Imagine

Super Deals yield Box Tops for Education

Hey, it's a guest post!

Hi, folks, Lisa's husband, Tom, here with a simple request...

I went shopping with Lisa for all the Kroger deals from her earlier post and had a great time. I did the register runs, while Lisa worked her coupon magic!

Anyway, a lot of the items yield these little beauties -

I collect these for one purpose - to support my students at my school. I work at Henry County Middle School in McDonough, GA. HCMS is a Title 1 school struggling to better serve our students with a steadily shrinking budget. I coach the FIRST Lego League team as part of the Technology Club that I sponsor. This year was our first season and, in our first four months of existence, we went to the second level of competition and traveled to the Super Qualifier Competition in Warner Robins, GA. We didn't make it to the state finals, but I'm extremely proud of my team and there is a lot of potential with the team.

So here's my request to all you humble readers - if you purchase products with the Box Tops for Education and don't collect them for your kids or local school, would you collect them for my students? If you would like to help out a great group of kids explore the wonders of science and mathematics, please send them my way.

Thomas Brooks
Henry County Middle School
166 Holly Smith Dr
McDonough, GA 30253

Thanks!

Menu Plan Monday 1/26/09

We have a busy week of work, school and church activities. Our church is moving to a new location and we will have a few work days this week. With this in mind, I have planned a few crockpot menus. Also, we didn't get to our detox diet this weekend, so we are planning that for Monday and Tuesday. We have an overflowing stockpile and need to reduce the amount of food in our pantry and freezer over the next month. I am planning a post on our stockpile and our 6-week Grocery challenge, so check back tomorrow to hear about our $10/week grocery budget.
Here is what I have planned for this week:

Monday
Two day Detox diet

Tuesday
Detox diet

Wednesday
Spaghetti sauce
noodles
salad

Thursday
Tacos
fresh pineapple

Friday
Crockpot beef roast
rice/gravy
steamed veggie

Saturday
Roast turkey
mashed potatoes
steamed veggie

Sunday
hamburgers
chips
fruit

To get more menu ideas, be sure to visit I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Kroger 1/24/09

I haven't done a post on one of my shopping trips in a long time, but today was too good not to share. My sweet husband, Tom, went with me and it made the trip so much easier. I shopped and he went to the registers for a total of 4 transactions! Be sure to click on the picture for a better look at how much I got.

Here are the items I got for free:

Cottonelle 4 packs (8)
Life Water (9 bottles)
Rotel tomatoes (3 cans)
Propel fitness water (1 bottle)

I also got:
Nature Valley bars (12 boxes)
Fiber One bars (3 boxes)
Kleenex (11 boxes)
Orange Juice (6 cartons)
Life Cereal (4 boxes)
Chex Mix (1 bag)
Cheerios Mix (4 bags)
Mustard (1 bottle)
Buns (1 pk)
Italian Sausage (1lb)
Sara Lee Bread (2 loaves)
Ken's Dressing (2 bottles)
Sour Cream 16 oz. (3 cartons)
Oscar Meyer lunch meat (4 pkgs)
Steamers veggies (6 bags)
Yoplait yogurt (1 pk)


My total before coupons and sales was $205.69.

After coupons, sales, mega event $65.75!!!

I love when Kroger has a Mega event!!!

To see more great deals be sure to visit Money Saving Mom , Southern Savers and The New Frugal Mom.

Menu Plan Monday 1/19/09

Monday is my son Tommy's 21st birthday. I can't believe my boy is a full adult! We are planning a special dinner featuring T-bone steaks that we just got when we bought 1/2 a cow from my sister and brother-in-law. The rest of the week is pretty routine, except for next weekend when our church is moving into a new building. My husband is Technology team lead, and has a lot to get set-up. We will all be at the church for most of the weekend. We are planning on doing a liquid detox diet (Arden's Garden) over the weekend.

Monday
Steak
baked potatoes
salad
Birthday cake and ice cream

Tuesday
Chili
Cornbread

Wednesday
French toast
sausage
fruit

Thursday
Spaghetti sauce
noodles
salad

Friday
Grilled chicken over
Fetticini alfredo

Saturday
Arden's Garden Detox

Sunday
Arden's Garden Detox

I will post on how the detox works. Have a great week!

Financial Goals 2009

Get your finances in line--2009 Financial Goals

I am late in getting this post up. Back in November, I wrote about our Financial Shape 2008 and I promised to do a post about our goals for 2009. Crystal at Money Saving Mom posted about Financial Goals 2009 and that has finally motivated me to actually type out some of our goals for the year. I have been hesitant because, frankly, we have been undecided about a few things. We have been following Dave Ramsey's baby steps. The next item on our list is to pay off my husband's smallest student loan. Due to the economy and some of my own fears, we have decided to delay the pay-off date for now. Instead, we are just piling up cash in a regular savings account. Paying off the loan is still a goal for the year. I just feel safer if we have a larger emergency fund first.

Here is a list of some of our goals:

1. Pay off Student Loan (could actually do this Friday, but will delay by 6-8 weeks)

2. Prepare house for sell just in case market improves. This step includes new paint, carpet, pool liner, updating kitchen appliances. So a fair amount of $$.

3. Sell current home and downsize to home that we can afford on one income.

4. Pile up cash for 3-6 month emergency fund.

5. Ramp up retirement savings to 15% of income.

6. Increase charitable giving to full 10% of income.

We are currently living mostly on my husband's teacher income. That is no small feat. A fairly new teacher's salary is not that much. Most of my paycheck goes straight into a savings account. The only thing that gets paid for out of my paycheck is gasoline for my and my son's cars.

I hope that publishing these goals will help to hold us accountable. Check out Money Saving Mom and see other financial goals at this post.

Sauteed Red Cabbage

I found red cabbage for a really good price this week, so I decided to try this recipe that my mom gave me. It is really good and a little different.

Sauteed Red Cabbage

1 head red cabbage
1 onion diced
1 tsp. mustard seed
2 tblsp. sugar
1/4 c. vinegar

Saute the onion in oil. Add cabbage and cook until crisp done. Add mustard seed, sugar and vinegar. Cook another minute and enjoy!

Menu Plan Monday 1/12/09

Wow! I can't believe I haven't posted anything since my last MPM. Too busy. I have managed to score a few deals at Walgreens, Publix and Kroger, but I didn't take pictures. I also made a trip to "H Mart"--an international type grocery store. It was a fun field trip, and I got some really good deals on fresh fruit and vegetables. Here is my plan for the week where I am using some of my finds.

Monday
Broccoli soup
corn muffins
cantaloupe

Tuesday
Roast turkey
cornbread dressing
gravy
green beans

Wednesday
Pork chops
sauteed red cabbage
mashed potatoes

Thursday
Turkey pot pie
fresh pineapple

Friday
Homemade beef and bean nachos
Homemade guacamole
fruit

Saturday
leftovers--CORN

Sunday
Chicken and Dumplings
steamed veggie
sliced tomatoes

Check out more menu planning ideas at I'm an Organizing Junkie's Menu Plan Monday.

Have a great week!

Menu Plan Monday 1/5/09

Unfortunately, I have had the worst cold/flu that I have had in years over the New Year's Holiday. I had lots of time off from work, but I was not able to get any projects accomplished. Sometimes that is just how is goes. Now it is back to work and school for the family. Here is what I have planned for the week.

Monday
Chicken Parmesan
spaghetti noodles/sauce

Tuesday
Chicken Stew
Rice
steamed veggie

Wednesday
grilled cheese sandwiches
tomato soup

Thursday
Pork Chops
pintos/rice
lettuce and onion salad

Friday
Spanish Rice
Kielbasa sausage

Saturday
leftovers--CORN

Sunday
Sloppy Joes
pan fried potoatos/onions
steamed veggie

Have a great week!

For more menu ideas head over to I'm an Organizing Junkie and see Menu Plan Monday.