The kids are going to grandma's for a sleepover tonight, giving me much needed time to get myself organized after vacation.

I'm heading to BJs after work today. I let my membership lapse in March, because I wasn't really sure if it was worth the $40/year. But they sent an offer for a 60-day free trial, with full membership privileges, through ValPak (coupon mailers), so I'm going to take advantage of it. My plan is to buy what I need today and price out some other stuff I'm interested in, then go again in the middle of August to buy up what I need for school (juice boxes, snacks, etc.), and other stuff I get from there that won't go bad (razors, shampoo, etc). I've been keeping a price book over the last 18 months or so, so I can make sure I'm getting a good deal. That way, when the 60-day trial is over, I should be set for awhile and won't need to pay for the membership.

Then I need to go to Kohls to get hubby some clothes. I have $50 in gift cards (that I got 20% off ). I should be able to keep the total to under that amount, so there will be no cash out of pocket. Then I need to stop at the grocery store for a few things I can't get at BJs, and the library so I can return 2 DVDs that will be a week late (due to vacation and prior to my renewed effort to become more organized and avoid fines!). Finally, I need to go to Toys R Us (also using gift cards, so no cash outlay) to get a birthday present for a party later this month. We have 4 other birthdays and a going away party this month, but they're all getting discounted gift cards. Oops, also have to go to the auto parts store, to get the light bulb for behind my license plate, so the car will pass inspection, and the jeweler to have a charm added on to my charm bracelet. I think that's it. Hope I can get it all done today.

Tomorrow I need to head down to Dad's and do his grocery shopping, so there shouldn't be much spending there.

So far, Day 1 of the new, organized me is going pretty well.