Black Friday at CVS

Today I went to CVS for my "shopping fix". I won't be going out on black Friday this year so I NEEDED to get some deals!! My mom, dad, and I ( and Reagan) were in the parking lot at 7:50 am this morning. I was really hoping they would have everything I wanted so I wouldn't have to figure out a different transaction. Here's what I did:
One transaction:
2 Bic Solie razors 5.99 each - $3 coupon earned 5.99 ecb each
3 Gatorade @ 1.49-$1/2 coupon earned 1.49 ecb each
2 Colgate Total @ 2.49 - $1.50 and $1 coupon earned 2.49 ecb each
Sally Hanson nailpolish @ 3.49 (or 3.79)- $1 coupon earned 3.49 ecb
Schick titanium razor 7.99- 4 coupon earned 6 ecb ( did this twice..limit said 1 but limit wasn't reached the first time)
Loreal lipgloss 6.99- $2crt ( cash register coupon) earned 6.99 ecb
1 king sized reese cup $1 earned 1ecb
2 reese cup ( for fillers)
2 Aussie shampoo @ 2.99 earned 2.99 ecb each
1 Johnson and Johnson stress lotion 5.99-$1 coupon earned 5.99 (or 5.69 can't remember!!) ecb
Total before coupons...$69.00
After coupons and $30.89 ecb $4.75!! earned $60.00 ecb

That's a great deal!!
Happy Thanksgiving!! And safe shopping...if you snag any awesome deals leave a comment!!

CVS black Friday deals

The next few days are going to be a great way to earn Ecbs and get free stuff!! There are a ton of money makers at CVS this weekend. Check out moneysavingmom.com and thethriftymama.com for deals!! Sorry to not list my goodies but I'm a little busy baking stuff for Thanksgiving! I'll update tomorrow with my transactions I plan on doing.. God bless!!

Christmas Challenge day 3

Today's challenge is make a list and check it twice....know who you need to buy gifts for. Have you forgotten anybody? Sunday school teacher, coach, friends, neighbor, family, mail man/woman, babysitter,etc. Make a limit for how much you're going to spend and stick to the budget!! Bonus challenge start making your black Friday list out today...some stores also have Thanksgiving sales... check out Meijer online, Kmart, CVS, and other stores.

Frugal Christmas Challenge Day 2

Here is your assignment for day two....
Are you sending Christmas cards? You did purchase them on clearance last year right? LOL... Do you even have to send cards or do you see the people that you usually send them to? Maybe this is the year to just send an e-mail type card. Or just a phone call!! Really think about this purchase...does it bring you joy to sign all those cards and lick all the envelopes or is just something you feel has to be done? If it doesn't bring you joy then take it off your list and use your savings to buy a Starbucks for you and hot chocolate for your little elves!!

We don't send Christmas cards because I've never had the extra money for all those stamps. I buy boxes of cards after Christmas for 90% off and just give them to people as I see them. How about you?

menu plan monday

Here's our weekly menu plan,
Monday- oven fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, peas, and rolls
Tuesday- chicken noodle soup and homemade bread
Wednesday- pasta, salad, garlic bread
Thursday- Happy Thanksgiving!!
Friday- homemade pizza
Saturday- chili
Sunday- garlic lime chicken, baked potato, salad

What's your plan?

frugal Christmas challenge

Welcome to the frugal Christmas challenge, with the economy struggling and people cutting back on spending this year I thought this would be a great challenge and hopefully fun too.
Here's your first challenge...do you have a gift budget? If not sit down today with your spouse and figure out exactly how much you want to spend this year on gifts, decorations, food, cards, ect. Your second part is to plan and make at least one homemade gift. Leave me a comment for me to see your great ideas!

Our Christmas budget is $200-$250 for everything. My homemade gifts are bread, cookie basket, calender, and gift baskets.

CVS 11/23

This week is another good week for hitting CVS. Today I bought 3 Crest Pro health toothpaste, 2 12oz bottles of contact solution, 2 bottles of make up, 3 christmas cards, a christmas present, and 2 candy bars for $5.00 plus I earned 8.99 ecb, 3.49 ecb, 3.49 ecb for black friday deals!! I only used a $5 ecb for that too!! I love it when they pay me to shop!!


Complete contact solution is $8.99 use $1 coupon in 10/26 red plum
$7.99 oop and earn $8.99 ecb

Maybelline Mineral makeup is $8.99 use $3 coupon in 10/26 red plum
$5.99 get 8.99 ecb

Crest pro health is a monthly deal and the limit is 3
$3.49 use $.75 in Procter and Gamble 11/2 earn $3.49 ecb

American Girl Savings!!

Do you have an American Girl fan at your house? If you do here's a great way to pick up some frugal Christmas gifts. Right now there are two deals going on, the first one is save $10/30 use code 153302 or get free shipping off any order PA80336. There are some great sale deals going on like games for $5 and lots of books. Check it out!!

CVS 11/16-11/22

Have you been to CVS yet? If not get thee to CVS today!! There are deals a plenty!! Here is the best of the best...

buy $20 of any Duracell batteries and get $15 ecb back... here's a the deal...
buy one pack of 9.99 and two 5.99 use a $5/2 coupon found at the display and three $.75 off coupons from 10/26 redplum or 11/2, also if you used last weeks deal you'll have $2 ecb leftover to use this week.
Total $14.72 after all coupons (without ecbs) or $12.72 using $2ecb earn $15 ecb for next week

Buy $10 in glade products get $5ecb back
buy 4 glade glass scents @ $2.50 each
use 2 buy 1 get one free from 10/12 smart source
Total $5 oop get $5ecb back

Buy 1 L'Oreal Age Perfect Pro-Calcium Radiance Perfector Moisturizer at $15.99 use $1 coupon in 10/19 smart source
pay $14.99 get $15.99 ecb back

CVS deals

Have you been to CVS lately? I know what you're thinking...no penny pinchin' momma would shop there!??! Oh yes she does!! Let me show you how...
First step is to make sure you have a CVS card and if you have it make sure you update your info on the CVS website http://www.cvs.com/ so they can email you coupons!
Second collect all coupons at first because you never know what will be free or be a money maker!!
Third always ALWAYS make a plan. Do NOT go into CVS without your game plan because you will spend way to much money.

Here are the rules of the game. When you first start to play the game ( yes it's a game...it's fun and you never know what you'll get!) you will want to buy things that pay you in Extra Care Bucks ( aka ECBs which is how I'll refer to them). It's really sweet when you have a coupon for the item that gives you ECBs because usually you'll either get the item free or it'll be a moneymaker. Once you start accumulating ECBs you can buy anything you need or want because they work just like money. I always try to have $15 ecbs at a time so I can roll them and get the stuff I need.

This week I'll give you a basic transaction to get started... I'm assuming that you don't have ECBs and you might not have a stash of coupons. The object is to pay as little out of pocket (oop) and get the most ECBs.
Ready?
Transaction #1
Buy Garnier Fructis shampoo or conditioner with card you pay $2.99
use $1 off coupon in 11/9 red plum
get $2 ecb
total oop $1.99 earn $2 ecb = free!! you can only do this deal once.

So now you have $2 ecbs to play with you can do more transactions or just save your $2 for next week. Here's an example of a mulitple transaction...

Do transaction #1
Transaction #2
Buy 2 Palmolive Dish liquid 11 oz @ $1.49 use 2 $.25 off coupons from recent insert ( I think 11/2)
buy 2 Colgate total toothpaste $2.19 buy one get one (bogo) free use either two $.75 off coupons ( again I think 11/2) or print $1.50 off any Colgate total and print twice
Total after coupons $2.98 or $3.67 (depending on your toothpaste coupons)
Then use your $2 ecb for a total oop of $.98 or $1.67 and earn $2 ecb from the palmolive dish soap!

total for five items $2.97 or $3.66 and have $2 ecb for later.

Kroger deals for week of 11/10

Here are this weeks best deals that I see

Kroger is having their buy 10 select items get $5 off your order again this week. Here are the new coupon match ups....
Tylenol 20-24ct 2.50 (2.00 after $5 off) use $2 off coupon in 11/9 red plum insert
Land o Lakes butter $2.50 ($2 after $5) use $.55 off doubles to $1.10 off found in 10/12 smart source
Hefty one zip bags $1.50 ($1 after $5 off) use $.55 in 9/28 red plum $.50 each after coupons
Betty Crocker potatoes $1.50 ($1 after) print $.40 coupon at www.coupons.com can print twice also look for the boxes that have a "peelie" coupon on them for a free box of Hamburger Helper when you buy 3 boxes of potatoes
Dove ice cream bars look for the boxes that say $3 coupons inside... open the box in your car and clip your coupons and go back in and get free dove ice cream pints...also part of the buy 10 take $5 off.

You're Gonna Miss This...

Today was one of those days....running to quiz meets, dropping kids off, cleaning the house and getting ready for a birthday party. Kids fighting and argueing and not listening. A perfect day for looking to the greener side of the fence....the one with no bikes or toys left out in the rain or to trip over. The side where I can stay up as late as I want or sleep in till noon. Where I can spend money on things I want not the things we need. When I was still smarter than a nine year old. The life I had planned for "when I grew up".



Then I hear about Heather Pick losing her battle to breast cancer, leaving behind her husband and two young children and I'm reminded that life is fragile. There is no gurantee of tomorrow, no second chance to do things right. Three years ago today Kaitlyn was born. This was one of the best and worst days of my life. I was in the middle of my battle with breast cancer and now we would find out if it had spread or not. When I was pregnant I was focused on keeping the baby healthy, there was little time to worry about myself but now suddenly it was all about me. I had done my job, Kaitlyn was going to be fine but my battle for life wasn't over. I remember thinking how I would miss the sound of my kids crying or being there if they woke up from a nightmare. How I would miss their hugs or hearing "mommy look" for the hundreth time. I just prayed for a miracle that God would heal me and that I would be able to be there for all those moments. God answered that prayer for me. I was so grateful...for a time. I cherished all those moments... for a time. But then life began to go back to "normal" I was "healthy" no mention of dying before the kids grew up. I began to take it forgranted that I was here for those moments and after time I began to resent the middle of the night cries or the "mommy look" when I was so busy cleaning up their messes.

Three years ago I promised that I would never take another moment forgranted. I would see all those small moments and take them to heart. I would never wish these days away but time and more kids than hands has a way of making me wish for kids to be older. For them to be less needy or at least more helpful. I look at Kaitlyn today and it's hard to believe that she's three. I see Reagan growing faster everyday and the rest of my children amaze me at times with their maturity. And it hits me...I'm going to miss this... I'm going to want these days back...I'm going to wish these days hadn't gone by so fast...these are some good times so take a good look around you may not know it now but you're gonna miss this.... lyrics from Toby Keith "you're gonna miss this"

Free oil of olay ribbons body wash at kroger!!

Go to the Kroger website and load a buy one get one free coupon onto your Kroger card from the P&G esaver.. then in the P&G coupon insert over the weekend there were $2 off any body wash and $1 off any body wash use both and pay only $.99 or if you have to inserts use both $2 and pay $0.00!!

these online coupons come right off your total. and the body wash is oil of olay ribbons

My Kroger trip

Today I took yet another trip to Krogers. I thought my goodies from today were pretty good. Here's what I got
3 Palmolive Pure and Clear dish soap .50 each after coupon
2 sponges free after coupon
6 packs of Hefty storage/freezer bags .40 each after coupon (these are part of the mega event!)
4 boxes of Dove ice cream bars...look for the ones with $3 worth of coupons inside for more free ice cream if you use them this week
1 box Snickers ice cream bar
1 betty crocker cookie mix
1 gallon organic milk
6 yogurt on manager special for $.15 each
3lb grapes
1lb butter
8 3lt ice mountain water
1 poweraid
1 box of cereal
2 halls cough drops
2 boxes of edwards singles
2 bottles oil of olay body wash the ribbon kind
all for $29.35 I saved $82.62 or 74%

Do I have to buy a million newspapers just to get coupons?

Where oh where can I find coupons? Do I have to buy 10 newspapers every Sunday? There are never any coupons that I would use! My family doesn't eat convience food. Isn't it a waste of money to buy more than one paper?

Have you ever said any of these things? Since I started couponing I have found that there are a lot of preconceived ideas about what there are coupons for so today I wanted to clear the waters for ya'll. Okay, ready to dive in?

Where can I find the coupons? The most obvious place is in your Sunday newspaper, however make sure you are buying the biggest city paper you have available. I buy the Columbus Dispatch and one Sunday I picked up a Mansfield Sunday paper and there were only a handful of coupons in it! Some weeks I might buy two or three papers depending on the sales that are going on and the coupons in the paper. I usually know by Thursday how many papers I want based on the coupons that will be there. How do I know that? There is a handy website www.thecouponclippers.com or www.taylortownpreview.com that post a preview of the upcoming Sunday coupons. We don't always get all of the same coupons that the preview is for but it gives you a pretty good idea of what's coming. So by Thursday I know what's going to be in the paper, I usually get my ads for the upcoming week on Saturday afternoon, so I'll check out the "loss leaders" for my stores and start matching up any coupons that might be out there. If I see a lot of matches for items at rock bottom prices I'll pick up 3 papers on Sunday. When I do this I always make sure I'll save at least double the price of the papers!! Another place to find coupons in the paper is the Saturday Mount Vernon News, they usually have the Smart Source section in them and the Smart Source usually has the best coupons in it. A bonus? The Mount Vernon News is only $.50 think of the savings!!!

Another way to find coupons is online. I have to say that I have found some of the best coupons on various sites. Usually online coupons are for a higher value for example $.75 off 1 or $.55 off 1 instead of $.75 off 2 like the paper has sometimes. Yes it will cost you ink, but I always print mine off in black ink and use cheap printer paper. Again though compare the cost of your printing to what you would pay full price...are you saving more?If so print away!!!

For those who cry My family doesn't eat that stuff!!! Let me tell you, we don't either unless it's a tight month in which case we'll eat the less than healthy food. However I am still saving money with coupons. Lately there have been $1 off any Cascadian farm products in the paper, salad coupons, pasta coupons, whole wheat flour, sugar, yeast, spices, etc. Why pay full price for a bag of frozen peas when with a coupon I'll pay $.27, it might not be organic but there is nothing else added. If you do an online search you will find tons of healthy food coupons. Seventh Generation has coupons, Horizen, Stoneyfield, and others have coupons. You might need to do some leg work but if it saves $15 or more off your bill isn't it worth it?

great grocery deals this week!

Kroger is having it's buy 10 save $5 deal this week!! Here are the best deals I see... final price assumes you bought 10 various items


buy 10 pay $.50
ice mountain 3 lt water .50 use $1/2 coupon get both free
swiss miss cocoa mix .50 download .50 off two coupon from shortcuts.com .50 for two
carnation evaporated milk .50 use nestleverybestbaking.com $1/2 coupon free

buy 10 pay $1
Quaker oats 180z use .50 coupon in recent insert free
Colgate toothpaste use .75 off any in smartsource 11/2 free
Colgate toothbrush use .75 off 2 in SS 11/2 .50 for two
Edwards/Mrs. Smith Pie slices use $1/2 in recent insert $1 for two
Betty Crocker cookie mix print .75 coupon from coupons.com (can print twice) free
Dial handsoap .30 recent insert .40 for one

buy 10 pay $1.00
Viva paper towels use .50 in recent insert .50 for one
Cinnamon Toast crunch print .55 from coupons.com .40 final
toaster strudel use .35 in recent insert .80 final


buy 10 pay $2
bic silky touch razor use $2 coupon in recent insert free
tylenol 24 ct use $1 recent insert $1

buy 10 pay $2.50
breyers ice cream use .50 in 10/26 red plum 1.50 final price

that's some of the best deals I see. Happy shopping!!