When Life Gives You Lemons...

Last month my boss sat me down and broke the news to me. The company was going to be going out of business. While this wasn't a total shock, it was one of those things you turn a blind eye towards and hope that somehow things just turn around.

Even so, it still left my world turned upside down.

Today my kids went back to school. As they start 4th and 2nd grade, I am starting unemployment. I put the kids on the bus, and came back into the house and cried. Not because my babies are growing up (well, maybe a little....), but because I had no job to go to for the first time in nearly 13 years.

And I'm unemployed in the worst economy in many, many, many years. My outlook is bleak. I'm holding onto shreds of hope. My friends are positive and optimistic. The whole "when one door clothes, another opens" bit.

While I appreciate their words (hell, I need that positive reinforcement when my mind is nothing but darkness), it's also hard to just put the worry out of your mind.

So, in the meantime, while I look for a job and bring in my small unemployment wages, I'll also continue doing what I have been for months. Earning $5 Amazon gift cards thru Swagbucks, earning $10 Amazon gift cards from a focus/research group I belong to, earn more $ from Crowdtap, earning $3 per survey thru PineCone Research (I've already done & been paid for 2 in just a couple weeks), and by couponing.

I've posted before about my couponing efforts and I'm going to try to start a bit more.

We'll start with today's trip to Dominick's. I normally don't shop here because it's too expensive regularly, but if you have their value card, and if you sign up for their "Just for U" specials, you can score some really fantastic deals.

Today I managed to get the following haul:


4 boxes of Cheerios @ .49 cents each = $1.96
4 boxes of Lucky Charms/Golden Grahams bars @ .89 cents each = $3.56
4 boxes of Betty Crocker fruit snacks @ .69 cents each = $2.76
2 boxes of Cheez-It crackers @ $1.49 each = $2.98
2 jars Ragu sauce @ .49 cents each = $.98
2 cans Friskies cat food (B1G1F) = $.65
1 box Teddy Grahams = $1.19
1 package of napkins = $0.00 (freebie with my "Just for U" savings)

TOTAL OUT OF POCKET W/TAX = $14.66

That's a savings of almost 79%!!!!

So, when life gives you lemons....find a way to make lemonade!

School Supply Shopping

School supply shopping has officially begun.

This is the first year I've had to actually buy pens, because apparently, 4th grade is serious business.

There's a great deal to be had at Target right now.



Papermate pens are $1.02 for a package

And, you can score a $1.00 off coupon here

Making these pens nearly FREE! Just 2-cents per package. :) Now that's a deal!

Couponing

I have become slightly addicted to couponing.

Just in the last couple weeks, I've managed to get several fantastic deals.

First, I got 3 containers of Glade Tough Odor Solutions carpet deodorizer -- regular price $1.99 each at Target, used {$1.00 off 1} and {$2.00 off 2} manufacturer coupons, stacked with 3 - {$1.00 off 1} Target store coupons == FREE!

Then, this weekend, I got 5 Tic Tacs -- currently on sale at my local grocery store (Woodman's) for 79-cents, used 5 - {.75cents off 1} manufacturer coupons == a total of .20cents!

Also, grabbed 6 Mentos Gum containers -- currently on sale at my local grocery store (Woodman's) for 99-cents, used 6 - {$1.00 off 1} manufacturer coupons == FREE!

But the best deal is probably the 15 Nivea lip care items -- on sale at Walgreens for $1.00, used 5 - {$1.00 off 1} and 5 - {$2.00 off 2} manufacturer coupons == FREE! (and these had a retail value of over $50!!!)

Fabulous!!!