Savings!

So, today's savings is a bit more unconventional...

At walmart, I returned one of the packages of diapers (they only had the size 2 diapers and not the size 1... go figure!) and bought the correct type (which had 10 more diapers in the package) with a coupon and saved even more!

Store: Walmart
Quest: get the right kind of diapers

Purchases:
return old package
get new package

Savings:
$1 off coupon
$1.05 returned

Then... Clint needed an Otterbox for his iphone. Could have cost $44.88 at Walmart, but we went to Amazon instead - less than $20! But, shipping was about $5 making the total $25. If I put $25 worth of items in my cart then I would qualify for free shipping. So, I did some shopping and added some breastfeeding pads (glamorous, I know!) and a clearance iphone case for me. The total went to $27 and I got free shipping. $2 more saved me from paying shipping and I needed more pads anyway!

Store: Amazon.com
Quest: get Clint an Otterbox

Purchases:
Otterbox $20
Case $2
Pads $5

Savings:
$3 (I spent $2 more to avoid $5 in shipping so I saved the difference between paying shipping and buying more products)

TOTAL SAVINGS: $5.05

GRAND TOTAL SAVINGS TO DATE: $93.80

Progress: 9.38%

And the savings keep piling up!

So... last night we used a coupon...

Well, backup. I have an app on my iphone where I can "check-in" to different locations and get points. I can then redeem these points for rewards. We redeemed 400 points for a $25 restaurant.com gift certificate. Last night, we enjoyed Hibachi Japanese food for practically half-price. The total with 2 entrees, tax, and tip was right at $50. Minus the $25 and we have saved more $$!

Restaurant: Tokyo Steakhouse
Quest: Eat dinner

Purchases:
Chicken dinner - $16.99
Garlic Steak dinner - $21.99
Tax
Tip

Savings:
$25 gift certificate

TOTAL SAVINGS: $25

GRAND TOTAL SAVINGS TO DATE: $88.75

Progress: 8.875% towards my goal

Today I plan to exchange some diapers and use coupons on the ones I really need to further increase my savings! I'll check back in later!

A Challenge to SAVE!

In light of the new TLC show Extreme Couponing and my own frugal background/ upbringing, I am going to attempt a unique challenge that will last the remainder of the 2011 calendar year.

I will endeavor to save my family $1,000 by December 31, 2011 through coupons, special offers, rebates, etc. Normal price reductions at the store DO NOT count. There must be an element of effort on my part. :)

Let the fun begin with last night's conquest and the inspiration for this challenge. How it went down...

Store: Babies R Us
Quest: Buy diapers and wipes for our little Ryleigh

Purchases:
216 ct. wipe refill $6.99
60 ct. Little Snugglers $17.99
60 ct. Little Sugglers $17.99
30 ct. Pure & natural $11.99
30 ct. Pure & natural $11.99
72 ct. wipes $2.99
Temporal Thermometer $49.99

Savings:
Buy 2 Pure & natural get $5 off
Spend $65 on wipes and diapers get $15 off
$0.75 wipes coupon
$2 wipes coupon
$2.50 diaper coupon
$2.50 diaper coupon
$3 diaper coupon
$3 diaper coupon
50% off thermometer coupon - $25 off
$5 mail-in rebate on thermometer

TOTAL SAVINGS: $63.75

GRAND TOTAL SAVINGS TO DATE: $63.75

Progress: 6.375% towards my goal

Isn't that cool! Especially since my total before tax was $61.18 - I saved more than half off my entire purchase. And, since I used my rewards card, the savings will continue to pile up. The final kicker is that I had a gift card - so really, all this loot cost us nothing! But, I won't count that in the savings... :)

5 dinners in 1 hour

I subscribe to groupon and living social and those kind of websites that offer great deals on useless things you would rarely use. Occasionally, however, a deal comes across the email universe that is tempting enough to try. 5 dinners in 1 hour is a subscription off a blog www.5dinners1hour.blogspot.com where the author Michelle composes menus of 5 dinners that can be fully prepped in 1 hour... TOTAL! Perfect for a new little family with a brand new baby.

So, we have tried 2 of the menus - LOVE!!! So easy and simple. I love opening my fridge and seeing ready made meals instead of assorted food items without any cohesion.

I'll start blogging about and reviewing the recipes as I try to get better about blogging. :)

Disappointed in myself...

As despressing as the title may be, this is not a depressing post. I'm just disappointed in myself for waiting so long to post.

We have a little baby girl!!!

Ryleigh Maerie Hoover was born Thursday, March 31, 2011 at 5:27pm weighing 6 pounds 10.7 ounces and 18 1/2 inches long. Our baby girl was beyond beautiful and we have been so blessed to have her in our lives. Enjoy some pics!

See! I told you she was beautiful! :) We are so happy! She is now over 6 weeks old and growing so strong and healthy - I can only thank God for her!

Oh Happy Day!

The news has finally broken and we are PREGNANT! Yesterday marked the end of the 13th week, the end of the 1st trimester, and the beginning of being able to openly talk about our precious Baby Smidgen.

But, Clint and I have actually known about Smidgen for a while. We found out that we were pregnant on July 22nd - the day we were leaving for our vacation. What a surprise and we weren't completely convinced - although the pregnancy test was obvious enough. We took another test while on the road on July 23rd and got the same result. So, on the long, long drive to Florida, we scheduled a doctor's appointment on August 6th after we returned. Our appointment went perfectly and the doctor confirmed that we were pregnant. We returned a few days later to meet the OB/GYN and ended up getting our first ultrasound! It was so amazing to see our little 1 cm Smidgen.

Now, we have had a couple more appointments, a TON of tests (all of which came back great - for which we are thankful), and even got to hear the baby's heartbeat a week and a half ago. Smidgen is now pushing "lemon-size" at 3-3.5 inches and should hit 1.5 ounces this week. We are so excited and are busily preparing ourselves, our lives, the baby's room, and everything for Smidgen's arrival somewhere around March 26th (our due date).

Catching Up

Shame on me... It has been a month and a half since my last post! Wow! I'm ashamed of myself... and even still I don't have too much to talk about! *I know - that's a first!*

Well, I know I have talked a lot about our diets and weight loss endeavors and so far we have been quite successful. Clint has easily hit fifty pounds and I am pushing forty pounds! That's in less than 7 months - I think that is quite impressive and a healthy rate of loss.

Now that we are losing the weight, we are also going to be modifying the quality of our foods. I am trying to make a switch to more raw (not uncooked, but less processed), clean, organice foods. Now, hold on, I'm not going off the deep end, but I just think that the fuel we give our bodies should be high-quality and meaningful. Too often, meals are an after-thought and we end up throwing trash into our system. Then, we wonder why we feel sluggish and bloated.

Instead, we are creating meal plans (side benefit: this helps a LOT with budgeting and grocery bills!) full of whole wheat breads and pastas; fresh, organic fruits and vegetables; appropriate serving portions; and limited processed foods.

Then, just for fun, I made this trail mix from raw ingredients at Central Market. Yay for being healthier!