Paid $2.65, saved $16.89 or 87%!

So, it’s not all earthquake preparedness, but it’s FREE water and that’s a great start.

4 Arrowhead water 6 packs (reg. $2.79, sale $1.00; used (4) $1/1 coupons) FREE!

2 Friskies cat treats (reg. $1.99, sale B1G1free; used (2) $1/1 coupons) FREE!

Cantaloupe (reg$.99/lb, sale $.58/lb)

———

$2.65

I think I’ll see if I can get more water coupons before the sale ends on Tuesday!

1 Thermacare back 1ct ($3.99; used $3.99 store coupon from rain check)

1 Thermacare back 2 ct ($6.99; used $3/1 man coupon & $1/1 video values coupon)

1 Gain dish soap (reg. $1/49, sale $.88; used $1/1 coupon)

1 Clorox toilet bowl cleaner (reg. $3.19, sale $2.00; used $1/1 coupon)

2 Pine-sol (reg. $3.49, sale $2.00; used (2) $1/1 coupons)

1 Scotch clear packing tape ($4.99; used $1/1 coupon)

1 Tilex mildew remover (reg. 3.69, sale $2.00; used $1/1 coupon)

Also used $3/$15 survey reward coupon and $6 +UP rewards.

Got back $6 +UP rewards, and will submit for (2) $1 single check rebates for a net out of pocket of $.25!!

Spent $16.87 ; Saved $76.15, or 80% !

Walgreens: Spent $10.38, saved $41.68, got $8 Register Rewards for future purchase

Clearasil  Daily face wash(sale $2.99; $2/1 coupon)

Right Guard deodorant x 2(sale B1G1 $3.99; used 2 B1G1 coupons) = 2 FREE!

Irish Spring men’s deodorant x 2 (sale $3, buy2 get $4 Register Reward; used (2) $.50/1 coupons) = $.50 each

Blue Diamond Almonds (sale B1G1 $3.49; used (2) $1/1 coupons) = $1.49/2

Irish Spring men’s body wash x 2 (sale $3, buy2 get $4 Register Reward; used (2) $1/1 coupons) 2 FREE!

Jelly Beans x 2 ($.99; used 2/$1 in-ad coupon) = $.98/2

Hairbands (clearance $.32)

Good & Plenty (clearance $.37)

Albertsons: Spent $6.49, saved $24.09, got $1 Catalina to use on a future purchase

Emerald dry roasted peanuts x 2 ($3.59; used (2) $1/1 coupons + (2) doublers) = $1.59 ea

Keebler Jumbo Fudge Sticks (sale $1.99; used (2) $1/1 coupons = (2) doublers) 2 FREE!

Chef Boyardee Ravioli (sale $.88; used FREE coupon from company) = FREE!

Glade Air Freshener x 2 ($1.99, used (2) $1/1 coupons + (2) doublers) = 2 FREE! + $1 money maker (Catalina)

Frigo String Cheese (sale $4.99; used (2) $1/1 coupons + (2) doublers) = $2.99 ea

Odwalla bars x 2 (sale $.99; used (2) $.50/1 coupons + (2) doublers) = 2 FREE!

Ok, so technically I did turn this photo upside down. But I couldn’t resist! Her little eyes and nose hide so well in the little “O’s”!

Pulled this one out from my 2008 drafts. Bekah was 6. Ah, the days of playing with a cereal box.

Target, Rite Aid & Albertsons: $7.57 spent, saved $40.23!

Ok, yes, there is Kraft Mac N’ Cheese and frozen fries (sweet potato is a little healthier!), but look at all those great, name brand, and high cost items!

Here’s what I scored today:

Target: Spent $1.47

Shout travel wipes ($.97; $1/1 coupon)

Propel (Price cut on grape $.79;  (2) $1/2 coupon)

Rite Aid: Spent $1.66! Got $4 +UP rewards to use on my next trip.

Planters peanuts ($4.49; $1 store coupon)

Kashi Cereal x 3 ($3 each; $2 coupon)

Eucerin Body wash & travel size creme ($7.99; $2 store coupon & $1/1 coupon)

Cottonelle TP double roll 12 pack ($6.99; $1/1 store coupon & $.50 coupon)

Nivea lip care x4 ($1; $2/2 coupons) FREE!

Albertsons: Spent $4.44

Honey Bunches of Oats x 2 ($2.50; $1/1 coupon + doubler)

Kraft Mac N’ Cheese 5 pack ($4.79; $1/1 coupon + doubler)

Ore Ida Sweet Potato Fries x 2 ($3; $2/4 store coupon & $1/1 coupons + doublers) FREE!

Tomato paste ($.65 – sometimes there are NO coupons!)

And so goes this week’s ads. Looks like more Twice the Value coupons are coming on Sunday!

(Thanks to HappyMoneySaver.com & Hip2Save.com for all their brilliant match-ups that allow me to save soooo much!)

Bekah is dressed like Laura Ingalls as we head out to Krispy Kreme

We had already determined that Saturday (2/26) was going to be our trip to Krispy Kreme to redeem our Valentine ‘free doughnut’ coupons, and then it snowed – again. We bundled up, drove to North Seattle, fed our fat cells, and then headed out for a walk.

Fun family morning!

Snowy streets

All loaded up snug as bugs!

Yummm!

The boys

The girls (and the dog)

Feeling daring with her rubber boots on, Ashley descends into the partially frozen ditch.

Combining sales and coupons, I spent $6.74

4 Ortega chilis ($1.69; $1/2 coupon + doublers)

2 Simply Lemonade ($2.50; $1/1 coupons + doublers)

2 Silk soy milk ($3.99; $1/1 coupons + doublers)

4 Temptations Jell-O puddings ($2.50; $1/1 coupons + doublers)

I broke this into 2 transactions, and used the $3 Catalina from the Jell-O purchase on the second transaction to bring my total out of pocket to $6.74! (Saved $19.94)

From Rite Aid ($.81):

Thermacare Back wrap ($3.99; used $3.99 in-ad coupon) FREE!

Nivea lip care x 2 ($1; used $2/2 coupon) FREE!

Tiny Sweetheart boxed candies (not pictured) ($.25, clearance 90% off)

From Fred Meyer ($1.66)

Muir Glen tomato sauce x 2 ($1.79; $1/1 coupon x 2)

Muir Glen tomato paste x 2 ($1.29; $.75 coupon x 2)

Random $1 coupon

From Albertsons (1st transaction: $7.75)

Rice Krispies x 4 ($1.88;  $1/2 coupon x 4 + 4 doublers)

Raisin Bran ($1.88; $.70/1 coupon + doubler)

Simply Lemonade (raspberry!) x 2 ($2.50; $1/1 coupon x 2 + 2 doublers)

Bananas 3.48 lbs ($.79/lb – UGH!)

(I was disappointed with this transaction because I had expected the produce to be free based on the $1 fruit coupons on the Kelloggs boxes. Too many manufacturer coupons.)

From Albertsons (2nd transaction: $2.37)

Hefty 15 ct gallon freezer bags x 2 ($2; $1/1 coupon x 2 + 2 doublers) FREE!

Nutella Spread ($3.99; $1/1 coupon + doubler)

Zone Perfect bars x 5 ($1; $.55/1 coupon x 5 + 5 doublers) FREE!

Savings: $39.75 or 76%

After more than 15 years of spending all day every day at home caring for, educating, and leading my kiddos, today marked a considerable change. Today, all 3 of my kids went to school.

Jordan & Bekah ready to go climb on the bus together

Just one week ago Willie and I made the decision that it was time for Bekah to start at public school, and following a 5 day weekend, she started. She joins Jordan at Hazelwood where she’s in Mrs. Johnson’s 3rd grade class of 23 students. She was welcomed by teachers and classmates, and then the entire school. Jordan was previously scheduled to do morning announcements on the intercom and was also permitted to welcome new student Rebekah Bodger to Hazelwood. So cute.

The new student had just 2 questions: “What do I do if I have to go to the bathroom?” and “When’s lunch?”

After a little video taping (couldn’t resist!) in Bekah’s classroom and overseeing the transition, Bekah asked me ‘When are you going to go?’ I think “now” is the correct answer. I took the hint, and headed out the door.

And I didn’t even cry!

3 kids in school.

I waited all day for the phone’s caller i.d. to register “Edmonds School District”. It never happened!

Five and a half hours kid-free. Felt like Bekah was at a playdate or something. It doesn’t seem possible that it will occur day after day. No more arguments. No more battles of the will. No more trying to motivate Bekah to do her work with a good attitude. Strange.

And then the kicker.

Ashley came home at 2:12. She complained her belly hurt, took some medicine, did a couple other things, and as I re-opened the front door to take out some recycling she says “Oh, I was going to grab that!” What? The garbage? A bag of dirty cat litter? What?

She bolted past me and grabbed a pink vase from the porch table complete with red rose, greens, and a ribbon, and announced in a shocked sort of way, “I got asked out today!”

WHAT?!

I couldn’t do anything but laugh; and laugh; and laugh. Willie was upstairs and came down to see what the raucous was. And there was Ashley standing there holding her flower. She then pulled out the previously attached card which said, “Will you go out with me?” and was signed by a BOY! He’d drawn a little flower on it and everything. Apparently, he came over to her while she was eating lunch with her friends and placed the flower in front of her on the lunch table.

Unfortunately, it didn’t take long to burst my romantic bubble and discover that she wasn’t exactly excited about this boy. Bummer.

But still, sooooo romantic!

Ahhhh....

Not that she’d be allowed to date yet, anyway, but still…

Now she just has to deal with telling him ‘No thanks’. (I told her a note was fine and she could just blame it on us.)

Meanwhile, I am left to reel from these firsts: my youngest went to school and my oldest got asked out. All in the same day.

What a day.