tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91960420546700952072024-03-13T15:26:22.241-07:00Work in Progress1 Peter 3:3-4 states, "Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious."Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09201282655306530506noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196042054670095207.post-18039236560694084802008-01-31T17:43:00.000-08:002008-01-31T19:45:09.610-08:00diapers diapers diapers...<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >*14* PACKS OF HUGGIES DIAPERS + MORE FOR <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">LESS</span> THAN $20.00<br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Oh ya we also got toilet paper, 6-12 packs of Pepsi, 2 bottles of cough syrup,<br />2 boxes of Advil PM and sanitary pads!!! </span></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_seSiGeVIexU/R6J6bVfbKEI/AAAAAAAAACE/jiQWqKW9xXM/s1600-h/misc+183.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_seSiGeVIexU/R6J6bVfbKEI/AAAAAAAAACE/jiQWqKW9xXM/s400/misc+183.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161822732964014146" border="0" /></a>Normally a package of the Huggies Supreme diapers are over $10.00 each. If you only factor in the diapers we paid about $1.20 a package!!!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;font-size:180%;" >I LOVE CVS!!!</span><br /></div></div></div></div>Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09201282655306530506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196042054670095207.post-85036018672672443712008-01-30T11:18:00.000-08:002008-01-30T12:06:35.674-08:00kitchen remodelWhen we bought this house the one downside was the amount of work space in the kitchen.<br />Anthony solved alot of storage problems right off by putting shelving in an old laundry closet for me... I don't know what I'd be doing without that.<br />But now it's time to start figuring out how to make the kitchen functional for as little money as possible.<br /><br />The one thing we *HAVE* to do is move the basement stairs. If we can't figure out some way to do that we're out of luck on the kitchen. I'm hoping we can remove the built in china cabinet in the dining room, expand the opening and have stairs going down there.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_seSiGeVIexU/R6DWE1fbJ-I/AAAAAAAAABU/xAG8TBw3K70/s1600-h/kitchen+remodel+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_seSiGeVIexU/R6DWE1fbJ-I/AAAAAAAAABU/xAG8TBw3K70/s200/kitchen+remodel+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161360551533291490" border="0" /></a> *basement stairs now*<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_seSiGeVIexU/R6DWilfbJ_I/AAAAAAAAABc/UP0SgbkZQk0/s1600-h/kitchen+remodel+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_seSiGeVIexU/R6DWilfbJ_I/AAAAAAAAABc/UP0SgbkZQk0/s200/kitchen+remodel+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161361062634399730" border="0" /></a> *where I'm hoping they can go*<br /><br />I'm also hoping we can remove the wall in between the kitchen and dining room and add a bar area so the kids can sit and be with me while I'm in the kitchen working.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_seSiGeVIexU/R6DXUlfbKAI/AAAAAAAAABk/gfiY1bBvazY/s1600-h/kitchen+remodel+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_seSiGeVIexU/R6DXUlfbKAI/AAAAAAAAABk/gfiY1bBvazY/s200/kitchen+remodel+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161361921627858946" border="0" /></a>*this is the wall I'd like to knock out... leaving the bottom half (of course)and putting a eating bar*<br /></div></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_seSiGeVIexU/R6DX31fbKBI/AAAAAAAAABs/FRCrP10Lig8/s1600-h/kitchen+design.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_seSiGeVIexU/R6DX31fbKBI/AAAAAAAAABs/FRCrP10Lig8/s400/kitchen+design.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161362527218247698" border="0" /></a><br /><br />*This is what I'd like to do. This lets us add a linen closet in the Mstr bedroom and also add a walk in pantry. Our kitchen is about 10x6 now and this will triple our space! I'm so excited about this project and figuring out how to get it done as frugally as possible while still making an awesome kitchen.*<br /><br /><br />We plan on doing most if not all of the work ourselves. It will take us awhile to do I'm sure but if we can keep on our budget we should be able to triple our investment (AT LEAST)<br /><br />*I'll keep you updated*Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09201282655306530506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196042054670095207.post-48120670234812474832008-01-30T11:10:00.000-08:002008-01-30T11:17:06.643-08:00taxes and random things<span style="font-family: courier new;">I prepared and filed our taxes yesterday. It was pretty exciting, our income went up 50% last year and we still got more back on our taxes than last... only by a couple hundred but still UP!<br />We've changed our exemptions this year so we shouldn't get hardly any back next year but I'd rather have it every week anyway.<br /><br />The refund should be direct deposited by next Friday and then we can pay one credit card off and knock the other one down by a 1/3!!!<br />Our original goal was to have the debt paid off by April 1st but it may take us an extra month depending on how things go around here.<br />We're making an unexpected trip to Atlanta and that's taking a good chunk of change with plane fare, tux rental, etc. But we are making lots of progress and should be debt free (besides house) before the summer!!!<br /><br /><br />And never again will we get a credit card or buy anything on credit. So... hopefully our cars (or at least one of them) makes it until we have the cash to buy another one! :)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier new;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">COMING SOON:</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: courier new;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Anthony and I both are making a trip to CVS tonight. I figured out a way for us to get another 13 packs of diapers for $20... so that is our one goal this evening is to rack up on diapers! Oh and also Pepsi products, advil and dimetapp will be included for the $20</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: courier new;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></div>Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09201282655306530506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196042054670095207.post-60160731269426313122008-01-27T17:37:00.000-08:002008-01-27T18:33:19.455-08:00more loot from CVS<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Once again I am going to share the blessings we got at CVS this afternoon!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">ALL OF THIS FOR $29.74!!!! (<span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">OVER</span> $200.00 worth)</span></span></span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span></span>Okay so since the week before last I've been WAITING for some good deals and they're finally here! I loved getting all the cough syrup, zantac and toothpaste but I really wanted some consumable products we need NOW :)<br /><br />So this week it was diapers and Pepsi products. The diapers being the most important with two eating, pooping peeing machines here at our house!<br /><br /><br />This is what I got:<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">9-12 Packs of Pepsi</span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><br />2 bags of doritos</span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><br />6 Propel Waters<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">2 bags of twizzlers</span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><br />4 Advil PM</span> <br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">4 Dimetapp Childrens allergy/cough medicine (which would have come in handy LAST week!)</span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><br />2 packages of Stayfree pads</span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><br />a bar of Dove dark chocolate<br /></span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">2 boxes of Mrs. Smiths cookies</span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><br />1 bag of Munchos</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">AND THE BEST PART (drumroll please!) 6 PACKAGES of HUGGIES DIAPERS (the Supreme ones even that I never buy!!)<br /><br /></span>My store allows me to stack coupons (PRAISE JESUS) so I used EVERY coupon they had out!!!<br /><br /><br />Order #1:<br />The $15 off $75, the $10 off $50, the $5 off $30, $4 off $20, $3 off $15 and $2 off $10... which brought my total down $39.00<br /><br />THEN add in the manufacturer coupons... which I had $18.00 worth and that brings my total to $18.90 ~ I had $18 in Extra Care Bucks so I spent $0.90 and got <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">$28.39 in ECBs.</span><br />I look at it this way, I've been spending the same $20 for 4 weeks now and getting HUNDREDS of dollars worth of stuff!<br /><br /><br />Order #2:<br /><br />Again using all of the coupons above... I messed up and printed the wrong coupon so his total was slightly higher ($4) and since we'd used his ECBs last week he had to pay out of pocket. Anthony's total was $28.84 and he got <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">$28.39 back in ECBs</span><br /><br />So pretty good I think! All in all we spent $29.74 Out of pocket and have $56.78 in ECBs to use as needed!<br /><br />Here is the picture of all of our loot :)</span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_seSiGeVIexU/R50-ZFfbJ9I/AAAAAAAAABM/3mTocCMBMvM/s1600-h/misc+173.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_seSiGeVIexU/R50-ZFfbJ9I/AAAAAAAAABM/3mTocCMBMvM/s320/misc+173.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160349348728088530" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></span></div></div>Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09201282655306530506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196042054670095207.post-62187862211712852472008-01-15T16:50:00.001-08:002008-01-15T16:56:25.993-08:00CVS trips<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_seSiGeVIexU/R41VOe5pRqI/AAAAAAAAAA0/zfQRAdmAlXU/s1600-h/cvsjan11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_seSiGeVIexU/R41VOe5pRqI/AAAAAAAAAA0/zfQRAdmAlXU/s320/cvsjan11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155870855710459554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_seSiGeVIexU/R41VOu5pRrI/AAAAAAAAAA8/-lrwMmYpwSM/s1600-h/misc+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_seSiGeVIexU/R41VOu5pRrI/AAAAAAAAAA8/-lrwMmYpwSM/s320/misc+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155870860005426866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_seSiGeVIexU/R41VO-5pRsI/AAAAAAAAABE/GjEb_gz-m_E/s1600-h/misc+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_seSiGeVIexU/R41VO-5pRsI/AAAAAAAAABE/GjEb_gz-m_E/s320/misc+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155870864300394178" border="0" /></a><br />I got all this stuff at CVS Friday and Saturday. I waited all week to go and probably would have gotten a lot more if I had of started earlier in the week.<br />We're blessed to have 3 CVS stores within 2 miles of our house! Praise the Lord :)<br /><br /><br />This was all purchased with $20.24 out of pocket and about 10ECBs. The best part was the $39.50 in ECBs I got back! Which will help drastically on the weeks my grocery budget gets chopped!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">There aren't a lot of deals this week but if I happen to get any I'll share them!<br /><br /></span><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="on" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Add_Video" title="Add Video" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="addVideo();" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);;ButtonMouseDown(this);"><br /></span></span>Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09201282655306530506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196042054670095207.post-77673785574701626192008-01-15T16:33:00.000-08:002008-01-15T16:44:49.137-08:00Financial Shape 2008As part of the challenge on <a href="http://www.moneysavingmom.com/2008/01/financial-shape-in-2008-setting.html">Money Saving Mom</a> I thought I'd share our financial goals for 2008.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Short Term goals:<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span> - Have all debt paid off by the end of March (about $5,600)<br />- Use April's savings money to take a vacation<br />- Get Life Insurance on both Anthony and I<br />- Transition into using cash almost exclusively<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Long Term goals:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span>- Have fully funded emergency fund (6 mo. worth of expenses) by December (about $10,000)<br />- Start investing 10-15% (Roth IRA, etc.) after the emergency fund is complete<br />- Move all extra funds at that point towards paying of the mortgage within 7 years<br /><br />*We'd really like to be in a place 7 years from now where we can buy/fix-up and either sell or rent houses. But in order to do that we want our current house paid off.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">One of the ways I'm trying to contribute towards these goals is by lowering our budgeted grocery amount. I've started CVSing and really planning my menus and shopping lists around sales and coupons which has helped tremendously. Check out what I got at <a href="http://savingmoneyandraisingchildren.blogspot.com/2008/01/cvs-trip.html">CVS last week</a>!</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br /></span></span></span></span>Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09201282655306530506noreply@blogger.com0