Challenge Update

Wow, I feel remiss. I have not posted anything on here for days.
- did not purchase anything on Friday.
-I did get gas on Saturday. I got $2.50 worth for the lawn mower to mow my yard. Then I spent $50 to fill the tank on my van. On Saturday afternoon, I went with my sister to CVS to help her and spend a few EB. I spent $2.60 of my cash and got back $7 in EB. According to my receipt, I saved $18.69.
-I did not spend any money on Sunday. I did drive to a small town in the next state (IN) about 20 minutes away because I was told that I could get the Indy Star at the IGA there. I was out of luck. They did not carry it. But my mom and I drove past a flower stand. We definitely had to stop. Mom got a plant called a straw flower. I bought nothing, just looked and enjoyed all the beautiful plants. I think that was kind of a waste of gas because I wanted to see about getting the newspaper so that I could get the q's and came home with nothing.
-On Monday morning on the way to work I stopped at Advance Auto to get some gas treatment for my van as it is not running smoothly right now, it seems to be missing. Actually ever since my trip last time. And here I am almost ready to go again. I hope it smooths out before I have to drive down.
-Also on Monday, I took a half a day off work to go with my mom to her doctor appointment in Champaign and to go to Meijer. I found out once we were over there that mom wanted to go to Target first. I spent $1.84 there. I got a camp flashlight for my son that has interchangeable lenses with different creatures on them. It has a spider, snake, frog, lizard, and a moon. I also got a tub of betty crocker frosting for 75 cents. Then we went to meijer. I did not need a lot of groceries, just a few things. I spent $46.05 and saved $32.77. I took advantage of their buy 2 of "x" products and get a free gallon of milk. I got two boxes of wheat thins and used a bogo free q and got a free gallon of milk. I also got 2 oreo cookies and got a free gallon of milk. I planned on buying oreos already for my son and me to eat on this next trip, so I got two and a bonus gallon of milk! I love free!
-On Tuesday, I spent no money again.
-On Wednesday, I am going to buy spark plugs for my van and go to my dad's to see if he can help me change them. If we can do it, that will save me the cost of paying someone else. Hopefully that will fix the missing problem with my van. If this does not fix it, I will be having the fuel filter changed when I get back (and get paid..).

Tuesday night I talked with my friend. She was telling me some of the financial difficulties her family is having right now. They own a farm. They have crops from last year that they have not sold yet. She is happy that her husband is no longer working a full time job on top of running the farm, but now they do not have as much money. She told me that they did shop around and found that they can save a little over $200 a month by bundling some of their services for internet, cells, and satellite. Her big expense that she did not know how to lower was groceries and household and health items. I am going over there next week to hang out for a while, have dinner and borrow some books. I did not tell her but I put a bag together for her and the family with some items out of my stockpile. I put in all kinds of stuff for her. I am so glad to be able to help her like this. I also told her the same thing I told my sister (who did not do it), which was to make a list of the most commonly eaten foods, the items for HBA that they can use if they have preferences. If they don't have specifics that have to be used to let me know that. I will then make a list for her the same time I make mine and get all the corresponding sale ads and then go to the store with her. We would go to walmart so they can price match. She does not go alone as she has three kids and it is too much to try and match sales to coupons, and keep an eye on three kids. I offered that I would go with her to cvs as well to get the really good deals there as well. She was really excited and told me she would most definitely do that. She would really appreciate all the help. I think it would be lots of fun, and I would be helping a friend that has helped me alot in the past. I hope this works out for all of us.