Why I Pay for Everything on a Credit Card

I have read many posts in frugal blog world about how people save money, and many times one of the steps is to never use credit cards. I definitely believe in "to each their own", and I have read each one of those blogs to see if that technique would work for me. Perhaps it's because my husband and I already try to live below our means (okay, I've slipped on it in August, but I plan to get back on track this September. But boy was it fun.), but I feel like the benefits of the credit card outweigh the bad.

1. First things first, which should be the mantra of everyone in the world: Do not charge something that you can't pay for on the spot. Every time I use my credit card, I treat it as if it were cash. I log onto my credit card account once a week to track spending and see if I need to tighten the belt. My credit card bill has always been paid in full every month since I first got it at 18-years-old.

2. I limit my spending to the categories of need: Shelter, Food, Clothing, Utilities and Transportation, always using bargain shopping to lead the way. I limit my purchased meals to once a week for lunch and once or twice a week for dinner (since I started going to grad school at night, but that will end when I'm done in Spring!!). I do not buy anything unless it is reasonable (or free!) and is in the basic categories of necessity.

3. Convenience of use. When I don't have to constantly think if I have enough cash in my wallet for a purchase, it helps me to have one less thing on my already frantic, overworked mind. This also means less gas used for running to the bank.

4. I get rewarded for it! I use a credit card that gives me cash back on all purchases. Every time the reward reaches $100, I apply it to that month's bill. By using a credit card, I also don't have to keep all of my money in a checking account or in an envelope at home. Instead I transfer it immediately after every paycheck to a high-yield online savings account. So while my purchases earn money back on the credit card, my real money is creating interest while it's waiting to pay my bill each month. It's like double earning power!

5. I'm also lucky enough to not be in dire need of money. I have some flexibility in my savings which I can use to purchase items that will receive a full rebate in 6-8 weeks. I really feel for the people who don't have that flexibility in their spending, but I feel that I should use it to my advantage to get paid back for using products.

I feel like my self-control (except for the fun August) and naturally frugal ways allow me to effectively use my credit card for my benefit. I hope that this helps myself, my family, and everyone who reads this.

Win $125 in Coupons!

Frugal in Virginia is doing another giveaway.

Enter for $125 in coupons here!

Drugstore Deals 8/26/08

Walgreens
Glade Scented Oil Refill $1.99 (Sale)
Glade Scented Oil Refill $1.99 (Sale)
Glade Scented Oil Refill $1.99 (Sale)
Glade Scented Oil Refill $1.99 (Sale)
Total: $7.96
Use $4 Glade Scented Oil coupon
Use B1G1 Glade Scented Oil coupon
Use $1 Glade Scented Oil refill coupon
Total After Coupons: $0.97
*The cashier was very proud of me and she kept scanning coupons until the register wouldn't let her anymore!*

Rite-Aid
Pert Plus $2.99 (sale)
Zyrtec-D $18.99 (sale)
Total: $21.98
Use $4 Zyrtec coupon
Use $1 Pert Plus coupon that came with my Pert Plus rebate!
Less $2 Pert Plus Rite Aid Rebate
Total After Coupons: $14.98

CVS
Kotex Liners 16 ct. $1.49
Playtex Tampons 18 ct. $4.99
CVS Foaming Hand Wash $1.99
Total: $8.47
Use $2 CVS Skin Care coupon
Use $1 Kotex coupon
Use $1 Playtex coupon
Use $1 ECB
Total After Coupons: $3.47
*Earned $4.49 ECBs!*
CVS deals were not up my alley this week, so I didn't get to use the $2/$10 coupon.

Grand Totals
$51.61 worth of items
$32.19 in savings
Total OOP: $19.42 with $4.49 ECBs for the next CVS trip!
(Total would be lower if it weren't for my darn allergies, but Zyrtec is wonderful. Plus it's great to think the total OOP for everything was actually less than full price Zyrtec!)

Win a Coupon Management System and 4 weeks of coupons!

Wow, yet another contest for a coupon management system and this time there are coupons too!

Momma's Blog

Lucky us!

Win a Coupon Organizer & Uncut All You!

This time from The Coupon Coup.

I will be posting my deals of the week tomorrow after my big shopping trip. Looks like there will be lots of savings if they stores aren't sold out!

Win a $25 CVS Gift Card!

from Newlyweds.

Coupon Giveaway from Frugal In Virginia

Enter Here!

Drugstore (and Grocery) Deals of the Week 8/18/08

Considering everything in life is getting exponentially expensive by what seems like the day, there is some comfort to be had in CVS, Walgreens and the like.

CVS
Transaction 1
Oral-B Toothbrush $1.77 (Sale)
5 12-pk. Pepsi/Dr. Pepper Products $11 (Sale)
SoBe Life Water $1.59
Total: $14.36
Use $2/$10 purchase CVS coupon
Use $1 Oral-B coupon from inserts
Use "Free SoBe Life Water wyb a Pepsi product" coupon my husband found
Use $5 ECB
Total After Coupons: $7.82
*Earned $1 ECB!*

Transaction 2
CVS antibacterial Foaming Cleanser $1.99
Use $2 Skin Care coupon
Total After Coupons: FREE!

Transaction 3
CVS antibacterial Foaming Cleanser $1.99
Use $2 Skin Care coupon
Total After Coupons: FREE!

Walgreens
6 Skippy Creamy Peanut Butter 16.3 oz $10
Swiffer Starter Kit $11.99
Walgreens Toothbrush $.79
Total: $22.78
Use $1 Skippy coupon
Use $5 Swiffer coupon
Use $.40 Walgreens Toothbrush coupon
Less Swiffer Rebate
Total After Coupons: $4.39
*Earned $4 off of next transaction!*

Rite Aid
Crest Extra Whitening with Scope $2.99 (sale)
Less $2.99 Rite Aid Rebate
Total: FREE

Totals for the day's drug store shopping:
$65.94 worth of items
$53.73 in savings
Total OOP: $12.21 with $1 ECB for the next CVS trip and $4 off the next Walgreens trip

Ralphs
Since Ralphs went to this new Rewards program, it has been my goal to save even more with the increased prices. No itemized list since it's too long, but here's the bottom line.

Total $27.37
Saved: $22.32
Not bad for groceries.

I Married a Couponaholic

This is a guest post at Frugal in Virginia by her husband. I got a good laugh and forwarded it to my poor husband who I thought could really relate to it. He got a good laugh as well. I think these guys should form a support group.

I Married a Couponaholic: 5 Ways Life Has Changed

Oh no!

The whole reason why I started this blog is going away. I'm very sad to be losing Longs Drugs monthly "free after rebate" deals.

CVS Buys Longs Drug Stores

Drugstore Diva!

Rite-Aid was blah for me this week. But CVS and Walgreens pulled through. I believe in only getting items I'll actually use, so if you want a more detailed list of goodies, look at the "Cent"sible Sawyer for the CVS scenarios.

CVS
The flyer this week was advertising 12-pk. Coke products 3/$8 with $2 ECBs when you buy 3, limit 6 12-pks. I was excited but arrived to find a sign at the store saying that it was a misprint. ARGHH! Lame.

Transaction 1
Imodium Chewable 18 ct. $7.99
Imodium Chewable 18 ct. $7.99
Total: $15.98
Use $2/$10 purchase CVS coupon
Use $5 Imodium coupon here
Use $5 Imodium coupon here
Use $1 ECB
Total After Coupons: $2.98
*Earned $4 ECBs!*

Transaction 2
CVS Brand Vitamins $4.99
CVS Brand Vitamins $4.99
Skin Effects Foaming Cleanser $6.99
Total: $16.97
Less $4.99 for B1G1 Vitamins
Use $2/$10 purchase CVS coupon
Use $2 Skin Effects coupon
Use $4 ECB from Transaction 1
Total After Coupons: $3.98
*Earned $5 ECBs!*

Transaction 3
CVS antibacterial Foaming Cleanser $1.99
Use $2 Skin Care coupon
Total After Coupons: FREE!

Transaction 4
CVS antibacterial Foaming Cleanser $1.99
Use $2 Skin Care coupon
Total After Coupons: FREE!

CVS TOTAL: $6.96 with $5 ECB for next time.

Walgreens
Nature Made Multi For Her, 90 ct. $10.99
Nature Made Multi For Her, 90 ct. $10.99
Pert Shampoo $3.79
Total: $25.77
Use Nature Made coupon $1.50
Use Nature Made coupon $1.50
Use Pert coupon $1.00
Less $10.99 for B1G1 on vitamins
Less $3.79 for Pert/Walgreens Rebate
Total After Coupons: $6.99

Totals for the day's shopping:
$62.70 worth of items
$48.75 in savings
Total OOP: $13.95 with $5 ECB for the next CVS trip

Not bad considering I needed to get vitamins this week. Am I the only that loves when the savings are way more than the OOP?

Skin MD

Sorry I've not posted lately, I have been taking an intensive summer program for my Master's degree and the classes have left me little time to be with my husband, let alone time to blog.

But I am here today to tell you about a great product called Skin MD Shielding Lotion. I have really sensitive skin, especially on my legs, and this is a great lotion for my skin. Instead of just providing moisture to your skin like other lotions, Skin MD Shielding Lotion actually hydrates and creates a shield to prevent that moisture from evaporating. I no longer have dry, itchy skin. It's a great product and I would highly suggest it if you are also looking for an effective skin lotion. For more information, follow this link www.SkinMDNatural.com