then hit Market Basket next door to them for some sales. But instead I decided to keep us all home and let me kids have a day by the pool. My friend gave us one of those SoftPools it 10ft in diameter and 28"inches high perfect for a 3yr old and a 4yr old. It is great it has a filter pump and everything! And it cost me nothing, except the electricity to run the filter. But it only has to be run 3hrs a day because it is such a small pool(according to manual).

So while they swam I tended to my garden; put more manure down and weeded. Looks like it will be a hard year for my peppers from what I hear no ones are doing well in New England because of all the rain? My tomatoes are taking on a life of their own I should have a bundle. Looks like I won't have to buy any spaghetti sauce this year. It is a lot of work but my husband will only eat my homemade sauce.

Well I am going to do it. I have decided to keep a grocery journal paying special attention to items that go on sale.

On top of my regular grocery shopping I am going to try to get those sale items that each grocery store has to draw you in. I will plan my errands around the different grocery stores in my town. I figure probably after a year of doing this I will start to see some real savings. I am hoping to have a large enough stock pile of non-perishable goods(food, cleaning, and personal items) that I will only have to shop the sales.

The only problem I can see with my plan is that I am not stock piling perishable goods. I debated whether to get an extra freezer, but we really don't eat much meat so I have room in my freezer in my kitchen for any frozen veggies or fruits. And I am afraid if I stock pile some meat what happens if the electricty goes out. I hate the thought of all that meat spoiling. So I am still undecided about that aspect.

If you want to see my purchases for today you can log on at

Thank you sooo much for the big welcome. I didn't know if anyone would even read my blog, let alone respond to it. I really appreciate all the wonderful welcoming comments that I have gotten!

I think there is a little confusion about the $100 a week my husband gets. He uses it for his "own" entertainment.
Lunch when at work.
Dinner when working late.
Movies because I think movies are too expensive and will only go if comes out of his portion of the budget.
Then, of course, fuel for his vehicle.

The reason why I am so bitter about his $100 a week is because I am able to make my $150 for household expenses(food, dog food, co-pays at doctors, my own gas, children's clothes/shoes, my own clothes, personal items and prescriptions)go so far.

My husband would not care if I spent more a week but I very rarely have the need. I am able to make it work just fine with $150. I think if he would just put a little effort into spending less we would be way ahead of the game instead of just maintaining. Well, enough venting....my theory is if I can't go through him I will just go around him.

Moving on, I would like to start a grocery journal to keep track of trends and sales at the stores I shop at most. Any ideas? I really don't want to do a paper grocery journal but rather an online one. Anyone attempted this?

I have visited SavingAdvice.com at least once a week for over a year now and it is about time I had a blog. I am frugal mother of two young children, and a “money spending” husband. To gain control back of our finances I have put us all on a strict budget. It has not been hard for me, but my poor hubby is suffering so…… *sniffle* *sniffle*

Everything gets budgeted now down to the penny. We are able to pay our monthly bills, put money into savings, 401k, put $150 aside each week for grocery/miscellaneous expenses, and then hubby gets an allowance of $100 a week for entertainment (lunch, dinner out, and occasion movie). I know what you are thinking $100 a week for entertainment that is; $400 a month!

I know it is killing me! But right now I am just trying to get creative to make up for the large hole in my budget. Large hole better know as “Hubby”.

I am not only concentrating on earning money but also trying very hard to save money. In reality, it does not matter how much you make if you save nothing!

So here it begins my journey on Savingadvice.com, I hope to share with you all my great clearance finds, money saving tricks, budgeting ideas, and ways I have found to earn money.