Savings + Chocolate

Ok, first the chocolate part. I love chocolate. There are not many kinds of chocolate I can have that are nut free and wheat free. I can have Hershey Kisses, Rolos, Mini Cadbury Eggs (but not the big ones), oh and I also really like the Candy Cane Hershey Kisses and the pink, green and yellow mints that you can get at a baby shower. You know what I mean? Ok--so when I find them on sale, I buy them (or when they're in season, whichever comes first). When I feel like my blood sugar is a bit low, I munch--just a bit--in moderation.  I have a couple of secret stashes that aren't so secret anymore.  Suddenly, I'm finding, every little bag of chocolate/candy in this house is empty.  I just have to ask one kid "Kaleb, did you eat these?" and he ducks his head down and whines like a baby "yes..."  Part of me is mad (I can't get the mini cadbury eggs or the candy cane hershey kisses for a long time now--I savor them over the months, only eating a little at a time).  Part of me is worried (is this becoming an obsession with him??).  He dug into a $3.50 package full of dark melting chocolate (from a candy making store) that was intended for use on something for my tea party.  He's been saving up quarters (doing jobs to earn them) so that he could buy a stuffed animal he wanted (like he needs another one), and I decided to start making him pay me for the chocolates he takes.  So today, I found my bag of Rolos was empty, and he handed me another quarter from his piggy bank (I know, it doesn't quite cover the whole bag--but he's getting the concept)...He said, pouting, "I wish I could buy my own chocolate."  I told him that maybe if he stops eating mine, he can save up his money to buy some.  Argh...Am I handling this right?  Am I making too big of a deal out of this?  Mind you, this is the kid that, until this last year (6 years old), he has touched every single birthday cake I've made (for anyone) and destroyed a part of the frosting because he just "couldn't wait."  Sweets are very, very, very tempting to him.  Any suggestions??  

Ok, now for the savings part!!  This is exciting! (Much more exciting than disappearing chocolate!). :)  I have been watching the deals, as I mentioned in a previous post. Seriously, check out all of my links on Shop.Eat.Live.!  

I went to Albertsons today, and this is what I got:

~2 boxes of Yopliat Yogurts (Dora and Diego, at the kids' request), $1.50 each, -$1.50 and -$1.50 coupons (free!)

~2 boxes of Gogurt Yogurts, $1.50 each -$1.00 on 2 ($2! total!)

~1 Coffeemate Creamer, $1.67 -$1 coupon, -$1 double  (.33 overage)

~3 Kraft Cream Cheeses @ .88 each, -$1 on 2, -$1 doubler (.64 for 3!)

~2 Hormel Lunch Meats (Gluten free, nitrate free, etc.), I usually pay $3.50 each for these--they were bogo at $4.99, so 2 packs for $4.99 (I wish there was a coupon, too!) :)

TOTAL BILL = $7.30

the coupons were from online (I did searches for "Yoplait Coupon," etc.) and from the paper this week. You can do it to! By tomorrow!

Then, Target:

~Coppertone travel size sunscreen, .99 -$1 coupon (online) = .01 overage

~Starbucks Coffee, $7.04 -$1 mfg coupon (online) = $6.04

~Aquafresh Whitening Toothpaste, $3.69 start price, -$1 Target coupon (online), -$1 Aquafresh coupon (Aquafresh site), = $1.69

~Pupperoni Dog Treats, 2 packages, $4.78 -1 Target coupon, $1 off 2, and 2 mfg coupons (all online, Pupperoni site & Target site), $1.50 and $2 off =.28 for 2 packs!!

Total for that stuff = $8

THEN! At Target, still, I found some major makeup deals!!  It was on the end cap at Wilsconville Target. I am running out of some of my makeup basics, and was looking at reviews online the other day (I hate buying makeup and throwing it away, so I read reviews :). I was reading about a Target brand called Sonia Kashuk, which reviewers compared to Bare Minerals (only, $12 for a foundation set instead of $50+!). Lots of reviewers like the stuff, it's very highly rated. WELL! I found lip gloss, blush, cheek powder, lip pens, bronzer, etc.,. all from $1.48 to $2.74 each, and they are usually $7.99 + each!!!  WOW!  I was SO pleased to find these! I was first excited to read the reviews and find I could get something 1/5 of the cost of Bare Minerals but highly rated--and then--wowie zowie, even cheaper! :)  Check it out! :)

I hope you're all inspired by that!  Yahoo!  I am!!  Walgreens is next! :)

OH! And P.S. I have been signing up for free samples every single day (oh, there are *many* available online!!), AND at least a few days a week I am spending 15-30 minutes on surveys. I just got my first $5 check in the mail for doing surveys, and I have one for $5.50 on the way. I've only been doing those for maybe 2-3 weeks, and I've got other sites racked up but can't cash out until like $25 or so. The one I love, Opinion Outpost, is a high paying ($2.50 or so per survey) site and you can cash out at $5. Check it out. :)  OH, AND, are you guys using Swagbucks?  I've got 9 swagbucks saved up already. check it out!! :) (btw if you want to sign up and say I directed you there, I'll get swagbucks :) The e-mail I use for that is seriousmoms at gmail dot com. That's my survey e-mail address. :)

HAVE FUN! :)