Forgot my goal for the day - I was so excited about my weekend of parties!
Today's goal is to clean out my inbox - it got piled up over the weekend!
Monday, March 31, 2008
What a weekend!
Whew! We were busy. It was my DD's birthday party (4) and she had another party to go to Sunday, then dinner at Red Lobster (her favorite) with the family for a final birthday celebration.
We did a great job of saving money on everything though! For the entire weekend of fun we only spent money on Sunday night's dinner (and at least used a coupon and split two meals for the four of us)!
Her party was terrific and while they are little you can save so much money on birthday parties! My DD had a great time at the party Sunday, it was at one of those Bounce Zone places, but you know, she had just as much fun at her party (as did all the kids) and I spent less than $25 - and that was a splurge!!!
Here's how I did it:
She wanted a specific theme for her party and wouldn't you know it the party store didn't have it, so I did a little research online and found the best prices at Birthday Direct. I ordered a cake topper, little plates and napkins, cups, goodie bags, invitations and thank you cards and sticker sheets - enough for the 8 little girls that would be at the party. This was my big spluge for $20. Then I decorated the house with streamers and balloons we already had, used forks and ice cream we had at home, and made a chocolate cake that I then decorated with the cake topper, some icing and some mini m&m's left over from Easter. Finally, I filled the goodie bags with Polly Pockets (all free from the great deal last fall), little Princess frisbees (from CVS after Christmas - $1 total), a Cindarella Fruit snack ($.50 for the box at Meijer last week with a coupon) and a baggie of M&M's from CVS ($.50 for the whole bag from the deals last month). So, $22 out of pocket, plus a few extra to cover the food I used from the freezer and pantry. We played games, the kids played in the basement, played with playdoh and colored pictures. I'll keep doing these parties as long as I can!
We did a great job of saving money on everything though! For the entire weekend of fun we only spent money on Sunday night's dinner (and at least used a coupon and split two meals for the four of us)!
Her party was terrific and while they are little you can save so much money on birthday parties! My DD had a great time at the party Sunday, it was at one of those Bounce Zone places, but you know, she had just as much fun at her party (as did all the kids) and I spent less than $25 - and that was a splurge!!!
Here's how I did it:
She wanted a specific theme for her party and wouldn't you know it the party store didn't have it, so I did a little research online and found the best prices at Birthday Direct. I ordered a cake topper, little plates and napkins, cups, goodie bags, invitations and thank you cards and sticker sheets - enough for the 8 little girls that would be at the party. This was my big spluge for $20. Then I decorated the house with streamers and balloons we already had, used forks and ice cream we had at home, and made a chocolate cake that I then decorated with the cake topper, some icing and some mini m&m's left over from Easter. Finally, I filled the goodie bags with Polly Pockets (all free from the great deal last fall), little Princess frisbees (from CVS after Christmas - $1 total), a Cindarella Fruit snack ($.50 for the box at Meijer last week with a coupon) and a baggie of M&M's from CVS ($.50 for the whole bag from the deals last month). So, $22 out of pocket, plus a few extra to cover the food I used from the freezer and pantry. We played games, the kids played in the basement, played with playdoh and colored pictures. I'll keep doing these parties as long as I can!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Scrapbooking Strategy
Well, I got the house in order thanks to my list (didn't do the floors, but I can do that tonight) and we all enjoyed the movie!
My goal for the day is to create my scrapbook pages for the month.
I love to scrapbook and I have lots and lots of supplies . . . however, what I don't have is lots and lots of time. In fact, the whole scrapbooking thing was getting to be a big stressor for me. So, this year, I took control and made a plan! Instead of having a scrapbook for each child, a travel album, a Disney album, a family album, etc. I decided to do two books this year - and each one would only get one new layout (two pages) a month. I can commit to two pages a month! Stress level went down a bit. To make it even easier on myself, our local scrapbook store does a monthly layout - it's $10 for an 8x8 layout and $16 for a 12x12. With all my supplies, at first I couldn't justify that - if I did the 8x8 that would be $120 for the year - wow! It does get a little better - if you bring in the completed page for the month before you get $1 off - so now we are down to $108 - still a lot! And forget the 12x12 $180!!!
Then, I thought about my busy schedule, and the hundreds of dollars I used to spend on supplies throughout the year and decided to try an experiment for one year. I chose the 8x8 because it cost less and bought the October kit (the kits started in October). It was cute, easy and took me 1/2 hour to complete! Plus it looked great and was totally different than something I would have done. I still wanted more than an 8x8 for the year, so I decided I would also do a 12x12 BUT I would do that one myself. What I've ended up doing is using the scraps from the 8x8 kit along with supplies I already have and been able to easily create a nice layout using my own creativity each month. Stress level went down even more!
How's it going? Great! Both albums have five (after today six) layouts. I use different pictures for each album, so I can cover two events or topics each month. My goal is to not purchase anything at all this year except for the kits. So overall, I will end up with two completed albums for $108. Not bad if that is my annual scrapbooking spending! Plus, the stress level is GONE. I enjoy the scrapbooking I do, I save money over what I would have normally spend and I am always "caught up." Even after both pages are done I still usually have a few scraps or stickers left over that could be used for cards, later pages, etc.
Next year I think I'll splurge on the 12x12 pages - based on what I've seen I could easily get everything I need for both the 12x12 and the 8x8 out of the one kit.
My goal for the day is to create my scrapbook pages for the month.
I love to scrapbook and I have lots and lots of supplies . . . however, what I don't have is lots and lots of time. In fact, the whole scrapbooking thing was getting to be a big stressor for me. So, this year, I took control and made a plan! Instead of having a scrapbook for each child, a travel album, a Disney album, a family album, etc. I decided to do two books this year - and each one would only get one new layout (two pages) a month. I can commit to two pages a month! Stress level went down a bit. To make it even easier on myself, our local scrapbook store does a monthly layout - it's $10 for an 8x8 layout and $16 for a 12x12. With all my supplies, at first I couldn't justify that - if I did the 8x8 that would be $120 for the year - wow! It does get a little better - if you bring in the completed page for the month before you get $1 off - so now we are down to $108 - still a lot! And forget the 12x12 $180!!!
Then, I thought about my busy schedule, and the hundreds of dollars I used to spend on supplies throughout the year and decided to try an experiment for one year. I chose the 8x8 because it cost less and bought the October kit (the kits started in October). It was cute, easy and took me 1/2 hour to complete! Plus it looked great and was totally different than something I would have done. I still wanted more than an 8x8 for the year, so I decided I would also do a 12x12 BUT I would do that one myself. What I've ended up doing is using the scraps from the 8x8 kit along with supplies I already have and been able to easily create a nice layout using my own creativity each month. Stress level went down even more!
How's it going? Great! Both albums have five (after today six) layouts. I use different pictures for each album, so I can cover two events or topics each month. My goal is to not purchase anything at all this year except for the kits. So overall, I will end up with two completed albums for $108. Not bad if that is my annual scrapbooking spending! Plus, the stress level is GONE. I enjoy the scrapbooking I do, I save money over what I would have normally spend and I am always "caught up." Even after both pages are done I still usually have a few scraps or stickers left over that could be used for cards, later pages, etc.
Next year I think I'll splurge on the 12x12 pages - based on what I've seen I could easily get everything I need for both the 12x12 and the 8x8 out of the one kit.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Free Entertainment
I picked up our Monday night movie a little bit ago. For those of you who don't know, Redbox has a great deal on their website for free movies on Mondays! Simply sign up your cell phone number and they will send you a text on Monday with a code for a free movie. We've made Monday night movie night in our house thanks to this deal! Tonight's viewing is for the whole family - "Enchanted."
Monday Musings
I like Monday mornings - it's a new week, good time to start things out on the right foot. I was reading some of my favorite blogs this morning, and came across Crystal's cleaning challenge at http://biblicalwomanhoodonline.com/blog.htm - exactly what I need to start the week off right. So, I'm going to take her up on her challenge and get our house in order.
We had a wonderful Easter, terrific church service and then lunch at the MIL's. My DD birthday is later this week, so we celebrated that after lunch. Terrific day overall!
We had a wonderful Easter, terrific church service and then lunch at the MIL's. My DD birthday is later this week, so we celebrated that after lunch. Terrific day overall!
Friday, March 21, 2008
Walmart Savings
Well, although errand day was Wednesday this week, I had to go downtown today for work. Since I was driving right by, I stopped at Walmart (where I almost never shop) and bought the following: 1 Honey bunches of Oats cereal with chocolate clusters, 2 betty crocker frostings, 2 fast fixins dinos and 1 ziplock freezer bags. Grand total: $3.30. I was very proud!
We had a fun and frugal evening at our neighbors. We put together an egg hunt for the kids - I used all the free candy I've gotten at CVS and Walgreens lately. Then we grilled out - I provided a dessert and nice big salad out of ingredients from our weekly list. Didn't spend a dime. In fact my total spending for the day was my $3.30.
Tomorrow's goal is going to be to have a fun day without spending anything!
We had a fun and frugal evening at our neighbors. We put together an egg hunt for the kids - I used all the free candy I've gotten at CVS and Walgreens lately. Then we grilled out - I provided a dessert and nice big salad out of ingredients from our weekly list. Didn't spend a dime. In fact my total spending for the day was my $3.30.
Tomorrow's goal is going to be to have a fun day without spending anything!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
My office looks great - when I left for the night (which just means going downstairs since I work from home), the desk was cleared, the planner open to the next day and the projects I need to work on set to go for tomorrow! Plus, I found four rebates to send out, so I took care of that too!
Today my goal is to get ready for the Easter weekend now - I have plenty of candy and small toys I've been stockpiling from my recent trips to CVS and Walgreens, along with a couple of stuffed animals. If I dig out my Easter tote from last year, I bet I have everything else I need to make a great Easter for my kids with zero out of pocket! My MIL bought my DD a beautiful Easter dress, and my son a shirt and sweater vest - the pants were too big, but I think instead of buying a new pair, I'll just put him in his little khaki cords - it's still cold here and at 16 months, he could care less! I'm also not going anywhere today - saving on gas and spending money that way!
Today my goal is to get ready for the Easter weekend now - I have plenty of candy and small toys I've been stockpiling from my recent trips to CVS and Walgreens, along with a couple of stuffed animals. If I dig out my Easter tote from last year, I bet I have everything else I need to make a great Easter for my kids with zero out of pocket! My MIL bought my DD a beautiful Easter dress, and my son a shirt and sweater vest - the pants were too big, but I think instead of buying a new pair, I'll just put him in his little khaki cords - it's still cold here and at 16 months, he could care less! I'm also not going anywhere today - saving on gas and spending money that way!
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