Office Max Deals

Today I went to local Office Max for a wireless router. I hate only having one point of access to my modem and honestly it's a pain in the behind to plug one computer in and reset the modem then unplug to plug the other computer in. I know...I know I am so far behind in the technology of it all. It's just so sad really - I only joined FaceBook like 3 months ago.

So I went to Office Max for a new Linksys wireless G router that our lovely IT guy suggested. It was on sale for $49.99. I suppose this is a decent price and it should be what I need so yippee but there are a few other sales that are better.

I got a 5" Kodak digital picture frame for $21.00 and they had crayola supplies buy 2 get 1 free. If you have a lot of little ones to buy for crayons and coloring books are great gifts. Plus you can sign up for Max Rewards. For every $500 you spend - Office Max gives you $25 in office max cash.

Christmas - to date

So in my family I have 3 sisters, 2 brother in laws (respectively), 3 nephews, parents, my husband, and the girls. My husband has parents, a sister, a niece, and a son. That is a lot of Christmas. Usually I would just spend until I had no money or credit left. This year I'm trying to do Christmas Frugally. This is my running tab so far. I have found so good deals on stuff and looking at black Friday I've seen some great deals.

My girls are finished (including the $.21 I paid for the V-tech V-motion system.)

The V-tech is on sale for 39.99 at Target until Wednesday. They come with batteries but not power cords. So the power cord was 11.49. I had a $5 off coupon on $50 of toys - (I received this when I purchased the UP movies.) They are random coupons but print out at the register after you pay. Then I had 2 $25 target gift cards I got free from Chase. My total $.21.

I had already purchased K her Playschool walker thingy on the UP target visit with a $5 off the on sale $17.96 price with a different gift free Target gift card.

Many banks are giving away points for using their services on free checking accounts and it is beneficial to use these banks and these points. Chase only gives points on their debit card when you use it as a credit card if you have a regular card the points are 1 point for $1 spent. You can upgrade your debit card to a Leisure Reward Cars, there is a yearly $25 fee but points are now 4 points for $1 spent. I use my card to pay anything I can. This month alone I've gotten $75 in free gift cards. Capital one offers points on check written, card purchases, and debit purchases.

Christmas Tally

Ais - V-tech $.21
K - Playskool Walker - Free
Clothes for Salvation Army giving tree girl, the Boys, Corey's son, Ais, & K - JC Penny the total before discounts was 483.72. After all the door busters and discounts the total for 274.81. So I saved about $200 bucks and did some good for Charity.

I also got the girls some other outfits online for $56.24.

Then I got my charity child a Tea set at Disney store for $6.52 because I used a $10 gift card I had in my wallet for the last year.

The girls, my charity child, and my oldest Nephew are finished.

Total Christmas - $337.78

So How Did I Do?

Let's see:

I purchased 2 Up movies on sale $15.99 each
1 bag of skinner pasta $1.44
2 bags of Birds Eye Viola - $3.94 each
1 Walk and Ride on sale 17.00

Total before Tax and coupons - $58.30

Minus Coupons - (26.00)

Subtotal 32.30
tax 1.98

I paid with a Target gift card I got Free for using my chase debit card. I'll have to post that deal too.

-$25 free gift card.

Out of pocket $9.28 so I saved 85% plus I have 8 rebates I can fill out for the 2 movies I purchased.

As for my budget I again spurged due to the super deal I got at Target. WE stopped at the Pizza Hut Express and I got the full meal 6.38

Yesterdays ending balance: 67.06
Lunch - 6.38
remaining total - 60.68 left until 11/30/09. This might be a hard end of the month for me.

Here We Come Christmas

As I mentioned before I read lots of money saving blogs. One I love is thethriftymama.com. Yesterday I saw a post about buying the movie up for $5 bucks. Ok cool - on her blog she list the links for the coupons and rebates. You should also follow her on FaceBook. Today however I was perusing the Target weekly add and UP is now 15.96 - so with the $10 off coupon and the rebate offers - UP can be yours for free. Perfect gifts or a great donation to all those holiday toy drives.

Day Two Buckle My Shoe

So today the balance is going to take a dip because I have a filthy habit that keeps me from engaging in much more serious road rage that one could expect. However I made it up and had a yummy sandwhich for $3.51 - today. I also made $10 at the coinstar. If you have over $40 in change and trade said coins in for a gift card you will get a reciept that you mail in for $10. I had almost $60 in change that I made into a Starbucks card.

Prev Balance - $116.56
last night - $46.00 which included a drink refill
today's lunch - $3.50 (sandwhich at Dough Pleasures) One of my freinds and I used my coupon from the Entertainment Book Buy one get one free and we drank water.

This challanage is no fun if I just don't do anything. SO rule 2 - I must purchase atleast 5 things a week against my budget.

Ending Balance - $ 67.06 - oh money goes fast. Stay tuned can I make it?

Only my fist day and a DEAL!!

So I had to get some wipes for the baby at lunch today. I first went to Starbucks to re-fill (yes re-fill) my iced tea from this morning. $.54, I gave the barista $.46 for a tip - $1.00 for that great iced tea. Then I headed to Randalls to get the wipes. A pack of 5 were on sales for $6.99. I also grabbed a box of french bread pizza for $3. The total was $10.71 before I pulled out the $5 coupon I had gotten over the weekend for stocking my shelves of baking supplies. So lunch today and tomorrow is free and the wipes ended up being $5.71. They don't count against my monthly spending but thought I'd mention it.

Balance - 117.56
Drink - $1.00
Lunch - Free

New Balance - 116.56.

Day 1 - The Beginning

So I've decided to get my money in order. I don't know how I've gotten this far gone but after paying the bills and buying what I think are necessities I have NOTHING left at the end of the month. I have signed up for quite a few thrifty and fugal blogs and see the ways they save but I have not gotten that far yet in my adventure. Now the holidays are coming up and I'm just lost on how we are going to pay for that. I cannot cancel Christmas with my oldest just turning 3, so this blog is to be a daily diary of my new journey. A document of where my money goes and how I'm spending it. Maybe I can find the frugal path with my goal being to have $100 left at the end of this month.

Here is my first goal -

1. Do not spend more than $40 on un-frugal items. This included lunches out, drinks, smokes, and pool. I can go over in one week as long as I cut the next.

There are 3 full weeks left in November so from this point on I have $120.00 to spend until 11/30/09

I will keep a tally going daily.

Start - $120
-2.44 (drink this morning)
Balance - $117.56