Littlemama's Personal Finance Blog

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

I saved around $27.00 with coupons on 2 shopping "adventures." Total out of pocket: $2.65. Will add this to my Challenge money.
Had a busy day with taking my son out of town to the endorocronolgist, then helping my daughter deliver Girl Scout cookies this evening.
After all of this I didn't feel like cooking and was going to pick up burgers, but decided to come home and eat leftovers. My kids are used to this. I set everything out on the stove, they make up their plates, and nuke it. Easy, Easy. We do this about once a week and call it "Buffet Night".I will also add $10.00 to the challenge for not eating out.
Total chllenge money....$750.00

I decided to pay off my Best Buy C.C. ($1005.00).
Debts still owed (besides mortgage)
C.C.....$1524.00 (wiil pay off mid March)
Truck...$8823.00
Somehow it looks like I haven't even made a dent. Kind of depressing.

Kids are better - for now!
I am adding to the challenge
$100.00 DH bonus
$ 7.00 coup. savings
$ 30.00 cell phone rebate
$ 16.00 coup. savings

and I've decided to add $1.00/day for not turning on the A/C or heat. Up to 5 days now.

$20.00 Challenge total $713.00

I think I'm going to apply this to our truck note. What does everyone else do with their $$$? I am just suprised how quicly it all adds up. I would have never believed it had I not been keeping track.

I haven't been able to blog as much lately because I have three sick kids and a sick husband. It seems once they are well, they go back to school and get sick again. Someone was telling me about Airborne (sp.). Has anyone used this? Does it seem to work?
I saved around $32.00 at CVS a few days ago. My total bill was $32.00 and with coupons and extra bucks my total was .32!!
Total challenge money $555.00

Yesterday I started to show a friend of mine how to combine sales and coupons. She was amazed at how much $$$ can be saved with a little planning.
Isaved $15.50 with coupons that will be added to the challenge. Also went to Wal-Mart and they were marking their Christmas toys down even further. Most I bought were 80% off. Yea!!! I buy ahead for parties my kids are invited to. I save a lot of money 'shopping in my closet.' Should I put the differece I saved on these toys in my challenge?
In refrence to yesterdays post, I have almost decided to let my daughter take a break. She does do other activities such as basketball and Girl Scouts, and that is probably enought for now.

My daughter has been taking piano lessons for over a year, and has been in a rut for several months. She's not enjoying it and really does not want to do it anymore. I am trying to teach her when someone decides to do someyhing, they need to stick with it. But on the other hand, it's wasted money if she is only 'going thru the motions'. We have bought her a good used piano, the lessons are not cheap, and it's over an hour round trip. I just don't know.
Everythig I had to do yesterday is on the agenda for today b/c I had to get a sick child from school.

I have a lot to do today. Pay bills, run errands, clean house for my daughters b-day party.... I am also making cookies to sell around valentines day. I make cookies on a stick iced up real pretty in pastel colors. I will post a pic. as soon as I figure out how. Anyway, I go around to different buisnesses and such. When I did this last year, I sold out within an hour! Maybe I'm selling too cheap They were all wanting me to come back the next day. It was crazy! I made some more (they are really time consuming and it takes awhile for the icing to set up. Then to wrap each one individually...) and sold out again. I hope to be more prepared this year. Half of the money I make will go to the challenge, and half to our vacation fund. Trying for Disney.

I saved $8.00 in coupons today. I was called in to sub. today but was not feeling well. There's something going around in my area. It was
just a low key day all around.


$64.00
$ 8.00
$72.00 total Challenge money

Went to CVS and saved $27.50 with coupons and extra bucks spending only $2.80. YEA ME! Should have $8.00 in extra bucks printing on Sunday. Every little bit helps.

$20.00 Challenge total...

$36.50
$27.50
$64.00 total

I meant to start yesterday, but some things came up. Anyway, I saved $16.50 today at the grocery store using coupons. My total at checkout was only $3.25. I got a gallon and a half of milk, a case and a half of water, some grapes, and powdered doughnuts (my 5 year old loves them.) I plan to go to CVS later and take advantage of their specials. I get quite a few things free there as I take advantage of their extra buck promotion. I will add that savings later.
I have a question for anyone who is kind enough to lend their knowledge ....
My husband works for a company that does not match his 401K. Should we still contribute to this or maybe open a Roth IRA? And how do you do this??? I am also open to any other advice. Thanks in advance.

Besides my morgage, these are my debts...
Truck.........$8823
CC............$1596 1.99% int.
Best Buy CC...$1000 0% int. until Nov.

This is my total so far:
$20.00
$16.50
$36.50 total