So here are the few things I did today to save some money:
* Cashed in 150 Coke Reward Points to get a $ 5.00 Olive Garden Gift Certificate to use toward lunch once I accumulate more giftcards.
* DH used up the bread while I was away. So I baked a loaf of herb bread in the bread maker.
* Made homemade Italian salad dressing from oil, vinegar, garlic, and Italian spices.
* Filed coupons into my binder that have accumulated the last few days.
* Updated my pricebook from the last few grocery shops.
* Started gathering all the financial statements that I need to do our 2012 Federal and State Taxes. I hope to get them filed the beginning of February. I am hoping that we are getting a very small refund. I don't like the government using my money all year so we never overpay quarterly by a ridiculously large amount.
* Filled the van up paying with cash from our gasoline money that we take out at the beginning of each month. Received $ .30 off per gallon with Top's points.
* Signed up for two free samples.
* Added 10 points to my Pampers Gifts to Grow account. I only add free codes.
* I have no extra space for extra towels in our master bath. DH started talking about redoing our master bedroom closet which is off the bathroom to make space for them. All I could see was $$$ signs. So I decided to clean the closet and get rid of anything we weren't using and move things out that didn't belong in there. We now have plenty of space for spare towels, washcloths, and toilet paper. So no money will be spent.
* Did a Taste A Monial on Oscar Mayer's Facebook page to hopefully get a Free Package of Pulled Pork.
* Cut down two pairs of long jeans that had become frayed and made shorts.
Now I have a question for all of you. Between our huge party, Thanksgiving, Christmas and this vacation, I need to lose weight. I am uncomfortable so I am looking into joining Weight Watchers. Has anyone lost weight with them? Did you stick with it? Is there another program that you have used that you lost a lot of weight on? I have never joined a program so I have no idea what works and what doesn't. Any help here would really be appreciated. Please leave a comment.
As usual please feel free to leave a comment and share with all of us what you did today to save some money.
30 comments:
Haha I guess I'm not the only one who is motivated to organized when my DH starts talking about spending money :)
Before you try weight watchers I would try tracking your calories and exercise on sparkpeople.com. I have done weight watchers and liked it, but got pregnant before I could see any results. I did weight watchers core if they still have that.
I found my library card again, so I've been busy putting books that I want to read on hold. I also renewed some other materials before they could get overdue.
Would you share your herb bread recipe? Sounds yummy.
Hi Precious,
In 2009 I bought a booklet called Harriet Roth's Fat Counter (which included calories for foods and cost $3.99) and started counting calories again. I started out just counting what I was eating with no change, and then dropped the number by 500 calories a day and started figuring out what to cut out. I eventually was eating 1600 calories a day and lost 35 lbs. I quit counting about 9 months later and managed to keep the weight off until the recent holiday season when I gained. Now I am starting again to log what I eat and go from there. Although I was very heavy for 20 years, I don't want to go back to that. It seems you have to find what works for you. Eliminating foods I like and substituting foods I didn't like never worked for long. This lets me pick what I want to eat, just in smaller portions. I need to start drinking more water as well. Good luck to you.
I work with a few women who are members of weight watchers. All have lost substancial amounts of weight and are maintaining it. I think the key is knowing the points system well. The women I know it are fanatical when it comes to tracking their points.
Jealous at the great icoke rewards Americans have. The Canadian site used to offer great rewards but that was over 2 years ago.
I love your $ saving posts.
Hi Jillian,
You know what they say about great minds.
I tried sparkpeople.com and it didn't work for me because I would forget to do it.
I am looking at their new program...WW 360.
Love the library.
Hey Precious,
My husband's work offered an onsite WW program, so I did it with him. I was very strict with making sure I did the program exactly and my husband ate what provided him based on the points - he couldn't eat all the points and lost a lot of weight while I had the minimum points and was always hungry and didn't lose any weight. It was frustrating to me to see my husband be allowed lots of food points and drop weight while I had a minimum and didn't lose any weight.
My doctor (who is into Integrative and Functional medicine) recommends the Zone diet for my health conditions. I am also gluten, dairy and soy free due to autoimmune disease. I find I am not hungry when I eat small, frequent meals that are balanced for my blood sugar. I would recommend talking with your doctor to see what he recommends. I understand that can come with a charge, so you have to decide what is right for you. My doctor is a concierge practice, so I get visits covered by the retainer. I found it really helpful to talk with him about my specific medical conditions and find a program that works around my challenges.
Good luck!
christi
Hi Frugalista Mama,
This is the recipe I use:
http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/bread-machine-fresh-herb-bread/01d1bc13-b0bd-4cf2-81d8-0936bca502e2
Hi rsgtarte,
Thanks for posting the alternative that worked for you. I appreciate your input.
Hi Theresa,
I know. For some reasons Canadians don't get the same deals we do. This one is a rare one.
Thanks for your input on WW. I remember, if I decide to join, to know my point values really well.
Hi Christi,
Thanks for your input on WW online and the Zone Diet. I am going to go learn more about the Zone Diet. I have a tendency to research things to death. Actually I have a Dr's appt on Thursday so I will get his input too.
I have done WW in the past and been very successful with it. It is very easy to follow and you dont feel deprived because you CAN have wine and cake! :)
I have since had 3 kids and I am back on WW to get back down to my average weight. I am doing really well on the program and I think you would enjoy it. Good luck! :)
I am a lifetime ww member however I've fallen off the wagon and have 20 pounds to lose. My co-worker and I are going back to ww on Thursday. The program works if u follow the program. There is no reason to be hungry if u eat what is good for you. Most veggies and fruits r "free foods". I can't do the online membership as I need the meetings to be accountable. It's on the way home from work so no extra trip and my work will reimburse 50 percent. The 360 is new so I will find out about it on Thursday. Good luck.
Hi Kathy,
Thanks for your input. I am going to make a decision next week.
Hi Courtney,
Thanks for your input. I am really excited about trying to get this weight off once and for all.
Wow lots of weight watchers fans! I haven't ever used a diet program before so I have no input. I do need to start exercising more regularly though!
I blogged today about things I have been doing lately to save money, fixing things, borrowing things, sharing things and waiting for deals. :-)
I did WW years ago and it worked back then. Hope you find something that works for you.
always like reading your lists, they keep me encouraged to keep doing what I am doing.
Hi Karen,
I'm on my way to check out your blog. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Rhonda,
Thanks for you input and your kind words.
I have been over weight all my life. I battled the battle till I was 55. I had gastric bypass surgery. I lost more than half my body weight. More than 200 pounds. I am an emotional eater. Always have been. With family issues my battle was ugly. Gastric bypass was a life saver to me. Now, I am still not thin, but my body weight stays about the same. I can not over eat if I want to. I get so sick. I can not eat fried food. It makes me very ill. So, it was a life changing thing for me. I would not wish this on anyone; it is not an easy life style to live with. But it did save my life. No longer have diabetes, not longer have high blood pressure, no longer feel like my heart is going to pound out of my chest if I walk up the hill to the mail box. I now think I might live long enough to see my grandchildren grow up.
I have heard good things about the weight watchers group. I wish you all the luck in the world with your weight loss issues. Women our age work hard to keep the pounds off. I am proud to report that at my last doctor check up on 1-8-13 I am 16 pounds lower than last year. Sure hope to keep the pounds off.
Hi Precious,
I am currently on the Almased Diet which is a honey, soy and yogurt powder. It was shown in WW magazine and I decided to try it. It speeds up your metabolism and is diabetic friendly. I have been on it for one week now and I am down 8 lbs. already. I have been feeling great on it, but do mention it to your doctor and see what he thinks if you are interested in it. Good luck in whatever you do!
Precious,
WW does really work...if you work it :-)
I have joined 3 times and lost weight all 3 times. I find the key to me is writing it down, so that is what I have been doing since before christmas and have lost over 10lbs now. I started the couch to 5K running program also, by downloading the podcasts that tell you when to run/walk/warm up, and I am in the middle of week two. It's challenging, but so nice to sweat and not have to think about what I need to do....a big change from my daily life :-)
I am losing the weight, not trying to loose the weight....I am not going to weigh myself again until my birthday, I find that I get frustrated if I have a lower loss week, even though I know it will eventually catch up with the work I've done. Some need to weigh weekly to keep on track, and that was very motivating, but I am trying to keep the ball rolling for ME and that's how it works best for me.
I have a date to eat anything I want on Jan 27, my monthly mom's night out at Starbucks with friends, so I don't feel deprived. The bottom line is you have to work off more than you put in to lose weight. Anyone can do it. I am excited to see where I will be in a year (I turn 40 in 2014) and hope all of the 40 lbs I have left to lose is gone :-)
Keep us updated on your progress!!
When my daughter wanted to lose weight she talked to a friend who runs a we program. She told her that she should just start watching her diet very closely and exercise, put the money away each week that she would spend to join toward something special. If she did not lose weight, then after a few months to join. You still have to do all the work,and any good program is based on sensible eating and exercise. She tried it on her own and did great.
Hi Roxie,
I am so glad that you found something that worked for you.Taking that much weight off must have been life changing. Congratulations on that; you should be very proud of your hard work.
Thanks for your input. I think anyone over 40 has a hard time taking weight off.
Hi lynnl,
Thanks for your input. I will ask my Doctor about that diet tomorrow.
Hi Stephanie,
Thanks so much for your input and good luck with your program. It is looking more and more like I will join Weight Watchers. I will keep everyone updated on my progress.Please let me know how you are doing also.
Hi Gramma D,
Thanks for your input and that is wonderful that your daughter could do it on her own. I seem to need someone to kick me.
Precious, are you going to attend the meetings or join online?
Also went to mycokerewards and the Olive Garden $5 was up to 250 points today but I got it anyway because my husband like to go there once a month for lunch and then treats himself to a movie!!
Hi Kathy,
I haven't decided yet until after I speak with my Dr. tomorrow.
Shucks. Sorry that you didn't get it yesterday when it was only 150.
Don't like these large amount bills neither, they hurt in the pocketbook. But it does make it nice when you can pay cash and get it over with.
Great job on weeding out and making sure no $ needed to be spend.
Hi Urmelche,
Thanks.
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