Another Monday

Most people may dread Mondays for the traffic, the new work week, or just waking up early.....Me? I dread cleaning the floors. Monday is the day I scrub the floors, and I mean scrub. I am on my hands and knees trying to make my stupid apartment cheap cheap floors look nice. This is not an easy task. I usually finish the kitchen floor while my little man is playing in the morning, and have to wait to do the bathroom when he is taking a nap. It is NOT possible to clean a bathroom with a 19 month old running through every two seconds climbing on your back as you try and keep his little hands away from the cleaners. Today I started with the kitchen floor, put together some puzzles with little man, vacuumed, and did the dishes. After playing with some trucks it was time to get organized for the grocery store. I am doing my best to save as much money as possible with my coupons so I take my time to plan my trips. If I stick to what is on my list I end up saving a lot, but if I pick up my impulse items we're in trouble. I get together a LONG list and a BIG stack of coupons and finally get my son out the door. We go to the King Soopers that is a little further away simply because they have the carts with the TVs in them, these big trips would not be possible without this amazing invention. I start up the Mickey Mouse Club and get going on my list. 60 items later I am ready for the checkout. I carefully select the nicest looking gal and hope for the best. She was very nice and didn't mind scanning all my coupons. I glanced up once while she was scanning only long enough to see my total was over 110 dollars.....uh oh. But after my Sooper Card and coupons my new total was 61.98. I was very happy. I had just saved 49% off my order. I had bought enough food for 5 meals at home, and plenty of snacks. {and way too much cereal} I just love thinking that before coupons I would spend over 100 every week and never get anything extra, and now I spend less and get MORE. So fun to see my little stockpile grow. My great finds lately have been at rite aid, I have been getting free toothbrushes, free toothpaste, free razors, and free air fresheners. These items last a long time and I don't feel crazy having a lot of them because I am sure I will use them. I am happy to have my coupons skills for the next 6 months, why? Because for the next 6 months we are going to try and buy ONLY what we truly need. This means no little extras, no ordering pizza, and no going to get ice cream :( So I feel like I will still be having my fun by getting my deals and freebies every week. We need to save what we can for our move {since I insist we will be hiring movers} and for some new furniture { our couch is looking very sad, it will soon be the "basement" couch} As far as me finding another job, well... I have been applying like crazy the past week, but so far .... NOTHING. But, all I can do is try. I know not everyone is open to a nanny who brings her own Tasmanian devil to work:) Wish me luck on saving and making money....we'll see how it goes.

Kelly Callahan