Keeping Up With Pup Rx

Pups get sick sometimes just like people do. It can get quite expensive. And when you have two pups, it can get really expensive if they both have "issues" close together. Or when one of them is especially prone to eating stuff she's not supposed to, or clumsily injuring herself.... Talk about a budget buster!

One thing that used to drive me crazy was that when we got meds from the vet, the label wouldn't tell you what it was for. If it was one of those take until symptoms go away drugs, then you'd be looking at it 6 months later, trying to figure out what it was for! So, I learned pretty quickly to start writing on the bottle (in sharpie) what it was used to treat. That has probably saved me some recurring vet bills over the years.

Anyway, case in point.... yesterday, I noticed that Thing 2 had developed a "hot spot" on her back, just a bit above her tail. She had obviously just chewed herself raw. First thing I did was clean the area, and admonished her to not mess with it (she always listens REALLY well....not). She was very still while I cleaned it and was a really good girl. And actually kept her mouth off of it for a while. Then, I decided to hop in the shower since I'd spent the better part of the day working in the yard. I got out, and she met me at the bathroom door with her head hanging...... she had chewed herself up again while I wasn't paying attention.

So, I cleaned it again. Then I remembered that she had a hot spot a while back and I'd taken her to the vet for it, and we had meds for it. So I rummaged through the pet meds and found it! With "Hot Spot" written in black sharpie on the side (and yes, I checked the expiration date). I applied the med then, and once again at bedtime, then again this morning. So far she's left the spot alone and it looks SO much better today.

Honestly, had I not thought to write what it was for on the side, I likely would have had to take her to the vet, because nowhere on that bottle did it say what it was for otherwise. So, just by taking 5 seconds to write the ailment on the med, I saved myself a vet bill AND another RX cost.

Its those little things that add up. How do you save on your pet bills?

Big Dog = Big Food

I love my pups. Thing 1 and Thing 2 (pictured above) are my furry kids that have an affinity for digging in the trash. Love, love, love my pups. Balancing the budget to take care of a pup was easy when we had just Thing 1. He's a little guy, has been pretty healthy and doesn't eat a whole lot. Then we got Thing 2.... a.k.a, my MillionDollarDog. She's 75 pounds of snugglepup and trouble. If there's something to get into, she'll find it. Plus she eats a TON.

So, her food bills can get pretty hefty. I counteract that particular strain on the budget by shopping wisely. Most of the time her food comes from Sam's --- the warehouse store closest to me. I know exactly how much per pound her food costs there, and generally that is the cheapest. I buy a 52 pound bag, and that lasts quite a while. It gets stored in a clean trashcan, and then overflow is stored in those large Glad Plastic Storage containers. I really need to get a larger can to hold the entire bag -- but they are SO expensive, so I just make do with what I have.

Anyway, generally the food comes from Sam's --- but ever so often, Publix will run a really good deal where I can combine a coupon with a sale on a smaller size bag of her food and get a better price per pound. I really like when those happen -- because a 30something pound bag is a lot easier for me to carry in from the car!

This is where knowing your unit prices for items comes in handy. I know without a doubt when I am getting a TRUE deal on the pup food, instead of mindlessly hefting a bag of dog food into my cart and thinking I'm getting a deal when I'm not.

Do you keep track of your unit prices? Does it help you manage your grocery bills better?

Dinner Is Served

Goodness, I really love Pinterest. I am such a dork, but really I do. I can spend hours browsing the recipes. Sighing over fabulously decorated homes --- wishing I had the talent and confidence to attempt some of the DIY projects (because I do NOT have the budget for a high end kitchen remodel or to turn my teensy bathroom into a luxurious spa!) But I CAN tackle some of the recipes! And I have SO much fun trying them out. I've also created a separate board where I put the recipes I've tried and really liked so I don't have to sort through hundreds to find "the one".

After a couple days on the couch, I've pinned a LOT of recipes this week. I've gotten to where I try not to pin stuff with a lot of specialty ingredients -- because I'll never get around to making it. So, today, I decided to make a chicken that was titled OMG Chicken. While OMG might be a bit of an exaggeration --- it was really good -- and so simple -- I had everything on hand. And best of all --- the Princess really liked it! Immediately told me I needed to make that a "regular" thing.

So, have you tried anything from Pinterest that you've just loved?

Weather Woes

I really shouldn't complain. I mean as far as really severe weather goes, its been pretty quiet around here (knock on wood). But, Saturday it snowed. Yesterday morning, it was COLD. Yesterday afternoon, I was outside in short sleeves. This morning, relatively comfy outside. Then it rained. And it is now teeth chattering again.

All this combined means I've got the cruds. Sore throat, sinus congestion and all the ick that goes along with it. I stayed home from work today.... hoping to go back tomorrow, but I'm really not feeling it at the moment. Gonna go pop some vitamin c now.

Cutting The Cable

I recently got notice that my "promotional rate" for cable was ending. That meant my cable/internet bill was going to increase by $77. Lovely. I knew I had to make some changes. Then, Friday I got a letter in the mail saying they were going to discount that increase by $52. That mean I would still be paying $25 more for the same services. Honestly.... most of what we watch is on the "basic" or "expanded basic" line so we don't need all the bells and whistles. And honestly, we just had those so we could pay less this past year than we would have for the more basic lineup.

So, Princess Penelope and I had a little chat about what our real viewing habits were. I realized that in most instances, TV was mainly background noise for other things we were doing, and we could totally get rid of the cable, as long as we kept internet. A converter box thing would get us broadcast services like news and some of the network shows we watch. And there seem to be a lot of internet streaming options.

I picked up the phone and called the cable company. We went 10 years without cable, so if they couldn't work a deal that would make it worth my while to keep it, I was fully prepared to ditch the cable. Good thing, because the deal they offered me for basic and expanded basic was "only" $5 MORE than I'm paying now for TONS of bells and whistles. Yeah, no thanks... so I ditched the cable, kept the internet and went on about my day. My cable cutoff date isn't until the 10th, so I've got a little time to explore the options.

I posted a question on my facebook page yesterday, asking my friends what cable alternatives they had experience with and to get their thoughts -- the good the bad and the ugly. I got a LOT of responses. People are LOVING some Hulu, Netflix, Roku, Amazon Prime.... all that stuff. There are a TON of options out there. So, I'm a bit confused -- I don't really understand the channels thing on the Roku --- probably because I've never heard of them! They say its like cable, but I'm not sure exactly how that translates......

Anyway, I'd like your thoughts...... I'm not a big movie buff, but the Princess is. I tend more towards sitcoms, news and the occasional drama.... and of course college football in the fall.

Anyone have any perspective -- fabulous? Horrible? Otherwise?

It's Snowing!!!!

Today is March 2. And it is snowing. In Alabama. This is just too weird. I really don't expect that it will snow much, or even THINK about sticking to anything, but it is kind of cool to stand on my back porch with coffee in hand and watch the pups romp around with the flakes swirling.

I was getting the giggles yesterday when I passed by the grocery store on my way home. It was packed out!!! People filling their carts with milk and bread for the snow!!!! Of course the weather guys were saying we'd get a dusting at the maximum..... but here in Alabama.... just the utterance of the "S" word means everyone clears the grocery shelves, and then promptly drives their car into a ditch!!!!

Oh well, I think I'll pour myself another cup and watch the somewhat rare sight of snow flakes falling. Happy Saturday!

Went to Publix.. but.....

So I went to Publix this week, but honestly, I have no clue what I did with my receipt. The only thing I am sure of is that my savings were below 50% this time, not a ton below, but still...... Mainly because I did a stockup on toilet paper. That always skews my percentages! Anyway, this is what I picked up:

2 Quaker Oatmeal
2 College Inn Chicken Broth
2 Farm Rich Appetizers (used a raincheck from earlier in the month)
3 Kraft Homestyle Mac & Cheese
3 Hamburger Helper
1 Clairol Nice & Easy (clearanced priced plus $2 coupon made it $2.50 to indulge my vanity!)
4 Yoplait Greek Yogurt
1 Publix Syrup (penny item!)
3 12pack Double Rolls of Angel Soft Bath Tissue

Spent: $38.60