It's Holly's Hobby

365 Day Challenge 1-8 May 12-19, 2010

2010-05-19T10:28:00.000-07:00

Here are my first 8 pictures!

Post It Note Tuesday

2010-05-18T05:58:00.000-07:00

Week of May 9, 2010- May 15, 2010

2010-05-14T10:13:00.000-07:00

Well I did not do great this week as a total, but I did get some good deals! I got Zyrtec for $7.99 at CVS! It's regularly $22.99! I also got Huggie's diapers for $3.49 at CVS. They are regularly 11.99! I got Sudden Salad for .45 (regularly 2.25) and Idahoan Potatoes for .24 (regularly 1.19) at BiLo! Here is the breakdown for the week:

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $250.85

Total Spent: $166.85 (67%)

Total SAVED: $84.00 (33%)

Here is the breakdown at each store:

BiLo

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $135.95

Total Spent: $91.13 (67%)

Total Saved: $44.82 (33%)

CVS

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $51.96

Total Spent: $32.46 (62%)

Total Saved: $19.50 (38%)

Food Lion

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $62.94

Total Spent: $43.26 (69%)

Total Saved: $19.68 (31%)

My 365 Day Challenge!!!

2010-05-11T19:39:00.000-07:00

Every day I sit in awe at how much my children have grown. My sister just had a baby a few weeks ago. Looking at him makes me realize how much children grow in just one year! My youngest is just 16 months old! He seems so..... much older than my sister's newborn! To think that her baby will be that big in just a little over a year is CRAZY! So thinking all of this has led me to a 365 day challenge! I am challenging myself to take at least one picture of my son every day for the next year! I can't stop him from growing, so I guess I will just have to record it somehow. Each Wednesday I plan to post the previous week's pictures! Plan on seeing 7 new pictures next week! :)

Post It Note Tuesday

2010-05-11T04:03:00.000-07:00

Week of May 2, 2010- May 8, 2010

2010-05-05T07:01:00.000-07:00

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $213.83

Total Spent: $109.48 (51%)

Total SAVED: $104.35 (49%)

Here is the breakdown at each store:

BiLo

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $63.57

Total Spent: $30.01 (%)

Total Saved: $33.56 (%)

CVS

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $150.26

Total Spent: $79.47 (53%)

Total Saved: $70.79 (47%)

Etsy.com

2010-05-04T08:07:00.000-07:00

I just added a link to my store on Etsy.com! I hope some of you will take a look at it! Please help me out and direct your friends to it if you think they may find something they like! The web address is itshollyshobby.etsy.com.

Week of April 25 2010- May 1, 2010

2010-05-02T15:27:00.000-07:00

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $307.32

Total Spent: $182.53 (59%)

Total SAVED: $124.79 (41%)

Here is the breakdown at each store:

BiLo

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $111.00

Total Spent: $65.41 (59%)

Total Saved: $45.59 (41%)

Food Lion

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $51.05

Total Spent: $27.85 (55%)

Total Saved: $23.20 (45%)

Rite Aid

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $78.24

Total Spent: $22.24

-$8.00 SCR's = $14.44 (20%)

Total Saved: $56.00 (80%)

Wal-Mart

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $67.03

Total Spent: $67.03 (100%)

Total Saved: $ (0%)

Picking Strawberries and Making Jam!

2010-04-18T04:26:00.000-07:00

The kids and I went and picked Strawberries this past Friday. Then we made jam on Saturday! I think they have already eaten 2 jars and its only Sunday!

Week of April 11- April 17, 2010

2010-04-18T04:12:00.000-07:00

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $195.78
Total Spent: $102.19(52%)
Total SAVED: $93.59(48%)

Here is the breakdown at each store:
Aldi
Total $10.58

BiLo
Total Before Sales and Coupons: 63.54
Total Spent: 33.11 52%
Total Saved: 30.43 48%

CVS
Total Before Sales and Coupons: $52.42
Total Spent: $18.97 36%
Total Saved: $33.45 64%

Food Lion
Total Before Sales and Coupons: $69.24
Total Spent: $39.53 57%
Total Saved: $29.71 43%

Week of April 4- April 10, 2010

2010-04-09T12:17:00.000-07:00

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $123.11

Total Spent: $67.96 (55%)

Total SAVED: $55.15 (45%)

Here is the breakdown at each store:

Food Lion

Got a good deal on Special K Bars this week. (1.25 a box)

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $58.48

Total Spent: $36.13 (62%)

Total Saved: $22.35 (38%)

BiLo

Got dog biscuits for free! I also got pasta for .24 cents!

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $64.63

Total Spent: $ 31.83 (49%)

Total Saved: $ 32.80 (50%)

Week of March 28, 2010-April 3, 2010

2010-04-05T18:58:00.000-07:00

Food Lion Trip

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $74.92

Total Spent: $ 42.68 (57%)

Total SAVED: $ 32.24 (43%)

Just went to Food Lion this week. Did pretty good. Got a good deal on the Pillsbury Rolls!

Total Spending for March

2010-03-27T07:48:00.000-07:00

This is my total spending for the month. My goal is saving 50% and spending $100 or less a week. I still have a little ways to go, but I think this is pretty good! I hope next month will be even better. With my "once a month" cooking the nightly meals for April are already bought and paid for, now I can just focus on good deals for my cooking in May!

Total For Month of March

Should Have Been: $881.46

Spent: $493.66 (56%)

Saved: $387.80 (44%)

Week of March 21, 2010-March 27, 2010

2010-03-26T08:18:00.000-07:00

I had an OK week considering all I bought. I went to Florence, SC (about 45 min. away) to shop at Harris Teeter. They were having triple coupons this week. I couldn't pass that up! I also bought the rest of the food I need for my "once a month" from Wal-mart. And finally, my daughter's tenth birthday party is this weekend, so I bought what I needed for it. (Thank goodness I already had chips, and juice boxes stocked up, so I didn't need to buy those!)

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $217.07

Total Spent: $ 137.73 (63%)

Total SAVED: $ 79.34 (37%)

Here is the breakdown at each store:

Harris Teeter

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $80.51

Total Spent: $25.22 (31%)

Total Saved: $55.29 (69%)

Walgreens

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $33.97

Total Spent: $ 16.97 (50%)

Total Saved: $ 17.00 (50%)

Wal-Mart

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $102.59

Total Spent: $ 95.54 (93%)

Total Saved: $7.05 (7%)

Cooking For April

2010-03-25T17:03:00.000-07:00

Well last month went pretty good! I loved not having to worry about what to cook each night. I just looked at my calendar, and pulled out the meal from the freezer! I cooked a few new things. The family had a good time giving their imput on the new meals, along with picking their favorites. I have bought all of the food for cooking for April. I did buy most of it on sale, with coupons. I had to go to Wal-mart today and get the rest of what I will need. It worked pretty good having my list made at the beginning of the month, and looking for deals on those items throughout the month. I did change a few things based on the meat I was able to get on sale. Here is my list for this month. I plan on cooking this weekend. I will let you know how it goes!

1. Pizza

2.-4. Weekend

5. Bean Soup (chips)

6. Salisbury Steak (noodles, strawberries, butter beans)

7. Chicken Divan (rice, peaches)

8. Manicotti (garlic bread)

9.-11. Weekend

12. Tacos

13. Roast (rice, strawberries)

14. Pot Pie (peaches)

15. Chili w/Bread Bowls

16-18. Weekend

19. Bean Soup (chips)

20. Pork Loin (rice, peaches, green beans)

21. Chicken Divan (rice, peaches)

22. Manicotti (garlic bread)

23.-25. Weekend

26. Tacos

27. Salisbury Steak (mashed potatoes, strawberries, green beans)

28. Pot Pie (peaches)

29. Chili w/Bread Bowls

30. Weekend

I have already fixed the things in green. I am planning on cooking the rest this weekend. I am thinking about making some breakfast burritos, cookies, and pound cake to freeze also. I would love ideas for other things to cook and freeze. I am very new at this, it's only my second month......don't really have a clue what I'm doing! I would love any suggestions! I will post pictures after this weekend!

Week of March 14, 2010-March 20, 2010

2010-03-20T06:47:00.000-07:00

Well, I have been trying to stay under $100 again this week. Its hard because I don't want to pass up any good deals. My percentage is not great this week because I spent $55.00 at Walmart with no coupons. I really needed some staples that were not on sale this week. I compared prices and everything I bought was cheaper at Walmart. Guess I should be stocking up a little better!

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $138.64

Total Spent: $ 94.74 (68%)

Total SAVED: $ 44.90 (32%)

Here is the breakdown at each store:

Food Lion

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $56.72

Total Spent: $31.55 (56%)

Total Saved: $25.17 (44%)

Rite Aid

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $26.51

Total Spent: $6.78 (26%)

Total Saved: $19.73 (74%)

Wal-Mart

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $55.41

Total Spent: $ 55.41 (100%)

Total Saved: $0 (0%)

2010-03-18T06:26:00.000-07:00

My plan to buy NEXT month's food, for my "Once a Month Cooking", THIS month, is working pretty good. I have purchased almost everything I will need for next month already this month. So far everything I have purchased has been on sale with coupons. I think this is really going to help my overall total grocery bill. Before I cook for next month I will only have to purchase a very few things that are not on sale, or without a coupon! I can't wait to see the final total!

2010-03-12T11:13:00.001-08:00

Thanks for visiting my blog! I have only been doing this for a couple of weeks! I would love any advice. Hope everyone from Friday Follow has a great weekend!

Week of March 7, 2010-March 13, 2010

2010-03-12T10:12:00.000-08:00

ALL FREE!!! AT RITE AID THIS WEEK!

So here are my totals for the week! I'm excited because I met my goal! I didn't go over $100 and I saved at least 50%!!! Now if I could do that every week.... I got a couple of good deals this week. My best by far was my free make-up at Rite-Aid. I also got a pretty good deal on cheese at Bi-Lo!

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $196.24

Total Spent: $81.53 (43%)

Total SAVED: $114.71 (57%)

Here is the breakdown at each store:

BiLo

I got a good deal on cheese this week. $1.16 each.
Total Before Sales and Coupons: $60.57

Total Spent: $21.58 (36%)

Total Saved: $38.99 (64%)

Food Lion

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $50.92

Total Spent: $29.42 (58%)

Total Saved: $21.50 (42%)

Rite Aid

I got free make-up this week with B1G1 coupons, and their B1G1 Sale! My favorite deal this week!
Total Before Sales and Coupons: $35.80

Total Spent: $0 (0%)

Total Saved: $35.80 (100%)

WalGreens

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $35.89

Total Spent: $ 17.47 (49%)

Total Saved: $18.42 (51%)

Piggly Wiggly

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $13.06

Total Spent: $13.06 (100%)

Total Saved: $0 (0%)

My Cheesey Deal at BiLo!

2010-03-07T11:42:00.000-08:00

I got a pretty good deal on cheese today at Bilo. It is on sale for $1.66 and I had coupons for $1 off of 2. That made them $1.16 each. Here is what I bought:

8 bags of Kraft cheese $1.66 (normally $3.29)
1 loaf Sara Lee Bread $1.99 (normally $2.59)
1 Package of Baby-Cut Carrots $1.99

-4 $1 off 2 coupns for Kraft Cheese
-1 $.55 off Sara Lee (doubled)

Total Before Savings $30.90
Total After Savings $12.16 (39%)
Savings $18.74 (61%)

Week of Feb.28-March 6, 2010

2010-03-05T18:08:00.000-08:00

So I am a little disappointed in my totals this week. I am trying my best to save at least 55% and not spend more that $100. I did have some things I had to buy this week that were not on sale. I also decided to start "once a month cooking". I wanted to get my cooking done this past weekend, which is what put me $80 over my $100 goal. I did come up with a plan for April's OAMC, so I can try to buy those items before the end of the month. Maybe that will keep me on budget a little better. On top of it all my 10 year old has had bronchitis and strep throat all week. I had to buy several things for her at CVS and Rite Aid. On the bright side.....I did save 45%!

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $329.51
Total Spent: $180.66(55%)
Total SAVED: $148.85(45%)

Here is the breakdown at each store:

BiLo
Total Before Sales and Coupons: $153.82
Total Spent: $93.14
Total Saved: 60.68

Food Lion
I got 10 more boxes of Kelloggs cereal for .70 cents a box!
Total Before Sales and Coupons: $107.93
Total Spent: $ 40.66
Total Saved: $ 67.27

CVS
Total Before Sales and Coupons: $22.86
Total Spent: $ 16.21
Total Saved: $ 6.65

Rite Aid
Total Before Sales and Coupons: $14.96
Total Spent: $ 13.96
Total Saved: $ 1.00

WalGreens
I got a great deal on Cottonelle toilet paper!
Total Before Sales and Coupons: $29.94
Total Spent: $ 16.69
Total Saved: $ 13.25

Over Budget

2010-03-04T07:18:00.000-08:00

So I have been thinking a lot about how best to do my "couponing" and my "once a month cooking". I went a little over budget with groceries this week because I did not have everything I needed to cook for the month. Being the planner I am.....I have come up with a PLAN!!! Last night I sat up late planning my OAMC for April. I first came up with every thing I want to cook. Then I made a list of all the ingredients I will need. Then I went through my pantry where I put "stocked up items". I pulled out anything from my list I already have and set it aside. Now I have the rest of the list to buy at the grocery store. I figure this way I will have a month to focus on this list and try to buy the items on sale with coupons. Hopefully I will be able to stay on budget a little better this way. I will let you know how it goes!

Good Deal!

2010-03-03T18:41:00.000-08:00

I got a pretty good deal on Cottonelle Toilet Paper today at Walgreens.

3 12pack Cottonelle Toilet Paper at 5.99 each
-3 $1 off coupons

Total OOP $14.97
Plus I got back $5 in Register Rewards that makes it 9.97. That's 3.32 a 12-pack!!!

Then I did a second transaction and spent my $5 RR on 2 gift bags and tissue paper that I needed for a couple of baby gifts!

March Meal Plan

2010-03-02T10:54:00.000-08:00

Here is what I have cooked so far!

So I'm changing my mind. I realized if I just cook a few more things (added to what I cooked Sunday) I will have the whole month planned. I figure I might as well jump in and do it! So here is my month's plan:
1. Spagetti
2. Tuna Casserole
3. Meat Loaf
4. Chicken Tetrazinni
5.-7. Weekend
8. Baked Ziti
9. Roast
10. Chicken Cordon Bleu
11. Pork Chops
12.-14. Weekend
15. Lasagna
16. Meat Loaf
17. Chicken Tetrazinni
18. Pork Tenderloin
19.-21. Weekend
22. Birthday Dinner (My oldest is turning 10!)
23. London Broil
24. Tuna Casserole
25. Chicken Cordon Bleu
26.-28. Weekend
29. Baked Ziti
30. Chicken Pot Pie

I still have to get the things in "red" together. I can fix the chicken pot pie and put it in the freezer, I am just missing some of the ingredients. I also need a couple of things for the Pot Roast. Guess I need to plan a little better. I hope I can get them on sale this week at the grocery store. I am also going to freeze some rice for the London Broil and the Pork Tenderloin. I have also made some beef and bean burritos and frozen them individually for the girls to heat up for lunch or on the weekend. I browned 2 pounds of hamburger meat and put them in the freezer. I am thinking about making some breakfast burritos to put in the freezer for Mags. She would LOVE them! I would love ideas for other things to cook and freeze. I am very new at this......don't really have a clue what I'm doing! Above pretty much covers dinner, any ideas for lunch?

Once a Month Cooking

2010-03-01T13:20:00.000-08:00

I've been looking at some of my favorite blogs, and reading about Once-A-Month Cooking. I have never tried it, but I would like to. I decided to start slowly. I am only planning to cook for the next couple of weeks, instead of the whole month. I am also going to just plan dinner. I started this whole adventure yesterday. I cooked several casseroles, two meat loafs, and browned some hamburger meat. Now I am getting excited thinking about the time it is going to save me each night!