What a Deal

Some might call it a hobby, to others it's just plain weird. And for some it borders on compulsion. I fall into the last category. For the past year or thereabouts I have been on a rampage; looking for the best deals in town, and trying to stretch my dollar as far as I can.

It all started when the saved up money from my old job ran out. Uh-oh what now? We can't keep spending $500-$600 a month on all our household needs. (Which if you're buying diapers for a newborn, and feeding a breast-feeding mom, this number is really easy to reach.) So, I started doing research on the Internet and found a great website. It's called The Grocery Game. For a small fee they do all the couponing work for you! I joined and the deals started coming in. By the time I had my surgery in January we had saved enough extra money to purchase a deep freezer, and had enough basic food staples that I only needed to send Gerritt or my mom out occasionally for perishables.

As the months have rolled by my hobby has turned into full-blown obsession. Not only do I get deals on groceries, but I have started trying to find the best deals on EVERYTHING! I even started logging all of my household expenses into an Excel spreadsheet. (I wanted to see how much I was spending on every item.) I just finished editing my Sept. spreadsheet(first month) and this month I got merchandise that's retail total was: $1040.97 all for $378.21. That's a 65% savings! I'm stoked! I'll work for 70% next month.

I just wanted to share some of my favorite deals this past year:

Last night I got all this(above) for $26.89+tax. It's retail is 122.74+tax. I will also be getting $15.92 back in rebates!(I've already received $84.xx and expecting $10 more from purchases in Sept.)

This was one of my first deals last year. Everything you see here(above) was $11.04

This was my BEST deal EVER!!!!! I got 16 Huggies products, and 2 post-it's for the whopping price of $4.29!!!!!!!

So, for all of you that want to get in on this couponing, deal-getting craze, I'll have links to my favorite bargain blogs and sites on my sidebar soon!

Random Ramblings

So my mom reminded me that it has been a long time since I posted. It has been, and it's not like I've been too busy, it's just that unfortunately Abby and the computer share a room. Abby enjoys quiet when she sleeps, and that's about the only time I have to do things like this. I know excuses, excuses.

Well, so a quick re-cap. Abby turned 14 mos on the 15th. We went to a park where Abby enjoyed running away from me to chase after crows. She loves those darn birds. As she chased them she pointed and screamed, "Du, du, du." She hasn't figured out the first part of the word yet. It's too cute. Here's a pic from that day.......

You'll notice that her hair hangs in her eyes. I've been pretty stubborn and didn't want to cut it. She is a girl after all. But, my mother-in-law mentioned it a couple weeks ago when we were there. So, I did my best and trimmed Abby's bangs. At best it's a total hack-job. Next time I'll try while she's sleeping.
Abby didn't enjoy her haircut at all.......
Until I was almost finished. See what I mean....total hack-job.

So here's the highlight of the week. I've been in a John Denver mood. (Seems like that's the only show on PBS right now.) Well, Abby and I were listening to good 'ol JD and "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" came on. Abby had too much fun jumping and dancing on the couch!
Enjoy!

Tagged: 3 things

So I've been tagged, but it really just gives me a good excuse to post. I know it's been awhile........here goes nothing!

20 years ago......
1: I was 7
2: I think I was starting 2nd grade in Mrs. Munsen's class(yes I remember her name, she was one of my favorite elementary teachers.)
3: I lived in Riverton, UT (I'm scraping the bottom of my memory barrel trying to remember anything else from 1988--can't it's too hard.)

10 years ago......
1: I was starting my senior year at Bingham High School
2: I was on the Colorguard, and played the cello in the orchestra
3: I got engaged to my high school sweetheart that year, and un-engaged too.

5 years ago.......
1: I was working full-time at Jordan Credit Union in West Jordan, UT and part-time at Old Navy
2: I was contemplating a major move to Minnesota to attend UMN-Twin Cities(I got accepted into the program I wanted.)
3: But, I changed my mind and moved to Washington instead.(Well, 4 1/2 years ago)

2-3 years ago......
1: I was married to Gerritt a little over three years ago in the Seattle, WA LDS Temple!
2: I worked full-time at Watermark Credit Union in downtown Seattle.....I really loved that job.
3: We lived in a ghetto little apartment, but had so much fun being newlyweds!

1 year ago.......
1: Well, Abby was born in July last year.
2: I became a full-time Homemaker(a.k.a. I do it all!)
3: I found out that I would need surgery!

This year so far......
1: I had major chest surgery in January
2: Abby turned one and is a total hand full
3: We started looking for a house

Yesterday......
1: I did a load of laundry,
2: Cooked dinner.
3: and played outside with Abby and Gerritt

Today.........
1: Abby got a bath. Long story: Abby fell and hit her head, she was crying so hard that she threw up all over.
2: I cleaned up a head wound. No stitches needed, just a small scratch.
3: Did I mention laundry.....it's a daily occurrence around here.

Tomorrow........
1: Laundry of course
2: the weather is supposed to be nice so barring any more head wounds we'll go out to a park or something.
3: Since it will be Friday, maybe Gerritt and I will go out!

In the Next Year.......
1: Purchase our first home. ( hopefully things will work out one of these offers!)
2: I want to start my own small business. I love Photography and would love to do it professionally.
3: Hopefully get good news from my surgeon.....maybe more kids down the road.

So, that's me in a nutshell. I'd love to hear from you: Heather, Monica, Torrie. But, I'd love to hear what anyone else has to say!