Banker Gurl's More Bang For Your Buck!

I know you have felt this way too....everything is needing to be replaced/fixed/paid for...all at once. Booooo! and Hisssss!

Feeling that way to a MEGA degree right now.

*Tires - I need at least 2 new tires on my car. I have 0 tread on the front 2, and I live in ND....and its October...enough said?? (Estimating $400)

*Windshield Wiper - Windshield Wiper on DH's car does not move. And I live in ND...and it's October...lol. We JUST got this fixed a few months ago and it stopped working again. Going to take it back to the same place and ask if they can fix it for free since the original time did not fix it right, but not holding my breathe that they will do it for free. (Estimate $50)

*Hot Tub Cover - Ok of course a hot tub is not a necessity by any stretch of the imagination. But we do have one, so we need to keep up on the maintenance, and the cover is ripped nearly completely in half and of course if it is not covered debris (leaves, bugs, snow) will get in there. So we need to order a new one ASAP. (Estimate $300)

*Home Insurance - I just paid this for the whole year. (Actual $1875)

*Laptop - Again not a necessity per say, but we do not have smart phones or any other access to the internet at home. I have my blog, WIR, and also use it for taxes, spreadsheets, and of course entertainment. Current laptop is about 3-4 years old and is very, very cranky at us. It wants to nap, NOW. (Estimate $1200)

*Class Fee - DH had a class that is required for him to keep his teaching degree. It's already on the Discover Card. (Actual $385)

*Lawn Care - If we pre-pay for our lawn care service for 2014 before 1/1/14 we get a decent discount. (Estimate $350)

And of course CHRISTMAS! (Estimate $800) I did not do very well last year at getting my Christmas shopping done early and that is a big pet peeve of mine to be running around at the last minute and trying to think of gifts. I have a week off in November and my plan is to get all my decorations up, and all of my gifts bought and wrapped that week. That way I can actually enjoy the month of December!

And in case you were keeping track of the fun ahead...that was $5360 smackers! OWWWWIE! Hopefully my estimates are close and we can do this in chunks to not take a whopper of a hit in savings.

So I guess I need to get started on this financial avalanche. Hoping to get the hot tub cover ordered tonight. It's a start!

$5.00 Mortgage Checking Balance
+$75.00 School Check
=$80.00 New Balance


Got a random school check from DH. Not really sure what it's for....but tossing it in the ole mortgage checking for November's fabulous under $100K payment!

So my husband is a huge Red Sox fan and when we were in Vegas back in August he bet $20.00 that they would go to the World Series. Well here we are in October and they made it! So the ticket pays out $100! I mailed it in a few days ago and DH said I can put that money into savings since that is what we did with the rest of the winners from our trip. So as soon as the check gets here that is where it will go.

I have been so out of the loop with my blog this month! Trying to get back into a regular routine with things now that rummage sale time is over, but have had out of state weddings, coed softball league, coed kickball league, poker nights at our house and lots of Red Sox and Braves games to watch. All we have going on right now is the World Series so should have more time now.

It's our first time to pay our Home Insurance/Taxes on our own. I am happy to say that we needed $1900.00 to pay the bill and we had $3660.00 sitting in our Escrow Savings account! So the transition from having the Escrow with the bank to handling it ourselves is going really well. Plus I put the full charge on my Discover Card, so I will get my cashback bonus on that big bill, and then of course pay it in full. That gave me one more month of time to get interest on the money with ING and then enough cashback bonus for another $50 giftcard! WIN!

New Focus = Sept 2014 $900/$1800

Current Balance $29,200.00
+$70.00 Misc Deposit to Sept 2014
+$100.00 to Retirement Hold Account
-$28.00 to ROTH IRA
+$3.00 Even Out Amount
-$1900.00 Yearly Escrow
New Balance $27,445.00

ING $24,440.00 ($5620.00 Bingo Money)
Home Improvements(cash)$430.00
HSBC $2575.00
Total = $27,445.00

New Focus = Sept 2014 $825/$1800

Current Balance $29,000.00
+$100.00 to Retirement Hold Account
+$100.00 to Anniversary Cruise
New Balance $29,200.00

ING $26,195.00 ($5620.00 Bingo Money)
Home Improvements(cash)$430.00
HSBC $2575.00
Total = $29,200.00

Good haul!



Women's 6pk Socks (Limit 4)
$4.99 Each
-$4.00 Mail in Rebate
Final Price .99 Each!!
(Keeping these for myself)

Men's 3pk Socks (Limit 2)
$5.99 each
-$5.99 Mail in Rebate
Final Price - Both Free!!
(Marked $2.00 each for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 2 for $5.00 each at 9/4/14 rummage sale
Profit = $10.00

LED Booklight (Limit 4)
$2.50 Each
-$2.50 Mail in Rebate
Final Price - All 4 Free!!
(Marked $2.00 for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 1 for $4.00 at 9/4/14 rummage sale
3 left to sell

Miracle Gloves 2pk (Limit 4)
$4.99 Each
-$4.99 Mail in Rebate
Final Price - All 4 Free!!
(Marked $3.00 each for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 4 for $3.00 each at 9/4/14 rummage sale
Profit = $12.00

Touchscreen Cleaning Wipes (Limit 4)
$4.00 Each
-$4.00 Mail in Rebate
Final Price - All 4 Free!!
(Marked $1.50 each for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 2 for $2.00 each at 9/4/14 rummage sale
2 left to sell

Tool Set 3 Piece (Limit 2)
$4.99 Each
-$4.00 Mail in Rebate
Final Price - .99 Each!!
(Marked $5.00 each for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 2 for $5.00 each at 9/4/14 rummage sale
Profit = $10.00

Halloween Candy (Limit 4)
$2.49 Per Bag
-$1.00 Mail in Rebate
Final Price $1.49 Per Bag!!
(Keeping these for Trick or Treaters)

Halloween Lawn Bags (Limit 10) Miscounted and only got 9
$1.99 Each
-$1.99 Mail in Rebate
Final Price - All 9 Free!!
(Marked $1.00 each for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 9 for $1.00 each
Profit = $9.00

October 2013 Savings Update

Regular Savings:
Home Maintenance ING $6055
Cushion $3010
HSA $9999
New Patio Door (cash) $680
Escrow - $3305
September 2014 $3310 - Complete
Short Term Emergency Fund $175
Long Term Emergency Fund $1130 - Complete
New Car $10,135 - Complete
Vacation - $2735 - Complete
Anniversary Cruise $2475
Total Regular Savings = $43,010.00

Retirement Savings:
Retirement Hold Account $1100
Roth IRA $7925
Rollover IRA $815
401K $29,530
403B $23,230 (est)
Total Retirement Savings = $62,600.00

Total Savings $105,610.00

*ETA - After I posted I realized I was only $20 away from hitting $29K, so I went and transferred an extra $20 to Sept 2014 savings. YEAH! $29K!

Current Focus = Las Vegas $3,000/$3,000 - GOAL MET!
New Focus = Sept 2014 $825/$1800

Current Balance $28,415.00
-$112.00 to ROTH IRA
+$270.00 to Las Vegas Account
+$350.00 to Escrow Savings
+$18.35 Monthly Interest
+$38.65 Even Out Amount
+$20.00 to Sept 2014 to get to $29K!
New Balance $29,000.00

ING $26,095.00 ($5620.00 Bingo Money)
Home Improvements(cash)$430.00
HSBC $2475.00
Total = $29,000.00

It is time for our "Free phone upgrade" with Verizon. We have been waiting for a looong time as DH is ridiculously hard on his phones and always ends up having to go back to his old cell phones before the upgrade time comes. His current phone went out of commision way back in December and he has been using his old RAZOR since then..that thing is an antique! We have newer phones then the Razor in a box in case we would need one, and I told him to use one of those, but he prefers his trusty Razor, so I guess that is his choice...silly boy. Anyways, I tried to go online and order our new phones, we don't use Smart phones, we just get what ever we can for Free as we only need the phones for calling and texting. I haven't paid for a cellphone since I got my very first cellphone in 2002 and was hoping to keep it that way. I went through the ordering process and when I got to the end it said my total was $60, $30 per phone, for "Upgrade Fee". It showed the phones were $0 each, but the other fee was there. I thought I was doing something wrong so I contacted their web chat, and found out that unfortunatley they have had a $30 upgrade fee since 2012.....bummer! So much for your "free upgrades"! Oh well, nothing I can do about it. So I ended up ordering the Hotshot and DH is getting the Intensity III. They should arrive tomorrow....we shall see how long his lasts before he busts it!

Current Focus = Las Vegas $2,730/$3,000

Current Balance $28,340.00
-$28.00 to Roth IRA
+$3.00 Even Out Amount
+$100.00 to Retirement Hold Account
New Balance $28,415.00

ING $25,510.00 ($5620.00 Bingo Money)
Home Improvements(cash)$430.00
HSBC $2475.00
Total = $28,415.00

$820.00 Mortgage Checking Balance
+$30.00 Coin
=$850.00 New Balance


$850.00 Mortgage Checking Balance
-$845.00 October Principle Payment
=$5.00 New Balance

OUR LAST PAYMENT EVER IN THE 6 DIGIT DEBT!!!

October 2013 Mortgage Payment

Balance $102,900.00
+$235.81 Interest
-$1218.88 Regular Payment
-$171.93 Principle Payment
-$845.00 Mortgage Checking Principle Payment
New Balance $100,900.00


Escrow Savings Account
$3305.00
+$350.00 August Deposit
=$3655.00

We had a few issues this year with the weather not cooperating (rained almost all day Saturday which would normally be my best day for snacks) but still did great in sales. DH and I made $916.00. We kept out $100.00 and put the rest in the mortgage checking account for Octobers Principle Payment.
I made some changes to snacks and added little bags of chips for .50 each and I also bought brand name Coke and Diet Coke because so many people were requesting it. I charged .50 for the generic pop and .75 for the Brand name, which still came out to a similar profit of .35 - .40 profit per can, depending on what kind of deal I got when I purchased it. House feels a LOT lighter with over $1300 less merchandise in it over the course of 2 weeks!

Here is the breakdown:
$4.00 Misc Science supplies from DHs classroom
$1.00 Clothes my step-mom didn't want to store/mark
$5.50 Clothes my cousin didn't want to store
$8.25 Clothes my Moms friend didn't want to store/mark
$8.00 Clothes a coworker didn't want to store/mark
$26.75 Total from FREE items that were donated to me!

$85.75 DH Sports Cards

Snacks
$13.00 Juice
$6.00 Cupcakes
$26.50 Pop
$30.75 Coke/Diet Coke
$39.00 Water
$30.50 Brownies
$18.50 Chips
$125.00 Snocones
Total Snacks = $289.25

Free Items from CVS
Airwick Scented Oil Warmer (2) sold for $1.00 each = $2.00 profit
Contour Next EZ Diabetic Meter sold for $7.00 = $7.00 profit
Easy Feet sold for $4.00 = $4.00 profit
Gillette Custom Plus3 (5) (Money Maker of .01 each) sold for $5.00 each = $25.05
Gillette Fusion Shave Gel (Money Maker of .62) sold for $1.00 = $1.62 profit
Glade Scented Oil Warmer (2) sold for $1.00 each = $2.00 profit
GUM Toothbrush sold for $2.50 = $2.50 profit
Heat Patches sold for $1.00 = $1.00 profit
Herbal Essences (7) (Money Maker of .49 each) sold for $2.00 each = $17.43 profit
Just the Basics Toothbrush (2) sold for $1.00 each = $2.00 profit
Maybelline Nail Polish (2) sold for $2.00 each = $4.00 profit
Renu Contact Solution sold for $4.00 = $4.00 profit
Revlon Colorstay Eyeshadow sold for $3.50 = $3.50 profit
Revlon Glitter Nail File (2) sold for $1.50 each = $3.00 profit
Revlon Nail Clipper (Money Maker of .31 each) sold for $1.50 each = $3.62 profit
St. Joseph Aspirin (Money Maker of .25) sold for $3.00 = $3.25 profit
Thermacare Wrap (4) sold for $3.00 = $12.00 profit

Discounted Items from CVS
Bausch & Lomb Eyedrops - I paid .99
Sold for $3.00 = $2.01 profit

Broadway Nails Pedicure Set - I paid .80 (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $3.00 = $3.00 profit

Bubbles (2) - I paid .17 per bottle (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for .50 per bottle = .66 profit

Carmex Lip Balm (2) - I paid .44 each (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $1.00 each = $2.00 profit

Clairol Nice n Easy Hair Color (2) - I paid .32 (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $3.00 each = $6.00 profit

Coin Counter - I paid $2.50 (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $5.00 = $5.00 profit

Essie Nail Polish (8) - I paid .83 (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $3.00 = $24.00 profit

Gillette Fusion Shave Gel - I paid .37 (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $1.00 = $1.00 profit

Gillette ProGlide Fusion - I paid .99
Sold for $6.00 = $5.01 profit

Glade Premium Room Spray (6) - I paid .45 each (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $1.50 each = $9.00 profit

Glade Sense & Spray - I paid .67
Sold for $4.00 = $3.33 profit

Ice Cream Scoop (6) - I paid .49 each (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $1.00 each = $6.00 profit

Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadow (2)- I paid .70 (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $2.00 = $4.00 profit

Nicole by OPI Selena Gomez Nailpolish - I paid .80 (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $3.00 = $3.00 profit

Nivea Bodywash - I paid $1.44 (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $3.00 = $3.00 profit

Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Polish (5) - I paid .55 each (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $3.00 each = $15.00 profit

Sally Hansen Dry & Go Drops - I paid .93 (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $3.00 each = $3.00 profit

Softsoap Handpump - I paid $1.67 (Bought to meet a deal for other items) (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $1.50 = -.17 loss

Venus Spa Breeze - I paid $2.99 (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $6.00 = $6.00


Discounted Items from Claires
Flower Hair Clip I paid $1.00
Sold for $2.50 = $1.50 profit

Girl's Belts (3) I paid $1.00 each
Sold for $4.50 each = $10.50 profit


Free Items from Target
Gillette Fusion Proglide (Money Maker of $2.53 each) sold for $6.00 each = $17.06 profit
Poise Towelettes sold for $1.50 = $1.50 profit
Venus Embrace Razors (Money Maker of $2.53 each) sold for $6.00 each = $8.53 profit

Discounted Items from Target
Composition Notebooks (7) - I paid .22 each
Sold for $1.00 each = $5.46 profit

Hunger Games Notebooks (2) - I paid .88 each
Sold for $2.00 each = $2.24 profit

Monster High Notebook Cover (2) - I paid $.60 each
Sold for $1.50 each = $1.80 profit

Notebooks Covers - I paid .20 each
Sold for .50 each = .30 profit

Red Pens 10pk (2) - I paid .30
Sold for $1.00 each = $1.40 profit

Rulers (5) - I paid .15
Sold for .50 each = $1.75 profit


Discounted Items from JCPenney
Flipflops (2) I paid .14
Sold for $3.00 each = $5.72 profit


Free Items from Menards
Belts (2) sold for $4.00 each = $8.00 profit
Blacktop Crack Filler (3) sold for $2.00 each = $6.00 profit
Breeze Blocker sold for $2.00 = $2.00 profit
Carpenters Pencils sold for $1.50 = $1.50 profit
Comfort Patches (2) sold for $3.00 each = $6.00 profit
Dog Shampoo (2) sold for $3.00 each = $6.00 profit
Grime Wipes sold for $1.00 each = $1.00 profit
Hand Sanitizer Kits (2) sold for $1.00 each = $2.00 profit
Hex Set sold for $2.00 = $2.00 profit
Lint Rollers 3pk sold for $3.00 = $3.00 profit
Magic Measuring Spoon (2) sold for $4.00 each = $8.00 profit
Paint Brushes (3) sold for $3.00 each = $9.00 profit
Pink Caulk sold for $1.50 = $1.50 profit
Pizza Slicer sold for $3.00 = $3.00 profit
PVC Knit Gloves (7) sold for $1.00 each = $7.00 profit
Reach Tool sold for $5.00 = $5.00 profit
Respirator Masks 20pk sold for $5.00 = $5.00 profit
Safety Box Cutters (4) sold for $1.00 each = $4.00 profit
Shop Towels (2) sold for $1.50 each = $3.00 profit
Silicone Grabbers (2) sold for $2.50 each = $5.00 profit
Stanley Protective Eyewear (2) sold for $4.00 each = $8.00 profit
Sunglasses (2) sold for $3.00 each = $6.00 profit
Utility Knife sold for $4.00 each = $4.00 profit
Vaseline Lotion (2) sold for $2.00 each = $4.00 profit

Disounted Items from Menards
Disney Night Light - I paid .99
Sold for $4.00 = $3.01 profit

Expandable Pocket File - I paid .69
Sold for $2.00 = $1.31 profit

The Planet Shampoo (3)- I paid .99 each
Sold for $3.00 each = $5.97


Free Items from Staples
Avery 5 Tab Dividers sold for .50 = .50 profit

Discounted Items from Staples
Staples Cap Erasers I paid .01
Sold for .50 = .49 profit

Staples Photopaper (3) - I paid $1.00 each
Sold for $5.00 each = $12.00 profit

Free Items from Kmart
Biore Make-up Removers (2) (Money Maker of .78 each) sold for $1.50 each = $4.57 profit

Discount Items from Rummage Sales
A to Z Mystery Books (2) – I paid .05 each
Sold for .25 each = .40 profit

Lint Roller I paid .34
Sold for $1.00 = .66 profit

Free Items from work
(they are cleaning out and offered a bunch of obsolete supplies to employees for Free!)
German Dictionary sold for .50 = .50 profit
Medical Dictionary (2) sold for .75 each = $1.50 profit


Total Profits
Claires $12.00
CVS $198.81
JCP $5.72
Kmart $4.57
Menards $120.29
Rummage Sale $1.06
Staples $12.99
Target $40.04
Work $2.00
Total Profit on bought to resell items $397.48!!

And that is after 2 weeks before this we made $313.54 on bought to resell items, so over $700.00 profit on my “little hobby”!! 

Now that school is back in full swing we can make some nice deposits to savings!
We should be able to deposit $500 in savings every 2 weeks with DHs pay. Any "bonus" money we find will be going to the mortgage payoff, not into savings. So $20K updates may be pretty boring (but HAPPY) for awhile.

I am going to go through each of the savings accounts 1 by 1, and make the deposits to each specific account till the goals is met. First one I am going to focus on is Las Vegas (we don't have a trip planned, but will probably go again next summer, we usually go once a year).

Current Focus = Las Vegas $2,730/$3,000

Current Balance $27,840.00
+$500.00 from DH's paycheck to ING Las Vegas
New Balance $28,340.00

ING $25,435.00 ($5620.00 Bingo Money)
Home Improvements(cash)$430.00
HSBC $2475.00
Total = $28,340.00

OK....SIGH! This is ridiculous. So if you read my blog regularly you are aware of the situation with DH's paychecks. But for those who are new to me....My husband is a teacher, and he only gets paid 9 months of the year from the school. In the summer he works for a seperate summer job. The summer job pays through 8/15 each summer. The school paychecks normally don't start until 9/15. So that means each year at the end of the summer we have a 30 day gap with no pay at all for DH. After a few years of dealing with a cash flow issue due to this, we wised up and started a seperate savings account that we use for that time frame, and then re-save for the next year. Well this year I had the money all saved up...and then HAPPY SURPRISE DH got paid on 8/30 by his summer job! We were very surprised, but assumed that this was due to different pay weeks/time frames, and didn't think much of it. We were just happy that we didn't have to take that money out of savings to cover the gap. So that was 2 weeks ago. Then yesterday DH gets a call from the HR dept at his summer job, BAD SURPRISE, they paid him in error. Forgot to turn off his salary (most of their employees are year round) at the end of the summer. We have to pay back the paycheck. LAME. Soooo....so much for keeping that money in savings. I transferred it out of savings today, and will have to mail them a check for it next week. C R A P P Y

Current Balance $29,250.00
-$112.00 to Roth IRA
+$2.00 Even Out Amount
+$100.00 to Retirement Hold Account
+$100.00 to Anniversary Cruise
-$1500.00 Payback Summer Paycheck
New Balance $27,840.00

ING $24,935.00 ($5620.00 Bingo Money)
Home Improvements(cash)$430.00
HSBC $2475.00
Total = $27,840.00

Last weekend was the BIG rummage sale weekend of the year, DH and I made $916 (would have been more, but got rained out on Saturday). Kept $100.00 and the rest to the mortgage checking for Octobers Principle Payment. Rummage sale breakdown to come soon!

$5.00 Mortgage Checking Balance
+$815.00 Rummage Sale
=$820.00 New Balance

YEAH we made it till the first school payday without having to take any money out of savings! So many years DH didn't get paid from school or his summer job for this month gap, and then we were struggling with our cash flow, so finally I start saving seperatley for that, and now all of the sudden he gets paid this time...WTH...lol. Oh well I am so happy we didn't have to take that money out and will just leave it in savings for next September in case we need it then.

Current Balance $29,000.00
+$250.00 to Home Improvements
New Balance $29,250.00

ING $25,945.00 ($5620.00 Bingo Money)
Home Improvements(cash)$930.00
HSBC $2375.00
Total = $29,250.00

Progresso Soup (Bought 6 cans)
Regular Price $2.99 each
-$1.49 Sale Price Each
-$1.00 Coupon from Coupon Machine ($1.00 off 2) (3)
Final Price $1.00 each!
(Keeping These)

Dakota Style Sunflower Seeds 5.5oz (Bought 10 Bags)
Regular Price $1.39 each
-.90 Marked Down Price Each
Final Price .49 per bag!!
(Keeping These)

MIA Headbands
Regular Price $5.99
-$5.00 Marked Down Price
Final Price .99!!
(Keeping These)

CVS Brand Probiotic
Regular Price $10.79
-.80 Sale Price
*Received $9.99 EB
Final Price - $0!!
(Marked $4.00 for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold for $4.00 at 9/4/14 rummage sale
Profit = $4.00

Only had 1 item to sell in this entry and it's been sold!

Puffs Plus Cube (Bought 3)
Regular Price $1.77
-.89 Sale Price
-$1.00 Coupon Machine Coupon
Final Price .12 Money Maker Each!
(Keeping These)

Multi-color Plastic Ice Cream Scoops (Bought 12)
Regular Price $1.99
-$1.50 Marked Down Price
Final Price .49 each (Free on CVS GC)
(Marked $1.00 each for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 6 for $1.00 each at 9/5/13 rummage sale
*ETA - Sold 4 for $1.00 each at 9/4/14 rummage sale
2 left to sell

This is the 2nd rummage sale of the summer and we will have one more next weekend. DH and I made $478.00 (already transferred to mortgage checking). The rummage sale as a whole made $2K.

Here is the breakdown:
$18.00 Misc Science supplies from DHs classroom
$1.00 Clothes my step-mom didnt want to store/mark
$1.00 Clothes my cousin didnt want to store
$4.00 Clothes my Moms friend didnt want to store/mark
$2.00 Clothes a coworker didnt want to store/mark
$26.00 Total from FREE items that were donated to me!

$20.25 DH Sports Cards

Snacks
$1.00 Juice
$1.00 Cupcakes
$7.50 Pop
$3.00 Water
$9.00 Brownies
$18.00 Snocones
Total Snacks = $39.50

Free Items from CVS
BioTrue Contact Solution sold for $4.50 = $4.50 profit
Clairol Natural Instincts (Money Maker of +.18) sold for $3.50 = $3.68 profit
Culturelle Probiotic sold for $5.00 = $5.00 profit
CVS Brand Flossers (3) sold for $1.50 each = $4.50 profit
CVS Brand Lotion 3oz sold for $1.00 = $1.00 profit
CVS Brand Lotion 10oz sold for $2.00 = $2.00 profit
GUM Toothbrush sold for $2.50 = $2.50 profit
Heat Patches sold for $1.00 = $1.00 profit
Herbal Essences (11) (Money Maker of .49 each) sold for $2.00 each = $27.39 profit
Maybelline Nail Polish (2) sold for $2.00 each = $4.00 profit
Physician Formula Eye Cream sold for $5.00 = $5.00 profit
Revlon Colorstay Eyeshadow sold for $3.50 = $3.50 profit
Revlon Moon Candy Nail Polish (Money Maker of $1.01) sold for $3.50 = $4.51 profit
Softsoap Bodywash sold for $2.00 = $2.00 profit
Softsoap Bodywash sold for $3.00 = $3.00 profit
St. Joseph Aspirin sold for $3.00 = $3.00 profit
Tampax Radiant Sets (Money Maker of .01) sold for $1.25 = $1.26 profit
Thermacare Wrap sold for $3.00 = $3.00 profit
V05 Shampoo sold for $1.00 = $1.00 profit
Zantac 24ct sold for $6.00 = $6.00 profit


Discounted Items from CVS
Body Mist/Lotion Set (2) I paid .50 each (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $2.00 each = $4.00 profit

Bubbles (28) I paid .17 per bottle (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for .50 per bottle = $14.00 profit

Carmex Lip Balm (3) I paid .44 each (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $1.00 each = $3.00 profit

Clairol Nice ‘n’ Easy Hair Color (2) I paid .32 (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $3.00 each = $6.00 profit

Essie Nail Polish (1) I paid .83 (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $1.00 = .17 profit

Essie Nail Polish (9) I paid .83 (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $3.00 = $27.00 profit

Gillette Fusion Shave Gel I paid .37 (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $1.00 = $1.00 profit

Gillette Mach3 Razors I paid $1.50
Sold for $5.00 = $3.50 profit

Glade Premium Room Spray (4) I paid .45 each (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $1.50 each = $6.00 profit

Maybelline Eyestudio Eyeshadow Seasprite I paid $1.00 (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $3.00 = $3.00 profit

Nicole by OPI Selena Gomez Nailpolish I paid .80 (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $3.00 = $3.00 profit

Renu Contact Solution I paid .99 for one (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $4.00 each = $4.00 profit

Revlon Nail Clippers I paid .69 each
Sold for $1.50 = .81 profit

Right Guard Bodywash (2) I paid $1.00 each (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $2.50 each = $5.00 profit

Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Polish I paid .55 each (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $3.00 each = $3.00 profit

Sally Hansen Dry & Go Drops I paid .93 (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $3.00 each = $3.00 profit

Softsoap Body Wash (3) I paid $1.19 each (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $3.00 each = $9.00 profit

Suave Shampoo I paid .77
Sold for $1.50 each = .73 profit

Suave Shampoo I paid .77 (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $1.50 = $1.50 profit

Suave Shampoo I paid .77 (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $2.00 = $2.00 profit

U by Kotex I paid .24 (CVS GC = Free)
Sold for $1.00 = $1.00 profit


Discounted Items from Claire’s
Butterfly Naval Ring I paid $1.00
Sold for $4.00 = $3.00 profit

Girls Belts (3) I paid $1.00 each
Sold for $4.50 each = $10.50 profit

Hello Kitty Coin Purse I paid $1.00
Sold for $2.50 = $1.50 profit

Mini Cheetah Bag I paid $1.00
Sold for $2.50 = $1.50 profit

Roses 5pk Naval Rings I paid $4.00
Sold for $8.00 = $4.00 profit


Free Items from Target
Tena Pads 30ct sold for $2.50 = $2.50 profit
Venus Embrace Razors (2) (Money Maker of $2.53 each) sold for $6.00 each = $17.06 profit


Discounted Items from Target
Composition Notebooks (4) I paid .22 each
Sold for $1.00 each = $3.12 profit

Index Card Box I paid .30
Sold for $1.00 = .70 profit

Monster High Notebook Cover I paid $.60 each
Sold for $1.50 each = .90 profit

Notebooks Covers (3) I paid .20 each
Sold for .50 each = .90 profit

Red Pens 10pk I paid .30
Sold for $1.00 = .70 profit

Rulers (3) I paid .15
Sold for .50 each = $1.05 profit


Discounted Items from JCPenney
Flipflops I paid .14
Sold for $3.00 each = $2.86 profit


Free Items from Menards
All Purpose Cleaner sold for $1.50 = $1.50 profit
Breeze Blocker sold for $2.00 = $2.00 profit
Gardening Gloves (4) sold for $1.00 each = $4.00 profit
Paint Brushes (2) sold for $2.50 each = $5.00 profit
Pens 12pk (2) sold for $1.00 each = $2.00 profit
Pizza Slicer sold for $3.00 = $3.00 profit
Super Clean Car Wash sold for $3.00 each = $3.00 profit
The Planet Shampoo (2) sold for $3.00 each = $6.00 profit
Utility Knife sold for $4.00 each = $4.00 profit
Vaseline Lotion (2) sold for $2.00 each = $4.00 profit


Disounted Items from Menards
Disney Night Light I paid .99
Sold for $4.00 = $3.01 profit

Kitchen Knives (2) I paid $1.99 each
Sold for $5.00 each = $5.98 profit

Saw Blades I paid .49 each
Sold for $2.50 each = $2.01 profit


Free Items from Staples
Avery Shipping Labels sold for $2.50 = $2.50 profit
Notetabs sold for $1.50 = $1.50 profit


Discounted Items from Staples
Staples Notecards (2) I paid .01
Sold for .50 each = .98 profit

Staples Photopaper (2) I paid $1.00 each
Sold for $5.00 each = $8.00 profit


Discount Items from Rummage Sales
John Grisham Books (2) I paid .14 each
Sold for $1.00 each = $1.72 profit


Free Items from Macs Hardware
Purrell Hand Sanitizer sold for $2.00 = $2.00 profit


Free Items Curbside
Magazine Rack sold for $2.00 = $2.00 profit
Blue Rider sold for $3.00 = $3.00 profit
Mater from Cars Rider sold for $5.00 = $5.00 profit
Thomas Tank Engine Rider sold for $5.00 = $5.00 profit


Total Profits
Claires $20.50
Curbside $15.00
CVS $188.55
JCP $2.86
Macs $2.00
Menards $45.50
Rummage Sale $1.72
Staples $10.48
Target $26.93
Total Profit on bought to resell items $313.54

Very exciting! Regular Savings hit $40K! Retirement Savings hit $60K! And TOTAL SAVINGS hit $100K!! WHOO! We got DHs yearly retirement statement, and my "estimate" of what was in his 403B was $4500 short, so that was a big bump up to the totals! SMILING TODAY!

September 2013 Savings Update

Regular Savings:
Home Maintenance ING $6050
Cushion $2900
HSA $9375
New Patio Door (cash) $680
Escrow - $3305
September 2013 $1800 - Complete
Short Term Emergency Fund $100
Long Term Emergency Fund $1125 - Complete
New Car $10,125 - Complete
Vacation - $2225 - Complete
Anniversary Cruise $2375
Total Regular Savings = $40,060.00

Retirement Savings:
Retirement Hold Account $1135
Roth IRA $7600
Rollover IRA $815
401K $28,000
403B $23,430 (est)
Total Retirement Savings = $60,980.00

Total Savings $101,040.00

Current Balance $28,855.00
+$13.73 ING Interest
+$61.27 Even Out Amount
+$70.00 to Short Term EF to get to $29K
New Balance $29,000.00

ING $25,945.00 ($5620.00 Bingo Money)
Home Improvements(cash)$680.00
HSBC $2375.00
Total = $29,000.00

September 2013 Mortgage Payment

Balance $104,900.00
+$240.40 Interest
-$1218.88 Regular Payment
-$451.52 Principle Payment
-$570.00 Mortgage Checking Principle Payment
New Balance $102,900.00

We also got the Escrow account up to date.

Escrow Savings Account
$2570.00
+$350.00 August Deposit
+$350.00 September Deposit
+$35.00 Last few months interest/even out amounts
=$3305.00

We had a rummage sale last weekend and made $478! I will try to post the breakdown today. Very nice mortgage checking balance this month!

--Mortgage Checking--
$40.00 Mortgage Checking Balance
+$60.00 Coin
+$475.00 August Rummage Sale
=$575.00 New Balance

$575.00 Mortgage Checking Balance
-$570.00 September Principle Payment
=$5.00 New Balance

Current Balance $28,155.00
+$350.00 August Escrow Savings Deposit
+$350.00 September Escrow Savings Deposit
New Balance $28,855.00

ING $25,800.00 ($5620.00 Bingo Money)
Home Improvements(cash)$680.00
HSBC $2375.00
Total = $28,855.00

Got back on track with the Escrow deposits. We have received the bill for the yearly home insurance, but it's not due for a few more weeks.

CVS
Charmin Basic Huge Rolls (Bought 6)
Regular Price $1.57 Each
On sale for 2/$1.99
-$1.49 CVS Coupon
Final Price .25 each!! - Free on CVS GC

Kiss Ever Ez Lashes Eyelash Adhesive (Bought 2)
Regular Price $3.99
-$3.59 Sale Price in 90% off bin
Final Price .40 Each - Free on CVS GC
(Marked $1.50 each for rummage sale)


Menards


Magic Measuring Spoon (Bought 2)
Regular Price ?
Sale Price $4.99 Each
-$4.99 Rebate
Final Price $0!!
(Marked $4.00 each for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 2 for $4.00 each at 9/5/13 rummage sale
=$8.00 Profit!!

PVC Knit Gloves 3pks (Bought 3, 3pks)
Regular Price ?
Sale Price $4.99 Per pack
-$4.99 Rebate
Final Price $0!!
(Marked $1.00 per pair (9 pairs) for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 7 for $1.00 each at 9/5/13 rummage sale
*ETA - Sold 2 for $1.00 each at 9/4/14 rummage sale
Profit = $9.00

Silicone Grabber (Bought 2)
Regular Price ?
Sale Price $4.99 Each
-$4.99 Rebate
Final Price $0!!
(Marked $2.00 each for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 2 for $2.50 each at 9/5/13 rummage sale
= $5.00 Profit!!

Current Balance $28,075.00
-$28.00 to ROTH IRA
+$8.00 Even Out Amount
+$100.00 to Retirement Hold Account
New Balance $28,155.00

ING $25,100.00 ($5620.00 Bingo Money)
Home Improvements(cash)$680.00
HSBC $2375.00
Total = $28,155.00

We should know by next week how much we will need to take out for the pay-gap. After that paychecks start and we can start going back up at a decent pace again.

It's getting to that time where we need to use the money in our "Sept 2013" savings account. This account is specifically to cover the time frame from DH's summer job till the school year, when he misses one paycheck, thus does not get paid for a month. After a few years of not planning for this I finally wised up a few years ago and started a seperate account so when that time comes each year we have the funds to cover the gap. This year I have $1830 in that account. I anticipate taking out the $1800 and putting it in checking (we will see how the numbers pan out, if we don't have to use all of it then we won't), but I shouldn't need the extra $30 that the account has made in interest/even out deposits. So I took $25 out of the account and put it in the Mortgage Checking to go towards Septembers Principle Payment, and left the other $5.00 as I don't want to have a $0 balance. Hoping we can have a large chunk left from the $1800 and then will decide if we want to leave it in savings for next years paycheck gap, or apply it to the mortgage.

--$20K Update --
Current Balance $28,100.00
-$25.00 ING Sept 2013 Interest Balance
New Balance $28,075.00

ING $25,020.00 ($5620.00 Bingo Money)
Home Improvements(cash)$680.00
HSBC $2375.00
Total = $28,075.00

--Mortgage Checking--
$15.00 Mortgage Checking Balance
+$25.00 Sept 2013 Savings Interest
=$40.00 New Balance

Got lots of great deals to stock up for the sale!

We are having a rummage sale this coming weekend, and then another 2 weekends later, so this was a great time to grab some deals and move then quickly for some fast cash!

Respirator Masks 20pk (Bought 2)
Regular Price ?
Sale Price $9.00 per box
-$9.00 Rebate Each
Final Price - $0!! Both boxes free!
(Marked $4.00 each for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 1 for $5.00 at 9/5/13 rummage sale
*ETA - Sold 1 for $5.00 at 5/5/17 rummage sale
Profit = $10.00

Disney Night Light and Wall Plate Combo (Bought 2)
Regular Price ?
Sale Price $3.99 Each
-$3.00 Rebate Each
Final Price - .99 Each!
(Marked $4.00 each for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 1 for $4.00 at 8/23/13 rummage sale
*ETA - Sold 1 for $4.00 at 9/5/13 rummage sale
= $6.02 Profit!!

Titanium Bonded Kitchen Knives (Bought 2)
Regular Price ?
Sale Price $6.99 Each
-$5.00 Rebate Each
Final Price - $1.99 Each!
(Marked $5.00 each for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 2 for $5.00 each at 8/23/13 rummage sale
= $6.02 Profit!!

Sunglasses (Bought 2)
Regular Price ?
Sale Price $5.00 Each
-$5.00 Rebate Each
Final Price - $0!!
(Marked $3.00 each for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 2 for $3.00 each at 9/5/13 rummage sale
= $6.00 Profit!!

Belts (Bought 4)
Regular Price $6.99 Each
-$6.99 Rebate Each
Final Price - $0!!
(Marked $4.00 each for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 2 at $4.00 each at 9/5/13 rummage sale

Gardening Gloves (Bought 4)
Regular Price $1.49 Each
-$1.49 Rebate Each
Final Price - $0!!
(Marked $1.00 each for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 4 at $1.00 each at 8/23/13 rummage sale
=$4.00 profit!

UP2U Gum 12 Pack Boxes (Bought 4)
Regular Price $6.88
-$6.00 Rebate per Box
Final price .88 Per box, just .07 per pack!! WOW!
(Keeping these)

Total for everything pictured was a profit in my pocket of $1.57!!

I had some $3.00 off Biore manufacturer coupons that I wanted to use. I wasn't sure where to go to find a good price where I could get some cheap/free items. I decided to check at Kmart since it is close to my work. I never shop at Kmart because I have bad, bad, bad customer service there, long, slow lines and our store seems very dingy. Not a fan. But I went in and checked it out and found some Biore Make-up Removing Towelettes for $2.74, plus they are BOGO 50% off - Perfect! So I got 2 and took them to the register.

Here is what I think I will be doing:

Biore Make-up Removing Towelettes
(1) $2.74 Regular Price
(1) $1.37 (50% off)
-$3.00 Mfr Coupon
-$3.00 Mfr Coupon
= -$1.89
So I anticipate I will pay $0, or may have to pay tax

But I get rang up, by a "Customer Service Supervisor" and she tells me my total is $1.57. HUH? I say, "That doesn't sound right, both of the items are under $3.00, and I have 2 $3.00 coupons. How are you getting $1.57" She says, "Well one of the was $2.74 and one was $1.37 and then I took off your two coupons and it come to $1.57". ???? Were you even listening to what you were saying? That doesn't add up at all? So she looked it again and then said, "Oh I guess the 2nd coupon didn't come off." So she adjusted it and then the total said
-$1.57. Perfect, now I won't pay anything. I anticipate she will give me my receipt. Instead she hands me my receipt....and $1.57 in cash out of the register!! WHAT?! That was new for me! I don't know if this is a normal Kmart policy, but I have never been actually handed cash when I am at the register. If your total is $0 or negative, then you just get it free here (ND), I am thinking that was not the correct way for her to handle that....and she was the supervisor?? Well anyways, I was pumped about the deal!

So the Biore Make-Up Removing Towelettes came out to a profit of .78 for one and .79 for the 2nd!!
(Marked $1.50 each for the rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 2 for $1.50 each at 9/5/13 rummage sale
= $4.57 Profit!!

I also got some Biore at CVS, but was only able to get one. One day they let me use the coupons, and the next day I got a manager who said I couldn't use them since the amount on the coupon was more then the amount of the product. Really wish they would all be trained the same on the coupon policies.

Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips
Regular Price $1.99
-$1.99 ($3.00 Mfr Coupon)
Final Price - $0!!
(Keeping these)

Also got some sweet finds in the 90% off bin!

Covergirl Clean Normal Skin Pressed Powder (Bought 3)
Regular Price $7.99
-$7.19 Sale Price
-$1.50 Mfr Coupon (3)
Final Price - $0!! All 3 Free!!
(Marked for $4.00 each for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 1 for $4.00 at 9/4/14 rummage sale
*ETA - Sold 1 for $4.00 at 5/5/17 rummage sale