This week I was able to pick up a few things free after coupons.

I was able to get 7 1 ltr bottles of Dr. Pepper.  A nice treat for Accolan and the girls as soda is only a rare purchase these days.

I was able to get 2 bags of crave cat treats.  Snack-fed kitties are happy kitties.  Unfortunately, only one of our cats will eat them.

I was also able to get 3 3-pack samples of Cascade dishwasher tabs.

It’s not a lot, but every little bit helps.  Have you scored any free, or nearly free deals this week?

Jia

Between being sent home early again for low production and losing time due to needing a sick day (another blasted sinus infection), I didn’t meet my earnings goals this week.  I was only able to accrue 29 hours at job #2 and 17 hours at job #2.  I also was unable to fit in job #3.

As a result I need to tighten the purse-strings a little bit more this week to compensate.  We are doing everything we can to fill the pantry so that, if push comes to serve, I can keep us fed if I have a week here and there when I can’t afford to go food shopping.  I am doing whatever I can to fill the pantry with food that the family can turn into meals on their own.  Unfortunately, left to their own resources, dinner translates into things like grilled cheese, hot dogs, pasta and jarred sauce.

One of the techniques I am using is to take advantage of the price match guarantee at Walmart.  Working so many hours (and usually working 7 days a week) makes it nearly impossible to hit multiple food stores each week. But, I can spend 20 minutes or so after a shift to pick up a couple of items at low prices. Some recent bargains include:

• Blue Bunny Ice Cream – $2.49 for 1.75 quarts
• Kraft Cheese Singles – $1.99 for 1 lb.
• Ronzoni Pasta – $0.79 for a 1 lb. box
• Ragu sauce – $0.99 a jar

Another technique i am using is to send Accolan and the girls out to specific stores when (for one reason or another) achieving the best deal forces to to shop at a specific store (mainly because, unlike Walmart, they double coupons).

I am also making use of couponmom.com to figure out the best way to match a specific sale price and coupon.

What are your favorite techniques for stocking up your pantry for as little as possible?

Blessings

Jia

This week will find me getting my full 40 hours at job #1, 21 hours at job #2, and clearing maybe $40 from job #3.

It’s hard.

Physically my pain levels are up and my resistance is down.  My fatigue levels are crazy high.  At the moment I am either having one hell of an allergy flare or am getting a cold.  I came home and made a pot of chicken soup to be on the safe side and plan to rest as much as I can in spite of having to work 8 hours days both on Saturday and Sunday.

I had to tell Sephoni that a birthday sleepover just cant happen.

Its not only that I would have a hard time affording a party on top of an outing she’s thinking about to Eastern State Penitentiary (she’s seen it on the ghost hunting shows), and a birthday present (even a small one); but, I am taking unpaid time off from both jobs over the course of her birthday weekend.

In part this is to allow me to be able to be with her for her birthday.  But, it is also because our friend Casey is coming up for the weekend.  For the past couple of years we’ve gone down to visit her for Columbus Day weekend.  Since we can’t afford the travel, or the related expenses, she’s coming to us. But, it makes taking any other time off nearly impossible.

I am having a hard time keeping up with any semblance of regular once-a-week cooking.  I managed to get some done this week … a huge amount of soup and a roasted chicken with a lemony gravy.  I may or may not put up a catch of pasta sauce with lentils tomorrow or Sunday before I go to work.  Accolan is trying to do more cooking (hamburger helper, scrambled eggs, hot dogs, etc) but we are having trouble finding a rhythm.

Other than that we are keeping our spirits up as much as possible and continuing our search to pinch every penny until it begs for mercy.  Eventually, I will find the time to post here more … I am hoping that at some point there will be some level of predictability in my schedule and I will be able to fit in more time here.  In the meantime to those of you who still read us, that you for sticking with us.

Blessings

Jia

The kids are back to school.

Reya started her Junior year of high school.  She is taking the usual History, English, and Math classes but decided to take Environmental Science for her Science requirement as she thinks this is what she wants to peruse in college.  She is starting her language requirement and decided to take Latin.  She likes her teacher and seems to be genuinely enjoying the class.  She is also continuing with her Art electives.

Sephoni started Junior high and is enjoying the extra freedoms provided by being able to sit with her friends at lunch, instead of with her class; and being able to walk home (now that the district cut our busing) when the weather permits.  She likes all of her teachers (even the Math teacher who she’s heard horror stories about) and is looking forward to starting Band, trying out for Choir, and deciding what other extra-curriculars and/or sports she may want to participate in.

Both girls are getting back into the routine of Tae Kwon Do classes, after a summer of somewhat more lackadaisical attendance.  Reya is now taking adult classes, which means that, while she and Sephoni take class on the same nights, they have class at different times.  It means a lot more running back and forth with dropping off and picking up, but it seems to have reignited Reya’s excitement so its worth it.  Additionally, Sephoni is finally “ready” to return to sparring (she’s been skittish about it since she got hurt back in December and the odyssey of Dr appointments that followed), and the Demo Team is resuming as well (which means she goes to class 4 days a week).

We’re starting to think about planning Sephoni’s upcoming 12th birthday (she wants a Harry Potter themed sleep-over) and how to pull it off on the proverbial dime.  We need to get Reya her driver’s permit and a part-time job, though not necessarily in that order. In other words life continues.

Hope all is well with you and yours.

Blessings

Jia

Today isn’t much of a holiday for me.  I have to work two 4 hour shifts – one at each of my jobs.

But, even when I have the day off it is bittersweet.

In spite of having worked at job #1 for almost 10 years I do not get anything in the way of paid time off, nor do I get any paid holidays.  Job #2 is another story, however.

In a few short months I will have earned 6 paid holidays a year.  This time next year I will be paid for Labor Day whether or not I work that day.  It is a small blessing that I am very very grateful for.

The sad thing is that I am not alone.  More than 25% of American workers are in a similar situation, provided no paid time off by their employers for the simple reason that there is no legal obligation for them to do so.  Another fine manifestation of how (in my opinion) so many companies work under the belief that greed is good, and employees are disposable.

I hope that each of you is enjoying this American holiday celebrating the worker without any financial hardship.

I hope that each of you is enjoying time with family and friends.

I hope that, even if you’re not in the US, that today is a beautiful day for you and yours.

Blessings

Jia