Costco’s February 2011 coupons are here.

I hope you guys have them too.

This is the 5th month without a coupon from Starbucks Coffee.  Luckily I bought 3 bags of Starbucks coffee last time (September 2010).  I am going to open the last bag pretty soon. 

I hope to see Starbucks Coffee coupon next month.

I say this time to time.

Some items are not as “cheap” at Costco.

You can trust that Costco will not scam you.

But, sometimes, some other stores will have special deals that Costco simply cannot beat.

Costco sells Olive Oil Sprayer by Misto.  They are $19.99 for 2 pack.

I was surprised to see this at Costco.  I bought the exact same sprayer from Bed Bath & Beyond one month ago on my Christmas shopping spree. I paid $8 for one can.   They were $9.99 each.  I used an expired 20% off coupon.  

I guess 2 units for $19.99 is OK. But, one unit for $8.00 is even cooler.

This is why Bed Bath & Beyond is my second favorite store.

* I am pretty happy with the sprayer.

Things I bought from Bed Bath & Beyond, Christmas 2010

Boring…  not much going on.

A lot of apples, 5 dozen eggs, a rotisserie chicken, and a bag of tortilla chips.

I used my $40.32 reward check and received $5.78 back.

Boring…  And I want to keep it this way.

I received 2% executive membership rebate check on January.  I am not sure if Janurary is the official month for rebate checks.  Some people haven’t received the checks yet.  There has to be a reason why some people haven’t received the checks yet.  Maybe Costco will send more checks later.  I am not sure.

Then American Express sends out their rebate check on February.

I upgraded my Costco membership to executive on August 13, 2010.  Last year, I was an executive Costco member for 4 1/2 month.

So extra $50.00 on executive membership pays itself in 5-6 months. I should have upgraded a long time ago.

This check is redeemable only at Costco.

But, this year, I promised myself that I will put all my rebate checks to savings account.  So, I transferred $40.32 from checking to savings.

*This month, I put $330.00 to savings account.

Related Blogs

• Shopping For Neckties – Internet Spoils Me (August 13, 2010)
• New Obsession – Silk Ties (August 24, 2010)

Last Summer, I was talking about silk ties. 
Oh, how obsessed I was about silk ties…  I am still interested in ties, but I bought enough ties last year that my itch is gone.

They are all brand name silk ties.  I shall make them last forever.

I have worn 3 ties from this batch so far.

Sometimes I wish we wear shirt and tie at work.

I even thought about getting a part time job where I can wear shirt and tie.

Beside these ties, I have several shirts that I haven’t worn.  I also have a brand new suit that I never worn.

This is why I promised myself not to buy any clothes this year.

And here is a bonus picture of my old ties (below).
I think I paid $2.00 for the whole thing about 10 years ago.

Check out the one with soccer balls, yikes.

Below is my facebook entries – Part 2.

Click here for my facebook entries Pt.1 from August 19, 2010

• You will like this one. When I drove to work, there was a (young) couple crossing the street very slowly AND diagonally. So, I had to slow down for them. They were getting in the car. So, I waited for them to start driving. When she started to drive, I came out. She hit the break. Then I crossed the street very slowly & diagonally. So, those mofos had to wait for me.
• I had to put "Please do not clean my desk" sign for the cleaning lady. She’s like Drago from Rocky 4. Whatever she touches, she destroys…
• torn between Jingle Dogs and Jingle Cats. Cannot decide… 🙁
• Can’t wait to grow hair in my ears… 🙁
• This year, I was called "Ma’am" or "Lady" at least 6 times.
• I am sick of wearing casual year round. I shall propose "Formal Monday" to my boss.
• There is absolutely no come back when a girls says "Man up!" to me. That sucks~!!!
• hates it when sucker MC’s try to bite my rhymes
• I once had a co-worker named Stanley (15 years ago). Everyone hated Stanley. We all concluded that he would die in 5 years. 5 years later Stanley Died. I felt horrible. I have never hated anyone since then.
• It’s Monday morning 1:15am. I am going to Del Taco for a Macho Nacho. I try to convince myself…. "If I don’t fall asleep, it’s still Sunday".
• I love rich people. They give me sh*t.
• A lot of work at work. A lot of work at home. I’m no fun. At least I have my youth… Oh, crap, not anymore…
• (pic) Sat & Sun are the only days I eat red meat. Also the only days I eat out.
• Thank God for pep pills.
• It’s fine that you don’t watch TV. But, when you say "I don’t watch TV" why do you have to make that snotty face?
• I live very close to work. For example, if I want a drink? I would grab a can of soda from the refrigerator at work, and get ice from my apartment. But, I don’t go home for #2. I like sharing toilet seat.

Today is January 13th but I still cannot let go of Christmas.

I had such a good time during the season. 

Last weekend, I bought some last chance Christmas stuff at a local store.

Everything had to go, they said.

At work, I still turn on my Christmas lights.  I still listen to Christmas music.

It’s so sad that the season went by so fast.

I put on my Santa Hat on Thanksgiving Day.  Some folks greeted me with "Merry Christmas" – On Thanksgiving Day

My 10 days vacation was a magic.  I really enjoyed my vacation.  I spent 6 days all alone, including Christmas day.  And I loved it.

I bought myself a nice Christmas gift (below)

I love this 13" notebook computer.  Of course I bought a factory re-certified unit for a deep discount.  The battery lasts 7-9 hours.  I plan to get out of the town and take care of my business with my computer once in a while.

I still turn on Christmas lights at my work.  I listen to Christmas music.  My apartment smells like cinnamon sticks.

I have gained 4 solid pounds during the season.

I ate a lot. Look at my snack shack (photographed December 2010).
This is why some people hate Americans.
Don’t try this at home, unless you have super strong will power.
I have a friend with almost no self-control.   She goes crazy whenever she visits me.

I should snap out from Christmas hangover and start enjoying 2011.

I can’t wait to Christmas 2011.  But that would be wishing away 1 year of my life.  I shall re-focus and enjoy 2011.   I would like to be productive this year.

Christmas season is only 10 month away.  That’s scary.

We went to Farmers Market.

I couldn’t find a parking spot, so I had to settle with a street parking.

For my luck, I found a spot between two cars, just enough for one car to squeeze in.  As I was getting ready to back up, my friend said "OK, let me see how you parallel park".

"Are you kidding me? I park within an inch… maybe a half an inch.  You’ll see." I replied with confidence.

I parked in one try, very fast.

Her jaw dropped.  "Wow~!" she said.

We got out of the car.  I snapped two pictures and said, "Best parking in the block, I tells ya."

Then, we joined the people walking towards to farmers market.

Happy Saturday. 🙂

First Costco shopping of the year..

I didn’t buy anything special.  They were all stable items.

I bought 2 cases of V8 with a coupon.  I put them upside down in the cart, so the checkout clerk will scan the UPC codes on the bottoms faster.  V8 came out to be about $0.33 each can*.  (FYI: 99 Cents only store sells V8 for $0.57 a can*)
*Plus CA redemption value

Coupon saved $13.00

These are stuff I bought from Bed Bath and Beyond during this Christmas season.

I love Cinnamon Stick scented Yankee Candle.  To me, Cinnamon Stick is the best holiday smell.  You light this up… and it’s Christmas.

The big jar was about $15 with the sale & coupon.

Remember, Bed Bath and Beyond takes expired coupons.  Maybe not all stores practice that policy, but all stores I went honored expired coupons so far.

So, I clip and hold on to all coupons from Bed Bath and Beyond.  When I have a coupon in the mail box, I look through the trash bin next to our mail box to look for more coupons.

Coupons are nothing to laugh at.  I saved $5 on a large jar of Yankee Candle.  I have a great respect for coupons.

I would never buy Yankee Candle at full price.  Because, I cannot afford it.  Coupons make it possible for me.

Yankee Candle, olive oil dispenser, olive oil sprayer, straws…  from Bed Bath and Beyond.

I am on my 10 days vacation (4 days off, 2 days holidays, 4 days weekend).

8 days flew by like a rocket ship.  I still have 2 days to enjoy.  I shall make most out of it.

###

When I was a boy, I used to love scale modeling.  I spent many days making tanks, sports cars, and fighter planes.  Back then, I had to save money for months to buy a cheap box of a tank.  Kit models were such a treat back then, that’s why I relate kit models with Christmas.

I wanted re-live that olden days.  I bought 2 boxes of kit models.  I was very happy to find this truck.  I remember this truck from my childhood.  I looked at this truck on store window for hours and hoped to buy it.

On the night before Christmas, I put the truck together as I watched Polar Express.  I had a good sentimental moment alone.

It took several hours (a few days) to put this together. 

After this truck, I got fed up with scale modeling.  That was enough.  Maybe I will get to the tank next year (?).  We’ll see.

###

My neighbor "S" paid a visit on Christmas day.  She said she found the coins at the laundry room.  "I thought It had to be you" she said.

She said, after using washers and dryers, she put the coins and Christmas card back up there.  She wanted somebody else to have that good feeling.

###

I did a lot of shopping.
I ate a lot of treats.
I met my parents twice.

This vacation was so very sweet.