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!