Weekly Spending Report: 12/13-19/2015

This week was an easy shopping week.  I grabbed some free and clear Tide pods for a little bit of nothing at CVS, plus some FREE dish soap.  Then at ALDI and Giant I picked up some needed items and some clearance deals, and earned back some app rebates - yeah!  And I'm sorry about getting this up so late -- things have been a little crazy around here with Christmas preparations!  Here's how the week went down...

• Monday's CVS Trip: $4.79 oop, Earned $6.89 ECB's

• Monday's ALDI Trip (Included, but not pictured are 4 gallons of H2O): $35.12 oop, Earned $0.25 Snap Rebate for the Heavy Cream

• Monday's Giant Trip (included, but not pictured are 8-12 pks of various diet sodas): $44.11 oop, Earned $0.25 Snap Rebate for the Bread, $0.25 Ibotta Rebate for the Bread, and $1 Checkout 51 Rebate for the 2 boxes of Eggos

Total OOP: $84.02
Total Earned: $8.64
Total Remaining for December: $88.07

Weekly Spending Report: 12/06-12/2015

This week I decided that I needed to add $60 into the grocery budget to help cover the gifts that I've been purchasing out of it, like candies.  It's just a LOT easier to do one transaction when Howard is with me. Here's how my spending went this week...

• Sunday's CVS Trip: $26.05 oop, Earned $9

• Sunday's ALDI Trip: $41.45 oop (not pictured, but included are 8 gallons of H2O, 2 boxes PB Bars, 1 block of Pepper Jack Cheese, 2 dozen Eggs, and 2 boxes of French Bread Pizzas)

• Sunday's Giant Trip: $35.41 oop (not pictured, but included is a tub of Land O Lakes Butter Spread with Olive Oil, and 5 Lean Cuisine Frozen Meals), Earned $0.25 for the Mac and Cheese from Ibotta

• Saturday's Dollar Tree Trip: $11.24 oop 

Total OOP: $114.15
Total Earned: $9.25
Total Remaining for December: $112.09 + $60 extra because of Christmas gifts = $172.09

Weekly Spending Report: 11/29-12/05/2015

This week I kept my shopping fairly simple.  I was able to stock up on Lysol wipes and soup, and get our needed snack and meal items.  Here's how the week went down...

• Sunday's CVS Trip: $3.66 oop, Earned $6 ECB's

• Sunday's ALDI Trip: $41.93 oop (Included but not pictured are 8 gallons of H2O)

• Sunday's Giant Trip: $31.88 oop

• Saturday's Dollar Tree Trip: $3.18 oop (no picture, but includes 2-3 packs of balls for Howard, and a Christmas gift)

Total OOP: $80.65
Total Earned: $6
Total Remaining for December: $226.24

 Linked to Couponaholic and I heart Publix! 

November's Goals Update

November was another very full month - we visited with family, survived Black Friday shopping, went on our first no-Howard date since he has been born, I served a tea at work, and we started our Christmas decorating as well.  This month I didn't do as well with my weekly to do lists, two weeks went great, and two weeks, didn't go well at all.  I think this was partly due to receiving some additional duties at work, and no matter how hard I try to make more there are still only so many hours in each day.  There are some goals that I have come to realize are not going to get done until I am off from work in the winter, they are marked in blue, and will be carried over to next year's goals list.  Here's how the goal area has played out so far this year...

Household:

1. De-clutter the whole house in January, February, and March -- Done!
2. Do a Deep-Spring, and Deep-Fall Clean in March and November  As well as keep up with my weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly cleaning chores. -- Done!  I didn't do as deep of a fall cleaning as I would have liked, but it got done just the same.  I also managed to stay caught up on all of my cleaning tasks, as well as the laundry!  Now if I can just get the Christmas tree up...
3. Paint the Windows/Sills/Trim in the Kitchen and Nursery. 

Family:

1. Write a 'love letter' to Joe each month - This month Joe and I exchanged a love letter text message, it doesn't seem like much, but it was ongoing throughout the month.  This was nice because it was a more consistent way to share how I was feeling, instead of just a once a month letter.
2. Take a trip to Maine in June with the hubby, and Howard. -- Done!
3. Take a Trip to Ocean City in August -- Done!
4. Get together with family at least once a month -- We got together with my family and Joe's family on Thanksgiving.  Dinner required a LOT of prep work, but I am getting better at doing things ahead of time.  Wisdom comes from experience you know.  But it is always nice to be able to spend time with the people that you love.  Howard and I also spent the day with my one sister and niece black Friday shopping.  And, that same sister, and her husband baby sat Howard for us while we went on our date to see Bill Engvall.   I am looking forward to seeing them all again in December!
5. Plan and Execute Howard's 1st Birthday Party -- Done!

Blogging:

1. Have 2 Freezer/Pantry Challenges (January and July), post updates on the blog, and defrost the chest freezer -- Done!
2. Post my Menu Plan, and Weekly Spending Report every week, along with at least 1 other post per week.  This may be an update, a reveal, a recipe, a shopping trip, some Aldi Deals, or a frugal find. -- In November, I posted my weekly spending reports faithfully each week, and linked them up to a few other blogs as well.  I posted my monthly budget report here, as well as a frugal finds post here.  I even managed to post a menu plan one week!  It doesn't seem like much, but it averages out to about 2 posts a week, and that is awesome for such a full month!
3. Plan and execute a 31 days post for October. -- Done!

Health:

1. Lose at least 20 lbs -- I have kept that 20 lbs off, and I am so excited about this.  I am not really trying to lose anymore until after the holidays, I just want to maintain where I am for the rest of this year.  Then in January I plan to add some more regular exercise in, which should help some more pounds fall off.
2. Drink plenty of water, eat healthy, and do exercise of some kind everyday. -- This is something that I have been able to check off each month.  I have also been doing more walking with Howard, so that is definitely exercise in my book!

Budget/Income:

1. Do at least 5 Flea Markets throughout the year, and list at least bi-monthly on Amazon/Facebook Yard Sale. -- We are done with flea markets for this year, but I still haven't managed to find the time to list anything online yet.  This is probably something that will not happen until January when I have some time off from work.  Unfortunately this is something that requires nap-time quiet, and that is usually when I'm at work.
2. Earn Swagbucks everyday by completing the daily poll, toolbar log-in, and NOSO offers daily.  (Try to earn $10 a month) -- I 'm almost up to another $25 gift card -- I was right, having the phone app makes a HUGE difference!  I just let it run during the day when I'm working or cleaning, and then check it periodically to make sure it's still running.  These SB's really add up!
3. Set a monthly budget, and coupon and deal shop as needed to stay within our budget. -- I was able to stay under budget again for November; I posted my budget update here.  We stocked up on quite a few items including toilet paper, diapers, and soup.  We also got to d a little thrifting, which I shared here.
4. Put at least an extra $100 a month on Joe's Credit Card starting in May -- We put a little over $100 towards the credit card this month.  I am happy that we are plugging away on this and I really would like for it to be gone next year, but I know that realistically it will probably take two years to finish paying it off.  Every little bit extra helps though!

Hobby-Related:

1. Scan the huge-a** box of photos we have had since my mom died three years ago, and get them sorted to give to people, as well as put the ones I decide to keep in albums.
2. Continue to work on Howard's baby book  -- Done!
3. Try something new at least once a month and blog about it.  I have a LOT of new recipes and crafts I want to try.

How have your goals gone so far this year?

Frugal Finds: November 2015 Edition

While thrift shopping this past month, I was able to pick up some awesome deals.  I always like to see what others find when they go thrifting or deal shopping, so I hope you all do as well.

Camo Shirt for Joe = $4.99
Pinstriped Blouse for Me = $1.49
Pink Long-sleeved Top for Me = $0.99
White and Grey Striped Cardigan for Me = $3.99
3T Sleeper for Howard = $0.99
Rain Jacket for Joe = $3.99
2 Enamel Ware Baking Pans for the Kitchen $2.99 and $3.99 = $6.98
Pretty Print for our Bedroom = $0.49
Total OOP: $23.91

Beautiful Scarf for Me $1.99
2 Long Sleeve Tees for Howard one 3T and one 4T (and in MINT shape) $0.99 each = $1.98
1 Print for Howard's Room = $0.49
Total OOP: $4.46

November's Budget Update

November was FULL of shopping!  I was able to stock-up on some AWESOME deals, as well as buy the needed items for our menu plans, and a few stocking stuffers too!  And, I was UNDER budget for the month -- I LOVE it when that happens!  I am hoping that I can do just as well in December and end the year on a good note budget-wise.  Here's how November went down...

• Week #1: $115 oop, Earned $23 ECB's,
• Week #2: $77.12 oop, Earned $1 ECB, $1 Checkout 51 Rebate, $2.60 Ibotta Rebates
• Week #3: $86.27 oop, Earned $27 ECB's
• Week #4: $18.52 oop, Earned $34.45 ECB's

Total OOP: $296.91
Total Earned: $89.05
Total Remaining from November: $6.89!!!