Thousand Dollar Momma

Thought of the Day - 55

2012-01-06T08:00:00.000-08:00

Save the Payment

Once you finish paying off your car loan start saving that amount and putting it in a "car" account. Lets face it, that car isn't going to last forever. As a matter of Murphy's Law when we paid off our van we had to spend the first month of no car payment on repairs. The next month was the same. We ended having to purchase another vehicle and will soon have it paid off. Once we do we will be saving for the next one so we can pay cash and never have another "car payment".

Thought of the Day - 54

2012-01-05T08:00:00.000-08:00

Bank the Raise

Well it's the new year and many people get a yearly increase. Instead of putting it into you budget have that raise deposited directly into a savings. Do this every year. After a couple of years you'll have a nice little savings. That is if you keep you little fingers out of it.

Thought of the Day - 53

2012-01-04T15:17:00.000-08:00

Learn to groom your own pet.

Buy some cheap clippers and use Petgroomer.com and save yourself some cash!

Yes It's Been A Long Time

2012-01-04T15:15:00.000-08:00

Yes it has been a long time since my last post. 2011 was crazy! I really hope that 2012 is slower and that I can post more. Obviously I didn't make my goal of posting everyday but that's ok. I decided to do a quick post today because I was cleaning out a drawer and found some notes that I had written for this blog. I wanted to just throw some thoughts out there for 2012.

My Rite Aid Trip to Pay for Piano Lessons and More

2011-09-19T09:09:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun at Rite Aid today. Let me just say that I love the new coupon policy. I know a lot of people don't but for me I love going in there and finding everything on my list. I know I have said this in the past but I am going to say it again. Please do not clear shelves. So anyway, today I did 4 separate transactions. I will break them down at the end but I just wanted to show you the diapers I used to pay for 4 piano lessons. If you take into account that the lessons cost $10 each and the diapers cost $9.99 then you can see that I have 4 lessons. I am writing this really late so I hope your understanding me. Remember that I did not pay full price for these. Now I will do the break down and how I look at what I really paid. On another note I just want everyone to know that the ladies at my Rite Aid are awesome.

Transaction #1

(1) Infusium Shampoo or Conditioner $5.99

(2) Sensodyne Toothpaste $4.99

Coupons used

(1) -$1 off Infusium 23 product printable or SS 9/18

(1) -$2.50/2 Sensodyne product, excl 0.8 oz, RP 8/14
(1) -$4/2 Sensodyne Iso-Active Reg or Iso-Active ProNamel toothpaste, 4.3 oz, (Rite Aid coupon) printable

Total OOP $8.47

got back in UPS ($1, $1, $4, $5)

The $5 was a surprise. I guess I met the Oral care reward!

Transaction #2

(3) Huggies Jumbo Pack Diapers or Pullups $9.99

(2) Kleenex Facial Tissue Pocket Pack 8 ct., $2

Coupons used

(3) -$3 off Huggies Little Movers slip on diapers, SS 9/11

(1) -$1/2 Kleenex wallet 6 pk, car 2 pk or pocket pack 8 pk + printable

(1) -$1/2 Kleenex facial tissues, (Rite Aid coupon) printable

$1/1 coupon from the September Video Values

$11 UPS from transaction #1

Total OOP $10.97

got back $10 UPS for Kimberly Clark

Transaction #3

(1) Scott Choose-a-Size Paper Towels, 8 pk., $7.99

(4) Kotex Maxi Pads, Light Days Liners, Security Tampons, U by Kotex Ultra Thin Pads, Click Tampons, Pantiliners $3.50

Coupons Used

(1) -$1 off Scott paper towels, 4 rolls +, SS 9/11, SS 8/14 or SS 8/28

(1) -$1 off Scott paper towels, (Rite Aid coupon) printable

(4) -$1 off Kotex U printable

$10 UP from transaction #2

Total OOP $5.99

got back $10 UPS for Kimberly Clark

Transaction #4

(1) Scott Bathroom Tissue, 12 pk., $7.99

(1) Huggies Jumbo Pack Diapers or Pullups $9.99

(2) Cottonelle Wipes, 42 ct, $2

Coupons Used

(1) -$3 off Huggies Little Movers slip on diapers, SS 9/11

(1) -$1 off Scott bath tissue, 8 rolls +, SS 9/11, SS 8/14 or August All You

(2) -$1 off Cottonelle Fresh Flushable moist wipes printable

$10 UP from transaction #3

Total OOP $5.98

got back $20 UPS for Kimberly Clark

Total OOP before tax was $31.41 for $93.91 worth of stuff

Plus $20 UPS

If you include the UPS I paid $11.41 for everything and 4 piano lessons. I am upset with myself a little because I should have done this yesterday. I had $4 in UPS that expired because I thought yesterday was the 17th! Plus I had some rebate checks that I forgot about.

Another thing I want to add is that the awesome people at my RA gave me Bounty paper towels in exchange for Scott (they still scanned the Scott tag from the shelf) because they were out. The also accepted my diaper coupon because they don't carry the new slip-on ones yet! They are the best!

How I Pay for Piano Lessons

2011-09-19T08:30:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to tell you how I get free piano lessons for 2 of my children and guitar lessons for another. I use a very old term that isn't used very much these days. I barter. The definition of bartering is a type of trade, either between individuals or organizations, using goods and services rather than money. In these trying times where money is tight people are still finding ways to provide those "extras" in life without breaking the bank. Today I am going to show you how I barter and how you can get started.

I have always wanted my children to learn to play an instrument and learn music. I have some very talented friends. One of those friends plays piano at church and I asked her if she was interested in teaching piano to 2 of my girls. She is great but it took a little convincing that she could teach. When she said yes I asked her if she would take "stuff" as payment. I told her that she could shop in my stockpile for anything she need. We agreed that she would accept $10 worth of my stockpile for each lesson. You see she has 2 small boys and at the time both were in diapers. She knows that I am a couponer and I have been able to get cheap diaper for her before. I have paid with diaper, razors for her and her hubby, shampoo and a few other things. Another one of my girls get guitar lessons. My family has "adopted" a young bachelor from our church. He has truly become part of the family. He comes over for family night where we watch movies or play games. He brings his laundry and before dinner as someone in the house is starting the washer he is giving my oldest daughter a guitar lesson. He plays beautifully and love to teach as well. What a blessing he is.

This is just 2 ways that I barter. You can do it to. The hardest part is asking but don't let that stop you. You could use your talents to barter but remember that it isn't just talent. You could use coupons to add to your stockpile and let people "shop" at your house. If you don't mind cleaning toilets and floors I know someone who would barter with you. ME!

Summer Break

2011-09-12T12:13:00.000-07:00

Awesome playground in Solvang, CA

Well if you have been wondering what happened to me or where I've been well this post will explain it. Life happened. Summer was in full swing, kids where home and vacations came and went. School started last Tuesday and I don't know how much I will be able to blog this school year. I have decided after much prayer to help out at my children's school. I guess it's more than helping out I basically will be running the ACE learning center. I am super excited but that is another post.

The next couple of post I want to talk about how we had a fun filled summer with very little money. Practically the whole month of August we were on vacation and we did it all with cash. There aren't any credit cards waiting to be paid off for months to come. I drove over 4000 miles and stayed in some really nice hotels. We've gone bowling, went to a water park, the beach and traveled to almost middle America. I know there is more but I can't even remember all that we have done.

I'll start with the bowling. If you remember when the summer started I told you all about the "Kid's Bowl Free" deal all across the country. Well we went several times but it still cost us money in shoe rentals. I am pretty sure that this great summer activity will come back again! I won't be renting shoes next year though. I have decided to start looking for bowling shoes throughout the year. I remember at the beginning of this great deal I couldn't find any "deals" on shoes. I searched Ebay and Craigslist and found that everyone was looking for the same purpose. So skip ahead 2 months and what do you know, I found 2 pair of shoes for under $20 total! I figured 2 things, the rush was over and parents were selling this years shoes before they out grow them. I have 5 children and therefore I must continue to search for a few more deals. I plan on giving them as Christmas presents (boy I hope my oldest daughter doesn't read this post).

So there you have it the first update in awhile. My next post will be about some other fun things we did this summer and how to prepare for next summer.

Taking a break

2011-07-14T11:42:00.000-07:00

I know its been a few days since my last post. I was very disappointed in myself for not keeping up my goal but then I realized that I wasn't having as much fun as when I first started blogging. I have been reading lots of other blogs and I have been boggled as to how often they have post. I started to compare myself to seasoned bloggers and was discouraged. I was ready to give up. That is when I decided to just have fun and post when I feel like it. So from now on I'm going to do just that.

Thought of the Day - 52

2011-07-09T08:01:00.001-07:00

Go to a Farmers market. There is just something fun about checking out all the local growers and getting samples of the produce. I love to see all the local artist and crafters too.

Thought of the Day - 51

2011-07-08T07:57:00.000-07:00

Take a ride on the bus. Jump on the bus in your town and see a different way of looking at your town. I plan on taking the kids to the mall and back just using the bus. I will let you all know how it goes but I am sure it will be fun!

Thought of the Day - 50

2011-07-07T07:52:00.000-07:00

Have a water day. Play in the Sprinkler This one is the most fun when mom joins in, but if you like, you can stay dry and work by a window where you can watch the fun. Water balloons, spray bottles, wading pool and water guns all add to the fun.

Thought of the Day - 49

2011-07-06T23:52:00.000-07:00

Summer Concerts or Outdoor Movies
Many cities sponsor free concerts and sometimes even movies in parks and other outdoor spaces. Keep an eye on the local paper to find out if this happens in your area

Thought of the Day - 48

2011-07-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

Go to Costco. This might sound funny but if you are really desperate to get out of the house take a trip to Costco for lunch. You can't beat their $1.50 hot dog and soda and when you are finished with lunch walk around and try all the samples.

Thought of the Day - 47

2011-07-04T10:03:00.000-07:00

Head over to the nearest Bass Pro Shop to catch the last of the Family Summer Camp 2011. This Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday there will be crafts and fun activities for the kids. My kids had a blast last Saturday making birdhouses and shooting a bb gun. We got free samples of fudge too! We made a day of it and while we there we even booked a vacation but that is another post.

Thought of the Day - 46

2011-07-03T08:00:00.001-07:00

Join Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program: Kids earn a free book when they read 8 books. Grades 1-6.

Another Summer Dessert

2011-07-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

Apple Pie on a Stick. This was by far my hubby's favorite dessert on our camping trip. He knew I was making S'more but when I brought out the apples on a stick to roast over the fire he looked at me like I was crazy. It only took one bite to change his mind. He said this was just like biting into warm dutch apple pie. This is how we did it.

What you need:
Sticks for roasting
apples, preferably the ones used for baking
sugar
cinnamon

Mix the sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl. You can make this way in advance which is nice if you are camping. Place your apple on your stick but make sure it is on there good. I suggest using a 2 prong roasting stick. place your apple over the fire and rotate it until it is dark brown.

Remove it from the fire. Carefully remove the apple from the stick. It will be very hot so remember to pack a pot holder if you are camping. Using a fork, peel the apple. Once you have most of the skin removed roll the apple in the sugar mixture. Now at this point you can do 1 of 2 things. You could eat it as is, which is the way I like it or you could place it back over the fire to roast e few minutes longer so the sugar and cinnamon can caramelize. Either way just be careful not to drop your apple. The first night I didn't get to eat my apple because I dropped it on the ground! The next night my mom did the same thing!

Thought of the Day - 45

2011-07-02T11:09:00.000-07:00

Head over to the Library. I don't know about your library but our county libraries have free, fun activities all summer long. The have a reading program for the children as well as the adults were you can earn some neat little prizes. Last year they even tie dyed shirts! You can rent movies cheap. So get over to your library and "checkout" the fun!

Fun and Cheap Summer Desserts

2011-07-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I blogged about camping and how I had a special surprise dessert planned every night. I thought I would share them with you folks and give some suggestions on what worked for us and what didn't. You don't have to go camping to enjoy these treats. All these can be made in your home but the ones that require fire you might want to wait until the winter and try it in the fireplace. And if you are worried about cooking something in your fireplace don't. If Mrs. Ingalls can do it so can we, just do so at your own risk (I can see someone catching their house on fire trying this and then pointing to me. lol).

Dessert #1 Peanut Butter and banana S'mores
I know this is a staple for camping with children but I had to kick it up a notch. I can't do anything normal!

1 bag marshmallows
graham crackers
chocolate bars
peanut butter
sliced banana

I think most people know how to make S'mores so I am just going to give some tips instead of giving complete directions.

We found these "campfire" marshmallows. They are huge and I thought they would be great. I was wrong. they were hard to cook all the way through, caught on fire easier and were harder to get off the stick. It was almost to much marshmallow. Next time I will stick with the normal sized one.

Next, I find the best way to roast the marshmallows is slowly rotate it OVER the fire, not in it. Now my mom loves the burn, black "shell" that comes from sticking it directly in the fire but I personally don't. I like to get mine evenly brown.

Lastly I suggest you prepare the graham crackers before you roast and to stagger the people who are roasting. If you don't, before you know it you'll have 6 people wanting to make their S'mores at the same time. Remember I did this while camping so I came prepared as well. I brought a large cookie sheet where I could lay out 8 set at a time.

This is how I assembled my upgraded version.
I spread peanut butter on the bottom graham cracker followed by the chocolate candy bar. On top of the bar I placed sliced banana. Then I finished it with the roasted marshmallow and the top cracker. It was a hit!

Thought of the Day - 44

2011-07-01T10:12:00.000-07:00

I have decided that July I will be giving tips on how to have a fun filled, free or nearly free summer. I hope that you guys decided to get out there this summer with your children and have some fun! My children have been out of school for 4 whole weeks now. We have done more in those 4 weeks than we have in the past 4 summers and we still have a tons more to do.

So my first tip for a fun summer is to find camping fun, if you don't already. We just got back from camping and boy did we have fun. Yes it was a lot of work especially with 5 children but it was worth it. As many of you know I am not really that fond being outdoors. I prefer air conditioning and being bug free. With that said I can tell you I had a blast. I am forcing myself to like the outdoors like I use to as a child. I use to love to fish and camp. That all changed when I got married and started a family. The last time I went camping my oldest, who is going to be 14 this month, was 2. The hubby and I decided that was not so much fun since we had to sleep on the ground, it was freezing and I hated feeling dirty. Before this last weekend the only time we went "camping" we went in an RV.

I can tell you that no matter the inconvenience or how uncomfortable we were at times there was nothing like seeing how happy the children and how much fun they were having! I made it very exciting for me by planning a surprise dessert every night. I can't wait for our next trip. We ALL want to go camping again THIS SUMMER. The best part is how cheap it was. So do some research on the camp grounds in your area to find the best prices, pack a cooler and find a tent to borrow if you don't already have one and get camping. For those of you who live in my area I will loan out all our gear. That is if we aren't already using it!

Thought of the Day - 43

2011-06-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

Shaving pennies off all your car-related expenses may seem a little extreme, but once you add them up, you'll discover that you're making some hefty savings. Remember: Don't become obsessed with prices and with getting the best deal on every item, but make sure you shop around and use your negotiation skills when needed.

Thought of the Day - 42

2011-06-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

Motorcycling. Motorcycles average 56 mpg—and motor scooters do even better. For one person or even two, motorcycles or scooters clearly use far less energy than a car with one or two people. If four people need to go somewhere, they are better off in a vehicle that gets 30 mpg than on two motorcycles that get 56 mpg. Again if I can get my motorcycle license so can you. Just rmemeber Load pipes saves lives!

Thought of the Day - 40

2011-06-28T11:26:00.000-07:00

If possible, try to keep windows and sunroofs closed especially at high speeds. Use the built in ventilation system for fresh air for optimum aerodynamics.

Thought of the Day - 40

2011-06-27T19:49:00.000-07:00

1. Use Overdrive Gear. If available, use your vehicle‘s overdrive gear to reduce engine speed, which will enable you to save gas and reduce engine wear.

Thought of the Day - 39

2011-06-26T09:53:00.000-07:00

Turn Down the Air. Operating the air conditioner on "Max" can reduce mpg by 5 – 25% compared to not using it. My hubby always uses 2 55 AC. 2 windows rolled down going 55mph and we live in a desert!

Thought of the Day - 38

2011-06-25T09:48:00.000-07:00

Size does matter. The smallest cars are the cheapest to rent and usually the cheapest to buy and the least to fill up at the tank. But remember to think about your needs. If you have a big family or your go camping a lot make sure you get a car that will hold all your gear.