Wednesday, August 31, 2011

A friend told me about Pinterest

My friend Brittany from Testosterone Tamer told me about a great place to organize my "findings". It is called Pinterest - it works very similar to bookmarking a page, but it is really a virtual bulletin board. The really cool thing is if I'm trying to show my daughter or daughter in law some ideas for recipes or decorating, instead of having to click on each bookmark - now i have a bulletin board that they can look at - then we can click on the link for any that we want instructions for.  I am hooked - I've only been Pinning a few days but I think it is an awesome site.  If you wanna take a look - click on follow me on Pinterest or you can go there directly at www.pinterest.com.  So if you want an invite just let me know.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Bad Dream Catcher

My 4 year old granddaughter has bad dreams.  Her parents have tried all kinds of ideas to re-assure her that they are only dreams and not real, but she's not buying it!  So one night I was babysitting and had to go all around the room and scoop up all the bad dreams into my hands and throw them out the door.  The next day I was at my favorite Dollar Tree and VOILA a bad dream catcher! (A.K.A. butterfly net)- so now before her parents kiss her goodnight - they wave the bad dream catcher around the room and it's been days since she had a bad dream.

Why I coupon #2

I love trying new products (until I find one I love) and having coupons to discount the cost of the new product is awesome.  Not too long ago there was a $2 off the Benadryl Itch Relief Stick - which costs $2.29 at my Walmart and Target. My out of pocket was 29 cents. I LOVE THIS STUFF ! I will buy it even without a coupon - I even tested it on myself to see if it actually stopped the itching because the kids are all under age of 4 and sometimes can't vocalize what I want to know. You do have to rub it across your skin to get the roller moist - but once it is moist a couple rolls and voila - the itching subsides. For a couple BIG bites I had to roll it on again after about 10 mins - but that one had raised up big on me before I could get to the roll-on stick.

Just so you know - the mosquitoes in my area are on high alert when my grandchildren are headed for the door. The mosquito lookout texts all his/her friends to let them know a feast is coming out the door, because these sweet kids walk out the door and instantly have at least 2 bites.  We do have spray on stuff for them when they are headed out to play, but when going to the car it seems like they should be able to walk 14 steps to car without having to have on bug spray - since riding in the car with that stuff on them just seems icky.  I have one of these sticks in the diaper bag and one in my purse! 

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Stockpiling

Thru my couponing, I've been able to build a little stockpile of FUI (frequently used items). For us, Charmin toilet paper, paper towels, Safeguard soap, Ivory soap, razors, shave cream, Dawn dish soap, toothpaste and All laundry soap.  I know it sounds like "brand snob" but allergies have determined what products I can use. As for the Charmin, I like it best so I get that!!  I really don't stock up too much food, I've really not mastered rotation so it doesn't expire - there are food items that I'll get if on sale and I have coupons ...and it is a product I use!  As for an Extreme stockpile - I don't have one.
We live in a tiny house, and had to really pull out some creative ideas to store the tp and paper towels. I have a tiny hallway - with 3 doors - bedroom and little closet opposite of each other and bathroom on one side - so my husband measured and cut a board and we have it above the door frames - so it is supported on 3 sides - I intend to paint the bottom of the board white so it blends in with ceiling, but for now - my stockpile is out of the way.
In the little closet are small clear totes with lids to store the razors. I found one of these at goodwill http://www.organizeit.com/large-expandable-wire-shelf.asp?cmpid=SLI.  I stack washcloths under it and toothpaste and shave cream on the top shelf - along with the triple antibiotic cream from Dollar Tree. Yes, dollar tree, works just as well as neosporin and only cost $1.
My friend Brittany at http://testosteronetamer.blogspot.com/ showed me this:  http://pinterest.com/pin/119901199/
so now I'm on the hunt for 1 or maybe 2 - wouldn't that be great for hair clips, brushes, detangler spray for a little girls room!

Why I coupon

I've been retired 5 years now, and making ends meet takes a little work.  Couponing has helped me stretch my money further.  I shop a LOT at Publix - I love Publix - it is always clean and fully stocked  - 99% of the cashiers are friendly and helpful. I take mom shopping every Sunday and she gets annoyed if I follow her around, so I set up my binder and work a few deals while I'm there. Publix has store coupons that can be stacked with manufacturer's and if something is on sale - I've gotten some awesome deals. One this week - Mento's gum - is BOGO - (save 3.29) well you can use a coupon on each - so I have 2 - $1 off coupons - so 2 - 50 pks of gum will be 1.29 - how great is that :)
So, from time to time I check up on mom and pull out any coupons for the stuff in her cart.But sometimes I miss knowing about a BOGO item, as the cashier it ringing mom up, she/he will say Oh this is BOGO and will ask the bagger to go get another item for mom. Now that is great service!
My daughter and 2 daughter in laws have now started couponing also.  We try to get together Sundays to go thru the sales ads, clip the inserts and match the coupons to the things we are getting from the ads.  It is exciting for me to see them save money and very helpful because they tell me of some of the deals I have missed.

Hurricane Irene NOT COMING

Ahhhhh sigh of relief !  Irene has set her path on New York.  Just praying now that it moves a little more east so it doesn't tear up North Carolina/Virginia with her winds.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Hurricane Irene coming

It's been a couple years since a hurricane really threatened our area.  Wow I dread it !  Gas is so expensive and the dang generator uses 5 gallons every 12 hours - ugh.  We do have the shutters that we just have to slide into place and screw down with their handy dandy spiffy screw down things ( not sure of their name!) We were lucky to get most of the shutters from the trash! yes people throw them out when they upgrade to roll down shutters -  But mom's house is all windows and despite buying plywood numerous times for her windows (one of my brothers) always finds a use for the plywood after the storm - Seems like storing it away numbered would be the best thing to do - but no one listens to me there.
Then there is food - and batteries - ice -gas for the grill - deck of cards - put flashlights in handy spots - candles and matches in bathroom.  When we put the sliding shutters on our front windows we wisely purchased 2 clear shutters so we get a little sunshine in and we can see out so someone (me) doesn't open the door to see what's happening out there.  I do get claustrophobic so the clear panel will help with that.  The oddest thing is almost all of the hurricanes that have forced us indoors - have "hit" during the night- so we can't see all the scary stuff - just hear it. Just praying the wind pushes it off our coast a little more so we only get some rain.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Buying grandchildren presents on a budget

Christmas is rapidly approaching and many of us grandparents are struggling on our budgets now.  I have a tote box that I put in a handy spot to store some of my gifts.  So here's some ideas for you:
JC Penney's mails out $10 off of $10 purchase cards - I've used that to purchase PJ's, decorative pillows, cute little purses for the girls / boys are a little harder but how about PJ's, some of the pillows can be for boys, many shirts for girls and boys are within the $10 range.
Kohls also mails out $10 off $10 purchase cards - they have a few counters of toys both for boys and girls - many are around the $10 range. Today I scored a Cinderella and Prince poly pocket style dolls - it was 12.99 on sale for $10.29 - so I paid 29 cents plus tax.
Target has great clearance sales on toys - many games were just on clearance for as low as 4.99.  I do take the time to read about the game before buying it as I'm gonna be the one stuck playing it.  Guess Who has proved to be my 4 yr old granddaughters favorite game along with a Curious George Discovery Beach game.
Sports Authority has sent me 2 different sales ads in the mail and wahoo .....inside were $10 off any purchase cards - which I scored free Nike socks  :)
Disney Store also does some great sales - I usually find them thru Hip2Save.(see below)
Before you do the next step, I suggest you make another email address for yourself that you will use for giveaways, alerts and emails from blogs.  I keep one for my personal emails so that it doesn't get clogged with junk mail.  I follow a couple of blogs: Hip2Save, Slickdeals are 2 of them.  I signed up for Tanga emails- I was recently able to purchase 2 little kits for in the car with tire pressure gauge, a pen and something else in a nice little case - it was free - I had to pay shipping - (from Tanga) -  Hip2save is very popular and the deals go quick - but I've gotten some great deals  - Slickdeals post a lot of the deals a few minutes before she does, but I sometimes find it hard to follow.   So far with the deals, I've gotten Woman's Day for mom ($3.99, All You magazine for me (11.98), and a National Geographic Jr (for $7) magazine for my granddaughter and Taste of home magazine also for $4.99.  All were year subscriptions and when the deal comes around again I'll get for my daughter in laws and mom for Christmas.  There are men's magazines also that come up fairly cheap.
I also follow My Frugal Adventures on facebook.  Many and I mean a lot of business have facebook pages now and do giveaways.  I've scored free Aussie shampoo and Herbal Essence shampoo recently.  They mail you a coupon and you go to the store of your choice
Til next time happy inexpensive shopping





The Power of God and Praying Friends

I accidentally stumbled across something that hurt my heart, not only for me, but my husband.  He often tells me he was an unwanted child and adult, and I have to say the adult part I've seen the unwant, not only for him but for myself and our children. I pray and pray and hope that someday his heart will not hurt.  As for my discovery, I texted a friend and asked her to pray for me - that I would not reach out and open a can of worms.  To just let it go and get on with life.  MINUTES ..........JUST MERE MINUTES AFTER HER PRAYING.............I calmed down and was rational.  and the message to me was what good would come of stirring it up.  You cannot take possessions into Heaven - you love someone and remember them in your heart. <3

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Donate what you didn't spend today

There are so many families that have crossed my path the last year and most need some kind of help. I only have a little bit to offer, but you know what - that little bit is just a little bit more than they had.
Today I will donate what I didn't spend buying myself a new binder, the one I have is just fine - and the $12 is getting donated to a family adopting 2 little boys from Eastern Europe that have Downs Syndrome and are in an orphanage. The whole time I was drooling over the binder, I just kept thinking about Mandy and her fundraising efforts.Here is the link to her blog:  http://findingourlittleone.blogspot.com
     Last week I mailed 2 $5.00 Target gift cards that I received for purchasing razors! These went to a family who's daughter has SMA - It is small amounts I know, but grandma is on a budget - and just think if 10 of my friends sent the same 2 $5.00 gift cards that cost them nothing - She would have $110 in gift cards.  Today I found out she could use iTunes gift cards. Her daughter watches movies on the Ipad2 - that her parents download from iTunes.  Now I'm hearing some of you say .........Ipad2 ......wow.  SMA - is all I can say.  My niece had that - she lived 4 months.  She could not move - not her fingers, toes, head - only her eyes and her little lips would sometimes form a smile My niece could not swallow so she had a feeding tube and so does this little girl. When I see pictures of my friends baby, I see the love and care that went into her room and the little outfits she looks so cute in - and I think how brave my friend is - because hidden in the background is all the medical equipment necessary to make the baby's life easier. Her mommy does not complain and I think to myself, I complain about packing and carrying the diaper bag - how lame is that! Special chair, special carseat, special oxygen along with the diaper bag ......... (I need to stop complaining)
     This little girl was born - May 5th - the same day as my grandson.  He walks, and climbs, and eats and talks and cries and laughs - This little girl lays on her back on the bed with her head propped and watches the movies.   I hope I have not upset my new friend talking about her but she is a wonderful mom and deserves any break she can get  ............ If you wanna send gift cards - please let me know  <3
     

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Looking Down

I would like to start out by saying I'm not bragging - I'm challenging you to Look Down.
Gary and I went to Walmart Thursday evening - it was a later than usual shopping adventure - to look for a shirt for me - now I know why............it was for my birthday surprise trip (more about that later).  I had casually mentioned that I liked a pink shirt I had and wished I had bought the blue one - he says well where did you get it- I said Walmart - he's like lets go.  So for those that don't know - at 7:30 in the evening - Gary does not jump up and say let's go 'anywhere' LOL - I should've been suspicious - but instead I was thankful for his willingness to go with me.  No shirts that I really liked, but we wandered around to get a few other things. At one point we passed the shoe department- and had to pass a man in his 30's trying on shoes - he was dirty and smelly, but was trying on work boots and politely let us pass him in the aisle.  We headed for one more department then headed to checkout - and there was the shoe stranger again - ahead of us in line.  It was at this point that I looked down - to a man with one shoe and one foot with only a sock and the cheapest pair of sneakers in the store in his hand.  The lady ahead of him was in a courtesy wheelchair cart - and he unloaded her cart for her when he saw her struggling to do so herself - gently placing her bananas and other fruit on the checkout counter.  As he was doing that - I whispered to my husband to look down - afterwards our eyes met and he pulled his money out of his pocket and I silently agreed.  He started talking to this man about the weather and rain and such - and the guy says yes that is why I'm here, the glue on my other shoe could not hold it together anymore - so I had to throw it out and come her for a pair.  Gary asked if he believed in God, he did , Gary asked would you like this (and handed over his little pocket bible).  He got a little teary eyed and said are you sure you want to give me your little bible - Gary says yes, I'll get another. ..........but along with the bible he passed him $10, not a lot of money, but a lot to someone without any.  The guy said thank you sir - it has been a rough month, my girlfriend had to go into hospital with food poisoning from eating a 2 day old hamburger - I begged her not to eat it but she was hungry. With this I can get her something that won't be spoiled.  OH MY GOSH  We take so much for granted - just as the lady in the wheelchair was finishing off her transaction, Gary whispered can we buy his shoes too.  WELL OF COURSE.   So he offered and you know what the guy did?????  He said that would be so nice of you and pulled out the $10 that Gary had given him just 5 mins prior and said here sir you can have this back, I'll use the shoe money I was going to use for the shoes to get some food.
This is not the 1st time we have had the opportunity to share shoes with someone- there have been other times, the one that sticks out the most is years ago at McDonalds. It was around Christmas, so cold out (Florida cold) the manager was telling a homeless man he had to leave because he didn't have shoes on. My husband says hey can you wear size 9 - the homeless man says sure - right there in McDonalds he took his shoes off and gave them to the homeless man - then says what did you want to eat - I'll buy it for you.  The manager was speechless, but the sad thing is - he didn't tell my husband he had to leave because of no shoes.
So my friends, I challenge you to LOOK DOWN - does the person have shoes?

Monday, August 8, 2011

Finally I hear God

So for most of my adult life, I've heard people remark that God told them this or that. I never heard God speak, not in my head, out-loud or in my dreams and felt maybe, just maybe he had nothing to say to me!  But in this last year, there is no other explanation but God had his hand on stuff.
I have a very touching story of how he used me, but can't post about it quite yet.  But I will tell you of another time.
I need to preface this with my mother is 84, and although I have a living sister and 3 living brothers, one of which lives with her, all her care is up to me.  I make and take her to all doctor appts, hair appts, and grocery, order her prescriptions, pay her bills and unfortunately have watched her slowly and now more rapidly slip into Alzheimer's. It has not formally been diagnosed, but I know it either that or Dementia. My youngest brother that lives with her can only borrow the neighbors car when he needs beer or go out on his boat.  Although he is a mechanic, he decided he couldn't fix his car and junked it!
So my only request to my mom is to please let me sleep late on Saturdays since Mon thru Friday I babysit my 3 grandbabies ages 14months, 22 months and 4 years old from 7 am til 7 pm. So one Saturday she started calling at like 8am, the reason for her call, she wanted to go get the prep stuff for some test that I didn't want her to have.(she called 3 times in less than hour)  The test was not even scheduled since 2 days earlier she was in hosp with BP 229/112.  Both her cardiologist and I felt too soon after that to go thru "cleansing" for some gastro test.  Mom and I had talked about it and she knew she was going to wait, but on Saturday morning, she decided she needed all the stuff so when appointment was scheduled she would have it.  I tried to explain to her that she didn't need it yet because test not scheduled and when it was - we would go get all items she needed and put them in a special place so she would have them (Gatorade, Popsicle without red dye and some crap she had to drink) So some of you might be thinking, well just go get the stuff to ease her mind - because if I did the 16 yr old son of my youngest brother would drink the gatorade and eat the Popsicles as he has never been taught some things are off limits or my mom would drink the gatorade which has too much salt for her which would cause other issues.
So after 3 phone calls, I gave in said fine, I'll come take you to get the stuff, I'm on my way.  I will not lie, I was mad - mad cause I couldn't sleep late, mad because I'm the only one taking care of her, mad because she is slipping away into her own world and there is nothing I can do about it.  So I'm driving down road, mad and talking to myself, when outta the blue as I'm passing a palm tree, I see a palm frond come detached from tree in slow motion and "float" down BOOM right onto my car.  I couldn't get outta the way, but I will also say I had no idea how heavy those things are.  Well I kept driving, but immediately I am now mad about my car and that dang palm frond thinking it had scratched my car.
And in that instant I got it - like God was saying want something to be mad about - BOOM - how about this - stop being mad at your mom for waking you up, and your brother for not stepping up to help and the Alzeimer's - be mad because this palm frond just screwed up your car.  I pulled into my mom's driveway and tried to get outta the car to go get mom and the door wouldn't open easily - I had to really shove it open and I looked at my car and the entire bumper and part of door looked like an elephant had rammed my car.  It wasn't a little scratch it was a FLAT bumper instead of a pretty curved one. And that interfered with my door opening.  I do thank God that the dang thing didn't crash into my windshield and kill me, because then who would take care of my mom?

So the next morning my husband calls the city, because the palm tree was on their property - guess what the guy told him ................The palm frond falling is an act of God --- the city is not liable.  Yep even he knew God was talking to me.
So my husband and son banged out the huge dent and the door opens now - it is not as pretty as before, but a daily reminder to me that I need to be more aware of what I'm mad about.

Birthday Week, can't wait for Social Security

Yesterday started my Birthday week - soon I will be 57 and only 5 more years until I can apply for Social Security.  I think that if the politicians change the rules of SS - they should be willing to support the senior citizens personally.
So I know this might not be popular, but anyone that knows me, knows I say what is on my mind.  Why in the hell are they building a spaceship that costs billions of dollars to go to somewhere we have already been?  We've been there, can't live there, and unless they are planning on sending all child molesters and murderers to orbit the moon forever I see no reason to waste "our" money.
Many seniors can't even buy food - I have to help my mom buy her groceries - how do you look at an 84 year old lady and say sorry your SS money is gone this month you can't buy that.
So I know some will say - well you are going to take SS early - so "I" am also placing the burden on the system !  I have worked since I was 14, I didn't have the choice of not paying into Social Security.  My family is living off my husbands off/on job.  Sometimes he works 8 hours sometimes 40 in a week - it is random. So I withdraw money from my 401K to pay the monthly bills (electric, water, gas, gas for car and food).
Our savings plummeted with the economy!  We are thankful that we paid off our house and own it free/clear.
I guess I should start writing the Florida Representatives as they prepare to sheer off our debt. I'm thinking Dave Ramsey and Suze Orman should be appointed to that committee also. 
That's it for now