Weekend Getaway

Since the trip got cancelled, my husband decided we needed a family getaway, even if it's just for a weekend. So, we put our talked it over and decided to head down to the coast. Since I've become the "super-hero of money-saving" around here, it was up to me to find the best accommodations at the lowest rate.

Well, here's what I found.

I was lucky enough to come across a two-room suite complete with a galley kitchen and oceanfront balcony. Since the sofa is a pull-out, we're going to have Ben and the big girls share the double beds in the bedroom while Eric and I take the couch, with Sarah in a playpen nearby us. Falling asleep to the sound of the waves is going to be so soothing.

AND...the suite is in a resort with two lazy rivers, two pools and four hot tubs. So when we're not playing on the beach or exploring the beauty and history of nearby Charleston, we'll be hanging out poolside and enjoying the good life. Yeah, baby!

AAANNNNDD...I got the last deal before the summer rates kick in. Which means we can afford the all-you-can-eat seafood fest we've all been dying for. Do you have any idea how many pounds of shrimp and crab legs my family can put away? It's staggering, I tell you. My gratitude for the men on Deadliest Catch is profound, to be sure.


I really love little weekend jaunts like this. It doesn't have the pressure or expense of a full-blown vacation, but it creates memories that last a lifetime. And Eric really, really needs this. Goodness knows he's earned it. (And, not to sound selfish, but I think I have, too.)

I'll be back next week. Have a fantabulistic weekend, everyone!

Wordless Wednesday - Tomorrow's Rock Star Today

(My 13-year old on Guitar Hero 3)

The Mother's Day Gift

First off, I've got to thank all of you for your kind and encouraging words on my last post. I was pretty bummed about not going to Kansas City this year, although I did get to have a wonderfully romantic date with Eric one night last week, which helped a lot. We finally got a Thai restaurant in this town, and it was fantastic.

But I still felt down about the cancelled trip. You see, not only do I not get to visit my sister (whom I really, really miss) or my father (whom I'm a little worried about) or my brother (especially since neither of us have seen each other's newest daughters) or Nell (which would've been totally cool), I don't get to visit my mother's grave, either. I was looking forward to taking her some flowers on Mother's Day.

Since that became out of the question, I spent Mother's Day determinedly ignoring the fact that it was Mother's Day. As far as I was concerned, it was just another Sunday. No cards, flowers, candy, pampering, etc. In fact, I got downright un-Mother's Day-ish and decided to clean out some of my dresser drawers.

And I wound up with one of the best Mother's Day gifts ever.

Tucked into a drawer where I've kept various cards and notes, I found the following letter.

Dear ones, Wendy, Eric, Rachel, Rebecca, Emily
Thank you so much for Thanksgiving weekend in SC. This was wonderful except for my sickness. I am very sorry for that. I missed work for six days after I got home. This was due to my being ill. We hope you have a wonderful merry Christmas. Also a blessed happy New Year. Give the kids hugs and kisses for us. Also one for yourselves too.
Love you always.
Love, Mom

Mom wasn't much for writing letters, so it's the only one I've got from her. She wrote that after our last Thanksgiving together, the only time she got to visit us out here.

Sitting there on my bedroom floor with tears in my eyes, I wished again that I could've been there to put flowers on her grave. And in the stillness of the room, it was as if I could hear my mother's voice. That sweet, happy voice of hers that still had a hint of her Tennessee roots. Ah, Sissy, that's sweet and all, but you don't need to do that. You just enjoy your day. You're a Mommy too, ya know. Give the babies a hug and have some fun with 'em.

I spent the rest of the evening making cookies and homemade bread with the kids. We played music and baked and laughed. Everyone had a good time.

And I know that my mother is somewhere in heaven, being happy.

Best Laid Plans

Well, my big trip to Kansas City this summer is off. Due to an unexpectedly large auto repair bill for my husband's car, we can no longer afford the trip. Considering the cost of gas as it is, I was already beginning to think this was an iffy proposition. (I mean, it would've cost at least five hundred dollars just for the gas to get there and back!) Yesterday's report from the mechanic clinched it.

My daughters were very excited about going to Kansas (as they always are) but they took the news gracefully and with a lot of understanding, which I'm deeply thankful for.

After talking to the girls, I called my father and sister to let them know. My sister was disappointed, but took it well. Dad's only real comment was, "You're paying how much??...well, I guess Eric's not mechanically-inclined. That's too bad."

I do believe he meant it's too bad Eric couldn't have fixed it himself and saved us the money. I couldn't explain to him how far-reaching and serious the problem was...there are some things Dad will just never understand. Men who don't work on their own cars is one of them.

So, that's that. Some things just aren't meant to be.

Six Little Words

Elexis at The Stuff I Live For has tagged me again. This time it's a six word memoir.

Only six? As wordy as I am? Gee, that's tough, but here goes.

"Love, live, laugh...dishes can wait."

So what are your six words?

Go To The Poll, Please!

Please take a minute to cast your vote in the poll in my sidebar. Sorry I can't pay you for participating, because your answers are valuable.

Thanks!

"Free" Time

Back at the end of February, I wrote that I was learning how to get more bang for my buck by shopping stores like CVS and Walgreens. It took a little time and effort to reach this point, but as of this week I think it's safe for me to say that I finally know what I'm doing.

Now, before I get into all the details, I want to say that I don't normally go more than once a week. Typically, I only go to CVS once every two weeks. I've been working hard this year on becoming more frugal and more organized, as well as a more conscientious shopper (I'll share some thoughts on that at the end of the post), so it's only right to plan out my shopping to take as little driving and time as possible. Having said all that, let's get to the fun stuff!

Here's what I got on my first trip.

Anyone want to take a guess at how much that cost?

How about four dollars and four cents. Really! Don't believe me? Well, I'll prove it.

Transaction #1: 1 Bic Soleil Razor @5.99
2 Essence of Beauty products @2.98 (buy one get one 50% off)
1 Garnier Nutri-Pure scrub @5.99
1 Garnier cleansing towelettes @0.00 (free w/scrub)
1 12-pack Scott toilet tissue @5.99 (this had been on sale previously, but the store was out and gave me a raincheck)

Subtotal: $20.95
Minus: 20.95 (coupons and Extra Care Bucks)
Final Total: .28 out of pocket

Transaction #2: 1 Bic Soleil Razor @5.99
2 Essence of Beauty products @2.98 (buy one get one 50% off)
1 Garnier Nutri-Pure scrub @5.99
1 Garnier cleanser @0.00

Subtotal: $14.96
Minus: 12.00 (coupons and ECBs)
Final Total: 3.45 out of pocket

Transaction #3: 2 Softsoap hand soaps @1.94
2 Palmolive dish soaps @1.39 (buy one get one free)
2 L'Oreal Vive Shampoos @4.99 (buy one get one free)
4 Essence of Beauty products @5.96 (buy one get one 50% off)

Subtotal: $14.28
Minus: 14.20 (coupons)
Final Total: .31 out of pocket

I walked in with $17.98 in ECBs and left with $16, so for the $4.04 I paid in cash and the $1.98 in ECB, I paid for the toilet paper and basically got everything else free.



Now here's what I got on my second trip.

And how much did all that come to? Less than $20? Less than $10??

Three dollars and forty-two cents!!!

Again, this was multiple transactions during the same visit, so bear with me while I break it down for you.

Transaction #1: 3 Colgate 360 toothbrushes @11.97
2 Aquafresh toothpastes @5.98
2 Speed Stick deodorants @2.99 (buy one get one free)

Subtotal: $20.94
Minus: 20.00 (coupons and ECBs)
Final total: 1.43 out of pocket

Transaction #2: 1 Huggies diapers @11.49
1 Aquafresh toothpaste @2.99
1 Dove dark chocolate @.79

Subtotal: $15.27
Minus: 15.27 (coupons and ECBs)
Final total: .13 out of pocket

Transaction #3: 1 Huggies diapers @11.49
2 All detergents @6.49 (buy one get one free)
1 Eclipse gum Big-E pack @1.99

Subtotal: $20.47
Minus: 19.47 (coupons and ECBs)
Final total: 1.86 out of pocket

I started with $16 in ECBs and ended with $9.97, so between that difference and the cash out of pocket, you could say that I got one package of diapers for $9.45 and got everything else free. I'm not worried about the decline in my ECB take-home amount because 1) there will be plenty of other opportunities to replenish it back up and 2) they're meant to be spent, not just accumulated.

In the past couple months, as I've learned how to "play the CVS game", I've had to come to a few decisions about what kind of "player" I want to be. Getting stuff for free (or almost free) is a pretty heady feeling. Especially when you've spent as much time being dirt-poor as I have, where frugality isn't just a choice you make, it's simply a fact of life, period. The temptation to jump in on every deal is certainly there, up to a point. But it's "that point" that makes the difference between a deal-shopper, and conscientious one, I think.

When I look over the ads, I always ask myself, "Is it really something I'll use? What good will I actually get out of it?" And I can honestly say that I have a use for every single item in both of those pictures.

Yes, even the make-up applicators. Because, you see, I'm driving to Kansas City in a week to visit my sister. I haven't seen her in two years, and she's taking a week's vacation just so we can spend some time together. For the first time in I don't know how long, we'll be together on Mother's Day. And after we put flowers on Mom's grave, I'm going to treat her to a day of good old-fashioned, spoil-ourselves-silly, in-home spa and beauty treatments. Mud on our faces, pedicures...whatever I can come up with. We need it, we deserve it, and by golly, we're gonna have a blast doing it.

And if she's lucky, I'll still have the dark chocolate bar to share with her.