Super Savings Saturday Part 2: Walmart, Target, Kmart

We were on our way to the nursing mamas picnic and left early so I could make some stops at Kmart, Target and Walmart for some bargains I saw on other blogs. I couldn't find everything at my stores-- Target didn't have Kashi waffles, no La Victoria at Walmart, and Kmart was rather picked over. I did find a few things though... but when we got to the picnic, we couldn't find our friends and then it started to thunder and lightning so we left.

I did spy a church rummage sale on the way home though, so we stopped in and I got myself a very nice Eddie Bauer fall jacket, a Halloween costume for Natalya, a matching dress set for myself, a jogging suit and some pants for her, and flannel fabric for quilting for me. I spent $9 at the rummage sale.

At Target we got:
5 Eggo @1.50 -1.00 mfc on each
tp 1.79
sandal/clogs for Natalya to wear next year 3.74 clearance
red sugar sprinkles .25 (75% off)
pack of 4th of July pencils .25 (75% off)
6 pairs 4th of July socks @.25 (75% off)
car wax 7.65
2 Kashi cereal @2.66 -1.50 mfc on each -b1g1 target q =free plus overage!
Paid 18.72... $2.50 was grocery items (kashi, eggo, sprinkles).

Walmart
true north 2.50 -1.00 mfc
3 corn @.25
hefty food bags 1.00 -1.00 mfc =free
muir glen tomatoes 1.50 -1.00 mfc
franks sauce .97 -1.00 mfc=free
international delight creamer 1.67-1.00 mfc
3 fisher nuts @1.32 -1.00 mfc on each
baby wash travel size .97 -1.00 mfc =free
reach floss 1.00 -1.00 mfc =free
I paid 4.53.

Kmart
old spice deodorant 2.12-2.00 tear off pad kmart q =free
2 dry idea @4.99 -2.00 mfc on each
2 kotex @1.29 -1.00 mfc on each =free
all bran crackers 3.99 -2.00 mfc = free
crackers 3.69 -2.00 mfc =free
huggies wipes 1.89 -1.00 mfc =free
2 trident @1.19 =1.00/2
2 dove deodorant @3.99 -2.00 mfc on each =free
strawberry chiller cups 2.99 -1.00 mfc
mustard 1.49 -1.00 mfc =free
oreo cakesters 3.00 -1.00 mfc
popcorn seasoning 1.99 -1.00 mfc =free
Paid 4.59.

Super Savings Saturday Meijer and Kroger

I had a slightly shorter day at work Friday, so I picked up Natalya, who upon seeing me shouted "I'm going to the FOOD STOIE (store)!" about 17 times. The teacher told me that Natalya had been talking about it *all day*. That is how much she likes going grocery shopping! I'm sure the cookie from the nice people in the Meijer bakery helps a little!

Here's what we got:
Meijer:
2.68# bananas 1.31
2 packs Hawaiian rolls @1.99 -.75 mfc on each =.49 each after mfcs
2.71# grapes = 2.68
8 ground turkey @1.00
2 english muffins @1.00
pretzels 0.00 (free item in buy 10 get 1 free promotion)
watermelon 3.49
4 crystal light b2g2f @4.58 -.50/2 mfc (Mike requested these!) =8.16 for 4
cat food 6.16 -3.00 mfc -5.00 meijer q = free plus overage
Paid 25.78.

Kroger:
2 dannon 6-packs @2.29 -.75 mfc on each =.79 each
2 bob evans links sausage @2.33 -2 x .50 mfc =1.33 each
tyson drumsticks 2.08 -1.00 mfc =1.08
whole chicken 2.89 -1.00 catalina =1.89
milk 1.98
2 santa cruz organic lemonade @1.50 -2 x .75 mfc = free
.59# tomatoes =.62
clearance bread .39
buns .49
strawberries 1.48
mushrooms .89 clearance
Paid 14.16

Spent a total of $39.94. I got a lot of meat!

I spent some time rummaging through my chest freezer to see what I had left in there. I'll be cooking a turkey this weekend to make space for some venison that my parents will bring. The turkey was one I got nearly free at Thanksgiving, so it is time to be eating it up!

Oh, and here's a picture of my first monster zucchini from my garden. He's a big boy! There are more like him on the way... yum! Not the most flattering picture of me though. Oh well. I just got out of the shower and I wear ginormous t-shirts to sleep in.

Frugal Friday: School Supplies

Although I don't have any school-aged kiddos in my house, I am seeing lots of ads for cheap to free school supplies right now. This past week, I got free pencil sharpeners and tape at CVS. This upcoming week, they will have more free after ECB deals at CVS on school supplies. Staples also has an upcoming sale on copy paper and pencils for 1 cent. I plan to go for it and get them. Why? Well, we do have a printer, and a kid who likes to color. And I like to make cards. And what we ourselves do not need, I can donate to the daycare for them to put to good use! Once or twice a year I go through my crafty stuff and bring in a bag or three of "art" stuff for them and it's always MUCH appreciated. I would rather the daycare use its funds to pay teachers a little more, than buy paper and pencils for the kids.

So, if you have a chance to get some free school supplies, even if you do not need them, consider gathering them up and donating them to a daycare or school at the start of the school year or putting an ad on Freecycle. The teachers and kids and parents alike will be blessed by your generosity!

Thrifty Thursday: I Just Love This

This quote from the Columbus Dispatch Politics (accessed 7/8/09 @ http://blog.dispatch.com/dailybriefing/2009/07/revenue_shortfall_for_fiscal_2.shtml )

The state managed to finish the fiscal year with a $389 million ending balance for the general revenue fund, thanks in large part to draining the $948 million rainy-day fund to 89 cents and other moves Gov. Ted Strickland's administration made to reduce expenses and manage cash.

Eighty-nine cents. Now pardon my French, but that is one *hell* of a rainy day fund.

Womanly Wednesday: Toddlers

Natalya has been a real challenge to my parenting skills lately. She knows how to argue, for example:

Mommy: "Natalya, you didn't eat your green beans."
Natalya: "Yes, I did."
Mommy: "No, you didn't, they're still on your plate."
Natalya: "Yes, I eat them."
Mommy: "They are still on your plate."
Natalya: "I EAT THEM! I EAT MY GREEN BEANS!!!"

And then she will say: "I like dessert." As in, 'I would like to *have* dessert'!

Topic of Choice Tuesday: Making Choices

In Columbus, much of the current news is regarding the lack of a biennial state budget for the fiscal year that began one week ago. Our governor (who I saw walking at lunch yesterday) signed a temporary operating budget and is expected to renew it for one more week. Apparently, the funding is sufficient to cover payroll and that is it. My salary is covered by a federal grant which I help write each year. Mike, however, is paid out of the general revenue fund. Word has it that the governor won't sign a third extension, so if there's no budget by July 14, it may be that state government would shut down.

So that leads me to thinking about the choices that we make. I decided at the age of 14 that I wanted to be an epidemiologist, knowing that most are employed by the government at various (local, state or federal) levels. Mike and I choose to live well below our means because it feels right and is more comfortable than worrying about not having enough money to pay the bills.

The state budget is hinging on slot machines and what level of spending cuts to make. Personally, I don't think slot machines are going to fix the budget issue. I don't see that they would bring in the revenue predicted by the governor. Ohio has some tough choices to make. While I want to make the choice to stay home to raise children, that would be a choice that would sacrifice other opportunities, such as being more financially comfortable and having my own career outside the home. It wouldn't be an easy choice, but to me it feels like the right one (but not right now). Ohio has to make a "right now" choice. But will it be the "right" one?

My sister is a Medicaid recipient in another state (she is deaf, blind and profoundly mentally retarded, and will be 27 years old next month). Her dental benefits were cut. She now gets food stamps. Our parents care for her with minimal outside assistance. Medicaid consumes more than 50% of Ohio's state budget. Personally, even though my sister is on Medicaid (but not in Ohio) and it would be a VERY tough choice, this may be an area we need to cut. There are people receiving benefits that may not be in as high a need as people like my sister. People like my sister are the ones that the program was originally intended for- those who would never, ever be able to provide for themselves.

Just as my parents made the tough choice to care for my sister rather than institutionalize her, and make the choice to pay for services out of her cash benefits rather than go without things like dental care, Ohio must make some tough choices. They may not be popular or easy ones but they need to be made just the same. People need to step up and take some responsibility- take one for the team.

Then again, that's just my opinion!

Menu Planning Monday

Even though we didn't travel for the holiday, we stayed busy the entire weekend. I haven't been feeling well with headaches and allergy issues and cramps. Yuck.

But, I did do some cooking and baking over the weekend. I baked two loaves of chocolate chip zucchini bread, and we took one of them to share to a friend's July 4th party. I took cheese and crackers to another friend's party. I also baked biscuits, sugar cookies that I decorated with red and blue sugars, and cinnamon-apple dumplings. Yum!

Sunday- lunch was leftovers. Dinner- Mike grilled the chicken we got at Giant Eagle. We had biscuits, green beans from the garden, and the cinnamon apple dumplings for dessert.

Monday- Sausage, biscuits, eggs

Tuesday- chicken fried rice & corn

Wednesday- beef & noodles & broccoli

Thursday- chicken tacos

Friday- grilled cheese

Saturday- lunch picnic with nursing mama alumni from work; grill for dinner