The Sweet Life On A Budget

  Hygge (hoo gah) is my word of the year for 2021.   The world has been moving out of control for all of 2020.   People have endured financial, health and emotional issues unlike in our lifetimes.  I have chosen this word because it encompasses a way of life that slows us down, focuses on what really matters and helps us to enjoy contentment with far less.   Hygge, or well-being originated from Norway, but the Danish adopted this word and transformed it into a way of life that produces a life of happiness and contentment.    Hygge is hard to describe in a single sentence or descriptive manner.   I find that Hygge is a mindset and a way of life that  embarrasses the simple pleasures in life and seeking to increase them which results in increased happiness.     Hygge experiences can be….  Watching the sunrise or sunset and appreciating the beauty of the colors, the crisp air and getting lost in nature.    Drinking a hot cup of tea or coffee being present in the moment.     Picking up a g

  Each year I try to hold back a little money at Christmas time, so I can take advantage of the after Christmas sales.    Now this year, my usual places have been a little slow to place their items on deep discounts, but let's see what I was able to save.  Although this looks like a really went overboard on frivolous things, wait until you judge me.       Tissues The small boxes of tissues are Kleenex brand, 3 ply and a count of 55.   Kroger had these boxes marked down to $0.89 each and gave me a 5 times digital coupon for $0.50 off each.      This brought my cost down to $0.39 each or  $0.007 per tissue. The cheapest I can find tissues during the year is for 3 ply, 120 count,  box of Meijer’s tissues for $1.00 each or $0.008 each.    In 2020, it was difficult to find the Meijer’s rock bottom price, so our closet is a little bare.   Therefore, I picked up the Christmas boxes of tissues but counted the price towards my grocery budget.  Wrapping Paper Like all people, we like really

  Our meals need to be nutritious, clean, flexible, quick and cost effective. Between our work schedules and after school activities, we need to carefully plan our meals so that we do not end up ordering out.  We try hard to keep our total food and household products to under $100.00 per week.   Goal: $400.00  What did we spend?  Week 1- $91.45 Kroger: $91.45 Rebates IBOTTA: $0.35 Week 2- $108.74 Kroger:$108.74 Week 3:$133.66 Kroger: $133.66 Week 4- $47.79 $63.17 Kroger: $18.33 Aldi: $29.46          Kroger: $15.38 Total: $333.85 $397.02 Rebate Total: $.35 Final Total: $381.29 $396.67 ** We left $18.00 in our budget to pick up some country style ribs for New Year’s day before our next main grocery shopping trip.  Updated weekly grocery shopping on 12/30/20 for the New Year's Meal. Unfortunately we were unable to get country style ribs, so we picked up a pork loin instead. NOTE: Rebate total DOESN’T include Kroger Cash or Refunds because they will come off of the Kro

  Christmas is NOT an Emergency! The Sweet Life On A Budget Thank you Walgreens for another great offer this week. Walgreens is offering 1 free 8 X 10 Print.     I have taken advantage of this and ordered a wildlife print to give as a gift for next year’s Christmas.    Add 1 8 X10  print to your Walgreen’s cart.    Then at check out add the promo code:     STAR8X10.   This will make your prints free when you select pickup from your local Walgreens.   Here is the link to get your cards:  https://photo.walgreens.com/store/prints?tab=Photo%20Nav%20|%20Prints I am not sure how long this Promo Code will work, so head on over and order your prints ASAP.   Enjoy your freebee!

  Our meals need to be nutritious, clean, flexible, quick and cost effective. Between our work schedules and after school activities, we need to carefully plan our meals so that we do not end up ordering out.  We try hard to keep our total food and household products to under $100.00 per week.   Goal: $400.00  What did we spend?  Week 1- $91.45 Kroger: $91.45 Rebates IBOTTA: $0.35 Week 2- $108.74 Kroger:$108.74 Week 3:$133.66 Week 4- Total: $333.85 77Rebate Total: $.35 Final Total: $333.50 NOTE: Rebate total DOESN’T include Kroger Cash or Refunds because they will come off of the Kroger Bill automatically the following week.   In addition, I don’t count CVS as part of the grocery bill because I normally use gift cards and ECB to get my items for free, so in the end the money is usually to my benefit.    Grocery Shopping Tips:     Plan for two weeks and try to get the majority of your shopping completed in the first week.    Save as much money as you can and then apply the money to

    Making small changes that have big results.  On Friday’s I share a few frugal ideas to help you maintain The Sweet Life on a Budget along with my money saving deals.  Although I do not advocate shopping at a large number of stores during this health crisis, if you are going to a particular store that has a deal- just pick it up too.    Knowledge is power.      CVS Deals (December 13-19) Maybelline Cost: Baby Lips 2 x $4.99 = $9.98 Coupon: $5.00 (Instant @ Red Box 12/13- 19) OOP: $4.98 ECB: $5.00 Final Cost: FREE Crest- Select Toothpaste Cost: 2 X $2.99 = $5.98 Coupon: $2/1 Digital Crest Coupon     $1/1 (RMN 12/6) OOP: $2.98 ECB: $3.00 Final Cost: FREE  (December 20-26) Cover Girl Makeup (Twin Brow Pencils)  Cost: 2 x $6.59 = $13.18 Coupon: $3.00/1 x 2 = $6.00 ( 12/6 SS)  CRT: $2/$10 Makeup  OOP: $5.18 ECB: $6.00 Final Cost: FREE and $0.82 MM Kroger Deals (December 16- 2020) ** Check your Best Customer Coupons .    This month I received two f