My CVS Trip

This week, I was really excited to stock up on some items that we needed. I spent more out of pocket than others....(see CVS Superstars at www.thecentsiblesawyer.blogspot.com)....but WAY less than I would have spent at Walmart.

I bought

4 Febreeze candles @$.79 each Apple/Cinnamon
2 CVS brand Claritin @ $3.79 each received $7.58 ECBS
2 Herbal Essences Hydrolicious @ $2.99 each used 2 $1 cpns received 2ECBS
1 St. Ives Skin Care $2.99 used $2 cpn
2 Dawn Dishwashing Soap was BOGO used 2 $.50 cpns
1 Puffs @ .75 after cpn
2 Johnsons buddies free after cpn
1 Kotex @ $3.79 recieved 1 ECB
2 Tampax @4.50 after cpns
1 Tide @5.99

I ended up doing two transactions to go ahead and use my ECBs.
My final out-of-pocket expense was $22.86 after using ECBs from this week and last.
Yes, I am going to work on rolling over but.....very happy about this trip!

Great at CVS this Week!

I had a super run at CVS this week-maybe my best so far. I spent $22.86 and saved $72.88!! My favorite finds were Febreeze cinnamon scented candles for $.79 (I got six of them!) I got my Johnson's Buddies soaps (3) for $.58 with my coupon. Revlon nail polishes for about $1 each after coupons and BOGO free. The things I ended of spending money on were the items I needed and refused to go to WalMart for...toilet paper, paper towels, and tweezers.
My CVS was out of SoyJoy and Throat coolers which was disappointing but with the great deals I got, I'm still smiling!

Long time--No blog!

Yes, it has been a while! I have just had a hard time deciding where I want to go with this blog. Still thinking actually! In the time that has past, I have had some interesting experiences so there will be some updating in the future.
As for the CVS experience, things are going well. I have had some really great deals and some "oh-I did that wrong" days. It is all a learning experience and overall I have saved a ton of money! There are some really fabulous sites out there to help save money!
This new year I am planning on helping our family by finding some new ways to save and cut back. We have a budget and are trying to discipline ourselves to stick to it. I also want to help us get into healthier habits by eating good things. So we have a lot of work ahead of us but a lot of exciting things too!
My kiddos are back in school and we are all settling in to the schedule that comes along with it. I will be posting some of that too.
So all in all, I hope to be blogging more and helping as many moms as I can!

CVS-ing

Yes, I have a new hobby that is fun (for me) and saves me $$$. I am clipping coupons and watching sales ads to get some awesome deals on everyday items. My goal is to learn more about this so I can cut my grocery bills in half. I took my first trip to CVS last week. I signed up for an Extra Care Card before I began shopping. I had done some research online at some great money saving blogs.( I will be posting those for you very soon.)So I was not overwhelmed when I walked in. I knew the deals I wanted to take advantage of and left the store spending $15. With my new Extra Care Card, I earned $8 dollars in Extra Care Bucks. I can use these on my purchase this week. After researching the sales paper online, I plan to go this week and spend $2 out-of-pocket on some really cool items. That will be on the next post. Stay tuned for some great deals as I learn my way around the CVS experience.

Oh, the pain...

..that a mom feels as she leaves those precious children in the hands of another on that first day of school. Dramatic? yes, but this has not been easy. My kindergartener absolutely excited about school. He came home yesterday telling me how wonderful it was and how much he loves it. My 5th grader, you know, the usual complaints of all the hard work that he has to do. He's big-he can deal. My 1st grader is in a room with tons of kids-many of them that don't know that you have to stay in your seat, raise your hand, obey the teacher, keep your hands to yourself etc.It is just a little too much for his quiet personality. He must love order way more than I knew. He has been in tears the night before, the morning of, and after school. It is so hard to see him struggle. The only thing I know to do is to keep encouraging him. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things.....

You know, we spend so much time sharing ideas for our children and seldom get the chance to share what we LOVE the most so this one is just for moms.

1. My favorite at home coffee--Dunkin Donuts is hands down the best that I have ever made at home!!!

2. Coffee Mate Cinnamon Bun to go with that coffee.($1 coupon on the coffee mate webiste right now)

3. Wheat Thins Lightly Cinnamon- perfect for when I want something sweet and crunchy.
(This is hidden from my kids. Come on they get EVERYTHING else in the house.)

4. Baby Spinach-on my sandwiches,in my eggs and pizza. Just seems great with everything.

5. Homemade Guacomole

6. Chex Mix

7. Sonic fountain drink

8. Caramel Frappucino from Starbucks

9. Naked Juice-the Purple One

10. Any of these plus a little quiet makes mom very happy.

Maybe next time I will list things in the NON food category;)

Shopping with Kids

Yep, I am one of those moms that takes her kids everywhere with her. Most people think I'm nuts but we DO have to go to the grocery store every now and then;) So I thought I'd give a few tips to help you keep your sanity while shopping with kids. Not that I'm the expert or anything-I've just been there a few times.

1. Early morning trips when everyone is fresh and fed work great!!!

2. We often drive 30 minutes when doing shopping so a bathroom trip upon arrival at the store is often good.

3.On the way, I usually think about what needs to be done the most and map out my plans( which store 1st, what I can't go home without etc.)

4. I always pack raisins,peanut butter crackers and such to entertain and hold them over til lunch.

5. Make a list!! When I don't, I always leave something important out. (Especially if the kids go nuts)

6. If they do go nuts, remain calm. They usually don't care if I am about to loose my mind so the only person I am hurting is myself.

7. My kids are much better when they have a job to do. When we are at the grocery store, we take turns finding what I need(older ones) and putting things in the shopping cart.

8. Love those places where there is a play area. I love the ones in the malls and so do my kids. They know that if they are sweet they will get to play for awhile.

9. If we are in a hurry, we make it a game. How long will it take us to get in and out with what we need?? They love guessing!

10. I try to make the end result something to look forward to like picking the place to eat lunch, a movie when we get home, play time in the play area. My boys really need to know that I won't make them shop for an eternity;)


Hope these little suggestions help you have a smoother trip! Please feel free to comment. I love new ideas!!!