July Challenge: Days 9-12

Day 9:  I spent about $10 at Walmart (saved over $7 using coupons!) and then went to Kroger to get a few groceries.  Spent about $33 there and saved over $10 in coupons!  Here's another challenge to living on a tight budget: buying healthy food and not prepackaged, preservative, sugar and salt laden foods.  Sometimes I just don't understand how buying three small apples for $1 can be the same price as 3-4 boxes of store brand mac and cheese. 

Day 10:  spent $0

Day 11:  I have decided to give the "drugstore game" a try.  This is essentially getting the best deals (ie. free or cheap) items at CVS and Walgreens type stores.  I thought I'd give CVS a try and see how it would go.  CVS had two items (that we could use) for FREE after Extra Care Bucks (ECB).  So, Sunday I bought a pair of kid scissors and some ball point pens for .99 each plus tax.  On my receipt, I received ECB's for .99 for each item to be used at another time.  So, I spent $2.14 and received back $1.98 to be used at another time.  I also purchased a double coupon Sunday paper for under $3.

Day 12:  Well, today I officially overspent all that we had left until Friday!  I did get some good deals and some $ will be coming our way in rebates so that makes it alright, right?
Today's deals: CVS - bought 6 shampoo/conditioners, 2 body wash, 3 deodorants for just over $10 and got back $8 in ECB's to use on my next visit!  I was practically floating out of the store I was so excited! 
Office Depot deals:  these items I paid for out of pocket today, but will all be FREE and maybe + after rebate...stapler, Mr. sketch markers, sheet protectors and mechanical pencils.  The rebates all have a set price (not purchase price) and I used a coupon...so we'll see if I get back more than what I paid!  This was also a Mystery Shop place, so I will be reimbursed for up to $5 and will get paid $5 for shopping there today!

In other news...we took the boys to VBS at a nearby church where some of our neighbors attend.  They had a good time.  Since Casey and I do not hardly ever have evenings for dates, we are taking advantage of these mornings this week to spend some time together.  Today he went shopping with me. :>)  Which reminds me that I did spend another $14 at Half-Price Books today also (oops).  I bought 13 books for Ethan and Josiah at $1 a piece.  A few of them will be for school (like Charlotte's Web) and some are just for fun (Encyclopedia Brown).