Spent $9.20 on participating items and the stamp to mail in my rebate and recieved 4 - $25.00 gift certificates to a full-line spa.

Got a Coach I-Pod Shuffle Case with the tags still on it from E-bay. Originally $68.00, total for me $7.98. So cute. My daughter is going to love this.

Clothes for my oldest son, on sale, totalling $21.00 and a pair of Vintage Vans Shoes from e-bay for $19.95. These are way cool. I missed out on another pair cause I wasn't home to bid on it.

Large Box of Dale and Thomas Popcorn for $8.00 shipped.

This is just the tip of the ice berg. I am having so much fun getting awesome gifts and saving money at the same time. Let's see if I can beat last year's total for Christmas and still have a great year.

I do have some large totals coming up to purchase, but hopefully, I will find codes for $$$ off, free shipping and I am using all my coupons.

Merry Christmas and Happy No New Debt Year

Two of my Christmas Shopping deals of the week.

Victorias Secret.com. I bought a sweater on sale, and got a hat, scarf, gloves, lip gloss and another makeup item (can't remember)for free. Total cost of my order was $21.15, using different codes.

And, I just got a MP3 player for $27.98, shipped. Here is the link. http://www.graveyardmall.com/. It should be the deal of the day.

I have also clipped all my coupons and combined them with the sales for an eventful run-around spending, but actually savings day. My shopping will take place at Walgreens, CVS, Rite-aid, Meijers and Kroger. I will post how much I spent and how much I saved.

I love the way the Newport News puts together 10 items to wear 10 different ways. Even after looking at the different ways to put the clothes together, I was able to find another outfit they left out.

http://www.newport-news.com/shop/category_splash.aspx?gp_coll_id=9&gp_cat_id=1649&gp_fashcoll_id=201

Anyhow, I am heading to my closet today to go through my clothes. I want to keep the items I mostly wear and try to do this 10 items, 10 ways look. I am going to get rid of old and worn out clothes and make a list of items I should be replacing. I have noticed that I do like blacks, whites, blues, but I also have browns, grays and some other colors.

I was also looking at the must have's for the fall season and patterned tights are back in and longer skirts. This might be something I would like to add to my wardrobe. I will try everything on and ask my kids for their honest opinion on how it looks on me and is the color right for me.

Anyhow, I usually wear the same couple items from off the top of the dryer when I do have a closet full of nice clothing. This should be fun.

My totals for October are as follows:

Grocery's $437.81
Eating Out $161.65
Gas $$160.00

All regular bills and debts were paid.

My trees were taken down, cost $300.00

Worked on the Foyer - looking good.

Worked on some expenses.
*Switched Television, internet and land-line over from one service to another, saving myself around $660/year.

*Cancelled blockbuster.com and am now using the library, saving myself $127.08/year.

Car insurance went down saving myself $168.84/year.

Total savings of $955.92/year, just for a few calls and 5 hours of my time for the cable/satellite guy.

Charities given to:

*Kids Wish Network - This charity grants wishes to ill children stricken with cancer and certain other diseases.

*Sound Nation (this is a charity once a year that gives a scholarship to a kid who wants to go to college in the music industry). It started when a friend of my oldest son died and he put together a concert fundraiser for him, which in turn turned into giving out a yearly scholarship in music. My son has his own band and goes to college for music, so this is how he knew how to give back. I am so proud of him.

We also give to certain charities in November and December:
*Paws for a Cause
*Horses Haven
*Toys for Tots
*Hats/Gloves Christmas Tree at Church
*a Local Food Drive to keep our area pantry filled.