My week at a glance

I am trying to get back on foucssing on the small things that got us to our financial independance.  It truly is the little things that help get you out of debt. Doing small things daily will help you see your money grow.

I thought I would make a list of things that I did to save money

Thursday- grocery shopping and used coupons ( $5.50 in coupons) and collected PC Points at No Frills (400 points, not much)

Received 4 tickets for Universal Studios that were ordered with Air Miles for our summer family vacation. ( airline tickets also paid with air miles and 3 of our 4 hotel nights for universal studios are free with Best Western points )

Friday- 2 free Pizzas from Pizza Delight (in December we purchased 4, $30 gift cards to Pizza Delight and each came with one free 12 inch pizza. We had a dinner planned for Baton Rouge during Christmas and the gift cards could be used there also, so we purchased a few and paid for the meal with gift cards to get the free pizza)

Took my daughter and her friend swimming at the Best Western. I bought a 10 swim punch card for $25 for their Christmas stockings. $2.50 a swim so $5 for a play date that was an hour and a half, well worth it.

Saturday- Filled up car with gas at Canadian Tire. Paid with Canadian Tire gift cards that were on sale for 10% off at the Super Store a month ago.  Also collected $1.46 in Canadian Tire money that in the summer I will cash in all the points for pool chemicals

Ate lunch at the Super Store and paid $15.40 for the 4 of us to have sandwiches, nachos and dip, bananas, and quiche, We brought water from home, and took it into the store with us. We ate in the Super Store at the tables set up for in store purchases

We had packed snacks and ate those as we shopped and did our errands

Value Village-I took a bag of clothes into the store to donate and received 15% off my next purchase. I used this at the checkout, and I am also a member of the loyalty program, just give your phone number and they collect  points, when you receive so many points you get a percentage off of your purchase.  I bought 2 pairs of sneakers, winter boots and a pair of brand name shorts, all for my daughters. Watch the prices, some things were crazy high prices and not worth buying. My girls also bought books, buy 4 get the 5th one free.

Grabbed coffee at a coffee shop called something Cabin. I asked them if they have a loyalty card, sure enough they did and I got stamps towards a free one.  (I have a wallet just for when I am in the city and I keep all loyalty and gift cards that are in the city in this wallet. At some point I may go back to that coffee shop, if I don't, it won't to add it to the wallet.)

Shopped at Michael Kors store, my favorite store. I have a few things that I have wanted there for almost a year. I found the item for half price! The wallet was a splurge but I have been waiting to use my budget for it when it was on sale. They always have a few red pieces discounted after Valentine’s Day. Also if you go to the store they have a sale section. I was happy!

Supper was at Moxies.  I had bought Sobeys Gift cards for the bonus 95 Air Miles when I bought $200 in Sobeys gift cards.  I then purchased Moxies gift cards with the Sobeys gift card.   We just drank water. My meal was huge, as soon as it came I cut it in half to take some home.  The kid meals were also big, and half came home.  We ate the leftovers the next day.

Sunday

Shopped at the grocery store for the pink sticker items.  Bought lots of bread and meat for the freezer.  On the way out of the store as I checked the receipt I noticed $1.25 wasn't taken off of my total and I went to customer service and got that money back. SCOP doesn't count on pink stickers, I asked.

Took the kids to the movies for Family Day.  I used the buy 1 get 1 free voucher from gift cards received at Christmas.  The snacks were 2 popcorns from the vouchers at Christmas.  Scene points were also collected.  We brought water bottles with Pepsi and 2 water bottles to drink. I also brought a bag of skittles to share.

Monday
Went to gas station and paid $2 to vacuum car and $2 for the Lysol wipes that I got on sale a few months ago and cleaned the car.  Lots of money saved compared to the price of paying someone to detail the car for me.

I went to Lawtons with the intent of spending $35 on Compliments products to earn 95 Air Miles. I walked through the store, and didn't find any products on sale. I realized I truly only needed the Compliments Brand Band Aids, and the other items would be purchased just to earn Air Miles. I returned the other items, got what I needed, spending only $3.85  I paid using my Sobeys gift card, Lawtons and Sobeys are owned by the same company and the gift cards are interchangeable.  Also my work received a Lawton's discount card that is scanned with each purchase for a surprise amount of money off.