Monday, January 9, 2012

Update on No-Spend challenge, first purchase

I made my first purchase of the year! And first of the month for the challenge! At $34.47, I got enough all that I need for 2 weeks. Not bad at all.

One of my goals for 2012 was to use coupons for at least $150 worth. I am not off to a bad start and it has me wondering if I need to up my goals. I saved $18.44 in coupons on that purchase named above. I'll admit, I got lucky. There was a sale on frozen veggies that knocked the price from $2.49 to $0.88 (limit 4). This was one of those 1-day sales, and I happen to catch by luck. 1.5 hours comparing prices and looking/cutting coupons really paid off. Boxes of Cheerios Dulce de Leche came out to $0.49/box after coupons at our local Acme store, so I might have to return today and get some extras. Cereal makes a great 2pm snack.

I am finally going to see Tin Tin with my dad, next Saturday. I can't say how excited I am about it. We both are fans of Tin Tin, and when I saw the trailer for the movie (on an online ad, on the day it was released-- tells you how much I watch tv), I was super excited. I watched Sherlock with my half brother since he wasn't as thrilled about Tin Tin, but it works out. Tickets for a 3D movie won't be cheap, but I have 1 free ticket from the movie theater, so that should help. I am aware this isn’t exactly frugal and I won’t try to justify it either. But that I know of, I won’t be doing anything else like this between now and April.

I also need to start working on my book list. I used to be a very avid reader (I think my personal best was 600 pages in 3 full days?), but I kind of dropped it and never picked it up on my last 2 years of college. Anybody has any good suggestions? For some reason, I am not a very big fan of classics. I know they're classics and that in itself should mean I am supposed to like them, but I don't. I will try to get any book through my local library, so let me know if there's any favorite of yours I should read! Chances are, I haven't read it.

Hope everyone's weekend was good and that the week is better!

13 comments:

  1. Wow! 600 pages in 3 days? That sounds very much like my daughter in the Harry Potter hay days...

    Great job on the coupon shopping! There are some really good coupons coming out in the beginning of the year, I need to start taking advantage of them too!

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  2. Super job on the coupons Tanner! Hope you and your dad enjoy the movie. :)

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  3. Good job on the coupons! I've been horrible with coupons lately.

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  4. I'm a speed reader too, I can read a novel in one day if I'm into it & have the time to spare.. lol! Let us know what you think of tin-tin, it looked pretty good! :) I really want to see HUGO too! You're doing awesome with no-spend challenge!!

    What kind of books are you into? Being a guy I'm assuming we have different tastes.. ;) Hmmm... What about John Grisham? I enjoy his novels...

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  5. Fred and the kids love Tin Tin. I'm like "meh", whatever! But Fred is all excited to see it. The French are weird like that. It should be in the 2 Dollar theater by next month. He'll take the kids then.
    And since I don't read anything but blogs, I can't suggest anything. Sorry!
    m.

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  6. Great deals using coupons! I read like crazy too. I do recall after I finished college it was a couple/few years before I started reading again, guess it was just too much studying to enjoy reading for awhile.

    What kind of books do you like? I love books that are series, and even as an adult I loved all the Harry Potter books. Patricia Cornwell has a great series of books, if you like suspense type.

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  7. Go to the movies, it isn't like you go every day and you must have some entertainment plus it is good for your dad. He needs company also. Great start to a new year. This is going to be a great year.

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  8. Look at you rocking the couponing! That's awesome. Hope the movie meets your expectations. I haven't been to the theatre in a long time! :)

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  9. Holy Hannah!! Great job, love my coupons, I don't know why more people don't use them. Keep up the great work we are cheering you on!!

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  10. good job on the coupons!

    I am currently on book three of the Hunger Games Series ~ I have really enjoyed them. I like to be entertained when I read, not have to think ;p

    have a great week!

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  11. I think I may be increasing my coupon goal after all! Thanks for the cheers. As for the kind of books I like, I actually like juvenile fiction or well-written fantasy fiction. I like them mostly because of the character development and the worlds they create.
    @ Carla - I'll check out John Grisham. I am trying to expand the genres of books I'll read.
    @ JPKittie - I've heard a lot about those Hunger Game series, I will see if my library has them!

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  12. Wow I'm so jealous over your cereal deal!! Michael and Kazi eat cereal once or twice a day and around here it costs a fortune!! They love Vector and it runs $8 or $9 for a good sized box which lasts only a few days. No coupons around here either:(

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  13. Cereal makes a good snack at any time and I want to watch Sherlock. The first one was awesome.

    I too use to be an avid reader but I haven't done much of it recently unless you count blogs. The last set of good books I read part of a series by author Wilbur Smith, one was entitled Warlock and another book I read which I think is probably my favourite ever was Tricky Business. You can give the summaries a look and see if you would like them. I highly recommend the Wilbur Smith series.

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