Mom Stays Home With Me

I have been absolutely amazed out how much money I have saved the last few months by planning my shopping trips with the weekly sales and coupons.  I use to STRICTLY shop at Walmart and not DARE think of purchasing anything from the drug stores unless it was an emergency. Of course, today this is a totally different story.

I purchased the Charlotte Observer through newspaper subscriptions at discounted rates for a fraction of the newsstand price. This paper gives me the bigger and better coupons than my local newspaper. Plus I can get it for the same cost of the local paper.

I read an article from The Wall Street Journal where it calculated a persons hourly rate for clipping and using coupons. I know sometimes it is hard to find the time or I just think it is not worth it but when it showed me my hourly rate was $86.40 – I knew I had to keep at it.

First thing I do is check out Southern Savers for all 3 (CVS, Walgreens, Rite-Aid) drug store sales. She allows me to print a “shopping list” straight from her website. I try to stick to the items that are FREE that week and ones that our household uses on a regular basis. Rite-Aid is normally the store I will pick up those extra items because I can normally use a $5 off $20-$25 purchase coupon. I have been able many times to pick up a sale item and still have Rite-Aid owe me money.

Being on a budget, some household items became a luxury. For instance: instead of buying baggies – I would just use bowls, instead of buying body wash or my preferred deodorants and such – I would just buy something that was as cheap as possible. Now I am able to buy name brand products that I WANT to buy for FREE or next to nothing. It’s all about setting a little bit of time aside each week to look through the sales papers and clip coupons. This extra time will save you so much more money!

Let me know what you are doing to help your family cut their monthly expenses or feel free to contact me for any help. I would love to share any ideas!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

The library has become one of my favorite places for the children and I.  We love reading and exploring.  However, the library is not close and if I do not get my books back on time – late fees.  Kinda defeats the purpose of checking books out from the library.

I came across Booksfree.com who allows me to rent books each month and have them delivered to my door.  With a 20% discount the first month, I knew it was well worth the trial membership.

20% off your first month at Booksfree.com. Use coupon code: CJ86

priscilla

I have been a member for a long time!  I love making new friends and getting advice from others who have already walked my shoes.  Join CafeMom to relax and take a break with other moms. Conversation and advice are just a click away. Check it out!

priscilla

My sister gets the local newspaper and would pass her coupons to me. I would quickly become discouraged because the coupons listed by other bloggers were not in my paper. How was I going to match up these awesome deals and take advantage of the $5 Challenges when I was not even getting the right coupons?

I decided to purchase our bigger City newspaper and found all the coupons I needed.  This helped me to make the choice for a subscription through Discounted newspaper.  My Sunday Paper cost was quickly reduced and I am able to participate in the $5 Challenges more effectively.

priscilla

Many times I have searched the internet for a craft project idea.  I’ll have an idea in my head but just not quite sure how to execute the plan.  Join Craft Forum to find new ideas for crafts,  how-to’s and even buy/sell your crafts.   You can also promote your business while making new friends!

I posted this before but felt lead to post again. Open your hearts and your mind as you watch it. It applies to each and every one of us. The video is so true about how God is right there with us every step we take. He will provide our every need, if we let him. God never promised the road would be easy but that he would see us through. I have learned that God will provide where He guides. Stand still and stay close. It is AMAZING to see him work!!

The Preacher made the comment last night that if a house was on fire and you knew someone was inside, you would do everything in your power to save them. How is this any different in our daily walk with friends, family, co-workers?

Have a Blessed Day!

As I was getting up this morning, I began wondering what I could do to help those in Haiti.  We as Christians know in a time of disaster, it is our place to step up and help those in need.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

Keeping the Kingdom First inspired me to spread the word of Hope for Haiti. This is a project by Jenny of Simply Delightful Designs to raise funds for The Red Cross and Compassion.org. You can make a secure donation via PayPal.

I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts. 20:35

Keeping the Kingdom First makes an awesome statement – “The media reminds us that the best way to help the Haiti earthquake victims is through monetary donations. But we can also pray. Pray for comfort. Pray for hope. Pray for safety.”

Almost every Birthday or Christmas, my mother battles within to decide what gift to give the grandchildren. My sister and I suggested she make a “craft box” for them this Christmas. Mommy (yes I still call her mommy) gave us the money and off my sister and I went shopping. For starters, we had a lot of fun spending someone else money plus a double bonus of shopping together with NO children!

We chose a Sterilite Show Off Container and filled it with Highlighters, Craft Sticks, Glitter Pens, Pipe Cleaners, Puzzles, Paint, Molds, Modeling Clay, Construction Paper, Stamps, Stickers, and so much more. This will come in handy when we decide to do a craft during homeschooling. Plus with the Winter Season in full swing, this gives the kids something to look forward to that day when the sun goes down.

I am working on getting a picture made of it. We have allowed the children to paint their name on the container and decorate it to their preference. The best part of it all was we filled it to the top and still came well below budget and the children ABSOLUTELY loved the gift!

Thanks Mommy!

I found this idea at Pink and Green Mama.  In the past, I have found myself daily throwing away broken pieces of crayons. My children seem to have dozens and dozens of them. What a great way to recycle those broken pieces and give my children a new project.

We carefully peeled off all the paper and broke them into smaller pieces.  Then baked them at 250 degrees for 15 minutes.  Once they were cooled, this was our masterpiece!

I am going to keep my eye out for other mini muffin pans.  This was the only one I had on hand and really wanted to try this project.  My sister is a Kindergarten Teacher Assistant and every year after the Christmas Holiday, they replace the old crayons with new ones for the students. At the end of the school year, they always give the students a special gift pack. Imagine the children’s eyes when they see their old crayons. And not to mention, it is a gift the Teachers do not have to spend their personal money on – just their time!

Be sure to send me pics if you create your own!

We had a field trip scheduled today but was canceled due to the weather.  To keep the shock of surprise down, I had been preparing the children for a week for it.  It broke my heart to tell them we had to cancel.  My delima come about on what to do today – did I go ahead with a normal school day or do I turn it into something fun and out of the norm for us all.

Create Fun Crafts for your Kids Click Here or download 50 Favorite Christmas Cookie Recipes Click Here.

So today we will be creating Christmas Crafts and Homemade Cookies!  The children love doing this while I love the time together and watching the smiles on their faces.  This is just another advantage to homeschooling, take a bad day and make it into what we want!

Over the years, I have had many family members in the services and overseas.  They fight for our country’s freedom and make so many personal sacrifices for each one of us.  I know each of you can take 2 minutes and tell our TROOPS THANK YOU!

Xerox is running their Let’s Say Thanks Program that sends cards to our troops.  The cards are printed by Xerox and put into care packages that are sent overseas.  It is a very simple process and here is how to do it:

1. Click here to pick a card.
2. Select or create your own message.
3. Hit send.

That is all there is to it!  You can brighten a soldiers day with your kindness!  Do your share!

My daughter turned 4 today!  With her birthday being around the Holidays, we have tried to make it a separate occasion and show her day is just as special as the other birthdays!  In doing so this year, I had  just to post the wonderful deals I found and how little money I actually spent out of pocket.

I was able to purchase the above for only $27.36.  Actual cost of these products was $92.93.  This was a 70% savings!  I was so excited about my savings and my husband could not believe it.  Here is the break down.

Scarlet Bandit Monster Truck – $9.96, OOP -$9.96

Polly Pocket Designables Mix ‘n Match Mall Play Set – $22.98, OOP – $5.72

Pink Caymen Crocs – $24.99 – OOP – $8.66

Snow White DVD – $19.98 – OOP – FREE

Tinker Bell Tote Bag – FREE

Build-a-Bear Cat – $15 – OOP $3

I was able to save the money by shopping online, using coupons and watching for sales.  I only paid full price for the Monster Truck because this was a gift her daddy had to have for her on the spur of the moment.  I try not to take him shopping most of the time, hahaha!

Happy Birthday Emma!  I love you and hope you have many more!!

I wrote this article for a friends blog but I was having a moment and wanted to take the time to share with my readers:

Before ever having children, I always thought I wanted to homeschool them. The first comes along and soon after another and then another. Then times flies and next thing you know – it is time to register your oldest for kindergarten.

The idea becomes more realistic, but is it what I really want to do?  SO – I register him, take him for orientation, sign the other two up for preschool AND get excited about having 3 hours a week ALL TO MYSELF. THEN literally the week before his kindergarten screening, God starts talking to me BIG TIME!

Like many others, I start questioning myself. Is this God? Am I sure I can do this? Am I making a mistake by not putting him in public schools? God was making the signs real clear and I just had to follow. I knew that where God guides, God provides.

I started getting excited about the idea. Many unanswered questions were being answered. God gave me the confidence I could do this and we would succeed! So we were off to our first year of homeschooling.

The year has been great! We actually school both my kindergartner and my 3 year old, who is 3 years away from starting because of her late birthday. They do very well and have progressed extremely fast. I have learned that nothing is set in stone and everything can be changed.

I had many fears before starting this adventure but quickly learned I am not alone. Many mothers out there have felt the same way I did and many more will continue to feel the same way. If you are thinking about homeschooling, do not let it pass till you have checked every option. Think about it, you have already been their teacher from day one!

MUST SEE: 14 Days of Homeschooling

I found several book stores in our area that sell used curriculums, workbooks and readers and many websites that allow you to print worksheets for FREE. I started my school year with only spending $50 and I have everything I need to get him through his first year of school. I have taken Mega Blocks and Monster Trucks and turned them into many lessons. You would be amazed at the items in your house that can be used to teach your children.

My husband and I got to talking today and I explained it to him this way: My reasons for homeschooling now are not the same reason I thought of before I became a mom. I LOVE being with my children! I LOVE watching them learn something new. I LOVE knowing what they are learning and NOT learning! With Thanksgiving 2 days away, I am SO THANKFUL to be a stay at home mom who homeschools her children!

Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are all around the corner.  Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.  So that is why I am here!  If you have not done so already, be sure and sign up for the following to help you save on groceries, holiday shopping and online shopping.

If you plan to do any type of online shopping be sure and sign up at ShopAtHome.  You will receive a $5 sign on bonus plus cash back for your purchases.  Many of the retailers are offering double cash back for this weekend!

Save on Groceries at Coupons.com! Click Here You will also find many toy coupons too!

Also, join Afullcup.com and start Saving Money on your Grocery Bill. Click Here I made my grocery list out first and then searched for products I knew I would be buying.

Be sure and check with me later this week for the savings I found for my daughters birthday by joining these sites!  You will be amazed!