A new Office Max opened up near my house. They had a promo last week & this week: $6.00 store credit for each ink cartridge you brought in, limit of 5 cartridges a day. I had a box of cartridges laying around (was going to Ebay them one day). I recycled 17 of them for a total of $102 free spending money at Office Max! I bought 2 office chairs, my cost was $10.00 each for these, and I got free ink, paper, and envelopes!

I actually bought the chairs last week at a cost of $20 each, but they were on sale for less this week, so I went in for a price adjustment!

I went back to CVS today. I went to a different store than last time. This store was more organized, had sales labeled, etc. I spent $7.84, using my gift card, and earned $12.00 bucks. I would have spent less, but I ran across a sale on a sunscreen that my daughter & I can use (strange allergy limits the sunscreens we can use). I think I'm getting the hang of it. I don't think I can totally commit to it, buying things I don't need, or switching certain brands, but we'll see how it goes. I'm not a total brand loyal person, but I am on a few items.

I took the CVS plunge today. I was waiting for my $45 gift card, but I had no laundry soap to do laundry today (I don't know how that happened - I always have some). Sorry to say, first time through, and I was not impressed. Maybe it's an acquired taste, so I will try it again. Plus, I have to use my ECBs. I found my CVS to be small and not all deals are marked. This was my biggest frustration. For example, the Garnier shampoo was not marked as a sale price or an ECB item. Thus, I had to double check the ad on size, etc. and closely watch what was rung up. I like my store shelves marked with a sale price. I spent $25 and now have $14 ECBs to spend.

I've read a lot about the potential savings at CVS if you work the sales, coupons, etc. It has always looked like a lot of work, but I've decided it will be new "hobby" this year. I like to have hobbies centered around saving or earning money. Another one of my hobbies is selling on Ebay. For CVS, I've ordered my free gift card, earned with points, from Discover. I also have a $4 off $20 coupon. As soon as my gift card arrives, I'm off to the store.

I'm not a huge fan of NY resolutions, so I guess I'll call them goals. One of my big budget busters is eating out, so this is the year to lessen that expense. Luckily Starbucks has run out of gingerbread lattes. I'm not a huge Starbucks abuser, except for when the gingerbread is around. Unfortunately, I got my 10 year old son addicted to them this year also. Good riddance!

Target is my favorite store. I love my endcaps. I don't overspend too much there and only buy on sale or clearance. I just need to monitor it a bit. I still have shampoo I bought there after x-mas last year at 90% off - you can't beat that.

Financial project for today is to update my investments spreadsheet for the year. This is something I do monthly and enjoy doing when the market is doing well. Today, not looking forward to it. I need to work on a plan for the year, then discuss with the husband (while he makes the majority of the money, I organize it).

Happy New Year!