I couldn't believe it!! While at work yesterday a coworker told me she was vacationing in Orlando next month. She was online looking at flights and car rentals. She told me how much her flight was....cheaper than mine, but not by much and too late to change now since I'm leaving tomorrow, but her car rental was a lot less than what I booked mine for 8 months ago. When I got home I checked it out for myself. I was able to cancel my original reservation and rebook with the same rental company for the same size car for $85.00 less ($68 less in rental rate - $17 less in taxes). Incredible! I would have never thought to recheck the rates. Woo Hoo!!

I received the free sample of Degree deodorant I ordered about a week ago and 2 coupons for $1.00 off any size silk soymilk. With the coupon I printed yesterday for the free SilkLive Smoothie with purcahse, I feel like it was a decent day. Oh yeah, I also received an unexpected child support check. They're very sporadic so I don't count on them.

I took all of the rebates I had received in the last week and wrote up a deposit slip. I was suprised that the total was $46.27. It included the June Walgreen's Rebate, July Rite Aid Rebate (Wow! it's my first one from them and I am surprised how quick it came), Staples rebate for some pens we got "free" for my son for school, and a rebate we got for some wine we purchased for a special ocassion.

I'm looking forward to the time that these rebates can go into savings, but for now they just go into the checking account to cover the original costsa of the products we purchased. The rebates help to lower my monthly grocery bill, allowing me to purchase more groceries for our budget, but our monthly food budget is so low that I need to use coupons and rebates to keep within budget. I budget $300 a month for the 3 of us. I coud probably lower it but not until I can get my husband to give up drinking so much juice and eating $5.99/lb Deli Meat. Oh well, by looking at us you could tell none of us are dying of starvation.

We've about trimmed all of the fat off of spending, now it's time to trim the fat off of ourselves.

I'm usually in this site a couple of times a day. Looking for more info, checking out what everyone else is up to, looking for new freebies. I've learned so many great tips here. Reading the blogs is comforting because it helps me see that I'm not alone in dealing with debt and trying to get more with less.

I've been able to pay extra on a loan which feels great. I track payments made each month so I can watch our balances go down over time.

My husband thinks I spend too much time worrying about our financial situation. I don't use my time to worry, but to learn and explore and put to use some of the knowledge I've gained. Cutting coupons, sending out rebates and ordering free samples all take time. I feel it is time well spent.