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My Cheap-o Secret!!!

Lots of folks ask about how I save money. The cold, hard truth is....I am a lazy person with lots of different responsibilities. So, organizing my coupons to the hilt is not realistic. I choose to do the easy thing!

The easiest thing for me to do is check the deals going on at the grocery store. In my hometown grocery, there are two main things going on: discounted meat and dairy, and an area with scratch-and-dent groceries. These areas vary in each grocery store, but I have found that Ingles and Piggly Wiggly tend to locate their items in grocery buggies near to the entrance. I find all sorts of nonperishable items there....beat-up boxes of oatmeal, dented cans of tomato soup (still openable!! People ask me that all the time, but I have never had a problem...), and--most recently--cake mixes, frosting, and other baking items.

As for the discounted meat and dairy....get ready to use it immediately. On-sale milk can be used to make Jell-o puddings, churns of homemade ice cream, or big bowls of cereal. :-)

Hope this encourages you to think "outside the buggy"! Oh, and for those of you who are enjoying the benefits of a well-organized coupon stash, did I tell you that you can use coupons on those on-sale items? I made 50 cents (as in, I got the product for free and got 50 cents credit) by purchasing the Chef Boyardee products pictured and using a 50 cent coupon.... check out recipes from the recent House Party that I had. Saving money is all about putting it together to make great deals that work with your life.

Happy Couponing!

Rebate on Lysol Wipes!

What a great "gift" for us all, right before cold and flu season, but during the beginning of school, when we so desperately need to keep things clean. (Anybody else's kids getting sick CONSTANTLY???)

Click here for the link to the "Try Me Free" rebate for Lysol Dual Action Wipes. It applies to either 35 ct. or 80 ct. wipes; purchases must be made between 9/1 and 11/30 (postmark rebate by 12/31).

Happy Couponing!

FREE Sample of Swiffer!

Check out the following link to score a free, classic hand-held Swiffer Duster! This is a great sample, and there is always the chance for a great coupon as well.

I love Swiffer dusters because they let me do my quick dusting without any spray, so they can be used in a variety of ways--on blinds, over the TV screen, between my long-stemmed wine glasses, and so forth.

Click here for your free sample, while supplies last.

Happy couponing!

Mott's For Tots....and Vocalpoint! Don't miss it!

My kids are heavy drinkers. :-) They aren't picky, and they will drink anything from milk to juice. However, whatever they do drink, they tend to gulp.....this doesn't always work out so well with juice, where they fill their little tummies up way too quickly with lots of sugar. Every drop counts!

Enter Mott's For Tots, which allows me to give my kids a sip of something juicy and sweet while making sure it is something I can agree with. When I'm on the go--or in a hurry (and when am I not in a hurry?)--nothing could be easier than pouring them a cold glass of the juice. And there is 40% less sugar in a serving than there is in your average cuppa apple juice. It's a win-win!

Would you like to have the chance to sample Mott's for Tots, as well as score coupons? Head on over here to Vocalpoint and sign up to see if you are eligible. Vocalpoint is an amazing company that allows average moms (and dads!) to try new and well-loved products, reporting back on them to the company. Past "Try and Tells" have included the Bounce Dryer Bar, Crystal Light drink mixes, Frosted Mini-Wheats, and more. I love that the coupons are ALWAYS high value, and most times, they even include coupons for your friends so that you can share the wealth.

Are you convinced? Scoot on over to Vocalpoint and sign up today. You deserve something fun in your mailbox--try it, or leave a post letting me know if you are already a member.

Great Diaper Coupons on 12/5/2010

Just letting everyone know...

There are two coupon inserts planned for this week: one Red Plum and one Smart Source. Typically, Red Plum coupons expire quickly (just a bit of trivia--watch your expiration dates!). Something else of interest: high value diaper coupons for Huggies will be in this week's Sunday paper.

Get excited about:
$2 off Huggies Little Snugglers or Movers diapers
$3 off Huggies Pure & Natural (WOW, this will make for cheap/free diapers @ Rite Aid!!)
$2 off Huggies Little Sugglers or Little Movers
$1 off Huggies wipes , 180 ct +

Wa-hoo!!! And, for all you folks who a) have animal children, b) have grown children that are (mostly) potty trained, or c) don't want kids (diapers? yuck!), be sweet and give your diaper coupons to a new mommy. How awesome would that be, to save her $8.00?

Happy couponing! And don't forget to buy your paper! There *might* be another General Mills insert (read: cheap crescent rolls and biscuits for the holidays!).

FREE Gillette Razor at Rite Aid!

But....the catch is, you MUST buy a Sunday newspaper this week, folks!!!

Come on....for us small-town folks, the local newspaper from the newsstand is, what, $1.50? It's well worth it! (And, for big-city folks lucky enough to get the AJC, you will get cool coupons that we won't. Boo hoo.)

In the Procter & Gamble insert, clip your $4 off Gillette Fusion ProGlide manual or power razor coupon from the Sunday, November 28th paper. Then, high-tail it on over to Rite Aid, where a razor is selling for $9.00.

Buy: Gillette Fusion ProGlide razor @ $9.00
Use: 1 - $4 off manufacturer coupon
Pay: $5 plus tax
Get Back: $5 +UP Reward (prints on the end of your receipt)!!!!
This makes it free!

A word to newbies: The Rite Aid system resembles the CVS Extra Care Bucks system, in that you pay money for items (hopefully while using coupons). Then, after checkout, your receipt will show a "+UP Reward" for a promised amount (could be a buck, a few dollars, etc.). This is basically a coupon off your next purchase. (In this case, you receive $5 off your next purchase.) However, these "coupons" on your receipt usually expire in about two weeks or so. So.....if you live near a Rite Aid and frequent the store, no worries! Just use the coupon on your next shopping trip. If you don't go to Rite Aid that often, then.....do yourself a favor and buy something else immediately. Preferably, purchase something that you need and also have a coupon for.

For instance, I will probably do a small scenario like this:

Transaction #1--Buy ProGlide Razor as indicated above
Get Back: $5 +UP Rewards

Transaction #2--Buy 4 jumbo packs Pampers Diapers @ $8.50 apiece
Use: 4 - $1 off Pampers jumbo pack diapers or training pants, November 28 newspaper
$5 +UP Rewards
(Also, if the December Video Values are up, I may try to shoot for a $4 off $20 purchase coupon....)
Get Back: $2 +UP Rewards, $2 + UP Rewards (one $2 +UP for every 2 packs I bought).

This could potentially make each pack of diapers cost $5.25 apiece (before tax). And, that ain't bad, folks! If diapers are regularly $12.00 (which they are, for a jumbo pack), then I just saved $6.75 per pack. Do that a few times a month and see how your budget goes further!

(And, on another note, I am looking forward to entering all the Gifts to Grow codes out of the Pampers packs.....with my Rewards Points, I am working toward some more free birthday invitations for next year!)

Thanks Be To God! Rite Aid: Spent $1.68 Saved $58.00!

There is nothing else to say but, "Thank God!"

I was able to get five packs of diapers, one tub of wipes, four boxes of instant potatoes, one bottle of Vicks Nyquil, two bottles of Gain dish soap, two 4-packs of Cottonelle toilet tissue, one 12-pack of Charmin toilet tissue, and four bottles of Aussie shampoo for under $2.00. This is something I have never done before, and allow me to explain....

I recently received a Single Check Rebate for $28.00 (from August) that I did not use. In addition, I just got my second Single Check Rebate (for Sept.) in the mail for $8.00. It happens--so I grabbed the checks, which you can use like cash at Rite Aid. There were some kickin' sales on diapers (which we were OUT of) and toilet paper (which we were ALSO OUT OF). So, I went. I knew we didn't have much money in our account...hey, it's nearing the end of the month! I'm no fool.

And I started to get my coupons together. No, they were not organized. If they had been, all this would have taken about 30 minutes less! And, yes, I missed out on some deals--like the Colgate deal that would have made for free toothbrushes and toothpaste. But, I have been getting my newspapers faithfully (or getting them from faithful friends), and I made the effort.

I knew I couldn't spend much money of our own, so I put back some boxes of instant potatoes, which I had planned to donate. At the register, I ended up HAVING to get some more of them, because the transaction would not complete until I bought something else! (And so God allows me to give as freely as He wanted! Amazing!!!)

My point--make an effort. Please. Just try!

Yes, I used coupons on every thing in the cart. Yes, I had some Rite Aid coupons (go watch some videos on their website to earn a SUPER Q for $4 off a $20 purchase). And, yes, I did my purchase in two different transactions so I could use the +UP reward coupons on the second transaction. But you can do it.

You can do this. Start small. Be friendly with the cashiers. And pray that God will allow you to use the coupons to take care of your family and others. He will bless your efforts, because God loves you and your family...."For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord: Plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans for a hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11).

Happy couponing....and enjoy being a blessing to others!

High-Value Coupon for Hamburger Helper

Many of my friends complain that coupons are often for things that they might not use or don't buy for their family due to health concerns. However, if you are able to get such an item for low- or no cost, these types of things can make great donation items--PLUS, Hamburger Helper (Chicken Helper and Tuna Helper are included here) is creating "Whole Grain" versions now. So, if you use chicken breast and get the whole grain version, it can be a skillet meal ready in minutes that busy moms can agree with!

Go here to get an exclusive coupon for Hamburger, Tuna, or Chicken Helper. It is a special coupon that you have access to since you read my blog! So, thank you for reading!

It is a 35 cent off ONE BOX (which is amazing, since it doubles to 70 cents off--if HH is on sale for 99 cents, this can possibly cost less than 30 cents). Make sure to press the "BACK" button in your browser to make two prints.

Happy Couponing!

New Month, More Cookies!

Don't forget to stop by Nabisco's Facebook page to print your coupon for $1.00 off a pack of Nabisco Cookies and a gallon of milk. This is a different coupon than they have been giving out, but it is actually a better one, if you ask me.

May I also point out for the cheapest among us.....if you happen to hit a grocery store on a day when they have marked down some gallons of milk, you could potentially get a very good deal on cookies and milk. The cashier will just have to get permission from the store manager to do this, since the milk will have to be keyed in as a sale.....I'm thinking Ingles, of course, since Piggly Wiggly no longer accepts printable coupons (not even cents-off ones).

The coupon is also good until mid-December, which is awesome.

Tired, but wanted to tell you....

I had a great "Get-Together" sponsored by General Mills and Yoplait the other day! I signed up under the group "Pssst..." from General Mills, and from time to time they invite me to apply for parties through their company. I got to throw a party at my elementary school, on their dime (and just a few of mine), for 15 lovely ladies (and some of their children!), and we shared recipes, snacks, and information about breast cancer awareness. I also got to read a very interesting book that was written by Susan G. Komen's sister.

All these opinions are my own. I was excited to get the party pack in the mail. They sent me 15 coupons for Yoplait (and boy, were they good ones.... 50 cents off 4 yogurts!!), 15 copies of breast cancer information, a shower hanger to remind myself to check my breasts monthly, a lovely pink leather bookmark for a door prize, and the hardback copy of the book by Susan G. Komen's sister to read aloud during the party. I think everyone enjoyed the party--it is nice to be able to do something for and with my fellow teachers that doesn't cost them anything. Everyone was very appreciative to the companies for their generosity and interest in women's health.

If you are not already a member of the Pssst! team, let me encourage you to do so. It allows you to gain access to exclusive online printable coupons, information about the brands you love, and maybe even have the chance to host a party like I did.

Extra Money for Christmas? Yes, Please!

I apologize for the length between posts. Things get busy in a hurry these days!

As a part of my master plan to get a better hold on my finances, doing more with what I have, and taking advantage of little extras, I have become a part of several survey groups. These opinions are my own.



First, I belong to a survey group called Synovate. This is perhaps my favorite group, because it has garnered me the greatest return on my time. When you join and complete some initial information, they send several surveys to your email inbox per week. The way that you answer some of them may result in your being sent a product to test. So far, Synovate has allowed me to test two different Lean Cuisine branded frozen meals (delivered to my door, frozen)--and guess what? They were delicious!!! The best part about this company, however, is that you earn points for each survey that you complete (or even attempt--sometimes they might not need you to take that particular survey, based on your demographic), and 5000 points translate into a $5.00 check!!! I don't know if it seems like a lot to you, but figure in the 2 frozen dinners @ $3.50 apiece, and I have received compensation for my time along the lines of $26 since March. I call the little $5 checks my "yard sale money"!

The next group that I belong to is called Ipsos i-Say. This group allows you to cash in points from taking surveys for gift cards (American Express, Amazon, Target, etc.). The cash-in point is a little higher, but I could have already received a $5 check--I am simply saving up for a higher-value gift card for Christmas. Another fun thing about this group is: after each survey, you get the chance to enter contests for items like iPads, $500 grocery gift cards, Spa Weekends, and the like. (Update: no dice on the iPad, yet. lol) I have been pleased with this company so far, but it will be that much sweeter when I earn my gift cards for Christmas shopping!


My final group that I belong to--and, by the way, I personally feel is reputable--is Mindfield. This company is a little trickier to navigate than the others, and rewards are harder to come by, as the surveys are extremely picky. More often than not, the surveys tell me that "Unfortunately, you do not qualify for this survey." But when they do....each survey earns you $1. At a minimum of $5 earned, you can cash out in the form of a check. I have only cashed out once, and my check arrived last week. But, here's the deal: through this company, I have received products to test and send my responses back via email. So far, I have received a bottle of Johnson & Johnson's new Natural Body Wash, two boxes of Wheat Thins, and a pack of three Playtex nursers with four nipples. While the reality is that I may not qualify for each and every survey, and thereby might not get every product test, I will get ones that are targeted to my place in life (married w/kids), and many of them will be awesome!

Lots of info here, but perhaps some of it might encourage you to branch out a bit and investigate the possibility of putting away a few extra bucks (or gift cards, or free iPads, haha) toward Christmas.... Leave a comment and let me know what you will be saving toward!

Halloween Costume = FREE Shutterfly Photo Book!

For those of you out there who are not going to hit up your favorite consignment shop, best friend with bigger children, or something else equally cheap (me? All of the above, folks!) for a costume, here is an idea:

Purchase a Halloween costume (or other things including a Halloween costume) and have a receipt totaling $35.00 or more from Party City from now till October 31. If you do this online, the website states that a Shutterfly photo book will "automatically" show up in your cart (which means you will receive an email shortly thereafter with info on how to redeem your free offer). If you choose to purchase in-store (which is smart, considering all the cool things I have found in the clearance section), simply save your receipt and go to http://partycity.com/shutterfly to request your Free Photo Book. The process might take a little longer, but it will be worth it.

Enterprising young types such as yourself might foresee a photo book as being a nice Christmas present for a faraway relative (or an in-town grandmother), a neat way to chronicle family recipes (just use the text feature and use appropriately-sized font) along with cherished family photographs, a brag book for a dad on the move, or a fun record of someone's first pumpkin-picking expedition. Leave a post and let us know how you might use yours.

Free Sample of Crest Toothpaste

Wal-Mart is offering a free sample of Crest Pro-Health Clinical Gum Protection Paste (whew!) to people who fit a certain profile. If you have difficulties with bleeding gums, be sure to check it out...in a few weeks, we can do our "happy dance" out by the mailbox together!

Ingles This Week....Triple Coupons!

(To the tune of "Charge!")
....free, free, free, free, free-free......FREEEEEE!!!!!

Triple coupons at Ingles (up to 50 cents--making it up to $1.50 off) this week means two things. First, you have to remember that, unless you really need the item, most things with coupon matchups are not on sale. Therefore, using the coupon will not result in such awesome sales as might come up next week, or the week after....

Secondly, it does mean that if you want to replenish just a few things in your pantry for CHEAP, just load up your coupons and go (preferably without children....why do I keep doing this to myself?). You won't be sorry!

Great deals that I found in Woodbury, Georgia (which are replicated in most of the Ingles service area--print any coupons TWICE, if possible):

Tetley teabags @ $1.98 B1G1 (0.99)--use a coupon from Coupons.com (50 cents off--makes it FREE)

Pillsbury Crescent Rolls and Biscuits $1 each -- use 50 cents off 2 Crescent rolls from coupons.com (makes them 25 cents apiece)

Dannon single serve yogurt 6 oz @ 50 cents apiece-- use 50 cents off 1 Dannon Light n' Fit (makes them 25 cents apiece)

Del Monte vegetables, assorted 13.5 - 15.25 oz @ 66 cents each -- use $1/5 Del Monte canned vegetables from 9/19 Red Plum insert (makes them 46 cents apiece, which is totally stock pile time!!!)

I also got a rain check for some cheap Totino's pizza rolls, but if I don't make it back and find more this week, the triple coupons will be over. Darn it.

Boneless, skinless chicken breast, family packs of ground chuck, and a nice chuck roast were pretty darn cheap, too. My total for my bill, which of course included random things that my husband was in dire need of (which NEVER, EVER have coupons), as well as staples like milk and bread, was 81.42 for $138.43 worth of groceries (coupon savings of $23.63....not bad for maybe 15 minutes of prep work).

I feel really good about that....basically, I could pay myself $94.52 an hour to do that. Now, do you see why even a little bit of couponing can be effective?

Thanks to my FAVORITE blog of all time, Southern Savers, which allowed me to get ready so quickly. They have an awesome shopping list creator that includes coupon matchups.

Ebates....Online Savings 101

One of my husband's favorite things to do is to shop online. It is very easy for him, and he can do it anytime. I love shopping online, too. Now, there is something that can make it even more profitable for you...

Ebates.com is a shopping referral site which connects consumers with popular companies, offering discounts and coupon codes in addition to the opportunity to earn rebates based on your purchase amount. For instance, if you shop with Shutterfly after going "through" Ebates (so they can track your purchase as having come from their site--don't forget to sign in first), you can oftentimes earn 10% or more in cash back.

The catch--the cash is given in a rebate check format every quarter, which means that you only receive a check every 3 months. The good part? When you sign up as a new member, you automatically earn an extra $5 when you make your first qualifying purchase. Make sure to refer new family and friends to this service, too, and you may get some extra perks.

Not every store in creation is on Ebates....but a great many of them are. I even checked out the categories of stores to see what childrens' stores they had to offer, as I needed to get a baby gift. And, I could easily see which store would earn me the best rebate.

I have gotten two rebate checks so far. I am pleased!

Happy Dance at the Mailbox!

I do not get paid to endorse any particular products. Items and companies mentioned here are simply a side effect of talking about deals that I have seen and/or am personally interested in. However, I must say that Procter & Gamble makes me soooo happy....

They have printable coupons. They have e-coupons that attach to your Kroger card to save you extra (although I have had reports that Kroger has discontinued e-coupons stacked over paper manufacturer Q's....another post, another time). And, they have awesome rebates, like the Olay one that I barely got postmarked for today's date....

And, I come home to find a home mailer that includes $23 worth of coupons! Thanks, Hayley, for the heads up...and, yes, it does include a form to fill out to apply for your coupon booklet from P&G when you spend $50 or more on P&G products between now and Dec. 31st. Save some printer ink....that's what I always say!!!

Sorry I have been off the grid this week...school and work is tough to juggle sometimes. Thanks to great friends who showed up for a fun coupon klatch!

FREE Tub of Wipes for You and a Friend!

Sweet deal! (Er, at least fresh....) Cottonelle is offering a free tub of wipes (via a coupon, snail-mail style) for you and a friend when you give your friend's email address to share the promotion. My guess is that this won't last long, so be sure to do this.

Not that you EVER have to save a free coupon for a rainy day, but....wouldn't it be cool if these wipes went Buy One Get One Free (BOGO Free) at a local drugstore? If they were, we would get TWO tubs of wipes for free, since a "free" coupon is essentially a cents-off coupon.

The way it would work is this:

*Buy 2 tubs Cottonelle Flushable Moist Wipes (which would ideally be on sale BOGO free)
*Use one "Free" coupon, sent in mail (which all stores should accept, since it is not a printed coupon)....

= tax only on two items, or two free tubs!!!

I can dream, can't I? :-)

Thanks, Jenny from Southern Savers!

HOT Coupon Booklet from Procter & Gamble

There were some grrrrreat P & G coupons in the 8/29 newspaper! So exciting!

To further celebrate (?), Procter & Gamble has come out with a new coupon booklet to reward us for buying $50 worth of products that we really already buy anyway. The key here is that EVERYTHING that P & G makes is included, and also, you have until 12/31/10 to make the purchases.

I know, I know, something extra that takes a little bit of effort. However, let me say that I got the $100 P & G coupon booklet from this spring, and there were high value coupons ($5 off Olay) that got me some excellent facial care products for cheap. Also, I got three coupons on items like Bounty paper towels and Charmin toilet paper that were for $1.00 off one package, which is unheard-of.

My suggestion? Put aside a section of your coupon file/binder for rebates, and file your receipts that include P & G products regularly. Especially if you purchase diapers, feminine hygiene products, laundry detergent, etc., you will find that it will be easier than you think to get the $50 worth of purchases.

Happy couponing!

NO COUPONS......this Sunday stinks.

For those of you who didn't know it...this Sunday's newspaper has no coupons. None. Zip. Nada.

Okay, in the interest of full disclosure, the last time that the paper was not scheduled to have any coupons, it had a small four-page insert from General Mills foods. However, they were coupons that were already available through earlier newspapers and could be printed from the internet. And, I am not entirely sure that the Parade newspaper insert might not have some....

So, long story short, I will be asking my wonderful MIL if I can look at her Parade insert, and I will be taking it easy and not hunting newspapers today. That works out well, since my son is getting over a cold and my daughter just caught it and is feverish. Say a prayer for us....we hate missing church, and it is so important to stay healthy so that we can enjoy our time together between my job and their bedtimes.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and prayers!