Frugality: Houdini {The Great Escape}

We had a fund called "New Vehicle Fund" in which we would deposit money. We have been saving up for approximately five years. In fact, We were ready to buy a new vehicle over a year ago and the money just sat in the fund garnering interest. We just did not find the right vehicle for the right price. Keep in mind that I am cheap. And, patient. I refuse to buy anything that seems too high. In fact, I prefer to buy items below cost (or below the blue book value in this case).

We thought we were going to have to look in areas outside of San Antonio proper such as Houston, Round Rock and more due to the fact used vehicles in San Antonio are priced rather high. In fact, Houston is significantly cheaper than San Antonio. We just never took the time to travel and look at cars.

Something prompted me to do a search again recently and much to my surprise, two vehicles popped up on our radar with right price. One was black and the other ruby red. We took the time to see the ruby red one over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Why? because it had lower price with lower mileage. Plus, I liked the color. Ha!

We took it on a test drive and Dan checked out the insides. We were wondering out loud why the mileage was so low. We were informed that previous owner's wife died and it was determined that he should no longer drive. So...

Here's Houdini! {The Great Escape!}

This is a 2013 Ford Escape with 6700 miles on it (give or take a few miles since I rounded up the number). I named it Houdini because it represents freedom, a means of escape, for me. (I have been without a runabout for approximately five months.) By the way, this is the second time I named a vehicle. The first was "Blue Bomb" I used in the 1980s as a runabout at college. It was a 1964 blue Buick that ticked like a bomb all the time.

Anyway, Houdini is ours free and clear. Yes, we paid cash. No payments to make whatsoever. This is how we roll (for the most part). Debt free living rocks!

Wordy Wednesday: A Score!

I had to go into town with Dan last Thursday. I decided to do some shopping. (I had some of my own money to spend if I chose to do so.) I went by Hobby Lobby and got a few things I needed on sale and with their regular 40% off coupon. When I swung by Michaels, I did not think I would find much of anything I could live without. Boy, was I wrong!

They had a major clearance on some paper punches. Now, you scrapbookers know these things can be very expensive. And, some of you know that I am a cheapskate. I just cannot see spending that much money on a paper punch. I would make do without.

• The Recollections punches (white) cost $3.99 each regular price. I got them for $1.00 each.
• The EK punch (cupcakes) is 18.78 regular price. I got it for $4.99.
• The Fiskars punches are $11.89 each. I got them for $4.99 each.

All of these would have cost $102.17 (before taxes). I got them all for $35.94 (before taxes) I am absolutely thrilled with my loot!

CVS Pharmacy Shopping Trip (Frugality)

I had two CVS Extra Reward Bucks (ERB), $10 from a shopping trip and $2 from a free Facebook promotion. One of these was expiring today. I had to use it up. Otherwise, it would be like throwing cash away. At least, in my mind, it would be.

So, I went online and perused the weekly ads. I am not one to buy things just for the sake of buying them because they are on sale. I tend to buy things that we need and/or I know we will use in the future. And, almost always, I stay away from food products with the exception of Coke for Dan when they are on an excellent sale.

I made a list of things that were on sale and tracked down a couple coupons I had clipped. I then made a run to CVS. There is an ERB station located near the front of the store. I always scan my card in hopes of garnering another free ERB coupon. I was lucky to get a $1 ERB this trip. This turned my $12 stash of ERB into $13.

Here is the list of things I needed/wanted:

Nbr of Items	Product	Total Cost
2	Dawn Ultra Antibacterial	1.94
2	Maxi 18 ct	6.00
1	Hydro 3 Razor	8.29
2	Sure solid Deodorant	3.19
		-----
	Grand Total:	19.42

I was getting low on both Dawn and the Maxi. And, I was getting nervous about the deodorant supply. They were buy 1, get 1 and I had a coupon. So, I decided to get more. These were all on sale and I knew I had that $12 total in ERB coupons. I didn't really need the razor. I prefer cartridge refills. But, every once in awhile, you need to get yourself a new razor (handle) because they do get grody over time. Ha! So, this will get stored in our linen closet until I (or Dan) needs a new one. And, I had two other reasons for purchasing the razor. I am sure you can find them below.

Here are the coupons I used:

	Total Amount	19.42
Hydro 5 or 3 razor	-5.00	14.42
Sure Deoderant	-1.00	13.42
CVS ERB	-10.00	3.42
CVS ERB	-2.00	1.42
CVS ERB	-1.00	0.42

Yes, the total amount for all of this was 42 cents. Tax of 7 cents was then applied making it a grand total of 49 cents! That is all I paid. AND, get this! I received a $3.00 ERB back for the razor I purchased. So, in a sense, I got paid for shopping at CVS. You can't beat that!

On Frugality: Free Deoderant, Soap, & More

I’ve been asked how in the world I’m getting practically free shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, body soap, and more.

This is probably going to be the only post about this as it’s just a personal thing/challenge of mine and not everyone is interested in this. I can only hope that this post makes absolute sense to readers.

I’m going to just use this past Sunday’s CVS shopping trip as an example to try to demonstrate. I also take advantage of Walgreens, just not as much as I do CVS.

The one running philosophy I have is that if it doesn’t give me anything in return, I don’t consider it. However, there are exceptions to this philosophy of mine. If the product is on an excellent sale and if I have a coupon for it that will bring it to mere pennies or better yet free, then I will often go for it.

I have a pretty good memory of what manufacturer coupons I currently have. I perused CVS new ads online Saturday night and I noticed the following:

1. Coke: 12 oz cans 12 pk -- 4/$13. This is not that great of a deal. But, there was a $3 ECBs (Extra Care Bucks) for purchasing these. And, we were desperately low on Coke. So…
2. Nivea for Men Active 3 body wash 16.9 oz: $4.99. ECBs $4.99
3. Gillette clear gel deodorant $3.99. ECBs $1.00
   

I had the following manufacturer and CVS coupons:

1. $1.00 for any Nivea Body Wash
2. Buy Gillette any deodorant and get Gillette Body Wash Free
3. $3.00 CVS ExtraCare Bucks coupon
4. $5.00 CVS ExtraCare Bucks coupon
   

So, I ended up getting all of the following (at the advert sale or reg. prices):

1. 4 packs of 12 cans of Coke: cost $13.00
2. Gillette clear gel deodorant: cost $3.99
3. Gillette body wash: cost $4.99
4. Nivea body wash : cost $4.99
   

Bringing the total cost to $26.97 before taxes.

WAIT! Remember my coupons? I gave the cashier ALL my coupons which saved me $13.99 bringing the total cost down to $12.98 before taxes.

Basically, I got the deodorant AND the two body wash products for free.

AND, that is not all. In return, I received the following:

1. $1.00 ECBs
2. $3.00 ECBs
3. $4.99 ECBs
   

This gives me a total of $8.99 ECBs to use in future shopping trips.
Result: More freebies in the future. :-)

AND, that is not all. I received a bonus coupon.

1. $1 off any Excedrin that expires 9/26/2010

I also have a $1.50 Manufacturer’s coupon expiring 10/16/2010 for Excedrin in my stash of coupons.

I use Excedrin Extra Strength as it works best for me. The problem is that I need the tablet form as I have to chew the pills up (I cannot swallow pills). Only Walgreens and CVS carry the tablet form of Excedrin. (My Walmart and Target do NOT carry this particular product). So...

Knowing CVS track record, they most likely will have a sale on this product within the next couple of weeks. You can be sure that I’ll be getting this then along with the coupons. :-)