Savings for the week of 7/24-7/30

Slightly busier week, but not as much coupon shopping.  Vacation is coming up and we're working on getting things organized around the house.   It is also back to school shopping (not for us, for work donations)  and I have no clue what the regular prices for any of the supplies were.  HUGE run at CVS, but they had emailed me a $5 off $25 coupon, and several things we were looking at went towards the "spend $30 on select items, get a $10 gas card" that we went for it.  We still did good!  

Target-
*Saved $12.86, Spent $16.22 OOP, and 11.72 in gift cards

2 deodorants, 2 wet cat food, t shirt, 1 duel tip Sharpie, 2 10 pack pencils, 3 pack highlighters, 6 pencil holders, 6 scissors, 6 packs of lined paper, 2 pack erasers, 10 pack ball point pens, 2 24 packs Crayola crayons, 2 glue sticks, 2 12 packs color pencils, 6 folders.

IKEA-

Spent $63.79

4 small office boxes with lids, 2 under bed storage bins with lids, 2 small and 2 large shelves for bathroom. 

CVS-
*Saved $40.81, Spent $35.28 OOP, got $10.00 ECB and $10.00 gas card

Big bag M&M Peanutbutter, Big bag M&M peanut, 2 bags Snickers fun size, 2 8 pack AA batteries, toothpaste, 1 gallon ice tea, 1 box Claritin, 1 bottle eye drops, 1 tube Bengay, 3 small bags M&M peanut. redbox- 1 free DVD rental

rewards at CVS this week

Staples-

*Saved $20.00, Spent $22.38 OOP
2 card holders, 3 large Really Useful Boxes, notebook, Kit Kat and $1 donation (last two as fillers to get me to my total needed for coupon!)

Grand total-
*Saved $73.67, Spent $137.67, have $10 in gas gift cards and $10 ECB left over

Launch Special at Kennedy Space Center

This Thursday, August 4th and Friday, August 5th, Kennedy Space Center is hosting all kinds of events for the Juno Mission that is aboard an Atlas rocket on Friday.  On Thursday, Bill Nye the Since Guy will prepare you for what to expect during the mission.  Then on Friday, arrive early!  Bill Nye will be doing presentations in the IMAX Theater at 11am and 1pm.  There is limited seating and it's a first come, first serve basis.

KSC is also offering the first 2,000 guests on August 5th prime launch viewing!  The gates open at 7am and the launch window is between 11:34am and 12:43pm.  They are also offering a second day free, to be used within 7 days of the first use.  It sounds like it's going to be a lot of fun!  I was at KSC for the last shuttle launch and they had a lot going on, in addition to everything they normally have, to keep you busy and entertained until launch time and beyond.

If you're in the area I highly suggest you check it out!  I would be there, but NASA has already invited me out to the NASATweetup surrounding the launch.  Be sure to let me know if you went!  Would love to hear your thoughts on it and see your pictures!

In the market for a new phone- look no further

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TracFone for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
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TracFone can offer you a less expensive way to for you to have a cell phone.  They don't have any contracts, credit checks, activation charges, or cancelation fees.  Who else can say that?  They also have nationwide coverage and great reception, which means no dropped calls!  We all know that everyone can't say that. TracFone offers brand name phones from great manufacturers (that we've heard of) such as Samsung, LG, Nokia, and Motorola.  They have regular phones all the way up to smart phones. Many options to choose from.
Here is a happy TracFone user with her phone:

TracFone has several options available:

-Pay as you go-  either online or with cards at a large number of retail locations around the country.

-A one year service card that gives you double minutes for the life of your phone and 800 minutes for $119 a month. (Double minutes for the life of your phone only $19.99, but your phone may include it at no extra cost!)

-Monthly plans with 200 minutes for less than $30, and as low as 50 minutes for $9.99.

-International long distance= international calls are the same price as any other call!   You can call over 60 international destinations from your TracFone for no extra fees.  Always great for friends and family overseas so you can keep in contact with them.  

-Simple phones, with calling and texting capabilities, for less than $10. 

-Smart phone with camera, web, apps, music, and full QWERTY for $29.99

Check out these videos with real TracFone customers & more real TracFone customers! 

Disney Cruise Line Shopping

So I just found out the greatest news ever (OK, maybe not the greatest, and maybe not really ever) at work today.  For the Disney fans of all kinds out there, you know that there are park exclusive merchandise, even DL, WDW and DCL exclusive.  Disney Cruise Line is the most exclusive because if you're not cruising or know someone who is cruising, you are out of luck if you want the merchandise.  At least Disneyland and Walt Disney World both have mail order numbers and a growing web catalog of park merchandise.  Well DCL fans your prayers have been answered!  As of July 25th, for the first time ever you can now purchase DCL merchandise ONLINE at the DCL Online Shop! Even though the shop is small for now (currently only 39 items) I am very excited.
 I am very fond of the DCL merchandise since we got married on the Wonder! I can't wait to see what new merchandise will be added!  What DCL merchandise do you want to see up on the site? Personally I want to see them add the DCL Dooney and Bourkes!

Savings for the week of 7/17-7/23

Another week of not much shopping....

Target-
*Saved $38.27 Spent $0.00 OOP, spent $5.75 in gift cards, $4.25 left over 
Shout wipes, denim capris, t shirt, Jif to go, floss, 2 metallic Sharpies, 10 pack ball point pens, tape.  

My Target haul

Grand total-
*Saved $38.27, Spent $0.00, have $4.25 in gift cards left over 

To Sing or Not to Sing

In about two weeks I have a tough choice to make.  The 2011 Candlelight Processional sign ups are in two weeks.  The narrators have, mostly, been announced.  This year the sign up process will be different.  It's not longer going to be the "fastest fingers" contest that it has been over the last 8 years or so (or the days of the sign up lists posted in the mirrors of the rehearsal rooms before it was online).  The new process they are testing this year is going to be random selection per part from everyone who signs up for that particular part.  It will be more fair to those applying who really want to sing and can't make it to the computer at 8 o'clock on the dot and hopefully take out more of the "I'm just doing it for the tickets" people.  I really do mean on the dot too.  The 250 alto positions are filled by 8:10am. It's crazy.

Since we started the "fastest fingers" contest, I've always made it in.  My information was always submitted before 8:01am. I've yet to miss performing in the Candlelight Processional, even in the year that I was so sick that I didn't get to actually sing in a single show.  That all changed last year.  Kirk and I took a road trip to Texas and back.  During the final leg back home was the "fastest fingers" contest.  We specifically picked a trusted named hotel that had free wifi so I could set up and be ready to enter said contest.  Turns out this hotel had the worst wifi ever, and I ended up missing out on signing up.  I was ticked to say the least.  I ranted on Twitter about said hotel and did end up getting a free night stay out of it, but almost exactly a year later, we still haven't cashed in on the stay.  I'm still not happy about missing out on the yearly holiday tradition, however it did make me take a step back and think about it.

Savings for the week of 7/10-7/16

Slow shopping week this week (not that that is a bad thing!) only hit a few stores, but still got some great deals overall! I did start getting pieces to put together my coupon binder so my spent is a little higher than it could have been, but I'm getting tired of flipping through inserts when we're doing regular grocery list making.  I don't even have that many inserts yet lol 

CVS-
*Saved $12.81, Spent $12.74 OOP, got $5.00 ECB
2 Full sized shampoos, 2 full sized conditioners, hair product with free shampoo/conditioner sample

Staples-
*Saved $1.50, Spent $16.55 OOP
2 pencil cases, 2 card holders, 1 index dividers (starting my coupon binder, so not a lot of money saved, but will be time saved in the long run!)

Target-
*Saved $26.99 Spent $14.21 OOP, got $10.00 in gift cards (could have used the gift cards to bring down my OOP, but I had limited shopping time and the lines weren't short.  Besides, I know I'll be back soon to use them!)
Body wash, 10 razors, 2 packs of cat treats, Benadryl itch stick, 2 sharpies


Grand total-
*Saved $41.30, Spent $43.50, have $10 in gift cards and $5 ECB left over

Savings for the week of 7/3-7/9

Not a bad week!  We didn't do a ton of shopping as it started with a holiday weekend and ended with a historic shuttle launch (more on that later).  


CVS-
*Saved $30.09, Spent $3.38 OOP, Full sized shampoo, full sized conditioner, 2 toothbrushes, 2 bags of candy (holiday weekend and long road trip for the launch!) and 3 packs of gum. 
Publix-
*Saved $54.75, Spent $68.94 OOP
Groceries
Walmart-
*Saved $0.50, Spent $0.57 OOP 
2 candy bars
Walgreens-
*Saved $5.98, Spent $0.14
2 toothbrushes

Grand total-
*Saved $91.32, Spent $73.03

Halloween Horror Nights

Universal Studios has announced the dates for the 2011 Halloween Horror Nights!

Dates are:
 September 23, 24, 29, 30
October 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31

Prices are different based on what night of the week, if you're a Florida resident, if you're an annual passholder and a few other things; but the base price is $81.99. New this year is the Rush of Fear ticket. It will allow entry on every night HHN is held, for the first three weeks, that's 10 full nights, for $69.99.  Pretty good deal!

Do you plan on hitting HHN?  We might this year, it's been a while since I've been!

I want a coupon binder!

I was back over at Single Mom Saving Money  (definitely one of my favorite money saving blogs!) and Pam is doing a giveaway for two coupon binders.  I really hope I win one!  If you're interested in trying to win one too, hop on over to her blog and check out the giveaway! You have until midnight on Friday, July 9th.

Savings for the week of 6/26-7/2

Pretty good this week!


CVS-
*Saved $21.20, Spent $16.77 OOP, earned $5 in ECB and still have $5 left

Publix-
*Saved $43.55, Spent $61.28 OOP

Target-
*Saved $12.21, Spent $8.76 OOP earned $5 in gift cards, and still have $2.01 left, and $2 in additional coupons.

Walgreens-
*Saved $7.68, Spent $1.77


Grand total-
*Saved $84.64, Spent $88.58