Banker Gurl's More Bang For Your Buck!

Current Balance $29,255.00
+$100.00 Retirement Hold Account
-$200.00 from Short Term EF to checking
New Balance $29,155.00

ING $26,300.00 ($5620.00 Bingo Money)
Home Improvements(cash)$680.00
HSBC $2175.00
Total = $29,155.00

I mentioned a little while ago that my bank was running a promotion where if you use your debit card 5 times in the month of May you got a free $5 in your checking account. I checked our balance today and see the $5.00 was deposited, so I transferred it into the mortgage checking account! Love chipping away!

$470.00 Mortgage Checking Balance
+$5.00 Bank Promo
-$460.00 July Principle Payment
=$15.00 New Balance

I spent all day yesterday at the waterpark with my Godson, 2 cousins and my friends cousin. Me and 4 boys...Ahhhh! But it went really good and had fun. I know my 3 year old Godson had a blast! Needless to say I didn't get a single thing done on my list yesterday, but Monday and Tuesday I did good, and I plan on finishing it up today.
Oh and at softball on Tuesday night I hit a home run! Enjoying my time off!
Here is where I am at:

(X)Transfer money for Vegas
( )Make packing list for Vegas
(X)Call to set up apt for sprinkler installation
(X)Update rummage sale inventory notebook
( )Update rummage sale inventory on blog
(X)Get DH's windshield wiper fixed
( )Find a cardholder for Vegas
(X)Clean out kitchen closet
( )Order snowcone cups
(X)Clean out hot tub
( )Clean out car
( )Wash car
(X)Get glasses adjusted
(X)Use JCP Coupon
(X)Laundry
(X)Clean shower
(X)Clean up extra bedroom
(X)Put away rummage sale clothes
(X)Put away rummage sale drinks
(X)Take back library books
(X)Get Free Menards Tool and Grass Seed
(X)Balance Checkbook
( )Use Free coupons from Coupon Book
(X)Sweep Floor
(X)$100K Update
(X)Buy present for Godson
(X)Deposit rummage sale money
(X)Write out mortgage checks
(X)BD Dinner
(X)Godson BD Party
(X)File
( )Trim Bushes
(X)Pick up Kitchen
(X)Dishes
(X)Clean out Purse
(X)Mortgage Update
(X)Pay MDU
(X)Put new insurance cards in car
(X)Pick up bedroom
( )Cut down tree
( )Mow Lawn
(X)Take saw to brothers house
(X)Pay Discover Card
(X)Buy Milk
(X)Softball
(X)Take boys to waterpark

Before

After




My Smell Goods


I cleaned out the kitchen closet, which I hate doing since this is where we keep our garbage can and our recycling bin. I recently bought Febreze Stick and Refresh and put it in there and they work really well, so at least it smells good in there, but inevitably something misses the garbage and gets on the wall/floor, so it is always a joy to clean.....

Anyways, found 4 items to put in the rummage sale, a pack of plastic snowcone cups, a bottle of tiki torch fluid, a pack of Valentines Day cookie cutters, and some furniture floor sliders. Also threw away a few random odds and ends as well.

Now all that is left upstairs in my cleaning/purging/organizing quest is the kitchen! YEAH!

Oh you may be wondering why I have so many sunscreens and bug sprays, that is because DH is a camp director in the summer and kids always end up leaving their sunscreens and bug sprays at the end of the summer and they are never labeled so no way to return them....we also end up with about 5 mismatched socks and 2 pairs of goggles every year...lol.

I got a lot more then I thought I would over the weekend! Just need to keep up the momentum for a few more days! I also added a bunch more things....

(X)Transfer money for Vegas
( )Make packing list for Vegas
( )Call to set up apt for sprinkler installation
(X)Update rummage sale inventory notebook
( )Update rummage sale inventory on blog
( )Get DH's windshield wiper fixed
( )Find a cardholder for Vegas
( )Clean out kitchen closet
( )Order snowcone cups
(X)Clean out hot tub
( )Clean out car
( )Wash car
( )Get glasses adjusted
(X)Use JCP Coupon
(X)Laundry
(X)Clean shower
( )Clean up extra bedroom
(X)Put away rummage sale clothes
(X)Put away rummage sale drinks
(X)Take back library books
( )Get Free Menards Tool and Grass Seed
( )Balance Checkbook
( )Use Free coupons from Coupon Book
( )Sweep Floor
(X)$100K Update
(X)Buy present for Godson
( )Deposit rummage sale money
( )Write out mortgage checks
(X)BD Dinner
(X)Godson BD Party
(X)File
( )Trim Bushes
( )Pick up Kitchen
( )Dishes
(X)Clean out Purse
(X)Mortgage Update
(X)Pay MDU
(X)Put new insurance cards in car
( )Pick up bedroom

I got another $10 off coupon from JCP. I was hoping to find a new wallet, mine is about 4 years old. But I couldn't find what I was looking for. So I asked DH if he needed anything and he said swim trunks (he has 2 pairs, but left his nice ones at his parents home last Christmas). We found a whole rack that were regular price $35, on clearance for $12.99! So after the coupon, got $35 trunks for just $2.99! SWEET!

I recently order checks for my new mortgage checking account. I ordered online ($5.00 for a whole box, and that will last till the house is paid off!) and when I got them in the mail it came with a coupon for expressionary.com for $20 off any order. I thought I would check it out, and found personalized luggage tags for only $23.00! So I ordered them and they arrived today. 3 of them and I paid $3.00, so just $1.00 each. On the back they print your name and address, they are a laminated material and feel pretty sturdy. Excited for this $3.00 purchase!

July 2013 Mortgage Payment

Balance $107,880.00
+$247.22 Interest
-$1218.88 Regular Payment
-$248.34 Principle Payment
-$460.00 Mortgage Checking Principle Payment
New Balance $106,200.00

Escrow Savings Account
$2220.00
+$350.00 July Deposit
=$2570.00

Added $410.00 from the rummage sale to the mortgage checking account. I will post the rummage sale breakdown this week!

$60.00 Mortgage Checking Balance
+$410.00 Rummage Sale Money
=$470.00 New Balance

I have all of next week off! YEAH! I wanted to just relax and do nothing, but of course, there is lots to do and lots of things planned. It is my BD, my Godson's BD and a softball tournament (largest in the USA!). So here is what I have planned so far:

-Transfer money for Vegas
-Make packing list for Vegas
-Call to set up apt for sprinkler installation
-Update rummage sale inventory notebook
-Update rummage sale inventory on blog
-Get DH's windshield wiper fixed
-Find a cardholder for Vegas
-Clean out kitchen closet
-Order snowcone cups
-Clean out hot tub
-Clean out car
-Wash car
-Get glasses adjusted
-Use JCP Coupon
-Laundry
-Clean shower
-Clean up extra bedroom
-Put away rummage sale clothes
-Take back library books
-Get Free Menards Tool
-Balance Checkbook
-Use Free coupons from Coupon Book
-Sweep Floor
-$100K Update
-Buy present for Godson
-Deposit rummage sale money
-Write out mortgage checks
-BD Dinner
-Godson BD Party

DH and I each received a settlement check from American Express for $8.23. To be honest I can't even remember what this was for...I do vaguely remember signing us up for something a long, long time ago. It was some huge lawsuit thingy...if I remember something about foreign fees..hmm. Well anyways, it is bonus money for us, so sending it to the Mortgage Checking!

$40.00 Mortgage Checking Balance
+$8.23 My Amex Check
+$8.23 DH Amex Check
+$3.54 Even Out Amount
=$60.00 New Balance

They added new nail polishes to the 90% off bin this week, so I scooped some up and also got a GREAT deal on Tampax! Also I got a $5 EB from the coupon machine today for my Beauty Club Spending, used it right away today on the polish.

Tampax Radiant 32ct (Bought 2)
Regular Price $8.49 Each
-$1.50 Sale Price Each
-$2.00 CVS Coupon ($2.00 off Feminine Products)
-$4.00 CVS Coupon ($4.00 off 2 Tampax)
-$1.50 Mfr Coupon
-$3.00 Mfr Coupon
*Received $2.00 EB for purchasing 2 Tampax
Final Price .74 per box!!
Wow that is an amazing price!!

Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Polish (Bought 6)
Regular Price $5.49
-$4.94 Sale Price
Final Price - .55 Each!!
Free on CVS Giftcard
(Marked $3.00 each for the rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 1 for $3.00 at 8/23/13 rummage sale
*ETA - Sold 5 for $3.00 each at 9/5/13 rummage sale
=$18.00 Profit!!

Nicole by OPI Selena Gomez Nail Polish (Bought 3)
Regular Price $7.99 Each
-$7.19 Sale Price Each
Final Price - .80 Each!!
Free on CVS Giftcard
(Marked $3.00 Each for the rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 1 for $3.00 at 8/23/13 rummage sale
*ETA - Sold 1 for $3.00 at 9/5/13 rummage sale
*ETA - Sold 1 for $1.00 to co-worker on 2/14/14
=$7.00 Profit!!

Total Profit for this post = $25.00!!

Found the 90% off bin at CVS filled up with Essie Nail Polish last week. There were probably about 50 bottles in there. I bought 20 - the CUTE colors!
I like stuff like this for the rummage sale cause they are little and easy to store, plus if I didn't sell them they are always good for a little quick gift or stocking stuffer.

Essie Nail Polish (Bought 20)
Regular Price $8.29
-$7.46 Sale Price
Final Price .83 per bottle!
Free on CVS Giftcard
Saved $149.20!!
(Marked for $3.00 each for the rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 1 for $3.00 at 6/15/13 rummage sale
*ETA - Sold 1 for $1.00 at 8/23/13 rummage sale
*ETA - Sold 9 for $3.00 each at 8/23/13 rummage sale
*ETA - Sold 8 for $3.00 each at 9/5/13 rummage sale
*ETA - Sold 1 for $2.50 (4 for $10 deal) on 3/20/14 on FB
=$59.50 Profit on Essie Polish!!

DH and I had our 6 year Anniversary this week.

Current Balance $29,155.00
+$100.00 Anniversary Cruise
New Balance $29,255.00

ING $26,400.00 ($5620.00 Bingo Money)
Home Improvements(cash)$680.00
HSBC $2175.00
Total = $29,255.00

Still seeing a lot of reduced make-up at my local CVS stores, team that up with manufacturer and CVS coupons for FREE items!



Almay Clear Complexion Foundation
Regular Price $14.29
-$10.72 Sale Price
-$4.00 Mfr Coupon (Wish I had more of these!)
Final Price - Free!!
(Marked $6.00 for rummage sale)
Based on the original price, I think this is a fair price, but IDK if $6 make-up item will sell...we shall see.

Maybelline Color Show Nail Lacquer (Bought 3)
Regular Price $3.99
-$2.00 Sale Price Each
-$2.00 CVS Coupon ($2.00 off any Maybelline Makeup)
Final Price - All 3 Free!
(Marked $2.00 each for rummage sale)
*I think this coupon is going to print everyday this week, so should be able to get about 10 more Free!!
*ETA - The coupon did print everyday, so I got 13 free bottles of nail polish!!
*ETA - Sold 3 for $2.00 each at 6/15/13 rummage sale
*ETA - Sold 2 for $2.00 each at 8/23/13 rummage sale
*ETA - Sold 2 for $2.00 each at 9/5/13 rummage sale
*ETA - Sold 1 for $2.00 each on 3/20/14 on FB
*ETA - Sold 5 for $2.00 each at 9/4/14 rummage sale
Profit = $26.00

Revlon Glitter File
Regular Price $2.27
-$3.00 CVS Coupon Machine Coupon ($3.00 off Revlon)
Final Price - Free!!
(Marked $1.50 for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold for $1.50 at 9/4/14 rummage sale
Profit = $1.50

Current Balance $29,010.00
-$112.00 to Roth IRA
+$2.00 Even Out Amount
+$100.00 to Retirement Hold Account
+$155.00 to Las Vegas Fund
New Balance $29,155.00

ING $26,400.00 ($5620.00 Bingo Money)
Home Improvements(cash)$680.00
HSBC $2075.00
Total = $29,155.00

Speed Stick Deoderant (Bought 2)
$3.29 Each Regular Price
-.29 Sale Price Each
-$3.00 off 2 - CVS Coupon Machine Coupon
*Received $3.00 EB on 2
Final Price - Both Free!!
*ETA - Bought these to keep as this is the deoderant that DH likes, but had a shopper at my house so I stuck tags on them and they bought both!
-Sold for $2.00 each on 3/20/14 on FB
=$4.00 Profit!!

Mars Candy Bars (Bought 2)
$1.19 Each Regular Price
-.44 Sale Price Each
*Received .75 EB on each
Final Price - Both Free!!

Special K Chips and Crackers (Bought 3)
$4.29 (2 Crackers) and $4.49 (Chips) Regular Price
-$1.29 Each ($1.49 Chips)
*Received $3.00 EB on 3
Final Price $2.00 Each!! (Free on CVS GC)
(These sell for over $4 a box at the grocery store, so this is a great deal for me!)

We went to Deadwood for the weekend for a "school's over" trip. Had lots of funs and DH had some great wins. We can home up $245.00. Normally I would do something productive with this like putting it in savings or against the mortgage, but decided to let DH keep it for fun money since he does so awesome with meeting our goals and being frugal.

Current Balance $28,615.00
+$17.95 ING Interest
+$27.05 Even Out Amounts
+$350.00 June 2013 Escrow Deposit
New Balance $29,010.00

ING $26,255.00 ($5620.00 Bingo Money)
Home Improvements(cash)$680.00
HSBC $2075.00
Total = $29,010.00

June 2013 Savings Update

Regular Savings:
Home Maintanence ING $6030
Cushion $2780
HSA $8760
New Patio Door(cash) $680
Escrow - $1870
September 2013 $1820 - Complete
Short Term Emergency Fund $1030 - Complete
Long Term Emergency Fund $1075 - Complete
New Car $10,085 - Complete
Vacation - $2845 - Complete
Anniversary Cruise $2075
Total Regular Savings = $39,050.00

Retirement Savings:
Retirement Hold Account $1115
Roth IRA $7230
Rollover IRA $815
401K $27,000
403B $18,800 (est)
Total Retirement Savings = $54,960.00

Total Savings - $94,010.00

Up $1290.00 from last month!

Very happy with our progress, very possible to be over $100K in total savings by the end of the year!

We took our pop cans in yesterday, 53 lbs at .45 per pound = $23.85. I took the $23.85 and added $6.15 of my own and put that in the mortgage checking account for Julys payment.

$10.00 Mortgage Checking Balance
+$23.85 Recycling
+$6.15 Even Out Amount
=$40.00 New Balance

I made good use of the extra day off this Memorial Day Weekend, and DH was a huge help to me as well.

I used our furniture wash and leather conditioner on our leather furniture, vacuumed in the couch, vacuumed the floor and scheduled the carpet cleaning for this week. So the living room is all done with the purging/cleaning /organizing!

DH cleaned the kitchen counters, did the dishes, and cleaned the microwave for me! YEAH! He also filled the hot tub, did countless loads of laundry and helped me crush the pop cans for recycling. Such a good one I have.

Then I cleaned the small entryway landing, got all the extra shoes that collect down there put away in my nice clean shoe closet. Got some junk put/thrown away and swept and mopped the floor. Then vacuumed the stairs so they are ready for the carpet cleaners.

All in all a very productive weekend. Very busy this week and going out of town this coming weekend, so won't be working on the purging/cleaning/organizing this week, but plan to start on the kitchen closet the week after and then move on to the kitchen. Once the kitchen is done I will have completed that whole floor of my house!

June 2013 Mortgage Payment

Balance $109,400.00
+$250.71 Interest
-$1218.88 Regular Payment
-$431.83 Principle Payment
-$120.00 Mortgage Checking Principle Payment
New Balance $107,880.00

Escrow Savings Account
$1855.00
+$350.00 June Deposit
+$15.00 Interest/Even Out Amounts from last few months
=$2220.00

The mortgage checking account is working great for me so far. We had an extra $130 in there this month to add to the mortgage principle payment! I used $120 of it, and left $10 in there. I just don't want the balance to go to $0, that makes me uncomfortable. In June we should have a lot to put in there too, with a rummage sale in a few weeks, and also taking the pop cans in for recycling this week.

This week at CVS they had a lot of their makeup marked 50%-75% off!! There was also a $2.00 off Revlon Eye, Lip or Face Makeup coupon printing at the CVS Coupon Machine. So that made a lot of items FREE, or less then .50 each! I went everday since Monday and used both my card and DHs card.



12 items
RETAIL COST = $101.68
MY COST = $1.42
98.7% Savings!

I used my CVS GC so the small amount I did pay was FREE! Not sure on the rummage sale prices yet, I did put estimates below on what I would mark them.

Revlon Colorstay Eyeshadow (Bought 4)
Regular Price $7.99
-$6.00 Sale Price Each
-$2.00 CVS Coupon Machine Coupon (4)
Final Price - All 4 for FREE!
(Marked $3.50 each for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 1 for $3.50 at 8/23/13 rummage sale
*ETA - Sold 1 for $3.50 at 9/5/13 rummage sale

Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara
Regular Price $9.29
-$6.97 Sale Price
-$2.00 CVS Coupon Machine Coupon
Final Price .32!! (Free on CVS GC)
(Marked $4.00 for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold for $4.00 at 6/15/13 rummage sale
Profit = $4.00

Revlon Lipgloss (Bought 5)
Regular Price $8.49
-6.37 Sale Price Each
-$2.00 CVS Coupon Machine Coupon (5)
Final Price .12 Each!!
(Marked $3.00 each for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 1 for $3.00 at 9/4/14 rummage sale
*ETA - Kept 2 for myself
2 left to sell

Revlon Lipstick (Bought 2)
Regular Price $8.99
-$6.74 Sale Price Each
-$2.00 CVS Coupon Machine Coupon (2)
Final Price .25 each!!
(Marked $3.00 each for rummage sale)
*ETA - Sold 1 for $3.00 at 10/1/16 rummage sale

Been pretty productive with the old "To Do" List this week.

-Scheduled the carpet cleaning for next week
-Got my bi-yearly ring cleaning and inspection done
-Exchanged a CD for DH that he got for his BD
-Took a bin of newspapers to the recycling
-Hit up CVS everyday for my free/cheap Revlon
-Opened a mortgage checking account
-Took change to the bank and put into new account
-Took back and got new library books
-Contacted Lawn Care service to start first treatment

Hoping to tackle the garage this weekend. Get it cleaned up, swept out, and take our aluminum cans in for recycling(more money for the mortgage!). Have to get it ready for rummage sale time, we are planning on having our first of the year in 3 weeks!

Current Balance $28,515.00
+$100.00 Retirement Hold Account
New Balance $28,615.00

ING $25,860.00 ($5620.00 Bingo Money)
Home Improvements(cash)$680.00
HSBC $2075.00
Total = $28,615.00

CVS has marked a lot of their make-up 50%-75% off to make room for summer shades. So that makes a lot of items about $2.00 - $3.00 each.
If you scan your card at the CVS coupon machine you may get a coupon for $2.00 off any Revlon Lip, Eye or Face Makeup.
I got one on each of my cards everyday this week starting on Monday, so 8 so far. I found items that were $1.99-$2.30 each before the coupon, so have been getting everything for under .30. So far I have scored $64 worth of makeup for less then $1!
I don't wear makeup, but this will be great to add to my rummage sale inventory for this cheap!
Once I have gotten all my coupons for the week I will post my deals, but wanted to get this deal up while there was still time for everyone to cash in!

One of the reasons I think I am so good at savings, is because I can "nickel and dime" my savings and all those little bits really, really add up. If I have $5 bucks to put in there, I can transfer it to savings right away and it's out of sight out of mind. With paying down the mortgage, I only make payments once a month. If I have $5, or $30 or whatever I want to put towards it, it can seem to disappear in checking, at the bar or wherever before its time to put it on the loan.
So I came up with a new strategy that works with my savings style. I opened up a new, free checking account at the same bank as our mortgage, and now I can "nickle and dime" that account for the month, then withdrawl the balance each month and add it to our normal principle payment. I think this will really help me with dropping that balance more and more each month.
I opened the account yesterday with $70 that I had planned on adding to the mortgage principle, and then today I took in our change, $60, and added that to the account. So already $130 extra to add to the principle payment for June! This way if I have $5 or whatever I want to add it will be kept seperate and go to the right place, plus I can easily transfer from my regular checking to the mortgage checking with my internet banking.
Also just for opening the account I got to pick a free gift, I was excited/surprised by that, because I already have an account there, so I didn't think I would qualify for the free gift. I chose a Sunebeam Baking Pan, it also came with a lid.

Well we were naughty....DH is approaching the end of the school year (4 more school days!) and has been very antsy (if you think your kids are bad, you should see the teachers!)...and it has been raining here for 5 days straight...I just had to get out of the house. We went to the casino, which we should not have done since we are going to Deadwood at the end of May...and we got our butts kicked. DOH! But in the interest of being honest and holding myself accountable, I gotta put the numbers out here. You know, I really do think my blog helps us save so much...cause all I was thinking when we were losing was "Oh man, I have to share this on my blog, how embarassing!" :P

Current Balance $28,885.00
-$370.00 Casino Losers
New Balance $28,515.00

ING $25,760.00 ($5620.00 Bingo Money)
Home Improvements(cash)$680.00
HSBC $2075.00
Total = $28,515.00

The Anniversary Cruise Fund is back over $2K! I wish we could hit $30K...that would be S W E E T! But Vegas is only a month and a half away...and DH gets his last school paycheck till Sept on May 31. So gonna be crawling along.

Found another $10 discrepancy in my ING totals...what is up with this lately....

Current Balance $28,795.00
+$100.00 Anniversary Cruise
-$10.00 ING Total
New Balance $28,885.00

ING $25,760.00 ($5620.00 Bingo Money)
Home Improvements(cash)$1050.00
HSBC $2075.00
Total = $28,885.00

Our living room is pretty simple and not a lot of clutter in it, no wall shelving or anything to get packed with unneeded items. I do have 2 movie shelves, and a small entertainment center with our TV, some board games and gaming systems in the cabinets of it.

So not too much to do in this room. I started today with the movie shelves. I just went through all of the movies a few weeks ago and got rid of 18 of them. So I didn't need to go through them again, they just needed to be dusted and have the shelves dusted. I took care of that and also found 2 more movies to get rid of.

Hoping to find time this week to dust and clean out the entertainment system. I will also be getting out the furniture cleaner for our leather chairs and couch, and hiring a carpet cleaning company to clean the carpets. They have not been professionally cleaned since we moved in 5 1/2 years ago.