The carpet guy came by yesterday to measure. He will call with an estimate today. He gave me a quote for caret, pad, and installation all together, per sq. yd. Is this normal? I wanted it all broken down...

Carpet...$XX.X
Pad...$XX.XX
Installation...$XX.XX

If I'm spending this much, I want the details.

I saved $40.00 with coupons yesterday at HEB and CVS.

At CVS and got:
(2) tubes of toothpaste
(2) hair gels
(2) toothbrushes
(2) bags of Chex mix
(1) Maalox
(17) Russell Stovers sugar free pecan delights

Between sales, coupons, and extra bucks, I only spent 26 cents! Yea!

Not much on the agenda today, so I hope to get some staining done. Wish me luck. I'm gonna need it.

We counted our coins in the change basket and am adding $265.00 to the challenge. Also $1.00 for no air. Came close to turning the air on last night, but I didn't. Total challenge money...$1648.00.
Someone is coming today to give an estimate on new carpeting. I wonder if he will do a cash discount? Doesn't hurt to ask, I guess.
I will also do some shopping today. Have all my coupons lined up! Everything at CVS should be free or close to it. Hotcouponworld.com is awesome. Check it out if you haven't already. There is a wealth of information there.
Didn't get to the staining yesterday as I would have liked. Don't think I will get to it today either. Maybe tomorrow.
Did get some decluttering done tho. I can already tell a big difference.
Also have another cookie order for this weekend. I will post that money to the challenge when I get it.

Took my B-12 and doing the Flylady thing today. I need to get this house in order!
Lots of decluttering to do. Too much stuff in too small of a house.
I also have some woodwork that needs to be stained. I'm putting this on here so maybe I will actually "get R done."
Went to CVS yesterday and saved $12.00 with coupons. Sales, coupons, extra bucks...gotta love it. Also putting $4.00 toward challenge for a total of $1413.00

I delivered the cookie order yesterday. She said she loved them, but what else is she going to say? That's $100.00 to the challenge, and she tipped me $10.00! I was very pleasently suprised.
Total challenge money...$1397.00

We have decided to go on a cruise for our summer vacation. We have never really spent this much on a vacation, so I am a little apprehensive. The price gets up there for a family of 5! Does anyone have any tips about saving money on booking, activities, etc? We will be leaving Galveston on a Western Caribbean cruise in mid June.
I have a cookie order to do today. 12 1/2 dozen cookies for a wedding. Will deliver tomorrow.
Hoping to go test drive a 'new to me' car tomorrow also. My current vehicle is 10 years old. I've done alot of research and believe I'm going with a Honda Pilot.
Adding $10.00 to the challenge for no heat/A.C. for the past 10 days. (It's been around 75 degrees here for awile. Just perfect weather.) Also adding $11.00 for coupon savings, bringing my total to $1287.00

Just wanted to update my $20.00 challenge. Adding $350.00 for cookie sales and $62.00 for coupons, bringing my total to $1266.00.

I have an order for this weekend that should bring in an additional $100.00 and I *plan* to make cookies for Easter to sell. Don't know if I will....been feeling really run down lately and can't seem to get motivated.

Went to CVS yesterday and got quite a few deals. Many things free. Items that were marked down or on sale combined with a coupon. The cashier didn't want to take my coupons because she said the items would be free if she did. DUH!!! I explained to her she should just deduct the price of the item....the manufacturer would reimburse them the value of the coupon. She still had to ask the manager, and then came back and did as told.
Makes me not want to go back there, but I save alot of money that way. Oh' well.

I do cakes and cookies out of my home amd her is a pic. of a past order. I'm not sure how to do this...just trying my luck.

Had a request fot these recipes...Enjoy!

*Funnel Cakes*

2 beaten eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
2 cups sifted flour (I don't sift)
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups cooking oil

Put 2 inches of oil in sauce pan and heat to 360 degrees. (I just set burner between low and medium.) Combine eggs and milk. Sift flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to egg mixture and beat smooth. If too thick, add milk. If too thin add flour. (you want a good pouring consistinacy, but not runny.) Pour 1/2 cup into funnel and drizzle into oil forming a circle with drizzles in the center. (Do this quickly as they tend to cook fast.) Fry until golden brown. Drain on paper towel and dust with a mixture of 1/2 cup powdered sugar, and 1/2 tsp. cinnamon. YUM!



*Sopaipillas* (I usually quarter this recipe and have plenty)

4 cups all-pourpose flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup shortening
1 1/3 cups milk or water
vegetable oil

Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in mixing bolw. Cut in shortening; add milk and mix to make a soft dough. Knead untill smooth, 5 minutes. Put in bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rest for 30 minutes.
Roll out to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into nine 4 by 2 inch pieces. (I just cut it up any old way with a pizza cutter-much faster. Heat 1 inch of oil to 375 degrees. Fry 1 or 2 at a time, turning once, until brown and puffy, 4 to 5 minutes. (I don't remember it taking that long- keep an eye on them.) Drain on paper towels.
Dust with powdered sugar, or break open and drizzle with honey. DOUBLE YUM!

My DH gets paid tomorrow and I've decided how I'm going to allocate the $$$ from the paycheck and tax return. $1000.00 to the vacation fund, and $3000.00 to the truck payment. (I get a nervous feeling just thinking about it.) That still leaves a decent cushion should something come up.
Balance left on truck...$5671.00

Adding $5.00 to challenge for no heat A/C for 5 days.
Total challenge... $854.00

Did my big grocery shopping today. This will last us for a couple of weeks except for milk, fresh fruit, etc. I spent $162.00, and saved $32.00 with coupons(added to challenge total). Not too bad for a family of 5 I don't guess.
When I was checking out two of my items rung up incorrectly, and I had the cashier correct it. After all of that was straightened out, I handed him my coupons He didn't seem to have a problem with it, but I could feel an 'icy stare' boreing a hole in the back of my head! When I was done the woman behind me said "Finally!"
My DH said I should wear a shirt that reads 'If you are in a hurry, don't get behind me'. LOL!!! I just like my groceries to scan what the shelf price reads.
Total challenge money...$849.00

Recieved another rebate for $30.00. Adding that to the challenge.
I went to the store for a friend that was tight on time. I picked up loss leaders while I was there saving around $10.00.
adding $40.00 to the challenge.
Challenge total $817.00.
Got accepted at Pinecone...just waiting for a survey....

My tax refund was direct deposited today. It wasn't much, but now I am trying to decide how to "divvy up the goods."
Do I put the "extra" funds toward the truck payment, or toward the vacation fund? Decisions, decisions!
On another note, I bought a new front load washer and dryer about 2 mos. ago. My household water consumption has gone down 3500 gallons per month. Pretty impressive. If anyone is contiplating buying a front loader-do it. I love mine. I am normally a pretty frugal person, but decided to splurge considering how much laundry I do,and couldn't be happier with my purchase.
Adding $1.00 to the challenge for no heat/ac. Total....$777.00

Just had 2 guys stop by my house selling steaks out of a cooler. I told them I wasn't interested. One asked me if we eat meat. I just said "no". Then he said he would just take our grill (since we don't eat meat.) I said "yea" and then went in the house. They then drove away. About 1/2 hr. later they pulled back into my drive. I went to get my gun, and they had backed out and took off. I got kind of scared because I have kids here. I'm feling uneasy about all this. Scared they will come back. I couldn't get the licence plate no. to call the law either.
Adding $2.00 to the challenge for not turning on heat/AC. Also adding $1.00 for a no spend day. Total challenge money...$776.00.

I've seen that a lot of people are posting their monthly totals for Feb. I'm going to simplify by saying that the diffrence between income and outgo is only around $31.00. Though if you have been keeping up with my blog, I have paid off 2 CC debts within the last month. Yea!
Also hope to start spring cleaning soon, and have a big garage sale with a few friends. All money earned will go to the truck debt.
Also adding $20.00 to the challenge. A friend ordered a cake from me for her sons B-day. I did't charge her, but she insisted I take $20.00. I also saved $1.00 with a coupon, bringing my total to $773.00.

This morning I told my husband that both CC's were paid off, and all we have left is the truck and mortgage. (He makes the majority of the money, and I manage it. It's been like this for over 14 years, and works for us)
He got excited, saying he wanted to pay the truck off asap so we can increase the mortgage principle payment.
My question is....once the truck is paid off, shouldn't we have a 2 to 3 month EF before working on the mortgage?
What does everyone think?

I paid off credit card #2 ($1540.00) and I feel good. I was able to do it sooner than I first imagined. Now I all have left, besides my mortgage, is my DH's truck. The balance is $8671.00. Hope to have it paid off by the end of summer. I have been thiking of getting a newer vehicle myself, but then again...mine is fine for now. It's 10 yrs old and I'm afraid that repairs are going to start taking over. Though it is a Honda, and been great so far.
As far as the challenge goes, I'm adding $2.00 no heat or a/c.
Total challenge money...$752.00