Shopping = Spending money?? Not Always!

Yes, I'm a Black Friday shopper! Not the extreme kind would wait in line outside of a store, but I don't mind staying up or waking up earlier for shopping. Since we are moving in a few weeks, I didn't want to have extra stuff to haul, and we don't have money for it either. The shopping I did this year was the kind that would make me money. Do you want to see what I got?

I paid $23.72 for all these stuff which worth $271.52, and I have $75 worth of mail-in rebate which I will get cash in about 6 weeks.  Yes! I'm getting pay shopping!!

I know buying beauty and household products are not as exciting as buying clothes or shoes, but hey, they make me money.

Christmas Workshop

I was asked to share some Chinese holiday traditions at the Christmas Workshop today, it was quite challenging for me with the limited resource here, I also what to share some recipes that my class will be able to make at home and enjoy. The class went very well, here is one of the food I made and everyone loves it. It is so easy to make, you all should try it.

I can't wait to make these for my father-in-law, he loves cashew nut.

Cashew Cookies (腰果酥)

1½ stick Butter (soften)
¾ cup Sugar
2 cup Flour
250g Cashew Nuts
1 egg and 1 egg yolk

Soak cashew nuts in water for 5 mins, then bake in 350F Oven for 10 mins. Let it cool then grind it.
Mix butter and sugar, add egg, then add flour and cashew grind.
Make cookie dough into a long round stick, wrap it in plastic wrap then place in the fridge for about 2 hours.
Cut cookies into 1/2” thick,  Brush on egg wash, place a little piece of cashew on each cookie.
Bake at 375 for 15 min or until it’s golden.

p.s I almost double the amount of sugar from the original recipe, for those of you like little sweet, you may want to adjust to your own taste.

I also had a chance to make this cute Family Home Evening sign for only $7.50, what a deal! I bet it will cost me close to $30 for a sign like this at a store, and I have tons of fun making it. Nothing better than making crafts with whole bunch of lovely ladies and tons and tons of good food. Seriously, our R.S. is the bomb!!!

Score!!!

Couple months ago, I saw a book at the library about how couponing works and how to cut down grocery bills by75%. I didn't think it would happen to me cuz I was a really good bargain hunter already, I got curious how other mom find bargains, so I took the book home and started reading it.
Wow, it was a eye opener! I didn't know I could get grocery for FREE, and I never thought stores would  basically give away free merchandises. Well, it does require some math skills or a calculator. I just wish that I know the trick earlier, so i didn't have to spend money on things that are free.

Here is the Beauty and the Beast Diamond Edition which I got for free, plus I will make couple bucks after the mail-in rebate. Haha! I know, it's cool, isn't it?

If you are interested how it works, you can just simply google "couponing", there are plenty of websites out there to teach you how.