4. June 2008 by Lisa.

WHAT I DO:

1. GroceryGame.com Yes, I play the game and love it. It required some time to learn and do, but it is always worth the money I save. After you play it a few times, you’ll get the hang of it and you’ll be hooked - especially when you see how much you’ve saved! You can try it for $1. However I always tell people to clip coupons for about a month before you start GroceryGame. You can still play & win, but not as much fun without a coupon stash.

2. CVS shopping Need I say more? If you’re unfamiliar with it, read my page on how to shop there. You just can’t beat the freebies!

3.Garage sales (have and go) I’ll buy almost anything used, with few exceptions (let me lump Craig’s list, Half Price Books and the like in this category). I love getting up early to slam down breakfast and run out the door. I don’t have many opportunities to go because we have 3 kids in activities, but I love finding those little treasures when I have the time. Also, I am not a pack rat. I love to get unused items out of the house as soon as possible. The cash in hand after a garage sale is a sweet reward.

4. Light green living CFL light bulbs, turning off the lights, shorter showers, recycling, reusing items, finding new uses for old items (in-home recycling), etc. are important to our frugality and to our stewardship of natural resources.

5. Freecycle.org Have you joined yet? Our local loop is very active. This is a loop you can join to get used items for free. You may also get rid of things you don’t want anymore. Something wonderful to take advantage of. Keeps items out of our landfills.

6. Freebies in the mail I sign-up for everything I can. Samples in the mail may be small, but they’re still free. I never snub a free deal.

7. Cut luxury items What luxury is to me, may not be luxury to you. I don’t have a maid and my husband doesn’t pay for lawn care. We are able-bodied and have 3 children. However, we do eat out every Sunday after church (at Dickey’s where kids eat free). I don’t take magazines unless they are free subscriptions (of which I get plenty). We don’t take cable, but we’re fortunate to be in an area where it’s not a necessity in order to watch television. Little things like that can really add up.

WHAT I NEED TO DO:

1. Garden I currently don’t have the know-how and the time that would be required of me. I suppose I would make time if I wanted to do this, but quite honestly the thought doesn’t appeal to me. I have actually researched square foot gardening, but have implemented nothing (part of my “light green” living status). Any encouragement in this area would be appreciated. I truly know nothing about gardening - soil, mixtures, what’s good in my zone, bugs, plant diseases, etc. The task seems too large to conquer.

2. Walgreens I have a great aversion to deal-doing at Walgreens. I’ve heard so much chatter about people not being able to use their Register Rewards (like ECB’s at CVS) and not receiving their rebates. I can’t imagine the frustration. Rebates are time consuming to begin with, but to not be able to collect - ugh. It’s all been chatter though. I’ve never tried. I go to Walgreens if there is a straight deal (no RR’s/rebates involved). Few and far between though.

Posted in FRUGALITY | 3 Comments »

4. June 2008 by Lisa.

TOM THUMB

We have a Grand Reopening Sale at our Tom Thumb.

Strawberries
Sale price 4 lbs. for $3.99 (freeze well)

Various General Mills Cereal
Sale price 4 for $6
Use $1.00 off 2 coupons
Pay $1.00/box

Lucerne eggs are BOGO (not sure of the price) - ended up paying about $1.50/dozen

Barilla pasta - forgot what the price was, but with coupon I paid 50c per box

I’ve heard buzz there are Tropicana Pure OJ (12 oz.) bottles 10 for $10. If this is true, you can use the $1 off coupons and stock up. Can’t confirm this though, but thought I’d mention it.

KROGER

Windex 26oz.
Sale price $1.99 each
Use $1.00 off coupons
75c peelie on the bottle to use at check out
Pay 24c each

Dial Liquid Soap
Sale price 10 for $10
Two coupon options:
1. 30c coupons (tripled) Pay 10c each
2. 60c coupons Pay 40c each

Kotex maxi pads 24 ct.
Sale price 2 for $5
Use 2 $1 off coupons
Pay $1.50 each

Cottonelle 4 pack toilet paper is always $1.19. Triple those coupons you’ve been saving!

Whenever you see toilet paper or paper towels on sale for around 25c a roll, jump on it! Those are items you should stock as much as you can at that price. It’s an excellent deal. I don’t know why, but people tend to ask me what is a good price for stocking up on toilet paper/paper towels. If you can find either for 25c a roll, consider it THE JACKPOT!

Posted in HOT DEALS | No Comments »

4. June 2008 by Lisa.

How do you keep your children’s boredom at bay during the summer months?

One thing will never go wrong with children - water! They can spend all day at the beach, in a pool, under a hose, having squirt gun wars, taking baths, and washing dishes or toys by hand in soapy sink water.

We have always invested in blow up pools. They fit perfectly on our back porch where we can watch the older “little ones” from inside the house. The pool is right up against our family room window giving me a 100% view from that room and the kitchen. I can watch them from the comfort of the air conditioned house.

The kids don’t want to come in for lunch. They request to eat on the deck and I oblige.

Now that my children are too old to use blow up pools (although I think my 2 younger boys would still love it), we have daily access to a neighbor’s pool. If we didn’t, I wouldn’t think twice about paying for a season pass to one of our city water parks or pools. They’re well worth the investment.

Posted in HOME & FAMILY | No Comments »

4. June 2008 by Lisa.

The following list was put together by Money Saving Mom

Walmarts can vary from store to store, so probably not all of these deals will be working at every Walmart.  However, it is a great list (thank you, Crystal) to print off and take with you if you’re heading that way this week.

Zantac 8ct - $3.98
$5/1 on Zantac here
Free plus possible overage after coupon!

LiveActive cereal is $2.98
Use this $3/1 coupon (you can print two)
Free after coupon!

Honey Bunches of Oats cereals are $1.98/box
Print $2/1 coupons here, here, here, here
Free after coupon!

Kashi cereal is $2/box
Use this $2/1 coupon (you can print two)
Free after coupon!

John Freida Frizz-Ease Mouse (trial size) - $0.97
Use $1/1 from the May All You magazine
Free after coupon (Thanks, Denise!)

Johnson’s Buddies - $0.94-$0.97 each
Buy 2 and use this $2/2 coupon here or buy 1 and use this $1/1 coupon here
Free after coupon! 

o.b. Tampon (trial size) - $0.97
Use $1/1 coupons (04/13 SmartSource and elsewhere)
Free after coupon! (Thanks, Angel!)

Schick value packs of 10 razors - $1.97
$2/1 coupon for any Schick disposable razor in the 5/11 insert 
Free after coupon! (Thanks, Denise!)

Travel-sized (16-ct.) Kotex - $1
Use the $1/1 coupon here or from the May issue of All You
Free after coupon! (Thanks, More Than Enough!)

K-Y Jelly (2 oz.) - $2.59
Use the $3/1 coupon from a recent insert
Free plus possible overage after coupon (Thanks, Anna!)

Purina Cat Food - $3.97
$4/1 coupon here
Free after coupon! (Thanks, Denise!)

Purina Puppy Chow 4lb bag regular price - $4.12
$4/1 printable here
$0.12 after coupon (Thanks, Denise!)

Vlassic Pickle Relish - $1.12
Use $1/1 Vlassic here
$0.12 after coupon (Thanks, Denise!)
Ken’s Salad Dressing (small bottles) are priced at $1.14
Use the $1/1 coupons from the 05/11 newspaper insert
$0.14 after coupons (Thanks, Marion!)

Muir Glen Organic Tomatoes - $1.22/can
Use this $1/1 coupon or this one
$0.22 after coupon

Bush’s Grillin Beans - $1.25
Use $1/1 from 04/10 SmartSource insert
$0.25/can after coupon (Thanks, Denise!)

Farmland Sausage Rolls - $1.38
Use $1/1 from 05/04 SmartSource insert
$0.38 after coupon (Thanks, Denise!)

Vlassic Pickle “Ovals” - $1.38
$1/1 Vlassic coupon
$0.38 after coupon (Thanks, Denise!)

New York Croutons are $0.98/bag
Use the $0.55/1 coupon from a recent insert (anyone know which one?)
$0.45/bag after coupons (Thanks, Heidi!)

Juicy Juice Harvest Surprise (45oz) is priced at $1.50
Use this $1/1 coupon
$0.50 after coupon (Thanks, Abbie!)

Kashi crackers are $2.50/box
Use this $2/1 coupon
$0.50/box after coupon!

Cheerio Snack Mix - $1.50
Use $1/1 coupon here
$0.50 after coupon (Thanks, Denise!)

Farmland Bacon - $2.50
Use $2/1 from 05/04 SmartSource insert
$0.50 after coupon (Thanks, Denise!)

Farmland Ham regular price $2.88
Use $2/1 off Farmland Ham from 05/04 SmartSource insert
$0.88 after coupon (Thanks, Denise!)

HP Printer Paper - $3.97
Use $3/1 here
$0.97 after coupon (Thanks, Denise!)

Yo Plus Yogurt regular price $2.00
Use $1/1 coupons from recent inserts or printables here or here 
$1 after coupon

Polly from Nevada emailed Crystal with this deal:

I have been buying the Cascadian Farms Organic Purely Steam packages at Wal-Mart for $1.22. After using the $1/1 Cascadian Farm coupon ($1) they cost me $0.22! They make an excellent lunch and a yummy side dish.

When you sign up for this Muir Glen coupon, you’ll also get a $1/1 any Cascadian Farms product coupon. You can select that coupon only (just click to select which area of the page to print) and print as many as you’d like! There are also $1/1 coupons here. Note: Not all stores have them at this price so be sure to take note of the price before buying. 

 Carrie sent in this deal:

Suave often has insert coupons for $1 off any size lotion. The 3.25 oz. size, which is bigger than a trial size, costs $0.97 at my local Wal-mart, thus making it free! It’s a great way to stock up on lotion.

Posted in HOT DEALS | No Comments »

4. June 2008 by Lisa.

Have y’all joined your local Freecycle group? It’s a yahoo loop I’m new to, but loving! The loop for my area is incredibly active and things are taken within one minute of posting. Unbelievable. I probably get about 75 emails a day from it, but it sure is fun to sniff around all those freebie deals.

Posted in FRUGALITY, TIPS | No Comments »