No TV Week

My son's school had a "No TV Week." All the kids were supposed to go one week without watching TV, using the computer or playing video games. The parents had to sign a paper stating that their kids went the whole week without these things. The reward was some ice cream. This meant the parents couldn't do any of those things either, at least not while the kids were around. Let me just say that I freely admit that I am addicted to the Internet. I feel completely lost whenever my computer isn't working. How will I know the weather, or what's on sale at the stores, or look up a recipe for brownies, or chat with my friends?! So not using the computer for a week would be a big problem for me. I can normally do without the tv and the phone, but please don't take away my computer. That's the main reason I married my husband. I needed someone who would always make my computer addiction a priority. Yes, that is sarcasm you hear. Actually I think his influence is partly what caused my addiction. That reminds me, he signed up for the "quit smoking" program through his company's health plan. He gets to try the nicotine patch, gum and whatever new things are out now. I wonder if there is a patch or gum to help with my computer addiction and if the insurance would cover it??

So usually a week of no TV is not a problem, but why didn't do the school do this during the writer's strike when there was nothing worth watching anyway??? How many reality shows can one watch? Ok, well that "Keeping up with Kardashians" (sp?) can be pretty funny and Mike Row is kinda cute but it didn't keep me entertained for long. The school has their "No TV Week" the week that all shows come back with all new episodes!!! What were they thinking?! So we didn't participate in the "No TV Week." Sometimes I actually wish my kids would watch more TV. There have been days (especially when they are home all day in the summer) when I'm practically begging them to sit for just 10 minutes so I can get something done. I think their attention spans are less than 2 minutes! It never works.

For those who have been asking about my couponing or bargain grocery shopping or whatever you want to call it, here is what I did today. Today I got some shopping done. At Albertsons I got 2 bags of Tostitos, 2 jars of salsa, 1 gallon of milk, 1 pound of baby carrots, 2 tomatoes, 10 bottles of Tobasco sauce and paid $9.18. I was disappointed because I thought that I had enough to be at $10 and then would have used my coupon for $10 off your next order. Turns out the tomatoes weighed less than I thought. So I paid $9.18 and will send in for the $8 Tostitos rebate and use the $10 off next time :)

I also went to Safeway and got 4 boxes of Quaker strawberry bars, 3.5 pounds of apples, 2 boxes of capri sun, 1 Ben & Jerry's mini cup, 5 power bars and 4 avocados. I paid $5.10 and still have 2 coupons for $5 off to use in addition to the $10 off that I couldn't use because my total was less than $10 again....

The last stop was Rite Aid. I picked up my prescription (I have sinus issues :( ) and got the $20 giftcard for transferring it to Rite Aid. My insurance covered the prescription, so $0 out of pocket for that. I bought the new kids Listerine mouthwash that is free after the rite aid rebate this week and used the $1 coupon from the paper, so I made $1 (minus tax) by buying it. Of course I used my giftcard, so nothing out of pocket. There was also a display with a "try me free" manufacturer's rebate, so I can mail in my receipt and get another $2.99. Now I just hope that my kids actually like this mouthwash!