CVS Savings

Our town, city, whatever you want to call it -- just had its first CVS open. I already had my little red card and couldn't wait for them to open. It's been two weeks now and I'm enjoying saving money. The clerk today was impressed with the saving both Little Miss Muffet and myself enjoyed. I checked out first. I gave the clerk my coupon with my updated email address on it. For doing that, I will receive a coupon worth either $5 or $10 off $20. Last time I was in I received a coupon for a free CVS brand toothbrush. She rang up my purchases, some things were cheaper because I used my CVS card and I had coupons to use also. Everything totaled over $65 dollars. I had ECB's and my final total was $29. I purchased some pencil bags that were on sale but didn't ring up the sale price. The clerk and I discussed it throughout the sale. No ECB's and the sale price didn't ring up. She refunded the difference to me and I ended up paying about $22. I received $9 in ECB's and the $5 or $10 is on it's way. Next LMM made her purchase -- some sunglasses she had been wanting and looked at every time we have been in the store. If you purchase sunglasses, you receive a $5 ECB. She wanted some hair care products and they were $5.99 before tax. She did a second transaction (the assistant store manager told us during our first store visit that we could do this and they encourage their customers to in order to save money); she used her $5 just received ECB and her total due was $1.07. When paying for her sunglasses, she used a prepaid debit card that was a Christmas present that she had forgotten about. The only money really out of her pocket was the $1.07.

Little Boy Blue helped his grandfather today at his shop. One of his employees gave LBB a hammer that a vendor left with them. He was thrilled with his hammer. He explained that after the vendor uses it a bit and begins to show signs of wear, they give them the hammer.

We stopped by a furniture clearance store. They are having a huge sale because they are closing. Head and foot boards without side rails were $5 a piece. I really wanted to buy some. I tried to figure out something I could do to repurpose them. No ideas came to mind, so I left empty handed. There were some excellent deals. A coffee table was $9.99 -- it was a little rough around the edges and needed to be restained and varnished. A pretty good investment for a $299 coffee table. I passed on this also. The coffee table swiveled and I was afraid it may break soon. I may go back another day and find something but there were great deals throughout the store; somehow, those great deals must have been meant for someone other than me.

All in all, I think we had a pretty frugal day. Not buying something that I wouldn't/couldn't use counts!!

Leave a comment if you have any ideas to repurpose some really pretty, ornate head and foot boards.

Have a blessed day!!

Spring = Prom

Thursday and Friday we decorated for prom. I really didn't want to not have school those two days but in order to help it was necessary. I reminded myself that after these two days, we weren't going to have prom committee meetings after this week -- so it made it a little easier. Of course there were lessons learned during those two days and the rewards that were reaped were priceless.

Prom was such a special time. It began with dinner at a Bennihana type restaurant. Party of 18! Some were parents, some had dates, some didn't. It didn't matter. Everyone had a nice time and the food was fabulous and everyone looked beautiful and handsome.

Next was prom itself. What a wonderful memory filled night for my whole family. My dear husband and I learned to dance via the dance instructor and Little Miss Muffett and Little Boy Blue were dance partners for a time during the lessons. Later my dear husband and LMM danced. I wished I would have seen it but I was attending to one of my duties in the kitchen. There were pictures galore. There were pictures, punch, and a King and Queen.

Afterward, everyone (almost) went bowling. The girls looked just beautiful in their sportier clothes with all the curls and updo hairstyles. Yes, some girls even bowled in their formal dresses. They bowled until it was time to shut the doors. At the end, another mom and I passed by the security guard, he complimented our group on how well behaved everyone was. There were 12 lanes. I agree, the children were very well behaved but still had tons of fun.

Anyone that wonders if homeschooled children miss out, my answer remains the same as it has always been - they only miss the junk that no one needs. Yes, this was a homeschool prom and it was a blast. Realizing that not everyone dances and not all children may be allowed to attend the prom, it was still okay because they were able to attend the bowling festivities.

Cherish the special time and moments with your children. They grow up so fast.