Lost

I just feel so miserable lately. Mostly because I just don't know what to do with my life, career wise. I use to be so passionate about what I wanted to do, but I just feel lost and floating around. I'm losing that urge to go back to school and it scares me. I won't get far without my Bachelors degree. I feel like a let down for not finishing it or knowing what I want to do. I never thought I would be in this place. I just literally don't know what I want anymore.

I love animals and feel so passionately about taking care of them but there's not a lot of money in that field or jobs per say. Then people tell me I should write for a living, but I feel self-conscious. There's better writers out there than me, but I do enjoy it and I can picture myself working for a newspaper or a magazine. Then, there's the health field. It really interests me and I like learning about different health ailments. And there's ALWAYS job availability in the health field.

So therefore, I'm lost and feeling like a loser. Other adults my age already have their bachelors or are working on their Master's degree. I wish I had something to show for, I wish I could set an example for Owen. But here I am working as a receptionist in a doctor's office waiting for the motivation to hit me. Someday it will but for now I'll sit around and pout until it comes.

CVS 3/16/11

Gain dish detergent $.97

Clean & Clear body wash $2.99
-Coupon $2/1 = $.99

Total: $2.26

Savings: $2

Weekly Savings 3/6/11-3/12/11

Wegmans
---------------
Total: $72.66
Savings: $20.09


Target
-----------
Total: $38.09
Savings: $25.82


Walgreens
----------------
Total: $1.02
Savings: $15.30



Final Total paid out of pocket: $111.77

I would have paid: $172.98

Total Savings for the week: $61.21

Wegmans 3/10/11

Gerber's lil Crunchies $1.99

Pampers Baby Wipes 72ct $1.99
-Coupon $.50/1 = $.99*

Wheat Bread $1.89

Snack Pack pudding $1

Schweppes Ginger Ale $.99

Capri Sun $1.99

Pillsbury Sweet Moments Dessert $2.49
-Coupon $1.10/1 = $1.39

Breakstone's cottege cheese doubles 3 @ $.99

Danonino Yogurt $2.29
-Coupon $1/1 = $1.29

Wegman's whole milk $1.99

Chobani Yogurt 4 @ $1.29

1/2 lb 97% Fat Free Ham $2.69

1/2 lb of Wunderbar Bologna $1.34

Green Giant Frozen Veggies $1.49
-Coupon $.50/1 = $.49*

Gorton Frozen Fish $2.49
-Coupon $1/1 = $1.49

Texas Toast $2.49
(I realized I had a coupon for this that did not go through)

Rosina Italian Meatballs $3.49
-Coupon $.75/1 = $2.74 ?
(Coupon was not doubled)

Jimmy Dean's French Toast Duo's $2.99
-Coupon $.75/1 = $2.24
(Coupon not doubled again)

Pepperidge Farms Goldfish Crackers $1.50

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal $2.99
-Coupon $.50/1 = $1.99*

Lucky Charms Cereal $2.69
-Coupon $.55/1 = $1.40*

Nature Valley Granola Bars $2.59
-Coupon $.50/1 = $1.59*

Keebler Jumbo Fudge Sticks $1.99
-Coupon $1/1 = $.99

Campbell's Spaghetti-O's 2@ $1.09

Uncle Ben's ready Rice $1.89

Wegman's Alfredo sauce $1.99

Wegman's Potato Chips $1.50

Wegman's pancake syrup $1.69

Wegman's Chicken Tenders $4.24

Silk Soy Milk 1/2 Gal $2.09
-Coupon $.75/1 = $.59*

Organic Valley half & half $1.99
-Coupon $.75/1 = $.49*

Wegmans Stir Fry Veggies $3.99

4lb bag of oranges $3.49

Red Grapes 2.30lbs $4.60

Cucumbers 2 @ $.99ea


*-indicate coupon doubled

Final Total: $72.66

Manufacturer Coupon Savings: $9.65
Doubled Coupon Savings: $4.05
Shoppers Club Savings: $6.39
---------------------------------------

Total Savings: $20.09

Target 3/8/11

Here's what I got this shopping trip:

Pamper's baby dry $19.79
-Manufacturer coupon $2/1 = $17.79

Shout to-go wipes 2@ $.97ea
-2 Manufacturer coupons $1/1 = both FREE

Pond's Cleansing Towelettes 2 @ $4.79
- 2 Manufacturer coupons $1.50/1 + 2 Target Coupons $1.50/1 = $1.79ea

Dove Men+Care deodorant $3.99
Manufacturer coupon $2/1 + Target Coupon $1/1 = $.99

Satin Care shaving cream $1.89
Manufacturer coupon $1/1 = $.89

Reach floss $.97
-Manufacturer coupon $1/1 =FREE

Physician's Formula Mascara $5.44
-Manufacturer coupon $5/1 = $.44

Up & Up Ibuprofen $.99
-Target coupon $1/1 = FREE

Up & Up allergy relief $1.74
-Target coupon $1/1 = $.74

Up & Up panty liners $.87
-Target coupon $.75/1 = $.12

John Frieda Full Repair Shampoo & Conditioner $5.99ea
-Manufacturer coupon $2/1 + Target coupon $3/2 = $6.98 for both

Final Total: $38.09

Savings with coupons: $25.82


I would have paid $63.91

Walgreen's 3/7/11

Here's what I got during my trip today....this is the best yet!

Dawn dish detergent $1.99
-Walgreen's in-ad coupon $.99
-Manufacturer's coupon $.20/1
Final: $.79

Puff's Tissue 100-Ply $1.59
-Walgreen's in-ad coupon $.99
-Manufacturer's coupon $.50/1
Final: $.49

Pediacare Infant drops $6.29ea
-Walgreen's in-ad coupon $5 off
-Manufacturer coupon $3/2
Final: you get two FREE!

Total: $1.02

My savings:$15.30

Weekly Savings 2/27/11-3/5/11

Target
------------

Total: $19.28

Coupon Savings: $31.50

I would have spent: $50.78



Wegman's
------------------

Total: $85.22

Coupon Savings: $23.39

I would have spent: $108.61



Total coupon savings for the week: $54.89

Wegmans shopping trip

Who doesn't love Wegmans? It's like a grocery store carnival. They just now started doubling any coupon up to $.99! To save money I try to stick with items that either are on shopper's club card or what I have a coupon for. As well as buying Wegman's brand food, which is typically cheaper.

Here's what I got:

Wegman's hot dog rolls $.99

Wegman's Wheat Bread $1.89

Kraft Cheese singles $2.69

Breakstone doubles cottege cheese 3 @ $.99

Wegman's spreadable butter $1.49

Danonino Yogurt $2.29
-Coupon $1/1 = $1.29

Chobani Yogurt 4 @ $1.29ea
-2 Coupons $.30/1 (doubled) = .99ea

Wegman's skinless red hots $3.79

International Delight creamer $1.99
-Coupon $.55/1 (doubled) = $.89

Wegman's whole milk $1.99

Wegman's 2% milk $1.89

Wegman's large eggs $1.29

Mrs T's Pierogies $2.49
-Coupon $1/1 = $1.49

Perry's Ice Cream $2.99

Hot Pockets $1.69

Green Giant Boxed vegetables $1.49
-Coupon $.50/1 (doubled) = $.50

Eggo's thick and fluffy waffles $1.99

Mccain Purely potatoes $2.69
-Coupon $1/1 = $1.69

Rhodes White Rolls $2.99
-Coupon $1/1 = $1.99

Shake N Bake $2.29
-Coupon $.75/1 (doubled) = $.79

General Mills Chex Cereal $1.99
General Mills Cinnamon Toast Crunch $2.99
-Coupon $1/2 = 3.98

Quaker Chewy Bars $2.29

Wegman's Tall kitchen trashbags $2.99

Wegman's Mac N Cheese 2 @ $.50

Minute White Rice $1.99
-Coupon $.50/1 (doubled) = $.50

Pepperidge Farms Milano cookies $2.99
-Coupon $1/1 = $1.99

Pepperidge Farms Goldfish Crackers $2

Kettle Chips $2.99
-Coupon $1/1 =$1.99

Canadian Ginger Ale $1.00

Wegmans grape juice blend $1.99

Wegman's pasta sauce $.99

Wegmans thin spaghetti $.79

Gerber Lil Crunchies $1.99

Wegman's Chicken tenderloins $5.19

Wegmans 98% Fat Free Turkey 1/2 lb $3.00

Playtex Tampons $3.99
-Coupon $2/1 = $1.99

Garnier Fructis Volume Mousse $2.79
-Coupon $1/1 = $1.79

Reach Mint Floss $1.09
-Coupon $1/1 =$.09

Huggies baby wipes 2 @ 1.46

Wegmans bag salad $.99

Californial Oranges 4lbs $3.49

Bananas $1.17

Total: $85.22

Savings Breakdown:
-Manufacturer Coupons $13.90
-Doubled Coupons $2.30
-Shoppers Club $7.19
Total Savings: $23.39

Day Seventeen

A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently

Dakota passing away this past January. I've never dealt with much death in my life, so having my first dog pass away, was very life changing for me. I was very close to him and he was very much a part of my life growing up. It changed me in a way that I think death changes all people; it makes you grow up a little. It puts life into perspective for you. A dog's life isn't as long as a human's but it is just as precious and it can be gone with a snap of the fingers. Dakota's death taught me to cherish life more and live each moment like it's the last because it very well may be. Another important thing: tell each person you love every single day because you never if it will be the last.

My savings *Week 2/20/11-2/26/11*

Like I mention in a previous post, I'm going to keep track of all my savings with coupons week by week and month by month. Hopefully, if I keep this up for an entire year, so I can see how much I save in one year. For now, I will take it week by week!



There was no grocery shopping this week for us. The in-laws are in Hawaii so we are staying at their place to watch the kids. In other words: FREE FOOD! I guess you can figure that into our savings!

Target Trip

Original Total: $26.59

Final Total after coupons: $6.97

Savings: $19.92


CVS Trip

Original Total: $12.54

Final Total after coupons: $4.88

Savings: $7.66

------------------------------------

Original Total: $39.13

Final Total after coupons: $11.85

Total Savings for the entire week: $27.68

Day Sixteen

A picture of someone who inspires you

My brother and sister in law, Jay and Marissa. They are two amazing people will do anything for anyone and not expect anything in return. We tell them that they have "shared custody" of Owen because they treat him like he is their own. They love him unconditionally and he spends the night at their house once a month, so his parents can have a night off. And again, like I said, they don't expect anything in return. All they want is to spend time with our Owen and give us a night to ourselves! I love them!

Target Shopping Trip 3/1/11

I've always been a fan of Target but I'm really LOVING Target tremendously these days. Mostly because they offer their Target coupons and you can combine them with Manufacturer coupons!

Here's what I got today:

Glade Spring Collection Room Spray $2.99
-Manufacturer Coupon $1/1 + Target Coupon $1/1
Final Price = $.99

7th Generation Lavender Dish Soap $2.69
- Manufacturer Coupon $1/1 + Target Coupon $1/1
Final Price = $.69

Up & Up Bleach $1.27
-Target Coupon $1/1
Final Price = $.27

Orbit Gum $.99
-Target Coupon $.75/1
Final Price = $.24

Powerade 8-pack $3.99
-Target Coupon $1/1
Final Price = $2.99

Maxwell House International Cafe $2.99
-Manufacturer Coupon $1/1 + Target Coupon $1/1
Final Price = $.99

Colgate Total Toothpaste $2.49
-Manufacturer Coupon $1/1 + Target Coupon $1/1
Final Price = $.49

Rimmel Extra Super Lash Mascara $2.99
-Manufacturer Coupon $2/1
Final Price = $.99

Up & Up Cotton Balls $1.12
-Target Coupon $.50/1
Final Price = $.62

Pert Plus 2 in 1 (clearance) $1.98
-Manufacturer Coupon $1/1
Final Price = $.98

Excedrin Extra Strength Express Gels $3.34 (Look for the bonus pack!)
-Manufacturer Coupon $.75/1 + Target Coupon $3/1
Final Price = FREE!

Up & Up Allergy Relief $1.87
-Target Coupon $1/1
Final Price = $.87

Dayquil Sinex Liquicaps $5.69
-Manufacturer Coupon $4/1
Final Price = $1.69

Up & Up Aluminum Foil $.99
-Target Coupon $.50/1
Final Price = $.49

Tampax Pearl 36 Count $6.99
-Manufacturer Coupon $2/1
Final Price $4.99

Benefiber 16ct Stick Packs $5.49
Manufacturer Coupon $3/1 + Target Coupon $2/1
Final Cost = $.49

Original Total: $50.78

Final Total: $19.28

I saved 31.50 !!!

Here's to a new month

and hoping it is much better than the past couple months have been! January and Februrary have been brutal for my family and I. Everything from Dakota's death, illness, financial troubles, and a seriously cranky, teething baby. It has been one thing after another and I'm SO done with it.

I'm done with the snow as well. I'm sick of bundling up, sick of driving in bad weather, and sick of being cooped up in the house. I can't wait until it's warm enough to take Owen outside to play. Now that he's running, it will fun. I'm going to continue to stay positive, even if things still don't look up for us for awhile. There's no sense in being negetive, it just makes everything worse and makes me feel awful.

Happy March!!!

Day Fifteen

A picture of something you want to do before you die

Swim with the dolphins. I've wanted to do it ever since I was a little girl.