Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom


We're talking about being proactive with a budget this week.  Here's a verse to help us know we're on the right track!  This woman is using her money wisely.
Proverbs 31:16  She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 


Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Tuesday's Tip - How to Get Out of Debt, Step 2

Tuesday's Tips Button

So now you've stopped going into debt.  What's the next step?  Make a plan.  Yes, it's the dreaded "B" word, budget.  Make sure that you make out your budget before the month begins.  Most people use a budget to track where their money went.  But, that's a report, not a budget.  A report tells you what has already happened, whereas a budget is projecting the future.  You need to estimate what you think your expenses and income will be for the coming month and directing the money where it should go.

By making a report and just tracking where the money went, you are being reactive instead of proactive.  Reactive is letting situations happen to you, while proactive is you taking control of a situation.  Being proactive with money is anticipating what expenses you know will occur, and ones which will likely occur, and planning for them.  It's making sure you have money for yearly expenses such as property taxes, insurances, even Christmas and birthday gifts.  When you're just tracking your money you don't think past the events that are happening right now.  Lo and behold Christmas comes and  it's an emergency because you weren't proactive in planning for it.  Since you are no longer going to use credit cards or finance those expenses you MUST be proactive.  Make sure you're putting money away for those long-term expenses.

Next week I will show you how to use some of the planning sheets that I created in Google Documents.  For now though, I have some homework for you.  I want to you to find out how much is spent on Homeowner's Insurance, Car Insurance, Property Taxes, Car Tags, and Christmas.  You will need this for next week when we make our new monthly budget.  You also need to have a list of all your debts and minimum payments.

If you have a blog and have some great tips please leave a link below. Make sure the link goes to the tip and not your homepage to help the readers find the tip you're sharing.

This post is linked to Works for Me Wednesday.


Monday, February 8, 2010

Great coupons!

 
There are some great coupons this month!  Some have reset again for me!!!


$1 off 2 Kraft Natural Cheese


$0.50 off Betty Crocker Frosting - if your store doubles this will be FREE or very close!!!


$2 off Aleve

$1 off Nature Valley Granola Clusters

$3 off Miralax  

$1 off Orbit gum

There are some great toy and game coupons.  Check them all out here!






Martins Supermarket Deals and Matchups for 2/8 - 2/14


Here are the best deals of the week:


5.0 Cu Ft Chest Freezer $99 with $100 additional food purchase
*Price without additional food $199



Farm Fresh Chicken Breast $1.59/lb family pack 
*This is a stock-up price!!!


Boneless, Center Cut Pork Loin $1.99/lb

Wahington State Pears Anjou or Bosc $0.99/lb

There are quite a few Spartan deals this week, I picked out the best.  Check your ad for others.

Spartan Cooking Oil $1.69


Spartan Vegetables 5/$2

Spartan Apple Juice $0.89



Spartan Flour $0.99 Limit 1 with card

Pringles 4/$5
$1/4 coupon ( 1/31 RP) 
$1 each after coupon

Carnation Evaporated Milk $0.89
$0.50/2 Printable Coupon
$0.50/2 coupon (1/24 SS)
Net Price - $0.74 each after coupon, when you buy 2

Betty Crocker Brownie Mix 3/$5
$0.75/2 Printable Coupon
$0.75/2 coupon (2/7 GM) 
Net Price - $1.30 each after coupon when you buy 2 
 

Nature Valley, Fiber One, or Chex Bars 5/$10
$0.50 Chex Bars coupon (2/7 GM) 
$0.70/2 Nature Valley coupon (2/7 GM)
$0.40 Nature Valley Printable Coupon
$0.40 Fiber One Printable Coupon
Net Price - $1.50 - $1.65 each after coupon

General Mills Cereal 5/$10 
$1/2 Printable Coupon
$0.75 Printable Coupon - certain Cheerios
$0.55 Printable Coupon - certain Cheerios
Net Price $1.25 - $1.50 each after coupon


Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks 5/$10
$0.50/2 Printable Coupon 
$0.50/2 coupon (1/3 GM)

Net Price - $1.75 each after coupon, when you buy 2
 
Progresso Soups 5/$4
$1.10/3 Printable Coupon 
$0.50/2 coupon (1/3 GM, 2/7 GM)
Net Price - $0.43 - 0.55 each after coupon

Yoplait Trix, Fiber One, Yo Plus, and GoGurt 2/$4 
$0.80/2 GoGurt Printable Coupon 
$1/2 GoGurt coupon ,$0.50 Fiber One Yogurt coupon, $1 YoPlus coupon(1/3 GM)
$1 YoPlus Coupon, $0.35 GoGurt coupon, or $0.75/2 GoGurt coupon (2/7 GM)
Net Price - $1 - 1.65 each after coupon

Prairie Farms Yogurt 6/$2 
Buy 2 get 1 Free Printable Coupon - must register
Buy 2 get 1 Free Printable Coupon (1/24 SS)
Net Price - $0.23 each after coupon, when you buy 3

Marie Callender 2/$5
$1 Pritnable Coupon
Net Price $1.50 each after coupon


Nestle Pure Life Water 2/$7
$1/2 Printable Coupon
Net Price - $3.00 each after coupon, when you buy 2

Tide 2x Detergent $5.79 Limit 2
Buy 1 Tide 75 oz or larger get 1 FREE Tide Stain Release (2/7 P&G)

Tide Stain Release $4.99
$1 coupon (2/7 P&G)
 

Menu Plan Monday 2/8

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting


Monday -  Cheeseburgers. homemade french fries, cut-up vegies

Tuesday - Pepperoni Pizza Chili with Italian Herb Bread

Wednesday - Chicken Quesadillas, beans and Spanish rice

Thursday - Lasagna with a Salad and Garlic Bread

Friday - leftovers
 
Saturday - Tater Tot Casserole with applesauce

Sunday - Cheese Stuffed Lasagna Rolls with Chicken, salad, breadsticks- we may go out instead, it's up in the air for now

At the bottom of my post I'm going to make 28 meal ideas and as I use them up I will cross them off.  Usually, I get my meal ideas from a list like this.  It lasts me more like 5-6 weeks because there are nights of leftovers and times when we go to friends or family for supper or occasionally, out to eat.

Need more meal ideas?  Check them out at Organizing Junkie and link up your blog there if you want to share yours!



Broccoli Soup and Dinner Rolls
Pepperoni Pizza Chili with Italian Herb Bread
Cheddar Chowder with Biscuits
Tomato Soup and Ham Sandwiches
Lasagna with a Salad and Garlic Bread
Homemade Pizza with Chopped Vegies
Homemade Pizza with Chopped Vegies(usually 2x month, not a misprint)
Beef and Mozzarella Bake(from freezer), Green Beans, Garlic Bread
Sweet n Sour Meatballs with rice
Salisbury Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Peas, Homemade Bread
Baked Pork Chops, baked potatoes, Broccoli
Chicken Fajitas, refried beans, Mexican Rice
Baked Potatoes with Toppings
Chimichangas, refried beans, and Mexican Rice
Poppy Seed Chicken(make 4, 3 for freezer) and Broccoli & Cheese
Tater Tot Casserole with applesauce
Roast Beef, mashed potatoes & gravy, peas
Chicken & Cheese Quesadillas, refried beans, & Mexican rice
BBQ Pork Roast Sandwiches, Homemade French Fries, Cut-up Vegies
Pork Chop bake with homemade bread (FMC 124)
Sausage Casserole with Biscuits (FMC 126)
Chicken Roll-ups and Vegies
Roman Supper
Bisquick Chicken, cubed potatoes, green beans, with cream cheese sauce
Pork Chow Mein with Rice (ToH 123)
Cheese Stuffed Lasagna Rolls with Chicken, salad, breadsticks
Pizza Subs with cut-up vegies
Cheeseburgers. homemade french fries, cut-up vegies
Wings with Blue-Cheese Dip, salad


Sunday, February 7, 2010

Meijer Deals and Matchups 2/7 - 2/13

Meijer
Here are the best deals for the week:


Red and Green Grapes $0.99/lb.


Milk 2/$4


Kraft String Cheese 2/$6
$1/2 Printable Coupon
Net Price - $2.50 each after coupon

Dannon Light N' Fit $0.40
$0.75/6 Printable Coupon
Net Price - $0.28 each after coupon


Freshlike Vegetables $1.29
$1/3 Printable Coupon
Net Price - $0.97 each after coupon

Steamfresh Frozen Vegetables $1.25
$0.35 coupon (1/10 SS)
$1/2 Printable Coupon
Net Price $0.55 - 0.75 each after coupon


Kraft Grated or Shredded Parmesan Cheese $2.99
$1 Printable Coupon
Net Price $1.99 each after coupon


Pringles 3/$4
$1/4 coupon ( 1/31 RP)
Net Price $1.09 after coupon


Hellman's Mayo $2.49
$2/2 In-Ad coupon
$0.50 coupon (1/31 RP)
Net Price - $0.49 each after coupons!






Walgreens Deals and Matchups 2/7 - 2/13

 Walgreens

Here are the best deals for the week:


Super PoliGrip Buy 1 at $2, get $2 RR
Net Price - FREE after RR

Kotex  Buy 2/$6, get $3 ECBs
$2/2 Printable Coupon
Net Price - $0.50 each after coupon & RR

MiraLax Buy 1 at $18.99, get $5 RR
$3 Printable Coupon
Net Price - $10.99 after coupon and RR

CryoStat Hemorrhoid Relief Buy 1 at $5.99, get $4 RR
Net Price - $1.99 after RR

Dove Men's Body Wash  Buy 1 at $5.99, get $5.99
$1.25 coupon (1/31 RP)
Net Price - $1.25 Moneymaker after coupon & RR

Listerine $1.99
$1 Printable Coupon - must register
Net Price - $0.99 after coupon

Lindsay Olives $0.99 each
$1/2 Printable Coupon - must register
Net Price - $0.49 each after coupon

Wet Ones Buy 2/$4, get $1 RR
$0.75 Printable Coupon - must register
Net Price - $0.75 each after coupon & RR

TheraFlu or Triaminic Products Buy 2/$10, get $5 RR
$2 Printable TheraFlu Coupon
$1.50 Printable Triaminic Coupon
Net Price - $0.50 - $1 each after coupon & RR

Rembrandt Whitening Strips $9.99
$5 Printable Coupon - must register first
Net Price - $4.99

Gillette Fusion Buy 1 at $8.99, get $4 RR
$4 coupon (2/7 P&G)
Net Price - $0.99 each after coupon & RR
 

Joy In-Ad coupon $0.99
$0.30 coupon (2/7 P&G)
Net Price $0.69 each after coupon

Nature's Bounty B1G1
$1 Printable Coupon

Buy $20 or more, get $10 RR Select Vicks Products(NyQuil, DayQuil, VapoRub) $4.49
$1.50 coupon (2/7 P&G)
$2 NyQuil/DayQuil Coupon or $1 other Vicks Product coupon(1/17 P&G)
Net Price - $0.49 each after you buy 5 and use 5 $2 coupons and get RR



CVS Deals and Matchups 2/7 - 2/13

  CVS/pharmacy®


Here are the best deals I see for the week:


Buy 1 Photo Valentine Card at $1, get $1 ECB
Net Price - FREE after ECB!!!

Ritz or Wheat Thins Buy 5/$10, get $3 ECBs
$1 coupon (1/24 SS)
Net Price - $0.40 each after 5 coupons & ECBs

Listerine Buy 1 at $2.99, get $1 ECB
$1 Coupon - must register
Net Price - $0.99 after coupon & ECB

Gillette Fusion Razor Buy 1 at $8.99, get $4 ECBs
$4 coupon (2/7 P&G)
Net Price - $0.99 after coupon & ECBs


Osteo BiFlex B1G1
$5 Printable Coupon

Excedrin Spend $15, get $7 ECBs
$1 Printable Coupon