93% Savings? Yes Please!

Here is what I got today:
So it's probably evident that I don't have a lot of hobbies! I've taken up extreme shopping as a new hobby and it's working out pretty well. As a result of some strategic planning, coupon cutting and using stores rewards programs, I spent $5.92 on all this stuff today. The total cost of all of this would have been $80.59! So, um.....if you trust the math of the English major, I saved 93%! As much as I would love to have you over, give you a glass of tea, and explain to you in painstaking detail how I did all of this, I can see you cringing from here, so I'll spare you the details unless y'all just reeeeally want them.

To put things in perspective, take that pack of Huggies diapers for example. The regular price for those is $11.00 (not that I have EVER paid full price for diapers). Basically, I spent about half the cost of ONE pack of diapers and got ALL this stuff!

Go me!

God Sent Me to Big Lots Yesterday.

Okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration. God has blessed me immeasurably, but I'm not sure he has a vested interest in me saving 70% on a dining room suit. Ask and ye shall receive, right?

A little bit of background on the subject of my dining room. You can read more about my chronic lack of dining room furniture here. We have a beautiful formal dining room that up until yesterday, held an old couch.

Jason and I had decided to spend some of our income tax refund money on a table at least. For the past 3 months we have been "looking" at furniture. Jason's looking includes just that, looking. No action. We picked out something we liked at a local furniture market and considering the price, figured we could have it made into coffins when we die because it would be the LAST table we ever bought. We didn't even entertain the idea of buying the gorgeous china cabinet because we hope to send our children to college one day.

Fast forward to yesterday. No table...still waiting. Here's where the story gets tricky. Completely unrelated to everything you just read: Jason's office chair has scratched the hardwoods under his desk until he is one tiny scratch away from working in a bean bag. He finally got sick of me curling up into a ball and crying in the corner about it and suggested that I go to Staples and get him a floor mat.

For some crazy reason, (I didn't even fuss) I said okay and planned on going all the way across town to Staples to purchase said floor mat and then continue my day with grocery shopping. As I was leaving Staples, I decided to go in Big Lots because my Mom saw in their sale paper that they had Crocs for $10. (I hate crocs, they were for Joe)

Please note that in the 2.5 years I have lived here, I had been in Big Lots only once.

So I walked over there.

And the most amazing thing happened.

The dining room suit I fell in love with but had resigned myself to the fact that we would never get....

WAS SITTING IN THE BACK CORNER OF BIG LOTS FOR 70% OFF OF RETAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BROYHILL people!!!

I may or may not have shed a tear or eleven.

We were able to get the table, 8 chairs, and the amazingly gorgeous china cabinet for less than I would have expected to pay for the table and chairs. AND we may still be able to afford coffins one day!

It weighs about a million pounds and is completely disassembled, but maybe by Thanksgiving we can have it put together!!

I capped off the day by spending $71 and saving $85 at Publix. I'd call yesterday a success!

12 Weeks

This week, Baby Robinson is about the size of a peach. So, why is my abdomen the size of a peach pie?



Hmmm.......

I think this picture captured the least flattering angle possible. I also think the outfit had something to do with it.

I am outraged. No. Not really :)

Instead of wondering how I grew so dramatically, lets talk about my hair.

This hairdo happened completely by accident but I love it. I am going to try it again to see if it was just a fluke. This was the most effortless thing I have ever done to my poor hair. It was the result of 1. not drying my hair before bed, and 2. messing around too long to straighten it in the morning.

In addition to having a very good hair day, I came across the jewel of the Nile today. There is a resale shop in Pelham called Encore. I thought they only sold furniture and stuff but it turns out they have a very good sized selection of clothes.

There was a small maternity rack that I thumbed through and found a pair of jeans and some Old Navy bermuda shorts. I though I had done pretty well since maternity consignment almost always yields early 90s pastels and shoulder pads. So I get up to the register and one of the employees says they have just received a bunch of maternity clothes but haven't had the chance to price them or put them out but that I could come in the back and look.

Sure, I say.

My lands, this was one fashionable pregnant woman who consigned these beauties!

Not a shoulder pad or tent like empire waist in sight! I may go back and get a few more things. So in all, I got 1 pair of jeans, 1 pair of shorts, 1 skirt and 4 shirts for 43 dollars!

Nothing makes my day quite like reaping the benefits of my cheapness!

Amazing Deals!

You might already know that I'm an extremely thrifty person. If I ever become rich, I'll be the world's worst rich person. I probably don't have that to worry about for a while. Since I'm NOT rich, I get really creative with saving money. I LOVE shopping yard sales, the thrift store, Publix sales and using coupons. I came across this coupon recently and was very successful in using it.

How successful?



I was able to buy 3 dresses and 1 pair of underwear for NINE DOLLARS!

Yep, 9 dollars even.

My intention was to find one thing for $10 and just pay the tax but I printed out 2 coupons just in case and I got so lucky!



Clearance price $7.49 Bought in transaction with:

Clearance price $9.99. After I used the $10 coupon, total transaction price: $8.15

The dresses were labeled $19.99 so when I found out they were $9.99 I went back to get another one and used my second coupon.


Clearance price $9.99. I had to find something to make the transaction at least $10 so I found a pair of clearance cute undies for $.79
Total transaction price after coupon: $.85

Total out of pocket: $9.00

Not bad for 3 dresses!

I got a JCPenny coupon in the mail today for $10 off of purchase of $10 or more so chance are, I'll have some more great bargains!

A Feminist Cringe

I came across this gem at my favorite thrift store today:

The Bride Game.

Notice how it's only acceptable for ages 8-14. After 14, it's time to start the hunt for a REAL husband.

PFFFFFFFFFFFTTTTTTTT!!!

Do you know what I wanted to be when I was a little girl?
Not a bride, an American Gladiator.

For real.

I'm only sorry I didn't open that box to see what was inside. Probably dusty old dreams and aspirations.

Aside from that little dose of misogynism, I have been finding some pretty great stuff there lately.


This serving platter is just the right combination of Mawmaw and fun.


I love this little milk glass pedestal bowl. I am still on the lookout for milk glass platters and cake pedestals


Hobnail milk glass vase full of knockout roses from my bushes.


Smaller milk glass bud vase and fleur de lis metal bucket. I'm thinking of planting something in that bucket, but I'm happy with it in the foyer for now.


Our thrift store offers a WEALTH of randomness, but I rarely ever leave there without something awesome. I've gotten all my shorts there this year. I basically needed a whole new wardrobe from going from a size 12 to size 6 so I hit up the thrift store because I LOVE a bargain. In my humble opinion, Ann Taylor Loft, Gap, or Old Navy shorts for $3.00 are a great bargain.

If you're ever on my side of town, please plan on going with me. I promise I won't make you dress up as a bride.

Fact: I am Cheap....ahem......Frugal!

Hello, my name is Rachel, and I'm a cheap-o.

Now that that's out of the way....I went yard-sale-ing Saturday morning and it was my most successful trip in a while. I always go alone because my friends are much too sophisticated for yard sales. Seriously, 2 of them won't even shop at TJ Maxx because it's too much trouble!

WHAT?!? Why they remain friends with me, I'm not sure, but I love them anyway. Y'all know who you are!

As you might know, my house is severely un-decorated with the exception of a few recent Pier 1 purchases. I decided I would work on that a little while still maintaining that minimalistic coldness charm that I have grown so fond of.

Here's what I got this weekend: (please excuse the bad lighting, it's night and I can't wait until daylight)

These little things held votive candles, but since I'm not very fond of unlit candles everywhere, I knew immediately that they were perfect for rolled up towels!
Cost-- 50 cents!



These little doo-dads were perfect for my green room, since it's walls are embarrassingly bare.
Cost-1 dollar for all 3.


This one is my favorite.


I also got this adorable green seersucker blazer. It's very light and summery.

What's that? The tag is still on it?

SUH-WEET! Now, guess how much I paid....
1 dollar!


I also got a garden claw. It would have been helpful a few months ago when re-doing our flowerbeds. Considering our entire property is CLAY, this will definitely come in handy. Plus, Billy Mays says it's awesome.
Cost--2 dollars!

I also bought a new bike seat for my BFF Tabatha's bike which was affectionately named The Crotch Crusher, or C squared. Now she can ride without fear of permanent sterility!
Cost--5 dollars.

Total--$9.50
I'd say it was a successful day.

On a side note, we are leaving for the beach tomorrow!!!
That means, you probably won't hear from me until Saturday, as I am skirting around my internet addiction for sake of my vacation.

Love y'all....mean it!