Today's 50 % off shopping discounts at Sobey's - paid $6.39

Here's what I bought for $6.39 at Sobeys:

• x1 decorated chocolate cupcakes - paid $2.00
• x1 decorated vanilla cupcakes - paid $2.00
• x1 hot dog buns 6 pack - paid $0.99
• x1 hot dog buns 12 pack - paid $1.40

Love my bargains!

Yellow Stickers all over Sobey's today : 50% off

50% off stickers were plastered all over the store so I bought the following:

• x4 fresh made pizza - paid $4.50ea
• x1 skinless chicken breast - paid $4.44
• x1 skinless chicken breast - paid $4.14
• x1 brown rice california rolls - paid $3.00
• x1 chocolate pastry - paid $2.24
• x1 mini cinnamon buns - paid $2.50

OOP $34.32
shocking that it would have cost $68.64 at full price!

Free Cineplex movies passes and snacks!

Taking DD and her friend to a Sunday afternoon movie to watch "We Bought a Zoo". DD received a coupon on her last birthday for 2 regular entrance passes, 2 drinks and 1 popcorn. In addition I have 3 Cineplex coupons found on the inside of the Old El Paso Taco kits for 1 free snack of choice (candy, popcorn, drink, nachos). I'm sure it will be a fun afternoon for the girls.

How much are you spending on lottery each month?

How much are you spending on lottery each month? How frequent or infrequent do you play the game(s)?  Putting the numbers down on paper may be astonishing at what is really coming out of your pockets. I have heard a phrase that playing the lottery is a “tax for the stupid”.  Really?......

I do play a couple of bucks per week on Canada’s Lottario game – I choose not to spend much on the games because I have a budget for entertainment that I am very strict on. I play per week less than some people spend on coffee in a day. It’s true…. have you seen the price of a latte? Incredibly overpriced.

So why does a frugal person like me want to plunk down a couple of bucks a week to play? Because there is another phrase that sticks in my head - "you can't win it unless you're in it"! 

Being Frugal : Washing Clothes

A couple of times a week I wash clothes early in the morning before 7:00am, let hang dry and then fluff in the dryer late at night around 10:30pm for approx 10-15 minutes. Saves big on energy charges! 

What $10.27 bought me at Walmart

Went to Walmart specifically for the Schick razor and Revlon conditioner and found a few more goodies.

• x1  Shredded Wheat cereal $1.97 (used a $1.00 coupon)
• x3  Terry's orange chocolates $1.00ea
• x1  Revlon Outrageous shampoo $1.00 (price matched from Fortino's flyer)
• x2  Revlon Outrageous conditioner $1.00ea (price matched from Fortino's flyer)
• x1  Schick razor incl 1 extra cartridge $1.00 (used a $3.00 coupon)

OOP $10.27 incl. tax

Update : SDM Bonus Points Mailer

Today I purchased 3 bottles of Vitamins C & D @ $3.99ea and collected 1500 bonus points at SDM
I was pleasantly surprised to find a mailer from SDM offering bonus coupons on some products that I commonly use.

• 1500 when you spend $10 or more on batteries
• 1500 when you spend $10 or more on any skin care products
• 1500 when you spend $10 or more on any vitamins
• 1500 when you spend $10 or more on any hair colouring products
• 400 when you purchase any 5 friskie's cat food
• 1500 when you spend $10 or more on any Gillette shaving products
• 1500 when you spend $10 or more an any contact lens products
• 1500 when you spend $10 or more on Cover Girl cosmetics
• 1500 when you spend $10 or more on Tylenol products
• 500 when you purchase any Crest Toothpaste
• 300 when you purchase any Blistex lip balm
• 4000 when you purchase Cold FX bottle 200mg

Keeping track of Finances : a monthly commitment

Keeping track of finances is critical to staying on budget. I write down each purchase and at the end of every month, I enter all the numbers into an Excel spreadsheet.

Start by keeping separate running lists for the following categories:

1. Misc purchases - items not listed in your monthly fixed budget
2. Grocery
3. Fuel

By keeping these three lists separate, it is easy to identify where the money is spent every month (and where you can scale back).

My Excel spreadsheet is very simple to use. I plug in the numbers each month and it will automatically tell me if I'm over or under budget.

Remember, the key to staying on track is to document every single purchase otherwise you're fooling the numbers and back to being in the dark about your financials. If you're in a relationship, your significant other must also be on board as you can't do just half a budget. You both need to commit strongly to this life long process.

Below is a snapshot of the spreadsheet I use:

My Aldo Online Purchase : Grey Suede Boots

Attractive & Versatile.  These are the two visuals of online shoe shopping. The third and most important factor to keeping my purchase is comfort (and can I actually walk in them)?  Sometimes the third point doesn't work out and I'm forced to return but sometimes it is as if the shoe was made specifically for me.
Aldo online clearance prices keeps me coming back for more. I picked up on these great looking grey suede boots (also available in black and red). Original price $80, marked down to $27.99 (for the grey pair only).

Attractive -
Versatile  - 
Comfort - TBA

SDM Bonus Points Coupon Mailer

I was pleasantly surprised to find a mailer from SDM offering bonus coupons on some products that I commonly use.

• 1500 when you spend $10 or more on batteries
• 1500 when you spend $10 or more on any skin care products
• 1500 when you spend $10 or more on any vitamins
• 1500 when you spend $10 or more on any hair colouring products
• 400 when you purchase any 5 friskie's cat food
• 1500 when you spend $10 or more on any Gillette shaving products
• 1500 when you spend $10 or more an any contact lens products
• 1500 when you spend $10 or more on Cover Girl cosmetics
• 1500 when you spend $10 or more on Tylenol products
• 500 when you purchase any Crest Toothpaste
• 300 when you purchase any Blistex lip balm
• 4000 when you purchase Cold FX bottle 200mg

January : Get Organized Month

What is your organizing style?

I make lists, use calendars, storage what I can according to theme and utilize wall space rather than clutter the floor.

I have a collection of 1980s movie soundtrack LPs and bought LP frames from Michael's Craft Store (on sale of course). The LPs have become wall art instead of just being boxed.

Just for fun, I'll list the movies and let you reminisce about the good ol days:

• Some Kind of Wonderful
• Footloose
• Fast Times at Ridgemont High
• Flashdance
• Stand by Me
• St. Elmo's Fire
• The Lost Boys
• Weird Science
• The Breakfast Club
• Valley Girl
• Pretty in Pink
• Sixteen Candles
• Youngblood
• Back to the Future
• The Outsiders

Please Don't Clear the Store Shelves!

Couponing is a way of life for millions of households and in these economic tough times, I find it very reasonable to save money in every way possible. Coupons are equivalent to money and when a store reduces an item in their weekly flyer paired with a coupon, it equals great savings. So what stops a person from buying said items? – shelf clearing! This is when another person(s) - likely with the same coupon intentions, clears a shelf of a particular product leaving nothing for anyone else. I know people pad their stockpiles and even sometimes donate to charity but I too do these things and still leave some items for the next shopper.

Without couponing, an example of this is just this past Saturday when SDM had their Saturday only specials with a limit of 4. I purchased the limit of the 3-pack Irish Spring soap .99ea; Colgate toothbrushes .88ea; Colgate toothpaste .99ea. I’ve put these items aside and will include them to donate to a local women’s shelter. See, I bought only 4 of each item and I didn’t think about going in 10 times to purchase the same amount because I know there are a lot of opportunities throughout the year to pick up on good deals. I’m a deal hunter and always looking out. J

My plead is this- unless there are a couple of the item on the shelf, please do not fill up your cart and clear the shelf. Keep others in mind because good deals need to be spread around. We all need a chance to save money.

Being Frugal : Dishwasher Habits

I have the energy star appliances and avoid using the dishwasher in the evening after dinner – I use the ‘delay start’ set for the middle of the night when energy costs are lower.

Being frugal : I make my own Cinnamon Sugar

I Grind cinnamon sticks and mix with white sugar = cinnamon sugar for a lot less than buying it in the jar.

Family Tradition Easy Tiramisu Recipe

I made this to celebrate the first day of 2012. It's very easy to prepare and is delicous!

Note: I didn't want to make the 4-quart dish (which is what the ingredients listed will make) so I cut the ingredients in half and made a smaller version as pictured below.

Ingredients: 

• 3 eggs
• 3 Tbsp sugar
• 1 Tbsp Kahlua
• 1 Tbsp dark rum
• 2 containers of Marscapone cheese 
• Cocoa powder
• 2 pkgs Savoriardi brand cookies (there will be left over)
• 2 “mugs” black coffee (your usual coffee mug size will do)

Prep: Have warm coffee ready in a flat bowl; add dark rum

  

In a large bowl, blend eggs and sugar until smooth. Add one container of cheese and blend until smooth; add second container of cheese and Kahlua until well blended. Set aside.

Quickly roll one cookie at a time into the coffee mixture (do not over soak) and line a 4-quart glass dish completely– break cookies to fit gaps in corners. Pour half of the cheese mixture over the cookies and coat with cocoa powder. Repeat this step to add a second layer. 

Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 24 hours.