Went to Walmart last night for a few grocery items and I take my coupons and I do price matching there. I showed the checker a grocery store circular where items were offered at a cheaper price than at Walmart. They say they will match the price so I do that. Then I had a few coupons too. Two of the coupons were declined by the cash register. She pushed them back at me without saying a word. I pushed them back at her asking what was up. She said ma'm those are no good. I said "well, they should be." I looked at them, not out of date . . . I knew I bought the items I had presented the coupons for. So I start digging back through my bags to show her and sure enough I had bought the right product. She called a manager over to look at the coupons. All the while she is sighing. You know getting this tired look on her face and rolling her eyes at me. And doing that great big "sigh" thing. Well, the manager looks at the coupons and the products and says yes she would just have to enter the coupons manually because they were good. This brings on more eye rolling and sighing, but she complies.
It was just obvious by her body language that she thought I was a total jerk or something.
I just got so offended by that. I guess I should have gone and reported her to a manager or something.
If the store is going to offer price-matching and honoring coupons, then it is not my fault if things get slowed down a bit.
This is not the first time this has happened to me at Walmart.
Should I call the store and report it?
What would you do?

I was treated to some very nice meals on Valentine's Day via my work. I am on a search committee to hire a new worker and we get to "wine and dine" them. So it was out for a nice lunch and an even nicer dinner. Chocolate cream brulee for dessert. It was so rich I couldn't finish it.

Meanwhile, I have been searching the ground for change when I am out and about and I can report I have found $.16 in the past week.
Old FOTG total = $.27 + .16 = $.43, new FOTG total.


I have not been doing much toward couponing lately, but I haven't been spending much money either.
My husband has gone to grocery shop as I write this. And it is pouring down rain, so I am glad I am here typing and dry.
Thank God for sweet husbands.
Late winter is such a trying time. Cold, snow, ice, wind and rain. Cloudy days on end. It's like Mother Nature is having birthing pains to get us into Spring.
I will put up the groceries when my husband comes home and we will find us a snack and try to find something good to watch on TV tonight.

Last night we went out to see "There will be blood." It is up for Best Picture. Daniel Day Lewis was really good in it. But it was so dark and theatrical I can't really say I enjoyed.

I'm so sorry for those affected by the Northern Illinois school shootings. It is such a waste!!! Those poor people didn't do anything wrong. Stupid!

I, like many of you, have a dog. Her name is Abby. She is a mix of Austrailian Sheperd and some other good breeds. She is the sweetest thing. She weighs about 50 pounds, and she is tri-color, with golden eyes. She follows me wherever I go in the house. And since I have been here at the computer so long, she is sleeping on the floor beside me.
She is a great companion.

I was going through a stack of mail today that had accumulated on the kitchen counter, sorting through the credit card offers, bills, junk mail, and other stuff.
I came across an offer to renew a car warranty on my daugters car. I tossed it in the garbage saying in my best game-show voice, "No deal."
Amusing myself, I went on to an offer for a magazine subscription. Tossing it into the garbage I shouted, "No deal."
I was getting good at this.
I love watching Howie Mandel and the Deal or No Deal show. I sure would like to get picked to be on that show. I don't think I would blow my chance at some big money like some people to do at the end. It seems like they just get greedy or insane I'm not sure which. But it just kills me when they give up a $100,000 offer and end getting $10 or something.
I've even thought, "Maybe on the first offer if they offered me $25,000, I might just quit while I was ahead. "Deal, deal." I would say. No, just kidding.
But going through my junk mail today, I was thinking how these companies are trying to get me to give up my money.
So, NO DEAL! Capitol One. NO DEAL! Chase. NO DEAL! Magazine subscriptions.
I'll just keep my money thank you.

My friend treated me to lunch yesterday. She won the football pool and got $50!
I saved $14 with coupons last weekend so that will go to the challenge, and I found 12 cents on the ground.
Have been trying to stay home and not even look at advertising, so I can stay out of temptation.
Old total $15.78 New total = $29.78.
Old "FOTG" total (found on the ground) total = .15. New FOTG total = .27

I bought my 3-year-old grandson a John Deer hoodie, a sweat shirt with Superman and other super heroes on it, and a plain white long sleeved knit shirt.
I thought he would like all of them, but instead he only liked the sweat shirt with the super heroes.
Of the others he said, "Nannie, I told you I didn't want these, just the superman shirt."
I buy almost all of his clothes at resale shops, and he always looks good!

Not anything very interesting to report today. Except we did save $4 with coupons when we did grocery shopping yesterday.
New total $15.78
FOTG (found on the ground) total = .15

WE have been trying, since the first of Jan., to use up food, cleaners, etc., that we have at the house instead of going to the store so often. Since I do most of the cooking/cleaning I guess it is really me doing it, but anyway, it is working.
I have always liked to buy things on sale and stock up, but our pantry has been just full to overflowing so much, I thought we really need to use what we have for awhile.
It has made me come up with meals using just what we have and it has really helped out the old food budget this month.
I definitely believe in buying sales and using coupons, but we were going to the store too often and thus spending too much. And some of our food was spoiling/getting too old before it could be used.
I made a chocolate cake from scratch tonight with a homemade frosting so we wouldn't be tempted to head to the store when we wanted something sweet later on.
DH was impressed and followed behind me cleaning up the kitchen.
What a team!

We are going to pay off a big chunk of debt in the coming weeks with a gift from DH's mom.
A car loan in the amount of $1630.00 and another payoff of $3800.00.
This will free-up monthly minimum payments of $275 and $200, for a total of $475.00. Wow! Almost $500 per month that can be thrown at the credit card debt.
I have had about six no spend days this month.
I have been thinking of my 2008 financial goals and I am ready to start recording them here.
1. My main financial goal is to be debt free by the end of the year. I think this is a realistic goal, IF, DH gets some good work in this year.
My other goals will be small to make this big year-end goal possible.

2. Don't acquire any more debt.
I listen to Dave Ramsey a lot and read a lot of financial advice here at savingsadvice.com. That keeps me from taking on any more debt. We have used the credit cards in a pinch but I'm not counting that.
Our Christmas was very frugal this year, and I am proud of the progress we have made.

I had a telephone call from Dial-America-Marketing on Saturday. They wanted me to renew my magazine subscription to Reader's Digest. The proceeds also benefit MD Anderson Cancer Center. I have ordered magazines through Dial-America several times, but this year, I am trying to be a lot more frugal, thus I told the salesman no on the phone. He went on to say how surprised he was by my declining the offer.
I told him that I since gasoline and groceries have gone up so much, I just did not feel like I could afford a magazine subscription at this time.
He again tried to "sell" me.
Then I said, "I am trying not to spend too much so that I can have some money some day and retire with dignity."
He just laughed and thanked me for my past support.
I thought it was funny that he started laughing. I don't guess anyone is ever that honest about it.
At least I didn't yell his head off.
Besides, my mother gave me a lot of her old magazines that will last me several weeks, and I'm sure I can get others for free as well. So yea me!

I have exciting news! But first let me give you some background.

My son has been going to a technical school for about a year, and he still has a year to go. He gets pretty down about the daily grind of it all.
He has to get up at 5 am and drive an hour, five days a week, to get to his school. Then drive home, or go to work at his fast food job. And sometimes he doesn't get home from his job until very late at night and then do it all again.

My son is raising his 3-year-old son. The mother is not in the picture. They live with us and I help raise my grandson.

When my son first started the school he had to get some student loans, and if my husband or I co-signed for him, he got a lot better interest rate. So I did co-sign with him.

Then I started listening to Dave Ramsey, who you know says "never co-sign for anyone."
Well, I hated to tell my son no about co-signing for him the last time around -- when the school wanted some more money; but I had faith in what Dave Ramsey said, because I really did not want to have that debt on my financial record anyway.

Well, it seems my son has been doing some talking to some of his school friends about their loans, and questioning the financial aid office at his school.

Then this morning they tell him that they overlooked, or made a mistake or something like that. And they failed to offer him a $7000.00 PELL GRANT that he was entitled to.

Whoa Baby! $7000.00 that my son or me will not have to pay back on student loans!!!!! Now that is some good news!!!

So, I get to wondering about this. Did this happen because I did not co-sign for my son, maybe he started paying more attention to these loans he is incurring, and asking the questions he should have asked in the first place. I have let him handle all of the financial aid people. Anyway, I am very proud of my son for finding this error and bringing it to their attention.

Or maybe, as I have talked about before, the rule is true. That when you start taking care of and respecting your money, then more money can unexpectantly come to you.
Now, I absolutely believe in the power of prayer. And I no that God does take care of those who help themselves.
I am very grateful to God for this occurence in our lives at this time.

This made my son feel a lot better about his life and the hard work he has done toward this educational goal with family obligations, and financial hardhsips.
(Not to mention $3.00 per gallon gasoline)

Suze Orman said there is plenty of money in the world, more than you would ever need, but you do have to pay attention, and attract more of it to you.

DGS and I went to visit relatives for mother's day and we had an excellent time.
It was a 4 1/2 hour drive, and three-year-old DGS was really good. He didn't sleep any on the way over, but had a good 3-hour nap on the way home yesterday.
I was exhausted when we got back and didn't make it in to work until noon today. Good thing my work is easy to get along with.
We did very well with our spending while gone. I brought snacks and drinks for us and didn't spend very much money for eating along the road.
I got to be with my mother for her mother's day. She is 84 so that was very special to me.
She is in very good health and her mind is still very good. Such a blessing.

I am going to ask my kids DD (26 years old, but still going to college)
and DS (23-years-old, going to trade school and raising my grandchild) to start paying their car insurance and their part of our Cingular phone bill if they can.
My DH is working again (claims adjuster) but we have had to put stuff on the cc's and we are having to pay interest on them again. Yuck!!!!
We have helped our kids a lot money wise, now if they could help us out while DH gets back to bringing in some money it would be so helpful.
I am thinking of getting a second job if something doesn't change soon, but I really think I should try to get our adult children to pay their bills before their 53-year-old mother has to work a second job.
I am venting a little here, and it does feel good to get it out.
WE have a good relationship with our kids but I'm not sure how they are going to take this.
DD is working full time while going to college and DS is also working a food service job and raising his son.
I know neither one of them has a lot of extra money, but neither do I and we (hubby and I) need to be saving for retirement.
Both kids have their own student loans to pay back too.
But they have the rest of their lives to pay it back, and we are not that for away from retirement.
So, wish we luck as I talk to my kids about money.
But. it's time.

I have been very, very bad lately about eating out at lunch again.
Today I ate a can of tuna fish I had in my drawer and some peanut butter and crackers. Saved myself the 6 bucks and change I would have spent on a salad and diet coke.
So, hopefully, I am back to my saving ways.

Well, don't know if I'm really starting again, or just catching up, but I haven't been posting on my blog lately, and I want to get back to it.
DH is almost finished with our new fence. It is beautiful! Complete with an arbor, a reatining wall with flower beds, the works. But he sure ended up spending a lot more money than I was expecting. Oh well, he will be going back to work soon. He is an insurance adjuster, He was gone for a year last time and he has got to be home for three whole months without having to go make a living, so he did some things he has wanted to do for a long, long time. He is very creative and artistic and a carpenter, but he never had much time or money to build things the way he wanted to. Now he has had the time and the money, and he has created some beautiful things for us to enjoy in our yard.
He will be working again soon and hopefully making lots of money again, so we shall see.
Meantime. . . on my $20 challenge I will add 75 cents more today since I did not visit the vending machine today at work for M&M's.
old balance: $202.75
plus: $.75 :
new balance: $203.50

I started listening to Dave Ramsey last May and ever since I have been into paying off the debt and getting fiscally fit!
But until I started reading everyone's blogs here I was still not being very frugal. But I am now!
I spent $4.75 on lunch at Sonic yesterday while I was out running errands, and it bothered me so much.
Two months ago I would not have thought twice about spending that or more for lunch, but now it really bothers me!
I was like, "$4.75, that is outrageous!"
I was always the type who would not order water in a restaurant. I would always order iced tea or soft drink, but now I am rethinking that. Now, I realize it is the little things that make the difference.
Hey, old dogs really can learn new tricks!
Thank you bloggers for having a very positive effect on me.

I am a little frustrated with trying to save money right now.
I tried to implement the envelope system with our food for one week.
I put $200 in the envelope and DH and I headed to Walmart. We buy all of our groceries there because it is cheaper than the other three grocery stores in town. Up to $1 or more cheaper on items that we buy all the time.
We do buy other things there as well. Diapers for our grandson, paper products, cleaners, persoanl hygiene items, things like that. hink $200 per week will be about right. Our total bill was $166. Then we went to another store and spent $25 more. For a total of $191. So we have $9 left until next Saturday for any other food items.
We have never tried this before and DH is not as gung ho about it as I am. He says he is, but then he bought a huge packagae of rib-eyes. $28 worth. I guess as long as we don't buy spend more than $9 before Saturday on food, then it will be a success.
I am learning here on the SA website and other bloggers that it doesn't have to be perfect.
Just the act of paying attention and trying to save is helpful.
We always spent whatever we wanted to on food. DH never wanted to spend too much money eating out. But buying groceries, he never griped about. But I always noticed that our biggest expenditures every month were at the grocery store.
The envelope method will probably help us not spend so much.
But then there is my son, who seems to be in la la land about money, and we are supporting him and his son, while our son finishes his education.
I will have to educate him about money, but he has so much going on right now with his X and trying to raise a 2-year old . . . that my finances are not the most important topic to him right now.
I gave him $100 cash in an envelope on Saturday and told him that was his money for the next week and to try to make it last. ( He has to drive an hour both ways to his school five days per week.)
I will be interested to know how long it lasts him.
He did get his part time job back this week, so maybe that will help.
DH is doing insurance adjusting and will have to go back to work soon as we are running out of money.
I hate for him to be gone for several months but we have to have an income.
I didn't spend .75 in the candy machine at work today on those M&Ms I was craving, so I will add that to my $20 challenge money. Good for my savings and good for my diet. Hoooorrrayyy!
Spent$3.50 on Sunday newspapers yesterday for the ads and coupons.
Spent $7.56 at the P.O. today for postage and to stock up on stamps.
Otherwise I have been sticking close to home and saving money.

Turn the thermostat down a degree or two.

Make sure all unnecesary lights are turned off in the house.

Fewer trips to town in the car.

Packing a lunch for work.

All things I have been doing since I started my blog a few days ago.
It's just making myself aware of saving money and making it a focus that I am working on right now.

Another thing I have heard about for gas saving.
Make sure the car tires are at the right air pressure.

I have been a frivolous spender most of my life concerning many of these things.
My DH always wanted me to be more conservative in these ways, now that I am I know he likes it.
My father was such a tight wad. He was really a sweetheart but very saving, grew up in the depression.
So I really grew tired of that growing up.
Always said, when I get married, I'm going to have "fresh bread whenever I want it." And I have too.

It will be back to work for me tomorrow at noon. They think ice will be melted enough to drive around at that time.
I'm ready. It's been a VERY long weekend.

This four day weekend of reading these blogs and spending more time thinking about money has helped me get focused on saving on everyday things.

I have been eating too much fast food for lunch and knew I was spending too much on that junk.
I used to never eat out at lunch.
Tomorrow I am taking part of the stew I cooked for supper tonight, along with some of the cornbread.
Well, I guess I will take it on Thursday since I don't go to work until noon tommorow.
It has been a good saver not to be driving the vehicles for a few days.
Son made it home safely tonight after spending last night in hotel.
Thank you God!
I bought my makeup on Ebay today.
Started splurging and buying the bare minerals makeup a few months ago.
Really do like it, and found it cheaper on Ebay.
Savings??
About $8.

Noticed others have what I call their anti shopping lists. Here is mine:

1. Dog toys (she always tears up everyone I buy)

2. Magazines I don't do this too much anyway, but they are so expensive. You read it once and then it lays around the house.

3. Stuff for grandson, clothes, toys, books . . . stuff. He has everything he needs right now. He is just so much fun to buy for.

4. garage sales, estate sales. I love estate sales, but I really don't even have time for them right now.

I have a list of things I need. For example, wiper blades for my car and mats for my car.
So when I think about spending on things that are fun, I try to think about things that I need.
That way I have money for things that I need. But so boring.