Cheap Finds

We try to set a budget every time we buy groceries but obviously we're not trying very hard (lol). We usually do the bulk of our groceries at Superstore but there are specific items that need to purchased at Walmart or Costco and of course, at the Asian supermarket as well.

At Superstore, we usually buy the boxed chicken for just 14.99 CAD and it's 5kg. We used to buy a bag with 2 kg of chicken thighs for more or less 9 CAD and it's like good for two weeks only compared to the boxed chicken which lasts more than a month. We also love the box of bacon ends which is pretty cheap at 5+ CAD. They also sell those Yakult like products at 1.50 CAD/5pcs way cheaper than those available at the Asian supermarket.

My hubby also prefers to buy large bottles (I mean really large ones) of soy sauce, liquid seasoning, cheez whiz because he says they're cheaper which is true by the way. Our sugar is a 10 kg bag while our bag of flour is 5kg, with that much we don't have to buy twice a month or even on a monthly basis. And getting the ones on sale are always, always a huge help and I'm just glad I'm not a brand conscious person. I could give up Coca-Cola products for PC brand sodas. The PC orange soda tastes so much like Royal, they are soooo goood! Lance's preferred crackers (Skyflakes) is also cheaper at Superstore so we make sure that we buy it there. They also now have a huge selection of products from the Philippines, bigger than what they used to have saving us trips to the Asian supermarket.

If I like doing groceries at Superstore, I like Walmart for other cheap finds as well, kitchen stuff, toys, clothes and food that are on sale. Their jello is cheaper compared to the ones at Superstore. We also like to buy shrimp and other seafoods there.

But if you're really buying buy the bulk, Costco is the right place. We go there to buy a couple of things but mostly to look around, sample the food and eat hotdogs. Their hotdog is the best tasting hotdog I've ever tasted here. I like to buy vegetables there, they last longer and they are so fresh. My bag of spinach is from Costco, very cheap and the size of the bag is just right, not too big , not too small.

Becoming cheap is a process but it doesn't guarantee that you'll stay within your budget because we usually don't. We end up buying these cheap finds, add them all up and before we know it we are over budget again. Shopping is fun and sales are more fun but it all boils down to how much money you're willing to spend (the more, the merrier!)

Hot and Lazy

Thankful for the sunny weekend, a swimming and BBQ party last Saturday and car spring cleaning on a Sunday. While I was excited on the first, I couldn't say the same thing for the second. I wasn't an eager helper but I did vacuum, it was the least I could do. Hubby said I should help since I'm using the car now, what about the household chores? How come I end up doing all of them? An endless discussion would probably start had I launched my litany so rather than argue and debate, I vacuumed and did my share of cleaning. It was such a hot day I would've preferred to lie down, read a book or sip a cold drink the whole day :D

There's A New Driver in Town

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this day! The sun is finally out, my grumpiness went away with the rain and this time around, I finally drove with less nervousness, calmer demeanor and confidence. Whew! I did it and I loved every minute of it. My apologies to the other drivers though, patience for new drivers like me :D

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

I felt gloomy, lazy and irritable over the past few days. It has been raining non stop and I was just getting fed up with the weather and was really missing the sun. All I wanted to do was curl up in bed. Good thing is, our heater's back. For the past two weeks without it, we were cold and my hands were numb from washing dishes with ice cold water but it's back so we're back to being warm and cozy in here.

The rain and my negativity were like the worst combo ever. My negativity is more on my (not having) driving abilities. I am so frustrated with myself right now I want to scream. But I gotta have patience on myself, I gotta relax and just practice. Breathe in, breathe out. Practice makes perfect as they say, we'll see.

The sun is out! It's time to embrace positive vibes, be sunny after my grumpy days. I am still too young for menopause, must really be the weather and the driving :D

Surprises and New Beginnings

Canadian Living June issue, page 12

Too bad we didn't renew our Canadian Living Magazine subscription especially now that my comment was published on the June issue. So after my dentist's appointment, I went straight to 7-11 to get a copy. Honestly, I couldn't remember anymore what I wrote in there since I wrote a couple of letters so when I opened it to the reader's comments, I was surprised to see our picture published there as well.

The funny thing is, it came as a surprise. Someone informed my husband about it, I was surprised (shocked would more appropriate), triple my husband's surprise and what do you get? Not comprehending the whole situation for a couple of minutes, I kept remembering what it is about which I couldn't due to my hubby's queries. Let's just say, it was a noisy household for a minute or two. Much as I'd like to storm out of the house and get a copy, we first went to my dentist's appointment before buying the magazine.

I didn't plan on buying though but when I saw the picture, I could've bought everything on the stand. It's not an article but who cares? We're on the magazine! I knew it put a smile on my hubby's face and on my children's faces especially and I just couldn't stop smiling too :D

All Geared Up

I have been feeling this sense of accomplishment since last week from the time we got our new work permits. That gave me a whole sense of hope and kind of pulled me into the right direction. It just amazed me how in a span of two days, we were able to accomplish a lot. It's probably because of the long months of waiting and feeling displaced, not to mention stressed with regards to our next move or avoiding the reality of having a back up plan just in case the unexpected happens. I could go on and on about our uncertainties but I am feeling positive these days.

I discovered over the weekend that if I condition myself to do something, actually do it and not just ponder doing it, I will certainly achieve something. In my case, passing the driving exam. So now I have these goals that I want to meet before the year ends. I pray for strength and guidance, I am all psyched up and excited as well!

Hubby's been teaching me how to drive too, I am still struggling on this aspect and probably a long way from being an accomplished driver but for such a nervous wreck like me, it's still a HUGE achievement. It's gonna be a slow and grueling process but I'm just glad I was able to will myself to do something I originally never wanted to do, actually swore that I wouldn't do but finally did or at least trying my best to :D

Productive At Last!

kids' cabinet

I had the most fruitful weekend ever. I was able to do some spring cleaning, took away all the small clothes and organized the clothes inside the cabinets, washed the jackets and hid all the winter stuff. Now I have a trash bag full of donations and a box of big clothes reserved for future use.

shared closet with hubby

I was also able to review the driver's handbook, took me awhile but I got hooked reading, read it several times over, took the online tests and finally had the courage to go down to the licensing office to take the test which I passed!!! I am so happy with my little achievement this morning, not to mention relieved as well. I didn't mind flunking it but it was a huge bonus passing it anyway.

I was so close to failing the test, halfway the exam I already had four mistakes, only one more to go and I'm done. I then took my time answering each question really analyzing them, no wonder my hubby said I took so long. Anyway, I couldn't concentrate much with all the noise inside the office including my children's voices plus two men were talking right beside the computer where I was taking the test.

I guess I'm just lucky and the online tests were a huge help. I'm just in heaven right now, I can almost ignore the fact that my gums are still swollen from last Friday's wisdom teeth extraction. I really don't mind having good days like these :D

New WPs

The long and anxious wait is over, our new work permits have arrived last Wednesday. The rest of the week was a blur, reactivated our health cards, got new Social Insurance #s, updated school records, registered Lei for Pre-K and wisdom teeth extraction yesterday. What a week!

Hopefully (fingers crossed), our medical will be next then our PR. Patience, more patience and FAITH! Amidst the trials, I can't help but be thankful for all the blessings and the littlest things in front of me. In HIS time, on our OWN pace, all will be well, ultimate goals will be achieved. We may not be there yet, not even close but we are going to get there :D

Coupons!

Watching TLC's Extreme Couponing makes me want to do what those extreme couponers do. Imagine saving thousands of $$$ and paying less than 50-90 % of your actual bill? Amazing, isn't it? And their stock pile is another story, it's like having a grocery of your own at home. That part, I don't like. I don't need way too much stuff that I won't need for a month's use. It would be neat, yes, but why stock that much? Anyway, the savings are the part I like the most. Makes me wanna search for coupons online, print them out, put them in a binder and head out to the supermarket!

I do have coupons which I requested online but I haven't tried printing, I receive them mostly through the mail but my coupons are nothing compared to those extreme couponers. They do devote a whole lot of time couponing and some would even have trips to the dumpster to recover coupons, no wonder they're called extreme couponers. I wish I have the guts to be one :D

It's actually fun from the moment you get to choose the coupons, receive them in the mail then I let my son cut them out. He keeps asking why we need those so I start to lecture him about saving and hopefully he learns something. Then I look at the expiry dates before sorting them out. Yesterday, I got to bring them to the supermarket and we saved 10 CAD by using the coupons. It's not much but it's ok, wait until I become an extreme couponer!

Spotlight!

Talk about being at the right place at the right time. That's where we were when a photographer snapped a picture of Lei and I while getting rid of a bag of flyers down at the Fairway Plaza recycling depot. On our way back to the car, the man approached us and informed me that he's from The Lethbridge Herald, he asked our names including Lei's age. The next day we were on the newspaper. My little girl was ecstatic, me as well!

The article was about recycling changes in our city, just so you know :D