Cow Apprectiation Day 2012!!!(Free Chicken)

This our 3rd time dressing like a cow for Chick Fil A's Cow appreciation day (2009, 2010, we skipped 2011 because we were out of town)!!! I know it may seem crazy, but free food, yes!!! When you have a larger family and try to live more frugal, you don't get to eat out often, so this was a great opportunity to enjoy our selves and not feel guilty about how many groceries/meals we could have spent that money on. Here are pictures from our day.

Baby Leah:)

Lydia:)

my whole "herd" including my cousin Austin:)

Lydia loved the cow!!

Fun times!!

We ended the day with free Starbucks:)

COW APPRECIATION DAY 2010!!!!!!!!!!

We went to chick-fil-a today for their annual Cow Appreciation Day!!! This is our second year going, check out last year's post here. My husband even went. We got $29.79 worth of food for free:) Here are the pictures:

My garden!!!

(my first tomato)



My garden is not very big, but it is my first year. Even so, I am still excited about it. I have a raised garden because our yard is so flat, it floods. I mostly have tomatoes and cucumbers, but also some lettuce and peppers too. Do any of you have any good garden tips for me???

Kroger Trip 4/19 I saved 55% on groceries!!!

I got several things free, but overall I saved 55%. My total before store discounts and coupons was $180.30. I had $48.47 in coupons plus an extra $8.30, some of them doubled. Plus I saved $41.83 with my Kroger Plus card and I got a $2 coupon for my next trip. I spent $77.39!!!

Kroger trip 4/13/2010 saved 89%.

2-2liter 7ups $1 each used 2 $1/1=FREE
2-sundown folic acid on sale for $1.43 each used 1 $3/2=FREE(plus .14 overage)
2 sundown vitamin d on sale for $1.78 each used 1 $3/2=.28 each
4 nature bounty magnesium vitamins on sale for $1.78 used 4 $1/1 = FREE(plus .88 overage)
2 McCormick seasonings on sale for $1 each used 2 $1/1 coupons= FREE
4 scotch brite sponges on sale for $1 each used 4 41/1 coupons=FREE
1 Domino sugar $1.85 used .50/1 doubled to $1/1= .85
2 honest teas at $1.69 each used b1g1 free=.85 each
2 yo-plait greek yogurts at $1.19 each used 2 .30/1 doubled to .60/1=.59 each

Total before store sales and coupons was $53.69
After I used my Kroger plus card the total was $33.83(all that is used towards gas points)
I used $24.79 in coupons and they doubled 3 of them for an extra $1.10 off)
My grand total was $6.09($2.47 was taxes)
A total savings of $47.60(89%)

Dress like a cow day at chick fil a!!!!!!

We had a great time at chickfila today. It was totally free because we dressed like a cow. What a great way to have a "Frugal Friday".

More on sewing!!

Last night Hannah and I went to wal-mart and got some more sewing supplies. I found this Dora fabric and decided to get a yard of it, a yard of dinosaur fabric, and some other that was on sale. Haley loves Dora and her favorite color is purple, so I decide to sew her up another pillowcase dress. This one is much better, but I still have a lot of work to do. I think for Bryson I am going to try to make him some pajama pants. I have taught Hannah as much as I have learned so far, and she is doing wonderful. It is actually kind of fun learning together. Hannah helped me with this dress and she also took the pictures of Haley modeling the dress.

Super Savings Saturday

I have joined Money Saving Mom aka Crystal this week for Super Saving Saturday. This week I went to Kroger and this is what I got:
2 32 oz powerades @$1.00 each used 2 $1.00 of coupons FREE
1 Suave body wash @$1.69 used $.50 coupon that doubles to $1.00 Final price $.69
6 Herbal Essence Shampoo and Conditioner on sale 2/$5 used 3 $3/2 got $6.00 off at register for Proctor and Gamble deal final price: FREE
6 Met RX Big 100 Individual Nutrition Bars on sale for 6/$10 used 3 $2/2 Final price: .66 each(total $3.96)
2 French's Classic Yellow on sale $.99 each used 2 $.50 coupons that doubles to $1.00 Final cost: FREE
2 Turkey Hill teas on sale $1.00 each had 2 $1.00 coupons Final cost: FREE
I also had 1 $3 and 1 $1 off your next shopping order coupon

TOTAL BEFORE COUPONS: $32.67
Total AFTER COUPONS W/TAX: $.72

I LOVE COUPONS

FRUGAL FRIDAY

I have joined Crystal again for Frugal Friday. The best way I have saved money is buy selling one of our cars. I know what some of you may be thinking but just bare with me. When my husband got his promotion he was supposed to get a company car, well that has been 4 months and he still has not got a car. But before we knew that, we already sold his car. Sometimes it is hard not having a car to be free to go when and where I want but it has saved us so much money. With gas prices as high as they are, I just need to stay home. But not just the gas. Think about it, usually for just a standard oil change it is around $20. Minimum a year you will need is 4 once every 3 months but usually more(who doesn't use the miles up before the time). So that is around $80 a year. Next there is insurance, for us it is about $400 a year full coverage. Next is the tag, well say $80(more or less depending on the age and kind of vehicle). Then there is maintenance, that can average so I will just say $250 a year. Add all that up and that is $800 a year not to mention a car payment if you have that debt. So that is and extra $65 a month that could be put into savings. Now of course once my husband does get his company car we are not going to sell our van, but the good news is I have got accustomed to staying home, so hopefully I will not feel the need to go out as much. I know some families, for medical reasons or any other reason, has to have a second car, but I believe most families could make it on just one vehicle. Besides even if I wanted to get rid of my van, we couldn't because I am not allowed to drive his company car. I hope everyone has a blessed weekend.

FRUGAL FRIDAY~EBAY

My frugal tip for today is ebay. In an earlier post I mentioned I bought a coach purse at a thrift store for $3.99, I sold it for $60. Now that is a nice profit. This week I also have all my homeschool items selling and the children's fall/winter clothes from last year that don't fit. So my tip this week is go through your stuff and list it on ebay to make some extra money. With gas prices as high as they are extra money is a must. For more great tips, visit Biblical Womanhood.

FRUGAL FRIDAY

I went to the Goodwill yesterday because with my husband's job promotion, he went from wearing uniforms to having to dress up everyday, so he was in desperate need of some shirts. I got him 6 button up name brand shirts, me a dress, Haley some shoes, 4 bread pans, and a picture for the wall for $46. Then we stopped at another thrift store and I got me a skirt and I hit the gold mine. I found a authentic Coach purse for $3.99. It looked practically new. It is too small for me to carry so I am going to put it on Ebay, It retails for over $200. So hopefully I will make a nice profit. For more Frugal Friday tips visit Biblical Womanhood.

SUPER SAVINGS SATURDAY AND PICTURES OF THE KIDS AT THE PARK.

I have not been to CVS in a while so this week my deals were okay.
First transaction
-4 packs of coke for $11.00
-Shrek Third dvd $9.99
-used a 4/20 coupon
-spent $18.85
-got back $10.00 ecb from cokes

Second transaction
-dove 6 pack soap 6.99
-dove mousse 4.29
-Fusion Razor 9.99
-used 2 1/1 dove coupons
-used 4/20 coupon
-used 10.00 ecb
-spent 7.76 out of pocket
-got back $4 ecb from razor and $3ecb from dove

Third transaction
-4 boxes of cheerios $3.33 each
-2 boxes of cheerios cereal bars 3.33 each
-used 4/20 coupon
-used 2 1/2 coupon for cereal
-used $7 ecb
-spent $1.44 out of pocket
-got $10 ecb back for next time

For more Super Saving Saturday be sure to visit money saving mom.

My husband took the kids to the park today as I went through thing for our yard sale Here are just a few of the 101 photos he took.

FRUGAL FRIDAY

TODAY FOR FRUGAL FRIDAY, I AM GOING TO GIVE SOME IDEAS FOR GARAGE SALES. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS HAVING A HUGE GARAGE SALE SATURDAY. HANNAH AND I HAVE BEEN COMING UP WITH IDEAS TO MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL. FIRST OFF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS ABOUT 150 HOUSES, AND WE LIVE ABOUT HALF WAY UP THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SO WE THOUGHT IF WE SOLD COLD BOTTLE WATERS AND COLD COKES THAT WE COULD MAKE A LOT. WE ONLY BOUGHT SPRING WATER AND COCA-COLAS, SO IF THEY DON'T SALE WE WOULD STILL DRINK THEM. WE BOUGHT TWO CASES OF 24 PACK WATERS FOR $3.75, AND PLAN TO SELL THEM FOR $1 EACH. IF WE SOLD ALL 48 THAT WOULD BE A PROFIT OF $40.75. WE BOUGHT ONE 24 PACK OF COKES AT WAL-MART FOR $5.98 AND I AM GOING TOMORROW TO GET 48 MORE AT CVS FOR $11 PLUS I WILL GET $3 BACK IN ECBS. IF I SALE ALL 72 AT .75 THAT WILL BE A PROFIT OF $37. WE ALSO HAVE A BLOW UP JUMPING THING AND HANNAH THOUGHT OF THE IDEA OF LETTING KIDS JUMP ON IT FOR $1. SHE THOUGHT THAT WOULD DRAW ATTENTION AND PLUS SHE WOULD MEET NEW FRIENDS. I HAVE A TON OF MAKE-UP AND STOCK PILE FROM MY CVS TRIPS. I ALSO HAVE A TON OF CLOTHES AND ITEMS AROUND THE HOUSE. SO I AM HOPING TO MAKE AT LEAST $150.00. WHAT EVER I MAKE IS GOING INTO SAVINGS. FOR MORE FRUGAL FRIDAY TIPS VISIT CRYSTAL.

Frugal Friday~ Line drying clothes and Ebay

I always line dry all of our shirts and good clothes. First of all it saves on your power bill, but it also keeps your clothes looking newer and helps with shrinkage. I have a bar to hang them on in our laundry room, so even if you can't hang them outside, you could hang them up in your laundry room. My next tip is Ebay. I love to sell on ebay. If I am at a yard sale or thrift store I always look around to see if there is anything that I could make a profit off of it on ebay. For example one time I was at the salvation army and there was this cute Christmas outfit from a highend boutique. The outfit cost me $2.00 but it sold for $47.00. You must look over the items really well and make sure there are no stains or rips. For more tips make sure you visit Crystal's blog.