Start the car!!

Have you seen the Ikea commercial where the lady comes running out of the store, her cart laden with goodies, screaming for her husband to start the car because she's sure that they made a mistake when they rang up her purchase? That's how I felt today as I left CVS.

I haven't done any CVS deals in several months, because I got really frustrated with planning out my purchases, only to get to the store to find that they are out of several of the items I was planning to buy. There were enough deals that I was interested in this week, though, that I decided to give it a try. I was even prepared to try a couple of different stores in order to find the things I wanted - but I didn't even need to! What a positive experience! There were ample supplies of almost everything on my list - even things that were free after the Extra Care Bucks.

Here's what I got:


Transaction #1:

Bayer Glucose Meter - $ 19.99 (I plan to donate this to our church blessing closet)
Kotex U pads - $4.99

Used:
1 $10 off Glucose Meter
1 $1 off Kotex U pads

Spent: $14.94 from CVS gift cards I had
Got back: $19.99 ECBs
Total: $ 5.05 PROFIT!

Transaction #2:

Pantene Shampoo/Conditioner - 2 for $6.97
2 Rightguard Deodorant - $2.99 each
2 Crest ProHealth Toothpaste - $3.50 each
Schick Hydro Razor - $8.99
Reach Floss - $1.99

Pre-Coupon Total: $30.93

Used:
2 $2 off Pantene
1 $3/2 off RightGuard
1 $0.75 off Crest ProHealth Toothpaste
1 $5 off Schick Hydro Razor
1 $1 off Reach Floss

Total after Coupons: $17.18
Used $15 ECB from Transaction #1
Spent: $5.36 (including tax) paid with CVS gift card
Got back: $20 ECBs
Total: $14.64 PROFIT!

Today was so successful, I may just get back into the CVS game!

Good thing for endings...The ending of a good thing

Last night was the last session of the second Financial Peace University that we've hosted. I am so glad it's done. Not that I didn't enjoy the class, but after 3 months of meeting every Tuesday, it will be nice to have a break.

There were lots of good things about the class. I still love watching the videos and being re-inspired week after week to be wise with our money and careful in our planning. Last night was the lesson on giving, and it was such a poignant reminder that all that we have is not our own, it is our job to faithfully steward it.

This class was not nearly as exciting or inspiring as the first time we hosted, though. There are several reasons for that, but mainly I think because we didn't gel as a group this time. For whatever reason, no one in the group seemed to connect on a personal level. In the class we hosted last fall, we really became friends with the people who attended, and it was inspiring to see each person really latch on to what Dave was teaching and make lifestyle changes because of it.

The people in our spring class didn't seem committed to making change. Partly I think I got this sense because there were one or two people who felt it was their job every week to explain why certain aspects of Dave's philosophy were impossible to live out. It got tiring each week to try to combat the negativity of a few very vocal people, and I'm afraid it soured the experience a little for everyone. Each week it was a task to try to explain how you really can follow Dave's principles without starting an argument or outright saying "you're wrong!"

I know that the idea that you really can go through life without borrowing money, using credit cards, taking out school loans, and worshiping at the alter of the great FICO is counter-cultural. But isn't that the point?? That's what the entire class is about! Yes, most of society uses those things, but most of society is BROKE! I'm perfectly content to be weird, because I actually have money in my pocket.

Anyway, that's not to say that the class wasn't helpful. Several people shared last night about how what they've learned is really making a difference in their lives. One shared about the unity that she and her husband now have that they'd never had in 25 years of marriage. Another said that they have a lot less stress in their lives now. Another mentioned the power of giving every dollar a name, and how doing that has resulted in actually having money left over at the end of the month, which had never happened before.

It was neat to hear the positive feedback, and I'm sure we'll host another class sometime. But for now, it'll be nice to take a break.

Give Thanks...

36. Cool rain falling, watering grass and turning it green

37. Clean laundry, folded and put away

38. Two new nephews, born just 4 days apart

39. Warm stew slow-cooking on a chilly, drizzly day

40. Strong man who takes pride in his work and does it with excellence

41. Adoring daddy, rising early to spend time with his little girl

42. Anticipation of a treasured visit with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins

43. Leaves budding on trees

44. Delighted daughter, thrilled at the sight of any of God's creatures

45. Afternoon of quiet, time to spend with my Savior

Blessings

I love that the Lord finds so many unexpected ways of blessing us. Surprise blessings are such a sweet reminder of His tender care for us.

This past Friday we got our taxes done, and boy were we in for a surprise! Ever since my Handyman and I were married, he has handled his taxes as a someone who is self-employed. That means that taxes aren't automatically withheld from his paycheck. So every spring when we file our taxes we know that we're going to owe money. This is fine, we know that it's coming, and we save up to pay it.

Well this year was the first year that we are able to claim Sweet Pea as a dependent. That coupled with the fact that when I was working I had the maximum taken out in taxes, because I knew we always end up owing money anyway, along with various other credits/deductions, resulted in a tax return! For the first time ever! And it's pretty substantial! My Handyman was so incredulous that he came home from the tax man's office and re-calculated everything, just to be sure.

I know it's not a good financial plan to try to get a big tax refund every year, since it isn't that the government is sending us free money, they're actually sending us money that was ours all along, and we just lent it to the government interest-free for a year. That said, however, having gone from always owing money when we file our taxes to receiving money back is a really nice feeling.

We plan to beef-up our emergency fund, and maybe do a couple fun things for ourselves, too.

More Creative Fun

I had so much fun yesterday making a tote, that I decided to make another one today. This one is smaller, and mostly meant for Sweet Pea to play with. She had so much fun with the tote I made yesterday, carrying it around and, of course, putting the handles over her head and off again repeatedly. So I made one just for her. This one only took about an hour to do, and it was really fun!

I used left over scraps from a quilt I made for my niece.

It's even reversible.

Afternoon Project

I was feeling crafty this afternoon, so I decided to try my hand at making a tote bag. Sweet Pea is showing more and more interest in books, and I want to start going to the library with her regularly. So I thought it would be fun to make a cute bag to bring the books home in.


I used some scraps of cloth that I had left over from making Sweet Pea's baby quilt. I found this website which gave step by step instructions for making a basic tote.

Here's the finished product.



The lining is an off-white floral pattern, but it's hard to see in the photo.

More Gratitude

26. Quiet day at home, without obligations

27. Long conversations with my mother

28. A family I long to spend time with

29. New recipe, warm dough rising

30. Warm cup of tea

31. Unintelligible baby talk

32. Mailbox full of samples and coupons

33. Renewed connection with the one I love

34. Encouraging words

35. Weekly meal plans