Air Miles, PC Points, Clip and Save Coupons

Well I do not know about you but in our household, we or I should say myself. I am a little fanatical about saving money and getting free stuff in the bargain. So as we are on a fixed income like most of the real world. I have a very small Disability Pension that I get each month. Fortunately G. is still working so we get Health Benefits etc from her employer.

We were a two salary family until the Accidents that we both had within 6 months of each other. Since then I have been a house husband and so have been keeping the accounts and always on the lookout for deals.

When we first met and for the first few years of our marriage I did the accounts 6 months in advance. I know I used to get some odd looks from G. as I did this. You know we never had a argument once about money or purchasing stuff. I only do the accounts 1 month in advance now. We have doubled our mortgage payments and I was able get a better interest rate with the bank than we had this time last year. Now we will be mortgage free in a little under 3 years. I am always pitting 1 company against another to get a better deal on Insurance, cable, phone etc. You have to do it , I know you are thinking; I just do not have the time. But believe me it all adds up very quickly so take the time and do some comparison shopping after all it is your money.

Cost of fuel for the car is up so everything has gone up very quickly and of course our income shrinks and does not go up with the cost of living. I just went over to Shoppers DrugMart today and found Thinsations they are cookies only 2 points on weight watchers for a packet. They were on for 1.49 regular 2.99 and I happened to have 8 coupons for 50 cent off each box. I had to walk home about a mile to get them but it was worth it. Hey that was 4.00 I just saved as we buy them anyways they are great for lunches and snacks. Help to keep us on track and not go belly up in the Cookie Jar.

We shop at Shop and Save or any of the Loblaws Chain as we have our bank accounts there and so have no monthly bank charges. It is another way to save our hard earned money.

We get PC Points on our purchases and if we use the PC green bags as well at the check out get more PC points for each dollar we spend. So we do not get any more plastic bags as well so it is a win, win for the Environment. In the course of a year probably get between 100-200 dollars a year in free groceries.

AirMiles we collect them both with the card and our Amex card and we get free stuff like printers, cameras, both digital and SLR ,Ipod, tools, suitcases and free trips all in the course of the last 18 months.

So I reckon because of a little extra time spent comparison shopping, collecting coupons and Airmiles. We are way a head of the game and can afford the little extras now and then without feeling guilty. So if you are a closet coupon collector be proud and hold your head high. When I see coupons that we use. I always take a lot of them as the expiry usually lasts for a while it is money in the bank in the long run.

"Coupon Funerals: 'Let us remember his life, not his expiration date. For we know our Saver (Old Tarf) will redeem him.'


Remember you are saving yourself a small fortune over time. More money for Whiskey and Beer.

It should have been a Red Bull-

I do not normally do a product endorsement but as the cartoon depicts "It was a no Brainer". I should have taken a Red Bull instead. Now those of you who are aware of the so called benefits of the Energy Drink Advertising that seem to bombard us everyday from billboards, TV, Sports Events and etc. Supposedly to give you mental alertness, more get up and go. Red Bull " Gives you wings".

Would be familiar with all the hype and the Red Bull Logo. I went into the local IGA actually it is now called Shop and Save. To pick up some groceries for the day. On the way back from walking G. to work as I try to do every morning. I was going to have a really hectic day. There was a walk through with a contractor of the Condo and as I am a member of the condo board was required to be present. I had to get a prescription filled at the local chemist. Do the accounts,laundry, work on my music. Do some house work and get the dinner on, write a few letters and of course checking my blog. Just in case someone actually is reading it and to see what the Mermaid is up to.

I am also looking after someone's condo whilst they are in sunny Dominican Republic for a month ,lucky them. Collecting the mail and looking after his one and only plant.

Now due to the Chronic Pain, I do not normally sleep through the entire night and that night I had several major setbacks pain wise so I was up all night.

So I was feeling a little sluggish. So while I was in the IGA . I saw some other brand name labeled Energy Drink. I think it was some PC or Rock Star brand. I remember they were 2 for $2.49, so as I am a sucker for a bargain. I bought 2, thinking they are all probably the same as each other. Well I drank it down at the store and walked home over the Commons.

Well time I got home I was still feeling only about running on 1 cylinder instead of 4, so I drank the other one as well. Went on the walk through with the contractor, more asleep than not. Collected the mail and got in the elevator and pressed the button for the 5th floor to check up on D's condo and drop off his mail. Now I have 3 keys for his unit, so the first didn't work,tried the 2nd. and then the 3rd. Funny none of his keys seem to be working;so I tried them all again. Then I saw some shadow behind the door,someone has broken into D.'s house I thought. The door opened and my neighbor from the third floor was standing in David's unit. So I asked her what she was doing at David's place?

She looked at me like I was completely bonkers ( which I am). Said this is my place. I looked at her then the unit number and saw that it was the right number but wrong floor. I explained things to her. She invited me in to talk about painting and taping her unit which I said I help her with. She made me several cups of coffee. Which I drank and finally I started to revive from being a walking zombie.

So much for that boost of energy and mental alertness from the cheap imitation. I should have bought a " Red Bull" in the first place, one of those really works on me when I am in the blahs and need a quick boost.

It was a no Brainer. I should have known better. But hey, it was on sale and I got airmiles.