Once upon a time, Borders was the devil. I am incapable of going into that store without spending at least $150. I LOVE books. I love buying books. I love putting books on shelves in some sort of anal order that only I understand. I love looking at them. From time to time, I even get around to reading them.
After the last round of purchasing 8 cookbooks and spending $150 (at least some were on sale, right??), I said that the vicious cycle must stop.
So, I got on ye olde internet and I found that there was a library closer than I thought. (I knew there was a really inconveniently located one, but this one is much better.)
I love the library. I love that I can renew my 11 books on frugality online and that I can search for more books on savings online. All very good.
The library is good and it is saving me a fortune. Although I suppose I probably pay for at least a little piece of it through some sort of taxes. But whatever, I love my free books.
Although I did ask for three books for my birthday from The Boy. I still like to snuggle with a few that haven't been in the arms of another.
5.23.2008
5.21.2008
A Good Haul
I left work a couple of hours early today because my sinuses are PISSED that I live in the middle of a dust storm. I got home to find three delightful samples.
Quite pleased with these. The Starbucks sample is a nice size. No, I don't drink anything with caffeine, but The Boy does. The little shampoos are perfect travel sizes. Except that I don't have intensely damaged hair. I will try the Acne Stress Control, although I fear it will somehow cause me to break out because my skin only likes precious precious Proactiv.
But, still. Awesome free stuff.
Quite pleased with these. The Starbucks sample is a nice size. No, I don't drink anything with caffeine, but The Boy does. The little shampoos are perfect travel sizes. Except that I don't have intensely damaged hair. I will try the Acne Stress Control, although I fear it will somehow cause me to break out because my skin only likes precious precious Proactiv.
But, still. Awesome free stuff.
The sensitive poet within me will now describe what it is like to be a frugal lawyer in an occupational field not frequently associated with frugality
my coworkers laughed
when they saw my coupon book
they did like the tabs
when they saw my coupon book
they did like the tabs
5.19.2008
5.18.2008
Sunday Sunday Sunday!
Today, I went to the store early and bought my Sunday papers before grocery shopping.
I went through the CVS ad and planned this week's purchases so that I could utilize some coupons and my ECBs from yesterday. The Boy needed razor blades, so I convinced him to switch to a Schick Quattro since they were offering an ECB deal. I also got myself a new razor because it was on sale, I had a decent coupon, it came with 4 blades and it was an ECB deal. I also got four giant tubes of Colgate Advanced toothpaste because they had an ECB deal and I had coupons that were expiring on 5/24.
I applied the ECB from yesterday and a $5/$25 coupon and the grand total was around $5. (I also had a $3 credit from a refund for returning an envelope.) I got another $10 in ECB for next week. I was hoping for more, but I suppose I can't be greedy. I got very good deals. According to the receipt, I saved $34.98.
Then, off to Albertson's. I went for only one reason - Chef Boyardee. The Tiny Petri Dishes like them for lunch on the weekends, so I stock up when I can get a good deal. They were 10/$10, but if you bought $20 of a certain spread of goods, you could get another $5 off. I used my fruit roll ups gift card for $5 off and got 20 cans for $10. I wouldn't eat them, but if they like them, woohoo for bargains.
Then to Smith's. Produce is the devil because it costs a fortune and it sucks since I live in the middle of the desert. I cruised the aisles a bit more than usual and found a few unadvertised sales on some spices that I had new coupons for. I got a handful of other good deals.
Total spent on groceries between Smith's and Albertson's was $98.06. I saved $65.81. Not bad. I have saved more in previous weeks, but I bought a lot more meat this week, so the savings weren't as dramatic as they tend to be with cereal, etc. All of that and I did get two big roasting chickens and a roast and a ton of other stuff. I'm pleased.
I went through the CVS ad and planned this week's purchases so that I could utilize some coupons and my ECBs from yesterday. The Boy needed razor blades, so I convinced him to switch to a Schick Quattro since they were offering an ECB deal. I also got myself a new razor because it was on sale, I had a decent coupon, it came with 4 blades and it was an ECB deal. I also got four giant tubes of Colgate Advanced toothpaste because they had an ECB deal and I had coupons that were expiring on 5/24.
I applied the ECB from yesterday and a $5/$25 coupon and the grand total was around $5. (I also had a $3 credit from a refund for returning an envelope.) I got another $10 in ECB for next week. I was hoping for more, but I suppose I can't be greedy. I got very good deals. According to the receipt, I saved $34.98.
Then, off to Albertson's. I went for only one reason - Chef Boyardee. The Tiny Petri Dishes like them for lunch on the weekends, so I stock up when I can get a good deal. They were 10/$10, but if you bought $20 of a certain spread of goods, you could get another $5 off. I used my fruit roll ups gift card for $5 off and got 20 cans for $10. I wouldn't eat them, but if they like them, woohoo for bargains.
Then to Smith's. Produce is the devil because it costs a fortune and it sucks since I live in the middle of the desert. I cruised the aisles a bit more than usual and found a few unadvertised sales on some spices that I had new coupons for. I got a handful of other good deals.
Total spent on groceries between Smith's and Albertson's was $98.06. I saved $65.81. Not bad. I have saved more in previous weeks, but I bought a lot more meat this week, so the savings weren't as dramatic as they tend to be with cereal, etc. All of that and I did get two big roasting chickens and a roast and a ton of other stuff. I'm pleased.
5.17.2008
Samples Samples and More Samples
After Ganners suggested Free Stuff Times, I became obsessed with samples. I used to love when my parents would get them in the mail. They are so lovely and small and cute and free. So I have been signing up for all sorts of samples. Lots of great products and they usually come with generous coupons. They have been piling up, so...
Me: Oh, by the way, this is now the sample drawer.
The Boy: We have so many samples that we really need a drawer?
Me: Yes. See? This used to be the Asian drawer, but I combined the Asian drawer with the Valentine's Day drawer.
The Boy: We had a Valentine's Day drawer?
Me: Yes. There are a lot of extra drawers and I don't like when they are empty.
Me: Oh, by the way, this is now the sample drawer.
The Boy: We have so many samples that we really need a drawer?
Me: Yes. See? This used to be the Asian drawer, but I combined the Asian drawer with the Valentine's Day drawer.
The Boy: We had a Valentine's Day drawer?
Me: Yes. There are a lot of extra drawers and I don't like when they are empty.
Getting my feet wet in the art of theft at CVS
When I started this blog, I got a comment from janiejane and I clicked on her link and saw a blog about CVS. I LOVE CVS. I go to CVS more than I like to admit because I'm constantly picking up prescriptions, breathe right strips and mucinex. And it costs me a fortune. And I use that card. And I would forget about my coupons all of the time. But then I saw her blog.
Sweet holy jesus, it is possible to virtually steal from CVS. She leaves the store with bags and bags of loot and pays very minimal out of pocket. I couldn't figure out the method. So, like any OCD lawyer, I began my research. I found a how-to guide on CVS savings. So, I spent a fair amount of time this week studying the ads. Since I'm a first timer, all of the May Extra Care Bucks deals were still available.
When I got there, I had my list and coupons prepared. I had a $5/$25 coupon and a $5 ECB (Extra Care Bucks) coupon from earlier in the week. I also had a $45 gift card that I got from Discover (because I got an extra $5 back for a gift card instead of doing cash back).
I knew it wasn't going to be a super duper cheap trip because I got a scrubbing bubbles shower cleaner thing, but I had a number of coupons for it and there was a deal, so I figured I'd give it a try because I HATE cleaning the shower almost as much as I hate seeds. So I got some Advil (had a coupon) for $1.99, some toothbrushes, some brownie mix, four bottles of body wash that smells really good, some aspirin (pricey, but had a coupon and there was an ECB deal and i take an aspirin a day now since my heart will explode otherwise) and a bar of soap, which I actually needed. (But, instead of cetaphil, I am trying the CVS brand. We'll see how it compares.)
After the gift card and a lot of manufacturer's coupons, I paid $11.54 out of pocket. But the best part was that it spit out a million ECB coupons at the end. for $20.98. So, that's $20.98 that I have to use for the next trip, and of course, another $5/$25. I am excited about the idea that I can spend very little and get nice brands and shower gel that smells really good. (It is red softsoap with the world's most disgusting food and mango scent.)
Since I'm a novice, I didn't understand things well enough to split it into more purchases. I could have saved another $5, I think, by splitting it into another transaction. But i hadn't added well enough in my head before I got to the register. Next time, people, next time.
Sweet holy jesus, it is possible to virtually steal from CVS. She leaves the store with bags and bags of loot and pays very minimal out of pocket. I couldn't figure out the method. So, like any OCD lawyer, I began my research. I found a how-to guide on CVS savings. So, I spent a fair amount of time this week studying the ads. Since I'm a first timer, all of the May Extra Care Bucks deals were still available.
When I got there, I had my list and coupons prepared. I had a $5/$25 coupon and a $5 ECB (Extra Care Bucks) coupon from earlier in the week. I also had a $45 gift card that I got from Discover (because I got an extra $5 back for a gift card instead of doing cash back).
I knew it wasn't going to be a super duper cheap trip because I got a scrubbing bubbles shower cleaner thing, but I had a number of coupons for it and there was a deal, so I figured I'd give it a try because I HATE cleaning the shower almost as much as I hate seeds. So I got some Advil (had a coupon) for $1.99, some toothbrushes, some brownie mix, four bottles of body wash that smells really good, some aspirin (pricey, but had a coupon and there was an ECB deal and i take an aspirin a day now since my heart will explode otherwise) and a bar of soap, which I actually needed. (But, instead of cetaphil, I am trying the CVS brand. We'll see how it compares.)
After the gift card and a lot of manufacturer's coupons, I paid $11.54 out of pocket. But the best part was that it spit out a million ECB coupons at the end. for $20.98. So, that's $20.98 that I have to use for the next trip, and of course, another $5/$25. I am excited about the idea that I can spend very little and get nice brands and shower gel that smells really good. (It is red softsoap with the world's most disgusting food and mango scent.)
Since I'm a novice, I didn't understand things well enough to split it into more purchases. I could have saved another $5, I think, by splitting it into another transaction. But i hadn't added well enough in my head before I got to the register. Next time, people, next time.
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