Tough times-

As parents we try to shield our children from the world. From seeing and knowing things we may not be comfortable with them knowing. We want them to have more than we ever had and try our hardest to provide those little extras that always bring that shine to their eyes. It tough when you're broke all the time to keep your child innocent of the struggle.

Alex is not a greedy child. He never has been. He is always grateful for the gifts he receives no matter how large or small. He earns money and always makes sure to set some aside for "giving". Just what he donates to is up to him. He will go through his toys and if we find acceptable ones we give them to other needy children. He sometimes asks for extravagant things sure, but when he is told that it is way too expensive he understands and moves on. He truly is a blessing and I am more and more aware of it as he grows.

Last week when cleaning the living room I found a piece of paper he had written a note on. "We are poor I think." My eyes welled with tears. Even now thinking of it I get a little teary. My son is 8. He should not be aware of what poor is in our everyday life. Sure he has seen the videos of 3rd world countries. He donated money to an African orphanage to help get them some more toys. I don't know how many times I have taken him to the grocery store and he will ask for something that is not food and I have to decline telling him "I don't have real money right now buddy" When I tell him no his go to answer is now "Let me guess, it's too much money." Or " We don't have any money right?" Or sometimes " It's because we don't have real money right?" My son is being raised with his mother being dependant on the SNAP program to get by. If I didn't receive medical and food benefits from the government I wouldn't be able to feed us and my much needed medications would not be able to be bought. And I hate it.

I'm not saying all of this to get a reaction. I am simply putting it out there. My 8 yr old knows that we struggle daily yet he also knows that he is loved by so many people. He knows he will never have to worry about not being able to eat even if it's the generic store brand bought with food stamps. He knows he will always have clothes to wear, even if they are hand me downs, yard-sale finds, or from Goodwill. He will always have toys to play with, even if they are used from Ebay.  I thank God each and every day for the life that I have. I thank each and every one of you who read this and nod your head knowing where I am coming from. I appreciate those of you who read this and don't know where I'm coming from but don't judge me. I hope one day to be able to rise above it all and be able to fully support myself and my son but until that day I am so very grateful for every little bit of help I get.

Thank you for reading.

Freebies! Links included!

I don't know about you but I love free stuff! I am a member of several websites that offer free products in exchange for reviews. On the top right corner of the blog is the button that links to my Influenster profile. I also participate with Bzzagent and Smiley360. My most recent Influenster mission sent me this:

I redeemed the coupon and then I provided a review and a picture of how I prepared it.

Bzzagent usually sends products to your house. I have been in several campaigns for everything from toilet paper and deodorant, to cookies and candy. I love these campaigns! The website has a list of surveys you take so they can decide which campaigns would be a good fit for you. Depending on the length of the survey you can get Mypoints for filling out the survey as well. If you're not familiar with Mypoints you are missing out! 

Mypoints is a website that allows you to earn points on websites. Shopping, surveys, watching videos, playing games or reading emails. You can then redeem those points for awesome things! I typically get Amazon gift cards but there are so many rewards you can choose from. My mother and I are both members and it's not uncommon for us to use our rewards to get gift cards to give to a family member for presents.

Smiley360 typically sends out full sized products along with a couple extras! 

This is my most recent Smiley360 box. There were 5 $3 off coupons, a full 10 count box, a travel pouch of tissues, 5 samples, a nose shaped stress "ball" and a speech bubble sign. My very first one was for Snuggle. I received Snuggle pods to use in the wash along with a small Snuggle bear. That was Alex's favorite by far! He loves that little bear. 

I get a lot out of my membership with these companies. It's free to join and even if there are no rewards above the initial package I think it's well worth it! I have posted the links below. Please join if you think you could also get something of value from them!

Mypoints referral link: https://www.mypoints.com/emp/u/refSignup.do?refCode=PbCxPeqcJwS0D---F&arr=s3&afsrc=1&src=EXTERNAL_PUBLICATION&fb_ref=Default

Bzz agent referral link: https://www.bzzagent.com/user/Shannagclark

Smiley360 referral link: http://h5.sml360.com/-/1drds

Family Dollar finds

Last week I was meeting with a lady from a Facebook yard-sale site. Do you have those? Most cities have some version of at least one. Mine has at least 30. Christian ones, under $5, kids stuff only, adult stuff only, cars and vehicle stuff, pets and pet stuff. You name it, it's got a site. These are also great places to sell things you're not using anymore to get a bit of extra money. I was meeting with this particular lady to purchase my Grandmother's Christmas present. Since I was meeting with her right after I got off work I was super early arriving. I didn't feel like sitting in my car the whole time and noticed that there was a big banner at the Family Dollar store across the parking lot. "Take an extra 75% off of already discounted items" Ok, so my interest was piqued. You never know what you're going to find with things like that!

Here are my finds!

 Bacon bowls! These also make bread bowls. I've been wanting one of these for a while. It was marked at $5 which means I paid $1.25

Bullet by Laurel K. Hamilton. This is one of my favorite authors. I have an autographed copy of the book before this one. It was marked at $3 so I paid $.75 for a hardback book to add to my collection!

My client I work with on a daily basis has to have thickened liquids. It's not fun and can be frustrating for her especially since the only cup she had that allowed her to take smaller drinks was a child's Sesame Street sippy cup. A 77 yr old woman doesn't want to have to take a sippy cup with her whenever she leaves the house. So I bought her these. The twin pack is what she uses on a daily basis and she loves them. They were marked $1 for the two pack, I paid $.25! The two bigger green ones were also marked $1 each so that's another $.50. The big white one with the red cap was marked $1.25. I bought it for my client as well but she didn't like it so I brought it back home for Alex to use on field trips. With the 75% off it I paid $.32. 

Lemonade Peeps! I love all things lemon and add in marshmallow and I'm in heaven! These are awesome! They were marked at $1 each so I paid $.25 each.

This is actually the only item I paid full price for. This three pack was $1. Full price. What?! I mean, sure they're not amazing quality but they do what I need them to. I used the spatula last night making pancakes. 

So, let's add that all together! $1 for the kitchen tools. $1 for four packs of peeps. $1.07 for all of the water bottles. $.75 for the book and $1.25 for the bacon bowls. Guys, that's just a little over $5! I couldn't be happier! The cashier laughed and said, you can't go wrong with that! She also said that items that are left over will be getting another reduction to 90% off next week! Holy cow. That's pretty awesome. 

An introduction to the Broke Single Mama

I started this blog on a whim at a suggestion of an amazing friend of mine who has been super supportive since it's start. I truly can't thank him enough, even if I never get anywhere with it. That being said, since I jumped into the blog feet first I realized a lot of my readers may not know very much about me and how I got to where I am now. So, here's that story.

As most of you can tell from looking at the screen to the right, my name is Shanna. I'm now 32 years old and I live in a small rural town in Western Maryland. I like it here. It's quiet and we all look out for one another. I don't feel nervous letting my son wander the neighborhood and he's welcome to play with any child that is around. We live in a 3 bedroom trailer that I rent from my parents who live right next door. When my father got a job offer to work for the railroad I had been living with them for about a year after I had left the father of my son. I originally wasn't planning on tagging along I was going to try to make it on my own and stay in West Virginia. That being said, when my father found a house that was for sale that had a garage, above the garage apartment, a small swing-set and the three bedroom trailer all on the same property my mother called me into the room to take a look and discuss the amazing opportunity that provided for all of us. I would be provided with my own place so I could have privacy and wouldn't drive Mom crazy, but we would still be close enough that should I need them for whatever reason I wouldn't have to go more than 100 ft. It's worked out pretty well so far.

It was never my intention to be a single mother. As a teenager and a young adult I always dreamed of getting married young and having a family. Obviously life throws curve balls and things don't usually go the way you would like them to. I met my sons father when I was studying to be a veterinary technician in Pittsburgh. I was not looking for a long term relationship. I was simply looking to have some fun as I was nearing the end of my training in the program and was planning on doing an internship in Colorado. Even though we were using protection I still got pregnant very early into the relationship, which obviously changed a lot of things. He and I talked and decided to try to raising the baby together. It was not an easy road. He never had steady work since he was a musician who did most of his jobs under the table. I was unable to finish the training program I was in and so I wound up taking whatever job I could.  We were evicted from 2 different apartments due to inability to pay rent and when I went into the hospital to give birth we were living in an extended stay hotel. Yet, I still stayed with him. When we were evicted from the third apartment after I had Alex, I went to stay with my parents for a while until a place to live could be found. This was in December. Jan I was able to reunite with him and we tried to be a family. He was still not working and I did not have a job either but had decided to try to go back to school and get my AA in Medical Administration.  Things kept going downhill. We fought all the time. We never had any money, and I wasn't out of our bedroom much as we had roommates who smoked both cigarettes and Marijuana. The ex was a pot smoker as well but the longer we lived with this couple the worse it got. He got to the point he was lighting up on an hourly basis. I finally reached my breaking point when I had left the baby in his care so I could take a shower. When I came out I found him smoking a bowl within 5 ft of our son. We got into a huge fight and that evening I called my parents to ask about coming home for a while. My son was almost 6 months old. I took him to see his father once after I left and had such a horrible experience we never went back again.

So, Alex doesn't know much about his father. He doesn't seem to care either. When he asks questions, he gets answers. My father is a much better role model and is right next door. We don't receive any form of child support. The ex was deemed disabled and as he didn't really ever work as an adult he was given the minimum amount of support possible. When I say single mama, it's the honest truth. I'm not alone though. There are some issues from time to time, but I know that I couldn't be where I am today without all the love and support both my parents have provided for me and my son. I have an amazing family that all support me and I thank God for them every day.

Couponing the lazy way

Hi again folks! I wanted to share with you some tips that should really be obvious but a lot of people actually don't use/do. I saw this picture on a friends Facebook page yesterday and it made me giggle for a second.

I couldn't help it, at that exact moment I had .20 in my bank account. Yes, you read that right 20 cents. See why I call this blog Broke Single Mama? As the younger generation says "The struggle is real". This morning I woke up and found myself saying TGIP (Thank God it's payday). I know we've all been there. Struggling college student, fresh graduate who can't get a job, in between jobs, laid off, hours reduced, whatever the story may be we have all had that "Hallelujah!" moment when for about 10 minutes you have money. Then it's bills, groceries, gas for the car and if you're anything like me you are left with just about enough left over to make sure you have gas to get back and forth to work.

Here's how I make the little bit I make stretch a bit further. Most grocery stores have a rewards program right? No matter where you live anymore it seems they all have those membership cards that "save " you so much per visit. Of course it's really just that if you don't use it you pay the inflated price of the food rather than the typical price you would normally pay. Now, don't get me wrong, there are always sales and we all know sales are awesome, especially if you can be savvy enough to pair it with a good coupon. I'm not one of those crazy coupon ladies. Ain't nobody got time for that! Kudos to you folks who can pull that off! I just wind up getting frustrated and bored! That's not to say I don't enjoy a good deal and don't know how to make one. 

 Let's talk about my trip to the grocery store today. I typically shop between two grocery stores. Food Lion and Save-A-Lot. We are currently in the process of getting an Aldis which my mother and I are super excited for. So, Food Lion has a members rewards card program, the MVP card. They have a coupon program that is connected to it. You can print coupons at home, add them to your card directly from the website plus the kiosk that prints off coupons located at the front of the store. The wonderful thing about this is that you can use a manufacturers coupon along with the store coupon and save even more. I don't use manufacturer coupons that often because I don't see the point in paying for a newspaper and probably getting maybe 5 coupons to use out of it. But, that's just me! I typically buy store brand products anyway. 

Today I knew I NEEDED certain things. We all know how it can go : Needs, don't need but might as well be a need, wants and oh look! shiny! That last one's the dangerous one and needs to be avoided as much as possible! So, today I needed to get paper towels and laundry detergent. I also really wanted (might as well be a need) some lunch meat and other "fixins" for lunches for me and the kiddo. I had a break between clients so I ate my lunch and then logged onto FoodLion.com and looked through their coupon page  real fast. I was able to add both a coupon for paper towels and a coupon for Tide pods. Yes,these are two items I am actually brand specific to. I think that's a different blog post though. :) Off I went to the store where I was able to print off multiple other coupons including one for a free sample. Who doesn't love free?! Coupons in hand I saw I also had one for soda, which was on my want list. It's my one vice in life. I usually buy the store brand 2 litres for about 88 cents each but with this coupon I could get the name brand for about the same price so I went for it. There were some "shiny!" items that were added into the cart as well. I didn't really know what I was doing for dinner since the kiddo and the Grammy were on a field trip and I wasn't sure when they would be home or if they would be hungry when they arrived home. So, I opted for a small roasted chicken. $4.99 and it will last at least two meals. Also, hostess donuts were BOGO so  splurged and bought a couple bags of those. 

So, I'm going through the checkout lane and I have my coupons and my MVP card with me. The cashier starts scanning and I always watch when they do this. So I know they're not double scanning and also so I can watch the screen to have a general idea of what I'm being charged. Everything was scanned and he pressed the total button and it came up to $93.48 which I will freely admit made my stomach threaten to drop into my shoes. Then he scanned my card and started the coupons, pressed total and bam! $69.80! My math is super crummy but the receipt told me my total savings and saved me having to use the calculator. $23.68 was saved just by using in store promotions, printed coupons from the in store kiosk, and two coupons added to my card before I left. That's it folks. No clipping, no comparing prices between stores. How cool is that?! Even the cashier said "That's impressive! I love seeing it drop that much!" All in all I'm a happy shopper. It's still a bit more then I should have spent but that's one of the problems with the rising food costs. 

I truly hope this at least inspired one or two of you to look more into your local grocery reward programs. It can be super helpful! See ya'all next time!

My builder turned 8!

So, my son loves Lego’s. I mean, who doesn’t?! What’s not to love? I wanted to have a big party with friends and presents and themed food and a decorated house and the whole shebang. But, broke single mama here. I imagine many of you who are reading this feel the same way. It’s not easy to make sure your kiddo or kiddos get everything you want them to have. I am truly blessed to have a young one who understands and is always more than thrilled just to spend time with our little family.

I knew I would need at least a cake. You really can’t have a birthday without at least some kind of cake right? I had bought a couple cake mixes from the local Save-A-Lot for about $1. each and a tub of chocolate frosting to cover it with for about another $1.25. So throw in cost of eggs and oil I had about $3 invested in the cake. Cue mixing and baking! I splurged a bit and bought these from Amazon for about $7 each.

 I melted colored chocolate in the microwave and used a spoon to fill in the mold spaces then did a “quick set” by putting them in the freezer for about 3 minutes.

Here is the finished product. It took me 2 hrs from start to finish for this cake. Totally worth it though! He loved it and it tasted wonderful! I think his favorite part was being able to eat the chocolate. They looked good enough he thought they were real legos at first.   

 I did hours of browsing and looking through Lego lots on Ebay and found the bigger one that had 5 lbs of mixed pieces for $35 plus $10 shipping. There were all kinds of odds and ends in there! Regular pieces, special pieces, accessories, and mini figure pieces. He was ecstatic! I also found a box of all red pieces that was $12 and free shipping so I added that in with this birthday bundle. I found others as well and got some great deals but put them aside for Christmas. I thought I had birthday wrapping paper left over from last year but it turns out I didn’t so it was time to get creative again! One of the Ebay vendors had shipped their box using newspaper, mainly the comics section, as packing materials. Since I’m such a pack rat and tend to keep anything I think may be useful at some point in time I was able to dig it up and voila! 

We finished the party off with frozen pizza from Food Lion. 

Aren’t you jealous of how amazing those look?!  Cake was eaten after the pizza of course, and then we are members of the Blizzard club from Dairy Queen and had a buy one get one coupon so off we went to get ice cream! I just want to say that the Salted Caramel truffle is amazing! Plus, we both got an ice cream fix for $5!

Our local movie theater has a “Movie Madness Monday” promo that is awesome. $5.50 for any regular show (non-3D) all day and a free 32 oz popcorn. The kiddo is a big fan of Peter Pan and as most of you are aware Pan came out on Friday. So after Dairy Queen it was off to Walmart to grab a couple drinks and candy from the $1 box bin we all know of to sneak into the theater. So two tickets and popcorn for $11 and candy and drinks another $5. What an amazing movie! Visually stunning. Emotionally captivating and completely gore free! The only blood we saw was from a scratch to Blackbeards cheek.I think the foulest language was the word hell said by Peter himself. Truly a family movie for those who enjoy the Peter Pan story!

Lastly, we had dinner at Bob Evans. We had a birthday coupon so his meal was free and he always drinks water so I didn’t even have to pay for that. My meal total with drink and tip for the waitress was $11.43. Then back home and time for bed! He was a pretty tuckered out kid!

Alright so by my calculations I put about $115.00 total into the whole day. Presents and full day of fun. That’s about as much as a lot of parents spend on just a venue for a birthday party! Granted he just spent the day with me and didn’t have any friends celebrating with him but he and both really enjoy our time together and he most certainly did not complain! All in all I think it was a great success! What do you think? Feel free to leave comments below!