Pardon me whilst I geek out!

Pardon me whilst I squee like a little school girl.

 

I was just interviewed by a reporter from the Union Tribune for a series of articles about couponing. Hooray!

And... I have 4 more blog followers.  For me, that is SUPER exciting, considering I don't have ad space, and haven't participated in a blog hop or mass "adding" giveaway. I grow through word of mouth and when I teach couponing classes.

 

I'm as happy as Little Man eating a cucumber in his Jammies!

 

Sometimes, you gotta shop without a coupon...

GASP!  I know, did I just type *that*?

Well, Little Man and I had to go to 99 Cents Only.  I needed a new broom to sweep the porch with. While we were there, the grocery load was being unpacked.

[caption id="attachment_1597" align="alignleft" width="600" caption="Inexpensive noms!"][/caption]

 

So, as you can see... we scored.

 

I didn't take a photo of the broom, because most of you know what a broom looks like.

 

So for $12.59, I got:

2 package of Jello Pudding Liv Active .99/ each 6 pack.  At Walmart- $2.50/each 6 pack

Betty Crocker Gluten free Yellow Cake Mix .99/box.  At Vons- $5.49

Dole Classic Romaine Salads .99/each bag. At Ralphs $4.49/bag

2 Sargento Cheeses .99/bag. At Vons $2.49/bag

1 bag broccoli slaw .99/bag. At Vons $3.29/bag

3 bags of frozen veggies .99/bag  Similar brands sell for about $2.00-$3.00/bag at most grocers.

Cucumber .59.  At most grocers $1.50-$2.00

Target Trip re-cap

I love Target.  5% savings with my Redcard (debit) plus .05 for each reusable shopping bag I bring in and use.. Uh, Heck yes!

All of the match-ups available at Totally Target.

Hunt’s Canned Tomatoes 14.5 oz Can Assorted Varieties .99 (Regular Price)
-$1/3 Hunt’s canned tomato items 14.5-oz. Target Web Coupon x2/25
-$1/4; .45/3 Hunt’s Canned Tomatoes 11 oz+ 1-22-12 SS x3/4
- $1/3; .60/3; .40/2 Hunt’s coupons when you print, share, or review a recipe HERE
= as low as .33 cents each depending on your stack

 

Market Pantry Tomato or Chicken Noodle Soup 10.5 oz Can .64 (Regular Price)
*-$1/3 Market Pantry® Soups Target Web Coupon x2/25
= .92 cents for 3 or .31 cents each after coupon

Bear Naked Soft Baked Cookies 8 ct Box, Assorted Varieties $2.99 (Regular Price)
Bear Naked Peak Energy Trail Mix 4.5 oz Pouch, Assorted Varieties $2.99
-$2/1 Bear Naked Product Coupon (sent by e-Mail)- Toward way bottom of Page
= .99 cents each after coupon

Tazo Tea Bags 20 ct $3.49 (Regular Price) My Target had several varieties on sale for $2.99/each.  I bought those!!
*-$2/2 Tazo Tea Concentrate or Bags Target Web Coupon x2/25
-$1/1 Tazo Filterbag Tea or Latte Concentrate 1-22-12 SS x3/19
= $.99 each after stacking a Target coupon with 2 MQs

Skinny Cow Candy Heavenly Crisp or Dream Clusters 6 ct $3.99 (Regular Price)
*-$3/2 Skinny Cow 4.4 oz Heavenly Crisp, 6 oz Dreamy Clusters Target Web Coupon x2/25
-B1G1 Skinny Cow Chocolate CandyBox up to $3.48 (click on Get Nestle Coupons)

=$.99 for 2 after after stacking a Target coupon with 1 MQs

Up & Up Baby Food 3.5 oz Pouch 2nd Foods .89, 1st Foods .79
-.25/1 Up & Up Baby Food Pouch 3.5 oz Target Web Coupon x2/25
= as low as .54 cents after coupon

Market Pantry Boxed Macaroni & Cheese PSA 5.4 oz 2-serving Box for .42 (Regular Price)*
-$1/1 Market Pantry Boxed Macaroni & Cheese ESS Target Web Coupon x2/7/12
= FREE after coupon  (This is going to the food bank!)


And I saved .15 by bringing and using reusable grocery bags, and I saved 5% off my order by using my Target RedCard Debit card!

My OOP was $19.50 and I saved $24.75!!

 

 

Chunky tomato bisque- Stockpile recipe!

I know, I know, I still need to do my Target shopping trip post, but.... I gotta share this great stockpile recipe with ya'll.

Chunky Tomato Bisque (serves 8)

• 2 cans condensed tomato soup (made as directed on the can) .33/can at Target with Target printable Q


• 2 cans of Hunts Petite diced tomatoes with basil, oregano and onions .33/can at Target with Target printable Q and Q from Hunts website


• 4 small squares of Philadelphia Cream cheese Chive and onion (I used a package of minis) .99 at .99 Cents Only


• 1 packet of crushed red peppers (I save the ones that come from pizzas deliveries)- omit if you do not like spicy food.


• 3 tablespoons of dried onion (I buy a large container at Costco every 6 months)


• 2 tablespoons of Italian seasoning (I buy a large container at Costco every 6 months)

Directions:

1. Combine all of the ingredients in stockpot and cook on low for 30-45 minutes.  Allowing the soup to cook this long gives the flavors time to mingle and mellow.


2. Serve with a green salad and cheesy bread.

 

Cheesy Bread (serves 4)

• 1 package Texas toast (4 slices) .99 at 99 Cents only


• 1/2 c EACH of the following cheeses, shredded: Cheddar, Mozzarella, Queso Fresco, Parmesan Cheddar, Mozzarella, and Queso Fresco all from 99 Cents Only. Parm can from the little packets that come with delivery pizza

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.


2. Cover cookie sheet with aluminum foil.


3. Lay Texas Toast on the cookie sheet, so they are all touching.


4. In a bowl, combine all the cheeses.


5. spread the cheese over the Texas Toast.


6. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melty and bubbly!

 

ENJOY!!

Weekend Freebie!

Check out this post at Drugstore Divas about FREE night serum at BareEscentuals this weekend!!  Thanks Lisa!!

Update- More Birthday Swag!

WOW!  My email in box overflowth.

This morning, I received:

• A free 1/3 lb. Burger from Fuddruckers


• A free Grand Slam from Denny's


• A free meal from Rubio's


• A free pie of pie from Coco's


• A free sub and soda on my birthday from Jersey Mike's


• And a bunch of other less excited stuff that involves a purchase so I won't list them.  Pick up Stix, Boston Market, Cold Stone, Dairy Queen, Lone Star Steak House all have a free dessert or app. with purchase.

And if you've got kids, sign up for Geoffry's Birthday Club at Toys R Us. Your child will receive a card in the mail, a gift certificate and coupons to use in store.

My plans for this morning have been canceled, so Little Man and I may go enjoy a free taco at Rubio's and walk around the mall.

Recyclebank- earn great coupons by saving the earth!

I love Recyclebank. I earn $2.00 off Kashi Product coupons by playing games, making earth friendly pledges, and entering codes from the inside of Kashi cereal boxes.

Right now they have a few new ways of earning points: A Hellman's Quiz (That's Best Foods to us West Coaster's), and a quiz about Pantene's new bottles.  I have over 800 points.  I'll be cashing some points out to pick up some more coupons!

Some coupons are print at home, and some are mailed to you. The rewards are really great.

 

If you've not joined Recyclebank, take a few minutes and sign up!  It's definitely worth it!!

Woo Hoo!

We had a great class last night!  Lots of great questions, and lots of fun with a group of ladies!  Thanks Erica!

There is still room at the classes on February 18!  There are two classes: Noon and 3pm.  RSVP  and note in the comments which class you'd like to attend!

I've got a busy week ahead of me, including, hopefully, completing our income taxes tonight (fingers crossed I can get my w-2 from my former job today!). I'm doing a research study later this week, and planning for coupon classes next week.

And my birthday is next week, so the freebies have started to roll in! I'll be posting photos later today!

Freebie Round up!

We missed Freebie Friday yesterday.  We visited the zoo, and had a day out running errands and visiting friends.

 

Free Pink Chiffon 2 oz. body lotion at Bath & Body Works today and tomorrow only with this coupon.

Drugstore Divas is having Lugs Boots Giveaway!

Free samples from Proctor & Gamble!

For My East Coast Peeps, Pop into Friendly's today! They are giving away free Fribbles!

Interested in trying the Atkins Diet?  Here is a great freebie, including 3 yummy Atkins bars.

Want to Try Sambazon free?  Check out Lisa and Maria's great post!

Free Kindle e-book with Weight Watchers soup and stew cookbook.

Free sample of Huggies Diapers from Sam's Club (You do not need to be a member!)

Free cup of Yoplait Yogurt.  CA peeps, you will receive an alt. coupon.  Damn the Ca. dairy laws!!

 

REMEMBER: Effective 1/23/12 the first class postage goes up. Stock up on forever stamps!

 

Stay warm and dry and have a fun and free day!

February Couponing Classes!

I'll be holding two FREE couponing classes in February at my home in East County on

February 18th.

 

The first session starts at noon, the second session starts at 3pm.  Both classes will have the same content, I have scheduled two so that those with differing schedules can attend. The presentation is 90 minutes with time for questions afterward.

 

Is Shopping with Coupons worth your time?

NO MORE EXCUSES!! Couponing is for everyone! 

Here is what you will learn:

• 
  

  How to save 60-100% off regular retail! (maybe even 110%!)

  
  


• 
  

  How to avoid paying full price for anything ever again!

  
  


• 
  

  Where to find Coupons! and.....most importantly...

  
  


• 
  

  How to organize them! You'll love the organization! (No binders or baseball card holders mentioned in this class!)

  
  


• 
  

  How to use the Grocery Smarts website that will do all the work for you!

  
  


• 
  

  How to shop so you're not that CrAZy Coupon lady at checkout!

  
  


• 
  

  Plus you'll get other useful tips to stretch that hard earned dollar!

  
  


• 
  

  AND…you’ll be able to sign up for DISCOUNTED Sunday newspapers, the #1 source for coupons!

  
  

 

 

Leave the kids at home, this is an adult only event.  To RSVP, please email me at cacoupondiva@gmail.com.  Please note which session you would like.  I will send out an email to all students a few days before with my address and directions.

Refreshments will be served, and there will be door prizes and opportunities for you to host a free couponing class with your friends and family and earn Free gift cards!

It's Tax Time!

It's that time of year!!

Pull out your shoe boxes of receipts, organize your E-2's, 1099's and other misc. tax paperwork.

[caption id="attachment_1566" align="aligncenter" width="387" caption="Try to be a little more organized than this!"][/caption]

Tax forms are available at the IRS website. If doing your taxes by yourself seems daunting, there are online services, such as the IRS' Free File (if your adjusted gross income- AGI is under $57,000).

If you use a tax preparation service, select one that has certified tax preparers and be aware of tax refund anticipation loans. They can have large penalties and interest.  Read all of the paperwork and fine print thoroughly.

Once you have your refund (if you are entitled to one), use it responsibly!

We're breaking our refund into several chunks:

• Savings- We'll be putting a chunk (about half) into savings.


• Car Payment- We'll be making an extra car payment or two.


• Fun Stuff- We'll have a date night, and get our Matterhorn Poster framed (It's huge and needs a custom frame), and maybe spoil the little man!

• Beef up our stockpile.  Our stockpile is looking a bit weak.  I'd love to spend $100 and get our stockpile back up to par.  Canned goods, dried beans, frozen veggies and meat.

What will you being doing with your refund?

Birthday freebie roundup!

My birthday is in a few weeks, and I'm on the prowl for Birthday freebies!  I get the usuals each year, a free dinner at Black Angus, free goodies at Sephora, free swag at Aveda, and $3.00 ECB at CVS!!

If you haven't signed up for birthday swag, here a few links with great lists:

The Frugal Girls

Hey It's Free!

Wisebread

 

Go forth and sign up for birthday goodies!!!

Get paid for your opinion: Focus groups!

There are lots of online survey companies, but their payouts can be small and take a lot of time to accrue the amount of points needed to cash out.

In most large cities, there are research companies that run focus groups weekly.

How to find them?  Google "Your city name focus group".

In San Diego there are the following research companies:

• Taylor Research


• Luth Research 


• Flagship Research

 

Another way is to look on Craigslist.  Go to Jobs and in the search field type "Focus Group".  Some smaller companies may post ads for focus groups.  Recently I participated in a mock jury style focus group and was paid $90 for 5 hours of work.  Yesterday I participated in a focus group relating to housewares and received $40 for just an hour! I found both on Craigslist.

 

Right now on Craigslist there are a couple great opportunities in the San Diego area.

 

 

 

 

Save money when cleaning

Ugh.  Cleaning house.  We hate to do it, but you gotta!

There are so many cleaners, cleansers, scrubs, sprays and products that promise a clean, sparkly house.

Here are a few products that you probably already have in your house that will work better than all those magic bubbles and genies!

• White vinegar! It's a great window cleaner and de-greaser.


• Newspapers.  Wonder what to do with all of those Sunday papers? I use mine to wash windows.  I pour the white vinegar into an empty spray bottle and spray it on to the window and wipe them clean with pieces of newspaper.  Lint free, streak free clean every time!  I also put a few sections in my trash can before I pop the liner in.  In case of a rip in the trash bag, the newspaper soaks it up.


• Baking Soda. mix with a little water and use as a scrub for sinks, toilets, vanities, counter tops.  I sprinkle it into the toilet and scrub with my brush!  You can also mix baking soda with a few drops of lavender essential oil, sprinkle it onto your carpet, wait 20 minutes and vacuum it up.  It freshens your carpet.


• Lemons.  Have a stinky kitchen drain?chop up a lemon (with peel still attached) and drop them down the drain.  Turn on the cold water and the garbage disposal and grind those babies up! Pretty much any citrus fruit works well.  Just use what you have on hand.

What do you use to keep you home clean and sparkly?

Deals from around Da 'Net!

Usually the beginning of the year is flush with fat deals, freebies, great drugstore deals, etc. but I am not finding that to be the case this year.  Maybe I've grown picky in my old age?

Here are some deals and freebies that are pretty cool.

• Jan 12-14 Starbucks locations will be sampling three of their roasts.  Learn more here.


• Eversave (A Daily Deal Site) is offering $3.00 off to current members and new members get $2.00 off when you sign up!  Current members use the code CHEERS at checkout.  New members, the credit will automatically be applied at checkout.


• KFC has an offer for football fans- Check out this link and learn how you can score some free wings!


• If your baby is a wiggle butt like mine is, this next deal is great.  Upload a video of your wiggle butt here and Huggies will send you a free package of Huggies slip-ons.


• If you are or know a college student, head over to Neebo's Facebook page and enter to win free Textbook rentals.


• Bigelow Tea is giving away samples on their Facebook Page!


• For those of you who do recyclebank, head over and redeem 75 points for a $2 off Kashi coupon. Take it over to Target where selected varieties of Kashi cereal are only $2.76/box! After coupon, it's only .76/box! If you use your Target red card, save an additional 5%!!

And since I've been remiss in posting this:

A new month means new printable and electronic coupons!

Check out the following sites:

Coupons.com (printable and e-coupons), Redplum (printable), Savingstar (e-coupons) Shortcuts.com (printable an e-coupons), Smartsource (printable), Cellfire (e-coupons), All You (printable) and Catalina’s Coupon Network (printable).

Go get your savings on!

Freebies and Facebook!

There are some great freebies that we've posted on Twitter.

Over on Facebook, we posting lots of great stuff each day. Including some awesome stuff coming up around the community.

1/14/12- Ikea is having a Bring your Own Friends  sale.  Free breakfast, giveaways, free massages.  RSVP here!!

Until 2/28/12 or until supplies are exhausted, at select WestField Shoppingtowns in San Diego county, you can take $200 in receipts to the concierge desk and receive a Seaworld Annual Pass. Thanks to San Diego Bargain Mama!

The newest San Diego Area Fresh and Easy opens on 1/18/12.  You know I'll be there with bells on!!

Hope everyone is having a great January! We'll be doing lots of posts and fun stuff in the coming weeks.

 

San Diego area peeps- I have availabilities for coupon classes!! Email me at cacoupondiva@gmail.com for details. Hostesses are eligible for pretty awesome perks

Facebook Giveaway!!

We're hosting a SWEEEEET giveaway on our Facebook Page for all of our fans!

To enter, you must visit our Facebook Page and leave a comment on the giveaway post about how you plan to save money this year. Coupons, rebates, budgeting, Not eating out as much, something else? A winner will be chosen on 1/6/12 (that's Friday!) evening.

 

[caption id="attachment_1551" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Giveaway Goodies!"][/caption]

This lot of goodies has a value of over $50!Burt's Bees moisturizer, Origins Cleanser, Watkins Moisturizer, L'Occitaine hand creme, Seattle's Best Coffee, Body Shop Body Cream and Bath Pouf, and a handful of samples.  I'll also include a potluck of 25 coupons.

 

Please don't leave comments on this post, only comments on the Facebook post will be counted as an entry.

 

Thanks to all of our readers!!

How to Budget: An example Budget

I've been working on this post for I swear, a week.  We've just been so busy with holiday stuff, and I'm working on de-cluttering 100 items in 2012. More on that later!

Here's the quick and dirty on budgeting, courtesy of our buddies at About.com. Too lazy to read that?  I hear ya. Here is the super easy way to budget.

1. Figure out how much money you bring home after taxes and other deductions (I.E. IRA, insurance, other investment deductions). Basically, your take home pay.  Don't forget to include any other sources of income, such as alimony or child support.

2.  Make a list of all of your bills.  For larger costs or bills that are infrequent (quarterly insurance payments, or annual property tax bills) save a little each month, so when the expense comes, you'll have money set aside.   You can put the money in your savings account, or some banks allow you to earmark funds in accounts.

3.  Our example below is based on a couple working each working full time jobs, bringing home $65,000 gross.  After taxes, IRA contributions, and health insurance deductions, their net is $49,774.00.  The line items marked with * are costs that do not occur each month, but are saved for each month. Items marked with # are variable, but it's an average of the cost of the last 12 months.

Expense                             Monthly Amount/allotment                        Annual Amount

Rent                                       1175                                                                                       14100
Insurance(Car & Renters)  191                                                                                          2292 
AT&T (phone & Net)#       200                                                                                         2400
Car Payment                        339                                                                                         4068
Gas & Electric#                     45                                                                                            540
Life Insurance*                     85                                                                                          1020
Water#                                   50                                                                                            600
Christmas Money                50                                                                                            600 (This used to be called an Xmas Club)
Groceries#                           100                                                                                         1200
Savings                                 250                                                                                        3000
Eating Out#                          75                                                                                           900
Spending Money               200                                                                                        2400 (That's $100 per person per month)
Clothes*                                30                                                                                          900
Baby#                                 100                                                                                         1200
Car Mtx*                              30                                                                                          900
HBA*                                     20                                                                                          240
Gas#                                    300                                                                                       3600
Disability Ins.*                  200                                                                                       2400

Total for the year                                                                                                            41,040

 

So that leaves us with leftover money, of course.  Leftover money just hangs out in the checking account, and each month, we try to sneak a little more into our savings or money market account or buy a savings bond for our son or niece.

 

Money from rebates, Endorse.com, click to pay sites, and gift cards earned through mypoints are not included in the budget.  They are just great perks.

 

 

I went Shopping: Drugstores

I don't really play the drugstore game, however, I read over on HotCouponWorld that the CVS machines were printing out the ECB's from beauty club purchases (you accrue cash back based on your purchases and once a quarter the little machine spits out ECB's!).  I didn't think I had purchased anything at CVS, but what the heck... Free money!

 

Turns out, I received an ECB for $1.00!  Not too bad, especially since I don't really frequent CVS.  I used my $1.00 ECB and 2 .25 off Dawn coupons to buy two bottles of Dawn.  It is on sale this week for .88/bottle.  After ECB and coupons, my OOP was $.32!  I came home and filled up the large bottle on the sink board, and stashed the extra bottle away.  Since all small bottles of Dawn are on sale, the Olay Hand Renewal is also on sale for .88/bottle.  Match that up with the .50 off coupon from yesterday's P&G insert and you are paying only .38/bottle!  I think i may go back today and pick a couple up!

 

Next I headed across the street to Rite Aid.  I received a coupon for a free box of John Freida hair color, redeemable only at Rite Aid.  Thankfully, they had a large selection, which included my color! OOP: $0!

 

Not a bad shopping trip!