Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CVS Black Friday Deals

Here are the best CVS deals for Black Friday, thanks to Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living.  Last year I got over $30 in freebies from the CVS Black Friday deals.  I actually beat the rush by going on Thursday - Thanksgiving.  That's probably not something I would have done in general, but we were visiting my parents and my mom had to do a couple of errands anyway.  That's when I wowed her by introducing her to CVSing!

Vaseline Sheer Infusion Lotion $7.99 (get $7.99 ECBs) Limit 1
$.50 RP 10/18
$1 RP 10/18
$1 RP 11/15 RP
$1 CVS Reinventing Beauty Magazine
$1.50 printable (IE)
$1.50 printable (FF)
$1.50 printable(IE)
$1.50 printable (FF)
= $.50 MONEYMAKER – $1.50 MONEYMAKER after ECBs

Herbal Essences Shampoo or Conditioner Styler $2.99 (get $2 ECB) Limit 3
B1G1 Styler P&G 10/11
= $1 MONEYMAKER after ECBs

 

Just for Men Touch of Gray $8.99 (get $8.99 ECBs) Limit 1
$2 printable
MIR Here
= $2 Money Maker after ECBs plus MIR price ($8.99) WOW!

 

Magnavox Universal Remote $6.99 (get $6.99 ECBs) Limit 1
= FREE after ECBs

Phillips Earbuds $6.99 (get $6.99 ECBs)Limit 1
= FREE after ECBs

Final Garden Update 2009

Thanksgiving week seems the perfect time to give the final update on our garden, including my estimated cost vs. yield breakdown.  The garden actually continued to live and give us a harvest through the end of October; the first real frost at the beginning of November was what really killed the remaining plants.  Even now, we have a few radishes, carrots, and salad greens still to harvest, which are the last bright spots of green in our bare beds.  Last weekend we pulled out the other plants, and we plan to turn them into compost.

I really enjoy gardening, and it is a great family activity and hobby that we absolutely plan to continue.  However, saving money was definitely also a consideration in planting the garden, so I tried to keep decent records both of what we spent on the garden and what we harvested.  I knew that we spent a good deal in the spring on tools to create our garden bed, as well as seeds and soil, so I was willing to accept that we might not have a return on our investment this year.

Here are my final tallies. The garden yield is not exact; it is to the best of our memory and our imperfect record-keeping.  The approximate grocery store prices are in parentheses, using HT's online grocery store as a guide.  I used prices for conventionally grown produce, since that's what I would have purchased, but in reality our homegrown produce is organic, which increases its actual value.

Investment:
Home Depot - $112.91 (tools and supplies)
Home Depot - $36.65 (seeds, starting mix)
Walmart - about $40 (stakes)
Home Depot - about $30 (soil)
Total: about $220

Harvest:
30 cucumbers (@ $.75/each) = $22.50
29 bell peppers (@$1.00/each) = $29
61 jalepeno peppers (@ .25 each) = $16.25
7 bunches of radishes (@ 1.00/each) = $7.00
15 carrots (@ 2.00 total) = $2.00
120+ cherry tomatoes (@ 2.99 for 50) = $7.50
16 packed cups of fresh basil leaves (@ 1.99 for 2 cups) = $15.92
1 spice jar full dried basil (@ 3.00) = $3.00
1 gallon storage bag dried mint tea (@ 4 x 2.50) = $10
2 spice jars full of dried parsley (@ 2.00 each) = $4.00
2 bunches fresh parsley (@ 1.79 each) = $3.58
salad greens for 10 people (@ 3.19 for 4 people) = $.7.98
Total approximate value of produce: $128.73

So technically, we spent about $100 more on the garden than we yielded this year.  However, the vast majority of what we spent was on tools and equipment which can be reused next year.  We also experimented with saving the seeds of many of our plants, so we may be able to reduce what we spend on seeds next year as well.  Further, I think that with better planning and care we could have yielded a lot more on the garden, which will be something to work towards in the future.


Overall I'm actually quite happy with our garden this year, and I'm confident that next year we will actually save money by doing it.  I look at it as something that we are incorporating into our lifestyle, which might take a little time to reach its full potential.

When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.
                                                                                                                - Deut. 8:10

Wegmans Deals: 11/22-11/28

NOVA Wegmans shoppers: don't forget to continue using your two free coupons each week.  Deal Chasin' Mama kindly let me know that these coupons, sent to shoppers in the area of the new Leesburg store, can actually be used at any Virginia Wegmans.  This week's coupons are for a free box of Wegmans facial tissues and a free head of iceberg lettuce.


If you're pressed for time this Thanksgiving, Wegmans if offering a Premium Turkey Dinner, which is ready to serve in 1-1/2-2 hours.  It costs $79.99 and serves 8-10.  Check your ad for more details.


New Deals:


Southern Yams/Sweet Potatoes - $.49/lb.

Asparagus - $1.99/lb.

Wegmans Fresh Green Label Turkeys - $.99/lb. (through 11/26)


Near East Rice's and Coucous (4.7-10 oz. All Varieties) - $1.49


Birds Eye Vegetables and Sauce (8-10 oz. box) - $.99

Ongoing Deals:

U.S. #1 NY State Apple Tote (All varieties - approx. 4-1/2 lbs. per tote) - $.89/lb.

California Small Celery - $.69

Wegmans U.S. #1 White Potatoes (5 lb. bag) - $.99 (Limit 1)

Acorn, Butternut, Spaghetti, or Buttercup Squash - $.79/lb.

Wegmans Cereal (13.5-20 oz.) (selected varieties) - $1.99

Wegmans Instant Oatmeal - $1.99
Specially marked packages of Wegmans instant oatmeal have a mail-in offer for free Rand McNally flashcards.

Kashi Go Lean Cereals - $2.49 (through 12/26)
Use $1.50/1 coupon from Vocalpoint or $1.50/2 coupons recently available to print
Final Price: $.99-$1.74

Baking items - prices all good through 01/02:
Wegmans All Purpose Flour (5 lb.) - $.99 (Limit 2)
Wegmans Light Brown, Dark Brown, or Confectioners' Sugar (2 lb.) - $.99 (Limit 2)
Wegmans Granulated Sugar (5 lb. bag) - $1.99 (Limit 2)
Nestle Toll House Morsels (10-12 oz.) - $1.69
Buy 2 and use $.50/2 printable coupon (doubled) or $1.00/2 coupons from recent inserts
Final Price: $1.19 each
Pillsbury Cake Mix (18.25-18.9 oz.) - $.88
Betty Crocker Cookie Mix - $1.49 (through 01/02)
Use $.40/1 coupon from recent insert (doubled)
Final Price: $.69

Diamond Walnuts (16 oz.) - $3.99 (through 12/26)
Buy 2 and use $3.00/2 or $1.00/1 coupons from recent insert
Final Price: $2.49-$2.99 each

Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce - $.99 (through 01/02)

Goya Canned Beans (15.5 oz.) - $.50 (through 12/05)
Buy 6 and use $1.25/6 coupon from recent insert
Final Price: $.30 each

Wegmans Canned Vegetables (14.5-15.25 oz can) Cream Style Corn, Whole Kernel Corn, French Style Green Beans, or Cut Green Beans - $.39

Green Giant canned vegetables (selected varieties, 11 oz.) - $.89
Buy 2 and use $.40/2 Green Giant specialty corn coupon from recent insert (doubled) (if included/available)
Final price: $.49/each

Del Monte Canned Vegetables (selected varieties, 14.75 oz.) - $.79 (through 11/28)
Buy 5 and use $1.00/5 coupon from recent insert
Final Price: $.59/each

Campbell's Select Harvest Canned Soups - $1.25 (through 01/09)

Swanson Broth - $.60 (through 12/12)
Buy 3 and use $.40/3 coupon from recent insert (doubled)
Final Price: $.33 each

Nestle Hot Cocoa (10 pk.) - $.99

Betty Crocker Boxed Potatoes - $1.29 (through 01/02)
Use $.25/1 coupon from recent insert, $.40/1 printable coupn, or $.50/1 coupon from free sample recently available (doubled)
Final Price: $.25-.79

Wegmans Ziti, Spaghetti, or Thin Spaghetti (16 oz.) – $.69

Wegmans Tomato Puree or Crushed Tomatoes (28-29 oz. can) – $.69

Wegmans Pasta Sauce (24 oz.) – $.99 (through 01/02)

Wegmans Canned Vegetables (14.5-15.25 oz. can Cream Style Corn, Whole Kernel Corn, French Style Green Beans or Cut Green Beans) – $.39

Campbell's Chicken Noodle or Tomato Soup (10.75 oz.) - $.59
Buy 2 and use $.40/2 Healthy Request condensed soups from recent insert (if that variety is included) or buy 4 and use $.40/4 from recent insert
Final Price: $.19-$.49 each

Dole Canned Fruit (select varieties, 15-20oz.) - $.99 (through 12/19)
Use $.50/1 Dole canned fruit printable coupon (doubled)
Final Price: FREE

Frito-Lay Snacks (10.5-11 oz. Lay's Potato Chips or 11.75-13.875 oz. Doritos Zero Grams Trans Fats) - $2.00

Coca-Cola (12 pk./12 fl. oz. cans) - $2.00 (Limit 5)

Wegmans Premium Orange Juice (64 fl. oz.) - $1.99

Danimals Drinkable Yogurt or Crush Cups Yogurt (4 pk/4 oz. cups or 6 pk./3.1 fl. oz. bottles) - $1.99
Use $1.00/1 coupons from recent inserts
Final Price: $.99

Wegmans Shredded Cheese (6-8 oz.) (excludes 2%) - $1.69

Pillsbury "Simply" Refrigerated Dough - $2.49
Use $1.25/1 printable coupon
Final Price: $1.24

Wegmans Cream Cheese (8 oz. bar) - $.79

Tribe Hummus - $1.99 (through 01/02)
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 coupon from recent insert
Final Price: $1.49 each

Stouffers Frozen Meals - $1.99-$2.49 (through 12/21)

Bird's Eye Steamfresh Vegetables - $.99 (through 11/28)
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 coupon from recent insert
Final Price: $.49 each

Wegmans Paper Towels (8 pk./480 ct.) – $4.99 ($.62/roll)

Wegmans Facial Tissue (65-160 ct. cube or flat) – $.79

Wegmans Bathroom Tissue (12 pk.) - $3.99 (Limit 2) ($.33/roll)

Speed Stick (3-3.25 oz.) or Lady Speed Stick (2.3 oz. Deodorant or Antiperspirant) – $1.88
Use $1.00/2 coupon from recent insert
Final Price – $1.33

Edge or Skintimate Shave Gel (7 oz.) – $1.88

Suave Body Wash (12 fl. oz.) - $1.50
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 coupon from recent insert
Final Price: $1.00 each

V05 Shampoo or Conditioner - $.69

Crest Toothpaste (3.5 oz.) - $.97

Thanksgiving Week

Just wanted to let you all know that I'll be posting Monday through Wednesday this week and then be taking a break until next Monday, November 30.  We'll be traveling to New York for Thanksgiving to spend some time with Michael's extended family and then stopping in Pennsylvania on the way home for our goddaughter's first birthday party.  It should be a fun weekend, although it will be a lot of bustle and unfamiliar people for my two toddlers.  I'm hoping to keep stress to a minimum for them by planning and organizing as best I can, so I definitely have a lot of work to do in the next few days!

I should have this week's Wegmans deals up before I leave, as well as the scoop on any awesome Black Friday deals that I hear about before we go. 

Hope all of your Thanksgiving plans are going well!


Photo by Taniasha.

Top CVS Deals: 11/22-11/28

Huggies Products including Huggies Jumbo Pack Diapers or Pull-Ups $18.99/2 or Huggies Mega Wipes $6.99 (get $5 ECB wyb $20) Limit 1
$.50 wipes SS 10/25
$.50 wipes SS 11/15
$1 Diapers, SS 10/25
$1.50 Diapers SS 11/15
$2 printable (IE)
$2 printable (FF)
$2 Pull-Ups printable
$3 Pure & Natural (if included) printable
$3 Pure & Natural (if included) SS 10/25
$3 Pure & Natural (if included) SS 11/15
= varies
The best scenario is to buy 2 diapers and 1 wipes use $2 and $3 coupons for the best savings. $3 are only for Pure and Natural (if included), $2 coupons are for ANY Huggies products.
If you use 2 $3 coupons, and one $2 coupon = $4.33 each
If you use 3 $2 coupons = $4.99 each

Complete Contact Solution $8.99 (get $8.99 ECBs) Limit 2
$1 printable
$1 RP 10/25
= $1 MONEYMAKER after ECBS (buy and donate if you don’t use it)

Tums – 36 to 150 ct $3.99 (get $1 ECBs) Limit 2
$1/2 RP 11/15
$1 printable
$2 CVS Coupon $100 Flu Booklet
= FREE – $.50 each (combine SC and MFR)

Ashley has a complete list of deals here.

I'm really not excited about anything this week, and I'll be busy packing for our Thanksgiving trip anyway.  However, if the Black Friday ad is anything like last year, there should be some great deals and freebies.  I'll have an update on those for you soon. Maybe I'll even be able to find a CVS in New York to stop by while we're on our trip!

Black Friday Shopping Tips

I admit it - I do love shopping on Black Friday!  True, I've never gotten up at 4:00AM and waited in line to get any of the hot electronics deals.  However, my mom and sisters and I have a tradition of kicking off our shopping on that day and hitting some good (but not too crazy) sales.  We embrace the crowds and bustle as fun and festive.  We still talk about the year that we had to camp out with our food on the floor in front of Chic-fil-A since there were no seats!

If you plan to venture out on Black Friday this year, I've put together a few shopping tips that I hope will be helpful:

Check out the deals ahead of time - Most store release their Black Friday ads early, so get an idea of what's out there.  Go here to see the ad scans for a whole bunch of stores.

Decide which (if any) of the hot deals you plan to pursue - Once you've discovered what deals are out there, decide what you hope to purchase.  Remember, just because it is a great deal on BF doesn't necessarily mean that a) you need or want it, b) you can afford it, or c) that you won't be able to find an almost-as-good deal again before Christmas.  However, if after thinking it through you decide that there is a "hot" BF item that you'd like for someone on your list, plan to go after that first.  I wouldn't advise picking more than one or two hot items - instead, devote your energies to trying to snag those top priorities.

Plan for parking and eating -Scope out your shopping area ahead of time, and plan where you might park.  Also, remember to have something to eat, especially if you're heading out for one of those 4 or 5 AM lines. You don't want to faint in line!  Maybe plan to stop for a more leisurely brunch or lunch after you hit your top sales.


Think beyond the mall - It's not the only place to get BF deals!  Shopping at smaller, independent, or less-frequented stores may get you some great deals with less craziness.  Last year, a friend told me that Home Depot had $.99 pointsettas on Black Friday, and it looks like they're doing it again this year!  That would be a frugal and lovely way to decorate for the holidays!  I also remember Crystal talking about shopping at her favorite thrift store on BF and hitting an enormous sale.

Embrace the chaos - Finally, enjoy yourself and stay in the Christmas spirit!  You're shopping on Black Friday, for heaven's sake, so realize that crowds and lines are going to be part of the experience.  And of course, keep in mind the spirit of the season with kindness and understanding to all.  That's always worth more than any deal.

Check out more Frugal Friday tips here.

Product Review: Ultimate Cloth

This is a Mama Buzz review. The product was provided by Ultimate Cloth America for this review. 

Product: The Ultimate Cloth

Media Blurb: 

The Ultimate Cloth is eco-friendly solution for homes as well as a money and time saver. The Ultimate Cloth is a brand new technology – in fact, it is the only cloth to receive a new patent in the last 25 years.  The Ultimate Cloth is a simple, green and effective one-step cleaning process.  The Ultimate Cloth cleans any hard surface – glass, wood, granite, stainless steel and many more – with just water!  No longer do you have to use harsh chemicals in your home, nor do you need spend hundreds of dollars per year buying them.  The Ultimate Cloth has been lab tested to remove 96% of bacteria, without the use of chemicals.  And, can cut 50% off your cleaning time.  The Ultimate Cloth is truly the ultimate in green cleaning.  

I was intrigued to examine the Ultimate Cloth when it arrived in the mail, wondering what the material would be like, since it is supposed to clean without any cleaners or chemicals.  The cloth is thin and almost papery at first, but it seems to soften with washing.  Although thin, it seems very strong.  It is also quite large, which is why the directions suggest folding it and switching sides to get maximum cleaning time from each use.  The cloth did stain somewhat from mopping my dirty kitchen floor, but a nice benefit is that it can be bleached.

One of the reasons I was very excited to try the Ultimate Cloth was that it was advertised as an alternative to Swiffer mop refills.  I stopped buying Swiffer refills a while ago, as they are incredibly expensive, but I do love the concept and ease of my Swiffer mop and still use it with other cloths.

Therefore, the first test to which I put the Ultimate Cloth was mopping my always grimy kitchen floor.  I dampened the cloth, as the directions dictate, and attached it to my Swiffer mop.  It seemed to clean quite as well as my usual microfiber cloth and vinegar and water solution, if not a little better.  The relative stiffness of the Ultimate Cloth seemed to help it tackle stuck-on stains better than my other cloths.

After washing, the next job I tackled with the Cloth was mopping my hardwood floor.  I'm always leery of putting any cleaners on the hardwood, so this was perfect.  It really shined the floor.  Since the uncovered part of my wood floor is not very big, after I was done I just pulled the cloth off the mop, folded it over, and used it to quickly wash the windows!  I was really pleased with how it worked on the windows; even though it uses only water it both cleaned well and did not seem to streak.

Overall, I was fairly impressed with the Ultimate Cloth.  I would not say that it was a miracle product or anything, but it seems to be a quality, green, and frugal alternative to paper towels and other disposable cleaning products.  And at the reasonable price of $6 each, I think it could be a very worthwhile investment.

And - right now all readers can receive a FREE Ultimate Cloth! 

All you need to do is follow Ultimate Cloth America on Twitter or become a fan on facebook:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Ultimate_Cloth
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ultimate-Cloth-America/209222110335?v=wall&ref=ts 

The company will reveal how to get the free Ultimate Cloths via Twitter and facebook.  Especially for free, I would definitely say it's worth giving this product a try!

Giveaway Winner!

I chose the winner to my Jantsen's Gift giveaway by random number generator, and the winner is:

comment #7 - Thrifty Sarah

I have contacted the winner by email.  Thanks so much to all who entered!

Buying Gifts from Second-Hand Sources

The title I chose for this post sounds a little better than "buying second-hand gifts," doesn't it!  But the reality for me is, I rule out neither second-hand gifts nor buying gifts at second-hand sources, such as yard sales, thrift stores, and Ebay.  I think it all depends on the circumstances (as in your financial circumstances as well as who your recipient is), as well as on your comfort level.  But when it comes down to it, is gift-giving about following some arbitrary rules or one-upping others?  In the end, I think it's about thinking of someone else and giving him something that you think he will like, wherever it comes from.

But I've stepped off my soapbox now, and I'll get down to the practical details.  How and why would you buy a gift from a "non-traditional" source?  Here are some of the sources that I have used or have thought of using to find gifts for others:

Ebay - Everyone knows that you can buy used items on Ebay, but maybe not everyone realizes the sheer extent of the new items that are available on the site.  Whether it's an unopened item that a private individual is selling or inventory from an Ebay store, you can find a brand new version of practically anything on Ebay.  If it's a new, sealed item and you can get it for a little lower price on Ebay, why wouldn't you shop for a gift there?  However, do make sure that you're getting a deal before you buy.  Don't assume that just because it's on Ebay that it is cheaper, and don't get sucked into a bidding war!

Yard sales - Again, you can sometimes find new, unopened items at yard sales, which could surely make a appropriate gifts.  Look for small items like candles or seasonal items for perfect hostess gifts and for unopened DVDs.  Of course, check the condition of the item carefully, even if it's new, as it might have been sitting in someone's basement for years or been kicked around by their kids!

Used books stores - A couple of years ago, my sister was interested in reading novels of an author who had many works out of print.  I called a local used book store and was able to buy her several titles for just a couple of dollars each.  As this was the only way the books were available, it was not an issue that these items were used; my sister was excited to get them.

Thrift and consignment stores - You may not find a lot of new items at thrift stores (at least not in giftable condition), but consignment stores tend to have more.  Also, don't completely rule out used items.  Looks for items that there would be a special reason to buy used - think vintage items or items for a collection. 

Craigslist - Two words: used toys.  Many kids end up with so many toys that their parents often sell toys that have barely been touched.  I personally don't usually feel comfortable giving used toys to children outside my family, but I do buy them for my own children.  They are way to young to know or care, and it enables me to buy a little more than I would otherwise have been able to afford.

Hope my thoughts have given you some ideas.  Buying gifts from non-traditonal sources Works for Me!

Wegmans Deals: 11/15-11/21

The coupon information and details in this post should be correct now.  Thanks for your patience!


If you have the coupon book for the new Leesburg store, be sure to stop for a $10 shopping trip (provided you need groceries!) each week in order to use your two coupons for free items each week.  This week's items are $1.99 Wegmans cereal and 5 lb. bag Wegmans white potatoes.


New Deals:

California Small Celery - $.69

Kashi Go Lean Cereals - $2.49 (through 12/26)
Use $1.50/1 coupon from Vocalpoint or $1.50/2 coupons recently available to print
Final Price: $.99-$1.74

Honey Bunches of Oats Cereal - $2.00 (through 11/21)
Use $2.00/1 printable coupon recently available (if Pecan Bunches variety is included/available)
Final Price: FREE

Betty Crocker Cookie Mix - $1.49 (through 01/02)
Use $.40/1 coupon from recent insert (doubled)
Final Price: $.69

Diamond Walnuts (16 oz.) - $3.99 (through 12/26)
Buy 2 and use $3.00/2 or $1.00/1 coupons from recent insert
Final Price: $2.49-$2.99 each

Goya Canned Beans (15.5 oz.) - $.50 (through 12/05)
Buy 6 and use $1.25/6 coupon from recent insert
Final Price: $.30 each

Green Giant canned vegetables (selected varieties, 11 oz.) - $.89
Buy 2 and use $.40/2 Green Giant specialty corn coupon from recent insert (doubled) (if included/available)
Final price: $.49/each

Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce - $.99 (through 01/02)

Campbell's Select Harvest Canned Soups - $1.25 (through 01/09)

Swanson Broth - $.60 (through 12/12)
Buy 3 and use $.40/3 coupon from recent insert (doubled)
Final Price: $.33 each

Frito-Lay Snacks (10.5-11 oz. Lay's Potato Chips or 11.75-13.875 oz. Doritos Zero Grams Trans Fats) - $2.00


Pillsbury "Simply" Refrigerated Dough - $2.49
Use $1.25/1 printable coupon
Final Price: $1.24

Wegmans Cream Cheese (8 oz. bar) - $.79

Tribe Hummus - $1.99 (through 01/02)
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 coupon from recent insert
Final Price: $1.49 each

Lean Cuisine Frozen Meals - $1.99 (through 11/21)
Buy 3 and use $1.00/3 coupon from recent insert or $2.00/3 coupon from All You magazine
Final Price: $1.33-1.66 each


Stouffers Frozen Meals - $1.99-$2.49 (through 12/21)

Bird's Eye Steamfresh Vegetables - $.99 (through 11/28)
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 coupon from recent insert
Final Price: $.49 each

Check page 3 of your ad for a breakdown of how to buy the ingredients for a traditional turkey dinner for under $25 at Wegmans (serves 6-8).

Ongoing Deals:

U.S. #1 NY State Apple Tote (All varieties - approx. 4-1/2 lbs. per tote) - $.89/lb.

Wegmans U.S. #1 White Potatoes (5 lb. bag) - $.99 (Limit 1)

Acorn, Butternut, Spaghetti, or Buttercup Squash - $.79/lb.

Wegmans Cereal (13.5-20 oz.) (selected varieties) - $1.99

Wegmans Instant Oatmeal - $1.99
Specially marked packages of Wegmans instant oatmeal have a mail-in offer for free Rand McNally flashcards.

Baking items - prices all good through 01/02:
Wegmans All Purpose Flour (5 lb.) - $.99 (Limit 2)
Wegmans Light Brown, Dark Brown, or Confectioners' Sugar (2 lb.) - $.99 (Limit 2)
Wegmans Granulated Sugar (5 lb. bag) - $1.99 (Limit 2)
Nestle Toll House Morsels (10-12 oz.) - $1.69
Buy 2 and use $.50/2 printable coupon (doubled) or $1.00/2 coupons from recent inserts
Final Price: $1.19 each
Pillsbury Cake Mix (18.25-18.9 oz.) - $.88

Del Monte Canned Vegetables (selected varieties, 14.75 oz.) - $.79 (through 11/28)
Buy 5 and use $1.00/5 coupon from recent insert
Final Price: $.59/each

Hunt's Diced Tomatoes - $.89 (through11/21)
Buy 4 and use $1.00/4 coupon from recent insert or $1.00/2 printable coupon
Final Price: $.39-$.64 each

Nestle Hot Cocoa (10 pk.) - $.99

Betty Crocker Boxed Potatoes - $1.29 (through 01/02)
Use $.25/1 coupon from recent insert, $.40/1 printable coupn, or $.50/1 coupon from free sample recently available (doubled)
Final Price: $.25-.79

Wegmans Ziti, Spaghetti, or Thin Spaghetti (16 oz.) – $.69

Wegmans Tomato Puree or Crushed Tomatoes (28-29 oz. can) – $.69

Wegmans Pasta Sauce (24 oz.) – $.99 (through 01/02)

Wegmans Canned Vegetables (14.5-15.25 oz. can Cream Style Corn, Whole Kernel Corn, French Style Green Beans or Cut Green Beans) – $.39

Campbell's Chicken Noodle or Tomato Soup (10.75 oz.) - $.59
Buy 2 and use $.40/2 Healthy Request condensed soups from recent insert (if that variety is included) or buy 4 and use $.40/4 from recent insert
Final Price: $.19-$.49 each

Dole Canned Fruit (select varieties, 15-20oz.) - $.99 (through 12/19)
Use $.50/1 Dole canned fruit printable coupon (doubled)
Final Price: FREE

Coca-Cola (12 pk./12 fl. oz. cans) - $2.00 (Limit 5)

Wegmans Premium Orange Juice (64 fl. oz.) - $1.99

Danimals Drinkable Yogurt or Crush Cups Yogurt (4 pk/4 oz. cups or 6 pk./3.1 fl. oz. bottles) - $1.99
Use $1.00/1 coupons from recent inserts
Final Price: $.99

Wegmans Shredded Cheese (6-8 oz.) (excludes 2%) - $1.69

Round Hill or Country Pride Frozen Basted Turkeys - $.39 (Limit 1 w. $25 purchase) (through 11/22)

Edy's Ice Cream or Frozen Yogurt (56 fl. oz.) - $1.99

Wegmans Paper Towels (8 pk./480 ct.) – $4.99 ($.62/roll)

Wegmans Facial Tissue (65-160 ct. cube or flat) – $.79

Wegmans Bathroom Tissue (12 pk.) - $3.99 (Limit 2) ($.33/roll)

Speed Stick (3-3.25 oz.) or Lady Speed Stick (2.3 oz. Deodorant or Antiperspirant) – $1.88
Use $1.00/2 coupon from recent insert
Final Price – $1.33

Edge or Skintimate Shave Gel (7 oz.) – $1.88

Suave Body Wash (12 fl. oz.) - $1.50
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 coupon from recent insert
Final Price: $1.00 each

V05 Shampoo or Conditioner - $.69

Crest Toothpaste (3.5 oz.) - $.97

Giveaway Reminder!

Just a reminder that my giveaway for the inspirational book Jantsen's Gift ends today.  Be sure to enter here!

Weekly Deal Roundup: Week b4 Thanksgiving Edition

The very best deals for your week, from the blogosphere and beyond . . .


Grocery Deals:


My newspaper had 4 separate inserts this weekend, and there were some good coupons!  This week might be a good week to get some extra papers.  Some stores still have Sunday papers on Monday; I know in my area I can usually get one at Giant on Monday or even Tuesday.

Nestle has some great new printable coupons on their Nestle Family website (you may need to sign up).  The coupons include $.75/2 packages of Nestle chocolate chips!  If you use that at a store which doubles coupons to $.99 and combine it with a good holiday sale, you could get a fabulous deal! \

I particularly like this freebie: get a free menu planner with coupons from Mueller's pasta.  I usually don't use free regular calendars, but I got a free menu planner from Betty Crocker a while back, and I love it!  I keep it on the fridge and can always seem my menu plan at a glance.


Other Deals:

Check out Taste of Home's $5 cookbook sale for some useful and inexpensive Christmas gifts!  My Grandma has given me a subscription to Taste of Home for the past few years, and I love that magazine.  The recipes are all homey and practical, and you feel like you get to know other home cooks around the country when you read the magazine.


Money Saving Mom tells how to get a free photo Christmas ornament.  She also has a deal for 50 free photo cards.  Wow!

If you have a Kroger, find out here how to get two free Haboro card games this week.  A commenter mentioned that you may be able to get a similar deal at Target, too. Can we say stocking stuffers?!

I did this Books a Million clearance deal last week, and I got 6 new children's books for $17.22, including tax.  And I got some good classic books, including Robert McCloskey's One Morning in Maine and a hardcover edition of Peter Rabbit.


Redemption Unlimited spotted some great spring/summer formal wear at Target on clearance.  Not only would these be great for upcoming weddings, but I sent the links to my teenage sisters to look for prom wear.

Restaurant.com is running one of their 80% off promotions again, ending today!
Take 80% off Restaurant.com $25 Gift Cert. orders. Use code ENTREE and Pay $2 thru 11/16/09.


See any great deals that I missed?  Please share!

Top CVS Deals: 11/15-11/21

Dial, Tone, or Coast Bar Soap – 2 to 3 pack $1.79
$.35 SS 10/4
$1 printable (IE)
$1 printable (FF)
= $.79 – $1.44 each

 

Suave Body Wash, Shampoo, Conditioner or Styler $6/3 (get $2 ECBs wyb 2) Limit 1
$.50 Wash RP 9/13
$.50 Wash RP 10/25
$1/2 Shampoo/Conditioner RP 10/25
= $.83 each

Right Guard Sport Xtreme or Dry Idea $2.99 (get $1 ECB) Limit 1
$1 Dry Idea CVS $100 Flu Booklet
= $.99

Adult Robitussin Night Time, Cough, Cold & Flu $5 (get $10 wyb 20)
$2 printable
= $.50 each

Kleenex Facial Tissues $.99 Limit 5
$.50/3 SS 9/13
$.50/3 SS 11/1
$1/4 SS 10/4
$1/2 SS 10/4
$1 CVS coupon $100 Flu Booklet
= $.82 – FREE – $.50 MONEYMAKER

Ashley's complete list is here.

You can read my introduction to drugstore shopping here.

I may actually skip CVS shopping this week, as there are almost no freebies or really cheap deals that I'd use.  I may try to stop for the $.50 cans of olives, though, and maybe the Glade deal as well. Some of the Glad candles can make nice hostess gifts or gift basket inserts.

Menu Planning Monday

We did a lot of work this weekend putting our garden to bed for the winter, but we have some radishes, carrots and salad greens that we are still harvesting!  Inspired by the last of the fall garden, I roasted a big pan of root vegetables and served them with sauteed chicken last night.  Yum!

Here's my menu plan for the rest of the week and the beginning of next week (before we go out of town for Thanksgiving):

Breakfasts:
yogurt, cereal, homemade bagels & cream cheese


Lunches:
peanut butter, cheese & crackers, leftovers, pizza, beans and rice

Dinners:
Mon - Meatloaf, leftover roasted root vegetables, salad
Tues -Leftover meatloaf, egg noodles, green beans
Wed - Chicken quesadillas, fruit salad
Thurs - Breakfast for dinner
Fri - Homemade pizza
Sat - busy weekend - tba
Sun - tba

Mon - Sweet and sour stir fry with chicken, pineapple
Tues - Leftover stir fry
Wed - Frozen homemade pizza
Thurs - Happy Thanksgiving - leave for NY!

See lots more menu plans at OrgJunkie.

Weekly Shopping and Budget Totals

I did a little grocery shopping this week, including checking out my new local Wegmans!  I also took advantage of this fabulous Giant deal on Cheerios and got for boxes for $1.00 + tax.  The young cashier was so impressed; he said it was the best deal he had ever seen!

On Tuesday, I sent Michael to Harris Teeter after work to pick up some of the fabulously priced $1.47/lb. ground beef.  However, I told him to get five packages, and it turned out that the limit was four!  So the fifth package rang up regular price - ouch!  If it were a less expensive item, I would have let the mistake go, but with meat I just couldn't bring myself to do that. So I went back after dinner, explained what happened, and returned one package.  The store took it back no problem.  Lesson learned: always check the limit on hot sale items!

Here are my current grocery budget totals:

This week's shopping:
Harris Teeter - $10.32
CVS - $2.05
Giant - $1.11
Wegmans - $32.02

Total this month: $194.65
Left to spend: $155.35 (goal: $105.35)

In October, my grocery total turned out to be $300.20, right at my goal!  I was very excited!  In the new year, I'm thinking that I'll "officially" lower it, at least to $340 or $330.  But for November and December I'm still giving myself the option of spending $350, with the holidays coming up!


See more bloggers' shopping for the week at Super Savings Saturday.

Seasonal Stock-ups

It's well known among bargain-hunters that stocking up when items are at their lowest prices is a great way to save money in the long run.  With so many holiday sales and bargains descending upon us, I thought it would be helpful to run through some of the items on which you might want to stock up during the next few weeks.  Here are the top ones that came to mind:

Baking supplies - I can't believe some of the great deals lately on flour, sugar, baking mixes, and other speical baking items like chocolate chips and evaporated milk.  Perishable baking supplies like butter and eggs are also going on great sales.  With items like flour and sugar, stock up as much as you can.  These will likely be the lowest prices you'll see until next Christmas!  You can also freeze butter for ages.  Eggs, of course, you can't really preserve, but they last for weeks in the fridge.  You can also make lots of simple, frugal egg dishes while you're busy getting ready for the holidays!

Canned soup and broth - Between the high-value printable coupons and BOGO and other sales, it's pretty easy right now to get premium canned soups for my target price of under $1.00/can. We love soup during the cold weather and really all year, and there are really no deals on it in the summer.

Turkeys and hams - If you have the freezer space, stock up on bunch of these for roasts and soups for months!  There won't be any lower prices!  Even if you don't have a ton of freezer space, you could buy several of these spread during the next few weeks, cook them, and use some and freeze the rest of the meat or broth.  Or cook a turkey and use the meat and broth in a number of dishes and soups throughout the week to save both time and money.

Toys - Of course, there are tons of sales on toys from now until Christmas.  It's hard to say exactly when the very best deals are, but you'll likely run into some definite stock-up worthy sales at some point.  Try buying extras for upcoming birthdays during the year.  However, save a little money for after toy clearance sales after Christmas.  The selection will likely be very limited, but the prices will be rock-bottom.

Photo gifts - Since these are obviously popular Christmas presents, all the online retailers like Snapfish and Kodak Gallery will have tons of specials on personalized photo gifts in the next few weeks.  Think ahead to other occasions for which you might want a special gift like this, and order them now.  Or maybe it's time to finally print some of your digital prints or get them made into a photo book!

Fall, Halloween, and Thanksgiving items - The stores can't wait to get rid of this stuff so that they can focus on Christmas decor.  Look for prices as low as 90% off now and in the next couple of weeks.  For decor, I've had good success with the clearance at CVS, Target, and Michaels.

Anything I've missed?


Frugal Fridays are at Life as Mom.

PS - My giveaway for the book Jantsen's Gift is still going on here.

Best Wegmans Deals: 11/08-11/14

Sorry this is a little late this week.  With being sick over the weekend I didn't get a chance to visit our new Wegmans until last night.  It's going to be so great having it closer, although I'll have to learn the layout of the new store.


If you're in the area of the new Leesburg store, you probably received a coupon booklet in the mail.  There are coupons for two free products a week for the next six weeks.  You can use both coupons together with the same $10 order.



New Deals:
 

Wegmans US #1 White Potatoes (5 lb. bag) - $.99 (Limit 1)

Wegmans Cereal (13.5-20 oz.) (selected varieties) - $1.99

Coca-Cola (12 pk./12 fl. oz. cans) - $2.00 (Limit 5)

Wegmans Premium Orange Juice (64 fl. oz.) - $1.99


Boneless Chicken Breasts Club Pack (4 lbs. or more) - $1.69/lb. (new low price!)

Wegmans 80% Lean Fresh Ground Beef Club Pack (6 lbs. or more) - $1.99/lb. (new low price!)

Wegmans 90% Lean Fresh Ground Beef Club Pack (6 lb.s or more) - $1.99/lb.

Round Hill or Country Pride Frozen Basted Turkeys - $.39 (Limit 1 w. $25 purchase) (through 11/22)

Edy's Ice Cream or Frozen Yogurt (56 fl. oz.) - $1.99

Wegmans Bathroom Tissue (12 pk.) - $3.99 (Limit 2) ($.33/roll)

Crest Toothpaste (3.5 oz.) - $.97

Ongoing Deals:

U.S. #1 NY State Apple Tote (All varieties - approx. 4-1/2 lbs. per tote) - $.89/lb.

Acorn, Butternut, Spaghetti, or Buttercup Squash - $.79/lb.

Wegmans Instant Oatmeal - $1.99
Specially marked packages of Wegmans instant oatmeal have a mail-in offer for free Rand McNally flashcards.

Baking items - prices all good through 01/02:
Wegmans All Purpose Flour (5 lb.) - $.99 (Limit 2)
Wegmans Light Brown, Dark Brown, or Confectioners' Sugar (2 lb.) - $.99 (Limit 2)
Wegmans Granulated Sugar (5 lb. bag) - $1.99 (Limit 2)
Nestle Toll House Morsels (10-12 oz.) - $1.69
Buy 2 and use $.50/2 printable coupon (doubled)
Final Price: $1.19 each
Pillsbury Cake Mix (18.25-18.9 oz.) - $.88

Del Monte Canned Vegetables (14.75 oz.) - $.79 (through 11/28)

Hunt's Diced Tomatoes - $.89 (through11/21)
Buy 4 and use $1.00/4 coupon from recent insert or $1.00/2 printable coupon
Final Price: $.39-$.64 each

Nestle Hot Cocoa (10 pk.) - $.99

Betty Crocker Boxed Potatoes - $1.29 (through 01/02)
Use $.25/1 coupon from recent insert, $.40/1 printable coupn, or $.50/1 coupon from free sample recently available (doubled)
Final Price: $.25-.79

Wegmans Ziti, Spaghetti, or Thin Spaghetti (16 oz.) – $.69

Wegmans Tomato Puree or Crushed Tomatoes (28-29 oz. can) – $.69

Wegmans Pasta Sauce (24 oz.) – $.99 (through 01/02)

Wegmans Canned Vegetables (14.5-15.25 oz. can Cream Style Corn, Whole Kernel Corn, French Style Green Beans or Cut Green Beans) – $.39


Campbell's Chicken Noodle or Tomato Soup (10.75 oz.) - $.59
Buy 2 and use $.40/2 Healthy Request condensed soups from recent insert (if that variety is included) or buy 4 and use $.40/4 from recent insert
Final Price: $.19-$.49each

Dole Canned Fruit (select varieties, 15-20oz.) - $.99 (through 12/19)
Use $.50/1 Dole canned fruit printable coupon (doubled)
Final Price: FREE

Danimals Drinkable Yogurt or Crush Cups Yogurt (4 pk/4 oz. cups or 6 pk./3.1 fl. oz. bottles) - $1.99
Use $1.00/1 coupons from recent inserts
Final Price: $.99

Wegmans Shredded Cheese (6-8 oz.) (excludes 2%) - $1.69


Wegmans Paper Towels (8 pk./480 ct.) – $4.99 ($.62/roll)

Wegmans Facial Tissue (65-160 ct. cube or flat) – $.79

Speed Stick (3-3.25 oz.) or Lady Speed Stick (2.3 oz. Deodorant or Antiperspirant) – $1.88
Use $1.00/2 coupon from recent insert
Final Price – $1.33

Edge or Skintimate Shave Gel (7 oz.) – $1.88

Suave Body Wash (12 fl. oz.) - $1.50
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 coupon from recent insert
Final Price: $1.00 each

V05 Shampoo or Conditioner - $.69

WFMW: Emergency Meals

Being sick this weekend and thus not getting around to making a menu plan or grocery shopping for the week got me thinking about our "emergency" meals.  These are the meals that I turn to when plans change or I'm late in making a menu plan or it's just a crazy day and dinner doesn't get made.  I don't necessarily always have the supplies for all of these meals, but I usually have a lot of them.

None of these fancy or innovative meals, but they're wholesome and (at least semi-) homemade.  Having these dinners as a backup plan has prevented us getting expensive takeout many a night, and most of them hardly take longer than waiting for takeout!

Here's are some of our top "emergency" dinners:

Fritatta - If you're not familiar with this dish, fritatta is basically a simple crustless quiche.  I make it by scrambling 8 eggs with some milk and adding shredded cheese, fresh or dried herbs, and bits of whatever vegetables or meat I can find.  I cook it on the stove (without stirring) until the edges are dry, and then I put it in the oven (in my oven-safe skillet) until fully cooked, with some extra shredded cheese on top.

Quesadillas - If I have tortillas and cheese, I can always make some version of quesadillas, by filling the tortillas with the cheese and whatever else I can find and baking them briefly at a high temperature.  I often fill quesadillas with beans, chicken, chilies, corn, sauteed onions and peppers, olives - the list is endless!

Freezer meals - When I can, I try to double the recipe for a dinner that I'm cooking and freeze the other half.  These meals are such a life-saver on crazy nights or on days when I'm out all day and don't have time to cook.  I don't do any organized "freezer cooking"; I just try to freeze leftovers when I can.  However, if you're interested in a more formalized plan for this, check out this series on making freezer meals.

Soup and Sandwiches - If I call my mom and tell her that I have nothing for dinner, she is liable to suggest "grilled cheese and tomato soup."  She has good reason - talk about simple, hot comfort food!  Any kind of soup and sandwiches do for a hearty meal in a pinch.  Sometimes I have leftover soup in the freezer that I can pull out, and I do try to keep some canned soup around, when I can get it for less than $1.00/can.  I've also made this super easy tomato soup recipe.  (If I use milk for the cream, it is totally made from items I almost always have in the pantry.)

Pasta - Our number one go-to food - extremely quick, easy, and filling!  We eat just plain pasta with marinara on a fairly regular basis, but you can always add ground beef to have bolognese sauce in not too much more time.  Spaghetti with olive oil and sauteed garlic is another super quick and delicious option.

What are your family's "emergency" meals?  I always need new ideas for those crazy nights!

More WFMW (including an amazing gift-wrapping station idea) is here.

Don't forget my giveaway for an excellent and inspirational book, Jantsen's Gift, here.

Tuesday Tip

A quick, painless money saving tip every Tuesday . . .

When doing laundry, cut your fabric softener sheets in two pieces and use just half per load.  You probably will never notice the difference, and you've just made your purchase go twice as far.  If this works for you, try the concept with other things . . . can you use just half a paper towel? Half the amount of soap or shampoo?  In the Tightwad Gazette, the author talks about cutting the amount of items you normally use in half, and then if that is too little, working up from there until you find the minimum amount that works for you.  What else could you cut in half?

Have a quick and easy frugal tip to share?  Email me, and I"ll credit you if I use your tip.

Photo by Lusi.

Maclaren Stroller Recall!

In case you possibly haven't heard, all Maclaren umbrella strollers have been recalled!  If you have one, make sure to order your free repair kit right away!

Weekly Deal Roundup

The very best deals for your week, from the blogosphere and beyond . . .

Grocery Deals:


Triples, Triples, Triples!  Harris Teeter and Shoppers triple coupon events run through Tuesday.  You can see my (eventful) HT triples run here.

Here's a printable coupon for $1.00/1 Campbell's Select Harvest soup.  I like this soup because it has less sodium and additives than other canned soup, and this coupon should make it very cheap.

The deals at Target haven't been fab enough lately to make me do a lot of shopping there, but it looks there are a few worthwhile deals this week.  Look here and here.  My favorite deal - really cheap Target brand baby wipes!

Other Deals: 

The Christmas toy deals are really starting!  Here's the details on a great deal on classic board games at ToysRus.  Also, be sure to regularly check Baby Cheapskate during the Christmas shopping season.  Not only has Angie published a number of great articles on frugal toy-buying lately, but she is publishing Hot Holiday Deals on toys several times a week.


If you haven't gotten your free $15 certificate from Kodak gallery, hopefully there are some still available.  With a digital camera, I am so behind on ordering actual physical copies of my daughters' pictures, so I love deals like this!

Do you have a lot of spare change lying around or a coin jar that you use to save for a goal? Now might be the time to cash it in, as Coinstar is giving a $10 gift card bonus if you turn in $40 or more in change.

Last week I shared the 75% off Halloween deals that I snagged at Target.  This week most places should have Halloween and even other fall items at 75% off or more.  With practically every store fully decorated for Christmas at this point, they want to get rid of this stuff, so stock up for next year!

See any other great deals for this week?  Please share in the comments section!

Book Review and Giveaway: Jantsen's Gift

This is a Mama Buzz review. The product was provided by Hachette Book Group for this review.



Of the several books that I've had the opportunity to review lately, Jantsen's Gift was by far my favorite.  This compelling book is a true story of how a mother used her grief after her son's death to eventually aid dozens of needy children all over the world.

After her son Jantsen's sudden death at age 15, Pam Cope was plunged into grief and depression.  However, after a trip to Vietnam to investigate making a charitable gift of her son's memorial fund, she felt a calling to aid the orphans there.  She and her husband ended up adopting two Vietnamese orphans and starting the Touch a Life foundation, which now aids orphans and victims of human trafficking in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Ghana.

This book is an absorbing tear-jerker.  I think any parent, especially a mom, could not fail to be affected by Pam's experience with what every parent fears the most, as well as by her eventual experience of what we as American parents can hardly imagine.

One of the things that most struck me in this book was an unexpected connection to frugal living.  After Pam and her family started the Touch a Life foundation and were trying to raise additional money, they actually sold their large, luxurious home and moved to a smaller one.  Also at this time, they switched to a cash-only budget and paid off all their debt. 

These sacrifices really struck me because it is clear that their work with the poor really made them realize the true meaning of their possessions.  After mentioning earlier in the book how empty her upscale suburban life used to feel, Pam writes how she actually felt freed when she downsized her home.  Also, one might think that the family might actually go into debt because they were trying to help so many desperate children.  But instead, they realized that they could be of the most help when they had their own finances in order.

Jantsen's Gift is published by Hachette Book Group and retails for $24.99 (hardcover), although it's on sale for $18.24 on Amazon right now.  Best of all, thanks to the generosity of Hachette Book Group, one Frugally Blonde reader can win a copy of this meaningful book!

Just leave a comment on this post saying that you would like to read the book, and make sure that your email address is included if it is not in your profile.  The contest runs until next Tuesday, November 15, at 8:00PM EST, and I will randomly choose a winner after that.  I will email the winner, and she winner will have 72 hours to respond, after which I will choose a new winner.

Tomato and Grape Costumes!

I meant to post this last week, but time just got away from me!  After I posted about how we were going to do our first homemade Halloween costumes this year, I wanted to share the results!

Here are my little tomato and grape . . .

Top CVS Deals: 11/8-11/14

All Rimmell Mascara $6.99 (get $4 ECBs) Limit 1
$1 RP 8/23
$1 RP 9/13
$2 RP 8/23
$2 RP 9/13
$2 November All You Magazine
= $.99 – $1.99 after ECBs

John Frieda Collection Shampoo, Conditioner or Styler $10/2 (get $5 ECBs wyb 2 – November/Holiday booklet announces this ECB) Limit 3
$1 SS 10/11
$5/2 SS 10/11
= FREE – $1.50 each after ECBs

EARinse $7.99 (get $7.99 ECBs) Limit 1
= FREE after ECBs

Glade or Renuzit Aroma Air Freshener $ .99
$1/6 Renuzit SS 10/4
B2G1 Renuzit SS 10/4
B1G1 Glade SS 11/1
= $.50 – $.82

See Ashley's complete list here.

My scenario this week:

1 EarRinse - $7.99
1 Scott Paper Towels - $4.96 (price good through Tuesday)
Total Value - $12.95
Use $1.00/1 Scott coupon from recent insert
Use $8 ECB
Total OOP - $3.95 (EarRinse free and paper towels for just $.50/roll!)

Don't forget to scan your reusable bag tag!  Also, if CVS follows the same pattern as last year, they will have a bunch of great freebie deals the weekend after Thanksgiving.  So plan ahead and start saving up your ECBs now!

Happy Monday!

Just wanted to let you all know that some of my regular features will be a little late this week.  GiGi and I got hit with a stomach bug over the weekend, and we're still recovering.  I'm hoping I'll be fully back in the swing of things in the next couple of days!

New Button & Blog Love

I am excited to announce that I finally have a blog button!  It's at the top of my right sidebar, and there's code to grab if anyone would like to post it on her blog.  Thanks so much if you decide to use it!

I am so grateful to Angie at My Four Monkeys for making the button for me!  Check out her blog for great product reviews and giveaways!

Also, I forgot to mention that on Wednesday I had a guest post published on Baby Goodbuys.  It's a complete guide to shopping children's consignment sales and is sort of a compilation of my past posts on the topic.  Baby Goodbuys is a great site to check out for tons of bargains on everything for the baby and toddler set.

Finally, I've added some new sites to my lists of deal blogs on my right sidebar, as well as a couple of new blog buttons.  Check out all the great frugal sites!

A Most Eventful Harris Teeter Triples Run

I was really excited to head over to Harris Teeter yesterday afternoon, since it seemed like a while since the last triple or super double coupon event.  I had prepped my coupons, my girls were fed and rested, and I was ready for some great deals.

Well, about midway through the shopping trip, I had let LuLu out of the cart, and she and GiGi were playing on the floor for a moment while I picked out some items.  A moment later, LuLu fell backwards and hit her head on the hard floor.  I picked her up and carried her to the next aisle, comforting her, but I wasn't overly concerned. 

Until . . . as we reach the next aisle, LuLu suddenly vomited - and vomited again - covering herself, me, and the floor.  Not my best grocery store moment.

To make a long story short, I called my pediatrician's office, who told me to head directly to the ER, since there was vomiting after a head injury.  Conveniently enough, my Harris Teeter is down the road from the local hospital with the pediatric ER!   Obviously, I had some panicked moments there, but thanks be to God, she was totally fine, and didn't even need a CAT scan.  She did not continue vomiting or crying - in fact, by the time the Harris Teeter worker was cleaning up after her she was smiling and waving to him!

So anyway . . .after we got out of the ER, went home, had dinner, and I bathed LuLu . . . I went back to Harris Teeter for my groceries!  I mean, hey, they might have been out of some items if I went back a different day.  You can't keep a true couponer down, right?

The manager had kindly kept them for me at the front desk, and even though there had been a shift change the items had not yet been put back.  I was able to finish my shopping, and I think I got some good deals.  I paid $25.48 for all this below, and my total before coupons and VIC savings was $110.03.  I used the lists at 30 Dollar Weekly Grocery Challenge and Southern Savers to put together most of my deals. 

I might even make another trip back before triple coupons ends, but hopefully my next trip won't be quite as exciting. ;-)

Book Review: Big Thoughts for Little People

Mama Buzz, and reviewers, were provided with a complimentary copy of this book for blog tour purposes




Big Thoughts for Little People by Kenneth N. Taylor

Ages 3-7

Hardcover retails for $14.99

Big Thoughts for Little People is a book for young children which teaches a variety of virtues using the letters of the alphabet (e.g. B is for Behave, J is for Joyful, etc.).  Each page includes detailed illustration of children practicing (or not practicing) the virtue.  The facing page includes a short rhyme about the virtue and then a longer explanation.  Those are followed by three questions about the virtue and an accompanying Bible verse.

The first thing that struck me about this book were the lovely, colorful, and detailed illustrations.  Each page shows children engaged in many different activities, such as picnicking, camping, and sledding.  My daughter was very drawn into the pictures, and made many comments and asked questions about them.

I read this book a number of times with GiGi, who is just over 3, as did my husband.  Overall, our conclusion was that she is probably not quite old enough for the book.  Although the age range is from 3-7, I would say that it would be more appreciated by children on the upper end of that age range.  GiGi did listen to the whole book and greatly enjoyed the pictures, but she was definitely not ready to answer the discussion questions.

Overall, Big Thoughts for Little People is a very nice book for young Christians.  It is definitely didactic, rather than a story, but the lessons are presented in a simple and appealing way.  It would make a good gift for a Baptism or First Communion.

Deal Alert - Target Clearance!

I just got back from my local Super Target, where I stopped with my girls for a promised treat after their pediatrician checkups.  I was sure glad I stopped!  My Target had all their Halloween items already 75% off!

There were still a lot of different items, including a big double rack of costumes, but I bet everything will go quickly.  I picked up a Wilton Pumpkin cake pan for $1.24 and a Pillsbury Halloween cake mix for $.39 (the last one!).

Candy was 50% off, and I found two coupon deals!  (Most of the candy coupons seemed to have expired on Oct. 31, but these two are still good.)  I got:

1 bag caramel Hershey kisses (in fall wrapping) - $1.49
Used $1.00/1 coupon from recent insert
Final Price: $.49

1 bag Dove Silky Smooth dark chocolate pieces - $1.74
Used $1.00/1 coupon from recent insert
Final Price: $.79

Although I usually wait to buy clearance items until they're at least 75% off, the candy won't last that long, so I think these are pretty great deals.  And there's still a whole month of fall ahead of us, plus Thanksgiving, so the fall candy is still fully appropriate!

Anybody else run into any great fall clearance deals lately?

Book Review: Girl Talk by Gigi Garner

 This is a Mama Buzz review. The product was provided by Five Star Publications for this review.

 

When I received the book Girl Talk from Mama Buzz, I wasn't sure what to expect.  When I saw that it included stories from celebrities, I wondered it if it would be of interest to me.

However, this is not a book about "celebrities,." although a number of the tips and stories are from well-known actresses, writers, and singers.  It is just a book of many different women sharing those little tidbits that you pick up from your girlfriends.  I am often inspired with new ideas and thoughts by things that my girl friends and female relatives share with me, and this book was sort of like compilation of thoughts like that.

The book is organized by different topics, such as "Friend Talk," "Career Talk," Health Talk," and "Mommy Talk," and some of the topics have sub-topics.  One of my favorite sections was "Traditions," which was part of "Friend Talk."  As a mom with a relatively young family, I like to get ideas for holiday and other traditions that I might want to introduce in my family.

Girl Talk is put out by Five Star Publications and costs $15.95, which for me is a little pricey for a slim paperback.  However, with a book store coupon I could see getting this book as a fun gift for a girl friend or a sister.

Twitter Party!

GalTime, the site for women for which I've been writing, is hosting a Twitter Party tonight.  They're having giveaways of some really neat (and expensive!) items, and I'm sure there will be some fun chatting.  Check it out if you have some time this evening!

Tuesday Tip

A quick, painless money saving tip every Tuesday

Use Swagbucks for all your internet searches!  If you don't already know, Swagbucks is an internet search engine that rewards you with points ("swagbucks") for your searches.  If you refer others who join Swagbucks, you can earn a bonus, plus matching Swagbucks for the ones they earn. (Full disclosure: I will earn Swagbucks if you sign up through my link.)  You can save up your Swagbucks to earn gift cards for great stores, including Amazon.com and Starbucks!

I have been a member of Swagbucks about 6 months, and I use it for a couple of searches 3-5 days a week.  It usually only takes 2 or 3 searches to earn at least one Swagbuck.  I have made only two referrals, but with the combination of the referrals and the swagbucks from my searches, I should have enough bucks for a $20 Amazon gift card by Christmas.

That's certainly a nice bonus for doing something that I already do anyway!

Have a fast and easy money saving tip to share?  Email  me, and I'll credit you if I use your tip.

Wegmans Deals: 11/01-11/07

The newest Wegmans opens this weekend in Leesburg, VA!  I am very, very excited, since this location is closer to me than the location where I usually shop.  My plan is to start shopping there weekly, instead of bi-weekly, whicvh will help me bring you even more of the unadvertised deals.  Now to decide if I'm going to wait in line at 4:00AM on Sunday morning . . .

The Wegmans ad this week highlights even more new lower prices for 2009 and compares them with 2008 prices.  I've already included a lot of these deals for you in this and past deal write-ups, and I mention a few of the new ones this week.

New Deals:

Post Honey Bunches of Oats (14.5 oz.) - $2.00 (through 11/04)
Use $2.00/1 printable coupon (pecan bunches variety)
Final Price: FREE

Campbell's Chicken Noodle or Tomato Soup (10.75 oz.) - $.59
Buy 2 and use $.40/2 Healthy Request condensed soups from recent insert (if that variety is included) or buy 4 and use $.40/4 from recent insert
Final Price: $.19-$.49each

Dole Canned Fruit (select varieties, 15-20oz.) - $.99 (through 12/19)
Use $.50/1 Dole canned fruit printable coupon (doubled)
Final Price: FREE!

Wegmans Roasting Chicken - $.79/lb.

Wegmans Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts (Club Pack - 5 lbs. or more) - $1.97

Wegmans Boneless Center Cut Pork Loin (Club Pack) - $1.89/lb.

Stouffer's Lean Cuisine Entrees (8-11.5 oz.), select varieties - $1.99
Buy 3 and use $1.00/3 coupon from recent insert
Final Price: $1.66 each

Ongoing Deals:

U.S. #1 NY State Apple Tote (All varieties - approx. 4-1/2 lbs. per tote) - $.89/lb.

Acorn, Butternut, Spaghetti, or Buttercup Squash - $.79/lb.

Wegmans US #1 White Idaho Potatoes (5 lb. bag) – $1.99

Specially marked packages of Wegmans instant oatmeal have a mail-in offer for free Rand McNally flashcards.

Betty Crocker Cake Mix – $.99
Baking items - prices all good through 01/02:
Wegmans All Purpose Flour (5 lb.) - $.99 (Limit 2)
Wegmans Light Brown, Dark Brown, or Confectioners' Sugar (2 lb.) - $.99 (Limit 2)
Wegmans Granulated Sugar (5 lb. bag) - $1.99 (Limit 2)
Nestle Toll House Morsels (10-12 oz.) - $1.69
Buy 2 and use $.50/2 printable coupon (doubled)
Final Price: $1.19 each
Pillsbury Cake Mix (18.25-18.9 oz.) - $.88

Keebler Chips Deluxe Cookies (12.5-18oz.) – $1.99
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 Keebler cookies coupon
Final Price: $1.49 each
Del Monte Canned Vegetables (14.75 oz.) - $.79 (through 11/28)
Hunt's Diced Tomatoes - $.89 (through11/21)
Buy 4 and use $1.00/4 coupon from recent insert
Final Price: $.64 each

Nestle Hot Cocoa (10 pk.) - $.99

Betty Crocker Boxed Potatoes - $1.29 (through 01/02)
Use $.25/1 coupon from recent insert, $.40/1 printable coupn, or $.50/1 coupon from free sample recently available (doubled)
Final Price: $.25-.79

Wegmans Ziti, Spaghetti, or Thin Spaghetti (16 oz.) – $.69

Wegmans Tomato Puree or Crushed Tomatoes (28-29 oz. can) – $.69

Wegmans Pasta Sauce (24 oz.) – $.99 (through 01/02)
Wegmans Canned Vegetables (14.5-15.25 oz. can Cream Style Corn, Whole Kernel Corn, French Style Green Beans or Cut Green Beans) – $.39

Nestle Tollhouse Ready to Bake Cookies (16-16.5 oz.) (Excludes holiday varieties) - $1.99
Use $1.00/1 coupon from recent insert
Final Price: $.99

Danimals Drinkable Yogurt or Crush Cups Yogurt (4 pk/4 oz. cups or 6 pk./3.1 fl. oz. bottles) - $1.99
Use $1.00/1 coupons from recent inserts
Final Price: $.99

Wegmans Shredded Cheese (6-8 oz.) (excludes 2%) - $1.69
Pillsbury Bread or Pizza Crust (11-13.8 oz.) – $1.99
Buy 2 and use $.40/2 Italian meal breads or $.35/1 pizza crust (doubled)
Final Price: $1.29-$1.59 each

Wegmans 90% Lean Fresh Ground Beef (Club Pack - 6 lbs. or more) - $1.99/lb.
Wegmans Paper Towels (8 pk./480 ct.) – $4.99 ($.62/roll)

Wegmans Bathroom Tissue (12 pk.) - $4.99 ($.42/roll)
Wegmans Facial Tissue (65-160 ct. cube or flat) – $.79
Speed Stick (3-3.25 oz.) or Lady Speed Stick (2.3 oz. Deodorant or Antiperspirant) – $1.88
Use $1.00/2 coupon from recent insert
Final Price – $1.33
Edge or Skintimate Shave Gel (7 oz.) – $1.88
Suave Body Wash (12 fl. oz.) - $1.50
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 coupon from recent insert
Final Price: $1.00 each

V05 Shampoo or Conditioner - $.69

Weekly Deal Roundup

The very best deals for your week, from the blogosphere and beyond . . .

Grocery Deals:

It's the beginning of the month, and you know what that means: new printable coupons!  You can print the new coupons.com coupons right from the ad on my sidebar (just click "see all coupons).  Here are the best ones I see:

$.50/1 Starkist pouch product
$.75/1 Del Monte gold pineapple
$.50/1 Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers
$.50/1 Chex Mix (doubled or tripled and combined with a sale, this can make for a very cheap snack)
$1.00/2 Ghiradelli baking products (Christmas cookies!)
$1.00/1 Affresh cleaning product (I use their HE washing machine cleaning tabs, which are expensive!)
$1.00/1 Kiss My Face product (nice coupon for organic product)
$2.00/1 Huggies diapers
$2.00/1 GE Energy Smart and $2.00/1 GE Reveal CFL (lightbulb) (only at Target)
Several different coupons for $1.00/1 certain Kellogg's cereals, including Corn Flakes
Some of the Hasboro toy coupons are still available too.

Also check for new printable coupons at RedPlum, Smart Source, All You, and e-coupons at Upromise.

Speaking of coupons, I just wanted to mention a site for some coupons for your holiday baking, Nestle's Very Best Baking site.  Right now they have printable coupons for $.50/2 Nestle chocolate chips and $1.00/1 Nestle refrigerated cookie dough (I believe you have to sign up for the site).  I used the latter coupon to get the cookie dough for just $.99 at Wegmans last week.  And chocolate chip coupons are like gold to me, and in my opinion Nestle Tollhouse are the best!

If you shop at Safeway, Gina gave a heads up that there are going to be some really good deals this week, starting Wednesday.

There's a great deal on Kellogg's cereal going on this week at Target - as low as $.25/box!  You can see that deal and the other Target deals for the week at Stretching a Buck.  She also has an interesting post on a Glad candle deal that's a possible money maker.


Other Deals:

Erin reports that Walmart has just lowered their prices on dozens of toys in preparation for the holidays.  She has a link to a complete list.


I was going to mention that there are a number of early bird deals on Christmas portraits and photo cards right now, but I came across this post on Baby Cheapskate, which gives an overview of when to find the best deals.  Short answer: there are good deals now, but you won't be hurt by waiting until December.


Look for Halloween costumes and decor to be 50% off this week, but the best deals will be next week and beyond.  But if you need any more candy, now is probably the time to get it, since once it is discounted it goes fast.  You can use fall-themed candy for Thanksgiving, and think ahead to candy for Christmas stockings. 

See any other standout deals for this week?  Please let us know in the comments section!

Menu Plan for the Week

This is late because I was really scrambling to put together a menu plan after a busy weekend.  I normally would have done my two-week menu plan and shopping today or tomorrow, but instead I had both the opportunity and need to go shopping on Friday.  So I ended up shopping without my menu plan.  Yikes!

I ended just buying staples that I knew we needed as well a few good sale/coupon items.  With the various food I already have in the pantry and freezer I actually think we should be good for the two weeks, but for now I just planned the menu for this week.  I'll worry about next week when it comes!  Here's what I put together based on what we have:

Breakfasts:
cereal, instant grits, yogurt, toast, muffins or bagels (to be baked)

Lunches:
grilled cheese, peanut butter and apples, leftovers, tuna salad

Dinners:
Mon - Italian Sausage soup (my modified version), Italian Herb Muffins,
Tues - Leftover soup, muffins, salad
Wed - Raspberry chicken and apples,* rice, green beans
Thurs - Leftover chicken
Fri - Black eyed peas and tortillas, corn
Sat - tba
Sun - tba

*Raspberry Chicken and Apples:
Marinate boneless chicken breasts in raspberry vinaigrette dressing that we found too sweet and don't like for salads.  Toss some sliced apples in cinnamon and sugar and place in greased baking pan with chicken.  Bake at 375 for about 30 minutes or until done!

See more menu plans over at OrgJunkie.