some exciting savings.

so, lately, i've gotten really excited about saving/discounts/coupons/etc.

Here are the best ones I've had lately:

1) getting part of chris' christmas present for $8.32 from $106... saving $94... it was a combination of sales and other incentives... but i thought it was way impressive. i clearly won't write what cost that much, just in case... but it's impressive.

2) 50 photo christmas cards w/envelopes: $3.19. and i got them in less than a week. now i have to address and send them out. and figure out a blog address i like to update (another task) to put on the back of the cards before i send them out - saving me time and money on printing out a letter to go with each one. (see... smart.)

3) a wall photo calendar, customized: $9. This is not that great of a deal, but the calendar was free... it was just the shipping that got me. i didn't want to settle for 21 days, so opted for 14... hoping it makes it in about 5. still pretty impressive to have such a fun customized calendar.

4) dinner at target: $1.64. when i was checking out, i got a receipt coupon for $1 off of purchase at least $1 at the snack bar. a hot dog/coke combo is $2.50, and i saved $1 off of that. pretty good. of course, then it had me craving potato chips, so i got a bag at wal-mart for $0.30... so i guess my full dinner total was about $2 w/tax.

5) hint passed on from my mom (from some magazine): use paint swatches in holiday colors (from paint stores, etc) as gift tags. i currently have some that i will use with my "brown paper packages tied up with string" and also some ornaments that i got 5/$2. So: all together, i will be able to wrap 15 presents, each w/an ornament tied to the top and a gift tag for: $11... and will probably be able to wrap another 15 w/o ornaments and still include that in the total cost. not bad

in a way i feel kind of nerdy, but at the same time, it's wonderful. I saved a lot of money this week.

btw: my new favorite site that amy told me about: www.faithfulprovisions.com - #s 2,3 came from there.