Shopping Trip July 15, 2013!

Afternoon Everyone on this super hot sunny day!

I finally went grocery shopping last night! I'm so happy to have food and fresh fruits back in the house in ample supply! We did go a bit over board on our grocery bill but it was worth it! And considering what take out costs, it's still waayyy cheaper! I feel so much happier getting back to my routine of walking to work and having a somewhat consistent day. Let's go see what I picked up at Dufferin Mall!

- Cheerios $2.97

- Cucumber $0.67

- Broccoli pm'd Food Basics $0.88 

- Royale Tissue $3.97 each with each it's own $1 coupon (Gocoupons) Still waiting for it to hit $1.99 but we seem to be constantly running out, so I gave up and bought two packs!

- Watermelon $2.97

- Corn 3 for $1

- Lou's Peameal bacon pm'd Freshco $3.49

- Kraft Shredded Cheese pm'd Food Basics for $4.99

- Country Harvest Bread pm'd Giant Tiger for $1.97

- Kraft Dinner $1

- Oiko's Greek Yogurt 2 packs for $7

- Milk $3.97

- Peaches $0.77/lb

- Red and black plums $0.99/lb

- Bananas pm'd Food Basics $0.57/lb

- Avocado $0.77

Eros and Pookie

Shopping Deals for July 12, 2013!

Hi My Peeps!

Still no shopping trip yet! Aside from a quick stop in Chinatown for fruit or what not, it's just been lots of eating out this week! I think the whole being on set screwed me up! It really messed with my sleep for a couples days and I just caved from exhausgen! After the shoot, I took a much needed day off from the office from working 15 hours straight on set to sleep in and do a spontaneous late afternoon trip to a Wonderland! We haven't gone in about five years and man I'm getting old! I couldn't finish a funnel cake cause it was too sweet and I'm the biggest chicken when it comes I rides now! I did, however, sucked it up and went on the first row with Winton on the Leviathan! I mean after all, we sat next to two random little girls and I didn't want to look like a scaredy cat! Oh, the horror of peer pressure and what it can make you do!

As for the deals this week, I'm most looking forward to getting any groceries right now! We have food to sustain us but I got to have my supply of fresh fruits at all times! I miss having a well prepared home meal that's tasty and good for me and my wallet! But, the one thing I'd really like to pick up is the $1.77 toilet paper at Loblaws! I love me some cheap house supplies! And maybe some Dawn dish soap for my mom! The flyer doesn't specify the size but the coupon says its for 363mL or bigger! Fingers crossed! That would be such a great deal!

My Weekly Shopping

No Frills

- coke or Pepsi 18 cans $3.67

- neilson milk $3.97

- black diamond cheddar slices $2.97

- corn 6/$2

- halal chicken legs $1.47/lb

- watermelon 11lb avg $2.97

- avacados 5pk $2.45

- cucumbers $.67

- red or black plums $.97

Walmart

- fresh attitude salads $2

- avacado $.77

- astro original $1.67

- cucumbers $.67

- broccoli $1

- baby carrots $1

- neilson milk $3.97

- Heinz $2.97

- band aids $2.97

Shoppers Drug Mart

Sat only

- neilson milk $3.97

Price Chopper

- peameal bacon $3.49

- peaches $.99/lb

- bananas $.57/lb

- broccoli crowns $.99/lb

- mushrooms $.99

Freshco

- watermelon $2.97

- peameal bacon $3.49

- peaches $.99/lb

- broccoli crowns $.99/lb

- mushrooms $.99

Rexall

- crest pro health rinse $2.99 ($1 brandsaver)

Fortinos 

- oasis juice 2.63L $2.99

- blackberries, raspberries, blueberries 3/$5

- iogo Greek 8pk $5.99 ($.75 gocoupons, Websaver, save.ca)

Superstore

- iogo yogurt 12/16pk $5.47 ($.75 gocoupons, Websaver, save.ca)

- black diamond 16 $4.97

Loblaws 

3 day sale July 12-14

- royals signature tissue $2.77 ($1 GoCoupons)

Giant Tiger

- country harvest $1.97

- omega 3 eggs $3

- Ed smith $3 ($.75 tear pad)

- cucumber $.67

- mushrooms $.99

- broccoli $.99

Sobeys

4 day sale Jul 11-14

- seedless watermelon $2.99

Rest of week

- Nutrigrain $1.49

- grace island soda 2/$1

Food Basics

- mushrooms $.88

- broccoli $.88

- Lactania butter $2.88

- sponge towels 6 econo $2.88

- Kraft shredded cheese $4.99

- packham pears $.98

- blueberries, raspberries $1.88

- bananas $.57/lb

Canadian Tire

- dawn $1 ($1 wub2 Brandsaver)

Eros And Pookie

Last Tricycle and Shopping Deals for July 5, 2013!!

Hi Gang,

What a busy week! Full of audition after audition, with wardrobe dates coming up and a shoot! AND I still have to go to my regular jobs! Needless to say, there has been a lot of take out for awhile! I have been able to cook the occasional meal but I'm pretty wiped out. It's funny that July seems to be the month of birthdays too, so lucky for me there will be cake! We'll here's my last diaper tricycle for the month of June! I really wished I could have found a better base other than a crappy cut up card board box.  I'm happy to say it's getting easier to make these and all of my trikes have been very well received by the mommies to be!

I finally got my hand made bow down!

My Weekly Shopping

No Frills

- 18 real Canadian bottled water $1

- chicken breast $3.44/lb

- watermelon $2.97

- peaches/nectarines $.77/lb

- pineapple $1.50

- bananas $.57/lb

- wonderbread $2.17

- dole salads $2.47

- royale 6pk tissue $3.97 ($1 gocoupons)

- astro original yogurt $2.97

Walmart 

- nectarine, peaches, plums $.77/lb

- kettle cooked lays $2

- summer fresh hummus or dips 2/$6

- Scott towels $9.77 ($1 Walmart magazine)

- Heinz ketchup $2.97

Price Chopper

- fresh whole chicken $1.99/lb

- Heinz ketchup $2.99

- Dempster's whole grains $1.99

- English muffins $1.29

- Fuji apples $.99/lb

- cucumbers $.79

Freshco

- fresh whole chicken $1.99/lb

- Heinz $2.99

- Dempster's $1.99

- English muffins $1.29

- Fuji apples $.99/lb

- cucumber $.79

Rexall

July 5-7

- always and Tampax $2.99 ($1 or 3 wub2 coupons from free samples)

- royale tissue $2.99 ($1 gocoupons)

- tide $4.99 ($2 brandsaver)

Rest of week

- Nestea $2.99

- crest 3d white toothpaste $.99 (brandsaver $1)

Fortinos 

- pc blue menu eggs $3.99

Superstore

- broccoli $.98

Loblaws 

- pc blue menu $3.69

Metro

- extra lean ground beef $2.99/lb

- chicken breast $2.98/lb

- blueberries, raspberries, strawberries 3/$5

- downy, tide and bounce $4.88 ($2 tide brandsaver)

- Dempster's bread $1.99

Food Basics

- green seedless grapes $.95/lb

- fresh chicken drumstick or thighs $1.88/lb

- red, green, romaine lettuce $.67

Eros And Pookie

Shopping Trip and Deals for Jun 28, 2013!

Hi Guys,

We did a super bare minimum shopping trip last night! With all the extra works shifts between us, there will rarely be a night home to have dinner together. So, lucky for us we can try to clear out some food sitting on the shelves and hidden around inside the fridge and freezer. We also have another baby shower this weekend, so I'll be busy making another diaper tricycle! I'll post that up when I'm done! Here's what we picked up from Walmart and No Frills. I really hate getting produce from Walmart unless it's in the fridge area. There are always so many flies, they are smaller and they just look so gross! No Frills all the way!

- Packham pears $.97/lb

- Seedless green grapes $1/lb

- Scotties Tissues 6 pack $3.97 (Our regular Royale tissues were $8!!!! I get them usually for about $3 for 6 boxes! Ridiculous!!) 

- Fresh chicken $2/lb

- Rubbing alcohol $2.27 (great way to clean and sanitize your make up brushes and your cell phone!)

- Off Bug Spray $7.83

- 4 X Raspberries pm'd Loblaws $5 for 4 packs

- Egg Whites $2.49 and used $1 coupon from Save.ca

- Annette's apple pie $2

- Off Mosquito Clip $9.63

Here are the deals for this week! 

My Weekly Shopping

No Frills

- raspberries $1

- naturals and maple leaf bacon $3

- 5pk avacados $2

- royal gala and Granny Smith $1/lb

- lychee $2/lb

- country harvest $2

- blue harvest $2

- chapman's novelties 4-8pk $2

- Huggies wipes $2 ($1 off Walmart mag)

- Philly swirl cups $2

- Heinz ketchup $3

Walmart 

- chicken drumsticks or things $1.88/lb

- Mr. freeze jumbo $5.97

- bounty dura towel $1 (there is a 50 cent coupon kicking around somewhere but I'm not sure if it applies to single rolls)

- off spray $7.83

Price Chopper

- Tostitos chips, salsa and cheese $1.97

- Dempster's bagels $1.99

- packham pears $.99/lb

- royal gala $.99/lb

- attitude salad kits $2.49

Freshco

- watermelon 11-13lb $2.97

- cucumber $.77

- Tostitos chips, salsa and cheese $1.97

- Dempster's bagels $1.99

- bananas $.57/lb

- packham pears $.99/lb

- royal gala $.99/lb

- attitude salad kits $2.49

Fortinos 

- corn 8/$1.99

- lychee $1.99/lb

- viva puffs $1.99

- iogo tube yogurt $1.99 ($.75 save, Websaver, gocoupons)

Superstore

- bananas $.57/lb

- pc mini red and yellow potatoes 2/$5

Giant Tiger

- Heinz ketchup $2.88

Food Basics

- blueberries/raspberries 2/$3

- Dempster's bread $1.97

- bananas $.57/lb

Eros And Pookie

Shopping Deal on Tide and More Diaper Tricycles!

Good afternoon friends,

I went to Rexall last Friday to pick up some cheap Tide detergent. Tide is so expensive and this was a deal not to be missed. Too bad the location at Metro Hall had a pretty small selection. I really wanted the powder version but opted for the biggest liquid version that was on sale.  So funny, how the companies make a product look like the same size but really it has less loads because they scented it with febreeze or whatever. Doesn't fool me!

- 2 X Tide Liquid Detergents $4.99 each - $2 each from Brandsaver = $2.99 each

After what seemed like a whirlwind of summer activities I had to attend this month, I thought I was all done. I had hoped to go back to regular grocery shopping and eating at home, but last minute of course I found out I have one more baby shower this Sunday! Below are a couple of tricycles I made earlier for two other showers. I really like making these, just to see that big smile on the mommy-to-be's face is really priceless.

 In progress... I really really hate and need to work on my bow making skills!

Copped out and got a store bought bow to go with my homemade one! First of three tricycles complete and ready to go! 

Eros And Pookie

Shopping Trip June 19, 2013 and This Week's Deals!

Hi Fellow Money Savers,

With our huge Costco shopping trip last week, we didn't need much grocery wise this week! Other than some fresh produce and chicken, we pretty much are set for this week! It also didn't help that we had planned to eat out a couple times this week for father's day and all the summery events we've been invited to on the weekends! Here's what we picked up last night!

- Raspberries 4 packs for $5

- Blueberries 3 packs for $5

- Seeweed snacks $.88

- Egg Whites $2.97 - $1 coupon (Save.ca)

- Red Seedless Grapes $1/lb pm'd from Freshco

- Deli Fresh X 2 at $2 each pm'd from Freshco

- Royal Gala Apples $.88/lb pm'd from Food Basics

- Anco Smoked Gouda $3.97

There are a few really good deals this week! Right now, I'm looking forward to picking up some cheap Tide detergent for my mom and the free whipped cream! Did you know they steal Tide in the States and use it like currency? I saw it on CNN awhile back! Well, happy shopping!

My Weekly Shopping

No Frills

- chocolate milk $1

- ritz crackers or Oreos 2/$3

- chicken breast bone in $2/lb

- red/green seedless grapes $1/lb

- mushrooms $1

- baby carrots $1

- country harvest bagels $2

- Annette's apple pie $2

- blue diamond almonds $2

- chapman's novelties $2

- Huggies wipes $2 ($1 Walmart magazine coupon)

- Lactania butter $3

Walmart 

- avacado $.77

- fresh attitude salad $2

Shoppers Drug Mart

Sun/Mon

- Duracell batteries $11.99 ($1 brandsaver)

Price Chopper

- peaches/nectarines $1/lb

- kisko kids $1

- Puritan beef stew $1

- deli fresh $2

- fresh extra lean ground beef $3/lb

- Cheetos/smart food $2

- anco Gouda $3

Freshco

-  peaches/nectarines $1/lb

- watermelon 11-13lb $3

- kisko kids $1

- Puritan beef stew $1

- deli fresh $2

- anco Gouda $3

- Cheetos/smartfood $2

- extra lean ground beef $3/lb

Rexall

Fri-Sun 

- tide $4.99 ($2 brandsaver)

Fortinos 

- source yogurt 16 $4.44

Superstore

 - chapman's ice cream $3.50

- real Canadian water $1.97

- no name English muffins $1

Loblaws 

- raspberries 4/$5

Sobeys

- royale tissues $3.88 (various coupons from GoCoupon)

Food Basics

- black diamond $3.66

- gay lea whipped cream $1.99 ($1 coupon and $1 from checkout51)  FREE! 

- iogo yogurt various $4.99 ($.75 from GoCoupon, Websaver, Save.ca)

- yams $.88/lb

- Dempster's bread $2.29

Eros And Pookie

Life After Debt... An Update!

Goodies from the Farmer's Market

It's been about three months since the weight of what feels like a car (I really could of bought a nice car) on top of my shoulders has gone, I feel like I can breathe at last... if only for a moment! I was slowly and steadily approaching the finish line, so eager to stop making payments to OSAP and just get on with my life, that I cleared most of my different saving funds to just get out! Sadly however, I still felt a sort of mental debt that I owe to my various personal accounts like my slush fund, gift fund and tax fund. Oh well, at least I'm not paying anyone interest! For the last few months, I've been working my way back replenishing these accounts to what they should have been. Now, they they are topped off and I'm still finding some money left over. I'm now starting to enjoy life a little more without the worry. Since becoming a hardcore saver, I found it difficult to spend that extra dough on things that I knew I wanted but had learned to live without. I didn't want to become a money hoarder so I started saying yes to myself on things I really wanted. Lately, I've been visiting a farmer's market and buying some delicious yet expensive fruits and goodies. I started ordering some take out or getting food delivered for the nights I was too exhausted to cook and didn't feel like opening a can of soup or nuking a box of frozen food. Life, I can say has clearly changed and for the better! I still make sure all my various funds and credit cards are paid weekly, but it feels so nice to spend that few extra dollars and not feel the dread of debt looming over me. 

Learning to live on less has given me a much needed perceptive on how I want to live my life. As much as I love shiny, pretty things as much as the next girl, I'm definitely not willing to pay anywhere near as much as she's going to pay for it. I grew up poor, with a single mom in Jane and Finch who took care of her three kids and her own mother. I wouldn't call myself poor or rich today, but I'm content and fulfilled. I have a flexible schedule and work with good people. I live a happy life! How many of us can say that? I'm still human and still can get tripped up by letting the Jones' get the better of me. I would love to have an expensive purse, travel the world as I once did, or buy those close to me lavish gifts. But, I'm practical and I know that's not happening and I'm definitely not going to go into debt just so I can gain the approval of some people. However, I do LOVE making things! Homemade crafts are definitely me! Maybe nothing too crazy complicated but if it looks nice and interesting to me, you can bet your ass I'll figure a way to make a customized one for you! Just gathering the materials and taking the time to sit down and put all the pieces together are just hours of joy to me. Yes, there can be stress when it doesn't come out exactly like you thought it would but it's all a learning process. I also love that it's one of a kind! I can't go into a Wal-Mart and ask them to sell me a diaper tricycle (I hope not either, since I made two for two baby showers this month) and get a mass produced one made with crappy materials and no love or thought put into it. Right now, I see the money I save being used for the greater good in my life. I'm taking my retirement and downpayment savings more seriously now, as they are my new goals. I really believe in sacrificing some luxuries of today, just so I'll be able to eat tomorrow (more like when I'm 70). 

Here are some of the things I do to save money:

At Home:

- BUDGET and write everything down! I write out all my income and expenses to keep track of what I'm doing. My budget keeps me on track with everything. I know how much I'm spending and how much I will be spending.

- I try to use coupons and buy stuff only on sale. I'm constantly swapping coupons and freebies with friends and family. You'll be surprised how many different people ask me about deals and how to save money. 

- if you have some space, try to stockpile what you can (toothbrushes, toilet paper etc., this stuff isn't going to expire)

- I try to freeze meals, fruits or foods that are about to expire and eat them later (batch cooking) or incorporate them into recipes (smoothies).

- I batch cook breakfast and snacks. I have a freezer with oatmeal chocolate muffins for breakfast and bite sized banana bread for whenever. Such a timesaver for when you're on the go! 

- Pinterest! If it's looks easy to try, I'll make my own everything! My mom lent me her bread maker and I make my own fresh bread for work. 

- Buy in bulk, unless they are things I get coupons for all the time. With coupons, stick with smaller quantity for a bigger bang with your buck.

- I negotiate my own cell phone plan with a minimal data plan. I live downtown, there is free wifi practically everywhere! 

- I pay no fees for banking, why would I? And I get points for free groceries! Free food? I'm in! 

At Work:

- I subscribe to Bixi to save money on transport (tell them your with Live Green Toronto and give them the code 030512bixi to get $15 off your yearly subscription). It's actually faster than the TTC! Do the math! I generously budget one pack of ten TTC tokens per month at $26.50 vs. $7.72 I spend on Bixi with the membership discount. The only other investment you'll need is a helmet, but I bought a decent one at Costco for about $30. I honestly have less stress when I'm not reliant on the TTC, no more waiting with crazy commuters that push or the TTC that's always short turning or all of a sudden have no service. 

- I walk everywhere! It's fun to see the sights and smells, to get some exercise from sitting all day, and I learn so much from listening to podcasts! Podcasts make my 45 min walk to work feel like 15 mins! I would bike but I'm just not fully awake to be on the road that early.

- I rarely go out for lunch, so I use tupperware to carry my lunch instead of saran wrap (better for the environment and the wallet)

- I carry travel cutlery that can be washed instead of buying disposable utensils. Plus, I just hate using plastic utensils since they are so crappy!

- I use a reusable water bottle (watch the documentary Tapped and you'll see why). Although, I do buy a case of water once in awhile to give to my guests at home. 

- In the winter, I bring a travel mug to make tea at work. 

- I stopped drinking coffee, buying donuts, snacks etc.

Well, those are some ways I save money everyday, hopefully you'll like some ideas and incorporate it to your daily lives. Little changes in life can add up to big savings! So, what are you waiting for? Write to me if you have any other good ideas at erosandpookie@gmail.com.

Thanks for reading!

Eros and Pookie