Making Frugal Fun!

Christmas Crafts

2011-11-25T10:12:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving day is now passed, so I think today would be a good day to look at Christmas crafts. These are a few that I've found that I want to give a try.

Fabric Paper Chain

Christmas Wreath

Paper Snowflakes

Salt Dough Ornaments

Gum Drop Christmas Tree

Happy Crafting!

Hello Again

2011-11-22T12:12:00.000-08:00

If anyone is still reading this, look for new posts starting Friday. I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving.

Free Just My Size Tank Tops at Walmart

2011-05-15T11:25:00.000-07:00

If you have the $5 Just My Size coupon from All You magazine, you can get a tank top for the price of tax. At our local Walmart, the tank tops are priced at just $5 making them free after coupon. You may be able to get overage to use on other items if you find Just My Size products on clearance.
I picked up a few of the spaghetti strap tanks to wear under my tops, and I find them to be rather comfy.

Lack of Posting

2010-07-20T08:22:00.001-07:00

We have had a lot going on. Hopefully I can get this blog running smoothly at some point.

Continuing on with Weekly Goals

2009-12-03T07:01:00.000-08:00

My sister came over on Tuesday to help with the cleaning and organization. We were able to get a few things done.
The linen closet is now de-cluttered and organized. It even has a cardboard robot. We were breaking down a box and noticed that it kind of looked like a robot. We decided to paint it at a later time.
The entertainment center and the area behind it are now clean. We emptied it, pulled it forward and cleared out all the junk that had fallen behind it. We then organized all all the items in the cabinet part. We sorted everything out and found a home for it. We de-tangled the random cords and wrapped them back up using rubber bands to keep them from tangling again. We threw out broken cd cases and random pieces of paper that had found their way in there.
I picked up some clear shoe boxes to help with the organizational progress. My mother-in-law recommended decorative boxes, but at this stage in the process I'm looking more for cheap and functional.
So That's my progress.

Progress on Weekly Goals

2009-12-01T05:43:00.000-08:00

My friend Hannah was nice enough to help me clean the living room yesterday. We got all the stuff picked up and organized. We assigned a lot of things to small containers. We ended up finding a lot of stuff that could be donated to a thrift store. One area that still needs to be attacked is my daughter's toy box. I'd like to sort her toys and keep them in smaller containers to rotate. We made a lot of progress.
Later that night I started sorting the stuff out of the hall closet. I managed to condense 6 boxes of Christmas/Halloween decorations down to 4 boxes. I found one box of shatter proof ornament that hadn't even been opened. I bought them 6 years ago during an after Christmas sale. Hubby and I will be taking them to the thrift store tomorrow.
The pickles are made, though I have no idea if they will turn out. I was also able to make turkey soup yesterday. There are a few batches, as well as a few containers of broth in the freezer ready to be made into future meals.
Today my sister is coming over to help me continue with the cleaning and organizing, so hopefully I will have more progress to report.

Goals for This Week

2009-11-30T06:09:00.000-08:00

1. Cut clutter and implement an organizational system. I want to do this in at least one room.

2. Clean Carpets.

3. Make a stop at the post office.

4. Make the items on my cooking list.
bread
altoids
vinegar
pickles

5. Make doctors appointments. Just regular appointments

6. Slowly wean myself off of caffeine.

7. Start wrapping Christmas gifts.

8. Start decorating for Christmas

I might add to this later, but for now I think this along with day to day stuff will keep me busy enough. I've recruited friends to help me with the organization this week. Hubby offered to help, but it is never a good idea for us to clean together.

Altoid's Recipe

2009-11-25T19:50:00.000-08:00

I was looking at a box of Altoids today and realized they only have four simple ingredients. When we got home I googled Altoids recipe and found a recipe that looks promising. Click here if you want to check it out.

Cooking Day Part 3

2009-11-25T19:39:00.000-08:00

We were able to accomplish alot of things. The pancakes and breads will have to wait til Friday. I'll have some free time then. I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving.

Cooking Day Part 2

2009-11-25T13:02:00.000-08:00

We have the syrup and the jello are cooling, the potatoes are in the microwave (for the bread), and we are preparing apples for applesauce.
I'm pleased with the progress we've made so far, and I'm hopeful that we will be able to cross everything off the list.

Cooking Day

2009-11-25T07:47:00.000-08:00

My sister is staying here til tomorrow. We decided to do some cooking yesterday. We made banana bread, turkey, gravy, and lo mein. Today we are going to make sandwich bread, sweet potatoe bread, jello, pancakes, and syrup.
We ate one of the loaves of bread for breakfast, the other two are going to my brother's house for Thanksgiving. The turkey is already deboned and in the freezer, ready to be used in future meals. The gravy is going to be used on mashed potatoes this week. The lo mein was just a bribe for my sister so she would help me in the kitchen. The gravy was a spur of the moment decision. I made it on a whim. For a while we didn't think it would turn out, but eventually we got it to decent levels.
The sandwich bread is going to be used for sandwiches we have through out the week. The sweet potatoe breadis something we just wanted to try. We make jello because it is amazing. We are making up an entire box of pancakes mix. We will cook them and divide the pancakes into individual meals sized portions, then we will freeze them for later use. We will be making the syrup from fruit juice, it's an experiment, and hopefully it will be a good one.
That is are plan so far.

Shopping Plan for This Week

2009-11-03T08:26:00.000-08:00

I haven't seen alot of great deals this week. We've opted to stock up on staples like rice, flour and sugar. I'm going to do inventory this week to see what items we might need and make a plan accordingly.

Cooking Day

2009-10-23T07:13:00.000-07:00

I purchased about 35 pounds of chicken last night at Kroger. I figured today I would take some time to cook it up and assemble some meals to freeze. Kroger has the 10 lb bag of chicken quarters on sale for $5.90. The Tyson boneless chicken breast is on sale for $1.79 lb. I purchased 3 bags of leg quarters and 4 packs of boneless chicken. That combined with the turkey I already have in the freezer should serve us well.

Just a Side Note

2009-10-12T11:29:00.000-07:00

I'm super excited to be almost done with the cleaning and organization in the bedroom. It should only take another day, after hubby hangs up the hooks and organizers. Wish me luck.

Some Uses For Frozen Veggies

2009-10-06T09:10:00.000-07:00

I like to stock up. I especially like to stock up on free or cheap veggies. They are delicious, healthy, and make for quick and easy meals. I think they are great to whip up stir fry or lo mein on nights when we have vegetarian friends or family over. My sister is a vegetarian and I'm always able to whip up a healthy meal when she's over. Some dish I have used frozen veggies include soup, stew, stir fry, lo mein, meat loaf, as side items, and as a veggie rice dish. I think we bought close to 30 containers of frozen veggies when they were on sale last week and I am confident we can use them all up.

More Of This Weeks Shopping

2009-10-01T16:54:00.000-07:00

I ended up making another trip to Meijer today, because some of last months coupons reset making for good deals.

Transaction 1

1 Chex Mix @ $1.19

Total before coupon=$1.19
Total after coupon=$0.19

Transaction 2

2 Chex Mix @ $1.19

Total before coupons=$2.38
Total after coupons=$0.38

Transaction 3

2 Chex Mix @ $1.19

Total before coupons=$2.38
Total after coupons=$0.38

Transaction 4

6 Green Giant Veggies @ $0.99
2 Chex Mix @ $1.19

Total before coupons=$8.32
Total after coupons=$2.32

Transaction 5

1 20 oz Coke @ $1.39
6 Green Giant Veggies @ $0.99
8 Garlic @ $0.20
2 Chex Mix @ $1.19
1 Sierra Mist 24pk @ $5.88

Total before coupons=$16.63
Total after coupons=$10.13

Total this trip=$13.40
Total this week=$39.00

Weekly Shopping

2009-09-30T21:23:00.000-07:00

Meijer

Transaction 1

1 Chex Mix @ $1.19 ( $0.19 after coupon)

Total before coupon=$1.19
Total after coupon=$0.19

Transaction 2

4 Green Giant Veggies @ $0.99
2 Chex Mix @ $1.19

Total before coupons=$6.34
Total after coupons=$2.34

Transaction 3

5 Taco Seasonings @ $0.50
6 Green Giant Veggies @ $0.99
2 Chex Mix @ $1.19

Total before coupons=$10.82
Total after coupons=$3.32

Transaction 4

1 Cascade Rinse Agent @ $3.56
4 Taco seasoning @ $0.50
6 Green Giant Veggies @ 0.99
2 Chex Mix @ $1.19

Total before coupons=$14.11
Total after coupons=$4.05

Transaction 5

2 Pillsbury Grands Biscuits @ $1.34
2 Chex Mix @ $1.19
2 V8 Fusion @ $2.49

Total before coupons=$9.32
Total after coupons= $0.32

Total for Meijer=$10.22

CVS

3 2-liter Coke @ $1.33
2 20-oz @ $1.59
1 20oz @ $1.33
1 Cover Girl Blush @ $10.00
1 Cover Girl Foundation @ 13.00
7 Trial Packs Razor @ $1.29

Total before coupons=approx $45 (my math could be off it's late)
Total after coupons=$15.38

Total for this week=$25.60

Free Recipe E-book

2009-09-22T14:06:00.000-07:00

Money Saving Mom has a link for a free recipe e-book. I've already downloaded it, and it looks interesting. Thank you Crystal for sharing this great freebie.

Have You Tried Flylady?

2009-09-21T16:01:00.000-07:00

Their site is awesome. The routines are simple and easy to follow, and make for a cleaner, less stressful home. My house still has a long way to go, but things are definitely getting better. If you suffer from CHAOS, I highly recommend them.

FLYLADY

Completion of Weekly Shopping

2009-09-18T08:58:00.000-07:00

Meijer

Tyson Boneless Chicken 4.70lbs = $9.36 It's a $1.99 a pound
Jennie O Ground Turkey @ $4.99 - $5.00 coupon free after coupon
8 Cans Red Gold Petite Diced Tomatoes @ $0.79 - 2 $1.00 off 4 coupons
3 3 lb bags of apples @ $1.29
7 Strips Fleschman's Yeast clearanced @ $0.68 (this produced the coupon that I talked about in the last post)
1 Mini Tortilla package clearanced @ $0.84
1 Vacuum Sealer clearanced @ $4.23
1 Reese's Peanut Butter Cup @ $0.74 - $0.55 coupon free after coupon

Total=$27.68

CVS

2 Mom's Best Oatmeal Canisters @ $1.00 - 2 $0.75 coupons
1 2pk cars clearanced @ $1.00

Total=$1.57

Walgreens

Two identical transactions
1 Listerine @ $3.00 - $0.50 coupon
2 Ghiradelli Chocolate Bars @ $0.65 - $1.00 off 2 coupon

Total=$3.01 Total for both=$6.02

Walmart

2 Healthy Choice Meals @ $2.50 - 2 $2.00 coupons
2 Velveeta Shells and Cheese @ $0.99 - $1.50 off 2 coupon
2 Velveeta Rotini and Cheese @ $0.99 - $1.50 off 2 coupon
1 Marie Callender's Home-Style Creations @ $2.88 - $2.00 coupon
2 Pull Ups Wipes @ $1.64 - $2.00 of 2 coupon
1 Fly Ribbon @ $1.28
Trash Bags @ $3.78
2 Apple Scented Soy Candles @ $3.00 - 2 $3.00 Coupons free after coupon
6 Vienna Sausage @ $0.43
Rimmel Mascara 2pk @ $4.32 - $2.00 coupon
2 Choco Tacos- 2 $1.00 coupons free after coupon
1 unnamed item @ $5.68

Total=$21.46

Total this trip=$56.73

Meijer Deals

2009-09-17T20:48:00.000-07:00

I went to Meijer today to stock up one Tyson chicken. While I was there I found the three packet strip of Fleschman's Yeast on sale for $0.68. I purchased 6 of them. After I completed my transaction I received a $0.50 catalina for each one. So I essentially got them for $0.18 each. I don't know if they are marked down at all locations, but it wouldn't hurt to check out if you are going there anyways. I will post the rest of the transaction later.

(Most of) Our Weekly Shopping

2009-09-14T06:41:00.000-07:00

CVS

4 bags candy corn @ $0.50
2 sticker books @ $0.99

Total=$6.40

Walgreens
4 Sunday Papers
2 Rimmel Mascaras(item of the month, helps the cosmetic cashiers)
assortment of clearance candy
approximate total=23.00

DO NOT BUY THE BASKIN ROBBINS CHEWY CANDY!!! It is like eating lip gloss. DO NOT DO IT!!!
There was a great selection of chocolate on clearance at the store by my house. We stock up on chocolate when it's on sale, because my husband is a chocolate fiend.

Kroger
40 cans of Bumble Bee tuna @ $0.50
2 Bottles of wine @ $4.99
2 Brut deodorant @ $1.00(free after coupon)
3 Kroger Brand Toaster Pastries @ $1.00

Total=$33.00 approx

Big Lots

18 qrts Oat Dream (milk alternative, daughter is lactose intolerant) @ $0.30
3 boxes Premium saltine crackers @ $0.65
3 boses Premium unsalted crackers( possible breading)@ $0.33
5 store brand wheat thins @ $0.50
3 Wheat Thins @ $1.00

Total=13.84

Grand total= approximately $75.00

We're going to Meijer and Dollar Tree later this week to finish off this weeks shopping.

We Have a New Cat

2009-08-18T10:19:00.000-07:00

Until tomorrow when we take her to the shelter. My friend found a cat in the hallway outside of my apartment. I think she smelled our cats and came up. We also have a Buddha like cat who seems to draw other cats in. He is the least territorial cat I have ever met. He loves to make friends with other kitties. We tried locating the owner, but have been unable to do so. I called our rental office, but no one has reported one missing. Since we already have two cats, we are unable to keep her(although I would really like to). There are several no-kill shelters within a 40-min drive so that's where we are going Wednesday. I refuse to take animals to a shelter where they could be put down if not immediately adopted. My husband briefly considered killing me, but took one look at the cat and realized how sweet she is.
We picked her up a cheap litter box and a couple of cat nip toys. It was kind of funny though, I put the litter box in the bathroom( we are keeping her in the bathroom to keep her away from our cats) and she immediately broke it in.

Cheap and Healthy Meat.

2009-07-29T06:42:00.000-07:00

A while back Meijer had their ground turkey in the 10 for 10 get the 11th free sale. Essentially you buy 10 items and get one free( or if you want to get technical, each item works out to $0.90). That time it was only Meijer brand items that were on sale, so I didn't have any coupons to use. I decided to pick up 9 1lb turkey rolls( you know the turkey in a plastic tube), and two bags of pretzels. So I had the turkey in the freezer for a few weeks trying to work up the courage to use it. I really don't like to try new things, it takes me a while to talk myself into it. Well the other day I finally opted to make turkey tacos. I let my husband know what we were having for dinner. He got home and looked in the wok and said I thought you said we were having turkey? Isn't that beef on the stove? I told him it was turkey and he was shocked. We ate dinner and he put his stamp of approval on it. So now in an effort to eat healthier, we are going to use ground turkey in place of ground beef 75% of the time. Meijer has some really good deals this week. I'll try to post them later.

Hello Again

2009-07-29T06:39:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the lack of posting. Lack of motivation and time leads to writing problems. Now that I've gotten the swing of my new routine let's get back to blogging.

This Week's Shopping

2009-06-22T06:37:00.000-07:00

CVS
20 Soy joy bars @ $1.00
6 Scribble Pads @ $0.25

-$3.00coupons
-$4.00 CVS coupon

Total=Approx $15.00

Walgreens
2 Deerfield Shredded Cheese @ $1.50
3 Sprite Zero @ $1.50

Total=$7.75

Meijer

3pk bag of green peppers @ $1.06
1 Chuck Steak @ $3.02
4 Bags Salad Mix @ $0.75
1 Bag Grapes @ $1.97
1 Box Frosted Mini Wheats @ $1.99
3 Cremmette Pastas @ 3/$2.00
4 Ragu Pasta Sauce @ $1.50
1 Bread @ $1.25
1 3 liter olive oil @ $13.39(saved 6.60 with sale)
1 Small Box Animal Crackers @ $0.44

Total=$30.12

Grand total is over my $50.00 budget, but I need to adjust that. I budgeted for three people, but most days we have five here.

Hey

2009-05-28T14:14:00.000-07:00

Leave a comment on this post that lets me know something about you. I noticed last night I'm up to 5 followers and I would like to know a little about you.

This Weeks Grocery Shopping

2009-05-28T12:19:00.000-07:00

Walmart 5-25

4 Taco Bell Taco Kits @ $1.88 ($0.88 after coupon)
3 Lemon Jellos @ $0.50( $0.50 for 3 after coupon)
3 Trial Sized Lint Rollers @ $0.97( free after coupon)
4 Kraft Naturals Shredded Taco Cheese @ $2.08 ($1.58 after Coupon)
8 Bar S Hot Dogs @ $0.67 ( $0.17 after coupon)
1 Zipper Pouch @ $2.47 ( I needed one to hold supplies in my purse)
2 Clean and Clear Black Head Eraser Packs @ $5.44 ( $0.44 after coupon)
4 Purell Hand Sanitizers @ $1.52 ( $0.52 after coupon)
3 Kashi Waffles @ $2.54 ( 1 free with free item coupon 2 were $1.04)
2 Kraft Philidelphia Cream Cheese @ $1.64( $1.14 after coupon)
2 Muir Glen Diced Roasted Tomatoes @ $1.50 ( $0.50 after coupon)

Subtotal= Approx $58.00
Total After Coupons= $24.85

I paid less then half after coupons. I was really happy with my total not the service though.

Meijer 5-25
3 Cactus Pears @ $2.00 for 3 ( Random fruit. Yes they are prickly. Found that out quick)
4 Meijer Brand Hot Dog Buns @ $0.79 (For the army of hotdogs)
5 Triscuits @ $1.66 ( $0.66 after coupon)
5 Wheat Thins @ $1.66 ( $0.66 after coupon)
2 Bags Meijer Brand 2lb Bag of Toasted Oats Cereal @ $2.22 ( for the ginormous toddler)

Subtotal=$26.20
Total After Coupons=$16.27

Grand Total=$41.12

At this point I have a good stockpile going. I try to only buy things that we need immediately, or are exceptional deals.

Normally I Love Grocery Shopping...

2009-05-26T19:27:00.000-07:00

but Walmart was a pain in the butt. The opted not to accept some of my internet coupons. I thought it was kind of weird because she opted not accept them after she scanned them. This would be fine, but the front end manager was being really rude about it. She basically acted like I was up to something, which I assure you I wasn't. I very politely asked them to take off every item they weren't accepting a coupon for off my order. Every item she scanned a coupon for she asked(quite rudely) if I was sure I had purchased that item. She could have easily printed a slip to see what items I had. Their really wasn't a need for an interrogation. So it tacked on another ten minutes to my checkout experience to remove some coupons and items from my transaction. I usually just go to Meijer and Kroger, and will probably do most of my shopping there still. I am really unimpressed with Walmart's customer service at this point.

Bic Soleil Bella Razor

2009-05-22T13:31:00.000-07:00

I like them very much. I tried them courtesy of Word of Mouth Marketing As I Bzz Agent I get to test products at not cost, and provide my honest feedback. These razors provide a close shave without irritation. The razor is easy to use and doesn't clog easily. I recommend both signing up to be a Bzz Agent, and trying these razors for yourself.

Have I Mentioned I Love Thrift Stores.

2009-05-21T19:54:00.000-07:00

My friend and I went to the thrift store to stock up on clothing for the growing weeds. I found a lot of tops for my daughter for under $1.00. Some of the clothing items were $0.15. It was awesome. I don't like spending a ton of money on kids clothes, but I also like quality clothes. I was happy with both the price and the quality. Tomorrow we go garage saling.

My Zombie Plan Involves Hot Dogs. Lots of Hot Dogs.

2009-05-19T13:09:00.000-07:00

We did some major grocery shopping this weekend. I received an unexpected check in the mail, and decided to use it to bulk up our stockpile. Combine that with good sales and coupons and we have some really good deals.
My friend Kelly graciously agreed to help with the shopping and coupon finding. I now own a purse sized paper cutter because she thinks it will be easier to cut coupons that way. Oops I forgot to clip this coupon let me whip out my paper cutter. She's totally awesome. We went to Walmart.

Walmart 5-15

1 Utility Shelf@$13.97
2 Mike's Hard Lemonade@$7.49(hubby has a few a week, cheaper than at gas station)
6 4pack Angel Soft@$0.84
6 Ball Park Franks@$2.00
12 Oscar Meyer Franks@$1.50
6 Jars Miracle Whip@$2.00
8 Oscar Meyer Turkey Bacon@$2.28
4 A-1 Steak Sauce@$2.98
12 Packs Kraft Naturals Shredded Cheese@$2.08
3 3pk Yeast@$0.93
9 Kraft Salad Dressings@$1.58( $0.08 to $0.58 after coupon)
9 Jellos@$0.50( $0.50/3 after coupon)
4 Lint Rollers@$0.97(free after coupon)
1 Carefree Panty Liner@$1.00(free after coupon)
1 Air Freshener@$0.94
2 Nail Polish Removers@$1.00
1 Toe Spacer(for painting toe nails)@$0.96
2 Shorts@$12.00(I'm not waiting on a sale for these, I can never find them in my size)
1 Johnson's Hair Detangler(for 1 curly haired toddler)@$2.98
2 Dresses@$3.00(also for curly haired toddler)
1 Set Cosmetics Brushes@$9.97
1 Nail Polish@$0.98
1 Lip Gloss@$0.98
1 Swim Suit@$9.50(same curly haired toddler, I'm glad I like her:))

Subtotal=215.81
Total After Coupons=163.81
Saved $52.00 in coupons

I put a lot of the stuff directly in the freezer, but we are constantly having people over so I'm sure we'll go through it.

Kroger 5-18

7 Bottles Kraft Barbeque Sauce@$1.00

Subtotal=$7.00
Total After Coupons=$0
I also ended up with a $3.00 coupon for my next order.

I have some other receipts that I need to find so I will update later.

Still Haven't Finished the Shopping.

2009-05-14T18:17:00.000-07:00

I set my alarm last night with every intention of getting up early. I most definately did not. I will definitely finish tomorrow though.
I did however get my hair highlighted today. I've dyed my dark brown hair before, but I had never put any blond in it until now.
My mother-in-law and I had a girly day. We had a blast. We got our makeup down and I got my hair down. It was awesome. On the downside I now have to do hair touch up every six weeks or so.

Today's Shopping Deals

2009-05-13T17:53:00.000-07:00

I did some light shopping today. I'm going to try to finish up tomorrow. Here's what what got.

Kroger
2 Kotex pads @ $1.59
1 Kroger brand gellitan powder @ $0.19

- 1 $2.00 coupon for pads

Total=$1.50(approximate)

CVS
2 Reeses Cup Minis @ $3.00( I'm starting to think I have a chocolate addiction)
1 Huggies @ $8.99
3 Boxes of hot chocolate @ $0.38
3 Bags of hair accessories @ $0.75

- 1 $1.50 Coupon
Total=17.75

Big Lots
1 Vegetable oil @ $2.00
2 Dove Dark Chocolate @ $1.00
1 Extra dark chocolate sticks @ $1.50
2 Extra virgin olive oil @ 3.50

Total=12.50

Grand Total= $32.00approx

New Budget

2009-05-07T19:40:00.000-07:00

I sat down today and wrote out a new budget. I didn't really think our current one was accurate. Here are the results.

Rent-$715
Groceries/Household-$200
Electric/Heat-$130
Cells/$100
Water-$45
Home phone-$25
Credit-$400
Gas-$100
Misc-$100
Savings-$200

Hopefully this work okay for us. I know the credit is a little on the high side, but I'm trying to pay it all off by this time next year. Wish me luck on making this budget work.

Not a lot of Shopping This Week.

2009-05-04T16:59:00.001-07:00

We haven't been doing a lot of shopping this week. I made a quick trip to Meijer to pick up meat and fresh produce. I managed to find lettuce for $0.30 a head, and strawberries for $0.54 a pack.
I picked up the Sunday paper, bread, and a 2-liter of coke at Walgreen's. I make most of our bread, but if I need it quickly I don't mind spending under $2.00 for 2 loaves. We don't drink a lot of pop anymore, but I purchase a 2-liter or so if we have guests over.
I made a quick trip to CVS for their cereal deal. Certain Kellogg's cereals are on sale 3 for $10.00. You earn a $5.00 ecb(coupon good on next purchase) after you purchase three. There are a lot of cereal coupons out right now. I can't remember where they are all located, but I'm sure Google could tell you.
This Sunday's paper(at least in my area) had a coupon for $4.00 off Always Infinity 28+. I'm thinking cheap pads at Meijer.
We are planning a trip to Meijer later this week to stock up on meat, since we are still under budget. We are running kind of low, and I think my husband would appreciate some carnivore love.

Links For This Weeks Deals

2009-04-26T14:05:00.001-07:00

Here are the links for this weeks deals. Happy shopping. I'll post my scenerios later this week.

Walgreen's
CVS
Kroger
Meijer

I Like Free Amazon Money

2009-04-25T20:43:00.000-07:00

I have been participating in this online group where they sometimes pay you for your feedback( in form of Amazon.com gift card). I recently received $35 for completing a few activities on the site. I wasn't quite sure what to do with it until I saw the soy milk powder. My daughter drinks a lot of soy milk. I hate either having it crammed in the fridge, or having to purchase it several times a week. I purchased a good quantity for around $23.00 plus shipping. It's actually cheaper than regular soy milk and I don't have refrigerate it. Now if I could just get everything else for free.

My Shopping Deals

2009-04-25T09:08:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to spend less on groceries this week. A lot of times I find that my grocery budget gets out of control, so I'm trying to stay around $50 a week for groceries and household items. I also want to build up my stockpile while staying within my budget.

Kroger

8 Birds Eye Steam Fresh Vegetables @ 1.00($0.30 to $0.50 after coupon)
1 Newman's Own Salad Dressing@ 1.99
6 Ken's Salad Dressing @ $.059($0.09 after coupon)
4 Green Giant Boxed Vegetables @ $1.00($0.50 after coupon)
2 Half Gallons Kroger Brand Milk @$1.00
2 Suave Deodorant @ $1.00(free after coupon)
3 8th Continent Soy Milk @ $2.99
Total Before Coupons = $31.53
Total After Coupons = $15.14

CVS

12 Pringles @ $0.99
20 5pk Tootsie Pop @ $0.13
Total Before Coupons = $11.88
Total After Coupons = $7.88

Meijer

3 Big Red Soda @ $1.39 (free after coupon)
2 Pompei Vinegar @ $1.89
1 Cascade Rinse Agent @ $3.56(free after coupon)
4 Old El Paso Taco Seasoning @ $0.60
6 Dozen Meijer Brand Eggs @ $0.98
2 Salad Mixes @ $0.98
2 Boxes of Curves Bars @ $2.00
2 Boxes Nature Valley @ $2.00
3 Electrasol Tablet @ $3.50 ($0.50 after coupon)
1 Package of Animal Crackers Clearanced @ $0.74

Total Before Coupons = Aproximately $41.00
Total After Coupons= $17.43

Walgreens

4 Bags Mini Reeses Cup @ $2.12
2 Glade Soy Candle Apple Scent @ $5.09( better than free after coupon)
3 Starbucks Truffles @ $1.25( $0.25 after coupon)
1 Chapstick @ $1.69 ( better than free after Register Reward( coupon good on next purchase))
1 Dawn Dish Soap @ $1.69
1 Reusable Bag( free with Walgreen's Earth Day coupon. The Coupon also took off 15%)

Total After Coupons $10.40

Grand Total = Approx. $51.00

So I went a little over, but I got a lot of good items for my stockpile.

Happy Earth Day

2009-04-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

Like freebies? Go here for a great list of Earth Day freebies.

Dove Skin Vitalizer Coupon

2009-04-21T18:45:00.000-07:00

Dove has a $3.50/1 coupon for the Skin Vitalizer. Register and print here. This would go good with the deal at CVS this week. For all other deals check out iheartcvs.com

A Few Good Deals

2009-04-21T17:53:00.000-07:00

I went to CVS today to see if they had the Dove Skin Vitalizer in stock. Unfortunately they did not, but I was able to get a rain check. My store had 3-packs of Chapstick on sale for $1.00(in clearance section). They also had 5 packs of Tootsie Bunch Pops on sale for $0.13( I found them in a bin in the front of the store. They were labeled as a quarter). I love bargain shopping, even when it doesn't go as planned.

This is Why I Love CVS.

2009-04-16T20:56:00.000-07:00

Today I Quick stop at CVS to pick up the this weeks deals. Here's what I purchased.

1 Softsoap body wash/scrub
4 Purex laundry detergant
4 Sobe life water
1 3pk chapstick

used $3 off any $15 purchase coupon
$1 Softsoap coupon
2 buy one get one free coupons for the detergent(it was on sale buy one get
one free this week)
2 buy one get one free coupons for the Sobe(it was also on sale buy one get
one free this week)

Paid $3.32 earned $4.99 ecb(in store coupon good on next purchase)

I think it was a successful shopping trip. I am not fond of Purex, but it will work fine for towels.

Sorry About Lack of Posts

2009-04-15T14:42:00.000-07:00

I was out of town, and then had to get ready for Easter among other things. I'll start posting again tomorrow. Happy bargain hunting.

Sorry

2009-04-01T05:52:00.000-07:00

I won't have access to a computer for a few days. I will post the rest of the tips when I get back on.

Ways I Save

2009-03-31T19:00:00.000-07:00

Part Three

We stockpile items we find on sale. Right now in my kitchen you will find various food and cooking items that were free or cheap after coupon. In the bathroom closet you will find many health and beauty products, cosmetics, and over-the-counter items we purchased the same way. If it's free it's for me (within reason).
Today was a fairly good shopping trip. We made stops at CVS, Walgreen's, Walmart, and Meijer. Below is the breakdown.

CVS

2 Clean and Clear Blackhead Cleansers @ $4.99 each
1 Clean and Clear Astringent @ $5.19 each

Used a $3 off of $15 purchase coupon, and 3 $2 off of 1 Clean and Clear product coupons from their website.

Before coupon total =$ 16.03
After coupon total = $7.13 (placed on gift card from yesterday).
Earned $5.00 ecb (in-store coupon good off of next purchase) for Clean and Clear Deal. Purchase $15.00 in Clean and Clear products and receive a $5.00 ecb. Total is pre-coupon price.

Walgreens

4 Reynolds Wrap Foil (20ft) @ $1.69 each
3 Wax Papers
2 Halls Cough Drop 30ct @ $1.99 each
4 Mentos Gum @ $1.00 each
2 Hershey's Bars @ $0.80 each
2 20oz Coke @ $1.11 each
9 Soy Joy Bars @ $0.50 each

-$3.00/10 Soy Joy (they didn't have 10 bars so the cashier offered to enter it in manually)
-4/$1.00/1 Mentos Gum coupon (free after coupon)
-4/$1.00/1 Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil (better than free after coupon)
-2/$1.00/1 Halls
-$1.19 for buy one get one free Coke coupon
-$0.80 for Hershey's (free with 20oz coke purchase)
-3/$0.50/1 Wax Paper (I didn't realize til I got home that these shouldn't have gone through, they were for a different brand. Try to be more careful than I was.)
-6.50 Walgreen's in-ad coupon for foil or wax paper ( paid a little over a dollar for foil and wax paper after in-ad and product coupon)
-1.20 Walgreen's in-ad coupon for Halls

Before coupon total=$29.00
After coupon total=$5.62

Walmart

This total was a little higher than I would have liked, but there were a few things we needed to pick up that weren't on sale, or didn't have a coupon for.

1 Viva Paper Towel @ $0.59
1 Sandwich Bread @$ 0.88
6 Wheat Thins Artisan Crackers @ $2.00 each
2 Arm and Harmer Baking Soda @ $1.00 each
2 Ball Park Hot Dogs @ $2.54 each
2 2-liter Coke @ $1.50 each
1 Kashi Tuscon Veggie Bake @ $3.00 (free item coupon)
1 Carefree Panty-liner @ $1.00 (free after coupon)
2 Starkist Tuna Pouch @ $1.77 each
6 Reeses Whips @ $0.64 each ($0.14 each after coupon)
1 Nylon brush @ $3.97
2 Dozen eggs @ $1.00 each
1 Toddler swimsuit @ $9.50
2 Pizza Pans @ $2.97 each
1 Kraft Salad Dressing @ $1.58 each
1 Nail polish remover @ $1.00 each
1 Neosporin @ $3.87
1 Tylenol 125ct @ $7.96
3 Band-aids 30ct @ $1.77 each
2 Limes @ $0.30 each
1 Head of lettuce @ $0.68
1 Delmonte 100 Calorie Fruit @ $0.88 (free after coupon)
1 Aquafresh trial size @ $0.97 (free after coupon)

Coupons Used
-$0.50 on 1 Viva Paper Towel
-3 buy one get one free coupons(-$6.00)
-$1.00/2 Baking Soda
-$3.00 (free Kashi item coupon)
-$1.00/1 Carefree Pantiliners
-3/$1.00/2 Reese's Whipps
-$0.88 (Free Delmonte 100 Calorie Fruit Coupon)
-$1.50/1 Kraft Salad Dressing
-$1.00/1 Neosporin
-$1.00/1 Tylenol
-$0.97 (Free Aquafresh Trial Size Coupon)
-3 $1.00/1 Band-aids

Total before coupons=$75.09

Total after coupons=$57.04

I'm not sure where the Meijer receipt is, but I will post it later when I find it.

Ways I Save

2009-03-30T19:38:00.000-07:00

Part Two

I shop at thrift stores and garage sales, and I purchase a lot of clothes for my toddler this way. Our local thrift store has fill-a-bag sales several times a month. I get her basic clothes, and Church dresses for around $5. This really helps a lot since she grows like a weed. I am also able to find a few things for my husband and myself while shopping these sales.
Last spring we hit a garage sale in a neighboring town. We managed to get most of my daughter's summer wardrobe for a quarter a piece, and they were name-brand clothes in nice condition.
You can find more than just clothes. We've purchased chairs, bookshelves, and various household items. You just need to be willing to look.

I Went Shopping Today and I'm Up $24

2009-03-30T19:21:00.000-07:00

I made a quick stop today for some Easter goodies at CVS. They had a special for Sunday and Monday. The M&Ms were a $1.50 a bag, and the Easter egg dye was $1.99 with a $1.99 ecb(In-store coupon good on your next purchase. Make sure you sign up for the extra care card in the store to make use of these.). For the first transaction I purchased 2 packs of Easter egg dye for a total of $3.98. I paid with a $3.49 in ecbs from last trip and around $0 .56 in change. Earned $3.98 in ecbs. For my second transaction I purchased two bags of M&Ms and a pack of plastic eggs. Paid with $3.98 in ecbs and $0.21 in change. My total for both transactions was under a dollar.
We went to my in-law's house for dinner. While we were there my mother-in-law ended up needing a prescription filled. I offered them the $25 gift card coupon that I had in my coupon binder. They didn't want the card, but they picked it up for me and now I'm up $24 for the day. Not too bad I think.

You can view the rest of the cvs weekly deals here

Ways I Save

2009-03-29T20:12:00.001-07:00

Part One

I try to use reusable grocery bags every time I go to the store. I sometimes forget, but it really does help. Not only is it less wasteful, but it also protects my purchases. Many times when I use a regular plastic bag for our groceries they end up rolling under the car before we can get them into our home. When I use the reusable bag I don't end up with ruined groceries, and therefore save money.

Following

2009-03-28T19:12:00.000-07:00

I added the blogs I visit frequently to my following list. Check them out. Click view my complete profile to view the list.

Money Saving Tips Week

2009-03-28T17:57:00.000-07:00

I haven't been posting on here as much as I should, but I have some informative posts planned for this week. I want to show you what I do every week to save money. Starting Monday I will post one tip everyday.

Saving Money On Vacation

2009-03-27T15:37:00.000-07:00

Next week I'm going on a road trip with the women in my family. While trips do eat up a bit of money, we have decided to come up with some ways to keep costs as low as possible.

1. Not picking up snacks at gas stations. I stockpile a lot of items for my home so there are plenty of snacks to bring that I purchased for nearly free.

2. Not eating out for every meal. We have opted to bring a cooler and fill it with items to make healthy/easy meals.

3. Using the internet to come up with the best hotel and car deals. I always try to utilize the internet to make sure I get the best deal. Sites like hotels.com make that easy.

4. I'm bringing my coupon binder. Even on vacation I use coupons.

These are just some of the things you can do to keep costs down.

I've Really Been Slacking

2009-03-11T14:10:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted on here much. Pretty much not at all. I hope to change that. My goal this month is to blog on here at least 5 times a week. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I am able to do this.

Happy 2009!

2009-01-01T12:13:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a good New Year. I look forward to bringing you useful information in 2009.