Yard sales rule!

Since I'm not able lately to spend as much time on the puter, I consoled myownself with a few garage sales last week. The first was a bust. Y'all know the kind... everything is 'treasure', and priced accordingly. Next was the best I've been to in years. These people know how to do a sale! Check it out! (Sorry about the not-so-great pics. Just didn't feel like a do-over)



Can you guess how much I paid for everything in the picture above? Duller tried to lowball it and still guessed too high. There's a snowman sweatshirt, a mock turtle-neck, 2 yellow blouses, a pair of shorts, a necklace, tote, purse, snowman candle holder thingy, square metal candle holder, frosted glass bell, Christmas basket, satin pillowcase, 3 boxes of glass ornaments, and a cute little wooden mouse on a bunk. (A couple closer looks below).

Are you ready for this? I got everything for ONE DOLLAR!

At the last stop, which we just happened upon, I got 6 books for a buck. The purple one is a church cookbook.

I was so tickled with these deals, I wanted to find more sales. Alas, it was late in the day and everybody was wrapping up. It's kind of a trade-off. If I get out earlier, I can catch more sales. But getting out a few hours later means people are marking things down. Reckon I can live with not being an early bird. 8-]

Have a JESUS-filled day! ^i^

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B-B-B-B-Blessed to the Bone

Thanks ever so for all the lovely birthday wishes! I am getting so spoilt by all this eating out in semi-fine restaurants. And today, I got a card good for $10 off a Carrabas signature pasta meal. I've never been there, coz I'm just too downright parsimonious. 8-]

The weekend, for the most part, turned out prettty dismal, but things started picking up late Sunday afternoon and God's been blessing my socks off since then. My rebates are starting to roll in, so the 'BO' part of the BOGO deals are now paid for, as well.

For the first time ever, Duller almost surprised me. We had a deal he wouldn't spend any 'real' money till after payday. When I caught him measuring his car's hatch, I knew the booger was about to break the rules.


I did NOT say anything about wanting to choose my own machine. This will definitely do. I gather the table was an impulse buy. It was there in the aisle, the only one in stock, so he got it assembled and at a discount. He's learning, lol! The left side lifts and there's a large stick-stuff-in-here space. The right is divided into 4 sections, perfect for keeping track of my store-specific coupons.

I am now officially ready to begin the rest of my life.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, y'all! And may God bless! 8-]

Have a JESUS-filled day! ^i^

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Monday Morning Message

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Habits, good and bad

It's incredible how quickly I got OUT of the puter habit... which I thought would be more painful than cutting caffeine cold turkey. I re-discovered the real world out there and just can't seem to sit still at this desk as long as I used to.

Anyhow... not that I'm obsessed with coupons or anything... check out this done deal! I used to think that kinda thing would never work for me, but I'm getting deals just like that every week now! It's downright inspiring! I have a short end-of-sale list tomorrow that should be, if there are any tearpad coupons left, 75-100% off the already rock bottom sale price!

Right now, I'm all about the savings. Debt-free in three (except the mortgage, which will take a while longer) is my goal. After years of coasting and squeaking by and always struggling to get that belt just one notch tighter, I'm becoming ruthless. Some people, whose names I'll not mention, have a habit of turning on lights all over the house and forgetting the switch goes down, as well. No more of that! You're not reading or cooking, so the one lamp is sufficient. Sleeping in front of the tv? Turn that watt wolfer OFF! I'm even trying to get in the habit of unplugging things that aren't in use. And handing over the Publix list to someone who's going to be in that area, anyway. Much as I enjoy doing it, it's silly to drive 40-50 miles when Duller drives right past the store every day. Once in a while, I just have to do it, coz gas is - so far - still cheaper than a rubber room. KnowwhutImeanVern?

So, what are your best money-saving tips? What little things do you do that add up to big benefits?

Have a JESUS-filled day!

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Monday Morning Message

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7

A man was exploring caves by the Seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled clay balls and left them out in the sun to bake. They didn't look like much, but they intrigued the man, so he took the bag out of the cave with him.

As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could. He thought little about it, until he dropped one of the clay balls and it cracked open on a rock . Inside was a beautiful, precious stone! Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure.

He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left. Then it struck him. He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have taken home tens of thousands, but he had just thrown it away!

It's like that with people. We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It isn't always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it. We see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy. But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person.

There is a treasure in each and every one of us. If we take the time to get to know that person, and if we ask God to show us that person the way He sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth.

May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay. May we see the people in our world as God sees them.

I am so blessed by the gems of friendship I have. Thank you for looking beyond my clay vessel.
APPRECIATE EVERY SINGLE THING YOU HAVE, ESPECIALLY YOUR FRIENDS! LIFE IS TOO SHORT AND FRIENDS ARE TOO FEW!

Pass this on to another Clay Ball!!!

Do not ask the Lord to Guide your Footsteps if you are not willing to MOVE your Feet

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Monday Morning Message

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What's in YOUR heart?

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And the blessings just keep on comin'

Just had to share this!

Due to unforeseen circumstances, all piling up at the same time, this is a really tight budgetary season for us. So literally every penny counts right now. Still glowing from yesterday's goodness, Duller stopped at the local we're-dirt-cheap store to get some half-price-at-the-end-of-the-day goodies from the deli. The computer prints out the price and the clerk writes 1/2 price (or words to that effect) on the sticker. When he went through the checkout, there was a problem of some sort... long story short, he got the deli items gratis! Thanks for the free supper, God! I can't wait to see what You come up woth next! 8-]

Y'all have a JESUS-filled day! ^i^

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Ain't God good?!!

The check I've been waiting for finally arrived, so I headed straight for the big city to buy groceries. And, as if that wasn't blessing enough, I got my MyPoints reward today... a $25 GC for Applebee's. DS volunteered to go with me and we got the 2/$20 deal. What a treat!

After we ate, we decided to go check out HHGregg... to give us a little time to recover before shopping... ever grocery shop right after a big meal? ( * ; * ) Another blessing was about to hit me. We looked at stoves and I found the one I want. Now I need to research, coz if I find a lower price, they'll beat it. As we were leaving the store, I grabbed a sale flyer. Now usually, we'd take off and I'd look at the flyer at home, but I decided to take just a couple minutes there in the parking lot. Hold and below, the pay-as-you-go phones we use (Net10) were on sale for HALF PRICE! (I had run out of time over the weekend and was going to wait till the end of the month to get a new one!) I called Duller right away (it was 5PM by now & he has an HHGregg card) and had him meet us there. We bought the last 4 they had.

DS decided he'd just as soon take off, so Duller went with me to Publix. Between BOGOs and super coupons, we ended up spending $35.xx for about $70 worth of groceries. He was in a REALLY good mood over that. 8-]

OK, I don't do coffee, so Idano if Eight O'clock brand is any good, but Publix has it BOGO right now AND there's a printable coupon for $2 off here, making it $2.99 for 2 bags. That's pretty good for coffee, ain't it? They had several flavours from which to choose.

For more sale/coupon match-ups, check out A Full Cup.

Have a JESUS-filled day! ^i^

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Sign up for freebies - updated

*Update - got the Boston Market coupon and added it to the list.
Also, I wanted to mention... make sure to check the expiration dates. Most are only good for about 2 weeks. Arby's, 1 week.

Got coupons?!

It all started with Applebee's. I was checking out their online menu, deciding whether to go there or Chili's. On the site was a 'get our emails' link. Hmmm, years ago, I signed up for Red Lobster emails and got birthday coupons. Maybe...

Well, next thing I knew, I was enjoying a free appetizer. LOVE that spinach artichoke dip! The only catch was, the coupon was only good at the one location I had entered as 'my favourite'. I called their toll-free #, but got a 'shrug - that's the way it is' response. Oh, well, free is still good.

Here's a list of the free - more often than not 'with purchase...' - comestibles I've collected so far:

Applebee's - free appetizer
Chili's - free queso & chips
Ruby Tuesday - BOGO entree
Ryan's - BOGO adult buffet meal*
Longhorn Steakhouse - free appetizer
Denny's - 20% off your next visit
Fazoli's - $2 off purchase of $5 or more
Wendy's - $1 off any premium hamburger
Arby's - free fruit tea with sandwich purchase
Dairy Queen - BOGO Blizzard
Boston Market - $3 off next purchase
TGI Friday's - now these people do it right... I got several coupons, including:
. - one-time jump the line pass
. - free appetizer or dessert
. - 1¢ appetizer w/beverage purchase at the bar (did not say alcoholic was
.....required, just that you sit at the bar)
. - AND they send you a (plastic) card that you present each visit...
.....for every $100 you spend, you get an $8 coupon (double points on Cinco de Mayo)

I also signed up, but have not yet heard from:
- Carrabbas' Italian Grill
- Picadilly

* Ryan's coupon is good at any of their restaurants - Old Country Buffet, HomeTown Buffet, Country Buffet, Ryan's, or Fire Mountain

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note to self...

Just wanna make sure I always remember this morning. Lying in bed, wishing I'd slept later, God reminded me how wonderful early morning can be. I'm surrounded by singing. White-eyed vireo, downy woodpecker, Carolina wrens, Northern parula, red-bellied woodpecker, Northern cardinal, Carolina chickadee, mourning dove... I can nap later. These songs are too beautiful to miss.

Have a JESUS-filled day! ^i^

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