Is It October Yet?

September has kicked my butt in the financial realm of things.
When we finally bid it adieu on Monday, I won't be longingly looking back at it....no siree!

I am known far and wide for my skinflint ways.
But even as uber frugal as I can be, the expenses were out of hand for September!
The ones that I could plan for I did, but there were unplan-able ones as well.
It all converged into the Perfect Storm and wiped my budget out!
ugh

Yes, having a month where you bring in LESS than you need to spend happens.
Even too me.....
Shocking I know, right?!?! lol

But you know what?
It's not the end of the world around here.

Mostly because we don't make a habit of it.
We don't spend every blessed nickel we make each month, every month.
We put aside a nice chunk of our income each month.
So that when something happens in any given month....like this one!.....we have money to spare to get us past the ugliness of spending more than we made in September.

Having a bad month or three can happen, even if you do everything right.
Having bad months happen on a regular basis though, means you need to rethink what you are doing with your money.

Sometimes the Universe IS out to get you.....and sometimes you are your own worst enemy and create your own problems by not planning and sticking to that plan.

The take away for me on September?
Using it as a reminder that given the choice, living below ones means is always the best plan.
And how!

Well everybody come on back in a few days when I have to do my Savings Challenge Post for September and you can gawk at just how badly the month was for our finances.

Sluggy

Today's Theme Is......

Since we were on the topic.....We were?!?!......I must update you on this globe crisis.
Is it global warming?
Is it extremist radical religious fanatics?

WORSE!

Take a look....HERE.


And then go check this out......

Sometimes I think I live under a rock.
I had no clue about this group of folks and the "Culinary Magic" they pull off online.
I showed it to my teens and they rolled their eyes and said, "Yah MOM....we've seen it like, a hundred times!  Geez.....*insert eye rolls*......"

Anyway, go have a look at these crazy Canadians and smile....or laugh out loud like I did and have a Good Friday!





Sluggy

A Letter to Anonymous Who Thinks I am Poisoning My Dogs

Dear Anonymous Reader and Wannabe Commentor,

Thank you for reading my blog first off.
I love readers!
And thanks a lot for attempting to leave not one but TWO comments on the blog.
Comments on a blog post from 2+ years ago.

Two Comments that basically asked me what is wrong with me as a human being and accused me of being stupid and for trying to intentionally poison my dogs.

Because I buy canned mass produced dog food and feed it to my pets in small quantities, along with some kibble and the 'people' food I also use to augment their diets.

       One of my poor unfortunate "victims".  Doesn't her expression just say I am a monster?

And thank you for providing me with a website address to check out, where I can purchase other mass produced kibble and wet food for my pets, that this website says is much better nutritionally than what I buy.
Tell me Anonymous....do you profit from sales made by this website in any way, shape or form?
Or are you truly leading me onto the path of better pet nutrition for only altruistic reasons?

Is this part of a personal Crusade to make all pet owners who can't or don't or even won't spend ridiculous amounts of money on a pet feel badly?

Or do you just like to go around and tell everyone who doesn't spend $200 a month on ready-made pet foods, or doesn't want to/or can't spend all their time homemaking by-hand, food for their pets, that they are the scum of the earth?

Tell me........are you or have you ever been a member of PETA?
I bet you want to come here and liberate my dogs from my cruel and inhumane treatment right this minute, don't you?

If that would float your boat, feel free to come and get them!  And you can take over the vet bills, medications, grooming costs, the cleaning up after them costs,  as well as the food costs associated with them.

      Another mistreated animal in my care.  Somebody call the authorities!

Sorry I don't live up to your expectations as a pet owner.
But you see, I have these things called children too.
In the Family hierarchy here, spending money on the care and feeding of my children outranks that of my
animals.
The pets get adequate care, medical attention, fresh water, walks, sunshine, grooming and lots of belly rubs and ear scratches.
Oh and love too.
I think they have reconciled themselves to their awful fate so go find someone else to chastise and make feel badly.

Signed,

Sluggy--the unfit dog mother

Preying On the Lonely

If you are a woman out there looking for a good man, please watch this and take heed.
This is a tv news report from my area about a skanky guy who really deserves to be stung up and then authorities need to let a whole bunch of women he duped go after his "junk" with dull plastic butter knives.

If you are using the internet maybe you should rethink that online dating thing after watching this........



Sluggy

What I Bought At Rite-Aid This Week

I didn't get to the store until Tuesday night but here is what I bought......

2 x Tampax on sale $3.50=$7.00
2 x Nexxus Shampoo w/20% wellness discount $5.03=$10.06
2 x Oral-B toothbrushes on sale $2.99=$5.98
2 x Brach's candy corn on sale 2/$2=$2.00
1 x Olay Regenerist Cleanser w/20% wellness discount=$6.63
SubTotal....$31.67

Coupons Used
2 x $3/1 Tampax Radiant(from inside last 2 packages I bought)=$6.00
2 x $3/1 Nexxus item IPQ(Walmart site)=$6.00
1 x $1/2 Oral-B or Crest complete item ManuQ(P&G insert)=$1.00
1 x $1/1 Oral-B Oral Care Book Q=$1.00
1 x $1.50/2 Brach's candy items IPQ=$1.50
1 x $7 In-Ad Regenerist Q=$7.00
Coupon Total....$22.50

$31.67-$22.50=$9.17
I used $9 in +Up Rewards to pay and put the .17¢ on my Rite-Aid gift card.

I received back $7.98 in +Up Rewards(1 x $1 wyb2 Brach's, 1 x $1 wyb2 Tampax, 2 x $2.99 Oral-B).
So all this "cost" me $1.02 in +Ups.

The Tampax Radiant with this symbol and wording......

Have this inside.....

A $2/1 Tampax Radiant Q.....along with a $1/1 Venus, $1/1 Cover Girl and a $1/1 Always radiant Q.

Last time I bought these the Tampax Q was for $3/1(which are the Qs I used on this transaction).

If they hadn't made these Qs $1 less, everyone who buys 2 boxes this week can open them up and use the Qs inside to get them for FREE after getting the $1 +Up wyb2 back.  Now?  You end up paying $1 a box after the sale/Qs/+Up back on 2.  So much for my evil plan to get 8 boxes free(using my card and B-IL's card).

Curses.....thwarted again!
Well played Rite-Aid, well played...... ;-)

The plan now is to maybe do the Tampax Deal again this week, since with these Qs and after $1 +Ups I get back, they will "cost" me $1 a box.  I liked it so much better when they were FREE! lol

The definite plan is to do more candy corn.......candy corn=sugar crack!.......more toothbrushes(on B-IL's card)......and buy $10 more in Nexxus and get the $10 +Up Rewards(for buying $20 total).

And if some promised Qs from a blogging friend get here in time, more Olay Regenerist products.....because we all know how vain I am about my beauty.......snort.......

What are you buying at Rite-Aid this week?


September Grand Totals so far.....

Out Of Pocket....$38.65  cash
Value of items bought....$388.17
Savings Rate of  90.04%
Single Check Rebate due....$10.00
Other Rebates due......$3.00
After SCR applied, Out of Pocket.... $25.65
Savings Rate  93.39%

+Ups at beginning of month...$18+
+Ups used....$112+
+Ups received...$108+
+Ups currently...$14+

Sluggy