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Random Dozen – Irish Style

Posted on March 16, 2010 by auburnchick

It’s time for Random Dozen!!  If interested, play along.  Then, hop on over to Linda’s blog to get linked in!

1. On a scale of 1-10, how superstitious are you, honestly?

I would give it a 2.  I grew up with a mom who had various little things she did…eating ham, black-eyed peas, and coconut cake on New Year’s (each thing “brings” you something), not stepping on cracks in the sidewalk, throwing salt over the shoulder…you know.

But for me…well, I just think these things go counter to what I believe as a Christian.  So, whenever I find myself giving in to one, I remind myself that I’m God’s child, and nothing I can do will change His plan for my life.  Make sense?

2. Julius Caesar is quoted as saying, “I came, I saw, I conquered.” Which circumstance or experience of yours does this saying best describe?

Returning to college as an adult.  It was an enlightening experience, as I took classes about military history and China.  At times, it was like fighting in the trenches…all those stupid papers in my final Social Sciences class, and those annoying discussions with political science classmates….the stresses of midterms and finals and ridiculous amounts of information that had no practical use for my life.

Oh yeah…how good it felt to walk the Victory Walk across that stage two years ago!

3. If I peeked in on your day like a mischievous little leprechaun, at what time would I most likely find you blogging?

Evening.  It’s the only time it gets quiet, and I can think.  Occasionally, I’ll blog in the wee hours of the morning, because I’ve become a night owl.  When I win the lottery and don’t have to work, you can expect my posts to show up every day around 2am.  heehee

4. Re springing forward for Daylight Saving Time, is there anything you’ve ever been really early or really late for?

You know…I thought long and hard about this question, and I really drew a blank!  The Mr. could probably cite lots of things I’ve been late for over the years, but I can’t remember anything.  The only thing I do remember is getting Rooster to a soccer game right at game time, which is an hour later than when he was supposed to be there (for warm-ups).  I messed up on the directions to the field and wound up 45 minutes away.  A knowledgeable female trucker told me about a shortcut that shaved 20 minutes off the drive.  An angel in disguise…

5. What are you most looking forward to concerning Spring?

Hanging clothes to dry on the line and shaving $$ from my electric bill.

6. Shamrocks are the national flower of Ireland and are picked on St. Patrick’s Day and worn on the lapel or shoulder. Do you wear green on St. Patty’s Day?

Sometimes.  I tend to not think about this day too much, but because one of the kids’ high school colors is green, I’ve probably had it on the last couple of days.

7. One of Caesar’s assassins, Casca, said, “But, for my own part, it was Greek to me,” which of course means he didn’t understand something. Probably his own lines in the play. Anyway, what is something that is “Greek to you,” something incomprehensible or indecipherable?

Algebra.  Why, folks, do so-called “experts” believe it’s okay to combine letters and numbers…even add them together?!  Blows my mind away.  My philosophy is let the unknown remain unknown.  God will reveal all one day.

8. Is March behaving more like a lion or a lamb where you live?

Lamb.  It’s taking its own sweet time getting here.

9. “An extra yawn one morning in the springtime, an extra snooze one night in the autumn is all that we ask in return for dazzling gifts. We borrow an hour one night in April; we pay it back with golden interest five months later.” -Winston Churchill. If you had one extra hour per day every day, what would you do with it?

If we could tack that hour on any place in the day we’d like, then I’d put it in around 6am so that I could sleep an extra hour.

10. Legend says that every Leprechaun has a pot of gold hidden deep in the Irish countryside. Aside from real gold or money, what material item would be in your dream pot of gold?

Amaretto Sour.  Just kidding.  Sort of.  How about baby alpaca yarn.  If you’ve never felt the stuff, go find a REAL yarn store and grab a handful.  It will go home with you, yarny or not.

11. “The best things are nearest: breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of God just before you.” Robert Louis Stevenson. Look around you right now and tell us about something essential or beautiful very near you that you take for granted every day.

My Bible.  I am privileged to live in a country where I can read it any place I want, and yet I don’t do so like I should.  I take it for granted that it’s not against the law to even own one!  Shame on me!

12. Just for a bit o’ fun, click here (www.blogthings.com/irishnamegenerator/) and then report your Irish name.

Lorna Ahearne.  Um, okay. I like Lorna’s Laces, a brand of yarn, so the name is not all that bad.  The last name?  Hmmm…

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: , | 12 Comments »

Seven Cents for Spaghetti Sauce!

Posted on August 20, 2009 by auburnchick

Guess what today was?

SHOPPING DAY!!

My Publix starts new sales every Wednesday.  It usually takes me a couple of days to research how I want to use my coupons to get the most for my money.

I think I did a good job today.

Take a look at the following:

See those two black Publix bags?  They’re reusable, and I got them FREE today!  For every two boxes of General Mills cereal I bought, I got a free bag.  There were peelies on the cereal boxes, and I had already planned to buy the cereal because it was B1G1, and I had big coupons.

As I watched the gal bag my groceries, I was astounded at the amount each bag held…

The bags are a lot wider and deeper than they look hanging up in the store!  They hold way more than the plastic bags you typically carry your stuff in.  Plus, they are a lot more durable.  I have two more coupons for them…good until 2010.  I can’t wait to get more!

Ok, so…inquiring minds want to know…what was in the bags, and how much did I save?

A few highlights:

Uncle Ben’s Rice – B1G1 @ $1.49
Used:  $1 mfg off of each box
Spent:  NOTHING!  This was a MONEYMAKER of $.51

Ragu – on sale for $1.29
Used:  $.55 mfg (one per jar) AND a $2 off of 3 jar competitor store coupon
Spent:  $.22 for all three — $.07 per jar of sauce!!!!!!

Mott’s Apple Sauce – 3/$5 (I only bought one at $1.67)
Used:  $1 mfg AND $1 competitor
Spent:  NOTHING!  This was a MONEYMAKER of $.34!!!!

Edwards Pie Slices – B1G1 @ $2.85
Used:  $1 competitor (one per box)
Spent:  $.75 for both – that’s $.37 each!!!!!

Grand Total Spent – $25.13

Total Saved – $92.18

Percent Saved – 73%

You guys, I know it looks like a lot of hard work, but it is really worth the effort!

Here’s how I do it each week.

I read both Southern Savers and Frugal Coupon Living updates.  I mainly shop at Publix, so I especially focus on its store list each week.  I check A Full Cup for coupons.  It’s a GREAT resource!

I copy the list from either Frugal Coupon Living or Southern Savers (they do different stores…I mostly use Publix) into a Word document.

Then, I go through each item and ask myself the following questions:

  • Will I use this or is it something I can donate?
  • Do I have the coupon(s) for it?
  • How much will it cost in the end?

I run numbers.  After figuring in the final price that I will pay (after coupons), I determine the percentage I’m going to save.  If it’s 60% or over, and I’ve answered yes to the above questions, then I will buy it, and it stays on the list.

If I don’t have coupons or know I won’t use something (baby food, vitamins, etc.), I delete that item from the list and move on.

Southern Savers and Frugal Coupon Living provide you with links to sites where you can print specific coupons.  It’s right there for you, so it’s easy!  Sometimes, you won’t be able to print a coupon.  That might be because the specified number of printings has already been reached.

Because I have my new coupon filing system in place, I have a much easier time locating coupons.

I got my list together last night while watching television.  On the list, I wrote down the coupons I had and the value of each.  It’s useful when going back and looking over your receipt.  Cashiers make mistakes.  Especially when you hand them 36 coupons like I did today.

I waited until this morning to head to the store.  A rested brain was needed.  I popped on my headphones and listened to music while I did my thing.

When I shop, I’ll note the price of each item.  My store’s prices tend to run higher than what is listed online.  I want to make sure each item rings up properly.  I’ve caught myself scanning a receipt, noting a huge price difference and realizing that I bought the wrong size of something.

Checking out is the most fun part.  I always apologize to the person standing behind them and warn them that they might have to wait awhile.  Most people are polite.

Then I keep an eagle eye on the register’s screen…especially when the coupons are getting scanned.  I ask the cashier if she’d like competitor coupons separate from the others because they have to manually enter them.  My favorite cashier is awesome and takes them in whatever order I give them to her.  I also try to keep coupons for free items separate.  Those have to be entered manually as well.

And folks, that’s all there is to it.

Yeah, it does sound like a lot of work now that I read back through the above.  But, the best I can tell, I don’t have a money tree growing in my back yard, so I’ve got to save where I can.

Shopping has almost become like a game for me.  I follow the rules but take advantage of the perks that the manufactures offer (coupons, rebates, etc.) for buying their products.  It’s a win-win situation for everyone.

Oh, and before I forget, here are two coupon links.

Pat (thank you!) sent me this one for $.75 off of one gallon or two half-gallons of Borden milk.  Click on Coupons (middle left of the page).

Here’s one where you can sign up for a free sample of Yoplait Whips.  I accidentally found it when I was googling for a rebate form for yogurt I bought last week.

Filed under: Saving Money | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

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