Saving money!

Since I've been a SAHM I'm really into saving money anyway I can.

Here are some of my tips!

- I follow various money saving blogs.

http://hip2save.blogspot.com/

http://www.stretchingabuckblog.com/

I also have a few local ones I follow that tell me about deals at my grocery store.

- I save my pampers points. ( had a post about it earlier)

Inside the bag is a sticker with a code- enter the codes and you can get DC toys

-I use Swagbucks to search online- super easy and uses google!

http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/TheSkimmy

- I buy 3 newspapers most weeks

Yup -3- 1 for each person in my family. We will go through saran wrap that much faster because there are 3 of us so I will need to buy it 3 times as much.

- I stock up on items

At any given time I have 2 months worth of diapers. I figure out where the cheapest diapers are when I have good coupons and I stockup. That way I never run out last minute and pay full price. (BTW- Similac is really cheap at Target this week)

-I meal plan (nope I haven't done it yet this week!! oops!)

- I share coupons with friends

My gf has a dog and I have a cat- makes sense- she gets the dog coupons and I get her cat ones!

-I buy the smallest size available

Yup--- I don't go to Costco (unless I want roses!!) With coupons and sales I actually spend less than buying in bulk. I can normally get things free buy getting the trial size!

My dad... cont.

Hi,
Well......hum.....I think my Spell Checker's on the fritz, or the damned thing would have told me I misspelled Charleigh's name. Just can't trust these newfangled gadgets. Love, Dad

LOL this was awesome to read first thing in the morning!!! A few have asked me to have him as a guest writer. We will see... he might be too busy??? I mean come on he does have a golf game to keep at below average!! :-)

My dad...

I got this email from him. Interesting info and I crack up at how he spelled Charlie 2 different ways throughout the email. We will forgive him... he's retired.


Kim,
Your blog is really cool. Nice job with the writing---your personality comes thru in a really special way.

Some things of note:
-I, too, had asthma as a kid---doctored for it from about Charley's age 'till I was about 17.
-Charlie's Great Grandpa Miesner had asthma and, later, emphysema which hastened his death. Developed asthma while in basic training during WWII
-At about age 3 your life's goal was to be a maid. No kidding. You REALLY wanted to be a maid.
-If you'll recall, one of your favorite jobs while in college was cleaning toilets. Remember yur favorite toilet bowl brushes?

Sooooo, Charlie comes by all this stuff legitimately. ............a little biology, a little role modeling, and a lot of Charley learning to be the Charley he wants to be some day. How great for you and Dan to be able to watch him unfold a bit each day! Love to the 3 of ya Dad

Poor little monkey

Charlie Monkey is sick with the croup. While this might just be something annoying for any other kid... it's a big deal when it comes to Charlie. The doctors have almost given in to the idea that he has asthma. We knew from day 1 that he would most likely have it. Dan had it growing up as a kid and I get bronchial asthma as an adult. He had 2 strikes against him right there. For his first bday Charlie has bronchitis and was on a nebulizer. After going to the doctor yesterday we went back to Wright & Fillipis and bought our very own nebulizers. Thankfully we have been able to control his attacks right now with drugs and haven't had to use it but it's nice to have. Nothing is scarier than seeing the look on your childs face when he can't catch his breath and having an attack. Poor little monkey. But... it's good that the doctors are being proactive and realize this is serious. A friends baby has croup right now and they didn't do anything for her. I'm happy to give my child medicine. It helps and will hopefully knock that cough out of his system faster than without.

So we are just having a snuggle day at home today! I showered and put my pj's right back on :-) Charlie is still in his and walking around with a play phone up to his ear and chit chatting to whoever he "called." (Probably daddy because he's at work)

Here is a new picture of Charlie from 2 nights ago. He is my little monster :-)


And here is a sneak peak of Charlie in his Halloween Costume!!! A smiley vampire!

Charlie's Future

Every mom wonders what their kid will be when they grow up... a doctor, lawyer, business CEO. I don't wonder- I know. Charlie is going to be a janitor. He LOVES to sweep, vacuum, pick up lint from the carpet, and loves to empty trash cans. (Especially the one in his room- then he just throws the dirty diapers at his mom!) Today we had the carpet in the Florida Room cleaned. He was in awe of these guys working! He couldn't keep his eyes off of them and had a big smile on his face the whole time. One good thing about his obsession is that if it's ever a rainy day and I need to keep him busy- we just start cleaning!!! I just hope that when he grows up he is the owner of the janitor service and not just a minimum wage worker!! I'm so proud!