Cha ching!

I have to share my money savers this week. I am so proud of myself! I usually think of myself as a resourceful person and try to find ways to get a great deal, bring down the cost of something or arrange a trade of some sort. Well, with soccer sign ups coming up on Saturday I had been busy getting the AYSO forms filled out and getting Micah's birth certificate (I've never needed it before). I noticed after I filled out the paperwork that there was a small section about financial aid. I opened it up and all it asked for was for you to volunteer in some capacity. It also asked how much assistance was needed (50-100%). Wanting to save some money, I volunteered as the team parent (I hope I don't regret this later) and asked for 100%. When I went through the registration day, they looked at my paperwork and said "OK thanks!" That was it. Free soccer for us!

Another great buy was this:
I have had my eye on it for a while and thought it would go perfect in a car themed room. Well, I just happen to see in the Target ad that it is on sale this week for $34! Woo hoo woo hoo! I made that an early morning errand for me and the kids. Oh and did I mention I saved another $10 bucks? I did! Amy introduced me to this blog (check out the Gap recycled denim sale she posted about) and I decided to put a concerted effort into using coupons. I even bought a Sunday newspaper and cut them out. So yes, that makes my grand total for money saved this weekend $120!

Now here is where I run across a problem...I feel like since I have saved that money, it is now free for me to use. It is like "well I would have spent it anyways, so might as well use it." Not a good way to look at it. I also find that when I look through coupons that I think, "well I haven't tried this, but I can save money on it, so maybe I'll try it." So as much as I enjoy saving the money I wonder if I am actually spending more on items I wouldn't normally buy. I think some of it has to do with the time constraints they put on it too. Like those dang Michael's 40% off coupons. When I get one, I feel like I need to use it even if I really don't need anything there. I mean really, do we NEED anything from Michael's? Anyways, just a thought, but for now I am enjoying the idea of saving money!