I went to CVS; please see my CVS deals post for extended details!

I am now at a $372.40 balance in my $20 Challenge.

May 22nd CVS
I received FREE
3 boxes 5ct Allergy pills Wal-Mart Value $5.
Also this order after subtracting out my out of pocket cost generated a CVS store credit of $2.92

Prior balance $372.40
+$5.00
+$2.92
= 380.32

Well I have that $5 off of a $15 order coupon from Newsday that expires on the 1st of June just asking to be used. So I went down to CVS to finish getting all the FREE after Extra Care Bucks (ECB) items, and some good deals I have been reading about on moneysavingmom.com and iheartcvs.com. They did not have the Orapik, and the milanta I wanted to turn into a deal was expensive because they only had the larger more expensive size. Lucky me I went to the scanner in the store and scanned my card and I got a $3 off $10 CVS product coupon.

What I ended up Buying:
CVS alergy 5ct for $3.79 (Earns $3.79 ECB's)
CVS alergy 5ct for $3.79 (Earns $3.79 ECB's)
CVS alergy 5ct for $3.79 (Earns $3.79 ECB's)
The Total was 11.37 plus tax

Minus
$3 off $10 of CVS merchandice
$2 ECB from prior orders
$4.99 ECB from prior orders

Total 1.38 plus .08 tax
Out of my Pocket (OOP) cost 1.46

Earned $11.37 in ECB's for later

RECAP: I spent $6.99 in ECB's and $1.46 OOP for a $8.45 total. I earned $11.37 for next time, subtract the $8.45 spent and that is a profit of $2.92.

* This order did have an out of pocket expense of $1.46 so you could say my FREE items cost me $1.46 because they just generated ECB's which is a store credit. But I got 15 allergy pills, which in my family is one of our big spend items. DH has allergies to all kinds of things including Cats. I have allergies but it goes into high gear when I am deweeding our lot. I call it a lot because right now we only have grass planted in the front yard. If we would have bought a 15ct package of any type of allergy pill it would have cost $5 at Wal-Mart so this is a deal not matter how you look at it.

:0) Keep smiling!! It is Friday!

Okay, it is the 21st of May only 10 days left of the month. I can’t let the chance pass me by, I would regret not entering if I had a chance to win but did not because I did not enter. I have started this contest two times and deleted what I wrote. I just find it such a downer to write about regrets and I try to always see to positive side of things. So here is my list of regrets.

1. I regret waiting so long to go to college. I never knew my father went to college, I found out after I had already had my aunt help me finish my application for school. The positive side is now that I have gone to college; my brothers (older and younger) are now in college because I opened that topic of conversation.

2. I regret not having my husband pull his credit report while we were dating. If I had, I would have discovered that my husband didn't really know how much debt he had also it could have been cleaned up prior to marriage and we could have saved ourselves some money when we asked for settlements on his outstanding debts.

3. I regret that I was in such a rush to buy a home. Yes we had 20% down and I made sure we could have afforded it on one of our incomes, but I never figured what would happen if both our incomes dropped. I also did not realize the amount of work involved in owning a home.

4. I regret that I didn't buy into the company stock program at a higher percent at my last job while I was single. I sold the stock after our son came so I could stay home with him, if I would have bought more stock instead of whatever it was I was wasting my money on at the time, I could have stayed home with our son longer.

5. I regret that I did not switch my retirement account into a riskier group sooner. For so long I could have made more money with my retirement account in a CD at a bank. Also I regret not putting more into the retirement account at my last job while I was single.

6. I regret not realizing sooner, that my parents did not want to be parents and that I was the BABY had to try to keep a failing marriage together. For the longest time I really was hurt that my parents did not want to look out for me. I was hoping that they could be super grandparents because they were not really parents.

7. I regret that I only realized lately that I take after my father, who needs to be the rescuer in any relationship. I know I look to rescue people and have done so in every relationship I have been in. It gets tiring always rescuing some one; they don’t learn if you recue them they need to fall in order to see what they did wrong.

8. I regret not realizing that my husband was an Orange personality sooner. That is the life of the party guy. He tends to stretch the truth (it is part of his personality). It is when he stretches the truth and I use that to make an expectation when my feelings get hurt. So realizing he maybe stretching the truth and to lower my expectations automatically helps everyone come out happy.

9. I regret not going to startsampling.com sooner. I have often come across it in searches but never signed up because I thought it was a scam. Thanks to that site I am on coupon trains, and learned about bzzagent. It has been truly a blessing when I try to reduce my food and toiletry costs.

10. I regret that I let myself always place others needs first. I allowed my desire to help other place my needs to the back burner. Because of this I have felt I do not deserve better in many situations. I do deserve better and I am starting to say no when people ask for my help when it will cause me to place my needs on the back burner.

I am now at a $366.40 balance in my $20 Challenge.

May 14th
Free trial size because of coupons:
4 Mini cans of Gillette shave gel (men’s) Money saved $1
3 Mini tubes of kid’s toothpaste. Money Saved $1

May 20th CVS
I received FREE
1 Venus Razor (I already have a backup so the blade in side has a) Wal-Mart Value $1.
1 Deep conditioner Generic Wal-Mart Value $2.
1 Gel Generic Wal-mart Value $1

Prior balance $366.40
+$2.00
+$4.00
= $372.40

After looking at the ads I changed my mind and was thinking I would make one trip tops to CVS. Earlier I was not going to go at all, but I realized we could use some styling product for DH & DS. I would love to toss out the gel my DH is using; it doesn't hold a shape, it just makes it look wet for a few hours. It was actually mine and when mixed with hairspray worked well, but DH doesn't use hair spray, and unless I toss it out he will continue to use it even though I had bought it for my hair.

I Bought:
Venus razor for $9.99 (Earns $3 ECB's)
Frutis Garnier gel (for DH) $2.99 (earns $1 ECB)
Frutis Garnier Leave in Conditioner (for ME) $2.99 (earns $1 ECB)
Twizzlers for DS $.40 Filler

The Total was 16.37 plus tax
Minus
$5 off $15 order Coupon from Newsday
$4 coupon Razor Manu Coupon
$1 coupon FG styling product Manu Coupon
$1 coupon FG Shampo or conditioner Manu Coupon
$5.00 ECB's earned from prior orders
Total .37 plus .36 tax
Out of my Pocket cost .75

Earned $3 in Extra Care Bucks for Razor
Earned $2 in Extra Care Bucks for FG products

All in all I spent $5 in ECB's and Earned $5.00 so It was even. I LOVE FREE! I wish though that there was a larger limit on the Granier Fruitius products, because I would love to have another leave in conditioner for me and a styling product for DS. I am sure they will have another sale soon.

Oh CVS you are an addiction: After getting the $5 off of a $15 Order coupon from Newsday, I am really tempted to go finish off the May deals. I was waiting to see if I was going to get another Colgate coupon so I could turn the FREE item after ECB's into a Money Maker, But I realized with the $5 off $15 and the $11.99 ECB's in my purse I could make the freebee's into a money maker, or atleast not spend down my ECB's. Monday is a holiday which means no coupons in the sunday paper :0( Also due to the fact I will not be able to get any of the June 1-7th deals due to being out of town, and possibly none of the 8th-14th. I am worried about the ECB's that expire on the 16th of June being forgotten about due to work burn out and being wasted. I am thinking it would be a good idea to use the $11.99 to finish off the may deals. I am sad because one of the trains I am one, switched to only the first monday of the month and so I will not be able to ride it until September. What a bummer, but thankfully my CVS allowed internet printable coupons.

My second Planned trip:
I would like to pickup the following items, since you never know what CVS will have instock, I will pickup whatever I can to have a total of $15 and spend $11.97 in ECB's so I will get new ECB's with a new 30 day expiration date. I would prefer not to have to buy all three CVS allergy in one trip but we will see what I have to do to come up with a $15 total.
Mylanta $3.39?? Earns $2 ECB Have $2 coupon
360 Colgate Toothbrush $3.99 Earns $3.99 ECB
3 CVS Non-dowsy allergy $3.79 each Earns $3.79 Each ECB
Ora Pik Traveler $2.79 Earns $2.79 ECB
Jergens Lotion $5.99 Have $1.00 Coupon

I will post about my ROLL THE ECB's trip soon.

I am going to stop doing weekly post and do individual trips, then combine for a weekly post. I love posting my deals on moneymakingmom.com so that was why I was doing weekly posts but I think doing per trip then do a wekkly will work better for that purpose.

Last night I went to Wal-Mart and stocked up on FREE travel products. I love these little sizes for sleepovers, in my purse or beach bag. It seems like every time there is a sleep over, etc some toiletry item gets left behind so for FREE and/or small size it is either all used up or no big deal, when it is left behind at the motel or friends house.


From the trial and travel items I got:

4 cans of Gillette shave gel (men’s) for FREE plus overage $.03. I used the $1.00 off Gillette coupon that expires 5/31/08. They had cans for $.97. These are great for when my DH works away from home-he always forgets to bring back some of the stuff.

I also got 3 FREE tubes of kid’s toothpaste. They had a Colgate kid’s toothpaste with SpongeBob on it and it was for $.50. I had three $.50 of any kids Colgate toothpaste coupons that expire on 5/24/2008.

I got two Soft lotion from Johnson's they were marked $1.23 each and I used the Johnson's $1. off on-line printable. That is a cost of $.23 each. (But for $.23 these are going to come in handy for traveling/purse for this summer, :0). It has been said that some stores in the lotion aisle, have some 2oz tubes for $.97 but I did not see any in the lotion aisle, at this particular store.

My Wal-Mart had a ton of different types of toothpaste in the travel area for $.50. I think there are some crest toothpastes coupons out there that expire 5/31/08 that are $.50 off that do not have a size limit.

They had a huge selection, they had some single serving tide for $.97, I think there was a coupon in the newspaper for $1.00 off that did not have a size limit (but I did not have any).

I plan to make a list of the items they carry and the price so when I find coupons I can check my list and know if I can get an item to put away in my small size/travel toiletry totes for traveling and purse. ***We travel for work allot***

CVS has a possible deal going on this week, but it requires combing the store to check if they have a very small product hanging on a wire clip hanger somewhere in their store. Not all stores have the product and if they do; there is no guarantee they will place it in the same spot.

Last night I dreamt I was at CVS looking for the item.


Also Lately I am catching myself checking the moneysavingmommy.com blog multiple times a day. It is not like I am going to be able to stop what I am doing and run into town. Luckily I have gotten a chance to preview next weeks CVS ad and I do not find one thing of interest. I may have a no CVS week coming up. Also my DS has gotten really attached to his video game, so if I ask if he wants to go to (any store) he says no. So dragging him out to the store deters me.

At first when I started CVS'ing my DH really did not get it, but after showing him the receipts and the bags, he is starting to be supportive. He jokes to his friends I can go to CVS spend $.75 and walk out with half the store. LOL I am not that good! The joke around the house is if I am not home, and he calls my cell I will be at CVS. I think I may have a problem. I am starting to really look forward to my courses this summer, since I will have NO chance to shop.

I think I suffer from ocd (obsessive cvs disorder). Is there a support group for others like myself?

I am now at a $354.36 balance in my $20 Challenge.

May 12th CVS
I received FREE
1 Multi-vitamin Chews Wal-Mart Value $1.
1 Calcium Chews Wal-Mart Value $1.
$2.00

Bargain:
I received FREE
1 Color ink cartridge. It is the kind we use at home, it had an install by date of over a year ago, so the red/pink is dried up or blocked. But it is better than the one we had which was out of everything but red/pink. Because It is not 100% working I am going to reduce the value to $10.

Coupon Train:
I mailed it out this morning, I used four stamps. I bought them before the price increase, and am using them after the price increase. That is a $.04 savings. (The coupons pulled from the train made the postage cost a bargain, but the $.04 is a smart savings)


Prior balance $354.36
+$2.00
+$10.00
+$.04
= $366.40

I am now at a $327.17 balance in my $20 Challenge.

May 11th CVS
Trip #1 was a $2.32 profit
I received FREE
2 toothpastes Wal-Mart Value $2 each
2 Calcium Wal-Mart Value $2.00
$8.32

Trip #2
I received FREE
2 toothpastes Wal-Mart Value $2 each
1 Calcium Wal-Mart Value $1.00
$5.00

Trip #3 was an overall savings of $13.87 plus tax
$13.87

Prior balance
$327.17
+$8.32
+$5.00
+$13.87
= $354.36

Sunday 11 May 2008
CVS trip #1
2 Colgate Total Advanced 4oz toothpaste $2.99 each (earns $2 ECB each)
2 Viactive Calcium 60ct $5.49 each (earns $3 ECB each)
Total $16.96 plus tax.
Used
1- coupon $3 on a $15 purchase
2- $1.50 off Colgate Total coupons
2- $2.00 off Viactive coupons
Paid out of Pocket $5.68. & $2.00 in ECB's
Earned $10.00 ECB for a $2.32 profit

CVS trip #2
2 Colgate Total Advanced 4oz toothpaste $2.99 each (earns $2 ECB each)
1 Viactive Multi-vitamin 50ct $5.49 (earns $3 ECB )
1 Reach access flosser $1.99
1 CVS Clearance box of Rasp cookies 12 oz $.50
1 Elmers School Glue (UPromise) $1.79
Total 15.75 plus tax
Used
1- coupon $3 on a $15 purchase
2- $1.50 off Colgate Total coupons
1- $2.00 off Viactive coupons
1- $.50 CVS Cookie coupon Was $1.00 off but they reduced it down.
Paid out of Pocket $1.60 & $6.00 in ECB's
Earned $7.00 ECB, & a Upromise purchase for a overall cost of $.60

CVS trip #3
HP Color Printer cartridge Clearance $18.00 (Wal-mart price $28.87)
Used
1- coupon $3 on a $15 purchase
Paid out of Pocket $4.24 & $11.00 in ECB's
For a overall savings of $13.87 plus tax

Monday 6 May 2008
I do not have exact amounts because I left my receipt somewhere (home, office, hidden in purse).

I bought the rolling collapsible cooler it is on sale this week, regular price $24.99 sale $19.99.

I have been looking for this exact item for a while, I am glad to have found it, I would have paid the regular price but getting it on sale, because I noticed on iheartcvs.com that it was going to go on sale, was an extra perk.

I bought
$19.99 Cooler
$.88 Dawn soap (filler)
Total $20.87 plus tax
Used
$3 off $15 purchase CVS coupon from ewashington post
$.25 off Dawn

$17.62 Total plus tax
Used
$9.38 ECB from Tums Quickpak
$7.98 ECB from Colgate 360
Total .26 plus .10 tax

I used the Dawn as filler because I wanted to use my two largest ECB’s. I find it hard to make a big order after coupons, so I like generate small ECB’s whenever I shop if possible.

I will be editing this post as I get more CVS trips in. I need to stock up on Dawn and I have a few other items I want to buy. Also I intend to post a picture.
-----------------------------------
Thursday May 8th,2008

CVS

Venus Razor 9.99 Earns $5 ECB
CVS toothbrush 2.99 Earns $2 ECB
8ct Pencils (putting away for DS for school) 1.00
Gift Bag 1.00
Snickers Bar (for DH) .79
Total 15.77 plus tax
Minus
$3 off $15 purchase coupon
$4 off Venus Manu coupon
$2.99 ECB
$4.99 ECB
Total .79 plus .29 tax Total 1.08
Could have been a 0 OOP transaction but DH really wanted the candy

Spent $7.98 ECB's Earned $7 so everything cost $.98

CVS Trip #2
10 sobe life waters $10 (buy 2 earn $1 ECB?)
B2G1 CVS paper towels $1.98
3 johnson's buddies 2.97
nail cliper 1.49
Total 16.44 plus tax
Minus
$3 off $15 purchase
1.00 Buddies coupon
2.00 Buddies coupon marked down to 1.98
$5 ECB
$4.99 ECB
Subtotal .47 plus .21 tax .68 OOP
*NOTE* I should have recieved $5 in ECB's for the lifewaters, but they did not print was sent to the front counter, then told to call the # on the back of my card, the person answering that number said it would take 48 hours to post, and she would follow up on Monday. Will I ever see the ECB's?? Because of the $3/$15 coupon the Sobes are currently $.70 a bottle (an OKAY price), IF I get the ECB's then they are $.20 a bottle. This is my first problem with ECB's if this does not turn out well next time I will not be as trusting and will just plan to return whatever doesn't print the ecb's if it is not worth it without the ECB's. In this case $.70 is an okay sale price, and it is a chance to learn how to handle the problem of when no ECB's print.

KOHL's

* I had an additional 15% off card, I bought a lot of stuff but I am just going to list the awesome finds.
I got a columbia winter hat for DS for 2.50- 15% =$2.12
I got three sets of pj bottoms they were part of a 3 piece set but the top was gone so the set of pants & shorts were marked 2.24 but when they were keyed in they came to 1.63-15% =1.38 (that is .69 per piece)
I also got a Lego's Tshirt for 5.60 - 15%= $4.76

JcPenny's

* I got my $10 off any purchase of $10 or more coupon in the mail.
Of course it was for mothers day, and like all mothers I spent it on my DS instead of myself. LOL
I found a $26.99 pair of jeans marked down to $11.99.
& kids a T'shirts on sale reg price 13.99 marked down to 7.99
This would normally have been a good deal, A pair of jeans after coupon for $1.99 and another Lego's shirt for my DS.
But when the order was rang up, the jeans were $4.99, so after coupon and tax the two items cost $3.14

THANK YOU JCPENNY!!!

-----------------------------------
Saturday May 10th,2008
Wal-mart
50% savings on my register receipt after coupons!! The big deals were;
FREE toliet scrubber $4.54
FREE Zantac 8ct $5.00 ($1.02 overage)
Grillin Beans $.25
2 boxes Post Liveactive cereal $.12 a box
1 FREE box Chocolate Honey Bunches of oats $1.98($.02 overage)

TARGET
I got my DH's bodywash on Clearance for 2.97 the bottle is regularly $4.50 but this box also came with a mini spray and a mini travel bottle. I grabbed two!
I also got two FREE travel size ALL 2 dose laundry soap. These are going to come in handy this summer while I am at my courses!

PS this is a sample of what came in my mailbox this week for FREE!!

I am now at $327.02 balance in my $20 Challenge account.

Prior balance
302.02
+$25.00 (ING Orange bonus posted)
= 327.02

I also received deposits from ING to verify the linked account, of $.09 and $.04 into my checking account, so those deposits will go to the challenge.

$327.02
+ $.15
= $327.17

PS my ticker will be updated when I transfer the money over to savings. I do not want to be transfering small amounts, I am thinking weekly amounts would be a good goal.

I went to CVS; please see my CVS deals post for extended details.

I earned $9.56 after deducting my Out of Pocket expenses and ECB’s from prior purchases.

I received FREE
2 toothbrushes Wal-Mart Value $2 each
1 Toothpaste Wal-Mart Value $2.00
1 deodorant Wal-Mart Value $4.00

I also went to Wal-mart, used a $1 off coupon to pickup a FREE lotion. $1 value.

Total to add to Challenge
$9.56
+$4.00
+2.00
+$4.00
=$20.55
+ $281.47 Prior Challenge Balance
= 302.02 NEW Challenge Amount

I went to CVS again to get any new MAY Deals because I hear the earlier you get in, the more likely you will get the products in the ad. The down side is other bloggers have not gotten a chance to tell you how they are creating money makers so you may use up a deal and not realize it.

My purchase:
Aqua Fresh Advanced 6oz 2.99 (FREE after ECB)
Colgate 360 Toothbrush 3.99 (FREE after ECB)
Colgate 360 Toothbrush 3.99 (FREE after ECB)
Adidas Action3 Anti-perspirant 2.8oz 4.99 (FREE after ECB)
Total $15.96 plus tax

Used
$3 of $15 coupon (e washington post ad)
$1 off Aqua Fresh Advanced (Manu Expires 5/3/08)
$1 off Colgate 360 (Manu coupon)
Free Adidas Action3 Anti-perspirant not to exceed 4.99 coupon (ALL YOU magazine –in stores now- Got from my coupon train)
$5.97 ECB from prior purchases (it was a 5.98 but it had to be reduced down because the pretax total after coupons was $5.97
Total $00 plus $.42 tax

Spent $5.98 ECB, $.42 Out of pocket ($6.40)
Earned
$2.99 ECB from Aqua Fresh
$4.99 ECB from Adidas Action3
$7.98 ECB from Colgate 360
For a $9.56 profit/overage/store credit once subtracting prior ECB's and OOP.


I also went to Wal-Mart and did some shopping, I used my $1 off Suave lotion that Expires today to get my 3.2 oz container for $.01 Overage.

I went to CVS; please see my CVS deals post for extended details.

I earned $10.43 after deducting my Out of Pocket expenses and ECB’s from prior purchases.

I received FREE
2 tubes of toothpaste Wal-Mart Value $2 each
1 deodorant Wal-Mart Value $4
I also got two boxes of Tums quiktabs; My DH has bad heartburn due to medication he is on so I got these for him. I would not have purchased them if they were not free and just stuck with the Zantac but because they were free I grabbed them. So I am not counting them in my challenge, see second key point in my Challenge rules.

Total to add to Challenge
$16.43
+ $265.04
= 281.47

I went to CVS to get the new Deals for the month,
They have a lot of FREE items in the May flyer.

My purchase:
Aqua Fresh Extreme 5.6oz 2.99 (FREE after ECB)
Aqua Fresh Extreme 5.6oz 2.99 (FREE after ECB)
Tums Quickpak 24ct 4.69 (FREE after ECB)
Tums Quickpak 24ct 4.69 (FREE after ECB)
Adidas Action3 Anti-perspirant 2.8oz 4.99 (FREE after ECB)
Total $20.35 plus tax

Used
$4 of $20 coupon (email update)
$1 off Aqua Fresh Extreme (online)
$1 off Aqua Fresh Extreme (online)
Free Adidas Action3 Anti-perspirant not to exceed 4.99 coupon (ALL YOU magazine –in store now)
$7 ECB from prior purchases
Total $2.36 plus $.56 tax

Spent $7 ECB, $2.92 Out of pocket ($9.92)
Earned
$5.98 ECB from Aqua Fresh
$4.99 ECB from Adidas Action3
$9.38 ECB from Tums Quickpak
For a $10.43 profit/overage/store credit once subtracting prior ECB's and OOP.

I realize that with the challenge you are suppose to have a $20 start of fund, kind of like a grant to start up a business, and you are suppose to use this $20 to create money. I need to do things a little different.

1st My startup $20 in not going to be a free-be, I feel I have to have earned it or at least be entitled to it. Thus my reason for taking ¼ of what I would have gotten as MAD MONEY had I not just left the money in savings to be used for whatever. I feel ¼ of what my DH has gotten so far this year is fair because I am a saver not a spender so this money is going to get very large very quickly. Also about 3 days after my DH gets his money it is spent because he has to buy the latest and greatest. So I feel guilty having money unless I can show it was mine far and square, thus the ¼ MAD MONEY start up.

2nd I use coupons regularly, but like others this is often to allow me to buy a better product. Example store brand Hamburger/Tuna/Chicken Helper is $.99 a box but very limited in flavors. The name brand is $1.25-$1.50 with my coupon I can get it for store brand price but get a bigger variety of flavors. So that is not a savings in my mind that is an improvement. That coupon amount would not go to the challenge.

Mostly free coupons will be used to increase my challenge account. I say most because not all free are going in. Example I buy a lot of Johnsons Buddy’s soaps when I have a $1 off coupon because it makes it free. If I did not have the coupon I would not buy them, I would buy the 3pack of Johnson’s KIDS soaps for $1.50, so if I bought 3 Johnson’s Buddies for FREE technically I could only take $1.50 to put toward my challenge, because of complicated math I probably will not do that.

CVS FREE & Overage:
CVS tends to overprice their items then put it on sell to prices comparable to Wal-Mart’s regular prices, so whenever I get a free item at CVS I will be calculating a VALUE based on what I would have spent at Wal-Mart. Then placing that calculated amount into my Challenge. Overage at CVS is when you use a coupon on an item that is free after they give you the store credit (Extra Care Bucks) to use on your next trip. You have reduced you original out of pocket amount because you have to pay for these free items then use the store credit to buy something else, but when all is done and you used the ECB’s you have made a store credit by the amount of the coupon. I plan on applying all my overage to the $20 challenge because I use overage to buy items that are really on sale. Such as the dawn soap that CVS puts on sale every 3 months or so at $.88. It is regularly $.99 at Wal-Mart, but I hardly ever see it on sale at Wal-Mart. My DH is Brand loyal when it comes to dish soap so it is a waste to buy anything else.

Key points:
• My $20 startup needs to be earned not a freebee
• My savings will be calculated for FREE items for products I would normally have purchased
• I will calculate savings on free CVS products based on product value at Wal-Mart
• I will place Overage (store credit) amounts in my challenge

Well for a while I have been reading about the challenge and now I am ready.

$20 to start, well I guess I can do that.

My DH gets $200 per month Mad Money, up to this point I have NEVER taken any mad money. He just received his $100 (paid on the first and the 15th). So year to date he has received nine payments or $900.

So if I go back to January first and gave myself $25 twice a month for a total of $50 monthly, That is 1/4 of what my DH gets, I am frugal so that should be fair. I would have $225, which is my startup and another $205.

I want $250 so I could open an ING Orange account and get a $25 bonus and a very easy way of watching my $20 challenge.

Here comes in the CVS savings. I bought 4 FREE after ECB tubes of Toothpaste and used $2.00 in coupons on them, that is profit of $2.00 and 4 tubes of toothpaste would have cost $2 each at Wal-mart. That is $10.

Total
$235

One FREE after ECB toothbrush which would have cost me $2 at Wal-Mart after me subtracting from the cost any coupon I would have used. One FREE after ECB Deodorant $4 would have been spent buying my DH's normal brand. The three Free boxes of Chocolate honey bunches of Oats from Wal-Mart on April 17, 2008 because of my $2 off coupons = $6. Alavert I got 60ct for $1.96 it would have cost close to $20 after taking off the coupon at Wal-Mart, so that is $18.04.

Total
+$2
+$4
+$6
+$18.04
= 265.04 That amount I will start my ING Account with.