4 days until the contest for the Mia Bossi bag ends!!

It is easy to enter!!

Go here, sign in, tell them I sent you and start entering!! It isn't too late!

http://ldandd.forumotion.net/contests-f10/the-official-huge-contestentries-here-t559.htm

An AMAZING bag CONTEST!!

Little Dudes and Divas, and online boutique is sponsoring an AMAZING bag giveaway!!!

Little Dudes and Divas is an online boutique specializing in trendy, fun and high quality products for moms and tots. Their customer service is OUT OF THIS WORLD! Shipping is super fast and the products have always been amazing!

Do you want to know what bag they are giving away???

Mia Bossi Maria Tangerine Diaper Bag....

a $390.00 value!!!

Isn't this bag BEAUTIFUL??

Contest information can be found here!

http://ldandd.forumotion.net/contests-f10/the-official-huge-contest-t559.htm#4513

A video of the bag and other information can be found here:

http://www.littledudesanddivas.com/mb100t.html

Register and be sure to tell them Hodgkiss1122 sent you!!

What do YOU think about this awesome bag??

Day 14 of the No spending challenge!

I would like to say that the last 14 days have been a piece of cake. Well, that is just not the case. Let me tell you a little about the ups and downs.

Somewhere around day 7 we went on vacation to visit family. I love visiting! And, as most of you know, I love to shop. My mother in law and I went shopping for the day... I failed!

I spent $200.00 shopping for things that I thought I needed (or that I thought my kids needed). The next day I felt bad for failing the NO spending challenge that I took every single item back. (Even to the dollar store!!)

The next week I felt good about doing it... even though during the process of returning everything I felt really annoyed that I was returning my items! After a couple of days I started to realize that I really did not need any of it, and in fact did not miss any of it either!

On a wonderful note... I went grocery shopping... coupon binder in hand. We brought our $80.00 worth of groceries down to under $47.00!!!! I am glad to say that I think I am getting the hang of couponing! I would also like to point out that in 14 days we have not eaten out a single time. This includes buying drinks anywhere either. I have been making my own tea at home and drinking coffee at home also! I am sure this has saved tons of money!!!

Since then it has been smooth sailing and I am back on track and happy about it!

Thanks for the encouragement!

Day 2 of the NO SPENDING challenge!!

Here we are at day two of my NO SPENDING challenge. Today was eventful. I am happy to report that I drove my two year old to school... passing my favorite coffee place and I DID NOT stop! :-) Baby steps right?

On a wonderful note I did a bit of grocery shopping tonight. Coupons have never been a friend of mine until recently. I found Couponmom.com forums and those women have been so inspiring! I print coupons off of manufacturer's websites and stick them in my highly organized binder and take them with me on EVERY trip to the store.

Tonight I had 50.00 to spend on some groceries and restocking of the pantry. I spent 40.00 before coupons. Wic took away 8.00 off the total and then the coupons another 7.50. Not bad for a first time couponer!

I also got four bottles of BBQ sauce that was on sale for 99 cents for free with my four 1.00 off coupons! I was so excited to leave the store with ONLY groceries (for once) and to still have money left over from the shopping trip!

Tonight's loot: All five of these for 6 cents!!



By the way, my dear husband found out about my challenge and I am not sure that he thinks I can do it... there is usually not a day or two that goes by without me buying something... let alone one full month!

Happy saving!

30 day money challenge...

This is a self challenge. No body knows I am doing it... not even my husband. (Unless he reads my blog, which is HIGHLY unlikely!)

My goal for my self:

Zero money spent on anything other than groceries and household cleaning supplies for 30 days!!

If you know me... you might think I am crazy. That is OK. I need to do this. My spending habits have gotten out of control!!

I have everything I need. I need NOTHING for my boys, my husband or myself... at least for the next 30 days.

We have family vacations coming up in July and August and I would love to not have to worry about money while we are there!

If you are following my blog... I could use the encouragement... I am a self proclaimed shop-a-holic!

Wish me luck!

My 30 days STARTS today!!

I miss the blogging world!!

I think I am going to start blogging again. I will do mostly random things for now... until I find something I am passionate about! :-)