Walking a Fine Line

As my regular readers may know, my #1 son is heading off for his 1st year of college later this week. He spent the bulk of the summer since graduating from high school working across the state at a YMCA Camp as a Counselor. This meant he wasn't home to take care of business associated with his upcoming college matriculation. I've been sort of orchestrating things from home in his absence.
I am the Mother.
I organize and oversee things.
That's my job.

#1 son is about to be "on his own" for real, for the 1st time. I find I walk a fine line between doing things for him(thus they get done the right way, the first time) and letting him find his own way to do things(and suffer the consequences from making possibly wrong choices).
Life runs much smoother when the people with experience and who are good at their jobs run things, don't they? It's hard to step back and let your newly minted Adult child take the reins and be in charge.

Of course, you anguish if they fail at their new task. But since you are still there in the background to pick up the pieces when they need it, you have the added stress on YOUR life to handle any crises of their making.
Letting them make the decisions and having the potential for failure makes the parent's life MORE stressful, not less. It's not a situation any parent wants to be in but it's necessary at least for awhile unless you abandon your child totally and walk out of their life.

SonyaAnn over at A Mom Money and More has been dealing with this same issue. You can read about her experience with her teenage daughter HERE.

Hubby & I had a blow-out earlier this week over our differing approach to this topic.

In an effort to keep the costs of this year of schooling down, I want #1 son to buy his books as cheaply as possible. Of course, the school he will be attending, "highly suggests" that incoming freshman wait until they arrive on campus and buy their textbooks at the school's bookstore. Do you think they have a financial incentive to suggest this?lolol

Textbooks were also available online from the bookstore to buy ahead since Aug. 3rd, when the course/instructor/book requirements were announced for the school. As long as the instructors won't change the textbooks used, student isn't waffling about taking a course or thinks they may likely drop a course, why not buy the books ahead? Especially if it saves money!
You may know that the Used Textbooks tend to sell out quickly, leaving only the shiny, expen$ive New Textbooks for the students who wait to buy once they arrive on campus.
New College Textbooks are INSANELY EXPEN$IVE!!!

So instead of waiting on laid-back, #1 son, with the Scarlett O-Hara "I'll think about that tomorrow" mentality, to take it upon himself to arrange to buy his books, I went online and with some information from another member of the Compact Yahoo List I'm on, I RENTED some of his Textbooks. Renting textbooks is about Half the cost of buying Used!
Yes!!!

By doing so, we'll be paying $250 for a mix of rented or buying used books(once #1 son gets to school), versus paying $600 buying new books! Plus we won't have to worry about whether the bookstore will take the books back during the bookstore "buy back" either or be stuck with useless, heavy, expensive doorstops.

When I told Hubby about having already bought the bulk of the books, he was Not pleased. His feeling was, "It's HIS life....let him buy the books." He seems to think that we should drive #1 son to college, unload his stuff and wave goodbye. From that point anything he needs or decisions he needs to make are up to him.
After all, he said, "That is how our parents did us when we went off to college."

Hubby's parents style was very "hands off" for as long as I knew them. But they were there(for some cash, advise or moral support) if hubby ever had a really bad problem when he was just starting out as an adult.

My parents....even MORE hands off in a way.
Basically, my parents were not even around from the time I was 15. Physically, they floated in & mostly out of my life through my teen years and beyond. Except for my mostly absentee father who was a bigtime control freak. That made for an interesting combination.lol
So my parents weren't "there" for me physcially or in any other way. When I got dropped off at college, it was basically "See ya in the next life kid!" I was out there alone at 18.

So, even though we try to be "hands off" in our parenting style, hubby now understands why I try to pad the way sometimes.
I didn't rent ALL this books. He will still have the responsiblity of buying a few of the books he needs once he gets to school. And he'll have to make sure the rented ones get shipped back in time or he'll be paying any fees associated with keeping them beyond his rental period.
And he's going to have to deal with alot of other things at school.....like finding a job, getting his scholarship money released(dealing with financial aid...oh joy!lol), etc.

t least he knows how to do laundry already. ;-)

Sluggy

Wonderful Wednesday--Contemplate The Beauty Around You

Even though my garden has NOT been as successful this year producing edibles, the Morning Glories that I planted are rewarding me with lovely blooms.
Here are some photos from yesterday morning. This vine has overtaken the bird suet pole....

And more blooms along the deck railing.....


And now that your eyes have been soothed, here is something for your brain.
Go read THIS.

Sluggy

My KMart Fun during Double Coupons Week 8/16-8/22

I think I showed remarkable restraint this round at KMart during their Double Coupons Promotion that happened last week.

I only made 12 trips there. Ok, 12 transactions, not trips.
It was 7 Trips. 1 trip a day except for Tuesday and Friday.
No trips on Tuesday and 2 trips on Friday.
I have to go by there anyway, so why not stop when I have the time and do a little Free Shopping. ;-)

And because of the $3 off $20 and $5 off $25 coupons that the cash registers were spitting out, I didn't do $50+ on each transaction like I usually do. So in all, I bought a whole lot LESS than usual.
Here are the pictures of everything I bought.

First the food & drink......#2 son is ecstatic about the 5 Bazillion Amp energy drinks!lol

Here's a sneaky trick. See the bags of LifeSavers? Each one has a game piece and a $1 off Coupon inside the bag. Everytime KMart has Double Coupons I use 4 coupons from previous bags to buy 4 more bags....$1 coupon doubled=free bag of Lifesavers. I open the new bags and fish out the game piece/coupons and buy 4 more bags for free. Keep rolling those coupons each trip to KMart. As of now, I have about 50 bags of LifeSavers-not counting the ones we've eaten(that's $89.50 worth) and I'm only out $7.16 for the 1st 4 bags I bought back in April. Well, I got 1 bag with No Game Piece/Coupon this go round, so I am down to rolling 3 coupons per transaction.*sigh* lol

Then the Toiletries....I think #2 son absconded with a can of Tag because I know I had gotten 3.hmmmm....


Then the Cleaning, Laundry, Paper Products(yes, those are paper plates-eek!), Stationery Supplies, Batteries(for my camera and mouse)....

And a photo of assorted things I forgot to put in the other photos....ok, things in bags I found later...lol.....
Add to all that...
2 12-packs of soda
4 22lb. bags of dog food
1 loaf of bread
1 Microwave Hormel Meal thing
6 more bags of Lifesavers
1 Purse that was on clearance(yes, I succumbed to a cheap new purse)

Value of Items is $585.50.
Total spent $16.86 OOP.
Savings of 97%!
AND I got 2 FREE Movie Tickets for buying the Axe Products & I'll get a $5 Gift Card for buying the 4 Boxes of Kellogg's Cereal.

Now, I don't buy ONLY items that are free or almost free during the KMart Double Coupons Event. I use free or cheap as a guideline but I'll spend a bit more to get something that is a good deal (but not free or under $1)that we need.
For example, Purina Dog Chow was on sale for $10.99 for a 22lb. bag this past week.
A good price.
I had $2 coupons that doubled, giving me $4 off per bag. If I bought the Dog Food along with other items that were free with coupons, I could then use the $3 or $5 off your order KMart coupon toward lowering the Dog Food even more.....so, the $10.99 dog food becomes $7.99 with coupon and then $4.99 OR $2.99 with the $ off your order coupon when you spend XX$. Paying $5 or $3 for a big bag of dog food is amazing good!

Even with doubled Coupons, because of the sometimes ridiculously HIGH regular retail prices at KMart, I couldn't get a savings percentage this high(97%)....unless I pulled out my secret weapon when doing KMart Double Coupon shopping.

That secret weapon is.....Pharmacy Gift Cards!

When my KMart Double Coupon Week gets near, I go and transfer our prescriptions that need refilling to the KMart Pharmacy. KMart regularly puts out Reward Coupons that give you between a $10 & $25 Gift Card for each prescription you move to their Pharmacy.

With our Prescription Plan it really doesn't matter which Drug Store fills our meds....we get charged the same price. So having KMart fill them is the same as having Rite-Aid, Walmart, Target, etc. fill them. I am out the same amount no matter where, so I might as well get a perk(gift card)since I am going to have to spend the money anyway, right?

I was able to move 3 prescriptions for a total of $58.80 in Gift Cards.
$58.80 of free money to spend. Combine sales and doubled coupons with the Gift Cards and you can see how much you can get for ZERO out of your own pocket!

Next refill, I'll move them all back to where they were filled before or to a different Pharmacy if they lure me there with more Gift Cards.
2 months later, I can move them back to KMart for more Gift Cards to spend during a future Double Coupons Week.

So how did you do this past week? Did you score some amazing deals??
What's on your deal hunting agenda this week?

Sluggy

Walgreen's Trips for 8/16-8/22

While down in PhillyLand last Tuesday I went to the Walgreens that's a block away from Acme. I had to do something between Acme transactions, right?lol

I wanted to do the Huggies Wipes Deal. The Wipes down there were an outrageous $3.59 a box! Geez, I thought our Wags was high at $3.29...

Here is what I bought....


1 x Soft Soap Body Wash $3.99(the one that gave a $4RR)
4 x Huggies Wipes @$3.59=$14.36
And then some fillers so I could use my $5RR that was expiring...
2 x Chapstick 3 pack clearance @$1.19=$2.38
1 x Wags Cough Drops clearance @.25¢=$.25
1 x Coconut M&Ms(these are REALLY good!lol)=$.69
Subtotal=$21.67

Coupons Used
2 x $1/2 Huggies Wipes=$2.00
4 x $2/1 Wags IVF Q=$8.00
Total=$10.00

$21.67-$10.00=$11.67

RRs Used
$5
$6
Total=$11.00

$11.67-$11=$.67
Tax=$.39
TOTAL=$1.06OOP

Received RRs....$4(Soft Soap)

Then I went to Visit with my Girlfriend Cashiers on Saturday at WAGS and rolls some more RRs.
It was also the last day of the special Spend $25 in 1 Transaction, Get a $5RR. It was $25 BEFORE Coupons so it was worth doing. I also had my eye out for the clearanced Zyrtec that gave $5RR when you buy two.




Transaction #1

1 x Fusion Razor=$8.99
1 x Gillette Shampoo=$3.99 on clearance
1 x Gillette Body Wash=$4.99
1 x Zyrtec Children's Syrup @$1.39 on clearance=$1.39
1 x Zyrtec Children's Syrup @$3.29 on clearance=$3.29
1 x Starbucks Drink=$1.89
1 x Soft Soap Body Wash=$3.99
Subtotal=$28.53

Coupons Used
1 x $2/1 Razor=$2.00
1 x Free Gillette Shampoo WYB Razor=$3.99
1 x Free Gillette Body Wash WYB Razor=$4.99
1 x $2/1 Zyrtec=$2.00
1 x $1/1 Starbucks=$1.00
1 x $.64 Wags Q=$.64
Total=$14.62

$28.53-$14.62=$13.91

RRs Used
$6,$6=$12.00

$13.91-$12.00=$1.91
Tax $1.32=$3.23OOP

Received RRs....
$4(Soft Soap),$5(Zyrtec),$5(spend $25)=$14RRs

I don't know WHY some of the Zyrtec on clearance was $3.29 and some $1.39! Same bottles, same UPC codes and same expiration dates on the boxes. Weird...


Transaction #2

5 x Pop-Tarts=$10
4 x Huggies Wipes@$3.29=$13.16
2 x Velveeta Cups@$1.29=$2.58
Subtotal=$25.74

Coupons Used
2 x $1/2 Pop-Tarts=$2.00
2 x $1/2 Huggies Wipes=$2.00
4 x $2/1 Huggies Wipes Wags Q=$8.00
1 x BOGO Velveeta Cups@$1.29=$1.29
Subtotal=$13.29

$25.74-$13.29=$12.45

RRs Used
$5,$6=$11.00

$12.45-$11.00=$1.45OOP

Received RRs
$5(for $25 order), $5(Pop-Tarts), $1(Velveeta Cups)=$11.00RR


Transaction #3

1 x Fusion Razor=$8.99
1 x Gillette Shampoo=$3.99 on clearance
1 x Gillette Body Wash=$4.99
2 x Zyrtec Children's Syrup @$3.29 on clearance=$6.58
1 x Starbucks Drink=$1.89
3 x Ramen Noodles(filler so I could use RRs to pay)=$1.00
Subtotal=$27.44

Coupons Used
1 x $2/1 Fusion Razor=$2.00
1 x Free Gillette Shampoo WYB Razor=$3.99
1 x Free Gillette Body Wash WYB Razor=$4.99
2 x $2/1 Zyrtec Children's Syrup=$4.00
1 x Starbucks Drink=$1.00
1 x Wag Q Starbucks=$.64
Total=$16.62

$27.44-$16.62=$10.82

RRs Used
$5,$4,$1=$10.00

$10.82-$10.00=$.82
Sales Tax $1.08=$1.90OOP

Received RRs
$5(for $25 order), $5(Zyrtec)=$10.00RR



Transaction #4

2 x Zyrtec Children's Syrup @$1.39 on clearance=$2.78(found 2 more marked lower!)
2 x Red Baron Pizzas on sale $3=$6.00 **NOT PICTURED**

Subtotal=$8.78

Coupons Used
1 x $2/1 Zyrtec Children's Syrup=$2.00
2 x $1/1 Red Baron=$2.00

Total=$4.00

$8.78-$4.00=$4.78

RRs Used
$3

$4.78-$3.00=$1.78OOP

Received RRs
$5(Zyrtec)=$5.00RR

TOTALS for the Week....
Value of Items $166.37
Out of Pocket Spent $9.42
Savings of $156.95 or 94.33%

RRs Used=$47
RRs Received=$44

Sluggy

Last Week's Shopping-CVS Quickie

Since CVS had the Purex 3-In-1 Laundry Sheets on BOGO(Buy 1 Get 1 Free)last week AND I had a Free Coupon for it AND I had Extra Care Bucks expiring on 8/25, I made a stop in on my way to visit my girlfriends at WAGS.
Here's what I bought to get up to $25 so I could use a $5 off $25 Purchase Coupon....



2 x Purex Laundry Sheets @$8.99 BOGO=$8.99
2 x Glade Air Freshener @$.99=$1.98
2 x J&J Mini 1st Aid Kits @$.99=$1.98
1 x Always Pads Double Pack=$6.00
1 x Blink Tears=$7.99(raincheck item)
Subtotal=$26.94

Coupons Used
1 x Free Purex Item(only free up to $7.50 tho...this stuff is too expensive at CVS!)=$7.50
1 x BOGO Glade=$.99
2 x J&J Mini 1st Aid Kits=$1.98
1 x Blink Tears=$3.00
1 x $5 off $25 Purchase=$5.00
Coupon Total=$18.47

$26.94-$18.47=$8.47

ECBs Used
2 x $4.00=$8.00

$8.47-$8=$.47

Add in .01¢ sales tax and my OOP came to $.48.
I received ECBS for....$2(1st Aid Kits),$3(Always), $8(Blink Tears)=$13 ECBs
$39.91 worth of items for .48¢.
A savings of 98.8%.

All stuff we can use, except for the Blink Tears which will go into the Yard Sale pile.

Sluggy