Wednesday, May 30, 2012

A Much Needed Mini Vacation

Saturday, I headed up to Western NY to visit my family (Dan and the pups stayed home).  The visit was mostly just hanging out which was definitely what I needed.

I ended up taking the new car because the Jeep is now leaking gas.  Yes - still not fixed.  Two weeks ago, it was back at the shop because of the gas fumes.  The body shop said that the gasket was bad and they fixed it.  Two weeks later, I fill it up and the fumes are still there and even worse after leaving the gararge door open all night.  I look underneath and there's a puddle of gas.  That's new.  I had already called the shop on Friday to tell them it needed to come back in - that was before I saw the puddle.

I did do some driving around to different cemeteries when I was "home" to get pictures of my ancestors headstones.  I have started to use Find a Grave in my genealogy research.  I can remember visiting the cemeteries before - it's just been so long and back then I didn't take pictures of the headstones.

My brother is going through chemo again and this time it is really wearing on him.  He's in a lot of pain and is very tired.  He's aged a lot this time.  When I look at him, I see my 90 year old aunt (skinny, hard to move around, soft spoken) - he's only 54.  He keeps fighting and the doctors feel that he is on the right track.  He is stable and hopefully this round will kick the problem out of his lymph nodes.

Today, is hanging out with hubby - it's his birthday.  We are going to go geocaching and to the movies - a nice relaxing day.

I can be found on Ancestory.com at rmcwentz and at Findagrave.com at rmcwentz

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Savings Summary Saturday - May 26, 2012

This is for the last 2 weeks since I didn't get around to posting last Saturday.

Grocery Shopping (and other savings) this week:
  • CVS shopping highlights
    • (2) Kraft bbq sauce - on sale for $1 used $1/2 - 50 cents each
    • (2) Gain dish soap - on sale for 1 - used $1/2 - 50 cents each
    • (2) Secret deodorant - clearance for $1.74 - used $1/1 - 74 cents each
    • Allegra - on sale for $17.99 - used $5/1 manufacturer coupon and $4/1 CVS coupon
  • Money made on yardsale - $70.
  • Office Depot
    • dropped off 9 toners from work - the cashier was great & ringed me in for 10 toners!
    • Used my rewards to get the following & paid only $12.33
      • toner ($29.99)
      • kitchen trash bags ($16.99)
      • (larger) binder for my coupons ($18.49)
Gas Savings:
  • saved 70 cents per gallon at Shell using my Giant card plus 2 cents per gallon by using my Shell Supersaver
  • Hubby used our Exxon credit card, which will have points towards Upromise.
Things we got in the mail:
  • Entertainment Weekly (mycokesrewards.com)
  • Fitness Magazine (goldrewards.com)
  • Tide pod sample
  • coupon for Dole salad from Giant food Shape magazine
  • Office Depot work rewards coupon for $43.61
  • Olay skin test from P&G
Rewards programs:
MyPoints (personal account) - 12787 points (12727 points -last week)
MyPoints (coupon account) - 3320 points (3290 points-last week)
Swagbucks - 2604 points (2500 points-last week)
Listia - credits 14157 credits (14157 credits last week) $0 paid out (when buying credits it is $0.10/credit) - I haven't posted anything on here lately.
Postpoints -2940 points (2925 points last week) - I keep forgetting to log on this daily!
mycokerewards - 4859 points (4742 points-last week)
Bondrewards - $25.91 ($25.71 last week)
Upromise - $16.03 ($15.59 last week) available for transfer
Capital One Rewards - locked out (3591 miles-last week) - haven't gotten around to unlocking the account :P
Thanks Again - 898 points (898 points last week)
Viggle - 55,165 points (55,152 points - last week) - haven't really been checking in
NCP - 39920 points (39200 points last week)

New Year, New Goals - (I need to get on this!!!!)
  • Use rewards programs to get gifts and daily stuff - no action this week
  • Use Restaurant.com coupons - no action this week.
  • Buy a New Car - BOUGHT IT! (BTW - paid cash for this).
  • Set up an Estate - no action this week
  • Monthly Review/Net Worth (new as of 5/9/12) - I saw this idea on Couple Money. I don't take enough time to review our net worth and keep track on how we are doing.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

And the Race Begins

This fella was in the alley way when I pulled out of the garage this morning.  A couple of years ago, we had an influx of turtles - I wonder if this is going to happen again this year.

Just crazy how the bunnies and the turtles all come out together - I guess that's how the fable got it's start.


BTW - he moved faster than the baby bunny.  I went to pick him up and he wasn't afaid at all - just started to "run" from me. 

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Savings Summary Saturday - May 12, 2012

Grocery Shopping (and other savings) this week:
  • Saved 37% this week ($69.28 saved).  Some highlights:
    • Texas Toast  Croutons - on sale for $1.  Used 50 cent/1 which was doubled = FREE!
    • Colgate Toothpaste - on sale for $3.  Used $1/1 = $2 paid
    • Cheerios - on sale for $3.  used 50 cent/1 which was doubled = $2 paid
    • arm & hammer laudry detergent - BOGO.  used $1/2 = $3.30 each
    • Thomas Bagels were 50% off - stocked up on those since that's my normal breakfast
    • Store brand pizzas were $2.50 each - stocked up on those too since we eat pizza every weekend.
    • Weight Watchers frozen meals - on sale for $2 each.  Used $3/6 = $1.50 each
I've had better shopping trips.  I did buy a couple of things that were BOGO and didn't have coupons for, some store brand items & produce.
  • worked on preparing for the Community Yard Sale on May 19.
    • organized and priced items in our storage area that are ready for selling
Gas Savings:
  • Saved 10 cents per gallon with the Giant Card at Shell.  Also used the Shell SuperSaver card which saves an additional 2 cents per gallon.
  • Hubby used our Exxon credit card, which will have points towards Upromise.
Things we got in the mail:
  • Entertainment Weekly (from Mycokerewards.com)
  • Got my Kindle Fire in the mail!  I did spend like $32 on a nice holder (saved 10% with my airport employee discount!).
  • DVD from Swapadvd.com
  • Unclaimed Property check - $640
Rewards programs:
MyPoints (personal account) - 12727 points (12602 points -last week)
MyPoints (coupon account) -  3290 points (3290 points-last week)
Swagbucks - 2500 points (2500 points-last week)
Listia - 14157 credits (14157 credits last week) $0 paid out (when buying credits it is $0.10/credit)
Postpoints -2925 points (2905 points last week)
mycokerewards - 4742 points (4651 points-last week)
Bondrewards - $25.71 ($25.56 last week)
Upromise - $15.59 ($15.59 last week) available for transfer
Capital One Rewards - locked out (3591 miles-last week)
Thanks Again - 898 points (871 points last week)
Viggle - 55,152 points (55,152 points - last week)
NCP - 39200 points (38965 points last week)

New Year, New Goals
  • Use rewards programs to get gifts and daily stuff - no action this week
  • Use Restaurant.com coupons - no action this week.
  • Buy a New Car - BOUGHT IT! (BTW - paid cash for this).
  • Set up an Estate - no action this week
  • Monthly Review/Net Worth (new as of 5/9/12) - I saw this idea on Couple Money.  I don't take enough time to review our net worth and keep track on how we are doing.

Friday, May 11, 2012

The Importance of Teaching Your Dog "Drop"

What an eventful evening last night.

First of all, the jeep is back in the shop.  When I fill the tank, it REAKS - inside the car when I drive away from the gas station and then stinks up the garage for about 3 days afterwards.  Last night we left the garage door open just to air it out.

Back to the rental (a Jeep Patriot this time).  Anyway, I didn't have a garage door opener so I stopped out front of the house, ran around back, let the pups out, opened the garage and drove around.

When I was in the garage, I heard this SQUEAK, SQUEAK, SQUEAK!  I run out to the yard and Esa has a baby rabbit.  Immediately I yell -

DROP!

She does and I grab her collar to pull her inside.  Zed, in the meantime, is wondering "What the hell is going on?  What is it?" and is trying to sniff the bunny.  I get him in and run back outside to check on the bunny and see if I can get him back through the fence.  Finally he got through the fence and just inside the neighbor's yard.

A little later, I went out with the pups, armed with a spray bottle.  They were sniffing all over the place, but seemed to be over it.  Bunny gone.  I could see him.  Still breathing.  Mama bunny had come over and checked on him.  First time I went out she was about 2 feet from him and then the next time on the other side of the neighbor's yard, but still watching.


I figured crisis averted.  Not quite.  I let Esa stay out (since she seemed to be over it), but next thing I know - SQUEAK, SQUEAK, SQUEAK!  I run out and say DROP! and the bunny goes into my flower bed.  Great - even farther from the fence, but still alive.

Pups are back inside and about 30 minutes later, I went to check on the bunny and it wasn't there or it was totally nested there.  Esa couldn't find it the rest of the night, so I'm thinking it went back to the neighbors.

We knew the nest was next door.  Esa had noticed it about 2 weeks ago and started barking at it.  I didn't even think the bunnies would make it over to our yard especially since the dogs hang out on that side of the house.

This isn't the first time Esa has gotten a bunny either.  The first year or two when we got her, she did the same thing - mouthed it and threw it in the air.  Didn't hurt that one either.

So THAT was my evening and the reason it is important to teach your dog the drop command.  You may save a bunny's life.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Saving Summary Saturday - May 5, 2012

Grocery Shopping (and other savings) this week:
  • grocery deals
    • Used $7 in Extra Care Bucks at CVS.
I didn't do too much shopping this week because work as been crazy.  Dan went and got some stuff that we needed, but that was it.

Gas Savings:
  • Hubby used our Exxon credit card, which will have points towards Upromise.
Things we got in the mail:
  • Entertainment Weekly (from Mycokerewards.com)
  • Martha Stewart's Living (rewardsgold)
  • Fitness (rewardsgold)
Rewards programs:
MyPoints (personal account) - 12632 points (12602 points -last week)
MyPoints (coupon account) -  3290 points (3285 points-last week)
Swagbucks - 2500 points (2490 points-last week)
Listia - (14157 credits last week) $0 paid out (when buying credits it is $0.10/credit)
Postpoints -2905 points (2900 points last week)
mycokerewards - 4651 points (4621 points-last week)
Bondrewards -($25.56 last week)
Upromise - ($15.59 last week) available for transfer
Capital One Rewards - locked out (3591 miles-last week)
Thanks Again - 871 points (808 points last week)
Viggle - 55,152 points (54972 points - last week)
NCP - (38965 points last week)

New Year, New Goals
  • Use rewards programs to get gifts and daily stuff - no action this week
  • Use Restaurant.com coupons - no action this week.
  • Buy a New Car - BOUGHT IT!
  • Set up an Estate - no action this week