This week I didn’t get quite as much as last week and I didn’t take any pictures because I’m too warm to get up again. LOL  There was someone new there this week selling goat cheese and other organic items but I didn’t really need anything she offered so I didn’t check her prices.  I’m kicking myself but Oh Well!!

I did get a huge head of lettuce for $1 at one stand and at the one with my favorite guy we got 2lbs of zucchini, 5 big apples and a pound of baby carrots for $5.

I didn’t do quite as well but it is still better than in my grocery store.  And I rather support the local growers and sellers.  So do you go to your local farmer’s market?  We have several around but I don’t like having to drive out of the way to shop.  If we are headed out to Home Depot than I stop at the Farmer’s Market at Whole Foods or if Dave and I are out running errands on Sunday we might hit the one in Celebration but sometimes there prices are a bit high.

You can search online if you don’t know of a local farmer’s market and then just plan your errands around the times they are open.  Oh and if you are driving be sure to toss the cooler in the car then you don’t have to run straight home.

I wasn’t planning on stopping at Target but we did on the waqy home from the Lego store where Shawn built a free lobster.

Here’s what I got:

• 4 Kashi Cereal Cups $1 each -$1 TQ=FREE
• 4 Smart Ones Meals $1.80 -$1TQ -$2/4 mq =.30 each
• 1 Coke for Dave  $1.39
• Leapfrog Didj Clearanced to $17.48
• Hot Wheels Track Set $4.86

The Didj is something Dave and I have been talking about maybe getting Shawn for Christmas.  At 75% off it wasn’t even a question it’s put away for Christmas and we just need to pick up a couple games for it now.  The track was also 75% off so that will go in the gift pile as a Christmas or Birthday gift.

Total OOP was $26.59 which isn’t too bad considering I got 2 gifts out of the way.  I’m very excited about the Didj in case you couldn’t tell it’s something we were considering purchasing and I didn’t have to pay the $69.99 for it.

So my phone just reminded me that at my local Lego store from 5-7pm there will be a free building event for kids 6 and up.  My son isn’t 6 but what’s a little white lie when he loves building with legos?  LOL

You can check on Lego’s website for in store events to see what time and day your store is participating.  We did last months and Shawn built an American Flag today it will be a lobster.

So if you have a Lego store nearby take the kids to build your free lobster.

Through August 10th there’s a great deal on all entertainment books.  It’s not to late to get some great deals out of these books so if you don’t have one or you think you might want another one go here and sign up to receive yours for just $9.99

I love when CVS has happy accidents in my favor especially since they are forcing me to pay tax now.  I’m not at all happy about that I’ve always been able to pay pennies for my CVS deals and now I have to cover the taxes which I suppose is fine but I don’t like change like that.  LOL  So here’s my pillaging and plundering I’ll highlight the happy accidents I did 4 transactions 2 on my card 2 on Dave’s card

#1

• Vitamin Water10 Orange $1.25

Used $1.25 ECB Paid .09 tax and received a $3 ECB

#2

• 4 Lysol Neutra Air $12 -$6 MQ
• 2 Electrasol $9 -$5 MQ
• 1 VitaminWater10 Lemonade $1.25 (doesn’t work)
• 2 Stayfree $10 -$5MQ
• 2 Benefiber Plus Calcium $6.14  -$4mq
• 2 Softsoap $9.98  -$4mq

Used $23.75 ECB’s and paid $3.04 (I hate paying tax) Received $29 in ECB’s.  The Benefiber rang up clearance $3.07 and it’s still giving the $3 ECB so with a coupon it’s a money maker.

#3 Dave’s Card

• VitaminWater10 Orange $1.25
• Reese Peanut Butter Cup .89

Used $1.98 ECB, paid .31 and received a $3 ECB

#4 Dave’s Card

• 1 VitaminWater10 Orange $1.25
• 2 Stayfree $10  -$5mq
• 1 Benefiber $3.07  -$2mq
• 2 Softsoap $9.98  -$4mq

Used $14.96 in ECB’s and paid $1.49 (did I mention I hate having to pay tax) and received $19 in ECB’s

I can’t guarantee that the Vitamin Water deal will work for long they tend to fix these deals pretty quickly and it doesn’t work on all flavors.  Please feel free to share about your CVS shopping this week and let me know if you have to pay tax now too.

There’s more free school supplies until Tuesday at CVS so go get your stuff or your rainchecks.  Here’s what you need to get.

CVS eraser, glue stick, or sticky pads  .99 limit 2

CVS  1 subject notebook 70-80 sheets  .99 limit 2

CVS pencils 10ct or 20ct ball point pens  .99 limit 2

CVS compass or protractor 1.50  limit 2

CVS Scissors  2.99  limit 2

CVS Flexi Ruler  .99 limit 2

CVS Stretchable Book Cover .99  limit 2

2 pocket Folder .49  limit 2

I’ll post about the rest of the CVS deals later once I figure out what I need to get.  But go and get your free school supplies or your rainchecks for the freebies.

Precious over at Frugal Makes Cents started a Money Saving Challenge a few months ago and I was excited and onboard from the get go.  She has some great ideas on how to save lots of money on a fixed budget.  Well for July I kinda slacked on the challenge.  We have been busy busy busy and I’ve done all right but not great.  So here we are, I’m renewed with ambition and drive to get my savings account full and get on the way to my goals.  Here’s a list of my resolutions:

1. I will “buy” anything that is free, especially if I can sell it in my upcoming yardsale.

2. I will not drive out of my way for a deal.  I’m blessed to have a CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Publix, WinnDixie, and Sweetbay all within 2 miles of my house and a Target about 5 miles away.  I’m also blessed in that my mother in law was able to add us on to her BJ’s membership for $10 and it’s about 15 miles away.  Gas there yesterday was 13 cents cheaper than the gas station across the street so we’ll make one trip a week to get what I need at BJ’s and gas with the perks of a whole shopping plaza right there.

3. I will keep my coupons better organized.  After all a gal can’t save as much when the coupons are a mess.

4. We will consolidate all our trips into 1 day or 2 at the most (for weeks Shawn builds at Home Depot) a week.  I will also pack snacks and drinks for those longer shopping trips to save that cost.

5. I will not sacrifice on food!!!  Dave and I would both like to lose a little weight so I will not buy crap food to eat every day just because it’s cheaper.  We used to eat Banquet meals and Ramen Noodles when trying to save money (before couponing) but not anymore.  We’ll still eat well and I’ll find the deals on the healthier options that we want.

6. I won’t spend money on it if I can make it or substitute  something else for it.  I’ve started making bread which is working out to  be relatively cheap since I can get my supplies at BJ’s

7. If there’s a free sample I’m getting it.  The more free samples we receive the more coupons I’ll get and the more products I’ll have for my next yard sale.

8. I’ll get my butt moving and start selling off some of the crap we have around here that I can on ebay or craiglist.

9. I’ll be blogging more.  Be on the look out for my Frugal Crafty Gifts series as well as posts about how to monetize your blog, making money at home, and some in depth looks into what is really cheaper.

I’ll probably have more goals and challenges to add to this but this is my start for the month.

Do you have a goal you are trying to save for?  Are you just looking for some saving support?  Please let me know, we can support each other through this.  If you’ve got a blog leave a link to it and I’ll get a sidebar up and add you to it, if you don’t have a blog drop by and let us know how you are doing.