Autumn's Personal Finance Blog

I am still around. I have been off work on vacation all week. I have been making tons of new things and learning how to cook from scratch. I have been getting tons of advice at frugalvillage.com. I haven't had much to add to my savings lately. I sold some stuff on ebay and am just waiting for some payments to come in before I transfer that. For today I do have a roll of quarters, two rolls of pennies, and 7 dollar bills.

Previous total: 724.69
Money today: 18.00
New total: 742.69

I just thought of another good deal I got today, We stopped at a gas station to put air in my tire and they had 1 liter Mt Dews 2/1.00. I bought DH 6 of them. He is going to take them to work and bring the empty bottles home. I will wash them out and refill them from Mt Dew from 2 liters we got on sale today for 1.00. This will save us a ton in money he has been spending on canned drinks.

OK on with some of the grocery deals I got today:

Rice-a-Roni and Pasta Roni: 0.50/box
Success Wild Rice Mix: FREE
Nestle Treasure Candy Bars: 0.09/each
Jolly Time Healthy Pop Popcorn: 1.00/box
Keebler E.L. Fudge Cookies .85/pack (I think)
Pop Tarts: 1.00/box
Lipton Tea Bags: FREE
Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup: 0.60/each
Zataran's Mix: 0.35 each (I think)
Right Guard Deoderant: 0.50/each
Hungry Man Dinners: 0.29/each
Split Chicken Breast: .99/lb
Garden Fresh Salad Mix: FREE (I think)
New York Strips: 5.99/lb

Some stuff I might be a little off on. I can see how much it cost on the receipt but can't remember exactly how much the coupon would be.

(If you should happen to read on the frugalvillage boards, this a copy of what I posted there.)

I had the BEST day today. LOL I shopped at two Goodwills and got some pretty good deals.

First store in Mooresville: (This store is brand new and was WAY overpriced on a lot of stuff. Some stuff was the same price or higher than it would be new. And then there cookbooks were $3 each.
- 3 Road Sign Adhesive Hooks. These match the road sign curtains I got at another Goodwill on Monday perfect. I have a pair of curtains I didn't list on ebay that I may hang in my son's room and use these hooks.
- A new with tags t-shirt for me that says "Trust me. I'm a lawyer."
- An Adidas t-shirt for me
- A new with tags shirt for DD with The Beatles on it
- Two more shirts for DD, one from The Children's Place (Other is Sonoma. I think that is Target??)
- A very nice pair of dress shoes for DD
- A like new pair of pants for DS with an adjustable waist and cargo pockets
- A Starter Athletics pullover for DS

Total: $19.22

Second Store in Cornelius:
- Pokemon book for DS
- Book for DD
- A cute set of magnets my DD wanted
- An adorable black and white skirt from Oshkosh for DD
- A really pretty Healthtex shirt for DD
- A Hulk shirt for DS
- A Batman shirt for DS
- A Guinness shirt for DH
- A really funny shirt for myself, looks new. I won't write what it says LOL
- A reed diffuser from Pier 1 (smells so good)
- (SO proud of this!) A BEAUTIFUL Easter dress for my daughter. Nicer than the one I bought at Wal Mart for $20. I will take that one back and put the money in my savings.
- And my favorite thing, a wooden folding TV tray that is the prefect size and height to hold my laptop while I am on the couch

Total: $27.02

On top of these great deals I did great on my grocery shopping. My total was $289.56. With my bonus card and stack of coupons I spent $158.24 (before taxes). I got a TON of stuff too. (I will list in another post some of the deals I got.)

Then as if it could get better (LOL) we had been searching at Goodwill for a nighstand table for my side of the bed. We had just got home and were putting up our groceries when my MIL called and asked us if we wanted a nighstand table she had! It has a magazine holder on one side, a little slide out table, and plenty of room to hold my junk.

Days don't get much better than this one. LOL

Long story short - my DH ordered me flowers for V-Day and I didn't get them. They tried to send them a day late and I refused them. I fought with the floral company for hours until I finally ended up with a free bouquet, and a full refund for what he spent. This was credited to my account today so I am going to send it to savings. The total for that is $74.98.



I also have another $23.16 to add that I transferred from my paypal account to my checking account. This was $19.75 from cashing out from CashDuck, and a few dollars for some pajamas I sold on ebay.

Previous total: 626.55
Money today: 98.14
New total: 724.69 (WOW!)

I had a great mail day today. I got a check for $10 from a research company for sending them a copy of my ID to prove I am 21 and can do cigarette surveys; a $7.15 check from Cash Crate for completing offers; and The Tightwad Gazette III. I orderd I, II, and III on half.com for $4.00 each. And that is with shipping.

I have the two checks to add to the challenge, plus $20 from DH's uncle for gas money, $5 DH gave me leftover from his spending money last week, and 7 dollar bills.

Previous total: 577.40
Money today: 49.15
New total: 626.55

I went through my pocketbook and I had 10 dollar bills and enough change to make another roll of quarters and another roll of pennies.

Previous total: 556.90
Money today: 20.50
New total: 577.40

When I checked my bank account just now there was money transferred into it for a textbook I sold on Amazon. I transferred it into my ING account.

Previous total: 496.10
Money today: 60.80
New total: 556.90

Yay! I made it to $500. Blew right past it in fact. LOL

I spent just about all day listing stuff on ebay today. I started everything at .99 hoping that this will cause more bids, and also this made the insertion fees a little lower. Wish me luck!

I have $20 to add for DH's gas money from his uncle for this week and last week. (He owes us 6 more.) Then I added up the ones I have saved.

Previous total: 469.10
Money today: 27.00
New total: 496.10

I am getting close to 500. Can't believe it!

This past weekend we spent in the mountains with some of our friend's who just had a baby on Friday. The trip was unplanned b/c we didn't know the baby was coming. We kind of spent a lot of money but I had got a check for going to school and working in daycare. They give you so much money for every class you take. My check was for 360. I loaned my sister 60 and I guess we spent the rest in the mountains. I have some ones left but not much else to show for it.

I got another check in the mail yesterday for 500.25. It is also for school. I have a grant and I use it to buy my books and tuition and then they mail me a check for the rest. I would love to throw the whole check in savings but I need to pay a couple of bills. I took 8 dollar bills out of my pocketbook and put them in the savings money. I also rolled up a good bit of change.

Previous total: 443.60
Money today: 25.50
New total: 469.10

I have been without internet for a week while we switched over to a cheaper company. I am back now and have more to add to my savings. I sold some books on Amazon and just transferred the money over to my ING account. I am thinking once I go through some stuff here I will have a little more to add so hopefully I will be back later.

Previous total: 381.50
Money today: 62.10
New total: 443.60

I opened an ING account today I deposited the money from the challenge so far and got a $25 bonus for signing up. I also got a $65 emergency fund check. My Dh was out of work for a period of time last year b/c he broke his arm and had surgery and we were getting food stamps. They automatically send a check to people on food stamps to help with heating costs. My DH's uncle gave him $10 in gas money this week. He owed him $16 for some tool so that's why he didn't get the money last week or the full $13 this week. Anyway, I am rambling. I have a good bit to add to my savings account this week.

Previous total: 281.50
Money today: 100.00
New total: 381.50

We got our insurance cards in the mail today. I haven't had insurance since I was on my parents. LOL Well, other than pregnancy medicaid. The copays seemed kind of high to me but what do I know? It feels great to know that I can go to the doctor without having to make payments on it. Or if something happened and I had to I could go to the ER. It might cost me $150 but that's better than it would cost without insurance.

I entered all of my info at turbotax.com and it says I should get back $5242 from federal and $670 from state. I was going to go ahead and file with them but I am afraid that I may have messed something up. When we go to file our taxes tomorrow if they tell us something much lower than that I am not sure I will get it done there.

The snow came but didn't last very long.





It is all gone now. I took a nap and when I woke up it had all melted. We may get freezing rain tonight but I don't know.

We tried to go file our taxes this evening and they were closed due to the bad weather. We will go file them tomorrow. We will use our federal check for furniture and some other things. I plan to put the state check into savings. We usually get a good bit back. Last year we got around $6,000.

Tomorrow is payday. I put the money I had left from last weeks spending money into the challenge money and asked my husband for his. He gave me all but 2.00 of his.

Previous total: 264.50
Money today: 17.00
New total: 281.50

There is a winter storm warning in effect for our area. I hope it snows enough to keep me out of work tomorrow. LOL

"...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM THURSDAY TO 6 AM EST FRIDAY... ... WINTER STORM WATCH NO LONGER IN EFFECT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM THURSDAY TO 6 AM EST FRIDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

SNOW AND SLEET IS EXPECTED TO OVERSPREAD THE NORTH CAROLINA FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT AND THE UPSTATE COUNTIES FROM GREENVILLE TO YORK EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. SNOW AND SLEET WILL MIX WITH AND BECOME PREDOMINATELY SLEET...FREEZING RAIN AND RAIN DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. AS MUCH AS 3 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE OVER THE NORTH CAROLINA FOOTHILLS AND ALONG THE I-40 CORRIDOR...WITH LESSER AMOUNTS FURTHER SOUTHEAST INTO THE CHARLOTTE AND GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG METRO AREAS. AN INCH OF SLEET ALONG WITH DAMAGING ACCUMULATION OF ICE IS EXPECTED AS WELL...ESPECIALLY IN THE AREAS SOUTH AND EAST OF THE HEAVY SNOWFALL."

I was out of work today because we were unable to get my car running. I pretty much hate my job but at least I get salary and will still get paid for the days I miss.

My grandfather came over and hooked my car up to his charger. He said if I let it charge for 8 hours it should be working tomorrow. I hope so.

I found a dollar on my computer desk. I don't know where it came from but I am adding it to the challenge.

Previous total: 263.50
Money today: 1.00
New total: 264.50

Adding another 0.50 to the challenge for a roll of pennies. I can't believe I use to vacuum them up or throw them away. Now I get excited when I see one.

Previous total: 263.00
Money today: 0.50
New total: 263.50

(still waiting for DH to get home - still hoping my car will be OK)

When I went to pick my son up from daycare today my car wouldn't start. It started fine when I took him this morning. I am off on Tuesdays and I didn't go anywhere other than his school today. It isn't even making noise like it's trying to start. I am 99.9% sure that I cut it all they way off this morning and my lights weren't on or anything. I am praying that it is just the battery and my DH can jump it off when he gets home from work. If it's not than I don't know what I will do. I don't have the money for car repairs. I haven't been having a good week.

I am adding six dollar bills to the challenge that were in my pocketbook. I also had enough quarters in the jar for another roll. I can't believe how fast the change is adding up. In a few days I should have some money from a couple of books I sold on amazon. My goal is to add this to my savings without spending any of it. I keep spending money that I had planned to add to my savings.

I need to get some housework done today and I have a ton of homework I need to get started on. I will be back later to update on the stuff I got really cheap at the grocery store yesterday.

Previous total: 247.00
Money today: 16.00
New total: 263.00

Hey look! I hit $250.00! I never knew I would get there so fast. I need to get this in the bank and transferred into an ING account.

DH just counted the pennies in our change jar and rolled 0.50 worth. LOL I will add that before I forget.

Previous total: 246.50
Money today: 0.50
New total: 247.00

***Edited*** I had my previous total wrong here so I have had to go back and change all the entries after this one. I counted my money this morning and it was $4.00 off. I see why now

I got some of my paycheck today (my pay is so weird I won't even get into that) and I forgot to count my dollars. I have four.

Previous total: 242.50
Money today: 4.00
New total: 246.50

I cashed my $22.30 from Treasure Trooper today. The $22.00 is going into my account and the 0.30 went in the change jar. I should have more to add from where my sister paid me back but I spent it.

Previous total: 220.50
Money today: 22.00
New total: 242.50

I am adding more money to my challenge. I had 2 dollar bills in my wallet and added enough change to the jar to make another roll of quarters. I also got a check from treasure trooper but I won't add that until tomorrow when I get it cashed. I am getting close to that $250 mark and want to open an ING account online but I am looking for a referral link to get $25.00 or something. I am still new to all the ING and Emigrant stuff so I don't know what to do with this money. LOL

About treasure trooper. I just did a few things here and there, all were free. Some I had to fill out a short survey, some I just had to enter my zip code. The check that came today was for $22.30. Here is my link if anyone wants to sign up. I will get some sort of percentage of what you make.

http://www.treasuretrooper.com/208439

Previous total: 208.50
Money today: 12.00
New total: 220.50

I am keeping all of my loose change in a jar. Once the change is enough to put into a coin wrapper I am going to put it in another container and count it in the challenge. I haven't been counting the change since it would be hard to keep up with but I think this system will make it easy. I can't believe how much change we have saved up. We had a bunch of pennies befpre but just started saving the silver change when I started posting here.

I have $10.50 in pennies and $17.00 in silver change.

Previous total: 181.00
Money today: 27.50
New total: 208.50

I have been getting so into this coupon stuff lately. Yesterday I got 10 cans of Progresso soup (normally $2.39 each) for $6.00. I got 7 boxes of Hamburger Helper for $3.50 and 4 boxes of Pasta/Rice-a-roni for $2.00. I also got 2 100 oz containers of Wisk laundry detergent for $4.00, and three jars of Ragu pasta sauce for $2.00. I am proud of my baby stockpile. LOL



I am also adding my husband's $13 weekly gas money to my challenge total. I still need to list some stuff on ebay and Amazon. I may do that today.

Previous total: 168.00
Money today: 13.00
New total: 181.00

My husband got a new job in October and about three weeks after he started, his uncle started working there too. DH always drives to work so his uncle gives him $13 a week in gas money. (I'm not sure how they agreed on that number but it is always the same LOL). I told DH since he has to drive to work anyway the $13 is extra and needs to go into our savings account. He finally agreed

Previous total: 155.00
Money today: 13.00
New total: 168.00

Now that I am getting into this couponing I wish I had more coupons. I only get one paper and so if I find a great deal I only get more of them. I can buy them online for a "handling fee" but I wish I could get them free. Any ideas?

Today I went to CVS and got the Dove hand soap (I love love love this stuff) for $1.50 after the $2.50 sale price - $1.00 coupon. (Normally $3.49.) I also bought Real Simple magazine (my fav) which was $2.50 after the $2.00 off coupon. They have the Pledge dusting starter kits on sale for $2.99 and there was a coupon in the paper for $3.00 making them free. They were out of these so I got a raincheck for five and ordered the coupons off of a site.

I also went to Wal Mart and got the Glade air freshener buy one get one free. I went to the self check out and the lady supervising was completely clueless. She scanned my coupon and punched in the amount which took off the 0.97. She should have been done there but since she was so clueless, she suspended my entire order, went over to her register and opened it back up and then voided the air freshener, which I kept. My coupon showed 0.97 off with a coupon and 0.97 off for a void. I got them both free. Normally I would have said something but I was tired of being there and I knew it would just confuse her more.

Anyone else get any good deals today?

I am trying to learn how to use coupons to get things for free or almost free. I used to kind of do it once before but mostly with printable coupons that most places don't accept any more. I will use this blog to record the great deals I get. The only one I have got so far would have been better if I had had more coupons.

This week Bi-Lo had Quaker Oatmeal on sale 10/$10.00. The paper had coupons for $0.50 off one. Doubled this made the oatmeal free.

I hope to have much more to add soon.

I haven't had any money to add to the challenge lately but wanted to write about Saturday. We went up to Maggie Valley and took the kids Snow Tubing. (There was no snow on the ground but they had man made snow to tube in.) At first I didn't want to go because I wanted to save the money, but we ended up having a great time and got out pretty cheap.

We drove up there and bought the kids tickets to tube ($5 each for 1 hour and 45 minutes). Then we went to a local pizzeria and got their special. They had a 12" cheese pizza for $4.95. We bought two of those and drinks ($17.00). Then we took the pizza to a park in Lake Junaluska, which is absolutely beautiful. We walked on the rose walk beside the lake and behind the lake you could see the mountains. It was so pretty.

Lake Junaluska


I was so proud that we didn't blow money just because we had it. We drove the 2 1/2 hours home so we didn't have to pay for a hotel room, we didn't buy anything in any of the little gift stores, etc. We ended up spending $65 total which includes the snow tubing, lunch, drinks, gas, and snacks on the way. Here are a couple of pictures (if it works lol).

Here are the kids right before they told us tickets were sold out until 6:00 (which was 3 hours away).


Here's my son Tre tubing. He is 7.


Here is my daughter Maleah tubing. She is 3. She only did it a few times and then decided it was too wet in the tube to sit in it any more.


Here they both are about to come down at the same time.

I haven't had much money to add to the challenge lately but I took five whole dollars out of my check today to add to it. LOL I know it's not much but every little bit helps.

I know some people were saying in the forums that you were supposed to take $20 and turn it into more money or find new ways to save, but I guess I am not really doing the challenge that way. I have never had any savings so every bit of money I add to my savings is a new way to save for me. LOL I have always blown money and so saving anything is a big deal to me. Also, I have never cooked so much in my life. We are saving tons of money on fast food and my husband enjoys coming home to dinner. I have been clipping coupons too and looking for things that are on sale that we normally buy. Lots of things have changed around here since I found this site.

I am going to sell some old textbooks (and one new one that I can't use this semster or return without a receipt) on Amazon. My financial aid pays for these books so I am not losing out on that money. It will just come out of the amount that I would get back in my financial aid check. I am also going to list some stuff on ebay.

OK I am done rambling for now Thanks for you guys who read this and support me with your comments and for everyone who has their own blog and gives me so much inspiration.

Starting total: 150.00
Money today: 5.00
New total: 155.00