DH and I spent a few hours today grocery shopping and meal planning for the next month. 3 stores and we're totally stocked up. Well, except for milk, which I've been drinking a lot of lately, and bags of salad (For those items, a quick trip to 99 Cents only and $2-3/week is all we need!)
First we hit up 99 cents only. $36.00 for 6 bags of groceries, which included the following items. I've included the retail value at Ralph's for comparison. 99 Cents Only doesn't accept coupons, but if you are a savvy shopper and keep a price book, you can shop at stores like 99 Cents Only and save.
2 lbs organic celery ($4.99 at Ralphs)
4 Supreme pizza Lean Cuisines (2/$5 at Ralphs- current sale)
3 boxes of Pillsbury Pie Crust ($3.00/box at Ralph's)
3 cans of Rotel Tomatoes ($1.69/can at Ralph's)- There is a coupon right now out for buy 2, get 1 free. At Ralph's.. that makes each can $1.12/each after the coupon, so 99 Cents Only was still cheaper!
2 bags of Dole Salad ( an outstanding $4.29/bag at Ralphs!!)
We also bought some baking mixes, bread, spices and other noms. If I would have bought the same stuff at Ralph's, it would have cost... $125.00!
Next we hit up Target (for something else), but they had Chicken Breasts for a pretty good price, so I bought a bag. They also had cheap olive oil (score!) and cheap spray release.
Finally, Ralph's! With only a few items to pick up, DH and I hit the aisles. I had a few coupons that expired today, so we made the most of hte trip and picked up some free stuff. Food Should Taste Good chips, free juice, and some darned cheap sour cream. I also picked up discounted ground beef, steak and pot roast.
We've got enough food for the next 3-4 weeks. Our menu will consist of stuff like:
Bangers and mash with steamed veggies ($6.00 meal)
Chili and cornbread muffins ($5.00 meal plus leftovers for 2-3 additional meals)
Steak, baked Potatoes, steamed veggies and salad (this meal will cost us less than $10.00 and will include wine and dessert! Who needs Outback!!)
Chili Mac and steamed veggies (Gotta use up those leftovers!) ($3.00 meal)
Pot Roast, baked potatoes, steamed veggies ($8.00 meal)
Chicken Terrazinni, steamed veggies ($6.00 meal)
Taco Salad (includes seasoned ground beef, beans, cheese, sour cream, tomatoes on a bed of greens sprinkled with crushed tortilla chips) ($7.00 meal)
Veggie Enchiladas ( usually I'll add veggies to the enchiladas too) with refried beans ($4.00 meal)
Meatloaf, baked potatoes, steamed veggies ($5.00 meal)
Quiche with salad ($5.00 meal)
Salad with grilled chicken breasts and cheddar garlic biscuits ($5.00 meal)
Spaghetti with home made marinara and meatballs ($5.00 meal)
sausage gravy, biscuits, scrambled eggs and fruit ($4.00 meal)
cereal and fruit ($2.00 meal)
coffee cake and fruit ($2.00 meal)
Fritatta ($4.00 meal)
Sticky buns and fruit ($4.00 meal)
All of the prices include a beverage (coffee, milk, water, juice) and for lunch and dinner also include some kind of dessert. Most of the time I'll make cookies or we'll have ice cream treats. I try to have much home made food as possible, I dislike relying on frozen entrees for our dinners. I do take Lean Cuisines to work along with water, a few pieces of fruit and a piece of cheese. They are quick and easy on those mornings when leftovers just don't appeal and I'm packing our lunches.
90% of the meals that we'll cook with yield 2-3 extra servings, which I package up individually and we each take them for lunch some day that week. That helps us save more money by keeping us out of local food courts and fast food joints.
Tomorrow, I'll update the pantry and freezer inventories and I'll probably spend part of the day cooking up a few meals to freeze for those days when a casserole is in order. By thinking ahead and putting together a few quick meals that can just be popped into the oven, we save about $100 a month by avoiding the drive thru line or the pizza delivery man.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Zuppa Toscana recipe- Olive Garden copy cat recipe
I love to cook. Really. Yesterday Mr. Cacoupondiva and I spent the day cooking. He made blueberry pancakes for breakfast and scrambled eggs, and we made a cherry pie together to take to my parents house for dessert and in the middle of the day we whipped up a big batch of Zuppa Toscana.
I freaking love this stuff, however "all you can eat" for me is about 3 bowls. And my pregnant palate doesn't really like salad, so the all you can eat soup, salad and bread sticks is really not worth it. (it's $7.95 here- I checked the other day, when I was really jonesing for some)
So, the other day I turned to google for a recipe. I made it yesterday and we had it yesterday for lunch, tonight for dinner and I just popped the last 8 cups into the freezer for dinner next week.
I used the recipe here: Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana: Tuscan Soup Recipe made at the restaurant
But I made several changes to make it healthier/more pregnancy palate friendly.
However:
I used Spicy Turkey sausage (italian), garlic powder instead of fresh garlic.
Re-hydrated dehyrdated onion (just pour them into a bowl and pour boiling water over them, when they "puff" up, use them like regular chopped onions).
I used a can of evaporated milk instead of cream- it's better for you and it's what we had.
I just used the potatoes we had in the house, I don't know if they are Russets or not.
Spinach instead of Kale- Kale has a weird texture that ooks me out.
Swanson's low sodium broth instead of buillion cubes and water (it's what we had) + 2 extra cans of water.
I used 2 pepper flake packets left over from when we had ordered pizza last month (those little condiment packages DO come in handy).
It's pretty spicy, especially when it sits overnight, so if you like it less spicy, skip the peppers and use regular Italian Sausage.
I calculated costs and the whole pot of soup (about 12 servings- I used extra sausage and potatoes and a little extra liquid than what the original recipe calls for) and it was approx. $8.00 for the whole pot. Not bad for 3-4 meals.
I freaking love this stuff, however "all you can eat" for me is about 3 bowls. And my pregnant palate doesn't really like salad, so the all you can eat soup, salad and bread sticks is really not worth it. (it's $7.95 here- I checked the other day, when I was really jonesing for some)
So, the other day I turned to google for a recipe. I made it yesterday and we had it yesterday for lunch, tonight for dinner and I just popped the last 8 cups into the freezer for dinner next week.
I used the recipe here: Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana: Tuscan Soup Recipe made at the restaurant
But I made several changes to make it healthier/more pregnancy palate friendly.
However:
I used Spicy Turkey sausage (italian), garlic powder instead of fresh garlic.
Re-hydrated dehyrdated onion (just pour them into a bowl and pour boiling water over them, when they "puff" up, use them like regular chopped onions).
I used a can of evaporated milk instead of cream- it's better for you and it's what we had.
I just used the potatoes we had in the house, I don't know if they are Russets or not.
Spinach instead of Kale- Kale has a weird texture that ooks me out.
Swanson's low sodium broth instead of buillion cubes and water (it's what we had) + 2 extra cans of water.
I used 2 pepper flake packets left over from when we had ordered pizza last month (those little condiment packages DO come in handy).
It's pretty spicy, especially when it sits overnight, so if you like it less spicy, skip the peppers and use regular Italian Sausage.
I calculated costs and the whole pot of soup (about 12 servings- I used extra sausage and potatoes and a little extra liquid than what the original recipe calls for) and it was approx. $8.00 for the whole pot. Not bad for 3-4 meals.
End of year tallies and savings calculations
With only a week left in the year, I am entering the last few lines of my 2010 spreadsheet. Unlike some frugal livers, I do not track my grocery savings (I'll go into that in a minute), however, I do track the rewards that I receive through out the year. Examples of these rewards are:
Register Rewards, Extra Care bucks, Pinecone Survey payments, Global Opinions panel (synovate) payments, Mypoints Gift cards, SBKC giftcards, misc. survey payments/rewards, rebates, and gift cards that I receive as comps (as a result of a letter to a company or from vendors that I work with). I have also included this year the magazine.com gift certificates that you can cash out (check out this article for more info).
With one more week, and not too much time on my hands to do surveys or anything else that is an income generator, I have totalled up our 2010 spreadsheet and our YTD rewards total is: $1746.20.
It seems incredible, but I take advantage of a lot of quick, easy survey program and rewards program I can. I also do not purchase items that generate an Extra care buck or a Register reward just to obtain free stuff. If it is an item my family doesn't use, even if it's free, it stays at the store. We only bring home what we can use.
The reason that I do not track my grocery savings is that I only buy items that are on sale and/or meet my target price for an item.
Example: my target price for cereal is less than $1.00 per box. Meaning if I cannot find cereal that fits my target price, I do not buy it, even if it's on my grocery list. We will eat something else for breakfast that fits in my target price (eggs, protein bars, etc.). For us cereal is a real treat. I only buy specific kinds of cereal (low sugar, high fiber). Thanks to recyclebank.com kashi coupons, I have been able to get kashi cereal for .26/box at target recently. And the boxes of cereal have more recyclebank.com codes in them!
By using a target price system, it's not fair for me to say, "I saved $150 on groceries this month!" because if it weren't for the target price I was searching for, I wouldn't have purchased the items at all. That's the reason we don't eat a lot of meat- it's really hard to hit the target price on meat when there are no coupons (90% of the time) and meat sales are few and far between. We don't have a large freezer or room in our home for a chest freezer, so I cannot take advantage of "buy a whole cow" sales.
We do stock up on seasonal meats- Prime rib near Christmas, corned beef at Saint Patrick's Day. I also shop almost exclusively in the discounted meat section.
We only buy food that we will eat- if an item is free, but we won't eat it, or if it is not healthy, we won't bring it home. Boxed meal kits, Fruit by the foot type snacks, most lunch meats, most frozen already made meals, most ready to drink juices are all types of food that we don't eat. If a product is new and there is a rebate, I will try it. I would rather leave the coupon on the shelf and share the coupon with someone who will eat the product and enjoy it than cart it home and have it sit in my kitchen, waiting to expire.
My goal is to save money and live better.
Register Rewards, Extra Care bucks, Pinecone Survey payments, Global Opinions panel (synovate) payments, Mypoints Gift cards, SBKC giftcards, misc. survey payments/rewards, rebates, and gift cards that I receive as comps (as a result of a letter to a company or from vendors that I work with). I have also included this year the magazine.com gift certificates that you can cash out (check out this article for more info).
With one more week, and not too much time on my hands to do surveys or anything else that is an income generator, I have totalled up our 2010 spreadsheet and our YTD rewards total is: $1746.20.
It seems incredible, but I take advantage of a lot of quick, easy survey program and rewards program I can. I also do not purchase items that generate an Extra care buck or a Register reward just to obtain free stuff. If it is an item my family doesn't use, even if it's free, it stays at the store. We only bring home what we can use.
The reason that I do not track my grocery savings is that I only buy items that are on sale and/or meet my target price for an item.
Example: my target price for cereal is less than $1.00 per box. Meaning if I cannot find cereal that fits my target price, I do not buy it, even if it's on my grocery list. We will eat something else for breakfast that fits in my target price (eggs, protein bars, etc.). For us cereal is a real treat. I only buy specific kinds of cereal (low sugar, high fiber). Thanks to recyclebank.com kashi coupons, I have been able to get kashi cereal for .26/box at target recently. And the boxes of cereal have more recyclebank.com codes in them!
By using a target price system, it's not fair for me to say, "I saved $150 on groceries this month!" because if it weren't for the target price I was searching for, I wouldn't have purchased the items at all. That's the reason we don't eat a lot of meat- it's really hard to hit the target price on meat when there are no coupons (90% of the time) and meat sales are few and far between. We don't have a large freezer or room in our home for a chest freezer, so I cannot take advantage of "buy a whole cow" sales.
We do stock up on seasonal meats- Prime rib near Christmas, corned beef at Saint Patrick's Day. I also shop almost exclusively in the discounted meat section.
We only buy food that we will eat- if an item is free, but we won't eat it, or if it is not healthy, we won't bring it home. Boxed meal kits, Fruit by the foot type snacks, most lunch meats, most frozen already made meals, most ready to drink juices are all types of food that we don't eat. If a product is new and there is a rebate, I will try it. I would rather leave the coupon on the shelf and share the coupon with someone who will eat the product and enjoy it than cart it home and have it sit in my kitchen, waiting to expire.
My goal is to save money and live better.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Another opportunity...
Ok, so I love to join panels, do surveys, test products, etc. One company that I am a panel member of is L'oreal. They have surveys you can take, and every five surveys, they send you a L'oreal product. L'oreal also owns Keihl's, Lancome, Gorgio Armani makeup, and tons of other brands. Recently I completed an eleven week lip balm study, which was pretty great because I got to try out and keep eleven differeent lip balms. Anyway, after the testing period was over, L'oreal sent me an email telling me that they were going to send me a thank you gift.
They sent me a great package yesterday, check out the photo below. I estimated that the retail value of my thank you gift is over $250.00. That is some thank you gift. If you would like to join the L'oreal's consumer panel, check out their website:
https://consumertesting.lorealusa.com/survey88.asp
They sent me a great package yesterday, check out the photo below. I estimated that the retail value of my thank you gift is over $250.00. That is some thank you gift. If you would like to join the L'oreal's consumer panel, check out their website:
https://consumertesting.lorealusa.com/survey88.asp
Monday, December 20, 2010
new holiday posts in the works!
I'm working on a couple posts and should have a few new entries later this week, including a post about our 2011 family binder and how you can put one together too, and a few more really great deal posts.
In the mean time, there is a lot of really great stuff (deals, contests, coupon links) going on our Twitter feed! Check it out!
In the mean time, there is a lot of really great stuff (deals, contests, coupon links) going on our Twitter feed! Check it out!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Is is really called shopping if the stuff is free?
Yesterday DH and I did the last bit of our in store holiday shopping.
I had been saving a bunch of high value coupons and free samples offers and finally I had enough courage to hit the mall.
We went our separate ways and the shopping began.
First Stop for me was JCP. I picked up a present for DH that was originally $40.00. It was 60% off, because of a super crazy sale, however, I also combined the store sale with a 15% off coupon that I received by doing a survey on the back of a receipt from another recent purchase and a $10 off of $10 purchase coupon that a friend had given me. Final result: DH's present was $5.55. Total savings $34.91!!
Second stop: Origins. Somehow I ended up on their mailing list and they had sent out $10 /$10 coupons a few weeks ago. The coupon had tons of restrictions, but I managed to find something in-store that was $10.00 (Peace of mind sensory therapy). So after the coupon- FREE! And as an FYI- you can take your empty cosmetic jar, bottle or tube to any Origins store for them to recycle. They'll give you a free sample for your trouble! $0.00
Third Stop: Aveda. I love Aveda, but can't afford it. Thankfully, they give out some of the best samples. When you sign up for their Birthday Program, you'll get a coupon for a free 3-pack of hair goodies (that you can redeem right away) and near your b-day they send you a Q for a free product. They will also email you occasionally and their emails almost always have a sweet coupon! They had recently emailed out a coupon for a free sample sized tube of Hand Repair, which I LOVE!! So I received my hair care three pack sample and my purse sized tube of Hand Repair. $0.00
Next stop: Hallmark! I had 2 $5.00/$5.00 purchase coupons from recent magazines. DH and I met up for this part of the trip. I gave him one and I took the other. He bought 2 birthday cards b=for upcoming family b-days. His after Q total OOP:$1.08. I bought 2 large rolls of wrapping paper (which we needed). They were buy one at $4.99, get the second for $.99. My total after q OOP: $1.85. Total: $2.93
We quickly departed the mall and headed to Fry's Electronics where we spent $14.00 on a secret Santa gift (savings $4.00).
At this point my energy was waning, but we needed to power through to get all of the errands done!!
Next stop: Office depot. I had a $10/$25 Q and DH's last present was in sight. I picked up a 3 inch binder (Why didn't anyone tell me how expensive binders are!!) and DH"s gift, and used my Q. Total after Q OOP $23.98. I basically used the coupon to get my binder for free (which I'm OK with, cause ain't no way I'm paying $11.00 for a binder!).
Only 1 more stop to go. At this point, I felt dead on my poor, swollen, pregnant feet.
BORDERS!!! DH had to pick up a gift for his sisters BF. We had a random Borders GC hanging around the house with $15.30 left on it. DH picked up the gift and the total OOP after the gift card was... $1.00.
Most of the other gifts that we have picked up for family have been pretty close to free too. I used the lulu.com sign up bonus promo (now dead) for 2 gifts (one for DH and the other for a friend) total OOP (including shipping with was $9.45 of the total) $11.75. I used the Gilt.com sign up bonus promo (also dead) for a gift for my niece (total OOP .95), and I used Mypoints points for several gift cards that will be used in gift baskets for a couple friends/relatives.
We've managed to stay under our budget for the holidays, and everyone is getting some super cool stuff.
I had been saving a bunch of high value coupons and free samples offers and finally I had enough courage to hit the mall.
We went our separate ways and the shopping began.
First Stop for me was JCP. I picked up a present for DH that was originally $40.00. It was 60% off, because of a super crazy sale, however, I also combined the store sale with a 15% off coupon that I received by doing a survey on the back of a receipt from another recent purchase and a $10 off of $10 purchase coupon that a friend had given me. Final result: DH's present was $5.55. Total savings $34.91!!
Second stop: Origins. Somehow I ended up on their mailing list and they had sent out $10 /$10 coupons a few weeks ago. The coupon had tons of restrictions, but I managed to find something in-store that was $10.00 (Peace of mind sensory therapy). So after the coupon- FREE! And as an FYI- you can take your empty cosmetic jar, bottle or tube to any Origins store for them to recycle. They'll give you a free sample for your trouble! $0.00
Third Stop: Aveda. I love Aveda, but can't afford it. Thankfully, they give out some of the best samples. When you sign up for their Birthday Program, you'll get a coupon for a free 3-pack of hair goodies (that you can redeem right away) and near your b-day they send you a Q for a free product. They will also email you occasionally and their emails almost always have a sweet coupon! They had recently emailed out a coupon for a free sample sized tube of Hand Repair, which I LOVE!! So I received my hair care three pack sample and my purse sized tube of Hand Repair. $0.00
Next stop: Hallmark! I had 2 $5.00/$5.00 purchase coupons from recent magazines. DH and I met up for this part of the trip. I gave him one and I took the other. He bought 2 birthday cards b=for upcoming family b-days. His after Q total OOP:$1.08. I bought 2 large rolls of wrapping paper (which we needed). They were buy one at $4.99, get the second for $.99. My total after q OOP: $1.85. Total: $2.93
We quickly departed the mall and headed to Fry's Electronics where we spent $14.00 on a secret Santa gift (savings $4.00).
At this point my energy was waning, but we needed to power through to get all of the errands done!!
Next stop: Office depot. I had a $10/$25 Q and DH's last present was in sight. I picked up a 3 inch binder (Why didn't anyone tell me how expensive binders are!!) and DH"s gift, and used my Q. Total after Q OOP $23.98. I basically used the coupon to get my binder for free (which I'm OK with, cause ain't no way I'm paying $11.00 for a binder!).
Only 1 more stop to go. At this point, I felt dead on my poor, swollen, pregnant feet.
BORDERS!!! DH had to pick up a gift for his sisters BF. We had a random Borders GC hanging around the house with $15.30 left on it. DH picked up the gift and the total OOP after the gift card was... $1.00.
Most of the other gifts that we have picked up for family have been pretty close to free too. I used the lulu.com sign up bonus promo (now dead) for 2 gifts (one for DH and the other for a friend) total OOP (including shipping with was $9.45 of the total) $11.75. I used the Gilt.com sign up bonus promo (also dead) for a gift for my niece (total OOP .95), and I used Mypoints points for several gift cards that will be used in gift baskets for a couple friends/relatives.
We've managed to stay under our budget for the holidays, and everyone is getting some super cool stuff.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Free $10 gas card
I'm not going to argue or allow a debate to start in the comments about BP and the oil spill in the gulf. If you post a comment in that vain, it will be deleted. My blog, my rules. :P
Thanks to My Good Cents dot net and One Money saving Momma dot blogspot dot com (due to word press TOS, I cannot post their links- sorry) for the deets on this deal.
Get a FREE $10 BP reward card with every 5th fill up. A fill up is defined as eight or more gallons.
To receive your card(s) purchase eight gallons or more of fuel and present your receipt to the on-site cashier to get a Loyalty Card. Scratch the card to reveal a unique code, enter the code on this website. Once you have entered five codes you will be mailed your $10 BP Reward Card.
Offer expires March 1st, 2011 or until Loyalty card supplies are exhausted. Promotion not valid in New Jersey. Find a station near you here.
For my San Diego Peeps, Most Arco stations are BP's and some AMPM stations are as well.
Thanks to My Good Cents dot net and One Money saving Momma dot blogspot dot com (due to word press TOS, I cannot post their links- sorry) for the deets on this deal.
Get a FREE $10 BP reward card with every 5th fill up. A fill up is defined as eight or more gallons.
To receive your card(s) purchase eight gallons or more of fuel and present your receipt to the on-site cashier to get a Loyalty Card. Scratch the card to reveal a unique code, enter the code on this website. Once you have entered five codes you will be mailed your $10 BP Reward Card.
Offer expires March 1st, 2011 or until Loyalty card supplies are exhausted. Promotion not valid in New Jersey. Find a station near you here.
For my San Diego Peeps, Most Arco stations are BP's and some AMPM stations are as well.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
ahh, witness my thrift...
So, DH has a blue Oxford shirt that he loves. It is called "blue shirt". Well, blue shirt had seen way better days. It was frayed at the neck and it made Mr. CACoupondiva look like a hobo.
Looking through the JCP website, I found that the Stafford Oxford's were on sale for $14.99 last week, with an additional 20% off when you used your JCP card. I paired it up with the $10/$10 (it came with my re-issued JCP card), and Dh's shirt was... (drumroll)... $2.00 plus tax!
We turned around and took the survey on the back of the receipt for 15% off the next purchase, which happened to be a watch for DH. His parents sent him $$ for a new watch. The watch was $108.75 (on sale). He paired it with the $10/$10 that came in the mail, and the 15% off survey Q. He added the service plan (16.99) and the grand total was $84.00.
I just got another $10/$10 last night from a friend and I'll be using it for DH's X-mas gift along with another 15% off survey q (from his watch purchase!).
Looking through the JCP website, I found that the Stafford Oxford's were on sale for $14.99 last week, with an additional 20% off when you used your JCP card. I paired it up with the $10/$10 (it came with my re-issued JCP card), and Dh's shirt was... (drumroll)... $2.00 plus tax!
We turned around and took the survey on the back of the receipt for 15% off the next purchase, which happened to be a watch for DH. His parents sent him $$ for a new watch. The watch was $108.75 (on sale). He paired it with the $10/$10 that came in the mail, and the 15% off survey Q. He added the service plan (16.99) and the grand total was $84.00.
I just got another $10/$10 last night from a friend and I'll be using it for DH's X-mas gift along with another 15% off survey q (from his watch purchase!).
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
A couple holiday deals...
We are hitting the final stretch of online shopping before the holidays. Here are a couple deals that will provide almost instant gratification!!
Restaurant.com is offering $25.00 gift certificates for only $2.00 when you use the coupon code JOY at check out.
Michael's has a 40% off coupon available valid until 12/18/10 (Thanks to Coupon Dad!)
Remember to check out our twitter feed daily for tons of great coupon codes, deals and offers!
Restaurant.com is offering $25.00 gift certificates for only $2.00 when you use the coupon code JOY at check out.
Michael's has a 40% off coupon available valid until 12/18/10 (Thanks to Coupon Dad!)
Remember to check out our twitter feed daily for tons of great coupon codes, deals and offers!
Friday, December 3, 2010
Free gift cards- hells yes!!
This is probably one of the sweetest deals I've seen in a while!
Learn more about ithoughtful here: http://www.itsthoughtful.com/lm.php It's free to sign up, and really, who couldn't use $25.00 in free Amazon gift certificates?
Just in time for the holidays- Ithoughtful.com is giving away $25.00 Amazon gift cards when you sign up and refer 15 friends.
Learn more about ithoughtful here: http://www.itsthoughtful.com/lm.php It's free to sign up, and really, who couldn't use $25.00 in free Amazon gift certificates?
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Live near a Ruby's Diner?
That's right! A burger and fries for only $2.80! I know where DH and I are going for dinner on Monday!
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Leftovers- what to do with them?
I know I promised this info about... a month ago, but we've been a little busy around the house ( baby prep, holiday prep). Today I'm focusing on leftover chicken and a couple pasta recipes. It specifies rotisserie chicken, but any kind of leftover chicken (roasted whole, cooked pieces, what have you) can be sub'd in. And you can use any kind of leftover pasta you have, I have specified my preference, but it is up to you (and your cupboard!)
Looking into your refrigerators, sometimes there is just a sea of Tupperware containers. LEFTOVERS. Eating the same thing over and again can be a bit boring. Here a few ways you can “re-purpose” leftovers.
Rotisserie chicken- who doesn’t love it? It’s a quick, easy way to serve your family a yummy dinner. Pair it up with a salad and crusty bead and butter, and you are set. But what if you can’t finish the whole chicken in one sitting?
Chicken Soup- Remove the remaining chicken from the bone. Boil the carcass in water, add spices, herbs, and some veggies to make a nice hearty stock, add salt and pepper to taste. Remove the carcass and the veggies after cooking the stock down and discard them. Add about 1 cup of the chopped meat and 2-3 cups of veggies (carrots, celery, onions, potatoes, whatever you have), and some egg noodles. Cook until the veggies are al dente and the noodles are done, about 15 minutes, serve up with corn bread or rolls.
Chicken enchiladas- use approx ¾-1 cup of the chicken meat that had been removed from the bone and layer it with corn tortillas, cheddar or jack cheese and your choice on red or green enchiladas sauce. Baked in a greased pan for 30-45 minutes until heated throughout and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
BBQ Pulled chicken sandwiches- Shred 1-2 cup of chicken removed from the bone, add a bottle of BBQ sauce, cook on the stove until heated throughout. Serve on warned buns or in whole wheat pitas. Team up with veggies or salad.
Pasta- I always over estimate the amount of pasta that we need. I like to make pasta salad with the leftover pasta, here’s how I make it:
2-3 cups of cooked pasta ( rotini, small rigitoni, shells, what have you) If you have more pasta, use all of it.
½ c chopped cheese (I use moz. But if we are out, I’ll use string cheese, cut into small pieces)
2 chopped bell peppers (any color)
1 cup pepperoni or salami, chopped into bite sized pieces
½ cup Italian salad dressing
Mix all together in a large bowl, refrigerate at least over night before serving. Add extra dressing as needed. It makes a great side dish, or serve with bread or rolls for a light entrée (also makes a really nice potluck dish).
If you’re not in the mood for pasta salad, turn leftover pasta into mac and cheese, or mix up a batch of Chicken Tetrazini (you can use some leftover rotissierie chicken!)
1 lb pasta, you choice, cooked al dente (if you have less, that’s ok)
1-2 c cooked shredded or cubed chicken
1 can Cream of Chicken and Mushroom soup (if you can’t find it, stick with Cream of Chicken)
I can of water
1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
½ cup cheese (you favorite kind- I like sharp cheddar!) You can use more cheese if you like.
In a saucepan, combine chicken, soup, water, Italian seasoning. Cook until bubbly, stirring to combine ingredients. Add cheese and stir until smooth. Add pasta and stir to combine. Serves 4-6. You can add leftover veggies, such as broccoli, peas, or asparagus.
Looking into your refrigerators, sometimes there is just a sea of Tupperware containers. LEFTOVERS. Eating the same thing over and again can be a bit boring. Here a few ways you can “re-purpose” leftovers.
Rotisserie chicken- who doesn’t love it? It’s a quick, easy way to serve your family a yummy dinner. Pair it up with a salad and crusty bead and butter, and you are set. But what if you can’t finish the whole chicken in one sitting?
Chicken Soup- Remove the remaining chicken from the bone. Boil the carcass in water, add spices, herbs, and some veggies to make a nice hearty stock, add salt and pepper to taste. Remove the carcass and the veggies after cooking the stock down and discard them. Add about 1 cup of the chopped meat and 2-3 cups of veggies (carrots, celery, onions, potatoes, whatever you have), and some egg noodles. Cook until the veggies are al dente and the noodles are done, about 15 minutes, serve up with corn bread or rolls.
Chicken enchiladas- use approx ¾-1 cup of the chicken meat that had been removed from the bone and layer it with corn tortillas, cheddar or jack cheese and your choice on red or green enchiladas sauce. Baked in a greased pan for 30-45 minutes until heated throughout and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
BBQ Pulled chicken sandwiches- Shred 1-2 cup of chicken removed from the bone, add a bottle of BBQ sauce, cook on the stove until heated throughout. Serve on warned buns or in whole wheat pitas. Team up with veggies or salad.
Pasta- I always over estimate the amount of pasta that we need. I like to make pasta salad with the leftover pasta, here’s how I make it:
2-3 cups of cooked pasta ( rotini, small rigitoni, shells, what have you) If you have more pasta, use all of it.
½ c chopped cheese (I use moz. But if we are out, I’ll use string cheese, cut into small pieces)
2 chopped bell peppers (any color)
1 cup pepperoni or salami, chopped into bite sized pieces
½ cup Italian salad dressing
Mix all together in a large bowl, refrigerate at least over night before serving. Add extra dressing as needed. It makes a great side dish, or serve with bread or rolls for a light entrée (also makes a really nice potluck dish).
If you’re not in the mood for pasta salad, turn leftover pasta into mac and cheese, or mix up a batch of Chicken Tetrazini (you can use some leftover rotissierie chicken!)
1 lb pasta, you choice, cooked al dente (if you have less, that’s ok)
1-2 c cooked shredded or cubed chicken
1 can Cream of Chicken and Mushroom soup (if you can’t find it, stick with Cream of Chicken)
I can of water
1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
½ cup cheese (you favorite kind- I like sharp cheddar!) You can use more cheese if you like.
In a saucepan, combine chicken, soup, water, Italian seasoning. Cook until bubbly, stirring to combine ingredients. Add cheese and stir until smooth. Add pasta and stir to combine. Serves 4-6. You can add leftover veggies, such as broccoli, peas, or asparagus.
Savings Goals for 2010
My savings goals for 2010 were:
To save money and maintain the lifestyle that DH and I enjoy. We have changed grocery stores (from Vons to Ralph's) and right there with that one change, there has been a noticeable savings, even on items that I do not have coupons for.
We only dine out with a coupon and/or a giftcard (that usually comes from Mypoints or SBKC). We purchase an Entertainment book and use the coupons to our advantage- combine them with Happy Hour prices, the daily special, or we buy one entree and split it. The Ralph's coupons in the Entertainment book have also helped us save money on groceries too! The coupons for services are great!
I joined lots of E-clubs and started following more blogs- that really helped me keep abreast of savings, upcoming sales, and freebies galore.
Use all of the HBA in our house. Not to buy any more unless we had run out of a specific item that we *had* to have. Looking into my HBA cupboard yesterday, I am down to 3 sets of shampoo and conditioner. I started the year with 9 sets. I did have to buy Deo., but with a great sale at target, Bogo q's and the secret clinical buy 5 get 1 free deal, they were less than $4.00 each (which is a great deal since they are usually $9.99/each!! I know, but when you have sensitive armpits, you do what you gotta do!!) I am going to keep the momentum going and starting in January 2011, I will only be bringing home free HBA. We won't need deo for probably another year, body wash or hair dye for 6-8 months.
Enjoy more free stuff. I have requested hundreds of free samples this year. I have been using them as they come in and a need arises. I also put them in our travel toiletry kits, and participated in a freebie swap on HCW. I have tried to share the links either on the blog or by posting them in my twitter feed. We also enjoyed more free activities, such as potluck dinners with friends, evenings with friend in our home (or theirs)- playing games, watching movies, just hanging out.
Shopping at new stores to discover new bargains. I am not really a Target fan, however, the closest Target to our house just opened it's expanded grocery section. With coupons and their sales, many of the items we regularly use are free.
A Fresh and Easy opened a few months ago, less than a mile away from our home. I really enjoy their philosophy of fresh food at low prices and the prices aren't bad. I try to go right as the open to hit up the mark down section to save a little extra. They also have $10/$30 or $5/$20 coupons available most of the time. The only down fall is they do not accept manu. q's.
I have also started a spreadsheet to help me track all of the money that has come into the house with rebates and bonuses earned (Mypoints, SBKC, Misc. Surveys, Synovate, E-club rewards, Office Depot WorkLife rewards, etc.). Seeing the total saved really puts all of the work I do to keep us on budget in perspective. To date, we have received $847.20 in cash and giftcards!
I'd love to hear how you all have kept on track with your savings goals, and what those goals are! Please leave a comment and share your goals. I will choose one tip on December 10th, and the winner will receive a holiday savings gift from me, which will include coupons, a $10 gift card and other goodies!
Your goal can be as simple as, "I will save $10 from each paycheck to fund our annual vacation." to "I want to save $10k for a new car and here is how I will do it." Sharing our savings goals can inspire others.
*Extra Entry- Tweet about this contest and use the hashtag #cacpndiva
*Extra Entry #2 Post about this contest on your blog
To save money and maintain the lifestyle that DH and I enjoy. We have changed grocery stores (from Vons to Ralph's) and right there with that one change, there has been a noticeable savings, even on items that I do not have coupons for.
We only dine out with a coupon and/or a giftcard (that usually comes from Mypoints or SBKC). We purchase an Entertainment book and use the coupons to our advantage- combine them with Happy Hour prices, the daily special, or we buy one entree and split it. The Ralph's coupons in the Entertainment book have also helped us save money on groceries too! The coupons for services are great!
I joined lots of E-clubs and started following more blogs- that really helped me keep abreast of savings, upcoming sales, and freebies galore.
Use all of the HBA in our house. Not to buy any more unless we had run out of a specific item that we *had* to have. Looking into my HBA cupboard yesterday, I am down to 3 sets of shampoo and conditioner. I started the year with 9 sets. I did have to buy Deo., but with a great sale at target, Bogo q's and the secret clinical buy 5 get 1 free deal, they were less than $4.00 each (which is a great deal since they are usually $9.99/each!! I know, but when you have sensitive armpits, you do what you gotta do!!) I am going to keep the momentum going and starting in January 2011, I will only be bringing home free HBA. We won't need deo for probably another year, body wash or hair dye for 6-8 months.
Enjoy more free stuff. I have requested hundreds of free samples this year. I have been using them as they come in and a need arises. I also put them in our travel toiletry kits, and participated in a freebie swap on HCW. I have tried to share the links either on the blog or by posting them in my twitter feed. We also enjoyed more free activities, such as potluck dinners with friends, evenings with friend in our home (or theirs)- playing games, watching movies, just hanging out.
Shopping at new stores to discover new bargains. I am not really a Target fan, however, the closest Target to our house just opened it's expanded grocery section. With coupons and their sales, many of the items we regularly use are free.
A Fresh and Easy opened a few months ago, less than a mile away from our home. I really enjoy their philosophy of fresh food at low prices and the prices aren't bad. I try to go right as the open to hit up the mark down section to save a little extra. They also have $10/$30 or $5/$20 coupons available most of the time. The only down fall is they do not accept manu. q's.
I have also started a spreadsheet to help me track all of the money that has come into the house with rebates and bonuses earned (Mypoints, SBKC, Misc. Surveys, Synovate, E-club rewards, Office Depot WorkLife rewards, etc.). Seeing the total saved really puts all of the work I do to keep us on budget in perspective. To date, we have received $847.20 in cash and giftcards!
I'd love to hear how you all have kept on track with your savings goals, and what those goals are! Please leave a comment and share your goals. I will choose one tip on December 10th, and the winner will receive a holiday savings gift from me, which will include coupons, a $10 gift card and other goodies!
Your goal can be as simple as, "I will save $10 from each paycheck to fund our annual vacation." to "I want to save $10k for a new car and here is how I will do it." Sharing our savings goals can inspire others.
*Extra Entry- Tweet about this contest and use the hashtag #cacpndiva
*Extra Entry #2 Post about this contest on your blog
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Are you ready for black Friday?
I know a lot of you are prepping for both Thanksgiving and Black Friday.
For my die-hard shoppers- Remember your coupons. Tomorrow's paper is the single largest paper, so there will be tons of store coupons inside the adverts. Keep your eyes peeled for great coupons from Kohl's (who always has the best coupons), as well as coupons from JCP (orignator of the famous $10/$10).
If you are on a budget, (and who isn't?) stick to your list. I will be using gift cards that I have earned from SBKC and MyPoints paired up with coupons to buy the last remaining gifts. I have a stack of coupons that I have pulled from my coupon wallet for various stores for the sole purpose of my holiday shopping.
If you are still looking for a way to maximize your savings- consider Groupon. Currently, Groupon has a GREAT DEAL! Ok, so they always have a great deal, but for the next 13 hours, Groupon is selling a $50.oo Nordstrom's Rack Gift Certificate for $25.00- It is redeemable at all Rack Locations. Use it to buy gifts, or gift it as the gift itself. If you haven't checked out Groupon yet, it's a great website and they usally have something cool!
For those who do their shopping online, don't forget sites like retailmenot.com and couponcabin.com. You can look up coupon codes to your favorite shopping sites and retailers. Also, if you are a member of mypoints or ebates, don't forget to shop through them to save extra money and earn points or rebate dollars. If you aren't a member of Mypoints yet- What are you waiting for? We've earned over $100 in rewards this year, just for doing the shopping online we normally do, as well as completing surveys and clinking on links in emails. It's really easy and fun!!
Some stores are giving away gift cards/ certificates when you buy $X in products or gift cards. Save those for yourself, or gift them as a gift! Remember that these gift certificates may have certain limitations and exclusions, be aware of these before you give them or use them.
Whatever your shopping plan of attack is: Please be safe and courteous.
For my die-hard shoppers- Remember your coupons. Tomorrow's paper is the single largest paper, so there will be tons of store coupons inside the adverts. Keep your eyes peeled for great coupons from Kohl's (who always has the best coupons), as well as coupons from JCP (orignator of the famous $10/$10).
If you are on a budget, (and who isn't?) stick to your list. I will be using gift cards that I have earned from SBKC and MyPoints paired up with coupons to buy the last remaining gifts. I have a stack of coupons that I have pulled from my coupon wallet for various stores for the sole purpose of my holiday shopping.
If you are still looking for a way to maximize your savings- consider Groupon. Currently, Groupon has a GREAT DEAL! Ok, so they always have a great deal, but for the next 13 hours, Groupon is selling a $50.oo Nordstrom's Rack Gift Certificate for $25.00- It is redeemable at all Rack Locations. Use it to buy gifts, or gift it as the gift itself. If you haven't checked out Groupon yet, it's a great website and they usally have something cool!
For those who do their shopping online, don't forget sites like retailmenot.com and couponcabin.com. You can look up coupon codes to your favorite shopping sites and retailers. Also, if you are a member of mypoints or ebates, don't forget to shop through them to save extra money and earn points or rebate dollars. If you aren't a member of Mypoints yet- What are you waiting for? We've earned over $100 in rewards this year, just for doing the shopping online we normally do, as well as completing surveys and clinking on links in emails. It's really easy and fun!!
Some stores are giving away gift cards/ certificates when you buy $X in products or gift cards. Save those for yourself, or gift them as a gift! Remember that these gift certificates may have certain limitations and exclusions, be aware of these before you give them or use them.
Whatever your shopping plan of attack is: Please be safe and courteous.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Thanksgiving approaches, what are you having?
I love to share recipes and food with others, so Thanksgiving is one of my favorite days.
We’re going to my parents house, but I always help cook. This year is a fremily potluck with about 12 people invited (at last count), but the basics will be supplied by my parents:
Turkey- We usually cook it in a dutch oven in the backyard over open coals- this ensures that it is extremely juicy. More drippings=more gravy!
Turkey Gravy (I always make the gravy! The secret is cornstarch instead of flour)
Mashed taters and cauliflower (a 50/50 mix made with Neufchatel and evaporated milk). I’ll probably top it with very sharp cheddar and Durkee French friend onions. NOM!! I'll be making this.
Cranberry sauce- Made from Scratch! There is no other way! Berries, water, cook until they pop, add sugar to taste.
Stuffing/Dressing (cooked outside the bird). Mrs. Cubbison’s with onion, celery, dried cranberries, apples. Cooked with a smidge of butter and chicken broth for extra flavor. Why cooked outside the bird? I'm pregnant and that's what all the books say. We go with what the book says!
My mom has this delicious recipe for creamed spinach. It involves spinach (defrosted and squeezed dry), sour cream, cream cheese and Lipton’s Onion Soup Mix. Mix it all together and bake in the oven- it’s sooo good. And I don’t really like spinach.
We’re also cooking a ham (12 people need more than one poor turkey).
I’ll be making apple sauce from scratch (it sounds more impressive than it is, it’s pretty easy).
I’m hoping for popovers or spoonbread!
We’ll have the usual tossed salad, carrot jello (it’s orange jello with carrots and raisins), green bean casserole, homemade rolls/bread, roasted root vegetables, and whatever else the fremily brings.
Mom’s making a pumpkin pie, apple pie, and a German chocolate pie too. YUM.
What are you having? Are you spending the day with family and friends?
We’re going to my parents house, but I always help cook. This year is a fremily potluck with about 12 people invited (at last count), but the basics will be supplied by my parents:
Turkey- We usually cook it in a dutch oven in the backyard over open coals- this ensures that it is extremely juicy. More drippings=more gravy!
Turkey Gravy (I always make the gravy! The secret is cornstarch instead of flour)
Mashed taters and cauliflower (a 50/50 mix made with Neufchatel and evaporated milk). I’ll probably top it with very sharp cheddar and Durkee French friend onions. NOM!! I'll be making this.
Cranberry sauce- Made from Scratch! There is no other way! Berries, water, cook until they pop, add sugar to taste.
Stuffing/Dressing (cooked outside the bird). Mrs. Cubbison’s with onion, celery, dried cranberries, apples. Cooked with a smidge of butter and chicken broth for extra flavor. Why cooked outside the bird? I'm pregnant and that's what all the books say. We go with what the book says!
My mom has this delicious recipe for creamed spinach. It involves spinach (defrosted and squeezed dry), sour cream, cream cheese and Lipton’s Onion Soup Mix. Mix it all together and bake in the oven- it’s sooo good. And I don’t really like spinach.
We’re also cooking a ham (12 people need more than one poor turkey).
I’ll be making apple sauce from scratch (it sounds more impressive than it is, it’s pretty easy).
I’m hoping for popovers or spoonbread!
We’ll have the usual tossed salad, carrot jello (it’s orange jello with carrots and raisins), green bean casserole, homemade rolls/bread, roasted root vegetables, and whatever else the fremily brings.
Mom’s making a pumpkin pie, apple pie, and a German chocolate pie too. YUM.
What are you having? Are you spending the day with family and friends?
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Today=Free Food day!!
I know, free food is pretty rad.
Free Tacos (2 per person) at Jack in the Box after 2pm.
Free ice cream noms from Cold Stone creamery! (Thanks Drug Store Divas for the heads up!)
Love Starbucks? They are doing the 12 Days of Sharing starting Dec. 1st. They are also doing a BOGO holiday drink dealie 11/18-11/25 2-5pm. Check out the 'Bux website for more info.
Go get your free Noms on!!
Free Tacos (2 per person) at Jack in the Box after 2pm.
Free ice cream noms from Cold Stone creamery! (Thanks Drug Store Divas for the heads up!)
Love Starbucks? They are doing the 12 Days of Sharing starting Dec. 1st. They are also doing a BOGO holiday drink dealie 11/18-11/25 2-5pm. Check out the 'Bux website for more info.
Go get your free Noms on!!
Friday, November 12, 2010
Working away!
I'm working away on a couple posts that should be ready by Sunday! I'm still here, I promise!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Preparing for the holidays- The Gift Basket!
We do a lot of holiday parties in the winter. There are events with work, our family, and several sets of friends all host parties where each person must bring a gift for the gift exchange that is a $10 (or $20) value.
I try to be a little more creative than just stopping at Starbucks and picking up a gift card. I love to make gift baskets. They are a great way to stretch your budget.
This year I am going to a Bunco/Girl's night in Holiday shindig. I had $10 to spend for a gift. I decided to do a beauty basket. I brought a basket home from work (a vendor brought us treats!), and I filled my basket with goodies that I had bought on clearance at CVS and Walgreens (lotions, bubble bath, masks, moisturizing gloves).
I bought a microfiber wash cloth at Dollar Tree, along with the cellophane, ribbon, and tissue paper.
For work, we have to bring a gift to the holiday lunch- This is a $20 limit. I am making a hot beverage gift basket. I have a cute coffee mug, and a cute snow man tea pot, as well as cookies (3 kinds), tea bags, cocoa and instant mocha packets. I will probably also toss in a $5.00 Starbucks card to round up the value to $20.00.
The coffee mug came from Tuesday Morning or Home Goods after X-mas, it was marked down.
The cookies, tea, cocoa and instant mocha mix came from various clearance sections, and combining coupons with sale prices to score some incredible deals!
I bought the basket, tissue paper, cellophane and ribbon at Dollar Tree.
Here are my tips on making a kick ass gift basket:
It's all about theme: Movie night (with candy, popcorn, redbox codes or a DVD), pampering (body products), Coffee/tea/cocoa. Pick a theme and run with it.
Don't waste too much money on a basket. If you can't find a basket that you like/is the right shape, get a cardboard box, and cover it with wrapping paper, or fabric. If you are doing a movie theme, consider looking into plastic popcorn buckets (Target usually has them).
It's all about display: Remember to pad the bottom of the box/basket with crumpled newspaper or tissue paper so the items in the basket are nicely presented. If you use newspaper, consider using crinkly paper shreds or tissue paper to cover the newsprint.
Look around for sales and on clearance sections for your basket filler. Drug stores and mass merchandisers have great clearance sections. Remember to combine coupons with sales. This time of year, Bath & Body works has coupons for a free item WYB something almost every weekend. If you have a JC Penney's Card, they will be mailing $10/$10 coupons soon- use it to buy some great jewelry or candles from the clearance section for your basket.
Don't waste money on fancy ribbon, celleophane, or tissue paper. Haunt your local dollar store, like Dollar tree, 99 Cents Only, or Family Dollar. They have great products for a really cheap price. Or, keep your eyes open after each holiday and stock up on the clearance section.
I try to be a little more creative than just stopping at Starbucks and picking up a gift card. I love to make gift baskets. They are a great way to stretch your budget.
This year I am going to a Bunco/Girl's night in Holiday shindig. I had $10 to spend for a gift. I decided to do a beauty basket. I brought a basket home from work (a vendor brought us treats!), and I filled my basket with goodies that I had bought on clearance at CVS and Walgreens (lotions, bubble bath, masks, moisturizing gloves).
I bought a microfiber wash cloth at Dollar Tree, along with the cellophane, ribbon, and tissue paper.
For work, we have to bring a gift to the holiday lunch- This is a $20 limit. I am making a hot beverage gift basket. I have a cute coffee mug, and a cute snow man tea pot, as well as cookies (3 kinds), tea bags, cocoa and instant mocha packets. I will probably also toss in a $5.00 Starbucks card to round up the value to $20.00.
The coffee mug came from Tuesday Morning or Home Goods after X-mas, it was marked down.
The cookies, tea, cocoa and instant mocha mix came from various clearance sections, and combining coupons with sale prices to score some incredible deals!
I bought the basket, tissue paper, cellophane and ribbon at Dollar Tree.
Here are my tips on making a kick ass gift basket:
It's all about theme: Movie night (with candy, popcorn, redbox codes or a DVD), pampering (body products), Coffee/tea/cocoa. Pick a theme and run with it.
Don't waste too much money on a basket. If you can't find a basket that you like/is the right shape, get a cardboard box, and cover it with wrapping paper, or fabric. If you are doing a movie theme, consider looking into plastic popcorn buckets (Target usually has them).It's all about display: Remember to pad the bottom of the box/basket with crumpled newspaper or tissue paper so the items in the basket are nicely presented. If you use newspaper, consider using crinkly paper shreds or tissue paper to cover the newsprint.
Look around for sales and on clearance sections for your basket filler. Drug stores and mass merchandisers have great clearance sections. Remember to combine coupons with sales. This time of year, Bath & Body works has coupons for a free item WYB something almost every weekend. If you have a JC Penney's Card, they will be mailing $10/$10 coupons soon- use it to buy some great jewelry or candles from the clearance section for your basket.
Don't waste money on fancy ribbon, celleophane, or tissue paper. Haunt your local dollar store, like Dollar tree, 99 Cents Only, or Family Dollar. They have great products for a really cheap price. Or, keep your eyes open after each holiday and stock up on the clearance section.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Some pretty groovy giveaways, coupons, and freebies
I'm scouring the internet to find awesome stuff for you!!
A Frugal Mom is giving away a Betty Crocker Potato Buds Gift Pack.
Thrifty and Chic Mom has info on the Sears Kitchenaid Rescue my Appliances Sweepstakes.
Boston Market has new printable coupons!
A Frugal Mom is giving away a Betty Crocker Potato Buds Gift Pack.
Thrifty and Chic Mom has info on the Sears Kitchenaid Rescue my Appliances Sweepstakes.
Boston Market has new printable coupons!
Friday, October 22, 2010
Friday means freebies!
Woo Hoo! And there are tons of freebies out there this week. You can always check out my twitter feed for even more freebies.
From Wal*mart: Garnier Ultra lift moisturizer & Crest Pro-Health toothpaste
Breathe Right strips- I heard this on the radio yesterday.
5 React Gum (From facebook)- Allow pop-ups & sign on to Facebook, Click on left side "See If You Are Chosen", Watch a short video & enter information.
Jiffy recipe book- I love this freebie. I've ordered it for a couple family members and they are so excited when it arrives in their mail box.
For those who can't get enough of Emergen-C, here is another sample offer!
Pop-Tarts Sprinklings- MMM Breakfast!!
Veteran's day is coming up! McCormick & Schick's is offering free dinners to Vets! (there will be a lot of Veteran's Day Freebies available!
From Wal*mart: Garnier Ultra lift moisturizer & Crest Pro-Health toothpaste
Breathe Right strips- I heard this on the radio yesterday.
5 React Gum (From facebook)- Allow pop-ups & sign on to Facebook, Click on left side "See If You Are Chosen", Watch a short video & enter information.
Jiffy recipe book- I love this freebie. I've ordered it for a couple family members and they are so excited when it arrives in their mail box.
For those who can't get enough of Emergen-C, here is another sample offer!
Pop-Tarts Sprinklings- MMM Breakfast!!
Veteran's day is coming up! McCormick & Schick's is offering free dinners to Vets! (there will be a lot of Veteran's Day Freebies available!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Operation Stockpile clean up!
Last night we cleaned out the cupboard. It had become very disorganzied, and it bugged me.
I started with a bankers box that Brooke had brought me (generously filled with food). The food went into the cupboard and the empty box serve as the collection box for the food bank.
We have an amazing amount of soup! And pasta/rice. I moved the cereal down from the top shelf (I have a hard time reaching it), and put the extra condiments up there, since we don't use them as frequently. All of the tomato products are on one shelf together, along the broth and other making "stuff". I tried to group everything together and make it easier to find.
I didn't take any before pics (Trust me- it's pretty embarrassing!), but here are some afters. Our stockpile is on the bare side. We haven't been on a major shopping trip in a couple month. I usually go to the store once a week for milk and veggies, and I cruise the markdown meat section and pick up roasts and ground beef. I buy chicken breasts and cheese at Costco once a month or so.
[gallery]
Th first three photos are the inside of my newly re-organized cupboard, the 4 photo is the box of food that will be donated to the food bank. The last photo is my awesomely stocked freezer. Most of the frozen food came from 99 cents only!
Now my cupboard and freezer are a lot more organized, which will help me plan the menu for this week and next.
I started with a bankers box that Brooke had brought me (generously filled with food). The food went into the cupboard and the empty box serve as the collection box for the food bank.
We have an amazing amount of soup! And pasta/rice. I moved the cereal down from the top shelf (I have a hard time reaching it), and put the extra condiments up there, since we don't use them as frequently. All of the tomato products are on one shelf together, along the broth and other making "stuff". I tried to group everything together and make it easier to find.
I didn't take any before pics (Trust me- it's pretty embarrassing!), but here are some afters. Our stockpile is on the bare side. We haven't been on a major shopping trip in a couple month. I usually go to the store once a week for milk and veggies, and I cruise the markdown meat section and pick up roasts and ground beef. I buy chicken breasts and cheese at Costco once a month or so.
[gallery]
Th first three photos are the inside of my newly re-organized cupboard, the 4 photo is the box of food that will be donated to the food bank. The last photo is my awesomely stocked freezer. Most of the frozen food came from 99 cents only!
Now my cupboard and freezer are a lot more organized, which will help me plan the menu for this week and next.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Making a list and checkin' it.. more than twice
The holiday gift list has been made, and it's been trimmed because of finances. I typically buy gifts all year for various family members and keep them in my gift "closet". It's not really a closet- since out apartment is pretty small, storage is at a premium, so I have to get creative. My "closet" is a 3 drawer white plastic Sterilite storage set (with the wheels removed!).
I can't take pics of what's inside each drawer- since some of my readers are on my gift list, but I carry my shopping list of gift recipients with me and when I see a perfect present for them throughout the year, I pick it up and put it away. By October, I am usually done shopping.
This year, sadly, I haven't been as good about it, or maybe I just couldn't find some awesome deals. I do however have the gift for our work holiday party- thank goodness for after Christmas sales! (We have to bring 1 holiday themed gift)
I'll be using Mypoints points for Holiday gift cards, as well as the cash I make from Synovate and Pincone Research surveys, as well as the awesome $10/$10 coupons JCP mails out (we should probably get 1 or 2 before the holidays) to fill in the rest of the gifts that we need to buy.
How do you budget for the holidays?
I can't take pics of what's inside each drawer- since some of my readers are on my gift list, but I carry my shopping list of gift recipients with me and when I see a perfect present for them throughout the year, I pick it up and put it away. By October, I am usually done shopping.
This year, sadly, I haven't been as good about it, or maybe I just couldn't find some awesome deals. I do however have the gift for our work holiday party- thank goodness for after Christmas sales! (We have to bring 1 holiday themed gift)
I'll be using Mypoints points for Holiday gift cards, as well as the cash I make from Synovate and Pincone Research surveys, as well as the awesome $10/$10 coupons JCP mails out (we should probably get 1 or 2 before the holidays) to fill in the rest of the gifts that we need to buy.
How do you budget for the holidays?
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Otrib.com
Here is an interesting thought... What happens to your facebook page when you pass on?
Otrib provides a service that lets you name an heir to your Facebook account and specify its handling after you die.
Otrib also provides other tools to those who are greiving. The ability to write Death notices and obituaries, funeral home ratings. They also have a lot of articles about end of life and various aspects of the funeral business (like what happens if you die in a foreign country).
It is a FREE community, and they also offer a facebook app (app.otrib.com)
I found out about Otrib because I am a bzzagent. Bzzagent.com is a word of mouth marketing company. Bzzagents (like ME!) share information, samples and our opinions on products and services (it's called spreading the bzz!). If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Bzzagent yourself or checking out what Bzzzagent has to offer, check out their website.
Otrib provides a service that lets you name an heir to your Facebook account and specify its handling after you die.
Otrib also provides other tools to those who are greiving. The ability to write Death notices and obituaries, funeral home ratings. They also have a lot of articles about end of life and various aspects of the funeral business (like what happens if you die in a foreign country).
It is a FREE community, and they also offer a facebook app (app.otrib.com)
I found out about Otrib because I am a bzzagent. Bzzagent.com is a word of mouth marketing company. Bzzagents (like ME!) share information, samples and our opinions on products and services (it's called spreading the bzz!). If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Bzzagent yourself or checking out what Bzzzagent has to offer, check out their website.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
IRL
For those of you who know me IRL (in real life) know that DH lost his job on 9/24/10. That is one of the reasons that my posting has been less frequent. Also, we are expecting a baby (we call it "the Cub" b/c we don't know the gender yet) in March.
Things are starting to stabilize, so I should be back to posting more often.
I am on Twitter daily, so you can always check out what I'm tweeting and re-tweeting (usually freebies and awesome deals).
Remember, when I get to 200 Twitter followers, I'll be holding another give away.
In other news, I've been working on my couponing/frugal living book. One of the sections I want to include is a list of silly/funny/crazy things you do to save money (squeezing ketchup packets in to the empty bottle, stuff like that). I'm giving away a 20 coupon potluck to each person who contributes, and you'll receive an attribution in my book (or you can remain anon.). You can post a comment or email me your contributions.
Things are starting to stabilize, so I should be back to posting more often.
I am on Twitter daily, so you can always check out what I'm tweeting and re-tweeting (usually freebies and awesome deals).
Remember, when I get to 200 Twitter followers, I'll be holding another give away.
In other news, I've been working on my couponing/frugal living book. One of the sections I want to include is a list of silly/funny/crazy things you do to save money (squeezing ketchup packets in to the empty bottle, stuff like that). I'm giving away a 20 coupon potluck to each person who contributes, and you'll receive an attribution in my book (or you can remain anon.). You can post a comment or email me your contributions.
Everyone loves tacos!
Crazy Coupon Mommy is giving away the fixins' for an awesome Taco night!
Here's what you could win:
*a packet of Old El Paso Taco Seasoning
*a Cactus Chip & Dip Serving dish
*a set of 3 Fiesta Chili Pepper serving dishes
*a $10 gift card to purchase your taco fixings
Everyone loves a family taco night, I know that my family does!
Here's what you could win:
*a packet of Old El Paso Taco Seasoning
*a Cactus Chip & Dip Serving dish
*a set of 3 Fiesta Chili Pepper serving dishes
*a $10 gift card to purchase your taco fixings
Everyone loves a family taco night, I know that my family does!
Friday, October 8, 2010
15 times when you shouldn't use your credit card
From Creditcards.com and yahoo finance.
Here are a couple more thoughts:
If you can't afford it, don't buy it. Here is an awesome Saturday Night Live skit about just that topic.
Here are a couple more thoughts:
If you can't afford it, don't buy it. Here is an awesome Saturday Night Live skit about just that topic.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Frugality articles
Here are some interesting articles that I've read over the past few days:
7 spending cuts you might not even notice.
Summer Savings: 21 Ways to Save Money on Restaurants, Day Trips and More
But will it make you happy?
Get Out of Debt the Right Way
Eight Painless ways to save money
12 obscure websites that can save you money
7 spending cuts you might not even notice.
Summer Savings: 21 Ways to Save Money on Restaurants, Day Trips and More
But will it make you happy?
Get Out of Debt the Right Way
Eight Painless ways to save money
12 obscure websites that can save you money
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Getting hitched on the cheap!
Mr. Coupondiva and I have been married for a few years, but I thought I'd write about ways to have a frugal (not cheap) but Elegant wedding. Remember, for some people who may be involved in your big day, "Cheap" has a negative connotation, whereas frugal, does not.
Location: This can eat up a huge portion if the budget. If you are a church goer, check to see if your church offers a discount to members. If you are not religious, or if the fee for your church is out of your budget, check out the parks and rec. in your Area. San Diego County Parks and Rec. has many great, inexpensive sites.
Who's going to marry you? If you do not have a judge, religious leader, or other ordained person available, check with the county assessor/recorder/clerks office who issues marriage license, to see if a marriage comissioner for a day is available. That way, anyone of your choosing can marry you. That's what we did.
Food and cake:If your budget is very small, skip the sit down fancy dinner. If your site allows you to bring in your own food, consider hitting up Costco, Vons, and Albertsons. They all have great service deli trays (cheese, meat, fruit, sandwiches)- they all take custom orders which would make a great spread for the post wedding shindig.
Skip the booze- Most sites tack on a crazy charge for serving booze and really, any kind of decent booze is going to eat up a good portion of your budget. Sparkling cider is pretty inexpensive at Costco or Smart and Final- You can get 4 glasses per bottle, maybe more if you are easy on the pour (for the toast).
If you or someone you know has a Costco membership, they have excellent sheet cakes that are pretty inexpensive and would serve 20-30, if you cut them to the approx. size of a piece of average wedding cake (2x2 in. approx).
Paper plates, disposable champagne glasses and napkins, as well as silverware can all be purchased in a myriad of colors from 99 cent or dollar stores. Check party supply stores, Costco, or Smart & Final for the best price (Sometimes they can be cheaper than 99 cent or dollar stores if you need to buy in bulk).
Flowers: Check wholesale flower shops or local floral shops for plain flowers. You can save a lot by making you own arrangements, bouquets and boutenierres. I got all of the flowers for my wedding at Dave flower box in north park. I did 4 bunches of roses (they are buy 1, get 1 free) and some greens for my flowers, the attendants and the table decor, and it was less than $40.00. We had to make the bouquets, but there are really easy to follow directions online. Just google "making a bountinerre".
If you want to do favors, skip Michaels. It's overpriced, even with coupons. Check out Oriental Trading Co.. Check out retailmenot.com beforehand to check for online coupon codes for free shipping of $$ off your order. They have GREAT cheap favors.
Your dress and his tux: Check out bridal dress shop sales. Check out JC Penney's website (They have nice, simple dresses). Check out Craigslist too. Think outside the box for your dress.
Tuxes: Mens Warehouse has a great deal on rentals: Rent 4 and the grooms tux is free!
Misc.: If your site doesn't come with tables, chairs and table clothes, consider asking friends and family to loan you their folding tables and folding chairs. Buy fabric at discount stores (wal-mart) to use as tablecloths.
Don't be afraid to ask for help! People love weddings and don't mind helping!
Location: This can eat up a huge portion if the budget. If you are a church goer, check to see if your church offers a discount to members. If you are not religious, or if the fee for your church is out of your budget, check out the parks and rec. in your Area. San Diego County Parks and Rec. has many great, inexpensive sites.
Who's going to marry you? If you do not have a judge, religious leader, or other ordained person available, check with the county assessor/recorder/clerks office who issues marriage license, to see if a marriage comissioner for a day is available. That way, anyone of your choosing can marry you. That's what we did.
Food and cake:If your budget is very small, skip the sit down fancy dinner. If your site allows you to bring in your own food, consider hitting up Costco, Vons, and Albertsons. They all have great service deli trays (cheese, meat, fruit, sandwiches)- they all take custom orders which would make a great spread for the post wedding shindig.
Skip the booze- Most sites tack on a crazy charge for serving booze and really, any kind of decent booze is going to eat up a good portion of your budget. Sparkling cider is pretty inexpensive at Costco or Smart and Final- You can get 4 glasses per bottle, maybe more if you are easy on the pour (for the toast).
If you or someone you know has a Costco membership, they have excellent sheet cakes that are pretty inexpensive and would serve 20-30, if you cut them to the approx. size of a piece of average wedding cake (2x2 in. approx).
Paper plates, disposable champagne glasses and napkins, as well as silverware can all be purchased in a myriad of colors from 99 cent or dollar stores. Check party supply stores, Costco, or Smart & Final for the best price (Sometimes they can be cheaper than 99 cent or dollar stores if you need to buy in bulk).
Flowers: Check wholesale flower shops or local floral shops for plain flowers. You can save a lot by making you own arrangements, bouquets and boutenierres. I got all of the flowers for my wedding at Dave flower box in north park. I did 4 bunches of roses (they are buy 1, get 1 free) and some greens for my flowers, the attendants and the table decor, and it was less than $40.00. We had to make the bouquets, but there are really easy to follow directions online. Just google "making a bountinerre".
If you want to do favors, skip Michaels. It's overpriced, even with coupons. Check out Oriental Trading Co.. Check out retailmenot.com beforehand to check for online coupon codes for free shipping of $$ off your order. They have GREAT cheap favors.
Your dress and his tux: Check out bridal dress shop sales. Check out JC Penney's website (They have nice, simple dresses). Check out Craigslist too. Think outside the box for your dress.
Tuxes: Mens Warehouse has a great deal on rentals: Rent 4 and the grooms tux is free!
Misc.: If your site doesn't come with tables, chairs and table clothes, consider asking friends and family to loan you their folding tables and folding chairs. Buy fabric at discount stores (wal-mart) to use as tablecloths.
Don't be afraid to ask for help! People love weddings and don't mind helping!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Meal planning
I'm working on meal planning for the next few weeks- for us that means going through the cupboard stockpile to see what's available, and then filling in the few missing ingredients needed with items that are on sale or free with coupons at the market. Meal planning is a very easy, sensible way to save money. If you have a meal plan set up, then you are less likely to go out for dinner. If you do most of the prep work before hand, it will simplify the dinner making process.
Tonight we're having pot roast, veggies, salad and baked potatoes for dinner. Here is how the rest of the week is shaping up.
Sunday:
Breakfast: Fritatta
Lunch: sushi from Fresh and Easy
Dinner: I'm taking the leftover chili and making chili mac (add some cooked macaroni, heat yup the chili, mix together, top with cheese!)
Monday:
Breakfast: Bagels, juice and coffee
Lunch: Frozen lunches (I have a stockpile of Lean Cuisines)
Dinner: Chicken Tetrazinni with Broccolli and salad
Tuesday:
Breakfast: Bagels, juice and coffee
Lunch: Frozen lunches or leftovers
Dinner: Soup and Quesadillas
Wednesday:
Breakfast: Bagels, juice and coffee
Lunch: Frozen lunches
Dinner: Whole wheat pancakes, sausage and fruit salad
Thursday
Breakfast: Bagels, juice and coffee
Lunch: Frozen lunches
Dinner:Veggie enchiladas, refried beans, salad
Friday:
Breakfast: Bagels, juice and coffee
Lunch: Frozen lunches
Dinner: Leftover night!
Saturday:
Breakfast: Bagels, juice and coffee
Lunch: Frozen lunches
Dinner: Potluck with friends (maybe) or stir fry with quinoa and fruit
Tonight we're having pot roast, veggies, salad and baked potatoes for dinner. Here is how the rest of the week is shaping up.
Sunday:
Breakfast: Fritatta
Lunch: sushi from Fresh and Easy
Dinner: I'm taking the leftover chili and making chili mac (add some cooked macaroni, heat yup the chili, mix together, top with cheese!)
Monday:
Breakfast: Bagels, juice and coffee
Lunch: Frozen lunches (I have a stockpile of Lean Cuisines)
Dinner: Chicken Tetrazinni with Broccolli and salad
Tuesday:
Breakfast: Bagels, juice and coffee
Lunch: Frozen lunches or leftovers
Dinner: Soup and Quesadillas
Wednesday:
Breakfast: Bagels, juice and coffee
Lunch: Frozen lunches
Dinner: Whole wheat pancakes, sausage and fruit salad
Thursday
Breakfast: Bagels, juice and coffee
Lunch: Frozen lunches
Dinner:Veggie enchiladas, refried beans, salad
Friday:
Breakfast: Bagels, juice and coffee
Lunch: Frozen lunches
Dinner: Leftover night!
Saturday:
Breakfast: Bagels, juice and coffee
Lunch: Frozen lunches
Dinner: Potluck with friends (maybe) or stir fry with quinoa and fruit
Wowza!
Henry's wellness faire, full of yummy food, and loaded down with samples!
That does not include the 2 sandwiches, yogurt, and cookies that I brought home!
Most of the samples are for skin care products- which is great! I love natural and botanically based skin care lines.
I ate a lot of really yummy food: Ice Cream, a sandwich, roast beef, lots of great beverages!
It was def. worth the $10 admission. I also received a free Re-usable cloth Henry's grocery bag and a stack of coupons for free Henry's products- including cow's milk, soy milk, frozen fruit, frozen vegetables and garlic bread!
That does not include the 2 sandwiches, yogurt, and cookies that I brought home!Most of the samples are for skin care products- which is great! I love natural and botanically based skin care lines.
I ate a lot of really yummy food: Ice Cream, a sandwich, roast beef, lots of great beverages!
It was def. worth the $10 admission. I also received a free Re-usable cloth Henry's grocery bag and a stack of coupons for free Henry's products- including cow's milk, soy milk, frozen fruit, frozen vegetables and garlic bread!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Fun Stuff!
Saturday is the Henry's Wellness Fair in Mission Valley!
Tickets are $15 at the door or buy in advance for $10 at any Henry's location.
I can't wait!
Tickets are $15 at the door or buy in advance for $10 at any Henry's location.
I can't wait!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
San Diego peeps in east county!
This is a great opportunity to get some tasty noms and some swag!
Jack-tivities on September 20, 2010:
Join 100.7 Jack Fm at Pat and Oscars on Monday, September 20th from 6pm to 8pm, located in Parkway Plaza 375 Parkway Plaza, El Cajon, Ca. 92020. If you spend $25 between 6pm and 8pm (not including tax and tip), bring your receipt to the Jack Fm booth and receive a complimentary ticket to one of San Diego’s premiere haunted houses, The Haunted Trail (6th and Juniper at Marston Point) or The Haunted Hotel (4th and Market, Downtown) while supplies last. You will also receive a special gift from Pat and Oscars. The Haunted Trail and The Haunted Hotel open on September 24th through October 31st, 2010. For more information call 619-696-SCARE or click www.hauntedhotel.com. Beat the back to school blues with Pat & Oscar’s! For a limited time Pizza Pairs is back. Purchase any medium pizza and get a second medium cheese pizza for Free. Dine-In or Take-Out Pat & Oscar’s has something for the whole family to enjoy. www.patandoscars.com.
Jack Fm will see you Monday, September 20th, 2010 from 6pm-8pm at Pat and Oscars in Parkway Plaza.
Jack-tivities on September 20, 2010:
Join 100.7 Jack Fm at Pat and Oscars on Monday, September 20th from 6pm to 8pm, located in Parkway Plaza 375 Parkway Plaza, El Cajon, Ca. 92020. If you spend $25 between 6pm and 8pm (not including tax and tip), bring your receipt to the Jack Fm booth and receive a complimentary ticket to one of San Diego’s premiere haunted houses, The Haunted Trail (6th and Juniper at Marston Point) or The Haunted Hotel (4th and Market, Downtown) while supplies last. You will also receive a special gift from Pat and Oscars. The Haunted Trail and The Haunted Hotel open on September 24th through October 31st, 2010. For more information call 619-696-SCARE or click www.hauntedhotel.com. Beat the back to school blues with Pat & Oscar’s! For a limited time Pizza Pairs is back. Purchase any medium pizza and get a second medium cheese pizza for Free. Dine-In or Take-Out Pat & Oscar’s has something for the whole family to enjoy. www.patandoscars.com.
Jack Fm will see you Monday, September 20th, 2010 from 6pm-8pm at Pat and Oscars in Parkway Plaza.
The Winners!!
Woo Hoo!
I have selected the winners thanks to the True Random Number Generator at Random.org.
The winners are:
TGIFriday's gift card: Jordan
Exxon/Mobil gift card: Eliza Prize Claimed
Elephant Bar and Grill Gift card: Maria
Kid-centric coupon wallet: Heather Prize claimed mailed 9/18/10
Pet-centric coupon wallet: Hillary Prize claimed- will be delivered 9/20/10
Misc. Coupon wallet: Jennifer Prize claimed mailed 9/18/10
If you could email me at akeen02037@gmail.com with your mailing address, your prizes will be shipped this weekend.
Thank you to everyone who entered and everyone who follows us on Twitter and this blog! We'll be having another giveaway when we reach 200 Twitter followers!
I have selected the winners thanks to the True Random Number Generator at Random.org.
The winners are:
TGIFriday's gift card: Jordan
Exxon/Mobil gift card: Eliza Prize Claimed
Elephant Bar and Grill Gift card: Maria
Kid-centric coupon wallet: Heather Prize claimed mailed 9/18/10
Pet-centric coupon wallet: Hillary Prize claimed- will be delivered 9/20/10
Misc. Coupon wallet: Jennifer Prize claimed mailed 9/18/10
If you could email me at akeen02037@gmail.com with your mailing address, your prizes will be shipped this weekend.
Thank you to everyone who entered and everyone who follows us on Twitter and this blog! We'll be having another giveaway when we reach 200 Twitter followers!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
One last chance to enter...
I'll be selecting the winners tonight for my giveaway.
You haven't entered yet? Well, what are you waiting for! Click the link above and enter!!
You haven't entered yet? Well, what are you waiting for! Click the link above and enter!!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
San Diego, CA private couponing classes available!
My San Diego, CA readers, I am offering private one on one couponing classes, including private shopping trips, that include how to save the most at the sotre, where to find coupons and how to use them to your advantage! I'll help you find coupons to match your shopping list.
These private lessons include a copy of my savings book and a coupon wallet loaded with coupons.
For prices on lessons and availability, drop me an email at akeen02037@gmail.com.
These private lessons include a copy of my savings book and a coupon wallet loaded with coupons.
For prices on lessons and availability, drop me an email at akeen02037@gmail.com.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
The giveaway is finally here!
Woo Hoo!
I finally have time/energy to do this post and do it right! To celebrate our 100 (now 110!) Twitter followers, we're having a giveaway for you, the readers!
There are quite a few awesome things you can win:
Child-centric coupon wallet with all kinds of coupons, but lots of kiddo/baby coupons and family friendly foods. The coupon wallet includes a calculator and a little notepad that fits into the wallet.
Pet-Centric coupon wallet with all kinds of coupons, but lots of puppy/kitty food/treat/supply coupons and lots of yummy people food coupons. The coupon wallet includes a calculator and a little notepad that fits into the wallet.
A coupon wallet with all kinds of coupons, including HBA and cleaning stuff. The coupon wallet includes a calculator and a little notepad that fits into the wallet.
Each of the coupon wallets contains at least 75 coupons.
A $10 gift card to TGIFridays
A $20 gift card to Exxon Mobil gas stations
A $5.00 Dining Card to The Elephant Bar and Grill
How to enter: Leave a comment. I'll select winners on the 9/15/10.
Extra Entries: Tweet a link to this entry- make sure to use the hash tag #cacpndiva. Please leave a comment here with a link. Make sure to leave your twitter user ID.
Extra Entry #2: Post a link on your facebook or myspace. Please leave a comment here with a link.
Extra Entry #3: Link to this giveaway on your blog! Please leave a comment here with a link.
Make sure to specify what prize you want to win- if you don't have a specific prize in mind, let me know that too! Thanks again to everyone who follows me on Twitter and reads this blog!
There will be another giveaway when the Twitter follower count reaches 200!
I finally have time/energy to do this post and do it right! To celebrate our 100 (now 110!) Twitter followers, we're having a giveaway for you, the readers!
There are quite a few awesome things you can win:
Child-centric coupon wallet with all kinds of coupons, but lots of kiddo/baby coupons and family friendly foods. The coupon wallet includes a calculator and a little notepad that fits into the wallet.
Pet-Centric coupon wallet with all kinds of coupons, but lots of puppy/kitty food/treat/supply coupons and lots of yummy people food coupons. The coupon wallet includes a calculator and a little notepad that fits into the wallet.
A coupon wallet with all kinds of coupons, including HBA and cleaning stuff. The coupon wallet includes a calculator and a little notepad that fits into the wallet.
Each of the coupon wallets contains at least 75 coupons.
A $10 gift card to TGIFridays
A $20 gift card to Exxon Mobil gas stations
A $5.00 Dining Card to The Elephant Bar and Grill
How to enter: Leave a comment. I'll select winners on the 9/15/10.
Extra Entries: Tweet a link to this entry- make sure to use the hash tag #cacpndiva. Please leave a comment here with a link. Make sure to leave your twitter user ID.
Extra Entry #2: Post a link on your facebook or myspace. Please leave a comment here with a link.
Extra Entry #3: Link to this giveaway on your blog! Please leave a comment here with a link.
Make sure to specify what prize you want to win- if you don't have a specific prize in mind, let me know that too! Thanks again to everyone who follows me on Twitter and reads this blog!
There will be another giveaway when the Twitter follower count reaches 200!
Bzzagent- share cool stuff with friend and family!
For my followers on Twitter, you may see me use the hash tag #imabzzagent in a post that can seem like an advert, often times with a website link or printable coupon link.
Bzzagent is a word of mouth marketing program. Companies offer their products to bzzagent, who offers it to those who participate in the bzzagent program (called Agents). Agents try the products and "share the buzz" by posting on their blogs, Twitter, Facebook, or sharing their experiences and opinions about the products with friends, family and co-workers in person. Often times when the products are sent, the agent receives coupons or other material to share with others, to further "share the buzz".
Agents report back to bzzagent.com and turn in reports of their "buzzings". Bzzagent.com in turn rewards the reports with MyPoints Points!
So it really is a great win-win-win. If you are interested in learning more about bzzagent and all the groovy stuff it has to offer, here's a banner (click it and check it out!)
Bzzagent is a word of mouth marketing program. Companies offer their products to bzzagent, who offers it to those who participate in the bzzagent program (called Agents). Agents try the products and "share the buzz" by posting on their blogs, Twitter, Facebook, or sharing their experiences and opinions about the products with friends, family and co-workers in person. Often times when the products are sent, the agent receives coupons or other material to share with others, to further "share the buzz".
Agents report back to bzzagent.com and turn in reports of their "buzzings". Bzzagent.com in turn rewards the reports with MyPoints Points!
So it really is a great win-win-win. If you are interested in learning more about bzzagent and all the groovy stuff it has to offer, here's a banner (click it and check it out!)
Woo hoo! September is...
National Coupon month!
Great stuff, I know! To continue the geekery, the Wikipedia article about coupons says that the first coupons were distributed by Coca Cola in 1887.
Today there are coupons for everything from personal care products to foodstuffs to vehicle care- If you can think of it, there is probably a coupon for it!
Celebrate National coupon month by loading your store cards with e-coupons from Cellfire, Coupons.com, and Shortcuts and saving a boatload of cash!
Great stuff, I know! To continue the geekery, the Wikipedia article about coupons says that the first coupons were distributed by Coca Cola in 1887.
Today there are coupons for everything from personal care products to foodstuffs to vehicle care- If you can think of it, there is probably a coupon for it!
Celebrate National coupon month by loading your store cards with e-coupons from Cellfire, Coupons.com, and Shortcuts and saving a boatload of cash!
A great article- 4 things not to buy at Target!
This is a really great article- and it does include 4 things to buy at Target too.
Thanks to this Frugal Life for the link!
Thanks to this Frugal Life for the link!
More info on Jack in the Box paid surveys!
This was in my Inbox this morning and it is too goo not to share:
Thank you for registering for the Jack in the Box taste tester panel! We’ll be contacting you as new sessions arise for which you’re taste buds are qualified as an expert. Until then, please pass along this email with registration information to anyone you may think is interested in the greater San Diego area. We’re going to need a lot of taste testers throughout the next few months!!!
Have your friends log-on to:www.stratasurveys.com/JIBtastetest
To join with the panel with you!
What are you waiting for? Go sign up!
Thank you for registering for the Jack in the Box taste tester panel! We’ll be contacting you as new sessions arise for which you’re taste buds are qualified as an expert. Until then, please pass along this email with registration information to anyone you may think is interested in the greater San Diego area. We’re going to need a lot of taste testers throughout the next few months!!!
Have your friends log-on to:www.stratasurveys.com/JIBtastetest
To join with the panel with you!
What are you waiting for? Go sign up!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Some of my readers other favorite websites
I posted on facebook the other day:
"My dears- What are your favorite Frugal living/money saving/coupon websites?"
And here were some of the responses:
Oh Lovely {Coupons}! Maria is a So Cal local and she's got local deals and all kinds of good stuff!
MsBuildingUpDaBenjamins (she's a So Cal. local, so he has a lot of deals that my SD peeps can do too!!)
Supercouponing.com- Jill Cetaldo's website- it's pretty motivating!
The Budget Mommy- Not just kiddo/baby deals- all kinds of savings!
Baby Cheapskate- All kinds of deals for moms, kids, babies and more!
Abundant Food Savings- This is Nor. Cal based website, with a lot of great deals for all of the US, including printable and rebate offers!
So blog buddies- what are "Can't live without" frugal living/money saving/couponing websites?
"My dears- What are your favorite Frugal living/money saving/coupon websites?"
And here were some of the responses:
Oh Lovely {Coupons}! Maria is a So Cal local and she's got local deals and all kinds of good stuff!
MsBuildingUpDaBenjamins (she's a So Cal. local, so he has a lot of deals that my SD peeps can do too!!)
Supercouponing.com- Jill Cetaldo's website- it's pretty motivating!
The Budget Mommy- Not just kiddo/baby deals- all kinds of savings!
Baby Cheapskate- All kinds of deals for moms, kids, babies and more!
Abundant Food Savings- This is Nor. Cal based website, with a lot of great deals for all of the US, including printable and rebate offers!
So blog buddies- what are "Can't live without" frugal living/money saving/couponing websites?
3 day weekend ahead- Hooray!
I don't know about all of you, but I am really looking forward to this 3 day weekend!
I've been re-tweeting and posting some great deals and freebies. Check it out!
In celebration of the upcoming 100 twitter followers, I will be spendign part of this weekend prepping the giveaway goodies, which includes:
5 coupon wallets stuffed with coupons (inserts, blinkies, tearpads, and IP's- lots of great IP's!!). Each wallet will have at least 75 coupons. There will be a special wallet for moms (lots of baby and toddler Q's!) and one for pet owners! THe remaining three will have a great mix of coupons! Each coupon wallet will come with a small memo pad to slip inside the wallet, a couple pens and a brand new calculator that is color coordinated with your wallet!
I also have gift cards! $20 Exxon/Mobil gas card, a $10 TGIFridays gift card, and a $5 Elephant Bar and grill card, and a few other misc. gift cards!
There will be a few ways to enter- details will be available as soon as we hit 100 Twitter followers!
I've been re-tweeting and posting some great deals and freebies. Check it out!
In celebration of the upcoming 100 twitter followers, I will be spendign part of this weekend prepping the giveaway goodies, which includes:
5 coupon wallets stuffed with coupons (inserts, blinkies, tearpads, and IP's- lots of great IP's!!). Each wallet will have at least 75 coupons. There will be a special wallet for moms (lots of baby and toddler Q's!) and one for pet owners! THe remaining three will have a great mix of coupons! Each coupon wallet will come with a small memo pad to slip inside the wallet, a couple pens and a brand new calculator that is color coordinated with your wallet!
I also have gift cards! $20 Exxon/Mobil gas card, a $10 TGIFridays gift card, and a $5 Elephant Bar and grill card, and a few other misc. gift cards!
There will be a few ways to enter- details will be available as soon as we hit 100 Twitter followers!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Very important: No coupon inserts on Sunday!
That's right my dears. It's a holiday weekend and that means no coupon inserts in the Sunday paper. For those of us who get Red Plum inserts in our Junk mail the following week, that means no RP insert either :(
So, instead, sleep in this Sunday, clean out your coupon wallet and check out my Twitter feed for printable and freebies!
So, instead, sleep in this Sunday, clean out your coupon wallet and check out my Twitter feed for printable and freebies!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Printable coupon Round up!
Hormel Brand printable coupons- You have to sign up for an account, but it's quick and easy and they have some really great coupons! Thanks to Printable Coupon Spot!
Al Fresco All Natural Chicken Sausage $1/1 (I really like this sausage- it's really good!)-Thanks to Printable Coupon Spot!
$5/5 Kraft Cheese Products! (This is a great printable for upcoming holiday sales)- Via email
I am the most excited about this new printable- Girard's Salad Dressing (I recommend the Raspberry- it's sweet and goes great with Romaine, feta cheese, cucumbers, and walnuts). $2/1!
And Remember- It's the first of the month, so all of the printables have refreshed, and the e-coupons have refreshed. Check out Shortcuts.com, coupons.com, and cellfire.com!
Go Forth and Print!
Al Fresco All Natural Chicken Sausage $1/1 (I really like this sausage- it's really good!)-Thanks to Printable Coupon Spot!
$5/5 Kraft Cheese Products! (This is a great printable for upcoming holiday sales)- Via email
I am the most excited about this new printable- Girard's Salad Dressing (I recommend the Raspberry- it's sweet and goes great with Romaine, feta cheese, cucumbers, and walnuts). $2/1!
And Remember- It's the first of the month, so all of the printables have refreshed, and the e-coupons have refreshed. Check out Shortcuts.com, coupons.com, and cellfire.com!
Go Forth and Print!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Random freebies and articles
I have been remiss in posting- we're really busy and my coupon class has me running around like a crazy(er) coupon lady!
So, enjoy some stuff that I have stumbled upon and enjoyed:
Free Avery Removable Labels (Thanks to This Frugal life)- Via Twitter
Free Signature Collection Body Care item at Bath and Body Works, when you spend $10.00. - Via Email from B&BW
Scotch Products Try me Free rebate- Thanks to Frugal Coupon Living
New free samples at Wal-mart.com!
20 ways to save money everywhere you shop- Courtesy of Allyou.com
New printable coupons from Allyou.com!
Walgreens has a great $10 rebate (in the form of a $10 Wags Gift card!)WYB $30 in Revlon or Nexxus products! -Found on the Wags website
Are you checking Allyou.com each day for their Free Sample of the Day? No- Well, you should be!!
And remember- Once we hit 100 Twitter Followers, we're having a sweet give-away, including gift cards and coupon wallets stuffed with coupons!
So, enjoy some stuff that I have stumbled upon and enjoyed:
Free Avery Removable Labels (Thanks to This Frugal life)- Via Twitter
Free Signature Collection Body Care item at Bath and Body Works, when you spend $10.00. - Via Email from B&BW
Scotch Products Try me Free rebate- Thanks to Frugal Coupon Living
New free samples at Wal-mart.com!
20 ways to save money everywhere you shop- Courtesy of Allyou.com
New printable coupons from Allyou.com!
Walgreens has a great $10 rebate (in the form of a $10 Wags Gift card!)WYB $30 in Revlon or Nexxus products! -Found on the Wags website
Are you checking Allyou.com each day for their Free Sample of the Day? No- Well, you should be!!
And remember- Once we hit 100 Twitter Followers, we're having a sweet give-away, including gift cards and coupon wallets stuffed with coupons!
80% off at Restaurant.com Gift Certificates
Woo Hoo-Restaurant.com Gift Certificates are 80% off with discount code CLEARANCE at check out.
That makes a $25 gift Certificate only $2!!
If you haven't checked out this website- I totally recommend it- it's a great way to try new restaurant's in you area, or plan your upcoming vacation, on the cheap!
That makes a $25 gift Certificate only $2!!
If you haven't checked out this website- I totally recommend it- it's a great way to try new restaurant's in you area, or plan your upcoming vacation, on the cheap!
Friday, August 27, 2010
It's Friday!!
That means tons of freebie re-tweets on Twitter. Go check it out... What are you waiting for?
Oh, but first, before you go...Walgreens has put their corporate coupon policy online. For those aftraid to click the link, here it is:
As a customer-focused retailer, Walgreens encourages the use of coupons by our customers in our retail stores, in accordance with the following guidelines.
Earning Register RewardsTM
Redeeming Register RewardsTM
Not bad, not bad. For those hardcore Wags shoppers, I recommend printing a copy out and sticking it in your coupon wallet. I know I will be!
The only thing that makes me sad is the language regarding BOGO items. I guess I'll have to hit up CVS for BOGO with a BOGO Q.
Oh, but first, before you go...Walgreens has put their corporate coupon policy online. For those aftraid to click the link, here it is:
As a customer-focused retailer, Walgreens encourages the use of coupons by our customers in our retail stores, in accordance with the following guidelines.
Guidelines:
General
- All valid coupons should be presented to the cashier at the time of checkout.
- Walgreens does not accept expired coupons.
- Coupons and their face value cannot be exchanged for cash or gift cards.
- Competitor coupons are not accepted at Walgreens.
- Walgreens cannot accept coupons for items not carried in our stores.
- The number of manufacturer coupons, including Register RewardsTM manufacturer coupons, may not exceed the number of items in the transaction. The total value of the coupons may not exceed the value of the transaction. Sales tax must be paid, if required by state law.
- Any coupon offer not covered in these guidelines will be accepted at the discretion of Walgreens management.
Sale Items
- Walgreens will accept manufacturer coupons for an item that is on sale.
- In the event that any item's selling price is less than the value of the coupon, Walgreens will only accept the coupon in exchange for the selling price of the item. Coupon redemption can never exceed the selling price of an item and no cash back is ever provided in exchange for any coupons.
Multiple Coupons
- When purchasing a single item, Walgreens accepts one manufacturer coupon and applicable Walgreens coupon(s) for the purchase of a single item, unless prohibited by either coupon offer.
- The coupon amount must be reduced if it exceeds the value of the item after other discounts or coupons are applied. (For example, a $5.00 coupon for a $4.99 item will result in a $4.99 coupon value).
- When purchasing multiple items, Walgreens accepts multiple identical coupons for multiple qualifying items as long as there is sufficient stock to satisfy other customers, unless a limit is specified. Management reserves the right to limit the quantity of items purchased.
Buy One, Get One Free Coupons
- When items are featured in a Buy One, Get One Free promotion, up to two coupons can be used against the items being purchased, as long as the net price does not go below zero for the items being purchased.
- Sales tax must be paid for any Buy One, Get One Free coupon offers, if required by applicable state laws.
Internet/Print at Home Coupons
- Walgreens accepts valid internet/print at home coupons.
Register RewardsTM coupons
Earning Register RewardsTM
- Register RewardsTM will only print for in-stock merchandise during the promotional period.
- Register RewardsTM can only be earned for eligible items. No substitutions.
- There is a limit of one Register RewardsTM (RR) printed per offer per customer per transaction.
- Customers redeeming a Register RewardsTM against the same offer may not receive another RR.
Redeeming Register RewardsTM
- Customers redeeming a Register RewardsTM against the same offer may not receive another RR.
- Refer to Register RewardsTM coupon for expiration date.
- The RR coupon value cannot exceed the total purchase amount. No cash back and no cash value for RR coupon.
- The number of manufacturer coupons, including RR manufacturer coupons, must not exceed the number of items in the transaction.
- Register RewardsTM must be forfeited if the qualifying merchandise is returned.
- Register RewardsTM cannot be used toward the purchase of gift cards and pre-paid cards.
- Register RewardsTM can be redeemed for eligible items only. Ineligible items include but are not limited to:
- Prescriptions
- Tobacco products
- Alcoholic beverages
- Dairy products
- Lottery tickets
- Money orders/transfers
- Transportation passes
- Special event/entertainment tickets or passes
- Postage stamps
- Gift cards/phone cards/prepaid/Green DotTM cards
- Prescription Savings Club" memberships
- Health care services, including immunizations
- Any items prohibited by law
Not bad, not bad. For those hardcore Wags shoppers, I recommend printing a copy out and sticking it in your coupon wallet. I know I will be!
The only thing that makes me sad is the language regarding BOGO items. I guess I'll have to hit up CVS for BOGO with a BOGO Q.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Freebies!
Here are some mid-week freebies- enjoy!
Carefree Pantyliners Free sample and coupon.
Parsely Plus Cleaner- You must be a Viewpoints member (but you can join after you sign up after you enter your address info)
Redken Mens Clean Spice 2 in 1 shampoo
Lanacane Anti-Chafing gel
Cheetos Mighty Zingers snacks
Carefree Pantyliners Free sample and coupon.
Parsely Plus Cleaner- You must be a Viewpoints member (but you can join after you sign up after you enter your address info)
Redken Mens Clean Spice 2 in 1 shampoo
Lanacane Anti-Chafing gel
Cheetos Mighty Zingers snacks
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
How to Be Frugal and Still Be Asked on Dates- Article
LOL.
Granted, I'm an old, married lady, but still.. This article made me LOL.
Check it out- what do you think?
Granted, I'm an old, married lady, but still.. This article made me LOL.
Check it out- what do you think?
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
The Frugalistas best friend: The Price book!
Familycorner.com defines a price book as, "A price book is simply a list of the items you use regularly and the best prices they sell for in the stores where you are willing to shop. It is an excellent tool for tracking prices, sales and buying opportunities. Prices in a price book should be listed by cost per unit so you can easily compare different size packages from different stores. When you see a deal in the weekly flyer or in the store, you will know instantly if it is really a good deal and worth your time to go out and purchase. Just because an item is on sale doesn't automatically make it a good buy. The regular price at some stores may be less than the sale price at others. Your price book is an invaluable tool to help you determine if a sale is really a deal."
Really, I can't come up with a better definition then that.
Your price book can be as complex or as easy as you want it to be. You can calculate price per unit, or just list the regular price of each item at each of the stores you visit in your area.
If you have an iPhone or other smartphone, there are several apps available for purchase that take the guess work out if it. If you are computer savvy, you can do a price book in Excel and print a copy when you go to market. There are several available for download free on the Internet. Google search “Excel Price Book download”.
Your price book can be as simple or as complex and you want it to be. If you are new to the concept of prices books, you may wish to add as much detail as possible, to track your savings to the penny.
Basic information for every price book should include:
Date ( you can date the top of each page or note it somewhere within the columns)
The brand- i.e. Hunt’s
The item- i.e. stewed tomatoes
Size -in ounces or pounds, however the item is listed on the container (i.e. 14.5oz, 2 lbs.)
Price- for the entire package. i.e. $1.89
Name of store- This is helpful if you are trying to find the cheapest price for an item within a range of stores. Is deodorant really cheaper at the grocery store, Target or CVS in your area. Start price book and find out!
Additional info:
Sale price (if any)
Date of sale (if any)
Listing sale information may assist you in tracking when sales occur, and plan your shopping trips throughout the year. Knowing when to stock up on specific items may save you a couple hundred dollars a year.
Your price book will help you determine if that 50-gallon drum of yogurt at Costco is a better deal than the 32-ounce tub from the supermarket. Not all bulk purchases are a better deal.
I have two- one is for stores that I shop for groceries at, and the second is for drugstores and mass merchandisers (for HBA shopping).
My grocery stores include: Vons, Albertsons, Costco (so I can determine what is a good deal), 99 Cents Only, and Target. My local Targets are not Super Targets, but they do have a pantry section, so I can shop for some food items.
My HBA spreadsheet includes Wags, CVS, and Target. I do not shop at Wal-mart (our local Wal-marts are not coupon friendly). I tend not to buy HBA at Costco- they do not accept coupons and have a limited range of brands. When I work deals, I can usually get HBA for free or 80-90% off.
Here are some websites that talk about price books and give examples:
Organized Home
No Credit Needed
Suite 101
Cheap Cooking (this one has a template in Excel!)
Grocery Price Comparison (specifically for those in Ohio- but it may be helpful for others in the US)
Enjoy working on your price books!
Really, I can't come up with a better definition then that.
Your price book can be as complex or as easy as you want it to be. You can calculate price per unit, or just list the regular price of each item at each of the stores you visit in your area.
If you have an iPhone or other smartphone, there are several apps available for purchase that take the guess work out if it. If you are computer savvy, you can do a price book in Excel and print a copy when you go to market. There are several available for download free on the Internet. Google search “Excel Price Book download”.
Your price book can be as simple or as complex and you want it to be. If you are new to the concept of prices books, you may wish to add as much detail as possible, to track your savings to the penny.
Basic information for every price book should include:
Date ( you can date the top of each page or note it somewhere within the columns)
The brand- i.e. Hunt’s
The item- i.e. stewed tomatoes
Size -in ounces or pounds, however the item is listed on the container (i.e. 14.5oz, 2 lbs.)
Price- for the entire package. i.e. $1.89
Name of store- This is helpful if you are trying to find the cheapest price for an item within a range of stores. Is deodorant really cheaper at the grocery store, Target or CVS in your area. Start price book and find out!
Additional info:
Sale price (if any)
Date of sale (if any)
Listing sale information may assist you in tracking when sales occur, and plan your shopping trips throughout the year. Knowing when to stock up on specific items may save you a couple hundred dollars a year.
Your price book will help you determine if that 50-gallon drum of yogurt at Costco is a better deal than the 32-ounce tub from the supermarket. Not all bulk purchases are a better deal.
I have two- one is for stores that I shop for groceries at, and the second is for drugstores and mass merchandisers (for HBA shopping).
My grocery stores include: Vons, Albertsons, Costco (so I can determine what is a good deal), 99 Cents Only, and Target. My local Targets are not Super Targets, but they do have a pantry section, so I can shop for some food items.
My HBA spreadsheet includes Wags, CVS, and Target. I do not shop at Wal-mart (our local Wal-marts are not coupon friendly). I tend not to buy HBA at Costco- they do not accept coupons and have a limited range of brands. When I work deals, I can usually get HBA for free or 80-90% off.
Here are some websites that talk about price books and give examples:
Organized Home
No Credit Needed
Suite 101
Cheap Cooking (this one has a template in Excel!)
Grocery Price Comparison (specifically for those in Ohio- but it may be helpful for others in the US)
Enjoy working on your price books!
Check it out- My sweet, sweet free stuff!
If you follow me on twitter, you know I re-tweet freebie offers ALL THE TIME! I try to take advantage of those freebies too.
Recently, I haven't been trying to get as many as I could, we've been really busy!
[caption id="attachment_644" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="WOO HOO!"]
[/caption]
Bull's eye BBQ sauce, Dentyne Pure, a neti pot (the teapot for your nose!), Prilosec, Nexxus samples and hair color coupons have all arrived in the past week!
We also received a no cost energy Efficiency Kit from SDG&E, but I already installed all the parts!
If you are looking for freebies, check out facebook and twitter!
Recently, I haven't been trying to get as many as I could, we've been really busy!
[caption id="attachment_644" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="WOO HOO!"]
[/caption]Bull's eye BBQ sauce, Dentyne Pure, a neti pot (the teapot for your nose!), Prilosec, Nexxus samples and hair color coupons have all arrived in the past week!
We also received a no cost energy Efficiency Kit from SDG&E, but I already installed all the parts!
If you are looking for freebies, check out facebook and twitter!
I'm still alive!
Sorry my posts have been sporadic, I've been a little under the weather as of late.
Remember to check out our Twitter feed. We try to twitter everyday, re-tweet great deals and cool links we find.
I've got some photos of the great freebies we've received recently, I'll post a re-cap tonight!
Remember to check out our Twitter feed. We try to twitter everyday, re-tweet great deals and cool links we find.
I've got some photos of the great freebies we've received recently, I'll post a re-cap tonight!
Friday, August 13, 2010
Woo Hoo!
Thanks to everyone who attend my coupon class this week. We went over couponing basics, discussed the types of coupons and everyone got a new coupon wallet and got to fill it with as many coupons as they wanted!
Next week we'll discuss piggybacking and stacking, drug store shopping, and we'll pick a date for our first shopping trip to the drug store!
I still have a lot of coupons left, so if you are a San Diego local and you are interested in taking a peek into the stash, let me know. I have 3 sets of last 2 months worth of inserts.
I also have 6 extra coupon wallets if anyone is interested, drop me an email and we can discuss specifics. Each one will come stuffed with a couple hundred dollars in coupons.
Next week we'll discuss piggybacking and stacking, drug store shopping, and we'll pick a date for our first shopping trip to the drug store!
I still have a lot of coupons left, so if you are a San Diego local and you are interested in taking a peek into the stash, let me know. I have 3 sets of last 2 months worth of inserts.
I also have 6 extra coupon wallets if anyone is interested, drop me an email and we can discuss specifics. Each one will come stuffed with a couple hundred dollars in coupons.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Article- 10 tips to save $1000 by Christmas and the reality...
Yahoo Finance has an article up called: 10 Tips to Help You Save $1,000 By Christmas, which sounds great, but if you already live a frugal lifestyle, none of these tips are helpful. Let's break it down, some of these tips aren't too great, or may not apply to the already frugal-liver. These amounts of "savings" are pretty generous, IMHO.
1. Lower your cell phone bill. Potential savings: $100. I agree that it is a good idea to go over your plan and if your needs aren't being met, change the plan. If you have a pay as you go phone, this option may not be available.
2. Lose your land line. Potential savings: $140. If you want to do this- GREAT. If you have the internet via your phone, either via dialup or DSL, you have to have a landline. If you can't do without the house phone, consider doing only the Universal Life Line. It's usually less than $10/month and it allows you to make phone calls within your area code only and of course 911.
3. Staycation instead of vacation. Potential savings: $1,000+. I have never spent $1000 on a vacation EVER. Most Frugalistas don't. If you stay at home instead of having the big fancy vacation that you usually plan, then you'll save some money, otherwise.. no money saved.
4. Raise your insurance deductibles. Potential savings: $250. Once again, most Frugal livers have already gone over their insurance to make sure they are getting the most bang for your buck. If you haven't done this in a while, contact your Insurance agent and do a complete insurance check up with them. You may find yourself grossly underinsured. Once again, with this check up, you may not save any money, but in the long run, you will protect yourself against financial ruin by having the insurance appropriate you your life situation.
5. Drop the gym. Potential savings: $150. If you are like me, you bought your gym membership at Costco- 3 years for $299, so it's already paid for and you can't cancel it. Buying a package at Costco can save you upwards of $100/year. If your place of employment offers a discount, take advantage of it. If you go to the gym and use your membership, don't get rid of it to "save money". You may end up sitting around and gaining more weight, and that won't save you any money (new clothes, increased frequency of Doctor's appointments).
6. Drop premium cable channels -- or drop cable altogether. Potential savings: $50 - $600. If you don't have cable, this won't apply to you. If you go to the gym and you can't live without your favorite shows, hit the gym when they are on and do cardio while the show is on- watch it on the TV at the gym!! Otherwise there is Hulu and YouTube. We haven't had cable in 6 years and I'm just fine.
7. Sell Stuff. Potential earnings: $400+ This is the one I have the biggest beef with. Ebay isn't a good place to sell stuff. Competition is fierce, shipping is expensive, and the likelihood that you'll get a deadbeat bidder is high, also selling stuff on Ebay COSTS MONEY!! Garage sales are a great bet, or if you live in a condo or apartment, go to the local swapmeet or flea market. You may not make $400, but you'll get rid of some junk you don't need and make some bucks.
8. Save on Food. Potential savings: $300+ I would hope if you read this website that you already use coupons. In addition to coupons and taking advantage of sales, shop from a list, eat your leftovers, and bring your lunch from home. Also- kick that 'Bucks habit and make coffee at home. That'll save you an extra $200 or so.
9. Haggle. Potential savings: $500+ Haggling in my mind is tacky, and some companies don't budge (would you go to Nordstroms and try to talk them down?). Instead, try comparison shopping to save money. Or better yet: Do you actually NEED the item? Are you replacing the item because the old one is no longer functional? Or do you WANT this item? If you find something that you WANT but don't NEED, hold off on buying it for 7-10 days and then go back. Do you still have a case of "gotta have its"?
10. Carry only cash: Potential savings: $250+. Most of us already do this. If this isn't feasible for you, then create a budget and stick with it. Only have available in your checking account the minimum amount of money you need, and keep the rest in savings. Select an interest bearing savings account- there is no reason your money shouldn't work for you!
Frugalistas- I want to hear your thoughts. How can you save $1000 by Christmas or the end of the year? Leave a comment or email me at akeen02037@gmail.com. I will be posting your comments. The Frugalista with the best tip or tips will receive a HUGE potluck envelope of coupons.
I'll pick a winner on August 15th!
1. Lower your cell phone bill. Potential savings: $100. I agree that it is a good idea to go over your plan and if your needs aren't being met, change the plan. If you have a pay as you go phone, this option may not be available.
2. Lose your land line. Potential savings: $140. If you want to do this- GREAT. If you have the internet via your phone, either via dialup or DSL, you have to have a landline. If you can't do without the house phone, consider doing only the Universal Life Line. It's usually less than $10/month and it allows you to make phone calls within your area code only and of course 911.
3. Staycation instead of vacation. Potential savings: $1,000+. I have never spent $1000 on a vacation EVER. Most Frugalistas don't. If you stay at home instead of having the big fancy vacation that you usually plan, then you'll save some money, otherwise.. no money saved.
4. Raise your insurance deductibles. Potential savings: $250. Once again, most Frugal livers have already gone over their insurance to make sure they are getting the most bang for your buck. If you haven't done this in a while, contact your Insurance agent and do a complete insurance check up with them. You may find yourself grossly underinsured. Once again, with this check up, you may not save any money, but in the long run, you will protect yourself against financial ruin by having the insurance appropriate you your life situation.
5. Drop the gym. Potential savings: $150. If you are like me, you bought your gym membership at Costco- 3 years for $299, so it's already paid for and you can't cancel it. Buying a package at Costco can save you upwards of $100/year. If your place of employment offers a discount, take advantage of it. If you go to the gym and use your membership, don't get rid of it to "save money". You may end up sitting around and gaining more weight, and that won't save you any money (new clothes, increased frequency of Doctor's appointments).
6. Drop premium cable channels -- or drop cable altogether. Potential savings: $50 - $600. If you don't have cable, this won't apply to you. If you go to the gym and you can't live without your favorite shows, hit the gym when they are on and do cardio while the show is on- watch it on the TV at the gym!! Otherwise there is Hulu and YouTube. We haven't had cable in 6 years and I'm just fine.
7. Sell Stuff. Potential earnings: $400+ This is the one I have the biggest beef with. Ebay isn't a good place to sell stuff. Competition is fierce, shipping is expensive, and the likelihood that you'll get a deadbeat bidder is high, also selling stuff on Ebay COSTS MONEY!! Garage sales are a great bet, or if you live in a condo or apartment, go to the local swapmeet or flea market. You may not make $400, but you'll get rid of some junk you don't need and make some bucks.
8. Save on Food. Potential savings: $300+ I would hope if you read this website that you already use coupons. In addition to coupons and taking advantage of sales, shop from a list, eat your leftovers, and bring your lunch from home. Also- kick that 'Bucks habit and make coffee at home. That'll save you an extra $200 or so.
9. Haggle. Potential savings: $500+ Haggling in my mind is tacky, and some companies don't budge (would you go to Nordstroms and try to talk them down?). Instead, try comparison shopping to save money. Or better yet: Do you actually NEED the item? Are you replacing the item because the old one is no longer functional? Or do you WANT this item? If you find something that you WANT but don't NEED, hold off on buying it for 7-10 days and then go back. Do you still have a case of "gotta have its"?
10. Carry only cash: Potential savings: $250+. Most of us already do this. If this isn't feasible for you, then create a budget and stick with it. Only have available in your checking account the minimum amount of money you need, and keep the rest in savings. Select an interest bearing savings account- there is no reason your money shouldn't work for you!
Frugalistas- I want to hear your thoughts. How can you save $1000 by Christmas or the end of the year? Leave a comment or email me at akeen02037@gmail.com. I will be posting your comments. The Frugalista with the best tip or tips will receive a HUGE potluck envelope of coupons.
I'll pick a winner on August 15th!
Friday, August 6, 2010
Doing Vegas on the cheap!
What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but there is no reason to spend a lot of money while you are there.
Here are some tips for having a great time in Sin City without dropping a fortune!
Unless you plan on spending a lot of time in your room, there is no reason to stay in swanky hotel on the strip (unless you have comps!!). It's true, everyone likes the fancy little soaps and a mint on their pillow, but those things come at a cost. If you are looking for honest (and funny) reviews of all of the hotels in Vegas, check out Cheapo Vegas. It gives reviews of the rooms, casinos, buffets, and what kind of amenities are in each room (including those little soaps!). They even have a comparison chart.
Everyone has to eat- There are a lot of places to eat in Vegas, but what Vegas is best known for is BUFFETS!! The days of all you can eat $5.00 buffet may be over, but the Harrah's chain of Casino/hotels offers a great deal called Buffet of Buffets. It's a 24 hour pass to eat at seven of Harrah's buffets. Take your pick! We had brunch at Caesar's Palace, a snack at the Oriental Palace, dinner at Planet Hollywood, and Sunday breakfast at Paris. All for $34.99. The price may vary at the time of your visit, so check at the buffets or at the Player's club desk.
Players Clubs- If you plan on gambling, join the players club for each casino you gamble in. You earn points for playing, and points can be turned in for free food, tickets to shows, or other great perks.
When you check into your hotel, in the packet from the front desk, there are usually coupon books, and information on points of interest. Make sure to check these out- there may be valuable coupons for food, shows (dollar off or BOGO), places of interest that are on your list of "stuff to do".
If you room has a fridge, don't hesitate to bring your own snacks or liquor- It will save you money. Booze can be expensive at the hotel bars. If you are looking for a place to pick up inexpensive snacks (including fresh fruit and veggies, chips, pretzels and bottled water and soft drinks)- There are several 99 Cents Only Stores in the Las Vegas area (the closest one to the strip is the location on East Flamingo).
If you live within driving distance, you may want to calculate your gas mileage and see if it's cheaper to drive or fly. Southwest Airlines has tickets from San Diego to Vegas for $39.00 each way (plus airport fees and taxes). That makes your round trip about $89.00. Southwest also has pretty lax baggage restrictions too. Most hotels have shuttles to and from the airport, and if not, it's usually about a $10.00 taxi ride from the airport to the strip.
Speaking of taxis- It is important to note that there is a state law that only 5 riders are allowed per cab- even if it's a van or mini van. So if you're a big party, you may have to take 2 or 3 cabs. Cabs are pretty cheap too, so if it's too hot or you are too drunk to walk, take a cab.
Remember to stick to your budget (that means you need to make one!), wear sunscreen if you'll be outside, and have FUN!!
If you have any tips to share, please post them in the comments!
Here are some tips for having a great time in Sin City without dropping a fortune!
Unless you plan on spending a lot of time in your room, there is no reason to stay in swanky hotel on the strip (unless you have comps!!). It's true, everyone likes the fancy little soaps and a mint on their pillow, but those things come at a cost. If you are looking for honest (and funny) reviews of all of the hotels in Vegas, check out Cheapo Vegas. It gives reviews of the rooms, casinos, buffets, and what kind of amenities are in each room (including those little soaps!). They even have a comparison chart.
Everyone has to eat- There are a lot of places to eat in Vegas, but what Vegas is best known for is BUFFETS!! The days of all you can eat $5.00 buffet may be over, but the Harrah's chain of Casino/hotels offers a great deal called Buffet of Buffets. It's a 24 hour pass to eat at seven of Harrah's buffets. Take your pick! We had brunch at Caesar's Palace, a snack at the Oriental Palace, dinner at Planet Hollywood, and Sunday breakfast at Paris. All for $34.99. The price may vary at the time of your visit, so check at the buffets or at the Player's club desk.
Players Clubs- If you plan on gambling, join the players club for each casino you gamble in. You earn points for playing, and points can be turned in for free food, tickets to shows, or other great perks.
When you check into your hotel, in the packet from the front desk, there are usually coupon books, and information on points of interest. Make sure to check these out- there may be valuable coupons for food, shows (dollar off or BOGO), places of interest that are on your list of "stuff to do".
If you room has a fridge, don't hesitate to bring your own snacks or liquor- It will save you money. Booze can be expensive at the hotel bars. If you are looking for a place to pick up inexpensive snacks (including fresh fruit and veggies, chips, pretzels and bottled water and soft drinks)- There are several 99 Cents Only Stores in the Las Vegas area (the closest one to the strip is the location on East Flamingo).
If you live within driving distance, you may want to calculate your gas mileage and see if it's cheaper to drive or fly. Southwest Airlines has tickets from San Diego to Vegas for $39.00 each way (plus airport fees and taxes). That makes your round trip about $89.00. Southwest also has pretty lax baggage restrictions too. Most hotels have shuttles to and from the airport, and if not, it's usually about a $10.00 taxi ride from the airport to the strip.
Speaking of taxis- It is important to note that there is a state law that only 5 riders are allowed per cab- even if it's a van or mini van. So if you're a big party, you may have to take 2 or 3 cabs. Cabs are pretty cheap too, so if it's too hot or you are too drunk to walk, take a cab.
Remember to stick to your budget (that means you need to make one!), wear sunscreen if you'll be outside, and have FUN!!
If you have any tips to share, please post them in the comments!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Articles and websites to save you money
10 expenses you don't need (Yahoo Finance)
Feed the Pig (free savings tips, quizzes and practical ideas)
New Credit card tricks (Yahoo Finance)
10 things people buy they should get free
Feed the Pig (free savings tips, quizzes and practical ideas)
New Credit card tricks (Yahoo Finance)
10 things people buy they should get free
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
All You Magazine- Great Articles
I received an email this morning from Allyou.com with some really great links that I just had to share!
5 Coupon myths that cost you money
Earn Money while you shop
The Daily Free Sample- Check back daily, it changes! You can also click on the calendar and order past samples of the day too!
Get Free stuff everywhere!
And of course- check out the printable coupons that AllYou has to offer!
5 Coupon myths that cost you money
Earn Money while you shop
The Daily Free Sample- Check back daily, it changes! You can also click on the calendar and order past samples of the day too!
Get Free stuff everywhere!
And of course- check out the printable coupons that AllYou has to offer!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Got the blahs?
I don't know about you all, but hte weather here is chilly and overcast, not summer-y at all.
One thing that shakes my blahs is freebies. Check out the latest Freebies below:
Free book from Elizabeth Berg (Random House)
Free Bath Salts
Free From from QT (Quick Trip) (they are located in the Mid-west)
Free Always Clean Pads
Kids bowl free this summer!! (2 free games per child) There are locations in Canada too!
If you live near a Whataburger- To celebrate their 60th birthday, Whataburger is giving away free Whataburgers to customers that wear orange on August 3rd from 5pm-8pm, Dine-In only! WOO HOO!!
Free Nexxus HUMECTRESS Ultimate Moisturizing Conditioner Sample (From Wal*mart)
One thing that shakes my blahs is freebies. Check out the latest Freebies below:
Free book from Elizabeth Berg (Random House)
Free Bath Salts
Free From from QT (Quick Trip) (they are located in the Mid-west)
Free Always Clean Pads
Kids bowl free this summer!! (2 free games per child) There are locations in Canada too!
If you live near a Whataburger- To celebrate their 60th birthday, Whataburger is giving away free Whataburgers to customers that wear orange on August 3rd from 5pm-8pm, Dine-In only! WOO HOO!!
Free Nexxus HUMECTRESS Ultimate Moisturizing Conditioner Sample (From Wal*mart)
Friday, July 23, 2010
It's Friday...
That means It's time for freebies!
This week, for a change of pace, check out our Twitter Feed. There are some great freebie posts there.
It's going to be a slow couple weeks here, folks. I'm prepping for the coupon classes, which start on 8/11/10, and I am working on my couponing book, which continues to grow each day!
This week, for a change of pace, check out our Twitter Feed. There are some great freebie posts there.
It's going to be a slow couple weeks here, folks. I'm prepping for the coupon classes, which start on 8/11/10, and I am working on my couponing book, which continues to grow each day!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
It's Sunday!
It's Sunday, Pick up a paper for the coupons!
If you live near a Dollar Tree, call ahead and see if they sell the paper. All Dollar Tree stores in San Diego sell the daily paper for just $1.00, as well as the Sunday paper.
I was in a Dollar Tree yesterday and did my own coupon preview. I am passing on the paper this week, as there are no coupons that I need or want. In the UT this week there is only a SmartSource insert.
If you live near a Dollar Tree, call ahead and see if they sell the paper. All Dollar Tree stores in San Diego sell the daily paper for just $1.00, as well as the Sunday paper.
I was in a Dollar Tree yesterday and did my own coupon preview. I am passing on the paper this week, as there are no coupons that I need or want. In the UT this week there is only a SmartSource insert.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
NEW Gain Dish Soap - Free 11oz Samples at Local Wal*marts!
NEW Gain Dish Soap - Free 11oz Samples
Dates: 7/22/2010 - 7/25/2010
Come try the NEW Gain Dish Soap! Free 11oz samples will be distributed throughout the event so you can try these amazing fresh scents that come with an incredible clean. Be the first to try the new Gain Dish Soap.
See if your local Wal*mart is participating here.
Here is a listing of other upcoming Wal*mart in-store events.
Printable coupons from Allyou.com
Allyou.com has som really great printables right now, including:
.75 off any frozen Kashi Entree or Pizza
$1.25 off any 8 or 12 pack of LaCroix Sparkling water
.75 off any frozen Kashi Entree or Pizza
$1.25 off any 8 or 12 pack of LaCroix Sparkling water
Friday, July 16, 2010
It's Friday, that means... FREEBIES!
WOO HOO! This week, there isn't much, so I've included a rebate and a B1G1 coupon too.
Free samples of 2 Sweet Libertine Mineral eye shadows with a SASE (totally worth it, these shadows are INCREDIBLE!!)
CVS Hand Sanitizer Pen (offer ends 7/18)
B1G1 Crush Soda Coupon- Just in Time for the summer heat.
$10 Rebate when you buy $30 in Olay, Venus, Covergirl or Secret Products. If you still have your P&G inserts from earlier in the month- this might make a great MM!!
Like Horseys? Sign up for a free subscription to Horse and Rider Magazine!
And don't forget to check us out on Twitter- we re-tweet and add freebies and deals daily.
Free samples of 2 Sweet Libertine Mineral eye shadows with a SASE (totally worth it, these shadows are INCREDIBLE!!)
CVS Hand Sanitizer Pen (offer ends 7/18)
B1G1 Crush Soda Coupon- Just in Time for the summer heat.
$10 Rebate when you buy $30 in Olay, Venus, Covergirl or Secret Products. If you still have your P&G inserts from earlier in the month- this might make a great MM!!
Like Horseys? Sign up for a free subscription to Horse and Rider Magazine!
And don't forget to check us out on Twitter- we re-tweet and add freebies and deals daily.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
A couple freebies-
It's not Friday, but here a couple nifty freebies:
Fill out a form and receive a free Bikini Bra top from American Apparel. Comes in 3 sizes for a,b, & c cups.
Select Free Bikini | Shop American Apparel (no plus sizes- only goes up to a size 10) Thanks to a lady at Starbucks for telling me about this!
BOGO Meal at Souplantation!
Weil for Origins Advanced Face Serum - Free Sample
Fill out a form and receive a free Bikini Bra top from American Apparel. Comes in 3 sizes for a,b, & c cups.
Select Free Bikini | Shop American Apparel (no plus sizes- only goes up to a size 10) Thanks to a lady at Starbucks for telling me about this!
BOGO Meal at Souplantation!
Weil for Origins Advanced Face Serum - Free Sample
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Sample of John Frieda® Root Awakening® Hair Care
I receive this in my email box today: Receive a sample packette of Strength Restoring™ Shampoo (0.28-oz.), Strength Restoring™ Conditioner (0.28-oz.) and Strength Restoring™ Smoothing Lotion (0.15-oz.), Visit this link.
Thanks John Freida!
Thanks John Freida!
Free food for anyone named Dave!
At Famous Dave's on August 1, 2010.
Check out their website: http://www.davesday2010.com/
There are Famous Dave's in 29 States- so there is probably one near you. If not, start drivin'!
I already emailed my Dad!
Check out their website: http://www.davesday2010.com/
There are Famous Dave's in 29 States- so there is probably one near you. If not, start drivin'!
I already emailed my Dad!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Still taking students for couponing classes!
There is still time to sign up!
Drop me an email at akeen02037@gmail.com to sign up!
Drop me an email at akeen02037@gmail.com to sign up!
New bzzagent Campaign- Lash Blast Fusion!
WOWIE WOW WOW!!
Big thanks to my friends over at Bzzagent for the awesome tube of LashBlast Fusion in black brown.
[caption id="attachment_584" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="My new LashBlast Fusion Mascara and coupons!"]
[/caption]
I tried it out and it's AMAZING! It's got a great oversized volumizing brush and a fiberstretch lengthening formula.
[caption id="attachment_585" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="The brush from LashBlast Fusion Mascara"]
[/caption]
LashBlast Fusion mascara comes in 4 colors: Very Black, black, blackbrown, and brown.
[caption id="attachment_586" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="My purty eye!"]
[/caption]
After it dried, I rubbed my eyes, and it really is smudge-proof, flake-proof and rub-proof. My lashes still look great!
I received LashBlast Fusion mascara from bzzagent.com, and I am a BzzaAgent! Iif you are interested in learning more about all the awesome perks you can earn by being a bzzagent, including free products and Mypoints.com points, which you can redeem for gift certificates, check out www.bzzagent.com!
I have 5 $2.00 off any Covergirl product coupons to share with 5 of my readers. The first five commentors will receive a coupon from me to try this (or any) Covergirl product!
[caption id="attachment_587" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Check out how long they are!"]
[/caption]
Big thanks to my friends over at Bzzagent for the awesome tube of LashBlast Fusion in black brown.
[caption id="attachment_584" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="My new LashBlast Fusion Mascara and coupons!"]
[/caption]I tried it out and it's AMAZING! It's got a great oversized volumizing brush and a fiberstretch lengthening formula.
[caption id="attachment_585" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="The brush from LashBlast Fusion Mascara"]
[/caption]LashBlast Fusion mascara comes in 4 colors: Very Black, black, blackbrown, and brown.
[caption id="attachment_586" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="My purty eye!"]
[/caption]After it dried, I rubbed my eyes, and it really is smudge-proof, flake-proof and rub-proof. My lashes still look great!
I received LashBlast Fusion mascara from bzzagent.com, and I am a BzzaAgent! Iif you are interested in learning more about all the awesome perks you can earn by being a bzzagent, including free products and Mypoints.com points, which you can redeem for gift certificates, check out www.bzzagent.com!
I have 5 $2.00 off any Covergirl product coupons to share with 5 of my readers. The first five commentors will receive a coupon from me to try this (or any) Covergirl product!
[caption id="attachment_587" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Check out how long they are!"]
[/caption]
Friday, July 9, 2010
It's Friday...
That means FREEBIES!!!
Found all over the web.
Philosophy’s Purity one-step facial cleansing cloth (Big thanks to Philosophy for having great giveaways!)
Free samples of Dove from Sam's Club (Samples will be available again on Monday 7/12/10)
Avenda Sample Pack (From Marie Claire Magazine) Print it off and take it to your closest Aveda Store.
Sunday is 7/11/10- that means Free Slurpee Day!!
Saturday 7/10/10 at Bath and Body works, Free C.O. Bigelow Lip Product with any $10.00 purchase!
It's a short list today- I'm getting ready for Vegas! I won't be posting this weekend. I hope you all have a great, frugal weekend!
Found all over the web.
Philosophy’s Purity one-step facial cleansing cloth (Big thanks to Philosophy for having great giveaways!)
Free samples of Dove from Sam's Club (Samples will be available again on Monday 7/12/10)
Avenda Sample Pack (From Marie Claire Magazine) Print it off and take it to your closest Aveda Store.
Sunday is 7/11/10- that means Free Slurpee Day!!
Saturday 7/10/10 at Bath and Body works, Free C.O. Bigelow Lip Product with any $10.00 purchase!
It's a short list today- I'm getting ready for Vegas! I won't be posting this weekend. I hope you all have a great, frugal weekend!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Donation based Yoga in San Diego, CA
I just wanted to give a shot out to my friend Jenny's awesome Yoga group, One Love Yoga San Diego.
They are a donation based yoga group. Classes are taught in San Diego in various locations in San Diego. She has wonderful, honest, caring teachers. Anyone can attend- all skill levels are welcome!
If you are looking for a group to practice yoga with, check out the Schedule page and find a time to go and practice!
They have family yoga too- you can bring the kids!
They are a donation based yoga group. Classes are taught in San Diego in various locations in San Diego. She has wonderful, honest, caring teachers. Anyone can attend- all skill levels are welcome!
If you are looking for a group to practice yoga with, check out the Schedule page and find a time to go and practice!
They have family yoga too- you can bring the kids!
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