At Home With Keeley

Dollar General trip 3/1/2011

2011-03-02T05:42:00.000-08:00

Once again, I did not take any pics of the loot but here is a breakdown of the items that I got for FREE:

10 Dentastix dog treats 2.00 -2.00 off MQ =FREE ( just pay taxes)

8 Gain 40ct dryer sheets 2.75- 3.00 off MQ= FREE + .25 overage

1 blue dot clearance kids shoes 3.00

Grand Total 3.68

DOLLAR GENERAL AND CVS SHOPPING TRIP 1/27/2011

2011-01-27T12:58:00.000-08:00

I just had to share my fabulous deals from dollar general and cvs. Im sorry there is no picture since I already put my goodies away and then decided to blog. Here is a break down of the deals and my out of pocket expenses:

Dollar General

Christmas Clearance PJ set Reg 13.00..........1.30 ( 90% off )
Olay bodywash 2.00 ( on sale normally 3.50).....FREE ( 2.00 off coupon for any Olay bodwash ) =
1.40 total out of pocket ( .10 tax on body wash)

CVS

Transaction #1:
Coke products 5 12 packs/15.00 ( get back a 5 dollar extra care buck)
Had a 10 dollar extra care buck from previous shopping trip =
5.00 out of pocket plus a 5 dollar extra care buck to spend

Transaction #2:

10 bottles Xtra laundry soap 1.49 - 1.00 off coupon x 10 = .49 a piece
3 packets of Desserts gum 3/2 - 2 (.75) off coupons = 0.16 a piece
1 snickers fun pack 1.49 - 1.00 off coupon = .49
Used 5.00 extra care buck from previous transaction
2.17 ( taxes included) out of pocket

So less than 9 dollars for all of the above items! Its pays to use coupons. My husband is very very happy!

Starting a home based business

2011-01-27T12:28:00.000-08:00

Whether you have a certain marketable talent, an in demand skill or the ability to sell ice cubes to an Eskimo you may want to consider starting your own home based business. For example, my wild and crazy aunt has a passion for singing. She markets herself as a Singer/ Karaoke DJ for local parties and events. She did have to invest some money into it for equipment, supplies, advertising, etc. She gets to make money doing something she loves and is actually pretty good at it.
Another example, my very sweet friend and neighbor decided she did not want to be away from her children by going to work for long hours everyday, so she opened up a licenced home day care in her basement. She was able to obtain a loan from a self help agency to upgrade her basement into a daycare. She has a strong thriving business and is able to be home with her own kids.
Obviously, at first, you may not turn a real profit from your home based business but their are advantages besides money to consider. Being a business owner, you are able to deduct everything you use for your business as an expense from your income taxes. Your home office, supplies, advertising, gas, lunch meetings, utilities, even your home mortgage interest can be a tax deduction which can be money in your pocket and not in uncle Sam's.
Another advantage of being a home based business owner is that you can schedule your own hours, rules, how much you make and who you decide to deal with as your customers. You are your own boss. Of course there is a downside to everything, even being your own boss. You wont be able to call in sick and sometimes you might be working way over 40 hours per week and not seeing any money for all that hard work.
Starting a home based business is a life changing decision that should be considered from all aspects, but if you have just a little bit of faith in yourself and perseverance, starting a home based business can be an answer to your prayers. I would love to hear of your success stories as a home based business owner.

SAHM, WAHM thank you MAA'M..........

2011-01-23T17:16:00.000-08:00

Basically a SAHM ( stay at home mom) is just that. You stay home, be a mom, take care of the household and all the family members. This is a full time 24/ 7 job. A WAHM ( work at home mom) is a SAHM that works a job from home or runs a business. I'm not sure what acronym you use for a mom that works outside of the home...anyway....more women are finding ways to earn extra money to contribute to the household from home. Direct sales, blogging, online auction sites, websites and probably even more than I have mentioned that I don't even know about. I have been struggling with the idea of going back to work, part time or full time and I have been tossing around the idea to start a business. I have researched several direct sales companies that I think I might truly enjoy I have found several deciding factors you need to consider before you commit to any company. For example; you really should commit to a business that offers something that you believe in, a product or service that you can stand behind and truly love because if you are anything like me you couldn't lie your way out of a paper bag. Another factor to consider for me is the cost of starting up and the money you need to put out for advertising, small gifts for party hostesses, office supplies, etc. I have also considered if there is a need for my product or service in my area. Of course, you may not worry about this too much since there is always ways to offer your service or products online to millions of people. I would love to hear from any SAHM's that are also WAHM's on your business or service you offer and how you chose to do what you are doing.

I owe....I owe.....its off to work I go...........

2011-01-17T17:57:00.000-08:00

Have you ever just had to go to work? I think all of us have at one point or another. I have found it to be extremely difficult and heart breaking to go back to work since the birth of our daughter. We are in extreme need of an extra income in our household but we seem to make it through with my husband's income and the short bursts of work I have contributed. I have been home the majority of the time but there have been a couple...a few...okay... a lot of jobs I have taken to see if they were a good fit for me as a new mom. I have never wanted my child to be in a daycare for 10 hours a day 5 days a week. I know some people have no choice and some people do not mind. That is their life. I have a strong desire to be with my daughter and will do most anything to be able to do so. I have worked in several jobs that were well below my desired income level, education level, experience level and not the most desired hours in order to be with my daughter. Recently I have made the choice not to accept a position I would love to have that is actually been a goal of mine to obtain simply because I would have to keep my child in daycare 50 or more hours per week. I am sure there are other mom and dads that have this same concern. I would love to hear your opinion on this situation.

Date Night!

2010-03-26T06:54:00.000-07:00

I am so excited! Tonight my husband and I are going on a date while our daughter stays the night with her Nanny and Papaw. We decided to find something fun and inexpensive. We chose to go to our local bowling alley to take advantage of thier Friday Night Date Special. This includes a shoe rental, one coke, one popcorn per person and 2 games of bowling for 12.00. I think this is a great deal! We havent been bowling in a very long time. Also, in the bowling alley, they have a small bar called the Tiki Lounge that offers Free appetizers on Friday night! What are you doing for your date night? How do you keep the cost for your date low?

CHA CHING!! Look at all the goodies I got in my mailbox today!

2010-03-22T14:21:00.000-07:00

Today, in my mailbox, was a bountiful array of freebies I just had to share with everyone!
I recieved:
Fitness Magazine (FREE)
Taste of Home Magazine(FREE)
Sample of SouthBeach Bar
SouthBeach Bar coupon
Kellog's sample pack ( sample of fiber one cereal, granola, flower seeds, coupons)
Pampers coupons ( 2 10.00 off jumbo pack)
Luvs coupons ( 1 5.00 any package)
Check from Swiss Colony ( 26.00) Must of been an overpayment of our bill??
Huggies diapers sample
Vitamin Water coupon for FREE BOTTLE ( 2 coupons)
Iams coupons B1G1 FREE dog and cat food ( 4 coupons)

This is Keeley helping mommy open the mail :)

Swagbucks!

2010-03-22T05:34:00.000-07:00

I earned enough points from swag bucks to redeem 2 5.00 pay pal giftcards! That is 10.00 for free just for using thier search engine. I am going to use my 10.00 to purchase coupons from ebay so I can save even more money! You can check out swagbucks and sign up at :http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/Keeleysn

Amanda's top 5 websites

2010-03-19T13:41:00.000-07:00

Obviously saving money is a big part of my life being a stay at home mom. One of the ways that I save is by clipping and printing online coupons. I check some of my favorite websites on a daily basis and sometimes I check them several times a day if I have the time just to see if there are any new coupons or offers out there. A lot of times the coupons that are printable reach thier print limit within no time so its very important to print the coupons as soon as you find them. Anyway, enough of that, in no particular order, here are my favorite websites:
http://www.hip2save.com/
http://www.southernsavers.com/
http://www.moneysavingmom.com/
http://www.slickdeals.com/
http://www.afullcup.com/

YAY!! I was chosen to host a Green Works Kids Gear Swap House Party!

2010-03-15T08:53:00.000-07:00

Have you heard of houseparty.com?

If not, its a website in which you can join and sign up for different house parties you can host. I have hosted a couple of parties so far from Splenda, Alli, and Arrowood Sandwhich Thins! If you are lucky enough to be chosen, you get access to your own free party website, printable party favors and a free party pack in the mail filled with goodies.Just check out all the goodies in the green works party pack:

•Green Works® Natural Laundry Detergent samples

•Green Works® Natural Compostable Cleaning Wipes samples

•Kashi® TLC® cereal bar samples

•Kashi® TLC® product coupons

•Bear Naked® cereal or granola coupons

•Brita® coupons

•Horizon® Dairy coupons

•Silk® Soymilk coupons

•A Hidden Valley® The Original Ranch® Dip Mix

•A Nalgene® bottle

•Sierra Club® note card packs

•A Sierra Club® window sticker

•A Lowe’s® / WebMD® Healthy Home Guide

If you might be interested in hosting a house party check out http://www.houseparty.com/
Good Luck and let me know if you get selected to host one the parties!

Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired

2010-03-15T05:38:00.000-07:00

One of the main reasons we decided on me being a stay at home mom is all the illnesses we have incured in the past 16 months. When I took a job working at a daycare I immediatly became ill with a sinus infection and strep throat. Then I took a job at the hospital. From there I developed bronchitis, a second sinus infection, phnemonia, another run of strep throat, pink eye, stomach virus and ear infections. Right now as I am typing I have pink eye in both eyes and strep throat. My husband has had a fever and sore throat all weekend. My daughter is just getting over Roto Virus.My husband has basically had everything I have had. My daughter has had several illnesses due to either being in daycare or from contracting it from her father and I. I am amazed at the money we have spent on copayments for visits and medication. One sick visit is $20.00 and the medication is between $20.00 to $100.00 each time one of us has been sick. That is just the cost for presciption medications. This doesnt include the OTC stuff like Tylenol and Pedialyte. I am hoping to save money and our health by being at home. Has anyone else had constant illness due to work or daycare? How do you handle it? I am excited to know!

Looking for ways to earn extra cash

2010-03-14T23:56:00.000-07:00

Its 2:57am and I am looking up information on the WWW on delivering phone books to make some extra money. Since I am recently unemployed, I am trying to think of ways to help support our household. From the looks of some of the articles online, delivering phone books is hot, back breaking work. From what I understand it is very important to choose the right delivery route that has mostly apartment buildings or homes clumped together...(trailer park?), a big truck or SUV and even a tow dolly or one of those baskets on wheels, if you click the link below you can seen a picture of one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dominiccampbell/4197577061/
I have read people are making 20.00 a day to 20.00 an hour! Does anyone have any experience in this business adventure? If so, I would love to hear about it.