Rewards

  • Blessing Lives Everyday with Special Surprises (B.L.E.S.S.): 25 Days of Christmas Blessings (Week 2)

    Box of Candy Canes the girls shared with their class at gymnastics 

    We have entered our second week of our 25 Days of Christmas B.L.E.S.S. (Blessing Lives Everyday with Special Surprises).  It has been a real joy doing these fun events everyday.  In some cases we get to see who receives our B.L.E.S.S. gift and in other cases we will never know who is on the receiving end.  We pray that whoever receives or finds these gifts will experience joy during this Holiday Season.  Each night we take down the B.L.E.S.S. activity for the next day and read the verse and the activity then pray for those who have and will receive our little BLESS’ings.

    Colored paper ornaments to hang on the Christmas Tree in the children’s wing at the local library

    Here is what we have done so far and a couple pictures to share of our adventures:

    Gathered and donated 105 magazines to a local public library and school library

    • Day 5– Picked out and donated gifts to Country Santa which gives Christmas presents to local children who would otherwise have none at Christmas.  The girls each picked out two gifts to give to Country Santa for another child’s Christmas then we prayed for the kids that would receive these gifts for Christmas.
    • Day 6 – Gave out Silly Bandz to kids coming in and out of several local stores.  I was surprised at the different reactions we noticed while passing out silly bandz from sheer delight to total disinterest.  The girls still had fun doing the activity and sharing with kids.
    • Day 7 – Gathered and donated magazines and a stack of books to a local library and school library.   Both the school library and local library staff were excited to get some new books and magazines.  Our family loves reading so this was a fun activity for us.  We spent about 30 minutes in the local library donating items, picking out books to read, and coloring Christmas ornaments to hang on their Christmas tree.  The lady at the children’s desk was so sweet when the girls showed her the ornaments that had colored for the tree.
    • Day 8 – Bought and gave Candy Canes to all the kids in the girls gymnastics class.  We just started taking the girls to gymnastics about a month ago (we got Groupon deal from a local gymnastics school) and it has been a lot of fun watching them learn not only new skills but seeing them start new friendships.  It has been great getting to know kids (and their parents) outside of school and church that we can be a blessing to as well.
    • Day 9 – Handed out candy canes as we were running errands around town and at local stores.  It was cute seeing the excited looks on kids faces as the girls handed them a candy cane.  The girls loved doing this activity so much I had to remind them not to “rush” to the kids with a candy cane because it could startle the younger kids or their parents if they saw another child charging towards their little one. 🙂
    • Day 10 – We had a blast making and delivering Christmas goodies to our neighbors.  It was nice to spend a few minutes and catch up with the people on our street.  Taking the extra time to reach out to our neighbors has made a tremendous impact over the last few years even on our small street.  One of our neighbors lost their only child right before Christmas a few years ago so this is a tough Holiday for them.
    • Day 11 – Picked out, wrapped, and donated gifts to the Heart of Christmas for kids in our local schools who would not have gifts otherwise this Holiday Season.  Our church coordinates with the school guidance counselor to get information on these kids who are in need (naturally the names of the kids are not given just their sizes, styles, needs, etc…).

    Delivering more goodies to kiddos at another local store!

    One of Brina’s ornaments hanging on the Christmas Tree at our local library

    One of Karlie’s ornaments hanging on the Christmas Tree at the local library.

    A stack of books we donated to the school library.

    A basket full of goodies ready to be delivered to our neighbors!

    One of our favorite verses this week went along with our Day  10 activity. 

     This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. – John 15:12

    Something as simple a sharing a little gift to say “Merry Christmas” to our neighbors has opened many opportunities to interact with them.  I think this verse really stood out to all of us this week because we don’t take the time to invest in the lives around us as often as we should.  This activity was a little longer because we made it a point to spend time socializing with each of our neighbors for a few minutes but we all walked home feeling even more blessed because of it.

    Heart of Christmas

    I am super excited to see how great this B.L.E.S.S. activity is going already.  It has been a true joy sharing with others (many of whom we’ll never meet).  It has been a great experience and I look forward to seeing what will happen with our fun adventures this week.

    Helping local kids by giving fun and practical gifts.

    The main purpose of this activity is to teach our family the joy of giving and sharing to those around us.  I plan to do another update on our fun B.L.E.S.S. adventures next week.  Sometimes it’s the little stuff that can make the most positive impact.  I would love to hear how you are spreading the Christmas cheer this Holiday Season.

    To learn more about our 25 Days of Christmas B.L.E.S.S. activity and what we have done far check out the links below:

    I have been asked by a number of people for a printable version of the 25 Days of Christmas B.L.E.S.S. activities, verses, and sheets to handout so here they are for your family to enjoy as well:

  • Book: “God Gave Us Christmas” by Lisa Tawn Bergren

    I was excited a few weeks ago when God Gave Us Christmas by Lisa Tawn Bergren went on sale and we could buy this book for the girls with our Amazon Gift Cards I earned from Swagbucks to learn more about how to get started go here.  Our family has a couple other books by Lisa that the girls really enjoy (God Gave us the World,  God Gave Us Love , and God Gave Us Heaven) .  I like that the books encourage the kids to ask questions and gives the credit back to God.  Even though the girls haven’t received this book yet I read it as soon as it arrived and was thrilled to find it was written much along the same lines of the other books we enjoy from Lisa Bergren.

    This is a great children’s book that emphasizes the true meaning of Christmas.  The author created a pretty steady stream of “Questions” and “Answers” dialogue between Little Cub and her parents.  The book addresses some of the most common questions kids will ask around the Holiday Season such as “Who ‘vented Christmas? Was it Santa?”   Although Santa Claus, Frosty, and the other traditional Christmas stories are neat, it is important that our children know the true reason why we celebrate Christmas.

    God Gave Us Christmas is a wonderful book to give as a gift to children.  If you are looking at buying a Christmas book for fun or as a gift this season you should check this one out.  You can also get it from the library to read with your kids.

  • Living on a Budget: Groceries $40 for 4

    It was a busy week but in between appointments I was able to make it to a couple stores.  I was able to stay under budget and stock up on some goodies, including produce and diary products!  Here is my weekly update on our Groceries $40 for 4.

    Groceries from Ingles and Save A Lot | RiteAid

    Ingles Groceries:

    • $10.03 at Ingles for 1 fresh Coconut, 1 container fresh Celery, 1 container fresh Mushrooms, 1 container fresh Cherry Tomatoes, 1 bag fresh Oranges (4 lbs), 1 package Summer Sausage (Everything I bought this week at Ingles was on sale, marked down, or on clearance except the summer sausage which was a special treat I bought for my husband this week.  All the produce including the bag of oranges were marked down to 99 cents!)

    Save A Lot | RiteAid Groceries:

    • $22.74 at Save A Lot | RiteAid for 1 bag Bagels, 1 box Poptarts, 1 container Country Crock Spread, 1 box Mrs Freshley Chocolate Cupcakes, 1 container Cool Whip, 1 box Tropical Jr Pops, 2 boxes Yogurt Tubes, 4 cans Cream of Mushroom, 1 container Parmesan Grated Cheese, 1 can Pinneapple Chunks, 1 jar Salsa, 1 two liter Orange Crisp, 1 gallon Milk, 1 bag Carrots, 1 bag Grapefruit (3 lb), and 1 box Cream Cheese.  (All the items were on sale or clearance plus I used a couple of coupons!  The bagels, Mrs. Freshley Cupcakes, Tropical Jr Pops, and Yogurt Tubes were marked down to clearance “special today” prices.)
    Groceries, Household Items, & Other Goodies from Walgreens

    Walgreens Groceries:

    • $0.49 at Walgreens for the grocery items – 4 boxes Baking Soda and 3 bags Chewy Spree Candy.  (The total for this entire purchase was $2.06 including tax for 30 items making it $0.07 per item which is how the 7 groceries items cost $0.49 at Walgreens this week.)
    Groceries from Kmart

    Kmart Groceries:

    • $1.50 at Kmart for 1 box Saltines, 1 pack Orange Gatorade, and 1 box Ritz Crackers.  (Jake ended up getting sick this week so on my way home from a work appointment I stopped by Kmart to pick up some stuff for him.  Thankfully, I had a $5 Kmart Gift Card and all the items were on sale this week at Kmart).
    Groceries, Household, Baby, Beauty and Gift Items from CVS

    CVS Groceries:

    • $0.21 at CVS for the grocery items – 1 loaf Sara Lee Whole Wheat Bread, 1 loaf Sara Lee White Bread, and 1 box Candy Canes.  (The total for this entire purchase was $3.16 including tax for 42 items making it $0.07 per item which is how the 3 groceries items cost $0.21 at CVS this week.)

    This week I spent $34.97 on groceries.  Even though I was only a little under on my budgeted amount for the week I was able to stock up on some items at the same time.  I did not anticipate my husband being sick but we had enough flex in the budget and hit the sales to cover the extra expense.  I hope that next week is better week and we can come under budget!

    It is my goal to give you regular updates on this budget section so you can celebrate the good weeks with me and thump me on the bad weeks!  As always you are welcomed to join the journey with me.  I would love to hear your story and how you are doing too.  The purpose of our family doing this it to watch our grocery spending while allowing us to feed our family, enjoy life, share with others, and yet stay on track with our budget.

    Living on a Budget is a series of ways our family uses a budget to help keep us accountable with our finances.  Life doesn’t always go as planned.  We have used some of the ideas I will be sharing for years while others are ones we are just starting to implement as we continue finding ways to be creative and have fun with what we have been given.  Having a plan in place allows us the freedom to be smart with what we have been given, get more creative when it is a tight (week, month, year or a season) and when necessary live a much more simplified life.  A budget helps us stay on track so we have more opportunities to enjoy the many blessings we have been given as well as share what we have with others.  There is so much more to life than having all the stuff.  We may not have the newest or greatest items in our house, we drive used cars, and wear hand-me-down clothing…..however, if our family is taken care of and have love for each other and others we have more than all the riches in the world.

  • CVS: Spent $3 and $12 ECB’s Back

    Groceries, Household, Baby, Beauty and Gift Items from CVS

    I went to CVS on my way home from an appointment this week.  The CVS had a bunch of cosmetic items marked down 50% to 75% off.  I was able to get the items pictured above for $3.16 including tax and received $12.00 ECB’s to use on my next CVS purchase.  Today I used some store, manufacturer coupons and ECB’s to help pay for the purchase.

    You can get great deals even without clipping a lot of coupons.  My receipt shows that as of December 6th I have saved over $2,000  at CVS this year (and I don’t even go every week) so you can do it without investing a lot of time into it or being an extreme couponer that empties the shelves.  Over time the savings add up and I have even taken several weeks off here and there while I have been busy or traveling or when our stock pile is full.   All of the items I purchased were on sale or clearance.  Here is what I purchased this week.

    • 1 – Cherry Candy Canes (10 count) for $1.27  (FREE plus overage after ECB’s because the Extra Care Bucks did not print when I checked so I ended up getting $2 ECB’s for this item.)
    • 1 – Ali Deep Brown Brow Definer for $1.19 (on clearance for 75% off)
    • 3 – Lip Smacker Lip Gloss (Clear) for $2.46 ($0.82 each after 75% off clearance, perfect for stocking stuffers)
    • 10 – bottles Confetti Nail Polish for $8.20 ($0.82 each after 75% off clearance, another great stocking stuffer)
    • 11 – bottles Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Polish for $9.02 ($0.82 each after 75% off clearance)
    • 1 – Sally Hansen Fingernail Clippers for $1.37 (after 75% off clearance)
    • 3 – Wet & Wild Mega Silk Glossy Apple for $2.97 ($0.99 each after 75% clearance)
    • 1 – Wet & Wild Mega Silk Glossy Berry Burst for $0.99 (after 75% clearance)
    • 1 – Wet & Wild Liquid Lip Color Coco for $0.99 (after 75% clearance)
    • 1 – Huggies Supreme Diapers Size 1 (40 count) for $9.49 (received a $1.00 ECB)
    • 1 – Sara Lee Whole Wheat Bread for $0.57 (on clearance)
    • 1 – Sara Lee White Bread for $0.57 (on clearance)
    • 4 – American Greetings Cards for (used store and manufacturer coupons and received $3.00 ECBs)
    • 1 – Revlon Deluxe Clipper Set for $2.99 (received $6.00 ECBs)
    • 1 – Revlon Valupak Emory Boards for $3.59 (received $6.00 ECBs)

    Here are the coupons I used on the items.

    • Used $5.00 off $20.00 Coupon from CVS Kiosk
    • Used $0.99 CVS coupon from Kiosk for a free American Greeting Card
    • Used $2.00 manufacturer coupon for American Greeting Card
    • Used $3.00 CVS coupon for Huggies
    • Used $2.00 manufacturer coupon from Huggies
    • Used $1.00 manufacturer coupon from Revlon
    • Used $5.00 CVS Beauty Club Reward Coupon
    • Used $25.99 CVS ECB’s

    I received $12.00 ECB’s back today:

    • $6.00 ECB’s for Revlon Products
    • $3.00 ECB’s for American Greeting Cards
    • $2.00 ECB’s for Candy Canes
    • $1.00 ECB’s for Huggies Products

    Today I was able to save $109.01 at CVS by purchasing these items and using coupons.

    Here are some more up close pictures of the products I was able to pick up.

     

    CVS had a lot of cosmetic items on clearance for 50% to 75% off

    Was able to get 2 loaves of Sara Lee Bread for $0.57 each on clearance!

    When you shop the CVS sales regularly and have ECB’s that you can roll over toward future purchases the bonus ECB’s start adding up (Green Bag Tags and Beauty Club).  As you can see from my shopping trip today you don’t have to purchase a lot to save money when shopping at CVS.  Plus you can use the additional ECB’s you receive towards your next purchase.  You can pick and chose what is best for your family.

    I would love to hear your CVS shopping story for this week!  For those of you who shop regularly at CVS please share how you were able to save this week!  Although the weekly ad sales are similar every family and situation is different so you may have found items better suited to your household.  In your comment please feel free to share a link to your blog article showing us how you were able to save shopping at CVS.

  • Walgreens: Spent $2 and Got $6 Back

    Groceries, Household Items, & Other Goodies from Walgreens

    I ran by Walgreens on the way home from an appointment this week to use up a couple coupons that were about ready to expire.  I spent $2.06 including tax at Walgreens this week for grocery, household, health and beauty purchases and received $6 Register Rewards back from that visit to use towards my next purchase at Walgreens.

    Here is what I got this week:

    • 4 – Nice Baking Soda for $2.00 ($0.50 each after coupon)
    • 2 – Dove Deodorants for $3.99 (received $3 Register Rewards.  Also, I was able to get 2 because there was a BONUS pack that included 2 full size deodorants in it making it an even better deal. Yay!)
    • 1 – Revlon TopSpeed Nail Polish for $3.99 (received $3 in Register Rewards back.)
    • 9 –  Snowman Tumbler Cups for $1.49 ($0.16 each after coupon)
    • 2 – Nice Wax Paper (75 feet) for $1.98 ($0.99 each after coupon)
    • 1 – Reynolds Aluminum Foil (20 feet) for $0.99 (each after coupon)
    • 4 – Wexford Tape (450 inches) for $2.38 ($0.59 each after coupon)
    • 3 – Nestle Chewy Spree Candy for $0.75 ($0.25 each after coupon)
    • 2 – Red Sharpie Markers for $0.58 ($0.29 each after coupon)
    • 2 – Green Sharpie Markers for $0.58 ($0.29 each after coupon)

    The total was over $36 with tax before using discounts & coupons.  Here are the coupons I used on the items.

    • Nice Baking Soda Coupons
    • Snowman Tumbler Coupons
    • Nice Wax Paper Coupons
    • Reynolds Aluminum Foil Coupons
    • Wexford Tape Coupons
    • Nestle Chewy Spree Candy Coupons
    • Sharpie Markers Coupons
    • Used $17 Register Rewards

    I received $6 Register Rewards back today:

    • $3.00 Register Rewards for Dove Product
    • $3.00 Register Rewards for Revlon Product

    Walgreen’s Register Rewards will expire two weeks from the date they are printed so you will need to make sure to use them before their expiration date.  I always keep the ones that are expiring the soonest on top of the stack to make sure to use them first.

    Another important fact regarding Walgreen’s Register Rewards you will need to know if you haven’t used them before is you can only use 1 coupon per item.  If you use a manufacturer’s coupon for every item you are purchasing you will not be able to use any Register Reward for that transaction.   If you do have a coupon for each item then check Walgreen’s weekly ad because they will have items on sale each week for pennies up to $1 that you can use as “filler” items but they won’t raise your total too much.  Once you get started using coupons and rewards you may discover, like I did, how to purchase many of your health and beauty items for nothing or very little.  Since using coupons and reward programs I rarely pay full price for any of our health and beauty items plus I usually have extra to share with guests visiting us or to give away.

    For those of you who shop regularly at Walgreens I encourage you to share how you were able to save this week!  Although the weekly ad sales are similar every family and situation is different so you may have found items better suited to your household.  In your comment please feel free to share how you saved at Walgreens (links to your blog article on how you saved are welcomed as well).

  • Save A Lot: Deals for the week of December 7 – 13, 2011

    The Save A Lot weekly ad deals are listed below for your convenience.  You can start stocking up on some great deals for upcoming Holiday cooking.  Sign up for the Smart Shopper Club, by doing so you will get a $5.00 off of $25.00 coupon!

    Meats and Seafood

    Sugardale Bone In Hank Potion Ham – $1.19 per lb

    Chicken Leg Quarters – $0.49 per lb

    Beef Eye of Round Roast – $3.99 per lb

    Cooked Cocktail Shrimp (41 to 50 count) – $4.99

    Hickory Springs Sliced Bacon (12 oz) – $1.99

    Farmington Pork Sausage, Hot or Mild (16 oz) – $1.99

    Fairgrounds Sliced Lunchmeats, Assorted Varieties (16 oz) – $2.99

    Fairgrounds Jumbo Hot Dogs (16 oz) – $0.99

    Portside Fish Fillets, Tilapia, Perch or Flounder (16 oz) – $3.99

    Matlaw’s Shrimp Ring with Sauce (10 oz) – $4.99

    Portside Imitation Crabmeat (16 oz) – $1.99

    Pick 5 for $19.99 promo on going: Pick any 5 specially marked packages of your favorite cuts of fresh, frozen or smoked meats and pay just $19.99 (about $2 per pound).

    Fridge and Freezer

    Coburn Farms Cream Cheese – $1.00

    Land O’ Lakes Spreadable Butter (8 oz) – $1.99
    Use $0.50/1 coupon from insert 10/16 Smart Source (Expires 12/31/11)
    Use $1.00/2 coupon from insert 10/16 Smart Source (Expires 12/31/11)
    Use $0.30/1 coupon from insert 10/16 Smart Source (Expires 12/31/11)
    As low as $1.49 each after coupon

    Banquet Family Size Entrees (26 to 28 oz) – $2.00

    Tropicana Orange Juice (59 oz) – $2.99

    Chef Antonio Rising Crust Pizza, Pepperoni or Cheese – $3.49

    Eggo Waffles (10 count) – $1.79

     World’s Fair Vanilla Ice Cream (56 oz) – $2.79

    Mrs. Smith’s Pies, Pumpkin, Apple or Cherry – $2.99
    Use $1.00/2 coupon from pamphlet Target booklet (Expires 12/30/11)
    $2.49 each after coupon

    Gold Leaf Deep Dish Pie Shells – $2.33

    Coburn Farms Sour Cream (16 oz) – $1.59

    Morning Delight Crescent Rolls – $1.69

    Save A Lot Today Orange Juice (59 oz) – $1.99

    Curly’s Pulled Pork or Beef (18 oz) – $3.99

    Produce

    California Navel Oranges (4 lbs) – $2.99

    Mixed Bag of Fruit (4 lbs) – $2.99

    Idaho Potatoes (10 lbs) – $2.99

    Tomatoes (6 pack) – $1.99

    Red Grapefruit (3 lbs) – $1.50

    Sunburst Tangerines (3 lbs) – $1.50

    Household

    Tide Powder Laundry Detergent (20 oz) – $3.99
    Use $1.00/1 coupon from Ebony magazine (Expires 12/31/11)
    Use $0.50/1 coupon from insert 11/27 Proctor & Gamble (Expires 12/31/11)
    As low as $2.99 each after coupon

     Wrightware Foam Plates (40 count) – $1.39

    Poly Steel Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil (37.5 sq ft) – $1.99

    Wrightware Napkins (250 count) – $1.69

    Chenard Plastic Cutlery, Knife, Fork, Spoon Assortment (48 count) – $1.69

    Max Force Alkaline Batteries, Assorted Varieties – $1.99

    Grocery

    Folgers Classic Roast Ground Coffee (22.6 oz) – $6.99
    Use $1.00/1 coupon from insert 11/6 Red Plum (Expires 12/3/11)
    $5.99 each after coupon

    Crisco Vegetable or Canola Oil (48 oz) – $2.99
    Use $0.50/1 coupon from insert 11/6 Red Plum (Expires 1/31/12)
    Use $1.00/2 coupon from insert 11/6 Red Plum (Expires 1/31/12)
    $2.49 each after coupon

    Cap ‘N Crunch Cereal, Assorted Varieties (12 to 14 oz) – $1.99

    Kraft Deluxe or Velveeta Dinners (9 to 14 oz) – $1.79

    Ritz Crackers, Assorted Varieties (14 to 15 oz) – $2.50

    Prego Pasta Sauce, Assorted Varieties (24 oz) – $1.50
    Use $0.75/2 coupon from 10/16 Smart Source (Expires 12/31/11)
    Use $1.00/3 coupon from 10/16 Smart Source (Expires 12/31/11)
    Use $0.50/2 coupon from 10/16 Smart Source (Expires 12/31/11)
    As low as $1.13 each after coupon

    Pregresso Traditional Soups, Assorted Varieties – $1.50

    Quaker Instant Oatmeal, Assorted Varieties – $2.49

    Welch’s Chillers Juice Drinks, Assorted Varieties (64 oz) – $1.99

    On the Border Tortilla Chips (12 oz) – $2.00

     Grissom’s Brown ‘n Serve Rolls ( 12 count) – $1.19

    Monet Entertainment Crackers (8 oz) – $1.69

    Lofthouse Snickerdoodle Cookies – $2.79

    Cafe Valley Fudge Bundt Cake – $3.39

    Portmann’s Mayonnaise – $2.49

    J Higgs Saltines – $1.19

    Wylwood Chili Beans – $0.75

    Hargis House Beef Stew (24 oz) – $2.39

    Hargis House Sloppy Joe Sauce (15.5 oz)  – $0.99

    Mantia’s Alfredo Sauce (15 oz) – $1.99

    Crisp Cranberry Lemon Lime Soda (2 liter) – $0.79

    Coburn Farms Evaporated Milk (15 oz) – $0.79

    Ginger Evans Cake Mix – $1.35

    Ginger Evans Ready to Spread Frosting – $1.49

    Ginger Evans Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips (12 oz) – $2.29

    Morning Gem’s Frosted Flakes Cereal (17 oz) – $2.29

    Morning Delight Complete Buttermilk Pancake Mix (32 oz) – $1.89

    Morning Delight Country Style or Buttery Syrup (24 oz) – $1.89

    Remember you can use the $5/$25 printable coupon to sweeten these deals!  Plus you can earn up to 5 additional $5 off $25 coupons for sharing the coupon with your friends.

    For more information about Save A Lot’s coupon policies go here.  If you find additional deals or savings please let me know and I will add them to the list.

  • Save A Lot: Deals for the week of November 23 – 29, 2011

    The Save A Lot weekly ad deals are listed below for your convenience.  You can start stocking up on some great deals for upcoming Holiday cooking.  Sign up for the Smart Shopper Club, by doing so you will get a $5.00 off of $25.00 coupon!

    Meats and Seafood

    Sugardale Bone In Hank Potion Ham – $1.19 per lb

    Chuck Wagon or Old Farm Bacon (16 oz) – $1.78

    Farmington Pork Sausage (16 oz) – $1.99

    Fresh Whole Chicken – $0.79 per lb

    Portside Cooked Shrimp (60 to 70 count) – $3.99

    Matlaw’s Shrimp Ring with Cocktail Sauce (10 oz) – $4.99

    Pick 5 for $19.99 promo on going: Pick any 5 specially marked packages of your favorite cuts of fresh, frozen or smoked meats and pay just $19.99 (about $2 per pound).

    Fridge and Freezer

    Home Churned Butter Quarters (16 oz) – $1.99

    Buyers Best Shoestring French Fries (12 oz) – $0.79

    Imperial Spread (45 oz) – $2.50

    Coburn Farms Cream Cheese – $1.00

    Cool Whip (8 oz) – $1.00

    Totino’s Pizza (9 to 10 oz) – $1.00
    Use $1.00/4 coupon from insert 9/11 General Mills (Expires 12/3/11)
    Use $1.00/4 coupon from insert 10/2 General Mills (Expires 12/24/11)
    Use $1.00/4 coupon from pamphlet Kroger’s My Magazine Giving Hope a Hand (Expires 12/4/11)
    Use $0.60/3 coupon from insert 10/2 General Mills (Expires 12/24/11)
    As low as $0.75 each after coupon

    Resers Salads (16 oz) – $1.00
    Use $1.00/1 printable coupon from Coupon Web
    Use $0.75/1 coupon found on a tearpad in some stores (Expires 12/30/11)
    As low as FREE each after coupon

    Mrs Smith’s Pumpkin, Apple or Cherry Pies (27 oz) – $2.99
    Use $1.00/2 coupon from pamphlet Target booklet (Expires 12/30/11)
    $2.49 each after coupon

    Coburn Farms Aerosol Whipped Cream  – $1.79

    Ginger Evans Ready to Bake Chocolate Chips or Sugar Cookies – $2.29

    Take and Bake Cheese Pizza (33 oz) – $5.49

    Take and Bake Supreme or Pepperoni Pizza (33 to 36 oz) – $5.99

    Wylwood Broccoli Normandy (16 oz) – $1.29

    Morning Delight Buttermilk Biscuits – $0.59

    Wylwood Shredded Hashbrowns (24 oz) – $2.39

    Produce

    Celery – $0.79

    Sweet Potatoes – $0.49 per lb

    Idaho Potato (5 pounds) – $1.89

    Mini Carrots (1 pound) – $1.00

    Household

    Poly Steel Heavy Duty Aluminum (32 sF) – $1.79

    Starware Food Storage (assorted variety) – $1.49

    Wrightware Napkins (250 count) – $1.69

    Ajax Dish Liquid (16 oz) – $0.99

    Luster Facial Tissues (85 count) – $0.79

    Grocery

    Stuffing on the Side – $0.89

    Coburn Farms Evaporated Milk – $0.79

    Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix – $0.45

    Kool-Aid Jammers (10 count) – $1.88

    Harvest Select Grape or Cranberry Cocktails (64 oz) – $1.69

    Musselman’s Apple Sauce (46 to 48 oz) – $2.50

    Velveta Cheesy Potatoes – $1.79

    T.G.I. Friday Snacks (5 oz) – $1.00

    Progresso Bread Crumbs (15 oz) – $1.00
    Use $0.50/1 coupon from insert 11/13 General Mills (Expires 1/5/12)
    $0.50 each after coupon

    Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate (6 count) – $1.00
    Use $1.00/3 coupon from insert 11/13 Smart Source (Expires 12/31/11)
    Use $0.50/2 coupon from insert 11/13 Smart Source (Expires 12/31/11)
    As low as $0.66 each after coupon

    Kaskey’s Chicken Broth (14 oz) – $0.69

    Ginger Evans Cake Mix – $1.35

    Ginger Evans Ready to Spread Frosting – $1.49

    Ginger Evans Chocolate Chip Muffin Mix – $0.89

    Tipton Grove Cranberry Sauce – $0.99

    Crisp Cranberry Lemon Lime or Save A Lot Exclusive Soda (2 liter) – $0.79

    Grissom’s Brown and Serve Rolls (12 count) – $1.19

    Theodoro Dollar Rolls (12 oz) – $1.99

    Mantia’s Elbow Macaroni (16 oz) – $0.99

    Rapid Rice on the Side Instant White Rice (28 oz) – $2.79

    Kaskey’s Onion Soup Mix (2 pack) – $0.89

    Westcott Cooking Spray (6 oz) – $1.69

    Ginger Evans Big or Mini Marshmallows (10 oz) – $0.99

    Libby’s Pineapple (20 oz) – $0.99
    Use $1.00/2 coupon from insert 8/28 Red Plum (Expires 12/30/11)
    Use $1.00/2 coupon from insert 11/13 Red Plum (Expires 3/31/12)
    $0.49 each after coupon

    Portmann’s Seafood Cocktail Sauce (12 oz) – $1.29

    Kurtz Worcestershire Sauce (10 oz) – $0.99

    Nature’s Grain Cinnamon Raisin Swirl (16 oz) – $2.49

    Bakery

    Bakery Fresh Pumpkin Pies – $2.99

    Remember you can use the $5/$25 printable coupon to sweeten these deals!  Plus you can earn up to 5 additional $5 off $25 coupons for sharing the coupon with your friends.

    For more information about Save A Lot’s coupon policies go here.  If you find additional deals or savings please let me know and I will add them to the list.

  • Organized Chaos: Organizing Our Stockpile

    I LOVE getting a great deal but over the last couple of years when I find a good deal the more I find myself asking “Do I really need this?”  Yes, using coupons are wonderful and getting a great deal is amazing only if you are going to use those items or plan on giving them away. A friend introduced me to the show “Extreme Couponing” and after a few episodes I could no longer watch it.  The amount that some people had stuffed in various places in their home was too much for me to even watch.  After some thought I decided to come up with a plan to organize my stockpile in a way that would give me a visual indication that our family’s stockpile is full plus keep the items organized in a way that anyone in my family can find an item, including the kids.

    Here is what I did:

    1. Reorganized our Linen Closet to make room for the stockpile bins.
    2. Purchased inexpensive containers from the Dollar Store.
    3. Used the Label Maker to put the description on the front of each container.
    4. Filled the containers with items from the stockpile.
    5. Once a bin is full then I know it is time to stop buying that item
    6. Any extras items that I get for free I put into a separate box to be given away.

    The new system had to be practical for our family.  I think it is wise to be good stewards of what we have been given and find opportunities to share what you have with others.  I decided that if I had enough of a certain item to last our family for 6 months to a year our stockpile is considered full and I didn’t need to purchase any more of those items.  If I did get a couple items for free they would be put in a special box to give to others (charities, school, church, people in need, friends, family, and anyone else that may need an item from it).

    I have been using this system for several months now and I am really pleased with how it works.  It is easy to know when the stockpile is full enough for your family and it is more efficient when someone needs  to locate an item.  The majority of the items in this closet are office supplies, school supplies and miscellaneous household items.  I love having the freedom to take a few weeks off from using coupons, shopping, or getting deals in general because I know exactly what I have on hand and when I have enough for my family.

  • Family Outings: All Star Greenville Drive Baseball Game

    Karlie and Brina in their Greenville Drive All Stars Shirts

    Karlie and Brina received their Greenville Drive All Star TShirts for completing the reading program through the library.  They were super excited to get the free Tshirts, to walk in the parade, and to get free tickets to a Greenville Drive baseball game!

    Brina and Karlie walking in the "All Star" parade before the Greenville Drive game

    The girls were loving the “parade” around the field before the Greenville Drive game.  They were amazed at all the dents in the scoreboard from all the baseballs hitting it.  I think it surprised them that the balls would hit it so hard.  The shirts were really big (one size fits all) so they had a hard time figuring out how to wear them without them being a dress, in this picture Brina is just holding hers up and Karlie has her tied up.

    Watching the Greenville Drive play baseball!

    The girls loved watching the Greenville Drive baseball games.  They really started getting into the games, really cute.  It was a great activity with the family and we had extended family join us for this game (Luke, Kristen, and Hudson) as well making it even more fun!

    Hanging out at the game with Daddy

      Thanks Daddy for getting us great seats!  The girls got free tickets for finishing the reading program and Daddy was able to get the rest of us seats through work!  We had a blast even though the Greenville Drive didn’t win that night!