Getting Geared Up to Save As Much Money As Possible!

A couple of major things were taken care of by me today! Besides continuing to organize rooms in this home and put things away out of boxes, I went down and did the walk through at the apartment today and turned it back over to the owners of the complex. Since it was immaculate, we are getting our entire deposit back.  It is a very nice feeling to be done paying for that and all of the utility bills associated with it. Now we can just concentrate on our home!

After I did that, I went to Dicks Sporting Goods and purchased my treadmill at 50% off.  Since I belong to the Score Card Program there, I earned $30.00 in rewards today and I am close to getting another $10.00 Reward.  Tonight DH and my son will carry it into the exercise room so that DH can get it put together. I may have to borrow a neighbor too. It weighs 255 lbs. I will be very happy when I can get up in the morning and do my warm ups and get on the treadmill for 30 minutes.

Just about everything has been purchased for the inside of the house that I wanted except for some large plants and some decorative pieces. The air conditioning and humidifier will be installed tommorow. Then as soon as the builder finishes the grading and puts in my sidewalk, we can have the landscaper do his thing, another hired company do the final grading for the lawn and hydroseed it, and our hardscape company put in the patio and column, light and wall out front. We have set aside the money that that will cost. Then DH can buy the grill. I am so craving a steak grilled outdoors. We were so used to just grilling them all year round in AZ. I am steak deprived. I made DH take me out to Shamus a few weeks ago for twin filet mignons because I was so deprived.    

Just when I didn't think today could get any better, DH was balancing the checking account and he noticed that the IRS deposited our large return today. Yeah! I really wasn't expecting that for another 4 weeks. 

So now I am pretty well set to switch gears on May 1st and start really saving instead spending. We will be do our very best to keep an eye on everything so that we can watch our net worth grow rapidly.  I will be blogging about it and hope that those of you are in the mood to do the same will share with all of us what you are doing. We can learn alot from each other.        

A Hectic Day!

There is nothing that Precious likes worse than getting up with an alarm ringing! But today I needed to have one so that I would get to the apartment on time to meet The Merry Maids who I hired to  spring clean it for me so that it would be ready to turn over to the complex office people tomorrow.

So I was up early to accomplish what I had to around here like getting chicken in the crockpot for dinner tonight. Then I double checked my errand list to make sure that I had everything I needed before I went out the door. 

The Merry Maids arrived and knowing that I had left the cleaning in good hands, I was off to run errands for 3 hours.

In the picture are a few of the deals that I picked up while I was down that way. Here are the deals:

CVS:

2 - 30 oz Hellmans Mayonaise - 2 for $ 6.00 - Used $ 1./2 IP Cpn = $ 5.00
1 - 12 pack of Scott Toilet Tissue - $ 6.99

Used $ 12.00 in ECBs

Total OOP was $ .04 including tax!

Target:

2 Special K Multi Grain Crackers - $ 1.99 each - Used $1./2 Target Cpn and (2) $1./1 Mfrs. Cpns = $ .49 each
1 Merona Mens Sweater - on clearance for $ 4.98 - Used $ 3.00 Target Cpn on Merona Mens Apparel = $ 1.98

Received $ .05 for using cloth bag

Total OOP was $ 2.91 plus tax of $ .09 = $ 3.00!

Rite Aid:

1st Store:

2 - 60 Ct. Rite Aid Tall Kitchen Garbage Bags on sale for B1G1F  = $ 6.99 for both

Total OOP was $ .00 because I paid with the last of my Free Bank GC

2nd Store:

2 pair of Foster Grant Sunglasses - $ 17.99 each minus $ 10.00 off on each = $ 7.99 each -   
Used (2) $ 5.00 Rite Aid Video Ad Perk Cpns = $ 2.99 each and I will receive a $4.00 Single Check Rebate

4 Revlon Nail Clippers ( not in picture - already put away into 4 gift baskets I am making) - $ 1.45 each - Used my Wellness 20% Discount on each = $ 1.16 each - Used (4) $ 1./1 Mfrs. Cpns = $ .16 each

Used $ 5./20 Rite Aid Cpn

Total OOP was $ 1.62 plus $ 1.90 in tax = $ 3.52 but I will receive $ 4.00 in Single Check Rebates!

I also picked up some Science Diet Cat Food and a 35 lb. Bonus container of Tidy Cat Scoopable Litter  for kitty at Petsmart using a $5./25 Petco coupon since they take competitors coupons. I grabbed a coffee at Starbucks and used part of the $10. Starbucks GC that I won a while ago to pay for it.  Last stop was at Premier Wine and Liquors to pick up a 6 month supply of Southern Comfort  and wine using my discount card.

Then it was back to the apartment to pay The Merry Maids! They did a great job but more about that later this week.  UPS just delivered my brand new HP All in One Computer two days earlier than I was expecting it and I am anxious to check it out.      

What is Enough for Retirement?

That question is asked alot by many people. The only answer I can give you is that it depends on what you want to do in retirement, how early you retire and how long you think you will live (actuarial tables help here).

If you want to live simply and enjoy your retirement, then I would say add up your everyday expenses for a year and multiply by the number of years you think you will live adjusted for inflation. Of course how many years you will live in retirement is a crap shoot. But I say always be prepared. Make sure that you include in your expenses the replacement costs for appliances, roof on your home, heating and air conditioning systems and all the other things it takes to maintain a home. Also make sure that you have built into your expenses the cost to replace automobiles. Then add to those figures your emergency fund in case of a catastrophe. Things that you didn't expect all come up as we all know.  I would also today account  for what it will cost you with the new National Healthcare Bill passed. Not only will seniors be picking up a greater cost of their healthcare because I believe that medicare will eventually go away but I believe even the people with so called "Cadillac Plans" will pay more because when the tax on those kicks in, the insurers will not pick it up. They will do one of two things: pass the cost on to you or buy a cheaper plan for their employees that pays less and less and more and more out of your pocket.  Any way you slice it, you will end up paying more than you do today. And unless you want to live without some luxuries, you had best build them in also. So it is best to account for all of that in your figures. Now if you retire at 55 and hope to live to 80, you will need to multiply your yearly expense by 25 years. If you have your money invested well and can beat or match yearly inflation figures, then that is the figure you will need.  Unless of course you live to 90! You also have to account for the fact that if you have a lot of money saved that you will pay mega taxes on the money you make on it and the income you draw from your retirement  plans unless you have paid the taxes up front because you have a Roth plan. 

But I hear some of you saying, well what about Social Security? Do you really think it will be there? I doubt it. The national deficit is so huge right now that the government will cut wherever they have to and one of the things that I believe will get cut is Social Security. With all of the baby boomers starting to collect the system is not sustainable. So what I am hearing from an insider is that they are looking at making the system income based for those already collecting and who are about to collect. And that if you are under 50, it will not be there. So if you have an income or investments in retirement above poverty level, I doubt you will get your Social Security or keep it. It was never meant to be what you could live on in retirement anyhow.  So, to be safe, I would not count that into your retirement amount that you need. No one will pay for you in retirement but you! I know that sounds harsh, but it is reality. 

Now, if you want to travel and pay for lavish vacations, own a second home, a boat or any other myriad of luxuries, you will have to account for what that will cost you and add it to your figures.

It used to be that you could count on a pension from your job whether it be working for a private industry or a government job. Pensions are continuing to go away. Many private companies no longer offer them and as governments are dealing with huge deficits, pensions will be affected. States like California, New York, New Jersey and many others are having to cut the pension system to survive. California is in a heap of trouble  trying to pay their pensioners. New York was smart because they paid into a separate pension fund as each employee was working so their Pension Fund is fully funded and can't be raided to pay anything but pensions. Of course, the legislature could change that law at any time.  However they now have started a new Pension Tier and employees will be funding a good portion of their retirements from their own pockets just as they have the 3 Tiers before them. New Jersey is making all kinds of reforms to their pension system. So if I were young, I would not count on getting a pension from anyone. Even if you have a pension, it could easily go away if a state or company goes bankrupt. Counting on it to live is suicide. You have to save to pay your own way.  I repeat: No one one will pay for you in retirement but you.

Having said all of that, you all know that DH and I have been retired for almost 9 years now. You know that DH has a small pension and that we lived frugally all of our lives to save many many dollars so that we could be comfortable in retirement. I have no pension because I was a stay at home Mom for many years and only worked a few years to help pay for private schools and colleges for our sons.  You know from reading my prior retirement posts that we and our children never went without what we felt were the luxuries. We have had a good life and continue to have a very comfortable life because of the planning we did. 

With this new house purchase and all of the furniture and other things like appliances, curtains, blinds and lighting , landscaping, hardscape, lawn, central air conditioning, etc. that we have paid cash for, I am watching our bank and investment balances go down and it is making me nervous. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate that we have the cash to pay for all of this but I also want to know that if we live another 25 or more years that we will have the cash to do it. When I was a little girl growing up, there was lots of love which is the most important thing in life. But love will not feed you. We had lots of love but we were poor and I watched my mother struggle with credit card debt. I made up my mind back then that I would not be poor when I grew up and so DH's and my journey to be comfortable started when we got married. We want to make sure that comfortable journey continues until we are gone. DH and I started with nothing but his student loans when we married.

Some retirees want to spend every dime they own before they die. I still can't figure out how they time it. But that is not our goal. Ours is to build the nestegg as large as possible so that we can live well and still leave our children and grandchildren a nice portion made up of property and cash. So we need to build our savings and investments back to the original levels before we purchased this home and all of the things for it.       

Since we have set aside the amount we need to finish paying for all of the expenses on the house, we know what we have left so we know what we want to build it to. Since we are retired, the only way we can do that is to spend less for our yearly budgeted expenses. So starting May 1st, we will be spending as little as possible so that we can accomplish that next goal. I will be blogging about that journey and how we do it daily. Remember, I have learned all along the journey that it is not only the large expenses that you have to watch, it is all of the little ones that dribble out that can really screw up your budget. So, I hope you all will join me in saving whether it be for your retirement, paying off your debt or saving for another important goal. Hopefully, with  most of our boxes unpacked, I will have time to write my money saving challenge daily dealing what we our doing.  

Our enough may be different from someone else's enough! Set your own goals and you will get there. But remember without a plan, you just keep treading water!    

Deals I See at Wegman's This Week!

Fresh Gold Leaf Chicken Leg Quarters - $ .49 a lb - sold in 10 lb. Bag = $ 4.90

Wegman's Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts - 5 lbs. or more - $ 1.99 a lb.

Wegman's Frozen Haddock Filets - 2lb. bag - $ 5.99 a lb.

60 ct. 3/4" BandAids - $ 1.50 - Use $ 1./1 Mfrs. Cpn ( 4/25 SS) = $ .50

Maxwell House Coffee - $ 1.99 - Use $ 1./1 ( 3/21 SS) = $ .99

Keebler Sandies Cookies - $ 1.99 - Use $ .55/1 Mfrs. Cpn Dbled ( 4/18 RP) = $ .89

Reddi Wip Topping - 7 oz - $ 1.99 - Use $ .50/1 Mfrs. Cpn Dbled (3/28 SS) = $ .99

Old Spice Body Wash - $ 2.99 - Use B1G1F Mfrs. Cpn ( 4/18 RP) = 2 for $ 2.99

Wegman's Cereal - Asst.- $ 1.99

Wegman's Hot Dog or Hamburger Rolls - 14oz. - $ .99

Deals I See at Aldi's This Week!

Lettuce - $ .69

Strawberries - $ 1.19 a lb.

Del Monte Fresh Pineapple - $ 1.79

Roma Tomatoes - $ .79 a lb or $ .99 a pack

Avocados - $ .59

My Tops Shopping!

I ran over to Top's quickly this morning to pick up a few things. This is what I purchased:

2-12 packs of Double Roll Small Steps Toilet Tissue - $ 4.99 each - Used $2./1 Mfrs. Cpns = $ 2.99 each

2- Hersheys Chocolate Milkshakes - $ 1.00 each - Used $ .35/1 IP Cpns Dbled = $ .30 each

2 International Delight Creamers - $ 1.67 each - Used $ .55/1 Mfrs. Cpns Dbled = $ .57 each

1 Large Package of Boneless Sirloin Steaks - $ 2.99 a lb = $ 6.88

2 Oxiclean Power Paks -$ 2.99 each - Used $ 1.50/1 IP Cpns = $ 1.49 each

5 Tops Flavored Waters - $ .79 each = $ 3.95

Total OOP including tax was $ 22.56

ANALYSIS:  

This was a great price for me on toilet tissue. One is for us and one is for my son and DIL whose coupon I stopped to get on the way to Tops.  The milkshakes are a treat for my neighbor's daughter when they are here to visit. We were using our last creamer so I was glad to see this deal. The steaks I grind using my food grinder attachment to my Kitchen Aid stand mixer. This way I can control the fat and pay far less per pound than buying a package of ground sirloin. I use the Oxiclean to soak clothing with stains before I wash them. This was a super price for these. Lastly, I am trying to get  DH to stop drinking cola because it has phosphoric acid which eats your bones. The flavored waters don't so I will be buying those for him.

Tops Deals That I See This Week!

Tops:

1/2 gallon of Tops Milk - $ .99 with Super Cpn and $20. minimum purchase

Loaf of Fresh Italian Bread - $ .79 with Super Cpn and Min.

Crimson Sweet Red Seedless Grapes - $ 99 a lb.

Boneless Sirloin Steak, Beef Loin - 3-4 lb. avg - $ 2.99 a lb.

Breyers 48 oz. Ice Cream - $ 2.49 - $ 1./2 IP Cpn = $ 1.99 each

Tropicana Trop 50 OJ - $ 2.49 - Use $ 1./1 (3/14 RP) = $1.49

Ronzoni Pasta - Asstd.- $ 1.00 - Use $ .50/1 Blinkie Dbled ( does not say DND) = Free

Fresh Express Salad Blends - $ 2.50 - Use $ 1.50/2 ( 2/21 SS) = $ 1.75 each or use $ 2./2 (TP) = $ 1.50 each or $ 1./1 Blinkie = $ 1.50 each

Sargento Shredded Cheese - $ 4. for 2 - Use $ .55/2 Dbled (1/31 SS) = $ 1.45 each

16 oz. International Delights Creamers - $ 1.67 each - Use $ .55/1 Dbled (3/7 SS) = $ .57 each

15 oz. Olivio Spread - $ 2.00 - Use $ .55/1 Dbled (1/3 SS) = $ .90 each

 12 oz. Hersheys Chocolate Milk or Shakes - $ 1.00 - Use $ .35/1 IP Dbled = $ .30 each

Thomas English Muffins on B1G1F - Use $ 1./1 All You Mag Cpn = $ 2.39 for Both

Marcal Small Step 12 or 24 ct. Bath Tissue - $ 4.99 - Use $ 2.00/1 ( 4/25 SS)= $ 2.99

Oxi Clean Power Paks - $ 2.99 - Use $ 1.50/1 IP Cpn = $ 1.49 each

Extreme Frugality!

Is there a definition of extreme frugality? I don't know but if I were to define it I would say doing anything in the name of frugality that most people would go "OOOH"  at or not practice in their daily lives.

I am sure that you have read the stories of people who practice this type of frugality. They buy two ply toilet paper and separate it to make two rolls. They only flush the toilet when it is brown. They advocate, if its yellow, let it mellow. They feel they are clean when they use a towel after they shower, so they only wash the towels once a month.

They crash weddings to get a free meal. Or they go to Sams Club specifically on sample day to make their lunch out of it. They never put their fair share in on a shared check or better yet, they pull out a coupon for their share of the bill. They use up all of their expired cans to make a dish for a potluck supper.

They have funeral homes give them the flowers that the families of the departed don't want.

They turn off the furnace whenever they hear it come on or better yet, they don't turn the furnace on until Thanksgiving or December 1st, no matter how cold they are. They only run their heat until March 31st and then they turn it off no matter how cold they are.

They don't clean because it costs money to buy all of those supplies.

They eat potatoes or eggs as their main entree 4 or 5 nights a week. They reuse tea bags for days to make their cup of tea.

They smoke and stub out their butts to save for another day. They cut their pills in half and only take 1/2 the dose to save money.   

I could go on and on but I am sure that all of you have read stories like this.

I can't even imagine what most of these people are thinking. I suppose we could say that if they are not hurting themselves or their families then what they are doing is okay. However, I don't like extremes and I would never advocate this type of frugality. I have a real problem with some of them because they can hurt people and for most there is a better way. I suppose if you are really destitute and in survival mode, some of these could work for you.

Let's take a closer look at some of these ideas.

In my way of thinking, if you separate two ply toilet paper to make two rolls, you will just use more of it each time. So I don't see where you are really saving any money. It would be better to watch for a rock bottom sale on toilet paper, combine coupons with it and stock up.

Letting the mellow yellow is just too much for me. I can't imagine that they are really saving that much money by not flushing. It would be wiser to upgrade to a low flow toilet or if that is not in the budget, fill a qt. milk jug with water and put in your tank where it will not interfere with the inner workings of the toilet. Each time you flush, you will use that much less water. But again, the savings in my mind is minimal.   
     
I understand the concept that if you are clean when you use a towel after you shower, that the towel doesn't get really dirty. But washing it once a month is taking things way too far. Even if you are clean, you are rubbing skin cells off your body when you dry yourself. To me it is just as easy to throw that used towel in the wash once or twice a week.

Crashing someones wedding to get a free meal is just morally wrong. That couple or their families has to pay for that meal so you are just passing your cost onto someone else. I vehemently draw the line there. This to me is CHEAP!  Going to Sam's Club on sample day and trying something that you might be interested in it is one thing, but  grabbing so many samples as to make a meal out of it is a little overboard. And eating a meal with family or friends and not putting your fair share in on the check or producing a B1G1F coupon for your share is just CHEAP! If you have been invited ahead  of time to be treated for a meal that is different. I have been out with people who have waited to be the last person to put their money in on the tab and they have decided that the tip is too high, so even if they owe $ 20.00, they will add just $ 2. Believe me  when I say that was the last time I would eat out with that person.  I can't even imagine what I would have to say if someone produced a coupon for their share.    

Using expired canned items is dangerous! Those who would do this for a potluck are putting other peoples health at risk.

I suppose if the funeral home can't reuse the flowers because of state laws, it would be okay to take them if the funeral home is in agreement. But this is something, I just could not do. If I can't afford a cheap bouquet of flowers from the grocery store, then I will go without.

Not using heat when you need it is very dangerous. I am sure we have all picked up the newspaper at one time or another and read a story of someone who froze to death in their home because the furnace was not on. When the authorities investigate, they find the furnace was in good repair and could have functioned. Waiting until Thanksgiving or December to turn on the heat in colder climates is just suicidal. I understand the concept of layering clothing to be able to keep the heat at a lower temperature but there has to be moderation in everything. March here in New York is definitely too cold to turn the heat off. It is April 24th today and it is too cold to turn the heat off. It won't run during the day if the temp heats up but you certainly need it at night because it is still freezing then. I have had people tell me their husbands won't let them turn it on till a certain date. In this household if that were the case, I would no longer have a husband. To me that is just putting your family at risk! 

Cleaning supplies can be purchased for free or just pennies after coupons. Or you can make your own for just pennies. People who use this excuse for not cleaning, in my mind, are just plain LAZY!

I actually had a friend whose husband purchased the weekly groceries. He would never allow his wife to go to the supermarket. They always had dozens of eggs that he would buy on sale in the refrigerator. They would have eggs for dinner 4-5 nights a week. He felt he was feeding his family nutritiously on the cheap. I don't remember this family being sick anymore than anyone elses family. They weren't overweight nor did they have high cholestorol problems so I guess if that is the way they wanted to eat, I had no problem with them doing it. But to me, there is moderation in everything. I wouild be pretty bored eating eggs that often and potatoes as the main entree 4-5 times a week would really bother me because potatoes would not be very nutritious- just full of starch and carbs.

Reusing teabags for maybe two to three cups of tea in the same day probably wouldn't hurt you. But using the same teabag a few days in a row would breed bacteria.


We all know that smoking isn't good for you. Giving up the cigarettes would be cheaper. I know that doing that is very difficult. I am an ex- smoker. But it would be so much cheaper and easier than saving your butts.

Cutting pills in half and only taking 1/2 the dose is just downright dangerous to your health. Please don't do that!

Someone once said to me and for the life of me I can't remember who, that they felt my taking navy showers is extreme. For some of you that may be the case. For me it is not. I lived in Arizona for over eight years where water is scarce. They could run out of water in the future. Learning to conserve water is a way of life there. But I will continue to do it because I do not want my grandchildren or their children to run out of water. It is a precious commodity that more people should conserve! I am harming no one by doing it. In case some of you are not familiar with a navy shower, I will explain. You turn on the water to wet down. You turn it off to lather up. You turn it on to rinse the soap off. You repeat these things to wash your hair. We had a button on our showerhead in Arizona which made doing this easy.   We do not have that here.  But since we have instant hot water whenever I turn on the spigot because of the Rinnai Tankless Water Heater, it is easy for me to do. Do I save a bit of money because of this? Most definitely! But the main reason is environmental. 

Some people who practice this extreme frugality may think my reasons not to do it make no sense to them. That is okay...everyone lives the way they want. I just can't justify most of them and putting someone's life at risk or in danger is morally wrong . The same as I paid no mind to someone telling me that my navy shower is extreme. To me it is not and I am hurting no one, so I don't really care what they think.

 This is just my $ .02!  Feel free to leave a comment with your $ .02!

Sorry That The Blog Has Been Down for So Long Today!

I took the blog private for what I thought would only be a few hours today to clean up some old posts and change things around a bit. But you know what they say about the best laid plans........

The builder sent the subcontractor with heavy equipment, lots of dirt and tons of topsoil to be spread on our property today. This was something that couldn't be done until the snows were gone and the ground thawed out a bit.  Rather than end up cutting our cable that has not been buried yet, they unhooked it while they were working. So we had no internet service until a few minutes ago.

I am so happy about this though. As soon as the spread dirt and topsoil dries out, they will come back and do the final grading work. Then we can get our landscaping, our lawn, patio and other hardscape put in. We are still interviewing people to do this. We hope to hire the landscaper and hardscape contractor next week. The landscaper has someone for us to interview and get an estimate from for the lawn to be hydroseeded. 

We also had our last Hunter Douglas shade installed today. The first one was cut wrong. I am glad to have that all done. 

We got an estimate for central air conditioning to be installed and a humidifier to be installed on our furnace from TRS which is the company who installed our upgraded 95% dual stage gas furnace. We were happy with their work on the furnace. We have contracted with them for both the A/C and the humidifier and they will be installed a week from tomorrow.

So things are moving right along now. I will be very happy when there are no more workmen in and out of our house installing things. I will be happy when the last box is unpacked. And I will be most happy when our interior decorator finishes all of those touches. Then I will truly feel like we are home! And our time will finally be our own to just enjoy our family and enjoy life. :-)

 Again, I am sorry that we were down so long today but it couldn't be helped!     

Money Saving Challenge For a Couple of Days!

Here are the things that are saving us money:

- Received a $28.99 Rebate Check from P&G for Prilosec OTC.

- Been experimenting with the Express Dry on on HE dryer. It seems to dry almost every load that I have fully dry.

- DH made himself some tomato pasta soup with lots of spice and hot sauce the other day. There was leftover pasta. So yesterday I made him a tuna & pasta salad for lunch. I had yogurt and strawberries.

- Purchased two Natural Dentist Rinses at Walgreens using RR's.

- Went to the Seafood Store and purchased some haddock. Their prices per lb. are better than Tops and the fish is fresher.   

- The builder had their contractor pave the basecoat of blacktop on our driveway yesterday. We are responsible for hiring and paying for the top coat. Having done our research on prices, we got a smoking deal from the same company to  do the topcoat.

- Still getting estimates for landscaping and hardscape on our property. Another landscaper came yesterday and the company that can build our patio in the backyard and column and wall out front is coming on Monday. Next we will be researching companies who can put in the lawn.

- Received three more of my free magazines in the mail yesterday.

- DH made his meat chili in the crockpot. He made the entire 4 and 1/2 pounds of meat. This will give me many meals to freeze.

- Tomorrow we are going shopping for some items for the house at Bed, Bath and Beyond, so I found all of my coupons for there. We also are going to buy a big screen TV for the great room and a flat screen for our bedroom, so I grabbed our Best Buy coupons too. I am hoping to go to the bank and go to Wegmans also since they are all on our route.

- I now have something to go by to lower our gas and electric bill. It is online today and it is $ 133.88 for the month.  Not bad for such a large home with 10 ft. ceilings in most rooms and 12 ft. ceilings in 2 rooms. But I will do my best to lower it for next month!  

That is it for now. We are still trying to get settled and organized.

As usual feel free to leave a comment and let us know what you are doing to save money.

Breakfast Kitchen Eating Bar!

I am so happy today! Let me tell you why. We upgraded the countertops in the kitchen to hanstone which is a quartz.  When we picked these countertops out, we fell in love with the maple canyon color. We looked at granite also but didn't like any of the choices; plus since we upgraded our kitchen to a really big one, they would have had trouble matching the granite for all of the countertops. Plus this color looks really beautiful with our cherry cupboards that we picked out.

It was delayed because they had trouble cutting it at least twice if not 3 times; it was cut sizewise incorrectly. Then there were delays getting the material to make it from Montreal. Finally, today they delivered and installed the finished product and it fits perfectly and is so beautiful! We were getting frustrated that we would even see it. However, the regional manager made it happen. The boss, the delivery men and the operations manager  all came to install it and make sure it was correct this time. It is and I am thrilled!

Excuse the ladder and any mess you may see in the pictures because we are still unpacking. Tommorrow should be a great day again because all of our purchased furniture is finally being delivered.   I can't wait! 

Money Saving Challenge- The Past Couple of Days

We are still unpacking and DH found more clothes so the washer and dryer has been going all day. They sure have gotten a workout since I bought them. But I have still done a few money saving things the past few days.

- Received 2 free magazines in the mail.

- Received the Jennie - O $ 5.00 Rebate and a $6.00 SCR from Rite Aid. They will get deposited in the bank.

- Shopped at Walgreens and made $ 20.00 after coupons.

- Was looking at my electric and gas utility readings. I am anxious to get our bill because for 25 days we only used 429 KWH and believe me when I say that we have been too busy to turn off lights like we should and the washer and dryer has done at least 40 loads. And we used 59 units(can't remember what they call them) of natural gas. We have an energy star house plus our heat, hot water( Rinnai Tankless) and stove and oven are gas. And of course I have the HE washer and dryer which are electric. So pretty soon I should know what those 25 days cost. I hope we have done well which is what I am thinking.

- I hang or fold the clothes whenever the dryer turns off so that I don't have to waste energy fluffing them again because they were ignored.  

- We have been trying really hard to run a group of errands at once so that we don't waste gasoline because those prices have been skyrocketing. We are at $3.00 per gallon on average now.

-  Ordered a book that I know my DIL has been wanting to read and a Disney Game for the Wii for my grandaughter using Amazon.com Gift Certificates earned through SwagBucks .

-  Have earned 4 Amazon Gift Certificates so far this month from SwagBucks ,

- Included in the price we pay for taxes to the town is garbage service. We are allowed 6 -30 qt. garbage cans or bags a week. Even with all of the stuff that we are unpacking, we are trying to stay within those boundaries.

- I am working on 3 listings for Craiglist- one for our moving boxes, one for our washer and dryer that we brought from AZ, and one for a brand new GE Black Dishwasher still in the box that the builder made us take in the price of the house but we are not using since we bought our own Bosch. That should make some house replacement money!
          
- DH is still buying a lot of things that we need at Home Depot and using 10% off Lowes coupons and $10.00 off Ace Coupons.

- Used two Free Coupons today to pick up a 20 oz. Diet Coke and a Vitamin water for DH.

- DH and got three more landscaper references to get estimates from to get all the work we want done as soon as the grading work is done and the driveway is paved on our property. Four estimates will also give us an idea of the quality of job we will get just by talking with the people for a couple of hours.

- Hemmed a pair of pants myself.

- I have been researching dry cleaners and looking for coupons since I have about 20 items that need dry cleaning and to be put away until next winter. I am trying to decide if I should try Dryel instead.

- We are eating our meals at home cooking from scratch. I made us the best omelets for breakfast this morning using eggs, tomatoes, sauteed onions, diced ham, and diced broccoli.

- DH and I took a very nice walk for exercise and chatted with a few neighbors. Everyone in here is so nice. You can't even drive out of here and pass someone without them smiling and waving.

That is about it for the past few days. Please feel free to leave a comment and share with everyone what you have been doing to save money these past couple of days. 

This Week's Menu Plan For Me

Sunday - Roast Chicken, Sweet Potatoes, Squash, Corn, Tossed Salad, Asparagus and a nice glass of wine at  my son and DIL's home. It was delicious! Thanks to them!

Monday - Chef's Salad, Banana Salad

Tuesday - Grilled Tuna Steaks, Broccoli and Carrots, Tossed Salad

Wednesday - Low Calorie Chicken Skillet (Recipe), Sauteed Carrots and Onions

Thursday - DH's Famous Meat Chili, DH will have rice, I will have a few terra Chips, tossed salad

Friday - Baked Haddock, Sweet Potatoes, Broccoli 

Saturday - Leftover Chili on rice for DH, terra chips for me    

Tops ( UGH!), Aldi's and Walgreens!

This is the shopping I did today:

Tops:

1- 12 pack of Double Roll Cottonelle - $ 6.99 - Used $ 1./1 Mfrs. Cpn = $ 5.99 ( The $3.49 sale in the paper was a misprint! UGH!)

2 Ortega Taco Sauce - $ 1.89 each = $ 3.78 - Used $ 1./2 Mfrs. Cpn = $ 2.78 for both

1 dozen Medium Eggs - $ .69

3  cans Bumble Bee Albacore Solid White Tuna - $ .99 each

2 Bags of Dunkin Donuts Coffee - $ 7.99 each = $ 15.98 - Used $ 1.50/2 Mfrs. Cpn = $ 14.48

1 Pkg. of 80% Lean Ground Beef - $ 13.96 ( For DH's Chili this week) - 73% Lean was a lot cheaper but we don't like all the fat.

1 Upstate Farms FF Milk - $ 1.65 - Used $ .25/1 Mfrs. Cpn Dbled = $ 1.15

3 lbs. Onions ( For Chili) - $ 2.49

1 Large Cantaloupe - $ .99

Total OOP was $ 45.98

Tops has stopped taking the $ 1.50 Coupon from Wholly Guacamole's Website for the Challenge even though Tops Corporate Policy states they will take them. I hate this store because they change the rules daily. I will be calling corporate again!  


Aldi's:

2 LB. Packages of Fresh Strawberries - $ 1.19 each = $ 2.38

1 Pkg of Broccoli Crowns - $ .99

Total OOP was $ 3.37


Walgreens ( I did 4 separate transactions but will show them as one.):

4 - 120 ct. Bottles of Natures Bounty 1000 IU. Vitamin D - $ 5.00 each - I used a $ 5.00 Coupon on each from Natures Bounty Rewards = $ .00 ( there is no tax in NY on vitamins) and I received a $ 5.00 RR for each. So I made $ 20.00 and have 4 bottles of Vitamin D to add to my stockpile. 

I know I said I wouldn't be shopping at Walgreens but it wasn't too far from Aldi's and Vitamin D is one of the Vitamins that my Doctor is requiring me to take. I could not pass up this moneymaker. Now all I have to remember to do is use up the $ 20.00 in RR's by their expiration date.      
    

Aldi's Deals Starting April 18

These are great Aldi's Deals:

- Strawberries - $ 1.19 a lb.

- Dole Bananas - $ .39 a lb.

- Carrots - 2lbs - $ .59

-1 lb. of Broccoli Crowns - $ .99

- 250 ct. Boulder Napkins - $ 1.49

If I missed anything, please let me know. 

Wegmans Deals - April 18 - 24

These are the only great deals that I see at Wegmans this week:

- Wegmans Facial Tissue - 65-160 ct - $ .79

- Wegmans Cereals - Over 20 varieties - 13.5 - 20 oz. - $ 1.99

-  Jimmy Dean Breakfast Bowls - $ 1.99 - Use $ 1.1 printable from Facebook = $ .99 or $ .55/1 All You Mag. Dbled = $ .89

-  Snyders of Hanover Organic Pretzels - $ 2.50 - Use $1./1 4/11SS = $ 1.50

- Organic Bananas- $ .69 a lb.

- 1lb. Organic Baby Carrots - $ 1.29

- Wegmans Garden Salad - $ .99

- 10 lb bag Fresh Gold leaf Chicken leg Quarters - $ .49 a lb. or $ 4.90

- Wegmans 16oz Vegetables (Poly Bag) - $  .99 each

- Wegmans 14.5 - 15.25 oz. canned Vegetables - asst. varieties - $ .39

- Keebler Pecan Sandies - $ 1.99 - use $ .55/1 -4/18 RP Dbled (Our area didn't get these so order from coupon service) = $ .89 

If I missed anything lease leave a comment and let me know.

Top's Deals - April 18 - 24- Super Coupon Week

These are the Best Deals that I see at Tops this week:
 
Super Coupons can be used with Bonus Card and a minimum $20. purchase:
 
  - 40 oz. Heinz Ketchup - $ 1.49 - use $ .50/1 Home Mailer Cpn Dbled = $ .49
 
  - Ball Park Meat Hot Dogs - $ 1.79 - use $ .75/1 Mfrs. Cpn (DND) = $ 1.04
 
   - 12 pack Lipton Iced Tea - $ 3.99 - use $ .50/1- RP 3/28 Dbled = $ 2.99 
 
Now for the rest of the deals: 
 
   - 73% Lean Ground Beef - $ 1.59 lb. - Must buy 4-5 lb. Avg. Pkg.
 
   - Cantaloupes - $ .99 each
 
   - Fresh Express Garden Salad - $ .99 - Use $ 1.50/2 -2/21 SS = $ .24 each
 
   - Grade A Medium Eggs - $ .69 a dozen
 
   - Bison 16 oz. Cottage Cheese - $ 1.59 - Use $ .35/1 - 3/28SS Dbled = $ .89
 
   - Banquet Brown & Serve Sausage - $ 1.00 - Use $ .35/1 Mfrs. Cpn found inside Banquet Pkgs.  =    $ .30 
 
   - Rosina Italian Meatballs - 12 oz.- $ 4.29 each - on sale BoGo - Use (2 - YMMV- $1./1 HT cpns = $ 2.29 for both or Use (2) $ .75/1 -3/7 RP(DND) = $ 2.79 for Both
 
   - Many Jennie-O Products on sale -  Up To $ 5.00 IP Rebate Form and some insert coupons
 
   - Oscar Mayer Ready to Serve Bacon - $ 3.00 - Use $ .75- 3/21SS Dbled = $ 1.50 each
 
   - 4 pack Breyers Inspiration Yogurt - $ 2.00 - Use $ .50/1 -3/28 SS Dbled = $ 1.00
 
   - 6 pack Dannon Light and Fit - $ 2.00 - Use $1./1 -4/11 SS = $ 1.00
 
   - 12 pack Double Roll Cottonelle Toilet Paper - $ 6.99 - Use $ 1./1 All You Mag. Cpn = $ 5.99
 
   If you see something that I didn't, please leave a comment with the deal! Thanks!

Money Saving Challenge

I did just a few money saving things the past couple of days. Here they are:

- Since I had to take 3 prescriptions to Rite Aid, I picked up both the Crest 3D Whitening Vivid Toothpaste( not in the picture) and the 2 Pure and Natural Body Washes that you see pictured.
The toothpaste was $ 2.99 and I used a $ 1.00 mfrs. coupon and a $ 1.00 Wellness coupon and then did the SCR for $ 2.00 so I made $ 1.01. The Pure and Natural Body Washes were on BOGOF and I used 2 - $ 2.00 IP coupons that I printed from coupons. com, so they ended up costing me $ $2.99 for both plus tax. I really needed the bodywash because we are on our last bottle but if you didn't they have the liquid soap on BOGOF also and it would end up costing you $ .25 each.  

- Received a $5.00 Rebate in the mail

- Filled the car up at Tops using my $ .30 off a gallon so I paid $ 2.66 a gallon.

- Purchased a large package of Hot Italian Sausage at Top's sale yesterday for $ 1.98 a lb. I divided them into meal size portions and prepared them with my Foodsaver for the freezer.

-  Made homemade iced tea instead of purchasing soda. 

- Received a coupon for a Free Movie on Demand from Time Warner for being a new customer.

- Read my electric and gas meter and submitted the readings on line to NYSEG. That way I don't get an estimated bill. NYSEG only reads every other month.

- Purchased a 10 lb bag of boneless chicken for $ 1.98 a lb. at the Niagara Produce and Meat Market and divided it into 1/2 lb. portion bags using the Foodsaver, then froze it.

- Chopped up a 2 lb. bag of fresh carrots that I purchased for $ .60 a lb. into chunks and diced sizes and froze them on cookie sheets. Then I bagged them so that I can just grab what I need when I make my meals. 

That is about it for the past couple of days. We are still busily unpacking boxes. I finally have the kitchen just about settled and organized. 

Feel free to leave a comment and share with us what you have been doing to save money recently.       

Working on My Pricebook!

I decided to get really serious about my pricebook yesterday so I have entered the last two weeks prices on the items I am buying in it. I had to make one when I first moved to Arizona and feel the need to do it again for the stores that I will be frequenting here.

I just keep a small portable notebook that I can take with me when I shop. If I am out already shopping and think I see a deal that is too good to be true, I can look up my bottom line price to see if it is really a great deal or not. My notebook pages are divided into columns as follows: Date, Store, Item, Size, Price and Unit Price. Here is an example of a page that I have started for produce:

 Just double click on the page and it will enlarge so that you can see it better.  Some people track their prices on the computer and I have tried that method. However I had to print out the latest prices whenever I went to the market and I found it a waste of paper. This little notebook is portable and is always in my purse. I find it is easier to enter the prices while they are still fresh in your mind in if my store doesn't itemize on their receipts. The Niagara Produce and Meat Market here only prints the total price on their receipts. So I jot down the per lb. price on my list before I leave the store.

I will be entering prices for a couple of months to get through the sales cycles. After that I will only enter a price if it is lower than any of the others that I have entered. That way, for example, always shows me the best price. If I see bananas at $ .49 a lb. in one store, I can look at my pricebook and see that I can buy loose bananas for $ .29 a lb at the Niagara Produce and Meat Market. That way I know not to pick up  the bananas at $ .49 a lb and just wait until my trip to Niagara.

I have found this is the best way to know, with confidence, that I am always getting the lowest price. It takes a little bit of time the first few months but it is well worth it. I try to run my household budget like a profitable company would run their business. They only stock up their inventory when they see the best deal. Me too!     

This method works for tracking prices on almost everything, not only groceries! I try to track prices on computer paper and office supplies, clothing, household items, meds,  gasoline, etc. That way I know a great deal when I see it. A little bit of work goes a long way to saving Precious many, many dollars!

Do you track your prices? If so, is your method different? Please leave a comment and share with all of us how you do it!  

Money Saving Challenge

Even though we are hemoraging money (it seems like almost every day) because we need to buy so much for this new house, I am still trying to do some money saving things. These are the ones that we have done over the past few days:

- Took the ktichen quiz and won an Earthbounds Farm Reuable Bag. I already have one of these and it is the best bag I own.

- I made enough beef stew in the crockpot for two nights meals. I used on sale beef stew, fresh potatoes quartered, onions and some carrots that I obtained not the normal way. While my son was here from Albany, we went out to dinner at Luigi's. One of the things I ordered was wings and they came with a bag of baby carrots. I didn't eat them in the restaurant but brought them home and put them in the fridge. I already had a bag from there from two weeks prior when we had wings and beer one evening. So I just took the two bags and dumped them in the crockpot. Then, when the stew was done, I made gravy. I have always liked to cook for two meals. Sometimes, we eat them two nights in a row and sometimes, I freeze one for another night.

- I have been wanting a book that released a little while ago, so I ordered it from Amazon using gift certificates that I earned through Swagbucks . I got free shipping because of the trial Amazon Prime membership that I signed up for.

- Signed up for a Free sample of Kraft Mac and Cheese by becoming a fan on facebook.

- After last nights shopping trip, I now have earned $ .30 off a gallon of a gasoline at Top's. I still have a quarter of a tank so will wait until it is closer to empty to fill up.  Since gas is $ 2.96 a gallon here this will help.       

- On Saturday evening, I made seasoned pork chops for dinner. I made enough to make them into a second meal last night. You see that meal pictured. I took the leftover porkchops and cut them up. I sauteed a large onion sliced. I added both the pork and the onion to some leftover spaghetti sauce that I purchased for $ 1.25 a jar a few weeks ago. I served this over noodles and grated a chunk of Parmesan Reggiano cheese that was a Christmas gift to put on top. It was so good!

- We have been saving energy by using the Express Wash on our HE washer. Our clothes don't get really dirty plus most of the wash lately has been stuff that was in storage. It just needed a quck wash. I use the auto feature on the HE dryer so that I don't waste energy drying clothes that don't need it. I can't wait until we are settled and DH puts up a clothesline in the basement for me. 

- I use 1/2 the recommended detergent in the washer. That HE detergent is expensive and washer repair men will tell you that by using recommended amounts you are using too much. If anyone who reads my blog has an HE washer, can you tell me how you save money on that expensive detergent?

- I received a check for $ 5.00 on Friday from Cash4Books for selling a book.

-I received $ 46.00 in rebate checks the past two weeks.

-Whenever I run my new Bosch dishwasher with only 1/2 a load, I use a quick wash feature which is for 1/2 load. This new dishwasher is so quiet that you can not hear it run. I love it. Since we had an energy star house built and I purchased energy saving appliances, I can't wait to see what our utility bills will be. Once I know what things will be costing, then I can cut back and save even more.

- I have started a brand new pricebook to track my grocery and non food purchases. It will take a while to see where the lowest prices are but I will find them. To me, this is the most important tool to save on groceries. If you don't take the time do do this, you can not consistently know where the lowest price is.

- In case you haven't noticed, I have been trying to use up the Free coupons. I could kick myself because I got so busy that I wasted $ 7.00 in RR's from Walgreens that have expired. I am not going to let that happen again.

- DH and I have had to buy so much at Home Depot and Lowes. We have been using 10% off and $10.00 off coupons that we have found various places. Just forwarding our mail from the PO Box and our apartment address has generated 4 coupons. 

That's it for now, but I will be regularly posting this challenge like I used to. After all, DH and I have to replace the money we spent to buy this house and all of the things we have had to buy for it. That will be our biggest challenge after we get settled, so we need to find even more money saving things to accomplish it.

Please feel free as usual to leave a comment and tell us what money saving things you have been doing lately. That way we learn from each other on our money saving journey.

Sunday Top's Shopping!

Since DH and I needed a few things, I ran over to Tops after dinner. This Top's prices are outrageous. So I am being really selective on what I buy there. It is the only chain market in our little town. Hopefully, when the Super Walmart gets built, Top's will have to lower their prices.  My cat has been throwing up her all natural food that I buy her and today she refused to eat it at all. So I had to go and get another kind. She is happily eating right now. So this is what I purchased there:

1- 3.5 lb. Bag of 9 Lives Cat Food - $ 4.59 - Used $1./1 Mfrs. Cpn = $ 3.59

1 Spicy Wholly Guacamole - $ 2.69 - Used $ 1.50/1 IP Cpn = $ 1.19

1 - 20 oz. Palmolive Dish Detergent - $ 2.99- Used $ .75/1 Mfrs. Cpn Dbled = $ 1.49

1 Scotties Tissue- $ 1.00 - Used $ .50/1 IP Cpn Dbled = Free

1 Simply Raspberry Lemonade - $ 1.35 - Used Top's Free Cpn = Free

1.28 lbs. of Bananas at $.49 a lb = $ .63

1- 50oz. Seventh Generation for HE washers - $ 6.99 - Used $ 2.00 Mfrs. Hangtag and $4.00 Catalina OYNO cpn  = $ .99

Total OOP was $ 8.85 including tax.

We still have more than 1/2 the garage filled with boxes that need to be unpacked. However, we are trying to pace ourselves. There is so much to do but it will eventually all get done. Today we took some time out to babysit our grandson so his Mommy and Daddy could go out and enjoy themselves. It felt good to relax a little. So, start looking for the Money Saving Challenge to return soon.

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Filling Up That Pantry!

I have two pantries in my new kitchen....one at each end. This one in the pictures is the one DH and I installed the shelves in today. We had to in order to empty some of the boxes we brought from Arizona. Yup, I shipped some food that was dated later this year and that I knew wouldn't be expired when we moved in here. Since it was packed really well and taped on all the edges so nothing could get in it, I felt it would be safe. Plus it was in climate controlled storage! Everything came through all right except a 5 lb. bag of rice that got ripped by a corner of a box that was packed next to it. I threw that out.   

These are pictures of the food that we brought from Arizona. It all shipped very, very well. I don't think I will need side dishes except for veggies for a while nor will I need cereal or cat treats which are standing up in the old egg bin from my old fridge in Arizona that I bought when we first bought that house. In my quest to eat healthier, we will eat this food up and buy healthier items to replace them.

Prices are higher here especially in the town that I am living in. Tops is the only market that is close to us and the prices are outrageous unless you buy on a sale. I will only be buying on sale with coupons there.  We also have  an Aldi's and Save A Lot close. Eventually we will have a Super Walmart close by. Plus I will be purchasing meat and local produce from the Niagara Meat and Produce Market. I also found a small meat market near our Rite Aid and I am sure I will be frequenting that. I don't have the resources for food that I had in AZ. I especially miss the produce market there. But that is the price you pay to live in small town America and I am happy that we made that choice. 

But anyhow, for now, I have some extra space in this pantry. The other one is fuller. Plus I am lucky to have a cupboard close by the sink where I keep my coffee maker. It holds all beverages like coffee, tea, Crystal Light, hot chocolate, sweetners, coffee mugs and pitchers for making some of these drinks.  

I also have two other cupboards for all baking ingredients and items needed for baking like bowls, mixer, measuring cups and spoons, etc. It is between the gas range and oven and sink!

I will eventually have the kitchen all settled but I feel like I have made a dent in it. I found my breadmaker today and was very happy!        

A Quick Top's Run!

I had a few coupons expiring so I made a Top's run.  This is what I purchased:


3 Digiorno Pizza and Breadsticks - $ 8.29 each - Used 3 Free Mfrs. Cpns good up to $ 8.00 each = $ .87 for all 3 

1 Bag of Sun Chips - $ 3.34  used Free Cpn = Free

2 Sargento Shredded Cheese - $2.00 each - Used  (2)$ 1.00 IP Cpn and (2) Tops Doubler Cpns = Free

1 - 2 ltr. Diet Coke - $ 1.67 - Used Free Tops Cpn from Monopoly Game = Free

1 Pkg. Jennie O Ground Turkey - $ 2.99

1- 1.13lb. Pkg. of Stew Beef - $ 2.99 a lb = $ 3.38 

1 Kashi Heart to Heart Cereal - $ 3.89 - Used Free Mfrs. Cpn = Free

4 Boxes of Nestle Drumsticks - $ 3.00 each = $ 12.00 - Used (1) $ 2./2 Mfrs. Cpn = $10.00 and I received a $4.00 Catalina Cpn Good OYNO

Total OOP was $ 17.29 and I received the $ 4.00 Cpn good ONYO!

Now that I have a freezer, I had room to stockpile some of these things! Yeah!  DH and I finally got the shelves cut and put up in the large pantry today, so I am off to fill it up!

Quick Update!

DH and I are unpacking as quickly as we can. We would like to get the kitchen and our bedroom and closet settled this week. But before we can go too far in the kitchen, DH has to hang some shelves in my largest pantry.  The builder had put in the metal wire unit shelves in one pantry and I hate them. So before they put them in the largest pantry, we told them and they got DH washable melamine shelves but they need to be hung. DH went to Home Depot yesterday to get what he needed to do that. However, he also decided to get shelves for the side walls too. So today, he should get them all installed.  Then I can get most of this kitchen settled. I am in the process of hunting for my folding stepstool. Since I have 10 ft. ceilings and my cupboards are so tall and I am so short, I can't reach the top shelves (great for once or twice a year storage), hence need my stool. 


While we have been dealing with installers all week, I have been running all of my dishware, glassware and utensils through my dishwasher to clean it. I also have been washing all of our clothes that were in storage and are a little musty. I love my HE washer and Dryer. It makes quick work of doing this.
So those two chores have been taking up big chunks of time.  

The builder sent the carpenter yesterday to pull some molding so that we could get the refrigerator in where it belonged. So that is done. They also had to pull a windowsill so that the alarm installer could find a wire that got buried. That is done and the alarm system is in and monitored. The company that we bought our shades and blinds from came yesterday and installed all of them except one that was not cut right by Hunter Douglas. So that had to be sent back but they should install it within 10 days.  
Yesterday, the appliance people brought me out a new freezer only to find out on uncrating it, that it was damaged. So they are bringing another one this morning. At this point I am just going with the flow. But will be really glad when everything is delivered, in and installed. I am tired of delivery people and installers in the house. DH and I are up every morning at 5-6am and we are very tired.

Today, I will be making some telephone calls. I am going to hire a professional cleaning service to clean the apartment before we turn it back over to the complex the end of the month. DH and one of my sons convinced me this weekend to do that. My plate here at the house is full enough without having to go and do that. I have decided it is a good use of money when I am so busy. So I had best get going on my day. 

I miss blogging the deals but hopefully one of these days I will have time to do some of them, Meanwhile, happy shopping to you all!   

The Move from .................

Just fill in the blank. This was supposed to be the moving day when we would be so happy to see our things again and finally be at the end of our move and then be able to take our time unpacking and decorating! But you know what they say about the best laid plans.

The moving company arrived and the first thing the driver says to us is.....your big tool chest bench fell off a truck and was damaged. That should have been an omen to us. As they brought our furniture in, the amount of damage became apparent. Our priceless game table that was custom made in Mexico has gouges all over it. It is a stone top and was custom crated. This had to have been dropped. We have an end table for the great room that is damaged beyond repair.  DH's custom made office furniture has huge scratches and gouges on it. A decorative metal plate(think huge)- big scratches!  Our side by side Kitchen Aid Refrigerator was damaged so when the ice maker and water line was hooked up, I had a flood in the kitchen all over my brand new hardwood floor. I had to run to my son's house and get every available towel from my DIL to sop up the water. Fortunately the repair place was able to come this afternoon and repair the fridge to the tune of $117. However it is standing in the middle of my kitchen floor because it won't fit in the space the builder left us. They need to come and pull some molding on the wall floor so that it will fit. I could go on and on but I won't bore you. We have a lot of damage mostly on furniture. Thank God we have 9 months to make claims because it will take us a while to unpack all of the boxes. We have 20 boxes of  artwork and I am almost afraid to open them. DH and I are so glad that we paid for extra insurance so that everything is covered. But I am so disappointed because we paid top dollar- over $14,000. for this move; for what, so they could damage our things? So DH and I will be spending many hours with adjustors and filling out claim forms. UGH!

Then.......... The rest of our alarm system was being installed today. The installer came. Very nice man who really knows what he is doing. He was down in our basement when he had a diabetic dizzy spell and fell off a ladder onto our brand new freezer(delivered last Friday). He is okay! Thank God!!! But he came right up and told us that he damaged the top of the freezer and the corner is so bent that the gasket is not seating right and cold air is leaking. This man could have just walked away and we would have wondered who did it. But he has values and he did not. His company had me order a brand new freezer which will be arriving tomorrow and they took the cost of the freezer, delivery and tax off of our install bill.

DH and I are ready to cry but I think we will just sit down and have a few beers tonight and relax. We are beat and oh so frustrated! But, it is what it is and it will all get taken care of eventually!

So have you had a worse day than us?????????

Happy Easter!

I wish everyone a very Happy Easter!  I hope your weather is as wonderful as ours has been for family gatherings and Easter eggs hunts for the kids. We have been in the high seventies. I feel like I am back in Phoenix this time of the year. DH and I will be having Easter Brunch at my son's home with his family and also with my oldest son who is in town helping us with this move. It is has been so hectic for us so I am really looking forward to being able to enjoy a nice meal with family and just kick back and relax. I miss my grandaughter and DIL though who didn't come this trip. We will see them soon.

Just a quick update on our move. The professional painters finished painting the inside of our home on Friday afternoon. They were here all week and did a meticulous job. DH and I are thrilled with the colors we picked and with the wonderful  results. I hated looking at those bright white walls. Our cable, internet and telephone were installed on Tuesday. We have a few minor issues with the house, that we put on our pre closing walk through list, but that is the norm when you build a new house. Our project manager is getting them taken care of as quickly as possible. So we have workmen in and out of here. They have not been able to pave the driveway because blacktop had not opened up for the season yet but that should be done this week. It will be nice to have something besides gravel. All of the appliances that we purchased were installed this past week. I will be glad when my refrigerator comes tomorrow. We have eaten out way too much and I am rather sick of it although we have had some really nice restaurant meals. DH misses my cooking and I can't wait to get back to a routine.

Atlas Van Lines will be bringing all of our furniture and boxes from AZ tomorrow. That will be a long day. Then we will have so many boxes to unpack that I don't even want to think about it. But eventually we will be settled and I will be back blogging on a regular basis.

Till then, Happy Shopping!