Saving money without coupons

I recently told you how I wasn't using coupons much any more.  Most of my trips to the grocery store don't include coupons and I've not really even been stocking up except for a bulk purchase of canned goods in the fall.

Yesterday, our forecast called for snow and ice.  I decided to do my weekly shopping on Friday instead of waiting until Saturday or Sunday.  This coincidentally conincided with the Publix Viva Italian sale - my favorite sale of the year.

I didn't go crazy this year but I did stock up, especially on the items on sale.  I got four boxes of pasta and three spaghetti sauce.  Actually, almost everything I bought - except for a few routine items - was on sale.  My total oop was $99 and I saved $28.39.  Included in this purchase was a package of bacon, three packages of smoked sausage, a Jenny O turkey tenderloin, reduced fat beef franks, fresh vegetables, and a pounds of Chicken Tenders from the deli.

An odd way to cut expenses and save bucks...

I received the escrow analysis from my mortgage company yesterday and it looks like they want to raise my payment again to cover increasing insurance premiums.

I immediately logged on to my insurance website and was flabbergasted to see what my premium was and the amount of insurance coverage. 

I called my carrier (USAA) and within a few minutes, we had adjusted the coverage and the deductible to reduce my premium $400 a year.

I called the mortgage company this morning to ask them to review the escrow again.  Letter and copies have already been faxed.  

I should also have a credit for the prorated change this year.

Next Hurdle

Ok, as I start budgeting for February, I'm thinking about how I can get the biggest bang for my buck.  As it would happen, I received a statement for one of our credit cards that very same day.  A $1500 balance.  This is the card that had over $8k at one time.

I'm trying to decide how to approach this:  pay it all off in one month, two months, or work on another.  Dave Ramsey would choose this one since it's the lowest balance.  I tend to agree with him.  The payment is not due until the end of the month so I have time to decide.  Decisions, decisions!

Update 2/28/15:  I've decided to leave a $500 balance - after a payment today - on this card for now.  I want to move along to my next account and a small balance like this will translate into a tiny monthly payment.  My intention is to pay it off but right now,I want to drop the balance on that other account so if I find myself unable to pay it off, the monthly amount will be lower.  Really, it's six of one' half dozen of the other.