Donors Choose

I know everyone has lots of money just laying around, and we are all sighing to ourselves, "What, oh, what should I do with all this money?" Well fret no more, I have created a project for my school library on http://www.donorschoose.org/. Just go to this link: http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/search.html?keywords=Bio-graphic&x=0&y=0 and donate any amount of that money you wish to purchase graphic novels and biographies for my students.

The project will be open until December 26, 2010. Thank you, thank you, thank you in advance if you decide to give.

Until next time...

XOXOXOXO

Last week's shopping extravaganza!

Don't be surprised if my blogging becomes more sporadic. School is back in session, and boy have I been tired at night!! :)

Last Sunday, I went to Walgreen's and CVS and did really well. Wednesday I went to Winn-Dixie and didn't do so hot. I picked up a couple of things that weren't on sale.

Here is how it breaks down:

Walgreen's total  ticket: $24.71
Total savings: $20.20 (82%)

Amount paid: $4.51

I bought the following: 1 Bio-true contact solution 4oz, 3 2-pocket folders, Dial body wash, 9 big rolls Angel Soft, 2 pack Pilot V5 pens, 1 Aquafresh toothpaste  5.6oz

CVS total ticket: $53.09
Total savings: $34.76 (65%)
Amount paid: $18.33

I bought the following: 4 12-pack cokes, 1 skintimate shave gel, 2 Edge shave gels, 1 Lysol Healthy Hand Soap dispenser, 1 2-pack Oral B toothbrushes

Winn-Dixie total ticket: $67.81
Total savings: $23.60 (35%)
Amount paid: $44.21

Let me hear about your deals.

Until next time....

XOXOXOXOX

Tubing

This post is a little late because my camera cord accidentally went to band camp for a week. As a last rendezvous, Wes and I went to Gulfshores, AL the weekend before teacher workdays started. We had a great time with great friends.

BTW, Wes took much better pictures of me than I took of him.

Holy Coupon

Well, I am finally starting to get a nice range of coupons. This week I went shopping 4 times and had coupons for every item. My savings is starting to get better and better each week. This week, I even took a friend out shopping, and she got some really good deals.

Winn Dixie #1
Total ticket: $175.00
Paid: $90.40
Saved $84.60 (48%)

Walgreens
Total ticket: 48.96
Paid: 18.24
Saved: 30.72 (63%)
Cash back: 2.00

CVS
Total ticket: 35.92
Paid: 14.00
Saved: $21.92 (61%)

Winn Dixie #2
Total ticket: 118.51
Paid: 54.45
Saved: 64.06 (54%)

I am also starting to look for Christmas presents. I got something really exciting for a great deal yesterday. Can't wait to share these with you all.

Thanks Jenny at http://www.southernsavers.com/ !!!

Until next time.....

XOXOXOX

Back to Life; Back to Reality

One week from today school officially starts back for me. Of course, I have worked at the school a little over the summer and meet some (keyword: some) of the goals I set for myself and the library program. I know my friends are laughing right now because they all think it is so funny that I make goal sheets! Hey, it helps keep me organized and on a mission!

On another note, I am really looking forward to the challenges that this year will bring. I can't wait to see how much the kids have grown and to start laughing at all the funny stuff they do and say! I will even admit that I am sort of ready to get on a more strict schedule. Not that I don't mentally make schedules for myself everyday and get a tinge upset when I don't stay on them.... I am just saying.

Tomorrow, I am going to say good-bye to my vegetable garden. I am going to chop down all the plants that are finished producing and turn the beds into flower beds for the fall. Having the garden was a great experience, and I found it very rewarding. I knew where my food was coming from, that it was 100% organic, and I learned so much about canning and preserving foods. I learned that cute little cucumber and tomato plants grow into MONSTER plants and take over if you don't give them enough space. Next year, we will have to build a bigger bed or plant less crops. Which do you think will happen?

Well, of course I went shopping this week. I have figured out (I think) how to get the most out of CVS. CVS is overpriced, but if you learn to work within the system, that doesn't even matter. I can't encourage you enough to check out how it all works at www.southernsavers.com.  Drum roll please....

Total CVS ticket: 47.00
Total Saved: 41.78 (89%)
Total Spent: 5.22
Total Cash back: 4.00
Out of Pocket: $1.22

What I bought: 1 59oz Tropicana Orange Juice
                       1 2 pack Dove soap
                       1 Almay dial up mascara
                       1 Lady Speed Stick Stainguard  deodorant
                       2 Aveeno positively ageless sunscreens (regular size)
I am talking $1.22 here people!

Okay, so my sister and her husband came down to visit. We went to Old Navy for the 25% teacher discount day plus I had a $10.00 off an entire purchase coupon, and I only bought items that were on sale (not clearance). Here is how it breaks down.

Old Navy total ticket: 113.03
Total saved: 74.19 (66%)
Total spent: $38.84

Woot Woot!!

Until next time....

XOXOXO
                       

Brooke's even Better Bargains

Each week, I get a little better at getting the best deals. I am also venturing out to more stores which is fun. Actually I will admit that since I started this couponing thing, I am pretty excited about shopping now. I find myself anticipating the weekly sales paper and find it thrilling to get things for FREE or little money OOP! Thanks to Jenny at http://www.southernsavers.com/ this task doesn't feel like a chore anymore.

Didn't make my goal of 60% or more savings at every store this week, but I am okay with it.

Here goes:

Since it is back to school time I thought I would rack up on some supplies at Office Depot. You won't believe this!

Office Depot total ticket: $43.53
Total saved in store: 17.06 (40%)
Total spent in store: $26.47
Total mail in rebates: 27.26
My Profit: .79

I MADE MONEY BY SHOPPING!

CVS total ticket: $28.88
Total saved: $23.33 (81%)
Total spent: $5.55
Cash back: $5.00

Okay, you must know the items I got for 55 cents. 2 VO5 shampoos, 1 gillette pro fusion razor with 3 cartridges (not disposable), 2 12 packs of coke, 2 scotch magic tape refills.

Walgreens total ticket: $15.38
Total saved: $8.75 (57%)
Total spent: $6.63

Winn Dixie total ticket: 63.36
Total saved: 23.62 (37%)
Total spent: 39.74
Cash back: $5.00

Winn Dixie was my worst experience this week. I only bought items that were on sale, but I didn't have a single coupon. :(

Let me know about your savings.

Until next time...

XOXOXOXO

Orlando Conference

Then it was off to Orlando for a Renaissance conference with my principal and four other teachers from school. It was the best conference ever!! It provided all of us with so many ideas for our school as a whole as well as innovative ideas for rewarding, reinforcing, recognizing, and respecting the entire school community. It made me think about my teaching style and my philosophy. I have a lot of ideas that I can't wait to try out this year. It is going to be an exciting and fun year. I just know it!!

I had a wonderful roommate, and we had so much fun hanging out and getting to know each other. We went to Animal Kingdom, a concert at the House of Blues, watched fireworks, ate good food, and enjoyed refreshing beverages! The trip was hugely successfully except for Delta's inability to care about its costumers. That is a story for another time.

View from our room of Epcot Center.












Until next time....

XOXOXOXO