Mission RICE

Lancaster Photo Book Shutterfly

2010-12-02T17:20:00.001-05:00

Our favorite site to do a photobook gotta be shutterfly.

Here's our latest project. We did so many!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Freezer Cooking Day/s May 2010

2010-05-01T11:45:00.011-04:00

My freezer at the end of the day. I think if I rearrange things well enough, I might still have space for another 2 or more casserole meals.

So we began. My first official "freezer cooking day". I've done bits and pieces of freezer cooking before, but this time it's alittle more intentional. Still I found that I might have done it quite differently than many others. I "stole" time to cook instead of allocating a whole chunk of time. That's in view of our circumstances. It worked this time! I still had quite some food frozen (not as much as most people) and I didn't have a massively dirty kitchen.

Here's how my two days of "freezer cooking day" went.

FRIDAY

Noon.
While preping for lunch and all, I cooked oatmeal cereal. (Rolled oats cooked in milk and water)

That's 6 meals for my 2 older kiddos (4yr and 2 yrs). We usually add steamed sweet potato or pumpkin or raisins to the oatmeal and they love them as lunches.

Afternoon.
I made the oat chocolate chip walnut cookie dough with the kids, as part of our day.
As per the reviews, some changes made to the recipe and here's my modified version.

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt (should cut this)
3 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (I possibly added a little more)

Evening/night.
While my hubby played with the kids after dinner, I baked the chocolate chip cookies and made the banana bread.

After the kids slept and I cleaned the kitchen, I made the pizza dough. Wanted to double the recipe, but i realized that hubby (who was grocery shopping) will bring back A LOT of meat, so my freezer might be too full. So made one batch (that's for 2 pizzas, enough for 2 meals)

Here's how I make doughs. I used the plastic bags (you get from grocery stores to put in veg...which is not necessary)...cut it open and knead the dough IN IT. (put flour on it, and then the water etc). THEN I "closed" the bag up and put in the freezer. NO MESS on the table or my fingers!! This is the best tip my mom taught me.

SATURDAY
In the morning, halfway between breakfast and cleanup, I...

...cut up the HUMONGOUS sparerib that hubby got yesterday into pieces and froze them

...prep the ingredients for pasta sauce (cut up and remove sausage from casing, froze the rest)

...and I made my hubby's favorite black bean and rice burrito. (except I don't have pepper but I have corn!) I do everything the same, except it's not as an enchilada but burrito. (did 10 burritos)

Evening.

Hubby cooked up his famous pasta sauce. Me, the souz chef, has cut up the ingredients for him.

Ingredients for pasta sauce

*diced peppers

*mushroom

*onions

*sausage (remove from casing)

*diced tomatoes (can)

*tomato paste

*brown sugar

*spices (like basil, oregano, parsley, rosemary)
Simmer for an hour.

Freezing/Baking Day May 2010

2010-04-29T19:50:00.001-04:00

This weekend I'll be attempting some kind/form of freezing/baking day. Moneysavingmom and Life as Mom are hosting a Freezing Day event.

However, I realized I do freeze cooking better in "batches"; that is, in different days...maybe not as daunting at first.

For eg, we cooked Japanese curry last week and I made more so that I can freeze some. We also made our own dumplings and I froze half of them and we ate the other half. These are the food already in the freezer.

This Sat (till next week), I'm intending to progressing cook/bake the following for freezing:

* Oatmeal Cereal (Rolled oats cooked in milk)
-These are lunches for my older kids. We add steamed sweet potatoes, or pumpkins or raisins to it.
* Pizza dough
- We like MSM's recipe
* Banana nut bread
* Pasta sauce
-Diced Tomatoes, tomato paste, sausage, diced green peppers, onions, mushroooms, brown sugar and spices. Simmer for at least an hour for the best taste. We LOVE our own recipe of pasta sauce!
* If I have time: maybe another batch of black beans and rice burritos
-this recipe is AMAZING. I use the filling and eat them as burritos instead of enchilada. We love it alot and we use brown rice for it

Doesn't seem like a lot at all, because I'm very new to this and also my freezer doesn't seem to be able to take in so much food

Stop and Shop Great Deals Week 4/30

2010-04-29T15:55:00.004-04:00

Gotta love the deals this week at Stop and Shop!!

Ball Park Franks, Buy 1 Get 1 free, Use 2 $0.75 MQ (no longer available), Final Price: $1.60 for 2!

Keebler Sandies, Buy 1 Get 1 free, Use 2 $1 MQ here (If you use it as a dollar double, you get both free!)

Yoplait Greek Yogurt, $1, Use $0.45 MQ here
Final Price: $0.10 each!

Stop and Shop Big Daisy Bread, $1

Kraft Barbeque Sauce, $1 (stock up if you like the BBQ sauce!)

Bananas, $0.49/lb

If you haven't signed up for their Small Victories newsletter, make sure you do, cos they send you coupons (and often with FREE stuff!) This week I can get free Ben and Jerry ice-cream and baby carrots!

Also, it's Double Dollar (doubling $1 MQ up to 4 of them when you spend $15) Week.
I'm intending to use my precious 4 coupons on

Lysol Disinfectant wipes, $1 MQ (SS), Final Price: FREE
Keebler Sandies, Final Price: FREE
Possibly 2 cans of Campbells Cream of Chicken/Mushroom, Final Price: $0.67 for two

Giveaways Week Apr 9

2010-04-09T10:42:00.001-04:00

Dealectible Mommies has a giveaway that's sweet. Britax umbrella stroller! Have you heard of them? I haven't but it looks great!

A great Stop and Shop trip!

2010-04-02T20:25:00.002-04:00

A great trip!

All these for $31.69. That's including a big pack of chicken thighs and a whole chicken.

The best buys with coupons:
8 bottles of Wishbone for free (earned $4 out of them) - use them for salad or stir frys!!
8 packets of Wise potato chips ($0.50 each after deducting the $4 earned from Wishbone) these are going to last my hubby for a VERY LONG time
Philadelphia Cream Cheese, $0.50 per pack
Daisy Sour Cream, $0.30
Betty Crocker Mashed Potatoes, $0.20
Sargento Cheese, $1

Deal ideas here

Buy Wishbone free Wise

2010-03-31T16:33:00.002-04:00

Things don't always make sense in the coupon/frugal world. This is one of them.

At Stop and Shop week starting Friday Apr 1, you buy...

2 wishbone dressings, $1 each, use 2 MQ $0.75 here

you earn $1

which you can also buy 1 pack of Wise potato chips at $2, $0.50 MQ here

for free.

(the coupons double)

While you're there, pick up

Daisy sour cream, $1.50, use $0.60 coupon from last week's Smartsource coupon.

Final Price: $0.30.

Also, Sargento cheese at $2.50, if the reduced sodium ones are on sale too, you can use a $0.75 coupon here to get them for $1 each.

Chi chi's tortilla at $1.67 (usual price $2).

Looks like a Mexican week for us.

$2.50 children's clothes, $0.50 Frosted Wheat Cereal

2010-03-15T20:29:00.001-04:00

So, I did a night run tonight to Target, cos the deals are too good to miss and our cereal is running low (er like 6 boxes left. that's serious trouble for us. haha)

Check this out:

4 boxes of cereal (Kellogg's Frosted Mini Wheats) $10
$5 Target giftcard (when buy 4)
Use $1.50/2 coupon here or here
Final Price: $0.50 each!

TEN pieces of clothing for Ian and Colleen's summer (as well as one outfit for her NEXT year's summer): $30 ($2.50 each!)
Use $5/30 target coupon here
Final Price: $2.50 each!

Dish Liquid for $0.50 cos I have a free coupon (we're stocking up SO many of these 7th generation ones!)

Happy.

Kashless/Recycle Bank Great freebies

2010-01-18T10:26:00.002-05:00

We found a new AMAZING freebie.

1. Sign up Kashless.org here.

2. Put in 28 saved searches on the side (that'll be 280 points). It can be ANYTHING!

3. Invite a friend on the side (20 points)

4. Redeem your points. (You should have 300 points) You'll be directed to RecycleBank.

5. At RecycleBank (your points will show in a day or two), you can redeem points for coupons for free products.

For eg, 100 for Seventh Generation All Purpose Cleaner.

50 for Seventh Generation Dish Liquid

75 for Seventh Generation Baby Wipes

And there are also babyfood or Greenworks free products or coupons for Huggies etc etc...

You get to redeem each product once a month.

We got our coupons for all purpose cleaner and dish liquid pretty fast and went to Target and got the items free!!

You can do this in 15 mins!

The good part is, you can get 300 points from Kashless EVERY WEEK!!! Imagine that! I think we'll have endless supply of dish liquid...

$3.50 per pack Earth's Best diapers

2010-01-01T12:45:00.003-05:00

Babies R Us or Toys R Us is having 3 day sale of Earth's Best diapers. (Jan 1-3) $5 per pack.

Use $1.50 coupon here to make it $3.50 per pack! you can only print 1 per computr and the limit for buying is 3 per customer.

People complained how stiff they are. I don't think so. I haven't tried their absorbency though.

Talking about Toys R Us, you should join the birthday club (your kids). they give you $3 card to use for anything $3 or more

Free Videos: Amazon

2009-12-24T08:38:00.001-05:00

We just watched Julie & Julia for free on the PC yesterday night.

Go to this post from Moneysavingmom to see how you can watch free videos too!

Walgreens cheap diapers

2009-12-12T12:09:00.003-05:00

From tomorrow for a week

1 pack of jumbo huggies diapers, $8.99

$2 Pullups coupon here

Get back $2 RR

Send in for Caregivers' Rebate, $0.75 each

Total price: $4.24

You can do this many times in different transactions, but take note of your RRs that you'll have to use up!

Swagbucks

2009-12-10T14:15:00.003-05:00

Are you using Swagbucks? If you're not, you REALLY should.

Here's why:

*You get to redeem the points for free giftcards. (My favorite is the $5 Amazon.com card for 45 points) I have already redeemed many of them and imagine the money I saved while I buy stuff. Amazon has LOTS of things to sell!

* You don't have to spend a lot of time on it. I spend at most 3 mins a day

* There is no fee to sign up at all!

Here's how:

*sign up here

*Everyday go to the site (or you can download the toolbar) and search SOMETHING. Well, there must be something you were about to google. If not, trying searching your name, your town, your favorite star, product etc etc...

*Click on links, page forward, page back, new search etc...After a few tries, usually I get at least 1 buck. (You can get more!)

*Do this once or most twice a day, cos that's how much you'll get anyway. If you try too many tries and no buck comes in, try another time.

*Get your friends to sign up through you and you can earn through them too! (Thanks for signing through me, cos that way I earn too!)

Go now!

Alice.com Deal

2009-12-10T14:14:00.001-05:00

This came to my house today. And it shocked my dad. "You have kitchen towels sent to you??!!"

Yup. This is the deal.

Search with Swagbucks. Read more here.

Once you get 20 points (if you already have them, it might be worth it for you to exchange for a $5 Alice.com giftcard). You can only redeem once per account.

At Alice.com, they sell lots of household stuff, at a good price. (Most of the things I won't buy cos I would buy them at a MUCH cheaper price elsewhere) But I got this pack of kitchen towels at $2.57 (after $5 giftcard).

Hubby had another account, and they have a coupon for the same pack of kitchen towel, ended up paying $1.

Grab the cards before they are gone!

Free photostuff!!!

2009-12-01T09:50:00.000-05:00

Go here for details

Black Friday 2009 CVS

2009-11-26T11:05:00.001-05:00

I'm not going crazy this year. My objective: use 2 transactions of $5 each for the Chase card, so that we get $10 cash back.

So, we got
Complete Contact Solution
Bic Soleil
Colgate toothpaste
Vaseline Sheer Infusion
Lightbulbs

and paid $2.67 (after the cash back)

Essentially, that's the price of 4 energy-saving bulbs. WOH!

Black Friday Drugstore Deals

2009-11-23T20:10:00.002-05:00

Thinking of doing Black Friday drugstore deals?

Last year we did and earned $18.21 at CVS and Rite Aid. This year we might not be as crazy. But we do need to "blink" our Chase card 2 more times at CVS to earn $10 (that'll give us a net $10 earning actually) So we might buy a couple things.

I'm not crazy about Wags' deals as usual cos they give RR which I utterly don't like.

So, take a look and see if it's worth for you to make some runs! =)

Great diaper deals Rite Aid & CVS

2009-11-23T09:07:00.001-05:00

Here's our loot yesterday.

CVS
2 packs Jumbo Huggies, $18.99, 2 $2 MQ
Wipes, $6.99, $0.75 MQ
Complete Contact solution, $8.99

$5/30 coupon
ECBs earned: $5 + $8.99
Rebate (Caregivers' Market Place): $1.50

Total: $10.35 (including tax)

Rite Aid
1 big pack Huggies, $19.99 (I had a $2 coupon which the cashier didn't scan!! She took it...$2 lost...)
1 pack Always Infinity pads, $5.29 (I had a free coupon for this from one of the samples I requested)

$5/25 coupon
Rebate: $5 (Gift of savings)

Total: $10.02

So...if I buy the wipes at $0.01 each (which is a GREAT deal already), the diapers (144 pieces of them) would have cost me $18.21.

That's $0.12 per dipe (Size 4). Pretty good deal!! (normal cost that would have been $0.25 to $0.30 or something?)

Rite Aid should have a even better deal, but the rest of the SCR (FAR) items were not around...as usual...

Grocery/Drugstore Plan Week Nov 19, 22

2009-11-18T19:23:00.008-05:00

Here're the deals I may think about this week

CVS:
2 packs Huggies Jumbo, $18.99 MQ $2 here (try and see if it works for you) or $3 Pure and Natural here
1 pack dipe $6.99, MQ $0.75 (mailer)
Complete Multi purpose solution, 8.99

Coupons: $5/30 here (after you completed the quiz)
ECB: 5 + 8.99
Caregivers' Marketplace rebate: $1.50
Total Coupons: $4.75 (or if you use Pure and Natural, $6.75)

FOR ME (I don't have coupons anymore for Huggies) so...it'll be $13.73 for everything.
That's around $4.30 per pack of dipe I guess (considering $5 for wipe). Not bad. If you have coupons, it'll be a MUCH better deal!

Rite Aid

Benevia Nutrition Drinks, $7.99, $5 MQ here (sign up for free) but it's for "BALANCED Drink" I have no idea if they are the same or not, SCR $7.99
Huggies Big Pack diapers, $19.99, $2 coupon (I printed somewhere for a box)
MQ $5/25 here
Super Day/Night Colon Cleanse, 17.99, SCR 17.99
Gift of savings (YES it's HERE AGAIN!! From Nov 22-Dec 24): $10

You need to top up some amount to $51 for the gift of savings to be $10 (I have free Luvs coupon to use) and I can use up my $20 GOS from last time, yeh!

Final price: -$0.50 for all of the above. That's REAL good. Now, let's HOPE we have stock!!

Stop and Shop
Buy $20 worth of Pepperidge Farm product or Campbell's and get $5 off next order
Find different coupons here to match what you'll like to buy

Other than that it's an ok week for SnS

Of course, look out for Black Friday Deals. I'm OK with them this year and I might skip them.

Frugal Living: 10 ways we saved hundreds

2009-11-16T09:07:00.006-05:00

So, the foundational post was said. And now onto how WE (again, there are TONS of other ways) saved hundreds of dollars every month.

I know there are TONS of blogs out there that talk about this. I read some of them and mostly I won't have the time to and I feel most of them are MUCH MUCH more in depth and comprehensive than what I can offer.

Here is just a post on what WE did as a family and also in the context of the expensive NYC living.

1. Budgetting
I think this is the most important way how we save. We make sure we have a budget and we track them. Ok, we have a budget. We need more work on tracking. Still, we are able to do a financial report when we need to.

Right now, we use about $60 (our budget is a little higher) on the average per week for grocery and maybe less than $50 for household?

2. Planning ahead/Stocking up
We use the stocking up mentality. Buy when the value is good so that we don't need to pay for them at usual price when needed. We have ample stock of toothbrushes, toothpastes, shampoo, soap, razors, personal items, cereal, diapers and wipes. Most of these (except diapers, wipes and sometimes cereal) we get them for free/earn.

We also plan ahead for gifts. We buy them when good deals come. So it's good to have a gift list on hand to think about gifts. For eg, I bought my Christmas gifts for friends in the beginning of this year!

3. Limit/delay purchases
One BIG way we learnt to save was to limit or delay purchases. We often wait to see if there are deals. or coupons. or sales. Or to see if we REALLY do need what we wanted to buy. This is a great way to make sure the things that come into our home have their uses.

4. Coupons/coupon codes

Manufacturers' coupons
You can clip them from newspapers (Sun), the circulars that come on Wed/Thu (in some NYC areas) and also get them from samples you ordered online. Sometimes you see them along the aisles in supermarkets.

Some supermarkets (like Stop and Shop here) double coupons. Which means as long as I use a coupon under a dollar in SnS (e.g. $0.75) they take off $1.50. They often have dollar double days which is real yummy.

Sign up at the websites of products you use (like Huggies, Pampers, etc) and you get sent coupons too.

Internet Manufacturers' coupons
My favorite site: coupons.com
or smartsource
or you just get the links from the kind souls who link them in their frugal blogs.

Usually you can print 2 per computer. DO NOT photocopy cos they have unique codes.

Not every store takes IP. So, ask first.

Store coupons
Many stores have their own coupons. E.g. target, or CVS (printed on the receipts) and Walgreens (on their ads or booklets) Usually you can stack them with manufacturers' coupons. The usual practice: Use MQ (Manufacturers' coupons) first, then store.

Coupon codes
You can often search for coupon codes if you're buying things online. These help a lot!

It is wise to always check on coupon policies before using them.

5. Menu planning/grocery lists
To start off, we have to plan menu (plan every meal if possible). For me, I plan dinners (lunch are usually leftovers). This will turn into grocery lists.

This prevents impulse buying.

What I do every week is, on Wed the circulars come, I browse them (esp Stop and Shop and the drugstores) and the coupons that come with them. Then I plan my meals according to the sale items, the things left in my fridge and other things (like what my hubby is craving for). The I write the grocery list to-buy. On Friday when the sale week begins darling hubby takes my list and coupons and makes a grocery run.

6. Drugstore Runs
The drugstore runs were what started us off on this journey. Never knew they can be so "lucrative". Here are some intro to how things work in these drugstores and how we do it in NYC.

We are at a point I don't usually buy things (even if they are free) unless they earn. (Or unless we need them of course). Yes we actually get TONS of things FREE.

The frugal community online has given me SO much in this. They often write about the deals so that it's easy for me to look and follow.

My favorite site is moneysavingmom. I love her values and I trust her deals.

I also go to hotcouponworld to preview deals/coupons. This is a great forum!

CVS

This is possibly my favorite store. They are great with coupons and I like the way ECBs are used.

Basic idea: Buy things from CVS that give ECBs (almost like CVS cash). Use the ECBs earned for next purchases. Whenever possible, use a $/$$ coupon (eg $5 off $20). Stack with MQs and get more returns.

Read Moneysavingmom's CVS 101 here. She gives a clear teaching on it.

Rite Aid
I like Rite Aid, cos they use a rebate system. You pay first and they pay you back in a form of check. But our Rite Aid are often poorly stocked.

Basic idea: Buy things from RA that gives SCR (Single Check Rebate) and use MQ whenever possible. RA has been giving out $/$$ coupons which are GREAT.

RA are not exactly supposed to take IP (internet coupons), but I think it depends on cashier/store. Mine does.

Walgreens
This has become my least favorite store because I don't like the Register Reward (RR) system.

Basic idea: Buy things from Walgreens that gives RRs (like Walgreens coupons). Use ONE RR in next transaction, but it counts as ONE MQ.

Read Moneysavingmom's Walgreens 101 here.

7. Swagbucks
On top of saving (reducing expenses), we are earning through very easy means. (easy not meaning we earn a lot, but meaning it does not take too much of our time)

Our favorite at the moment is Swagbucks. You search the web through SB every day and most of the time you can get at least 1 buck. Accumulate 45 and you can snag an Amazon $5 giftcard. This is VERY significant if you think of the things you can buy from Amazon. From gifts to books... And often Amazon has free shipping after $25.

I really don't spend over 5 mins everyday on this and I think it's a GREAT way to earn a little money but makes a huge difference when you buy things you usually need to.

Sign up here!

8. Ebates
When you buy things online, always look out for a middle man by which you go through so that you earn some cash backs (maybe like 3% or 5%?). There are lots of them. I stick with eBates cos it's easier to accumulate through one site instead of multiple. You get sign up bonuses. After you accumulate $5 they send you the money (I opt for paypal so it's easier)

9. Free samples, instant wins, giveaways
I sign up for free samples we would need at our household. They often come with coupons so they are great. But always remember, sign up for a "spamable" email account first and use that for all these.

I also do some instant wins (like Huggies) but I don't do it A LOT cos it wastes time.

Last thing we do here are giveaways. In the frugal blogs every week there will be giveaway lists (from baby items to coupons). You can browse through them and sign up for the ones you think your family need. I used to do this quite a lot, but now I only signed up maybe once a month or when I have more time on hand. But I won quite a bit of giveaways!!

10. Eat out deals
There are often eat out deals (restaurant deals, birthday deals) so we still are able to have some eat out! We got a couple of restaurant.com certs (they are often $2 for a $25 cert), which means you spent about $15 for a really good meal for 2 (or more) with the certs.

Frugal living: the lessons I learnt

2009-11-16T08:39:00.005-05:00

This blogpost comes about because more of my friends in church are starting drugstore-deals and wanting to learn more about frugal living. I'm absolutely fired up about this because I believe good money management is a blessing to the breadwinner (mostly husbands in this case) and will teach us about contented living.

Since Mission R.I.C.E started last August, these are the biggest lessons I have learnt from our attempt at frugal living.

1. Focus: Relationships over Frugality!

In the beginning, it is SO easy to get overboard and carried away. With the wonderful resources of the frugal blogs, we can get SOOOOO many deals, save SOOOO much money and get TONS of freebies. I remembered when I was quite hooked, reading and searching. I remembered when I was quite affected, utterly crushed with every "bad deal" (no stock? won't take coupon? didn't calculate right?). I remembered when I was quite agitated, wanting the family move fast/change schedule so that we can do our "runs"!

Then I realize, what is the point of frugality (and saving money FOR the family) when I'm "away" from the family? So, God helped me to let deals go (even the REALLY good ones), and relax when deals don't turn out or stocks are gone. In return we had a more balanced family life. My children have more of my time and my hubby doesn't HAVE to do the runs every week. And since we're saving, we also do not forget to give and to celebrate (there are many frugal ways to celebrate, but if there are some special things we really love to do as a family, I'll think it's still worth some splurging!)

Now I clip coupons (only from the Wed circulars and only the ones I think I might need) and I don't even organize them (egad!). Lots of time saved.

Now I do the "runs" maybe once or at most twice a month?

I wrote another blog here before about this.

2. Benefit: Training over Results

Discipline is more important. True, saving hundreds of grocery/household money and thus increasing savings is so captivating. But I also realize the discipline of menu-planning, grocery list-writing, thinking through every purchases is better! Such discipline trains my character than my pocket.

Process is more important. In fact, one of the greatest phrases I learnt about money-management and kids was "don't say 'we can't afford it' or 'it's too expensive for us'". Cos that means IF you can afford it one day, you can buy it. Then the child has the wrong teaching: earn as much as I can so that I can "afford". But say more "we don't need this. or this is not of good value"

Integrity is more important. I learnt through some hard lessons that it's better to "lose" some money than lose your integrity. If the deal doesn't smell right, or the coupon is not legitimate, DON'T go near it.

3. Emphasis: Values over Deals

It's not about getting the deals. It's about the lifestyle change. The willingness to live on less and to give up more. We may not get the snacks/peripherals/eat outs as much as we used to (then again, we had more potato chips/cereal than before! haha), but we can really save and still eat great food. We may not be able to get that particular shampoo we dearly love, but we get to choose from 5 different other brands that come free. When mentality/values are altered, then we really can make a significant financial difference.

Stop and Shop deals

2009-11-13T19:49:00.003-05:00

This week the deals are kinda slow.

But you can possibly still catch the Kleenex deal or the Huggies deal at Walgreens before tomorrow ends.

Also at target, you can get their own UP wipes for $0.54 per pack (40 wipes). Not bad a deal.
It's $1.54 here in my store, get $1 off coupon here (The good part is you can print as many as you like, but go slow at the store, remember to leave some wipes for others!) This promotion ends 12/5 so take your time.

The only deals I see worth mentioning are the Stop and Shop deals

Daisy Sour Cream, $1.50, $0.60 MQ (that will double) with the SS insert this week
Final Price: $0.30 each

Dannon Yogurt, 10 for $4, $1 MQ (inserts from before)
Final Price: $0.30 each (for 10)

Birds' Eye Frozen Veg, $1, $0.50 for 2 MQ (this week's insert)
Final Price: $0.50 each

Multigrain Cheerios will be free again! Go here for the blogpost

Maybe everyone's waiting for the Black Friday deals! =)

OH! next week, starting 11/22, Huggies will be 5 ECB with purchase of $20 Huggies products at CVS. Good for keeping those coupons!

50 FREE 4X8 or 5X7 photocards shipped

2009-11-09T19:35:00.002-05:00

Go to Freebies 4 Mom's blog (I do like her blog and check it often) and get a great code for 50 FREE 4X8 or 5X7 photocards by Fujifilm, shipping included!!

It does not expire until end of Nov, so you have lots of time to design a Christmas card!

I have my baby announcement cards now! YEH!!

Stop and Shop/Rite Aid

2009-10-28T21:42:00.003-04:00

Stop and Shop Double Dollar Coupon deals from 10/30-11/5

Coffee Mate Liquid, $2, $1 Coupon here, Final Price: FREE
Progresso Soup, $1 each, $1/3 coupon here, Final Price: $1 for 3

Rite Aid (Before 10/31):

Huggies Diapers Jumbo, $9.99, $3 SCR, $1.50 MQ mailer(If you have), or $1.50 (only Little Movers/snugglers) here or $3 (Pure and natural) here

Vaseline Sheer Infusion, $4.99. $4 SCR, $1.50 MQ here

St Ives, $3.99, $3 SCR, $1 MQ (inserts)

Kotex Pads, $2.99, $2 SCR, $1 MQ here

Use $4/20 here

Final Price: Free and possibly overage!

Another deal that I MIGHT try (this is for this week or next)

Pampers box, $19.99 (that's 82 pieces for size 4), $3 mailer MQ
a filler
Use $4/20
That'll give me about $0.16 per dipe. Not bad.

Rite Aid at it again!

2009-10-15T09:26:00.002-04:00

Another new week of freebies!!! This time I'm even more excited, cos Zucol works SO WELL for us (it's homeopathic). And I heard so much good things about Sambucol. Other things look interesting, like the sore throat stuff...

Ok, here are the coupons match up for OVERAGE!!

Blink Tears, $1.50 here
Chestal Cough syrup, $1 here

Apparently you can find the sambucol coupon in the box.

There used to be Little Allergies coupon in the insert (I could not find mine)

And remember the $5/25 coupon to make the deals SWEETER!!

One more great Rite Aid Diaper Deal!

2009-10-14T09:23:00.003-04:00

Rite Aid is giving out $10 gift card if you buy $30 worth of P&G specified products. I'm going only for the diapers (pampers only)

Big pack is $19.99 this week.

You can buy 2, use a $5/25 coupon here (expiring Dec 19 2009)
and then get back $10 gift card.
Use Pampers coupon if you have to sweeten the deal
And remember this counts towards the Fall of Savings too!

For me, I already got a pack together with my big snag on Sun (that makes THAT pack $2.99)
(I've reached the max of Fall of Savings cert, $20)

Now, my transaction will be:

a big pack of diapers, $19.99
Sinus buster, $8.99 (only FAR item I haven't bought)
Use $5/25 coupon

Get back $8.99 rebate
Get back $10 gift card.

The pack will cost me $5. GOSH! (That's $0.05 per size 3 dipe!) STOCK UP!

BIG Snag: Rite Aid, CVS, Wags Edited

2009-10-11T16:48:00.002-04:00

Great weekend!

WALGREENS: 2 packs of Huggies Dipes, jumbo
$18
2 $2 coupons
RR$4
Caregivers $1.50
Final Price: $4.25 per pack!

CVS:
3 packs Quilted Northern
$6.99 X 3
Coupon $1 X3
ECB $3
1 Tums
$3.99
1 Snickers
$0.89
Coupon $0.85
$5/25 coupon
Final Price: 13.49 for all (that makes $0.38 per roll of TP with free TUMS and chocolate)

Rite Aid: (*Edited*)
1 Big Pack of Pampers, size 3 (96 pieces)
$19.99
And the rest in the pic (right in front of diapers) are free after rebate items (we sort of need them too with cold, sore throat etc)
Used $5/25 coupon and 1 $1 Simply saline coupon

Got another simply saline (and used $1 coupon) and 1 throat cooler (used $1) in another store

Will get back $20 for Fall Savings.

That makes my big pack of diapers at $1.99!!!

LOTS of great deals this week!

2009-10-07T19:47:00.001-04:00

I'm so excited I just have to post this quick!

It's that time of the year Rite Aid helps the allergy/cold sufferers! (Boy do we need these in our household). TONS of free stuff. Take a look!

Starting Sun. (So, if you buy before 10/17 you can still get your Gift of Savings!!) That'll make it sweeter. Use a $5/25 coupon here.

Other Coupons available:

Throat Cooler, $1 (I have lots of them from the free ones I bought last year I think...gotta check expiration date)
Simply Saline, $1 (From insert before)

Other deals:
Pampers Big Pack, $19.99 (I should have MQ for this. $1 from P&G Saver)

CVS Deals:
There are 2 free after ECB deal (so-so, I don't need them)

But you can get pretty decent TP too:

Quilted Northern 12 pk, $6.99, $1 ECB. $1 MQ here, Final Price: $4.99 (that's...$0.42 per roll), Limit 3

Walgreens:
Huggies diapers, 2 for $18
RR $4
2 $2 MQ here
$1.50 Caregivers Rebate
Final Price: $4.25 per pack

Hanes REAL deal: 3 hours left!!

2009-10-02T21:01:00.003-04:00

I just got 14 sweats (pants/shirts) for my kids and me (for now and later too!!)for $50 shipped. Isn't that a great deal or what???!!!

Go to Hanes (if you have ebates, go through ebates and get 4% back!!).

Grab the sweats or anything you like. I love the sweats and kids' sweats are like $4!!. Use link15 as promo code. to get 15% off. The code seemingly ends today.

Crank up to $49 (AFTER discount) and you get free shipping.

GO NOW!

Stop and Shop Double Dollar Deals

2009-09-30T19:43:00.005-04:00

YEAH! It's here again! The double dollar coupons are coming up pretty frequently and I LOVE IT!

Alright, here are the deals I've got on my hand. Remember you have to spend $15 (try if you can...AFTER coupons to be safe) and you can use 4 $1 coupons.

Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, $2
MQ $1 here
Final Price: FREE

Danimals Drinkable Yogurt or crushable cup, $2
MQ (sometime back) $1
Final Price: FREE

Dan Active Yogurt, $2
MQ $1
Final Price: FREE

Other non-coupon deals
SS Big Daisy Bread, $1
Pillsbury and Betty Crocker cake mix, $1
Stop and Shop Frozen Veg (16 oz), $1

Rite Aid better deal

2009-09-28T08:51:00.002-04:00

Last week I thought I was getting a great deal out of Rite Aid. But in the end I didn't get the Ivory soaps (no stock).

BUT! We managed to get my hubby's favorite Gillette Fusion Razor for free. That's even better!!!

3 packs of huggies dipes, $33 3 $2 coupon (printable)
1 Always Infinity Pad (THE BEST IN THE WORLD), $7
1 $1 coupon
1 Proantinox, $6.99 1 $3 coupon (from the videos)
1 $5/20 coupon

Gillette Fusion, $9
MQ $4

OOP: $37.79

Rebate (Rite Aid): 23.99 Rebate
(Caregivers): 2.25 Rebate
(Gift of savings): 10

Total cost of the above: $1.55!!

FREE Uncrustables

2009-09-28T08:46:00.001-04:00

Anybody wants free peanut butter/jelly sandwich?
Get free uncrustables today (for the first 20000 who submit a after school tip) here.

FREE Gillette Razors and other deals

2009-09-24T20:05:00.002-04:00

Here are the deals I see this week (and will be taking advantage of hopefully):

RITE AID

Gillette Fusion Razors (My hubby has been using this since last year cos we got a lot for free), $9
SCR $5
MQ (P&G Saver) $4
Final Price: FREE

Crest Toothpaste, Oral B Advantage toothbrush, Outlast toothpast, $2.69
SCR $2.69
Final Price: FREE (I'm sure there are MQ out there for these)

Remember the gift of savings going on!!

WALGREENS

Gillette Fusion Razors (My hubby has been using this since last year cos we got a lot for free), $8.99
RR: $6
MQ (P&G Saver) $4
Final Price: FREE with overage!

Dentek Dental floss or picks, $2
RR: $2
Final Price: FREE

Halls Refresh sugar free drops, $1
RR: $1
Final Price: FREE

There are lots of other free stuff, like Oral B toothbrush, Emergen-C booster, Vaseline lotion, Robitussin, Chapstick...

A good week to go to Wags I think.

I don't like RR at all, but I can use it for the soda deal (which my hubby wants)

4 12-pack (7-up, canada dry, A&W, Sunkist or Hawaiian Punch) for $10.92

STOP & SHOP

Dannon Yogurt, 10 for $4, MQ $1 (recent insert), Final Price: $3 for 10

Rite Aid SUPER deal!!

2009-09-20T19:11:00.001-04:00

3 packs of huggies dipes, $33
3 $2 coupon (printable)

1 Always Infinity Pad (THE BEST IN THE WORLD), $7
1 $1 coupon

1 Proantinox, $6.99
1 $3 coupon (from the videos)

1 $5/20 coupon

STILL have to buy (forgot) Ivory soaps, 4 packs of 3-pack, $4

OOP: $35.99
Rebate (Rite Aid): 18.99
Rebate (Caregivers): 2.25
Rebate (Gift of savings): 10

Total cost of the above (INCLUDING 4 packs of Ivory soaps): $4.75!!!!

Giveaways Week Sep 17th

2009-09-17T20:10:00.003-04:00

I signed up for these this week:

$10 Panera Bread Giftcard from Calico Cash (we love Panera!)

Stop and Shop Gift card from free2bfrugal (Now THAT will be MIGHTY useful!)

Target gift card from bargain fun

Berenstain bears living light series by a frugal friend (I love the bears books)

$10 Target gift card by Smart Cents Mom

We won a month worth of diapers!

2009-09-16T20:04:00.002-04:00

From the giveaways we signed up last week, we won a month worth of Luvs diapers (and a diaper bag)!! WOW!

No, Luvs is not our prime choice, cos it's thin, but it's the BEST choice for new borns when they change dipe like every 2 hours. And Luvs is priced MUCH cheaper than the others.

Just in time for #3!!

Thank you, The Thrifty Mommy!!

Cheap Dipes, cereal, wonder bread and more! (Rite Aid and Stop and Shop)

2009-09-16T19:39:00.005-04:00

This is a great week for deals! (Stop and Shop and Rite Aid)

RITE AID (From Sun 9/20)

Huggies Deal:
Buy 3 packs jumbo (I'll go for snug and dry), $33
Use 3 $2 coupons here (you'll need 2 coms)
Watch 20 short videos (I know a pain right? but you get more coupons) get $5/20 here
(This is the part I'm not sure-->) Use $2 Rite Aid coupon with the video you watched (make sure you watched the huggies one) -I'm not sure how many you can print and if they really would stack them
Get back $10 Rebate (Rite Aid)
Get back $5 Gift of Savings (You'll get more gift of savings if you spend more from now till Oct 17th!)
Send in for Caregivers' Marketplace Rebate, $2.25

Final Price: (let's say, with NO Rite aid coupon) $1.58 per pack!

Other deals:
Proantinox (a cranberry extract thingey), $6.99
Use $3 coupon with the videos you watched (choose the proantinox one)
Get back $6.99 Rebate
Final Price: Better than free!

I might be getting a pack of Always Infinity (the BEST pads the universe had seen) at $7 ($1 off coupon and $2 rebate = $4)

So, with huggies, proantinox and Always, I'm $4 shy from getting a $10 gift of savings gift cert! That's great!!

STOP AND SHOP (from Friday 9/18)

Cocoa Puffs & Kix Cereal, $2, $0.75 coupon here, Final price: $0.50 each!
Trix and Cinnamon Crunch (my hubby's fav), $2, $0.55 coupon here, Final Price: $0.90 each!
Giant Steamers, $1.67, $0.50 coupon here, Final price: $0.67 each (for 12 oz pack)
Wonder Bread, $2, $0.55 coupon here, Final Price: $0.90 per bread!

And by the way, if you like Francesco Rinaldi pasta sauce (the only sauce our family eats), it's on sale for $0.99!

Target Kashi Deals, $0.38 per box of cereal!

2009-09-14T19:19:00.003-04:00

Buy 5 Kashi cereal this week at Target, $2.88 each

Use $1.50 coupon here (you'll have to use 3 computers though) to print 5 of them

Get $5 giftcard back

Final Price: $0.38 each!

We like Kashi cereal cos they are really healthy and when they are this cheap, you should stock on cereal!!

Giveaways week Sep 11th

2009-09-11T19:25:00.003-04:00

I signed up for these giveaways this week!

Pedoodles shoes (18 mths to 3 yrs) from Momma in Flip Flops sponsored by Baby Half Off

$10 Stop and Shop Card by Deals-R-Us (my grocery store!)

personalized chore chart by My litter of six (really cute!)

$10 Target gift card by the Alaskan Bargain Hunter

Boogie wipes (these are great!) by Never2late2save
$10 Target gift card by to save a penny

Umi shoes by Mommies with Cents

A month's worth of Luvs diapers by The thifty mommy

Wise potato chips 8 oz for $0.50

2009-09-09T19:35:00.003-04:00

Wise Potato chips on sale at Stop and Shop starting for a week since 9/11, $1.50.

Get coupon here for $0.50. After doubling, you pay $0.50 for them! If you're like our family, you'll stock up!!

Stop and Shop Dollar Double Great Deals

2009-08-28T20:04:00.003-04:00

I was so upset that the circulars did not come until we came back from grocery shopping! Cos...then I saw the double dollar coupons at Stop and Shop. UURGGHH!! There are some great deals for those!!

Like...

Danimals Drinkable Yogurt, $2, there were some $1 coupons out (including this week's SS)
Final Price: FREE

Activia Yogurt, $2, $1 MQ (this week's SS and past weeks too?)
Final Price: FREE

Bar S Hot dogs (on the other spectrum from Nathan's, but hey! they'll be free!), $0.99 each, $1/2 coupons here.
Final Price: 2 package FREE

Mission Flour Tortillas or corn tortillas(30 ct), as low as $2.29, $1 MQ (out sometime back)
Final Price: $0.29 per pack

Aren't they great deals? Go grab them. I boo-hooed for some lost free yogurt, but it's ok, the double coupon thingey seems to be quite regular now.

Remember, spend $15 before using the coupons!

Stop and Shop $3.30 14 Hebrew National dogs

2009-08-20T09:46:00.005-04:00

At Stop and Shop this week (starting Fri 8/21) , you can buy 7 ct Hebrew National Beef Franks for $5.30, and get another 7 ct free. (I have no idea why would people sell a 7 ct franks!! I got the info from Peapod, anyone has gotten the HN Beef franks before? Is it really 7 ct?)

To make it sweeter, get 2 $1 coupons here, and get both for $3.30!

Good buys: Stop and Shop. Almost FREE Lipton!

2009-08-14T21:33:00.005-04:00

I'm not doing CVS or Walgreens this week, but got some good buys from Stop and Shop!

Split Chicken Breasts, $0.99/lb!

Dannon Yogurt, 10 for $4, MQ (this week's SS) $1/10, $0.30 each!

and this is a really good one

Lipton tea bags, 16 count, $1.09. MQ $0.50 here. $0.09 after MQ!!

Giveaways Aug 11th

2009-08-11T20:49:00.003-04:00

I signed up for these giveaways:

$20 CVS Giftcard at mojosavings. Now that is a GREAT giveaway!

$5 Amazon Giftcard at Coupon Teacher. I'll love to use this!

CVS Bargain: $2.25 per pack of dipe

2009-08-09T21:31:00.002-04:00

Got my CVS snag!

2 packs of Huggies Jumbo (Stocking time for baby!)
1 Revlon Mineral Mousse Make up

Used 2 $1.50 coupon (Thanks, C!) I just realized you can also get the coupon here
Used $5/25 coupon
Sending in for Caregivers' Marketplace rebate, $1.50

Total: $4.50 for all

Great buy!!

CVS $5/25 coupon

2009-08-08T09:32:00.003-04:00

Watch a video (with question) abt 5 min? and get a $5/25 coupon here!

This can be used for (this week starting Sun):

Revlon Colorstay Mineral Mousse Make up, $9.99, ECB $9.99

Huggies diapers, 2 for $18, $4 ECB (If you have MQ that'll be sweeter), or else at least Caregivers Marketplace's rebate ($1.50)

That means...you're essentially getting 2 packs of diapers for...$7.50 or less! I'm getting for baby to come...

Walgreens $5/25 deal

2009-08-05T19:51:00.003-04:00

There are many deals going around to use that $5/25 coupon Wags gave out (only good Wed/Thu). But most of them require way more many coupons I have and also too many RR (I don't like RR at all...in fact that's one of the reasons I have not been to Wag for a long time).

BUT! I LOVE their ultra toilet paper. EQUAL quality as Charmin. So this was how I used the coupon.

3 packs 12 rolls Wags TP, $5.99 each

1 GUM Toothbrushes, $3.49, RR $3.49

1 VITAMIN conditioner, $3.99, RR $3.99

1 roll of double roll thick Wags TP at $0.40 each after this transaction.

Giveaways week Aug 3

2009-08-03T20:16:00.002-04:00

Actually some of these are ending soon...I just haven't been in the giveaways for a while. But I do wish to win some of these!

Wallies peel stick chalkboard by the suburban jungle. This is so cool it'll be great for a gift I know for someone!!

Coupons and $20 Target giftcard by the frugal find. I can always use one of these.

Hide and Seek Frog messenger bag by suburban saving mom. This is SOOO cute I know Ian would love it!

Pediped shoes by Two of a kind (I always love shoes for my kids)

Snags at CVS/Rite Aid

2009-08-03T10:50:00.002-04:00

We got mainly what we needed at CVS at a great deal and at Rite Aid...well, the stock is PATHETIC.

CVS:
2 packs of pampers dipes, $20, $5 ECB, $4 MQ ($2 each)
2 Folgers coffee. 2 for $5 after ECB
2 Dawn dishwashing liq, $0.99, $0.70 MQ
1 folding chair, $10 (that we really) need)

$5/30 coupon

We spent $29.19, got back $6.50 of ECB (+ Spring spending savings)

We should have spent $10 on that chair (which we were about to buy somewhere else)...so...we spent $12.69 on the dipes, coffee and dawn. PRETTY cool.

Rite Aid
Venus razor, $7.62 (+tax), $2 MQ, waiting for $5 rebate, spent $0.62.

Free Cheerios and yoplus

2009-07-31T17:43:00.001-04:00

Here're our free multigrain cheerios and yoplus!! =) Though we did overspend this week...$74 for groceries and fruits...oops...but we got TONS of stuff...most likely we'll spill into next week.

Plus, I'm like a little girl...we got "featured" (actually more like mentioned) in my favorite frugal blog, Money Saving Mom!! haha....

Grocery/Drugstore Planning Jun 31, Aug 2

2009-07-30T20:34:00.002-04:00

I'm back!

This week is quite exciting I have to say. I haven't gone to CVS for SUCH A LONG TIME!!

STOP & SHOP (Double $1 Coupon Days!)

Buy $15 worth of groceries (to be safe, buy at least $19), use 4 $1 MQ and it'll double!

Here're my good buys this week:

Multigrain cheerios, 4 for $6 (must buy 4)
4 $0.75/1 coupons here, here and here
Final price: Free!

Yo-Plus Yogurt, $2 (4-pack)
$1/1 coupon here
Final Price: Free!

Yo Baby Yogurt (I'm not getting this, but this is a great buy!), $4.29
$1/1 coupon here
Final Price: $2.29

CVS
Pampers Diapers Jumbo, 2 for $20
$5 ECB
2 $2 MQ (P&G Saver this week)
Final Price: $5.50 per pack

A lot of free after ECB back-to-school stuff!! (got to take a look!)
I received a $5/30 coupon. this will come in real handy!

RITE-AID

A lot of free after rebate stuff too!

I'm looking out for these:
EZ tape, $1.49
Crest toothpaste, $2.79
Wethers' Original, $2.99
Renu contact lotion, $9.99
Venus razor, $7 ($5 rebate, $2 MQ P&G saver), Final price: free
And you can print a 5/$25 coupon here
Final total: Money-making!!

Stop and Shop FREE Multigrain Cheerios

2009-07-30T10:43:00.002-04:00

I haven't placed ANYTHING on this blog for such a long time I wonder if my friends still bother to come.

Anyhows, this Friday there's a great Multigrain Cheerios deal I just have to post.

Buy 4 at $6 (Have to buy 4). Print 2 coupons here and 2 coupons here for $0.75 each. Since Stop and Shop doubles, you get free cereals!

Giveaways Week Apr 23

2009-04-23T10:32:00.004-04:00

Miracle Blanket by Two of a kind (I love these!!)

Wallsy Tales Wall Mural by Two of a kind (These look really adorable!)

Traveller Cot by Two of a kind

Grocery Apr 10th

2009-04-10T19:41:00.001-04:00

Today we spent about $50 on the above (there's still some more...milk, other stuff...so it might near to $60 this week). Attempting no CVSing, so that's it for Grocery and household. Within my budget.

BUT! Out of this, $9.88 is for fruits! We have a HUGE fruit budget cos our kids LOVE fruits and I think I should eat more fruits at my stage of pregnancy.

The best buy this week:
Kashi frozen entrees - free (YEH! more to add to my freezing food/1st trimester pile)
McCormick taco seasoning - FREE! (after $1 coupon from here)
Butter - $0.89 after coupons
Chicken (those 2?) - $5.41

Last week, because we're freezing foods, we spent $55.09 on household and grocery (NOT BAD!)

Also, I think next week (unless there are AWESOME deals, I'm trying to skip grocery, except for eggs, milk and fruits) I have quite a bit of food stocked up for 1st trimester blues.

Kraft First Taste's coupon for a free deli sandwich just came in today. How lovely!

Giveaways Week Apr 9

2009-04-09T19:59:00.003-04:00

I signed up for these givewaways

Little Fit Hats from two of a kind. (like a cap for kids, My son would LOVE this!)

Who wouldn't love a $25 Target giftcard? from STL mommy.

Nursing Tank (I'll need more of these soon!) from mommies with cents

Pikkolo Baby carrier (looks cool!) by Thrifty and chic mom

10 cans Libby vegetables and a tailgate kit from couponing101

Safe Sippy cups from lady bug soup

Hair sprinkles (these look SOOO adorable) by ladybug soup

Brita Filter by Common sense with money

Grocery/Drugstore planning Apr 10, 12

2009-04-09T19:39:00.004-04:00

CVS
Soft soap body wash, $4.99, ECB $4.99, Final Price: FREE (I have coupons, so that's overage)
Colgate Enamel Protect, sensitive whitening tp 6oz or 360 sensitive toothbrush, $3.99, ECB $3.99, Final Price: FREE (Limit 2 Offers)

Stop and Shop
Land O Lakes Butter, $1.99, $0.55 coupon here, Final Price: $0.89 (limit 3?)
Nature Valley granola bars, Fiber One bars, 4 for $6 (must buy 4)
If they have chocolate mocha, I have many $1.35 coupons, making, 4 for $0.60
OR Nature Valley coupon (on my side bar), $0.60 each, print 4 (on 2 computers), 4 for $1.20

Walgreens
Toothbrush for free (after RR)

Rite Aid
Nothing

Quiznos and Domino's compensation

2009-04-06T20:05:00.001-04:00

After our bad Quizno's coupon and HORRID Domino's experience, we wrote in to them to let them know that poor business practices should not be tolerated.

Today we got certificate for a free pizza and coke from Domino's and a $5 card from Quizno's.

It takes a few minutes to write in emails like these (and do keep them respectful but firm), but it pays.

CVS Tripping Apr 5

2009-04-05T14:58:00.003-04:00

No pics...put away things too fast...

Here's what I got:

Transaction 1:
2 Easter grass, $0.79 each, FREE after ECB
1 Colgate Maxfresh, $2.99, $2 ECB, $1 coupon
2 Bamboo baskets, $1.99 each, FREE after ECB
2 gallons of milk, $3.19 each

$3/15 coupon

Transaction 2:
2 Huggies dipes (Natural Fit), $3 coupon each
1 Huggies Pull-ups, $2 CVS CRT, $2 coupon
Get back $10 ECB, $2.25 Caregivers
$5/25 coupon

Total: $4.62 for all of the above (think about it...I would have spent $5 on milk at Target [that's REALLY low price already] but now I got toothpaste and 3 packs of dipes too! Yoo-Hoo!!

Grocery Apr 3

2009-04-04T10:33:00.001-04:00

We didn't plan on grocery this week (cos believe or not, I think we can make by another week, with just purchase of fruits, milk and eggs)...but...Stop and Shop got to have their double dollar this week...so I had to go!

All these (including a sack of 20lb rice that I left out and 5 more yogurt that we gave my FIL) for $29.53 (we still have milk, eggs for this week...so...possibly, we'll spend $34 this week? (plus the CVS tripping...maybe $35+). This is great savings!

The free items:
Vitamin water
Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta, $1.79, $1 coupon, doubled: overage
Marcal toilet paper

VERY cheap (after coupons)
Dole pineapples: $1 for 3
Ricotta cheese: $0.99
Sour cream, $0.30
Progresso Crushed tomatoes, $0.50 each
That bunch of collard: $0.39!
Yogurt: $0.30 each
And I got some reduced price products, like the bananas (I LOVE these, half price and just as good) and broccoli

So, the double dollar coupon policy is confirmed, buy $15 (before coupons) and use all 4.

Giveaways week Apr 2

2009-04-02T13:18:00.004-04:00

I signed up for these giveaways!

Hotslings by dealectible mommies (this looks very interesting and pretty!)

Babylegs by STL mommy. (I love babylegs, I only have a home-made pair that I kept using)

Halo Sleepsack by Mommies with cents. (Halo sacks are great things to have!)

Stroller (this looks amazing!) by jollymom

Keen grobag (like a sleeping sack) by Two of a kind

Ribbies Clippies (I wish my girl can wear these soon...maybe not...) by frugal mommy of 2 girls

Itty Bitty Bookworm curriculum (for 3-5 yrs old) by no ordinary moment

Phonics Magnet by homeschoolblogger

Grocery/Drugstore plan week Apr 3, 5

2009-04-01T13:41:00.004-04:00

CVS (starting Apr 5)

This will be a great week for CVS! (and I have a $5/25 and $3/15 coupons to use yeh!)

Huggies/Baby buy $25, get 10 ECB (This is always good)

I'm getting:

2 packs Huggies dipes (natural fit), $20, 2 $3 coupon, $0.75 Caregiver's Rebate (each)

1 pack Huggies pull-up, $10, 1 $2 coupon, 1 $2 CVS coupon, $0.75 Caregivers' Rebate

10 ECB, $5/25

Final Price: $2.75 for 3 packs!

(now, if you still have the $5 coupon for Gentle care, you get wipes free!)

Other great sale:
Oval/rectangle bamboo basket, $1.99, $1.99 ECB, Final Price: FREE (limit 2)
Easter grass, $0.79, $0.79 ECB, Final Price: FREE (limit 2)
Skintimate cream shave, $3.49, $3.49 ECB, Final Price: FREE!
Colgate Maxfresh, $2.99, $2 ECB, $1 MQ(if you have them), Final Price: FREE (pay tax)

Walgreens:
(I'm recently trying to boycott Wags for their poor customer service (only my store) so I'm not into that much deals, but here's this week's:)

Colgate Total, 4.2 oz, $3.49, $3.49 RR, Final Price: FREE (If you have coupons for these you get them more than free)

Rite Aid:
Blink Tears, $7.99, $7.99 Rebate, Final Price: FREE

Stop and Shop (starting Apr 3)

Dollar Double Days are back! (This time, they made it clear that you can use all 4 coupons for $15 purchase and when i read the fine prints, the $15 is after all DISCOUNTS - I suppose coupons are not "discounts")

Here're my buys:
Sorrento Ricotta Cheese, $2.99, $1 MQ (to be doubled), Final Price: $0.99
Dannon Yogurt, 10 for $5, $1 MQ (to be doubled), Final Price: $0.30 each
Cream of Chicken, 2 for $2, $1 MQ (to be doubled), Final Price: FREE (if they take IP)
Dole pineapples/mandarin oranges, 3 for $3, $1 MQ (to be doubled), Final Price: 3 for $1!!

Other good buys: Daisy Sour Cream, $1.50, $0.60 MQ (SS this week), to be doubled, Final Price: $0.30!
Halls Cough drops, $1.50, $0.75 MQ here, Final Price: FREE
Vitamin water, $1, $1 MQ (SS 4/5/09) Final Price: FREE (don't use this for double, they won't I think)
Progresso Tomatoes (cans), $1, $1/2 here, Final Price: $0.50 each (or if they take IP for double, you get 2 free)

btw, go to www.pillsbury.com or www.bettycrocker.com and print out $0.60 Green Giant Valley Steamers...these should come in handy when SS has them on sale for $1 each!

Bad Business Practice: Domino's

2009-03-31T19:34:00.001-04:00

I'm making a stand. Those businesses that practices poor customer service shall get a thumbs-down PUBLICLY from me.

Today there was a code going around for a free medium pizza at Domino's. I thought it won't work, but it did for us. Order went through, hubby even phoned the store to make sure it went through. (I then read from many comments that this deal is not good, as in many people can't get it through)

Hubby went to store. They would not give him the pizza (which was baked and sitting there). They wanted him to get something else to get that "free" pizza. YEAH RIGHT. That's horrible.

I can understand if a computer glitch got your codes wrong, but hey man, honor it! Get some good practice, especially after customer made a phone call to CONFIRM about the order and price! The workers were lost and manager oblivious.

BAD. Domino's lost my business (and hopefully most of you reading too). I wrote to them. Now let's see if they'll even respond.

Great Heathy Ones Lunch Meat deal at Stop and Shop

2009-03-29T19:38:00.001-04:00

Certain variety of the small pack of lunch meat (about 11 pieces of them) are on sale for $1.67. With this coupon of $0.55 here, you can get these for $0.57 each after double coupon at Stop and Shop. Do this before 4/2!

Giveaways Week Mar 25

2009-03-25T19:29:00.002-04:00

These are the giveaways I signed up this week. (there are LOTS this week!)

8th Continent Soy milk giveaway by mommieswithcents

At Sonbeams, there is a giveaway everyday. Today's giveaway is a 26 Week Membership to Sonbeams AND ABC Bible Memory Verse Songs Collection (MP3 download)

joyfulmoneysaving is giving away mabels labels (they are quite adorable!)

how about Veggie Tales DVD giveaways? (I love VT!) by growingupgabel

STL mommy is giving away label daddy (more labels!)

$10 Starbucks giftcard by twomonkeysawashtub. I love starbucks cards...

$20 Target giftcard by never2late2save (another of my fav...Target)

YEH! Another See Kai Run shoes by babesandkidsreview (You know what? I'd LOVE to get to be the reviewer huh?)

$25 outback steakhouse giftcard by a busymomoftwo. Since we have one here. This is great!

You can Make this $50 bundle by gograhamgo

Potty tots giveaway by dealectible mommies

$4 coupon for PACE salsa

2009-03-25T08:46:00.003-04:00

$4 coupon for Pace Salsa here. $4???!!! I'm sure I can almost get it free!! (Now Hubby is going to be SOO happy)

p.s. I went back and I printed 4!!! (it seems like it just kept GOING!)

CVS/Rite Aid Mar 22

2009-03-23T09:22:00.002-04:00

We had a good run.

CVS:
6 cans of Cream of Mushroom, $1.99/2, $1/2 coupons
Crest Enamel Shield Rinse, $3.49, ECB $3.49
4 Johnson's Buddies, $1.25 each (after tax), $1 off each (coupon)
2 Trail Mix, $4.99/2, 2 $2 coupons
2 packs of raisins
1 pack 12-roll CVS TP (I can't wait to try this, for it's a better value than Wags!)

$5/25 coupon

Total (after ECBS used and earned): $6.80

Rite Aid:
Huggies Jumbo dipe, $9.99, $2 SCR, $3 coupon, $0.75 Caregivers.

Final Price: $4.24!!

Total spent this week on Grocery and Household (More to add on): $64.94 (got out of our budget but we have some food for "later"

Best buy this week (aside from the Huggies and CVS run): $2.49 per gallon of whole milk at Target!

Giveaways week Mar 28th

2009-03-18T21:42:00.003-04:00

These are the great giveaways I signed up for this week:

$10 gift card from Living as Mom

$20 Applebees' gift card by 4hatsand frugal

Frugal Mommy of 2 girls giving away a Tuga Sunwear!

Grocery/Drugstore Strategy

2009-03-18T21:05:00.002-04:00

A slow week. But at CVS I'll really like to get the mixer I didn't last week (thanks to SIL who helped me with the raincheck.
So, here's my plan:

Campbell's soup (Cream of mushroom or chicken), $1.69? BOGO
Buy 6 at $5.07
3 $1/2 coupons (that we printed some time back?)
Final Price: $0.35 each!

Mixer, $9.99

Raisins (we badly need these for baking), $1.25 per 6-pack

Crest Pro-Health Enamel Care, $3.49
ECB $3.49
Final Price: FREE

Wrigley, $1.19
FREE coupon
Final Price: FREE

CVS Toilet paper, 12 double rolls, $5

$5/25 coupon

I might spend $14.56 on the above. (let's see!)

Walgreens
I'll pass this week. But some deals worth talking about

Tomato soup/Chicken noodle, $0.79 (they used to be $0.69 on sale!!)
Eggs, $1.50

Rite Aid
Huggies Jumbo diapers(now will they take our IP coupon?), $9.99
SCR $2
$3 IP
$0.75 Caregivers' Rebate
Final Price: $4.24

Stop and Shop
Turkey Breast, $0.99/lb
Strawberries, $2.99/2lb (now that's better than last time!)
Buy 6 gallons of milk get 1 free is back (that'll make milk about $2.99)
Cantaloupe, $1.88 each
Francesco Rinaldi Sauce, $1.25 each (at best deal it's $0.99) but this is the BEST pasta sauce we've had

Reminders on couponing, frugal living and drugstore deals

2009-03-15T19:48:00.006-04:00

Recently more and more of my friends caught the "coupons" and "drugstore" fever. I cannot tell you how elated and excited I am to hear about the deals they snagged and the money they saved. It really pumped me up.

Yet, I have this tingling concern at the base of my tummy...

I started this couponing/frugal/drugstore journey with the blessing and full involvement of my husband (he does the runs too). We talked about it, sometimes I run through my deals by him (because of my HORRIBLE math), laughed about it and celebrated together when we snatched some awesome deals.

However, I know I'm very blessed. Not all the sisters I know have that luxury. (I probably wouldn't have too, if not for my hubby starting to be CFO) So, I'm concerned if this frugal journey will cause dissensions among the couples which will be a BIGGEST loss!

OR...I was concerned that some of my friends would have to learn the hard way about drugstoring like me and suffer some losses (monetarily and time). I wish they can be spared of that.

So I thought of sharing some articles/blogs I read that was helpful and interesting (I'll post more when I read more) and also some of my learnings while on the journey.

Deal-seeking mom lately has some good blogs like:

Are you really saving? here

To print and clip or not print and clip here

Moneysavingmom (my favorite of all for she always keeps my values in check)! had some good archives:

Simple living here

A good deal gone bad here

And I read about this really really funny post: "I married a couponholic" here

Alright. SOME of my learnings:

1. Discuss with hubby and make sure he at least gives you the blessing (MOST hubbies will not be able to participate and that's ok). OR let him give you the blessing with his "parameters". Every marriage is different too...how you discuss and come to decisions about things. But every marriage should be more important than how much you earn/save.

2. Get your priorities right. Set time and budget aside for deals/couponing etc. Everyone has different needs and capacity. What's yours? I have 2 young kids and I realized when I first started I needed to learn about this and I need to get better. So I spent a lot of time. This year, one of my resolution is to cut down time to plan/strategize/etc on couponing/drugstoring to 15-20 mins a day. Do you have work? family? studies? hubby? hobby? ministry? Give those who deserve your attention the deserving attention. Also, remember this is about living simpler (yet I realized we're getting WAY MORE STUFF than we ever gotten, with much less money). Still to be willing to live simpler, eat simpler, use simpler is the key to saving (not the deals!!).

3. Remember your goals, never be greedy and be totally honest. It's SUPER hard esp when you start getting TONS of free stuff. But with some bad experiences, I realize, greed just doesn't get you anywhere. I always remember moneysavingmom's advice to pray about the deals (that makes me conscious to put God in all that I do in this journey). There are lots of ways to get free/cheap stuff but not all are honest. That's why I love moneysavingmom. When there are deals, I usually check her blog to see if she endorses it. She's on the journey for a much longer time than I do and I need her wisdom. I respect her values totally. That's also why I steer away from those online offers, special earning opportunities etc.

4. God knows what you need. My SIL loves to say this when we talked about deals (that we got or missed) and I think it's a wonderful reminder! God knows exactly what's good for you at this time, thus the deals you got/missed. In that light I no longer am anxious about "what if there is no stock??!!" "what if the coupon doesn't ring", etc etc...it's ok. Also, because of that I'm more willing to let go of good deals, $5/25 coupons and even some other great value coupons that I've printed (oh gosh, no!) but can't do the deal (no stock, no time, etc)

5. Never forget about giving. At this point in our journey, we have lots of household stuff stocked up, we are getting great deals (and many times I won't even do the deals unless it's overage or really free, or I can give away) and we are saving lots more. To the more God demands more. So we try to remember it's important to give to others. That keeps us in check.

Grocery, CVS Earning Trip and our wipes stash

2009-03-15T19:27:00.003-04:00

This is why I love CVS and I'm loving it more than Walgreens:

Even though counting the $5/25 purchases and all the ECBs are always nerve-wrecking, I have better customer service and LOTS of ease when it comes to coupons (they just scan them and not scrutinize them) and I always come out happier than when I go to Walgreens. I'm sad, cos Wags is closer and it started me on this frugal journey. Anyhows.

Here's today's trip. I went at first only to find the Irish Spring Free-after-ECB item. THEN I waited and waited for someone to come by. (I waited for QUITE A WHILE!) A VERY nice man (I have the intention to give a positive feed back on him) came by, went to search for the items I need (even though the mixer that I really want is out of stock). I got 3 packs of sensitive wipes because he took the trouble. He even said he'll bring them to the front for me!!! WOH!

So...
I got...
Irish Spring Wash
Progresso Soup (2 cans)
2 Johnson's buddies' soap
3 pack of wipes
2 packs of Wrigleys (I have a CVS coupon BOGO and used 2 free coupons from this week's SS)
and I EARNED $0.61!!

Now, after all the tripping at Stop and Shop and today, we have a stash of 13 packs of wipes (that will last both of our kids for 6 months). And we spent: $10.72 on all of them!!! Wipes for 6 months? Gosh!!!

And for Grocery this week, we spent: $42.50 on the pic above (that includes 6 more yogurt not in the pic), $10.33 at Target, another $4.36 on eggs, tofu and salt and $4.38 today at CVS. But we have $4.99 ECB back.

So total we spent on grocery and household: $56.58 (My budget is $60, so that's great!)

Target dairy deals

2009-03-12T19:37:00.003-04:00

Our target has much higher prices on things, always has beeping issues with coupons and doesn't seem to be wiling to stack target coupons and manufacturer's coupons.

BUT! I got some awesome deals today.

2 gallons of Milk, $2.49 each (This is the MOST amazing price I've seen)
2 packs of Market Pantry Shredded Cheddar Cheese, $3.50, $1 Target web coupon, Final Price: $1.25 each!
Goldfish, $1.89, $1 Target web coupon, Final Price: $0.89 each!
Bread, $1.29 (24 oz)

Total: $10.33 for all that. I think it's a real good buy (I have to take off $10 of my grocery tomorrow though)

Grocery/Drugstore Deals Mar 13, 15 EDITED

2009-03-11T20:04:00.003-04:00

These are the deals I see this week:

CVS (Yeah! We are coming back for good deals!)
Irish Spring Body Wash, $4.99, $4.99 ECB, Final Price: Free
Colgate Max White toothbrush or toothpaste, $2.99, $2.99 ECB, $1 MQ here (sign up and find coupon) Final Price: Free +overage!
RTH appliance (I badly need a handmixer..it's $9.99 and I can use my $5/25 coupon)
Progresso soups, $1.25, I had $1.10 coupons still, Final Price: $0.15 each
Huggies wipes (GASP! MORE??!!), $5.99 I wonder if they have the gentle care ones which I can get for $0.99 after coupons!!
Dry Idea Deodorant, $2.99, $2 ECB, $2 MQ on my side bar, Final Price: Free + Overage

Now if you have $5/25 coupons These will make great deals!!

Rite Aid
Nothing much

Walgreens
Walgreens dipes at $4.50 again, if you need them!

Stop and Shop

Top/Bottom Roast, $1.99/lb (that's great price for a roast!)
Wise potato chips, $2, $0.50 MQ (not sure if it still prints), Final Price: $1 each
Dannon Yogurt, 10 for $4, $1 MQ (SS), Final Price: $0.30 each (that's too expensive compared to our $0.50/4 Yoplus huh?)

Giveaways week Mar11

2009-03-11T19:29:00.003-04:00

I signed up for these giveaways this week

Jack And Lily Shoes (Open toe red patent) by Frugal Mommy of 2 girls

Mommies with cents has many give aways, which I love a lot!

Crane Humidifiers (these are great! I like the panda one)

Miracle Blankets (never had these but they sure look nifty!)

Bobux Shoes (someone gave my daughter a pair and I love them)

Super Coupon Girl has a new contest blog and she's giving away Magic Pumpkin wall art nursery deco here

Thifty and chic mom has Wisey diaper bag (that looks really chic) giveaway

Combi Coccoro Carseat by My Baby Moderns

Giftcard of your choice by allthingsfrugal4u (I cannot believe she has 7 kids)

Giftcard and chocolates by myreasontoblog

$10 CVS giftcard by frugal RI mama

STL Mommy has a $50 diapers.com giftcard!

Yobaby $0.50 coupon

2009-03-10T09:19:00.001-04:00

Print a $0.50 yobaby coupon here, one for drinkable and one for whole milk yogurt. You can only print these once and they expire 10 days from printing. These will double at Stop and Shop and that will possibly give a you great price for baby yogurt!

$0.50 for 4 Yoplus Yogurt at Stop and Shop

2009-03-08T20:53:00.005-04:00

Yoplus for $0.50 at Stop and Shop after this $1.50 coupon here. (It's $2 this week)

$0.50 for 4 VERY delicious yogurt? YUM!

While you're there, grab the $5 Huggies coupon (if you still haven't printed them). You can on my side bar, and get $0.99 Gentle Care wipes.

And $1.67/lb of strawberries. These are what we're grabbing AGAIN this week. =)

Poor Coupon Management at Walgreens

2009-03-08T16:00:00.002-04:00

With the rave on the Huggies deal, I was quite apprehensive. I can tell you, I really dislike Register Reward. They either don't print, don't be used well or...whatever.

So, we managed to get 3 packs of size 6 dipes, for $21 OOP (then get $10 RR, and I'll file for rebate of $2.25 at Caregivers) so that's $2.91 per pack. A real deal yes. But not without stress. We wanted to get size 4, but there isn't any.

I wanted to use the $10 RR to buy Toilet paper and the Axe shampoo. No TP (Wags) either. ($10RR is REALLY hard to use, esp when the FAR items are always out of stock)

Then my friend went to the same Wags, didn't get her RR to print and the cashier starts to give her "reasons" (all speculated and not real). In the end it was the RR machine that was broken and the manager would not do anything about it. Then she went to the next Wags and they said they won't take IP.

Now. I've had enough of Wags' coupons "policies". When it beeps (though it's totally legitimate or even if they don't, the cashiers start to give me reasons like these:
-You need to spend $25 AFTER coupons to get the RR to print (the Huggies deal). YEAH RIGHT! I did that once and it printed and no where it was printed as so
-You have too many coupons, that's why it's beeping (YEAH RIGHT again, I know the policy better than you...one Manufacturer's coupon per item, stackable with Walgreens' coupons)
-(this is my favorite) We do not accept any coupon on dairy products (when I tried to use a coupon for milk)
-No, you cannot use this coupon, because it's 1 cent more than price (even though my total is more than $0)
-No, this easy saver coupon is only for the "Bells" Hershey kisses (where is that written?!!, and sure enough, even when I took the "Bells" ones, it didn't work)

Now, I'm not saying my coupon is not ALLOWED to beep. There must be some reason for that and since it's not the cashier's fault that they can't do some readjustments. What I'm not happy is that why do they give their own silly speculations about such things? Just say it's beeping and I do not know why. Or "I'll try to understand why it's not going through" (even though it's perfectly legitimate)

I don't think I'll try to do another round of the Huggies deal even though it's such a good one (with the right conditions). I'll bring my business to Stop and Shop and get $0.99 wipes.

Walgreens is really getting on my nerves. Things should be improving and not getting worse. That's not the civilizations work.

Groceries Mar 6th

2009-03-07T17:35:00.003-05:00

How's that for $48.24? I can't tell, but we had A LOT of good deals!

3 Mystic pizzas for $9
Yoplus yogurt for $0.50 each
Free Jell-O pudding
Free Riceworks
Free Over the Moon milk (Try it free rebate)
$0.50 Ziploc containers
$0.99 wipes

Grocery/Drugstore Plan Mar 8

2009-03-05T19:13:00.002-05:00

After studying Stop and Shop Double Dollar Coupon thingey, I realized it's not that easy!

First, the $15 is AFTER coupons (now that's always a hard one...not much meat on sale this week...so that's off), then they only take coupons from magazines/newspapers (does that mean they won't take IPs?) AND they explicitly say they won't take those that says "DO NOT DOUBLE" (usually the cashier will take them and double). SOOO...

I'll only use 4 coupons. The 2 ziplogs and 2 Mystic pizza ones. Dawn still gives me free though, that's cool.

CVS
I'm skipping this week

Walgreens
Yeh! We have the $25 Kimberly-Clark, get $10 RR!

Possible Deals:
2 Natural Fit Diapers, $10 each 2 $3 Coupons (on my side bar), $1.50 Caregivers Rebate
1 Gentle Care wipes (if they have it), $6, $5 off (on my side bar)
Pay$15, get $10 RR and $1.50 rebate

Or
2 Gentle Care dipes (step 1-2), $10 each, 2 $5 coupons, $1.50 caregivers rebate
1 Gentle Care wipes, $6, $5 coupon
Pay $11, Get $10 RR and $1.50 rebate (MM!)

Now, what can I use for the $10 RR? (rumor has it that Wags dipes on sale for 2/$9 next week again...I don't know if we have that deal here)

OR...
Axe shampoo, $5.99
Wag TP, 2/$5 (that's a good deal and good TP!)

OR...
Advanced Memory Formula, $19.99

Rite Aid
nothing much

great buy and new service

2009-03-05T13:07:00.001-05:00

Thanks to Thriftymama, I got this pair of great (very comfy) shoes for $4.99 shipped at Monterey Bay. (I got a pair of jeans @ $6.49 too but the size is warped & I need to exchange it).

Anyhows, do you hate it when you don't get your mail but the peach slip instead? ("Sorry we missed you") Postal Service must be better elsewhere but here in some parts of NYC, it's A REAL PAIN and I reaaly didn't want to dredge through the unmelted snow with 2 kids for this parcel...then I realize I can schedule redelivery online!!! I asked for redelivery for today yesterday night. yah right, I thought, they probably haven't gotten my parcel at the office!!

Here they are, 9am in the morning. And I'm super impressed. Kudos, usps, finally.

Stop and Shop Double $1 Coupon Days!!!

2009-03-05T10:48:00.002-05:00

I hope you understand why I'm giddy with adrenalin rush to the sky. The Stop and Shop is doubling coupons up to $1 this coming week!!!! (3/6-3/12) Get the ad in store for details. I think you can use up to 4 at once.

Here are our best buys:

Mystic Pizzas, at 3 for $11. I have 2 coupons ($1 off 1, and $1 off 2), that will make final price: 3 for $7!!!!

Ziplog containers, $2.50. Mailer coupon $1, Final Price: $0.50

Yo-plus yogurt, 4-pack, $2, $1 MQ here. Final Price: free

Dawn, $1, $0.50 MQ (mailer), Final Price: free

Giveaways week Mar 4

2009-03-04T19:29:00.003-05:00

I signed up for these this week:

$50 Walmart gift card by Frugalfreebiesanddeals

$50 Target giftcard by notmadeofmoney

$5 giftcard of your choice by livingasmom

Fabric scrapes by jumpupanddown

Jack and Lily shoes by mamasmoneysavers

See Kai Run Shoes by mamasmoneysavers

Ergo Hands Free by "Deal"ectible Mommies

Totally Toddler by "Deal"ectible Mommies

Neat Solutions Table Toppers by "Deal"ectible Mommies

Fulfilling Trip CVS/Walgreens

2009-03-01T16:35:00.007-05:00

*Sorry no pic, no time*

Walgreens today:

Colgate, 3.57(+tax), RR $3.50, Final Price: $0.07

Diapers (4 packs), each $4.50

Axe Shampoo, $5.99, Rebate $6.59, Final Price: - $0.60

All in gift card

CVS (Wonderful trip!)

Glucerna, $4.89 X2, $2.44 X2 (50% off 2nd), Total: $14.67 Coupons: $19.56 (don't ask me why, but the cashier rung the last as this, but I'm not complaining, in fact I'm complimenting! CVS is doing a great job making adjustments so all my coupons go through!!) Final Price: Free + Overage (now now, silly me, I should have used this on a different transaction so I can send in for Caregivers' rebate!! That's $4!!)

Ensure, $7.99, $3 MQ here (can't find it anymore?), full rebate here, Final Price: Free + Overage

Johnsons' baby wash + shampoo (4 of them, each $3), $3 off coupon

Pampers $10, $1.50 off coupon

Milk, $3.29

$5/30 coupon

Total OOP: $4.90, (ECBs used $10.98), ECB earned: $5, Rebate to be earned $7.99
Final total: $2.89 (should have been an earning trip...hmmm I wonder if I can get another receipt?)

Sambucol Money Maker?

2009-02-28T20:50:00.002-05:00

Definitely something I'll want to try tomorrow.

Walgreens
Sambucol Homeopathic Cold and Flu relief tablets, $12.99
March Easy Saver Coupon, $10
$4 off coupon here.
Final Price: FREE + Overage $1.01!

Now, easy saver coupon can be reused and the Sambucol coupon is a pdf...hmm...can we do this deal over and over? That's a bit crazy huh? I don't think I'll buy that many...I'll make sure there are left on the shelf for others!

28th Feb

2009-02-28T11:09:00.003-05:00

...is a time to...claim your rebates from Walgreens and Rite Aid.

...a time to print some new coupons (more tomorrow I expect). Now go print $3 off 1 Huggies Natural Fit or $5 off 1 Huggies Gentle Care Diapers on my side bar!!! They are super value coupons!!

Drugstore/Grocery Plan Feb 27, Mar 1

2009-02-25T19:33:00.004-05:00

Here are the deals I see for this week

CVS
Dawn, $0.97, $0.50 MQ (from mailer), Final Price: $0.47
Carnation Instant Breakfast, $4.99, ECB $4.99, Final Price: FREE
ACT Total Care trial size, $0.99, ECB $0.99, Final Price: FREE

Buy $20 of baby products, get $5 ECB:
Pampers jumbo, $10 ($1 to $1.50 coupon)
Johnson's products, $3 ($3/3 coupon here)

I might look out for Glucerna cereal, which has a $5 coupon off here, and $1 Caregivers Rebate.

Walgreens
March rebates starting this week!
FREE ITEMS:
Axe Hair Care, $5.99
Wal-Zyr 24-hr allergy relief, $3.99
Extra Strength Headache relief, $2.99

Walgreens diapers, 2 for $9 (GRAB THEM! keep the no 6 for me)
Colgate Max Fresh/Max white, $3.29, RR $3.29, Final Price: FREE!
ACT TOtal Care Mouthwash, $2.99, Easy saver coupon $1, MQ $1, Final Price: $0.99

Rite Aid
Lots of FAR items. I'm only interested in...
Sinus Buster (all natural nasal spray), $8.99
Ocean Complete Nasal Rinse, $8.99

Stop and Shop
Grapes, $0.99/lb
Boneless chicken breasts, $1.79/lb
Avocado, $1
Barilla Pasta, $1
Dannon, Danimals Drinkable Yogurt, 6 for $2, MQ $1, Final Price: $1 each!
I had raincheck for Dole Pineapples (last week), $1 each, $0.55/2 on their website, Final Price: $0.45 each!

Giveaways week Feb 25th

2009-02-25T19:23:00.007-05:00

These are the giveaways I signed up

Ergo Baby Carrier, front pouch and backpack from Twoofakind. I REALLY hope to win this. This is an amazing carrier and the best in my view.

See Kai Run Shoes. Really cute shoes by twoofakind

Lots of giveaway from Twoofakind. Here's another: baby/kids banz (sunglasses)

Fireproof DVD by Keepingthekingdomfirst. I hear so much about this!

Another SeeKaiRun shoes (the bigger ones) I LOVE these shoes!! by dealectible mommies

SeeKaiRun (and smaller) from dealectiblemommies (so that's the big boy and this for my small girl!)

CVS/Walgreens/Rite Aid Snags Feb 22

2009-02-22T17:45:00.003-05:00

No time to take pic, but here's what I got this week:

Walgreens:
Gillette Fusion Gamer, $8.99, RR $6, MQ $4, Final Price: FREE + Overage $1.01
2 Charmin TP, $3.49 each
Eggs, $1.50
Oust Surface and Air Disinfect, $2.99, MQ $1.50, Rebate $1, Final Price: $0.49

Rite Aid:
10 Soy Joy, $5, Rebate $5, MQ $2, Final Price: FREE + Overage $2

CVS:
Maybelline Dream Mousse Foundation, $9.49, MQ $2, CVS Q $3, ECB $5 (Final Price: FREE + Overage)
Natural Dentist Mouthwash, $9.99, MQ $2, ECB $4 each (Bought 2, send in for rebate $10) Final Price: FREE + Overage
Crest Weekly Clean, $4.49, MQ $3.99 (Final Price: $0.50)
Milk, $3.29
CVS Acetmphn, $1.99, CVS Coupon $2.29 (Final Price: FREE + Overage)
4 packs of 7-up, $12, 4 $1 MQ here, ECB $3 (Final Price: $1.25 each!)
$5/25 coupon

CVS Total: $2.94 for all of the above after rebate and ECB

Drugstore total: $10.49 for the above (most of them on giftcard)
To think...milk, eggs and TP...what we REALLY need (razors and oust probably what we'll have to pay some money for if we don't have the deals)
So, in perspective...We spent $10.49 on milk, eggs, TP, razors and oust (and we got ALL THE OTHER STUFF for free, even the soda)

Free 20 4X6 photos at Walgreens

2009-02-20T09:46:00.002-05:00

Be sure to pick up at store, to get free shipping! Only today!!

Grocery/Drugstore plan Feb 20 and 22nd

2009-02-18T19:25:00.002-05:00

CVS

Maybelline Dream Mousse Makeup, $9.49, CVS coupon $3, MQ $2, ECB $5, Final Price: FREE + Overage $0.51

Natural Dentist Money-making deal (check this deal out here), Final Price: FREE + $2.01 overage

IF Gillette Gamer is in stock I might FINALLY get it. (It's not in our store yet)

I have the $5/25 coupon this week, so I'm going to use it well! =)

Walgreens

Gillette Fusion Gamer Razor, $8.99, RR $6, MQ $4, Final Price: FREE + overage!
Charmin, $3.49 (6 rolls), MQ $1, Final price: Around $0.50 per roll
Oust Surface and Air Sanitizer, $2.99, Rebate $1, MQ $1.50, Final Price: $0.49

Nothing much for Rite Aid

Giveaways Week Feb 18

2009-02-18T19:14:00.002-05:00

I signed up for these giveaways. You can too!

See Kai Run shoes by Ladybug Soup (I love signing up for these giveaways for these shoes look so cute!!)

Free dinner for two at Chilis by Swaggrabber

Cheerios Gift Pack by Lifeasmom

Grocery/Drugstore Plan Feb 13 or 15

2009-02-13T09:24:00.004-05:00

Here's some things I see and possibly get this week:

STOP AND SHOP
Dannon Yogurt, $0.50, MQ $1 for 10, Final Price: $0.40 (for 10)
Cookie Crisp or Cinnamon Chez $2.22, MQ (on my side bar) $0.75 (may be doubled), Final Price: $0.72 each!

CVS
Colgate, $2.99, ECB $2.99, $1 MQ here Final Price: Free + overage! (limit 2)
Gillette Fusion Gamer (again this week, possibly if you have gotten this, you can't?): $7.99, ECB $4, MQ $4, Final Price: Free!
Kelloggs cereal, Buy 1 and second 1 for 1 cent
Charmin TP, $4.99, MQ $1/2, Final Price: $4.49 each for 2
Huggies Diapers, $8.99 (this is a good price if you need diapers and have Huggies coupon), send in for caregivers $0.75 each.

Walgreens
Kleenex tissues, $0.89 each, limit 3
Skippy Peanut Butter, $1.67, MQ $0.35, Final Price: $1.31

Giveaways week Feb 11

2009-02-11T09:27:00.004-05:00

These are the giveaways I signed up this week!

Juju Be Diaper Bag by frugalmommyof2girls

Medibag for kids by the Ladybug Soup

Shooshoo shoes by Sage and Savvy Reviews

$10 Starbucks GC by Mamasaysmine

Starbucks, CVS, Target, Wags GC and LOTS of other VERY generous stuff by Amber

See Kai Run shoes by momgiveaways

Shooshoo shoes by mamasmoneysavers.

Kitchenaid Coffee grinder by nothejetset

FREE Windex wipes and almost free soup

2009-02-09T10:52:00.001-05:00

At Walgreens this week, I bought...

2 windex wipes $5
$1.50 off coupon here (print 2)
File for $1 rebate (each)
Get them for free!

And

Progresso soup $1.25
$1.10 coupon here
Get them for $0.15 each!

Grocery/Drugstore deals week 2/6,8

2009-02-05T08:46:00.003-05:00

These are stuff I looked and thought worthy of getting this week

Walgreens (starting 2/8)
Progresso Soup, $1.25 (in ad coupon), $1.10 coupon here, Final Price: $0.15!

Monthly free-after-rebate stuff (have you gotten them?)

Zucol Cold Care Lozenges (18 pk.)
Use $2/1 coupon from 2/1 SmartSource insert or $2/1 internet printable coupon
Free plus $2 in overage after coupon and rebate

Age Defying Spa Concealer or Spa Foundation
$2/1 coupon from 1/11 inserts
Free plus $2 in overage after coupon and rebate

Revlon Creme Lip Gloss
$2/1 coupon from 1/11 inserts
Free plus $2 in overage after coupon and rebate

Garnier Fructis Wonder Waves Shampoo, Conditioner, or Stylers 6.8-13 oz.--
Use $1/1 from 1/4 inserts
Free plus $1 in overage after coupon and rebate

ThermaCare Trial Size Neck, Shoulder and Wrist Heat Wrap
Free after rebate

Walgreens Multi-Purpose No Rub Solution 4 oz.
Free after rebate

Rite Aid (starting 2/8)
Garnier Fructis Ultra Strong aersol or non aerosol, strong aerosol hairspray or full control mousse, $2.99, FREE after rebate
If you have a $1 coupon, that's an overage!

Durex condoms, or Play lubricant (I won't recommend this), $6, $2 coupon from this week SS coupon, FREE + $2 overage

Puff tissue, $0.99 (60 or 108 count) (we need these BAD in our house!!)

GE CFL lightbulb, 2 for $4.50, $1.50 rebate on 2, Final price: $3 for 2 (that's a very good price!)

Stop and Shop (starting 2/6)
Roast $1.99 per lb (that's great price!!)
Del Monte Vegetables (can), $0.75 coupon here for less salt (I wonder what's the price for that) or $0.30 on my side bar
Ken's Salad Dressing, $1 each, $1 off 2 coupon (from before), Final Price: $0.50 each
Kellogg's Frosted Mini Wheats, $2, $1 coupon (printed from before), Final Price: $1 each
Duncan Hines Cake Mix, $1 each (these are great cake mix!)

CVS
nothing great
But did you get the monthly deals yet?

Sweeter Neilmed Deal!

2009-01-05T09:20:00.003-05:00

Neilmed Nasogel going at FREE after ECB this week. (limit 2)

Then you have the $2 coupon here

To make it SWEETER, there is a mail in rebate in the box!

$3 for 1 Neilmed product, $6 for 2, $9 for 3!

Send name, address, phone number, email adn original UPC bar code with COPY of receipt (now isn't that cool). Reference code 0608 mail on request. There is an additional bonus of free docking station for Sinus Rinse set if you fill up the survey.

Send to Neilmed Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Attn: Cash Rebate Offer

601 Aviation Blvd, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. USA

Purchased before 3/31/2009.

Allow up to 90 days for the check.

You can find the the info in the booklet that explains about the product.

Giveaway Week Jan 4

2009-01-04T20:44:00.002-05:00

Shooshoo shoes (these are the cutest shoes) by STL mom

$10 Target giftcard by Frugal, Freebies and Deals

$10 CVS card by Frugal RI Mama

All You Magazine Subscription 2 years by Thriftymama

BIG Snags CVS/Wags/Rite Aid

2009-01-04T13:11:00.003-05:00

CVS:
1st Transaction
2 Throat Cooler
2 Nasogel

5/25
BOGO throat cooler
$2 each for nasogel

2nd Transaction
2 Throat Cooler, BOGO
2 packs diapers$9.54, $2 MQ, $2 Caregivers
1 Fructis shampoo, $2.99, ECB $2
1 coffee sale
6 pack soyjoy (box) $6, $6 ECB
Lays potato (thought as a filler)
2 puffs sale

$5/25

ECB used: $30.54 (and $14 2%ECB for the seasonal savings..this is free money for us)
OOP (From money card): $2.76
ECB earned: 43.94 (awaiting $2 rebate caregivers)

I earned: $12.64 (since the $14 is not quite my spending or my money)

Walgreens
2 B&J ice cream for FREE!
2 puff tissues, $0.89 each

Giftcard: 1.93

Rite Aid
1 Durex condoms, 6.99, $5 rebate
10 soyjoy $5, rebate $5, $3 off coupon

OOP: 8.99, Rebate: $10, earned: $1.01

Ben Jerry for Free at Walgreens

2009-01-02T15:23:00.002-05:00

Print $3 off 1 pint coupon here at Ben and Jerry.

These are 2 for $6 at Walgreens starting this Sun 1/4 for a week (limit 4). Get them free!!

Get the coupons quick, for I don't know if they are still available. If yahoo mail fails, try gmail (I got mine)

January Deals at CVS and Walgreens

2008-12-30T20:28:00.003-05:00

These are free after ecbs at CVS in Jan. I would try to do this run this week!

Remember there is a $3/15 coupon here (I link to the post) that you can print! Thanks, thriftymama!

Children's Throat Cooler, $4.99, ECB $4.99, Limit 2. Buy One Get One free coupon here

NasoGel Drip free gel spray (we need all we can in this household), $7.99, ECB $7.99, Limit 2. Print $2/1 coupon here.

Nutra Trim Weight management chewing gum, $3.99, ECB $3.99, Limit 2.

Other deals this week:
Huggies Jumbo pack diapers, $9.49, $1 Caregivers' rebate, $2 off 2 packs on my side bar

Final Price: $7.49 per pack for 2 packs

Similac or Enfamil Formula, $22.49

Walgreens' Jan FAR Easysaver looks good, BUT! I've not seen the goods. At TWO Walgreens, I'm almost giving up.

Choose one Revlon

Revlon Matte Collection Blush or Eyeliner $9.99

Revlon Matte Collection Lipstick $7.99

Revlon Matte Collection Eye Shadow $4.99

Orajel Cold Sore Medicine $8.49

$8 rebate:

From 10/19/08 SmartSource:
Send:

1. Your name and address

2. the UPC code proof of purchase

3. Dated cash register receipt with item price circled.

Receipt must be dated after 10/26/08. Postmark must before 1/31/09

Mail to:

Orajel October 2008 $8.00 Rebate Offer

c/o Best Marketing Inc.

P.O. Box 180779

Casselberry, FL 32718
Limit one refund per name, family, address.

AutoExpressions Vent Fresh Elite Auto Air Freshener $4.99

MFR Rebate HERE (Thanks commonsensewithmoney!)

Grocery Dec 26

2008-12-26T14:32:00.001-05:00

We spent over what we usually do today. But that's because first, I decided to relax this week (it's Christmas!) and also because I got quite a lot of stuff (we can overflow to next week!)

I was super excited to see the "reduced price produce" trolley at Stop and Shop! Yeh! We have mark-downs too!!! So I happily grabbed the 2 packs of bananas for about a buck each. and the apples(6 of them) for $1.50 (with that I cut down 2 for lunch and made the rest into 26 oz worth of babyfood). and the pack of red potatoes (they look old, but hey! I'm not eating them in salad, but cooked...who cares). I was very happy.

And look! Mystic pizzas for $2.17 each! woh! Nice...Nathan hotdogs for $2.64? Steal.

At the Chinese Supermarkets, I got MORE mark-down food! yeh! The big bag of tomatoes, cauliflower & lettuce, veg and carrots for a buck each bag. The tomatoes I cooked into diced tomatoes sauce (they are too ripe for sale at normal price) and they'll make great cheap spagetti. I splurge on sukiyaki beef (rib sirloin slices) and a couple of other stuff...

all the above for $64.17

Mission RICE

Lancaster Photo Book Shutterfly

Freezer Cooking Day/s May 2010

Freezing/Baking Day May 2010

Stop and Shop Great Deals Week 4/30

Giveaways Week Apr 9

A great Stop and Shop trip!

Buy Wishbone free Wise

$2.50 children's clothes, $0.50 Frosted Wheat Cereal

Kashless/Recycle Bank Great freebies

$3.50 per pack Earth's Best diapers

Free Videos: Amazon

Walgreens cheap diapers

Swagbucks

Alice.com Deal

Free photostuff!!!

Black Friday 2009 CVS

Black Friday Drugstore Deals

Great diaper deals Rite Aid & CVS

Grocery/Drugstore Plan Week Nov 19, 22

Frugal Living: 10 ways we saved hundreds

Frugal living: the lessons I learnt

Stop and Shop deals

50 FREE 4X8 or 5X7 photocards shipped

Stop and Shop/Rite Aid

Rite Aid at it again!

One more great Rite Aid Diaper Deal!

BIG Snag: Rite Aid, CVS, Wags *Edited*

LOTS of great deals this week!

Hanes REAL deal: 3 hours left!!

Stop and Shop Double Dollar Deals

Rite Aid better deal

FREE Uncrustables

FREE Gillette Razors and other deals

Rite Aid SUPER deal!!

Giveaways Week Sep 17th

We won a month worth of diapers!

Cheap Dipes, cereal, wonder bread and more! (Rite Aid and Stop and Shop)

Target Kashi Deals, $0.38 per box of cereal!

Giveaways week Sep 11th

Wise potato chips 8 oz for $0.50

Stop and Shop Dollar Double Great Deals

Stop and Shop $3.30 14 Hebrew National dogs

Good buys: Stop and Shop. Almost FREE Lipton!

Giveaways Aug 11th

CVS Bargain: $2.25 per pack of dipe

CVS $5/25 coupon

Walgreens $5/25 deal

Giveaways week Aug 3

Snags at CVS/Rite Aid

Free Cheerios and yoplus

Grocery/Drugstore Planning Jun 31, Aug 2

Stop and Shop FREE Multigrain Cheerios

Giveaways Week Apr 23

Grocery Apr 10th

Giveaways Week Apr 9

Grocery/Drugstore planning Apr 10, 12

Quiznos and Domino's compensation

CVS Tripping Apr 5

Grocery Apr 3

Giveaways week Apr 2

Grocery/Drugstore plan week Apr 3, 5

Bad Business Practice: Domino's

Great Heathy Ones Lunch Meat deal at Stop and Shop

Giveaways Week Mar 25

$4 coupon for PACE salsa

CVS/Rite Aid Mar 22

Giveaways week Mar 28th

Grocery/Drugstore Strategy

Reminders on couponing, frugal living and drugstore deals

Grocery, CVS Earning Trip and our wipes stash

Target dairy deals

Grocery/Drugstore Deals Mar 13, 15 *EDITED*

Giveaways week Mar11

Yobaby $0.50 coupon

$0.50 for 4 Yoplus Yogurt at Stop and Shop

Poor Coupon Management at Walgreens

Groceries Mar 6th

Grocery/Drugstore Plan Mar 8

great buy and new service

BIG Snag: Rite Aid, CVS, Wags Edited

Grocery/Drugstore Deals Mar 13, 15 EDITED